I'm writing this in response to this article in C&L http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/12 when-pundits-decide#more-29028 . The theme of the article is interesting as it highlights the media's role in silencing Hillary and how this anger is hurting Obama's candidancy.
A little too late for C&L to highlight the media hatefeast towards Clinton, while having the bloggersphere and some members from the Obama camp fueling the hate. What one don't understand is the difference in the supporters of hillary in contrast to Obama. Working class folks who have lower incomes, those without college degrees and the old folks are her voters. Their priorities are not about what will happen to this country in a year or two. In fact their priorities are how they would live day to day, week to week, month to month while hoping for a brigher future. So these people, who voted for Republicans more times than Democrats to unite once we got our nominee is a fairytale. Their votes got to be earned and true enough they are bitter towards the media. I have no doubt about that as it also reflects their life- opportunities being passed away for someone new and fresh, the sexism and racism, and many more. How Hillary is being treated by the media is a reflection of how they live most of their lives.
And things got worst when the Obama camp decided to fuel this hate for strategic purposes - the fairy tale, the racism, the divisiveness, bosnia, universal healthcare etc and more importantly disecting Bill's presidency in such a way that republicans now felt that Bill has done better for them than half of the democrats. I understand that it's a campaign strategy but once you decided to play with fire, don't cry foul when things don't go your way at the end. I've spoken with so many of these Clinton coresupporters who said that the unfair treatment that Clinton received fueled by the tactics of the Obama camp, is the core reason why they will not vote for Obama in November. Flame me all you want with this statement, but i'm speaking the truth. And this is why i strongly believe that with Obama at the top of the ticket, Pennslyvania and Florida will be lost. As for me, i will certainly campaign for Obama if he is our nominee but only at a condition - Donna Brazille will have to make an apology to the Clintons, quit her position and don't speak for the press for at least a year. What better way to heal the party and bridge unity by showing those from the Clinton's side that we treat everyone fairly - even the ones from the opposite side.
On the side note, i know by doing the math that the chances of Clinton getting the nomination is extremely low. However i would also want the Obamacamp to do the math and find a strategy to win the election without Florida and Pennslyvania. Our advantage is how bad Bush has done his job, and it will be a risk to solely depend on that strategy as we would not know what will happen in the coming months. Geography plays a big role in winning and this is why Obama is standing strong, but he won't have that distinct advantage when the GE comes. He really got to work twice as hard to convince the working class and older folks that he is for them.
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