Political Punch

Barack and Michelle are my neighbors. They're the nice couple with the cute kids. Our neighborhood has gotten together, voted, and raised the money to send the Obamas to Washington. Barack and Michelle know us. They know what we need. They're going to fix things the way we'd like to see them fixed.

When I saw the photo of Barack writing his Chicago speech and Michelle leaning over his shoulders, embracing him, and saying, "I love you. You're great," I beamed with pride. You go, girl, I thought. Her husband's response -- a shy smile -- made me long to hug them like a couple of Teddy bears.

I want these two people in the White House. I want to see pictures of their darling girls running, playing tag, and squealing as their laughter echoes through the long hallways. I want to go to bed at night in my home, imagining them in their new home, holding hands and whispering pillow talk about how things are going. "What do you think, honey?" I envision them saying. "Does this government engine need an overhaul or an oil-change? Might need a new transmission."

I watched Michelle speak at the UC Davis rally. She was preceded by
Caroline Kennedy, Oprah, and Maria Shriver. Oprah delivered that great line, paraphrased, I'm not voting for him because he's black. I'm voting for him because he's brilliant. All those b's, alliteration. Barack, because, black, brilliant. The writer in me loved that line.

Kennedy talked about having a president who would inspire people to give service. Her father had called upon the country to transcend the little self and work together for the greater good. Barack would do likewise. She spoke of the "moment" we were having -- our "moment" with Barack's candidacy.

Then Michelle came out. She stumbled up the steps while trying to steer blind Stevie Wonder onto the stage. They fell in a heap on top of each other. A bit of a clutzy moment. I could relate.

The Obama campaign calls Michelle "The Closer." She lines up all the
logical points for why her husband would make the best president. They are precise, intelligent conclusions and evidence of what a good attorney she must be.

She adds the emotions by spelling out how the detractors attempt to destroy her husband: He's not white enough. He's not black enough. He's too young and inexperienced. She sets up their snide comments like bowling pins and knocks them down one-by-one with counter arguments.

She adds, "He's cute. I like him." I think, She's cute. I like her.

I consider what it would be like to have someone with Michelle's wit, and heart, and values as First Lady. I marvel at the healing that could happen when youngsters and people of color see someone, who looks and talks like them, go to Washington and represent us all to the world. I think about the perspective a man could bring to the table when he has spent years living outside of America and got it firsthand how we come across to other countries and cultures.

On the other hand, Hillary and Bill are the classmates with whom I went to college. They're bright, dedicated, charming, and used to getting their way. First Bill, then Hillary ran for student council president while we went to school there. They promised to upgrade the cafeteria food and put plush lounging recliners in the student union.

I voted for them back then. I didn't really care how they were going to make better food choices and easy chairs available. I was just glad that they were going to take good care of me.

I remember Hillary and Bill as being serious, studious, and focused. They had an organization that could (and did) poster every tree trunk and telephone poll on campus. After they won -- of course, they won - their supporters bought and assembled chairs from Sears, not the comfortable recliners they had promised. But they were chairs. And they were new. So I quit my complaining and sat in them.

Likewise, the cafeteria food did improve, if you like pizza and French fries instead of the bland canned vegetables we used to get. We all grew fatter with the higher calories, but Bill and Hillary did make things change, as promised.

I recall Hillary and Bill keeping to themselves on campus. They only
partied with their powerful friends. I never got to know them well. In contrast Barack and Michelle invite neighbors over to kick back, watch the Superbowl, and speculate about who's most likely to win.

I like Barack and Michelle, not because Oprah and Caroline and Maria do. I like them because they're people who live next door to me. They drink the same water I do. They send their kids to the school where my children attend. They're as cold or as hot or as concerned about finances as I am. I'm glad the neighborhood is sending the Obamas to Washington, but our block parties just won't be the same without them.

geevill: you forgot Greg Craig's most important client again - President Bill Clinton, during his impeachment proceedings.

ON EXPERIENCE:

Barack Obama has served ELEVEN years as an elected official. Hillary Clinton has served SEVEN.

Also, I would like to suggest to feminists that it makes little sense for a woman to run on the accomplishments of her husband. Isn't this against the tenets of feminism--be your own woman, independence, etc?!

And should a woman do so, shouldn;t she then also take credit for the mistakes of her husband--NAFTA and the (anti-gay) Defense of Marriage Act, for example?

And Clinton's campaign didn't talk to the Canadians about NAFTA???

Oops, that's right, mainstream media didn't bother to give that story the same coverage!

As to those who say an Obama-Clinton ticket is the way, the 90% of us Obama supporters who would have voted for Hillary before if push came to shove are now going for Nader as Plan B. (Only 10% of us would have chosen McCain as Plan B.) Hillary Clinton is progressively alienating Obama supporters and, especially, blacks. I, and I know of others who feel the same way, would no longer support and Obama-Clinton ticket. We also find it ridiculous that she would suggest Obama get on her ticket when he is leading (the audacity of audacity, as someone wrote)! And that she would do this even as her campaign continues its smear tactics (the noncommital "Obama's not a Muslim," the Republican style 3 a.m. attack, and Ferraro). JUST SAY NO TO A TICKET THAT HAS HILLARY CLINTON'S NAME ON IT. If we cannot get Obama, then we must take Nader. These are the only progressives on the table.

As for the more than 25% of Clinton supporters who would elect McCain as their second choice (since it is becoming clear that they are on the same team), rather than Obama, you may get your second choice just by electing Hillary Clinton.

Lots of Democrats say to know her isn't to love her:

A few elections ago there was a fund raiser put on for Gore by his friends. Gore was to be the star attraction. Hillary found out about this event and demanded to be invited and this was agreed to by the organizers. When Hillary showed up she started working the room for money for herself - sucking the money away from Gore. She off some BIG TIME Democrats and some of those people today are supporting Obama despite having been in the inner Clinton circle.

Hillary will have no one but herself to blame when she fails to make her life long vision a reality.

Considering Clinton's chief economic advisor isn't even an actual economist....

Jim,

You can believe whatever you believe in about him.
I don't spread the lies, it's true.
We all know he is a Christian but do you know his childhood background?
I'm not judging he is black, white,yellow whatever.
BTW who brought that race first?
I recall when Michelle called for all black community to vote for her husband.
But he can not erase his childhood background, the truth will comeout.

Sarah

Lotta work on that post.

I know it might be asking too much, but before criticizing Obama's position on NAFTA and the Canadian incident, would you please read the memo. It's online and readily available.

Then someone tell me one thing wrong that was said. Until then, you're ignorant of the issue and just going on hate.

Finally, tell me one difference in the position stated in that memo and Hillary's newly formed position.

There are Republicans whose job it is - whose work it is - who specialize in -researching, and scheming, and plotting - to find any and all weakenesses of their opponents. They then exploit and strategically exaggerate those weaknesses, even going so far as to spread rumours and lies.

If you think they weren't going to mention that Barack had been voted the most liberal Senator, and that's he's only been in the national Senate 3 years, and that he was against the war, etc., you are incredibly naive.

It will be their first order of business in ads to portray him as an 'inexperienced anti-war liberal,' and there will be lots more smears about possible Muslim ties. You've already seen the beginning of it. John McCain won't condone it. But there are many others in the Republican party who will terrified of Obama, and they will truly say anything.

The Clinton campaign has raised important and legitimate questions and issues to consider when selecting a commander in Chief. While like any campaign, they can't control all their supporters, I have seen the most hideous lies and exaggerations about Hillary and the Clintons from Obama supporters.

The Republicans months ago, said they would "eviscerate" whoever the Democratic candidate is. How do you think they "eviscerate" (=disembowel) people? With candy and flowers?

They have tried to "eviscerate" the Clintons before. They are the source of all that negative stuff out there. The Clintons have been mostly loved by the Democratic party, because of all their hard work, and accomplishments.

But the Republicans haven't gotten their chance to try and "eviscerate" Barack yet, but if they get the chance to - they will. They will blow you away will what they will do. And his biggest problem is he doesn't have enough of a national record to prove that they're wrong.

I say this as a devoted democrat who has seen this many times in the Republican strategies, and I care. I want a Democrat to win. I don't think it looks good for Barack in a general.

Hillary has been "eviscerated," it would really just be more of the same.

Anotherwords, they couldn't weaken her more. She has more of a proven national record.

Although they won't admit it, I actually think there are many Republicans who would like the Clintons to get us out of deficit and recession and into record surplus and prosperity, again. Like Bill's administration did.

dl: You really need to think more about those so-called achievements. The only thing I read from these stunning numbers is that truth always needs some thought and research. Apparently both of us should do so.

I am sorry do you know what Hillary did on her committees? Do you know how involved she was with her bills?

and what were her successes...

my reference looks at recorded facts. What i know is Hillary is throwing things out like "I was involved with the Irish Peace Accord" ...then the Nobel guy comes out and says...that's not true...and she is being disingenuous at best.

What I know is he was minor on most of those... but loook there are 15 or so significant pieces of legislature and movement compared to her what 6?

I don't know everything about my candidate...no one does... and I am pretty sure you don't.

dl: BTW, let alone he actually wrote these bills since there is no way, I don't think he even read the bills before put on his name. Does it show how irresponsible he is? Does it even trouble you? Just calm down, and give me an honest answer. Thanks.

dl: Again? Sorry I read about his accomplishments over and over here and everywhere, and each time I would just tell the person who posted such things to stop because such kind of posts only would do more harms than goods to your candidate. Let's see: Authored and co-authored nearly 600 bills within one year? Does it mean 2-3 bills per day? How much had he spent on each bill? How much thoughts had he put on each bill? How much energy and time will he spend on follow-up to make sure those bills indeed work? Even more troubling, how seriously has he been taking his job? which is, indeed an important. Is it because bills are just bills like words are just words? You really should get a clue about who you are supporting.

Crisis08, you need our judgement? My judgement would be that voters need to stop listening to people like you. You rely on nothing other than lies that have been proven to be lies. Obama is a Christian, it's as simple as that. It's black and white, no pun intended. He is not a Muslim, and everybody knows it, including you. But you have no other argument, so you continue to spew the same lies you've heard other people pass around. Please give it up, it says more about you than it does about Barack Obama.

All of you Sen. Clinton supporters, McCain supporters, Sen Obama...need to go to the Library of Congrss site and start looking at the real accomplishments of these people...aaargh...solutions...aaargh

Go look at what each of them accomplished in the Senate last year... it will blow you away at how mmany bills etc...Obama put forth successfully into the process...and how many Sen Clinton worked on...and tell me who would be coming up with more solutions...

Go...I promise you you'll find your answers in the facts. I think the Daily Kos even lists them on his site...because there is no comparison as to who has the most with the most reaching over the aisle.

If you weren't all stuck in this thought proces from the arguments with the republicans over the past 7-8 years about the Clintons you would learn with just a little scratch at the surface that she has been there six years and when you look at what Obama did last year alone...

Just go to the Library of Congress and see for yourself.

But isn't Hillary still good?

Wow...that's all I can say...wow.

Do the people who support Sen Clinton want to open up such a negative image before going against McCain...a war hero.

I just don't understand a woman who has lists...who throws stones ...and is upset when someone calls her a monster...and asks for that person to be fired...turns around and runs a campaign like this.

There were what 5 witnesses to Brodie saying her campaign called before Obama's.

The whole issue with the Irish resolution that she claimed in her foreign policy...

Her "I am fighting for the Florida voters" when she signed a deal that dissed those Florida voters...and now points her fingers at the other candidates who did

...because SHE is the President.

What is wrong with you people who think THIS is the person we want as our President...ugh.

...if she keeps this up for two more days...that is it for me...

She needs to back off...

or I am taking some time off to start asking about the lists...LISTS...that everyone on her side gets mad if they are alluded to. She is so selfish

It's all coming out...Tyson and her husband the TAX Record discovery

Her brother the 400k that he had to return

The white water issues...

What happened at the rally is not surprising -- just read the comments on Jake's blog and any other dealing with the race for the Democratic nomination. And its not just Clinton supporters. Remember when it was, "I like ----, but I'll support whomever is the Democratic nominee?" Don't hear much of that anymore. This party is not just divided, its torn apart. How very sad.

Joris : The number of caucuses he won actually shadow his electability in general election. In Texas, he won 10% in caucus but lost 3-4% in primary. In Washington, he won a stunning 37% in caucus, but only won 4% in primary. Now, if you redo the math again, you will find Senator Obama actually lost the popular vote by a large margin.