May 5
I post this with some trepidation after PJunkie’s public attack on my mathematical skills. But here it is, all about Hillary and race and putting the filly down and how ‘Big Brown’ is quite the horse. - Ed. Note
It became clear a few months ago, when the field was winnowed to two, that the Democratic party was going to make history by nominating either a black man or a woman for president. Soon thereafter, Clinton surrogates began rather overtly playing the race card, suggesting that Obama was in the position he is only because he is black. The message was clear — don’t vote for Obama just because he is black.
While the Clinton campaign and HRC properly distanced themselves from Ferraro and her supporters’ remarks publicly, the damage was done. The whisper had gone out: Psssst, do you really want to trust the country and the leadership of the free world to a black guy? And the damage continued behind the scenes. We now know Clinton’s campaign staff had been pushing the Wright story hard to the superdelegates for months.
(They similarly have done so to the media with the William Ayers non-controversy, despite Hillary’s own questionable ties to the Black Panthers’ legal defense in the 60s and 70s.)
While those who raise the cry of McCarthyism over such tactics are probably overstating their case, it is certainly fair to ask the (here gender-corrected) question, as Joseph Welch famously did during those hearings, “Have you no sense of decency, madam? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”
Well, no, not if you’re deep into what your own campaign terms a “kitchen sink strategy.” But of course if you’re a Clinton running for president, the kitchen sink is not enough — not if there’s a bidet also available, that is. And thus on top of the subtle, nearly silent, race card being played by the Clinton campaign, we have the very public and overt playing of the gender card. It’s not okay to vote for Obama because he’s black, but Hillary has made it all too clear that the electorate should endorse her because she is a woman.
This pander often takes the form of a plucky, good natured throw-away like how she should get “extra credit” because, as a woman, it takes her an hour longer to get ready each day. But the underlying meaning is not lost on the distaff portion of her audience. For the past week, the rhetorical vehicle of choice was the Kentucky Derby, as Hillary, in her best by-golly fashion, urged voters in Southern Indiana to think of her and put a couple bucks down on the filly this Saturday.
So, having taken a hard look at the respective delegate counts and upcoming primaries and their probable results, and therefore quite certain of the outcome of this nomination process, I found it, at once, fitting, prophetic and a bit sad that Eight Belles, the only filly running in the Derby Saturday, finished second, broke both her front ankles and had to be euthanized on the track immediately after the race. The winner? Well, Big Brown, of course.
It might be Indiana, it might be the last primary in South Dakota, it might be her contributors along the way, it might be the superdelegates, but sooner or later, somebody’s going to have to make the hard choice to put the filly in this presidential race out of her misery. Don’t fight the needle when your time comes, Hill. And, you’ve got to admit, that Big Brown, he’s quite a horse, isn’t he?
The trackback URL is here.
Wow. Grind that axe, why don’t ya?
I will let Ms. Pink speak for me: Honestly, it’s not that I care so much about the semi-tasteless jokes about Hillary. I mean, I can see why pundits are yukking it up over a horse being slaughtered after breaking her legs, while rich people sip their bourbon and the women shield their eyes with their stupid hats.
http://www.dallasnews.com/trailblazers
I refuse to read this on behalf of Eight Belles.
So because she can’t pick a horse she wouldn’t be a good President?
Hillary very rapidly disowned herself from the Ferraro comments and yet to your mind they still represent a deliberjate ploy by the campaign. By the same logic surely the outbursts of both Samantha Power and Reverend Wright are the deliberate campaign policy of the Obama campaign.
But of course, we must remember the talking point. When she does it it’s ghastly negative campaigning, when he does it it’s just raising legitimate concerns or the rantings of individuals. We’re raising the tone people!
One of my English professors used to deduct points from our papers every time we used “it” and “it” didn’t refer to something specific. For example “It became clear a few months ago… It might be Indiana, it might be the last primary in South Dakota, it might be her contributors along the way, it might be the superdelegates…”
As hard as you try, it’s kinda hard to avoid. Try it some time.
I’m sorry, PJ, but this * (not that asterisk) is fucking politics. (Not to be confused with po*litcs fucking, which, also, is on another website.) The candidates are ripping each other apart, and we can expect to see more of it. If one candidate, or an associate of his/hers does something stupid, the other candidate is going to jump on and exploit that error for all it’s worth.
Take this hypothetical… If I was running for class president at, oh, I dunno, Dunbar Magnet Middle School in East Fort Worth in the early 90s, and my would-be VP got busted stealing my opponent’s sign-making materials from homeroom, is it okay to call ME a thief, too? I may or may not have put said running mate up to said shenanigans, but that’s not going to stop my opponent from labeling me the “candidate who will still your glue, construction paper and glitter!”
My very weak point is that politics is a dirty game, my friend. And if you get beat up a little, you knew it could happen.
There’s no crying in politics, PJ. There’s no, fucking crying.
*
Yes, it’s obvious she should quit. Let’s stop beating a dead hor—oops . . . sorry.
http://northtexasliberal.com
Re: 2. Credentials
Viva Eight Belles.
http://www.inadequate.net
Can I just say — without intending to be mean or offensive — that I this is the best post I’ve read on this blog in, well, quite a while?
I’m pouring out 40 for my Belles, though.
ehh i think its so so.
So bottom line is Obama can’t bowl and Clinton can’t pick winning horses.
you guys complicate things
Wow. That was really disgusting, on multiple levels.
I give Hillary credit for being a fighter. It wouldn’t matter who her opponent was, she’d give ‘em hell. I think the generational shift is too big this time for her to overcome. She’s part of the establishment. I do think she and Bill have done themselves some real damage though, by playing the race card in their not so subtle ways during the campaign. They have skin as thick as tank armor, though. They’ll be fine.
Bravo PJunkie, bravo!
That was the blogger equivalent of a Frat boy setting one of his farts on fire with a bic. Ugh. I hate that burnt hair smell!
“Don’t fight the needle when the time comes, Hill”
Good God. I would like to think that I’m a good Obama soldier, but the image of Hillary being euthanized troubles even me.
Still kind of funny though.
I don’t think she should quit…
i want big brown to beat her dishonest ass.
/entertaining on multple levels.
The back and forth arguing on this blog is a great example of why John McCain will be the next President. *sigh*
Re: 12. Had a Dream
The back and forth on this blog is a great example of what is good about the process and the system where people can discuss critical issues with humor, passion, anger, disgust and/or hope in a mostly respectful fashion. It takes a bliogvillage. Get some rest old man McCain, you ain’t seen nuthin yet.
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 16. Had a Dream
Actually, I think you may be right.
Re: 17. West Texas Hillbilly
mccain will implode.
Re: 17. West Texas Hillbilly
I agree. Humor is the cure for what ails. But, when I was a kid, My dad always said, “The Democrats can barely decide what to agree on, and the republicans always rally REGARDLESS.”
I think, by and large, we all agree on the fundamentals, but we argue the petty arguments.
Just remember. A real, honest to god “war” hero got swiftboated, and Bush won twice. What we were we gossiping, arguing about then? Howards yell? Or maybe how cool it would be to cruise out to Crawford, and suck down some Shiners with the Pres, regardless of his Politics.
Everyone has dirty laundry. It always gets aired. I don’t give a shit if Reverend Wright thinks America gave the black Community Aids, and baptized Barack’s kids. And I could care less if Hill wanted to intern in a Radical Law firm in Oakland,and did work for the Black Panthers. What matters is GETTING THE F*CK AWAY FROM THE WAY THINGS ARE RUNNING.
Every negative attack against Barack is a vote towards McCain. Every negative attack against HRC is a vote for McCain.
We, us, the people, who in my heart of hearts know what’s best for this country, are going to drop the ball, and fuck it up again.
Its sad. Its depressing. It the Democratic way.
God bless America, and get me a drink.
Re: 5. LegeBoy
Polotics IS dirty. But that doesn’t mean it SHOULD be.
You must have read the KARL ROVE HANDBOOK FOR STEALING ANY ELECTION, available at your local online retailer.
Yeah, I can’t spell politics right. So what?
Re: 21. Had a Dream
I’m not sure I follow your transition from dirty politics to flat out stealing elections, but I get your point.
Politics has always been a dirty business and always will be. Andrew Jackson was accused of being a bigamist; Martin Van Buren was accused of wearing women’s underwear; Rutherford B. Hayes was accused of shooting his own mother. Politics is dirty by nature, and I think you will be hard pressed to find a competitive election that doesn’t have some mudslinging.
Now, I am not saying I like or enjoy dirty politics. It is divisive, and harmful to the unity of the Party, especially in our case this year. But these people are grown-ups and they know what they’re getting into when they sign up.
No. Crying. In. Politics.
Re: 20. Had a Dream
I respectfully disagree.
This country is so unbelievably f’d up right now and it’s going down the toilet fast ($150+ per barrel oil is coming, people). McCain is going to get his (remember what happened to Obama after they left him a lone for a while). and the Democratic nominee will cruise in November…there’s just nothing McCain can hang his hat on to suggest that people should stay the course. And even if he distances himself from Bush (which he won’t), he’ll still be painted as a third Bush term…Republicans don’t even want that.
As much as I wish the Dem race were over, I think this could be great…we’re wrestling for the heart and soul of the Democratic party: Old guard vs. new. Rovesque politics vs. the high road. Kitchen sink vs. dining room table. Minority vs. minority. Monarchy vs. Republic. Starbucks vs. Maxwell House. David vs. Goliath. War vs. peace. Pander vs. tough love. Nuance vs. black-and-white.
What emerges from this exercise could be great.
/or maybe it’s time for a third party…
Re: 22. Outsider
/or maybe it’s time for a third party…
I think thats the only thing I agree with in you post.
Was the country not going down the shitter 4 years ago? And Bush still won re-election?Things are a hell of a lot worse now, sure. But when was the last time a bunch of lifelong repub voters switched parties because they didn’t like their candidate? I don’t think it has ever happened.
What emerges from this COULD be great, or it COULD BE JOHN FUCKING CRAZY BAMBOO CAGE MACCAIN RUNNING THE FREE WORLD!!!!!!!!
I’m sorry if I am the only one who sees it that way. I wish like hell I didn’t. Believe me. But this infighting isn’t making the party stronger, its tearing it apart.
I do however respect you respectfull disagrement. I just respectfully disagree with it in return.
Re: 22. Outsider
AMEN to that.
3rd party gets my vote.
the country is being b*tt effed by all the GD incumbants.
screw flag pins and chrissy softnuts. we are going down the toilet with Paris primaries vs any substance.
the coolest thing about HRC’s campaign has been the 60’s chevy pickup she was standing in, and Obama still has something to be exposed…….blazing saddles…?
mccain is a fucking liar.
Re: 21. Had a Dream
Nobody here really votes or any of that patriotic stuff. We blog. Sorry.
Just kidding. We’re let off steam here, that’s all. We’ll all vote for the anti-Bush.
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 24. Outsider
Come on. No one in their right mind drinks Maxwell House.