And the Obamarama continues...
Yes, yes...Obama is on a roll, New Hampshire seems to have caught Iowa's fever. Last time I looked he was double digits ahead of Hillary in the latest polls. But, let's not read too much into what it all means for presidential campaigns and race relations.
Yes, Obama's win was impressive...even historic, and it caught many people by surprise. For the first time in our history, people are hopeful that America might be ready to elect a Black president. We want so much to believe that Americans are moving beyond rigid thinking about race.
And the press knows how to promote a good story...
But, beware the fawning media. Their coverage of Obama has been over-the-top, almost acting like he already won the nomination. Ever since he gave that speech at the 2004 Democratic national convention, the national news media have treated him as if he were the Second Coming. An articulate black man NOT playing the race card!
The press really ran with it when Joe Biden stuck his big foot in his mouth and said Obama was "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean..."
But Obama's personal story and charisma have charmed the media into doing almost no critical analysis of his political positions. CNN interviewed people coming from from one of his rallies. They were 'enraptured'...but couldn't answer when asked which of his policies they liked.
His chief rival, Hilary Clinton, on the other hand, has been bashed by the media consistently ever since she hit the scene in 1992. If Clinton’s coverage were half as positive as Obama’s since her rise to national prominence ...she might even have the nomination locked up by now.
I prefer Edwards, but if Hillary loses I want it to be fair and square...not because the press loves to bash her. And now that she got a little teary today in New Hampshire, they will trash that too. Their attacks have little to do with her policies, it's mostly sexist. Seems any time a woman raises her voice to make a debate point, she instantly becomes shrill. The men can holler as loud as they want and they're just considered 'passionate'...well, except for Howard Dean.
Hillary Clinton has put up with more crap than probably any of the candidates, but it has only made her tough. Still, she is a good woman who has always been a champion for children and the disadvantaged.
So...if Hillary loses, she loses. But I don't want her to lose because millions of right-wingers have carried on a 15-year vendetta of sick-minded smears and hatred...from her face printed on toilet paper to Hillary Nutcrackers. "Ditch the Bitch!" is the Righty rebel yell. Enough is enough.
Neo-con Bill Bennett sneered on TV about Hillary getting emotional today. Big surprise. But then he's also been saying that Obama's popularity means that racism is no longer a problem in America. Give me a break. Racism may not be a problem for millionaire white men like Bennett, but there are a lot of jobless, homeless black and brown people who would beg to differ.
Yes, Obama won 38 percent of Iowa caucus-goers. That means, of course, that 62 percent of them did not want him to be their party’s nominee...significant when you think of the incredible Democratic turnout.
Obama seems to be a good guy, his speeches have become more electrifying...he lets us feel better about ourselves. I like his wife too. But hope and inspiration is not a replacement for experience.
It all comes down to: Is he electable? Will more than 50 percent of America vote for him? We'd like to believe America has changed. And it IS changing. But has it changed enough? I call your attention to all the noose-hanging stunts that have cropped up across this country.
I fear that Obama is mostly symbolic. People want to say they made history by voting for the first black President.
But what if not enough of them do?
Another Republican will move into the White House.
