As some of you may know, I run a political blog here in Georgia called "Georgia Politics Unfiltered".  Prior to my state's February 5th primary, Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign reached out to me and my site by including me on their press list and providing me with press credentials whenever a big campaign event was held in my neck of the woods (To be fair, the Obama campaign did the same).  Even after Georgia voted, I've still received press releases from the Clinton campaign detailing her and her husband's schedule, previewing t.v. and radios ads that were about to run, and also have sat in on quite a few campaign conference calls.  

Late last week, I received a press release from the Hillary Clinton campaign which included an open letter from Maya Angelou, a legendary and lauded American poet.  In that open letter, which I posted here and on DailyKos, Dr. Angelou outlined her reasons for supporting Sen. Clinton for President.  In words that could only be described as 100% positive, Angelou wrote, "Hillary does not waver in standing up for those who need a champion.  She has endured great scrutiny, and still she dares greatly.  Hillary Clinton will not give up on you, and all she asks is that you do not give up on her.  She is a long-distance runner.  I am honored to say I am with her for the long run."

Now with such inspiring and uplifting words like that from such an inspiring and uplifting person such as Dr. Angelou, you'd think that it would be hard for anyone (even those troglodytes at DailyKos) to find something nasty to say about a living legend re-stating her reasons for supporting Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign.

Unfortunately, many over there have allowed their hate to blind them of even the smallest hint of positivity from their political opponents.  Unfortunately, the hate flowed freely from their fingertips onto their computer screens.

First, they called her old and senile:

Isn't Maya .... ...like 150 years old?  Maybe she should be stumping for her peer, McCain.

by JCarter on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 01:58:37 PM PDT

Maya Angelou...

...Is old and infirm.

She probably doesn't have a clue what lies Mrs. Nixon has told, no clue how she has harmed Black people in this election.

At least I hope she has no clue.

by Craig Hickman on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 01:34:48 PM PDT

i for one don't think this has any influence (besides maybe helping HRC's supporters think that they have a chance).  she's 80 years old, which automatically makes me wonder if her powers of judgment have already passed.

by distraught on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 01:57:34 PM PDT

Then they said Maya Angelou wasn't an informed voter:

Angelou is certainly intelligent to know...

...not to endorse without sufficient information.  If she hasn't been watching these campaigns closely, she should say so and then add her lack of attention makes her endorsement negligible.

by planetclaire4 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:46:52 PM PDT

And finally, they attacked her work on behalf of Civil Rights by calling her a "radical poet":

Just what is Hillary's relationship with this...

...radical poet???

Friends with MALCOLM X??????

This raises serious, serious  questions about Hillary's fitness to lead this country.

by Dartagnan on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 01:31:53 PM PDT

How can anyone attack Dr. Angelou's work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and her work with Malcolm X in building build the Organization of African American Unity?  [Source:  Maya Angelou from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Sadly, this is what many have come to expect from that bastion of progressive idealism known as DailyKos.

As I wrote way back on February 18th, "The caustic rhetoric that I see from many Obama supporters both here on MyDD and over at Daily Kos is reminiscent of the 'don't you dare say anything against President Bush' rhetoric spewed forth by the Republicans right after September 11th."  [Source:  2/18/2008 MyDD diary "Note To Obamanics: Cut This Crap Out!"]  The unfortunate reality now is that not only are they attacking anyone who has to say anything that can be perceived as negative against their candidate, they are also attacking anyone who has something positive to say about their opponent.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is the Obama supporters need to tone down the rhetoric.  Support your candidate, but don't belittle the supporters of other candidates.  

Show a little respect.

Show a little class.

And show a little tact.  Your behavior in February was freaking a lot of people out and your behavior in April is still freaking people out.  

I think we all love Maya Angelou.  If any of you don't, I would suggest you should consider her life and her example.  Since she was a child, she has known many and great troubles and risen again and again not just to surmount her difficulties but to become better as the result of them.  In her adversity, she has found a path to victory.  I think she is heroic on the scale of a Nelson Mandela.  

In order to explain a little of her victory, I would like to suggest a definition of wisdom.  Wisdom is the ability to understand and remember one's emotional experience and readily apply it to the present moment.  With that definition in mind, I say that the triumph of Maya Angelou is that she has become a woman of immense wisdom.  

Check out this poem called "She will Rise". it was written after the Potomac Primaries. it is a beautiful tribute to Hillary.

http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/02/h illary-will-rise-000099.php

The Observer Unlimited reports Maya Angelou has recently penned a poem for Hillary Clinton.  For those of you who do not know, Maya Angelou is a renowned poetess and author of National Book Award winner, autobiographical novel, I know why the caged bird sings.  The poem borrows from an earlier work of Ms. Angelou, her iconic classic, Still I Rise.  Hillary can take great honor in Maya's use of the imagery of that poem as it is an important work, and indicative of her great love for Hillary that she made her "family" in her heart that way.  Maya's poem really struck a chord with me after my experience volunteering for Hillary in Southern NH, and I would guess it was written in that time period.  I was campaigning for Hillary from hours before she lost Iowa until hours before she won NH.  My story and the poem below the fold.

Hillary Clinton's campaign is releasing a 60 second radio ad in South Carolina with Oprah's mentor, and good friend, Maya Angelou.  

In the add, Maya Angelou states:

"Each generation of African Americans stands on the shoulders of those who came before. Today, the challenges facing us threaten the dreams we have had for our children. We need a president with the experience and strength to meet those challenges."

I think Maya Angelou will resonate more with African American women in their 40's and older.  And while either campaign would be stupid to attack either Oprah or Maya, its a lot easier for MSM and newspapers to bring up questionable Oprah tactics (Union issue) than it would be to go after Maya Angelou.

Either way, the Clinton camp isn't ceding the black vote while the Obama camp is trying to get the Clinton women vote.  Things are getting very tight indeed!

OK adding this