Cross-posted at Kickin' it with CG

Hillary Clinton may have furthered the discussion of sexism in her concession speech when she stated that women deserve equal respect, along with equal pay, and that "there are no acceptable prejudices in the 21st century in our country."

She was referring in part to what emerged as conventional wisdom by many during the democratic primary campaign that sexism is still tolerated in America.  Chiming in (albeit ill timed) on this topic was DNC chairman Howard Dean, who is among those calling for a "national discussion" of sexism.  

Echoing those sentiments, NOW and Emily's List are generating e-mail campaigns to the cable channels when they see sexism.  "We're certainly not going to take this lying down," said Ellen Malcolm, the president of Emily's List. She said her hope was for a national discussion to focus on "what is fair in the new political world of Internet, cable and traditional news coverage.'

Also created was an online project which it points to examples of sexist language titled Media Hall of Shame, NOW's president, Kim Gandy, said her members need to remain alert, "We're going to keep watching because we think Michelle Obama will be the recipient of the same kind of attacks that Hillary was."

Ya think?

The path to Democratic Party Unity has one track.  It leads to serious party reform to try to undo as much of the Party destruction that has happened the last year as the leadership plowed further and further away from the basic Party values.  And the rest is clear in this open letter to Hillary written by an Independent, just the sort of Independent the Democratic Party needs to attract and have "unity" with. She titled it:

                   On to Denver!!!!

I am 44 years old, and was never much interested in politics. So, you know, when all this primary stuff started a year ago, I really didn't have much interest in any of the candidates specifically, only "let's get anyone else in there other than Bush". But, I started watching the debates and reading up on all the candidates.  In a perfect, ideal world, we wouldn't be voting for a person because of their "Party" and friends, we would be voting for that individual who has a track record of crossing those very lines and trying to get the important things we all want in life: health, wealth, harmony and happiness, regardless of, gasp, party affiliation. Quite quickly, I realized Senator Clinton was head and shoulders above Obama and the others, on every issue, on judgment, character and certainly experience. She frankly blew me away with her command of the issues. I found myself picking the person that has a track record of what I am looking for. That person is Senator Clinton. She has worked hard and diligently for all Americans, and spent years (35) building strong relationships because she has a passionate vision of what America can be. She became MY candidate. "Hill-R-We", became my mantra.

When I read that the "party leaders were tired" of the Clinton campaign bringing up the FL & MI votes for the past few weeks, I thought: well, E-X-C-U-S-E ME! I am tired of not having a say in a Presidential election, I am tired of not having my vote count, I am tired of no insurance, I am tired of little business in a struggling economy, and I am REALLY tired of some out-of-touch, well-paid, Washington fatcats deciding they know more than their constituents! The straw that broke this voter's back was the way the DNC mishandled the FL and MI votes. That is NOT democracy, NOT the values of the Democratic Party and certainly NOT my values! The media has mounted the most biased, blatant one-sided campaign for Obama that frankly reeks of more than just voter suppression. What happened to journalistic integrity?

In 2003 and 2004 I worked my butt off for the Dean campaign. I contributed early and often, joined the midnight madness of the summer of 03 and started attending Dean meetups. By the fall of 03 I was leading a Dean meetup group and actively volunteering at the state campaign headquarters.

In 2003 I was in despair for my country. The television news stations were all flag waving war supporting echo chambers where rightwingers got national coverage for smashing bottles of French wine in front of television cameras. I think that I had suffered from a case of 'political depression' since the fall of 2000 when the Supreme Court selected Dubyah as our next President.

And yet no one seemed to stand up and so "No More." No one, it seemed, would stand up and say that this was wrong, that things should change. Democratic leaders, under the thumb of Terry McAwful and the DLC, seemed to have no spine, no backbone, and to even half-heartedly support George Bush.

And then, at the California Democratic party meeting in 2003, Governor Dean stepped up and delivered a Paul Wellstone line: he said that he was here for the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. He had my vote from the day I heard that.

One of the most common arguments among Clinton supporters is that Hillary has been let down/betrayed/attacked by "the party" because superdelegates are moving toward Obama, and will ultimately hand him the nomination. This, in turn, makes some feel as if they can no longer be part of the party, and we all know what that means.

That's not what this diary is about. This is a legitimate inquiry into how the Party could've treated her better. I thought they were already massively behind her when she began the primaries with a top heavy schedule seemingly favorable to her, a 100 superdelegate lead before anyone voted, and the backing of regional machine controllers like Rendell.

Apparently, that wasn't enough. So, I genuinely ask - no snark or meanness intended - what else could've been done for Hillary? Go back and really think this through before you answer. Think about from Iowa onwards. And let's keep it civil. Thanks.

Tommy Edsall over at the Huffy Post is in rare anti-Clinton hysteria form - well, not so rare over there - and is breathlessly warning Obama devotees of Clinton's "nuclear option".

What's this? Will she nuke the convention center if denied the nomination? No, it appears what has Tommy peeing his pants is that awful, scary woman actually utilizing DNC rules in an attempt to get Michigan and Florida delegates seated.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/04 /clinton-camp-considering_n_100051.html

Here are some tidbits...

"Hillary Clinton's campaign has a secret weapon to build its delegate count..."

Secret? Anyone that has been remotely following the situation knows the Clinton campaign has made no secret of their desire to see the Michigan and Florida delegations seated.

"With at least 50 percent of the Democratic Party's 30-member Rules and Bylaws Committee committed to Clinton, her backers could -- when the committee meets at the end of this month -- try to ram through a decision to seat the disputed 210-member Florida and 156-member Michigan delegations. Such a decision would give Clinton an estimated 55 or more delegates than Obama, according to Clinton campaign operatives."

'Clinton operatives'? 'Ram through'? Sorry, but it will all be transparent, and the action will depend on a vote of the committee.

"Using the Rules and Bylaws Committee to force the seating of two pro-Hillary delegations would provoke a massive outcry from Obama forces."

And? I for one have tired of the arguement that we cannot offend the flash-in-the-pan Obama supporters that have never been involved in a campaign and never will be again. (I'm assuming the ones that are good Democrats wouldn't flee the party.)

"Clinton loyalists on the Rules Committee would have to be persuaded to put their political futures on the line by defying major party constituencies, especially black leaders backing Barack Obama. Committee members are unlikely to take such a step unless they are convinced that Clinton has a strong chance of winning the nomination."

Put their political futures on the line? Is this another in a long line of threats by Camp Obama? (Um, yes it is.)

Sorry, but it is Howard Dean that went nuclear when he stripped Michigan and Florida of all delegates. More common sense soultions, such as halving their delegates, would have saved all of this turmoil, while not alienating two key battleground states.

It is sad the party is being hurt by this, but there is a delicious irony to seeing Howard Dean twist in the wind while his major blunder becomes more and more obvious.

Off the AP wire; discussion below the fold-

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Monday that either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama must drop out of the Democratic presidential race after the June primaries in order to unify the party by the convention and win the election in November.

With the race for the Democratic nomination gearing up for two more contest in Indiana and N.C. on May 6, Hillary Clinton has gained considerable momentum as the media shifts their attention to the dynamics of her campaign. For months Hillary supporters were accustomed to a media bashing as pundits and pollsters alike would relentlessly write her off as the candidate on a downward spiral. From New Hampshire to Pennsylvania, the media would treat each contest as if it were the last for Hillary Clinton, and each time she would prove them wrong.

Since her impressive victory in the Pa. Primary, the media is now shifting the focus of attention towards Clinton as more pundits and media commentators are painting her in a more favorable light. With the momentum to her back, Clinton's predominance among White Democratic voters, especially among Blue-Collar workers, Catholics, Women, Hispanics and senior citizens is 'turning the tide' in this race for the nomination.

For his part, Howard Dean the DNC Chairman has joined the media pundits in announcing that the race for the Democratic nomination is now in a "virtual dead heat" between Hillary and Obama. According to Dean the superdelegates must break the deadlock by deciding on a nominee after the last primary date of June 3. His surprise announcement on "Meet the Press" is great news for Clinton while unpleasant for the Obama campaign.

The media for their part have jumped off the Obama bandwagon into Clinton territory. Many analysts are now convinced that Obama must reach out to White Blue Collar workers if he has any chance of winning the nomination. If he is unable to successfully appeal to the all important demographic groups that have overwhelmingly supported Clinton in previous contests, then his ability to win over undecided superdelegates will be greatly diminished.

Obama's refusal to debate Clinton (even in an unmoderated forum) in N.C. and/or Indiana is not helping his cause either,before the next round of primary contests. Obama's whimsical excuse for not debating, "I'm going to talk directly to the people" is playing into the hands of Hillary Clinton and makes him look like the candidate that is not up to the challenge and unwilling to answer to the will of the people.

As the Rev. Wright continues on his "holy crusade" to place blame on the media for his own misfortunes and statements of vengeful disregard, he is creating another round of controversy that invigorates the doubts that voters have about the character and judgment skills of Obama. The more we here the Rev Wright in his infamous remarks of "God Damn America" the more the voters are turning away from Obama. The campaign that was once considered  by many to be one of moral solidarity, is now by many considered to be one of political pandering and immoral solitude.

Obama's campaign may look nice on the outside from first observation, but after taking a second look it seems more like one of choas and frustration, unable to close the deal by its failure to unite all regions and all voting blocks. Hillary has learned to make adjustments along the way, and has learned from her previous campaign mistakes, that is why she looks like a winner to many, one who fights and never gives up. Obama must do the same if he wants to carry the torch of frontrunner in this race. He cannot expect to win the nomination by just sitting on his small delegate lead and acting as if the party owes him the nomination  .

Furthermore, the argument he presents that Florida and Michigan votes should be discounted because he name wasn't on the ballot or he didn't campaign in that region is flimsy at best. Obama voluntarily removed his name from the ballot in Michigan and yet he wants to disenfranchise the voters of that state because of his own actions. In Florida he wants to disenfranchise those voters because he didn't campaign there. Yet he overlooks the fact that Hillary didn't campaign in Florida either and yet she won by more than 300,000 votes. You see he wants to have it his way, which is so similar to the manner in which George Bush has governed the past eight years, utilizing the "my way, or the highway" approach with congress and the voters.

Indeed we are hearing a different tune these days from the media and its pundits and commentators. They now visualize a new race that may swing this election in a different direction, certainly one that would not have been envisioned just a month ago. The 'tide is turning' but how far and in which direction? Soon we shall know the answer.

http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsw eek-blogitics/19194/media-conventional-w isdom-shifting-towards-belief-clinton-co uld-defeat-obama/

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Vote2008/story? id=4736271&page=1

Much has been made of Dr. Dean's exhortation to superdelegates to make up their minds. Nancy Pelosi and Donna Brazille, among others, have made similar entreaties of the supers. They have the right to express their opinion on this matter, but their pleas ring hollow because they are themselves superdelegates.

For months the three of them have been feigning neutrality in the Hillary-Obama contest. While fooling nobody, their "neutrality" supposedly gives them the moral authority to ask for decisions from the supers.

If this unholy trinity wants to be taken seriously they must come out of the closet. They are all superdelegates. Dr. Dean, Speaker Pelosi, Ms. Brazille, lead by example! Make your own preferences known; only then you will have the right to tell the other superdelegates what to do and when to do it. Until then SYFPH!