I am trying to think of ways to heal the rift between Clinton supporters and Obama supporters, because the most important thing is to defeat John McCain in November.
I started this election (years ago) liking first General Wesley Clark, then Senator John Edwards once Clark endorsed Hillary Clinton. When John Edwards dropped out (just in time for my state’s primary) I voted for Senator Barack Obama. I began contributing to his campaign after his truly inspirational response to the first time he was publicly connected to Reverend Wright. At that point, for me, this switched from being the best choice available to being about someone I really thought was presidential.
Over the months since then I have been appalled by a few things Hillary Clinton herself has said, and quite a few things that senior members of her campaign staff have said. I do not attribute things her volunteers and supporters who are not actually on her staff have said to her; though I’ve debated some of them as individuals. As an Obama supporter I have even over-reacted and said some unkind things about Hillary Clinton when angry, and I am sorry for doing so. I am not part of Obama’s campaign though; and as an individual I feel free to speak my mind.
Something that profoundly disturbs me while watch the televised news (which may be a mistake, I admit), is the mainstream media’s focus on the more entrenched supporters of Hillary. I am disturbed by two questions:
1) Why is the media focusing on the more outrageous supporters from both Clinton and Obama supporters? They ingore McCain’s most outrageous supporters…. so it is clearly NOT as simple as the most prurient stories make better news.
2) Why do those most entrenched Hillary supporters accuse Obama or his campaign of denigrating or maligning Hillary personally? I have been unable to find a single instance where Obama or his Campaign attacked Hillary the person since Samantha Power was cut from his campaign. Yes, he has attacked specific statements Hillary has made, but he has also alway (to my knowledge) also expressed respect for her as a person. Amy I wrong? What am I missing?
Seriously, please help me find specific instances where Obama or his staff have been personal in their attacks on Clinton. I am trying to understand where this is coming from.
Am I looking through rose colored glasses? It is possible – I am very impressed with Obama’s statesman like demeanor. If anything, his calm can inspire anger as it can appear to be smug; but I see it as a quiet confidence…
Most of all I am enraged about the Republican administration, and a congress (both houses) that is not standing up to the administration and protecting the voters, the people of the United States and the world. I am enraged that our constitutional protections are being eroded. I am enraged that people are dying to protect the wealth of a few very greedy individuals and corporations. I am enraged that our government has tried to rule us through fear and manipulation of the facts. I am hopeful, and thrilled that we may finally have politicians with integrity who might begin to change all that.
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