Monday, August 25, 2008

Get Over It Already

One thing was apparent during the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton shared a lot in common. As a matter of fact, as the primary schedule moved forward and Obama pulled ahead, the chief obstacle for Clinton was trying to differentiate herself from Obama, on policy any distinction that would turn the tide, hard to come by. The similarities so striking, most debates turned into quibbling over details, a discussion of the fine print. Only when one compared Obama to McCain or Clinton to McCain, could you determine real, substantial differences in policy. With that objective truth clearly evident, I must say, I find it amazing to see so many former Clinton supporters unable to get over their personal bitterness.

The latest CNN poll shows a deadheat, but the real story is the following:
Sixty-six percent of Clinton supporters -- registered Democrats who want Clinton as the nominee -- are now backing Obama. That's down from 75 percent in the end of June. Twenty-seven percent of them now say they'll support McCain, up from 16 percent in late June.

"The number of Clinton Democrats who say they would vote for McCain has gone up 11 points since June, enough to account for most, although not all, of the support McCain has gained in that time," Holland said.

It is truly remarkable, that John McCain, the man vilified by the right-wing in his party, has been able to rally his troops, while the Democrats, in the best position in years, can't seem to GET OVER IT ALREADY. Remember all the attacks against McCain, whether Limbaugh, Delay, Santorum, Coulter and countless other wingnuts, the supposed base of the Republican Party? All that acrimony has essentially evaporated, and a strange twist of fate, it is now Democratic division that threatens to hand the Republicans the White House.

Obama didn't pick Hillary. Boo hoo. Is it really surprising, that a man who wants to put forth his own agenda doesn't want a meddling former President and his ambitious wife at his side? Political powerhouses aside, the fact Obama looked elsewhere is of no surprise to anyone who has an ounce of perspective. Besides, is that real the point, are people Hillary Democrats or Democrats? Every primary season is divisive, for both parties, and yet, consistently the former foes find a way to unite, because the stakes are high.

Is Obama a better candidate that Clinton? If I had my dithers, I'd probably lean slightly to Clinton, all things considered. But, that's not the point, is it? Obama's the nominee, and everyone can take solace in the fact that he represents the Clinton perspective in overriding fashion. Compare the policies, compare the rhetoric, compare the chasm with the Republicans. It's an easy call for Democrats, and yet a full third seem willing to hold a grudge.

In fairness, McCain is attractive to some Democrats, always has been, always will be, so this reality inflates the "bitter" numbers. However, that doesn't explain the huge defection contingent, and it really is strange to see how many have lost sight of the big picture. Isn't it time to move on?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alright, Steve, I realize I read your blog because I find your opinions on things do tend to mirror mine. But NEVER have you so completely described my feelings about this situation to a tee as precisely as you have in this post.

I will add one thought, which you touched upon in a way when commenting that some Clinton supporters were always going to be attracted to McCain. At some point in the past (both his and mine, think 2000 ;), I would have been among them.

With that in mind, what I would say is CNN is determined to milk this story bone dry. Even their one overnight poll somehow managed to capture a wider number of malcontents than others, and they are determined to track everyone down for a comment. Their coverage of every nuance and sneeze or unextended hand exceeds even that of FOX, surprisingly, though I'm sure they will pound the drum in coming days. Somehow other networks and news agencies have managed to report on the myriad of other things happening that don't happen to include Hillary or the over-sized ego of her not-so-better half ; ). CNN, though, believes this story permeates and overpowers every other consideration.

I'm half-expecting their "Issue 1" coverage on the economy will be replaced by week's end. I can see them now with a daily report from now through October . . . "So, analysts, what do you think of what Hillary and Bill said today about the current election. Are voters responding? How will Obama and McCain react?" Perhaps they can even assign Jon King to tag along with them as they do their analysts covering the two official campaigns.

I am not saying there is not some aspect of this to cover, but the current CNN coverage is bordering on obsession. I think they have crossed the line to reporting the news to creating it at this point.

Steve V said...

joseph

I really liked McCain in 2000, more on style than his views. If he picks Romney, that should effectively kill the last ounce of respect I have him, because that guy is grade A A-hole of bibilical proportions.

Anonymous said...

grin. ditto on those thoughts as well. Personally I'm rooting for him to get the nod as only the media seem smitten with good ol' Mitt.

Steve V said...

And just imagine the quotes the Dems can drag up, Romney blasted McCain daily.

Anonymous said...

I'm beginning to wonder if Obama is his own man. Teddy Kennedy advised him on who to pick, Carolyn Kennedy worked on the vetting, the convention is going to Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy.

Obama is using the same venue as JFK for his outdoor speech.

And, everyone's bitching about Hillary....I remember when Ted Kennedy lost to Jimmy Carter - he was the most ungracious SOB you've ever seen.

So, the Kennedy's are bringing back the Kennedy dynasty via Obama.

It has turned me off.

Funny, Bill Clinton so chastized for his indecretions and yet he couldn't come near the corruption and scandals of the Kennedy family.

How soon they forget.

Anonymous said...

Apparently, Steve, you are one of the few who have come to their senses. It amazes me that Clinton supporters would throw such a temper-tantrum that they would be willing to throw the campain away to the GOP because their girl didn't win.

Why is it that the Democrats have enjoyed little success in the past 30 some years? Because we are not unified. We piss and moan when we don't get our way and repeatedly leave fodder for the Republicans to walk all over us.

Clinton supporters are handing over the country to the GOP because of a tantrum. It is not worth letting the GOP run things into the ground for another four years. They (Clinton supporters) make me sick and ashamed of being a Democrat because they simply cannot forget the past and unite like the Republicans do and will.

Lets forget the primaries. Barack Obama is the nominee and he chose Joe Biden as his running mate. Hillary Clinton is not the nominee, let's get over it. She is not the VP pick, let's get over it. She wasn't vetted, so what? I personally feel that Obama did the right thing in not doing so because of the dirty campaign she ran against him. I would also say the same thing is Hillary did win the nomination and did not choose Obama or not vet him for the same reason.

Let's do as the GOP is so good at and back our nominee, who cares about Clinton, besides, she and Obama share the same values and are for the most part in agreement on the key issues. Don't throw you vote away because your pick didn't win. It stupid and short sighted and above all, childish.

Anonymous said...

I only ever saw it mentioned in one article (more like a "first read political bits" kind of notice the news agencies all have these days so they can "report" rumours), but I read something this weekend that indicated Hillary had requested she preferred not to be "fully vetted" (asked for returns, etc) unless she was seriously under consideration for the VP slot.

If that is the case, the Obama campaign simply honored her expressed wishes.

So to have that be one of the points of contention now is really shallow. The implication is that he should have "pretended" to be serious about considering her just to satisfy some of her more zealous followers.

And that is before considering the perfectly rational observation that Hillary of all people wouldn't have required a tremendous amount of additional scrutiny after years of intense and total scrutiny.

Steve V said...

joseph

From everything I can gather, Obama conducted the VP search in this way, at the request of the Clinton campaign. Don't waste our time if you're not serious, okay I won't then. Now, all this mock outrage.

Anthony said...

So Hillary Clinton loses the nomination, then she does a big rally for Obama in New Hampshire, continues campaigning for Obama.

She is then completely ignored in the VP debate by the Obama campaign, her husband is told what to speak about in his speech, and Barack Obama expects all his problems to mysteriously go away.

You dont spit in people's faces and expect them to come back and ask for more.

Anthony said...

the spin that Hillary asked not to be vetted was put out solely by people in Obama's camp.

Once the Obama camp realized this could anger a few people (DUH!) they tried a line like "she is so well known so doesnt need to be vetted." That doesnt sound like she asked not to be vetted.

Their initial reaction gave their hand away. All that talk about the presidential library is people trying to justify a mistake of arrogance by the obama camp

Anonymous said...

Steve & Antonio,

You might find this interesting . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/25/AR2008082503024.html?hpid=artslot

Antonio, don't you suppose just maybe it is more likely that someone whined Hillary wasn't going to be chosen just to rain on his actual announcement.

It would have been fairly clear he didn't ask for her "vetting" paperwork a bit earlier than the week he made his announcement.

The account in the link I provided is a lot more realistic than your explanation.

Steve V said...

Thanks for that link Joseph, seems pretty straightforward.