Sleepycatz

Southern Strategy

If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.

Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let’s address reality and the problems we’re facing in this world, you’re accused of being racist, so you have to shut up, Ferraro said. “Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re attacking me because I’m white. How’s that?

– Geraldine Ferraro, Hillary Clinton fund raiser and supporter

This vile set of statements suggests that Hillary Clinton is now following the advice of Rush Limbaugh and employing the Southern Strategy. She seems to believe that by defining Sen. Obama as the black candidate she can marginalize him in the eyes of white voters, and continue the long tradition of gaining political power by pitting one race against another.

Clinton’s less then convincing condemnation of Ferraro, and her attempt to suggest that both campaigns are equally responsible for such disgusting remarks are tactics and rhetoric we would expect from the worst Rovian campaigns:

I do not agree with that. It is regrettable that any of our supporters on both sides, because we’ve both had that experience, say things that kind of veer off into the personal.

– Hillary Clinton

The strategy seems designed to split the traditional democratic alliances and scare the popular vote to come out en masse for Clinton in Pennsylvania. Her plan seems to revolve around gaining enough of the popular vote to force a convention showdown with Obama. With enough of the popular vote, and some sense of momentum, she may be able to get enough super-delegates to hold the nomination through a second round of voting — which would release pledged delegates from their candidates. In an extended convention battle Hillary Clinton would be able to pursue any and all delegates. At this point, this seems the only logical way for her to receive the nomination.

This strategy, however, will destroy the democratic party for years to come. It will alienate the vast number of young voters who have been inspired by Sen. Obama and will drive away grassroot supporters who will see such a nomination as a continuation of the chicanery of the last eight years. As of this evening dozens of people I’ve spoken with, most of them staunch democrats, have said they will not vote for Hillary Clinton if she is the nominee in November.

The Clinton campaign seems bent upon crippling the party for her own aggrandizement. It is this attitude of hubris which has led us to the folly of Iraq, the loss of international esteem, and the depressive state of our economy. I am sure that Hillary Clinton sees herself as the savior of both the party and the nation — so much more the pity, for her methods are doomed to destroy that which she seeks.

It’s 3 Am and Monsters Are Under My Bed

When I first saw Hillary Clinton’s 3:00 Am ad, I found it annoying. As I’ve considered it over the past week, however, I now believe it (and the strategy behind it) are opposed to everything this election means to Democrats and progressives.

For nearly seven years we have been told to fear: fear everything from shoeless foot soldiers preparing to bring down the tallest building in North America to incompetent terrorists threating to deliver pizza to a heavily armed military base, and mapless idiots under the delusion they could blow up an airport. The message generated by the administration’s perpetuation of fear is a simple one: follow us or die. By employing the same nebulous enemy or critical situation, the Clinton ad perpetuates the same fear based arguments made by the current administration. The ad utilizes the middle of the night phone call to engender a foreboding threat emerging from unknown darkness. The visual queues of the ad suggest that we –innocent child-like– Americans are asleep and thus oblivious to the threats that surround us. Instead of trying to educate Americans, or ask them to extend their understanding of the real threats that face America, the Clinton campaign has told us (in this ad) to stay asleep, to simply count on a ‘leader’ to protect and shelter us — like a worried parent. It is the personification of the president as protector and guardian. This is no different from the current administration’s arguments that it must torture, spy, and deceive in order to protect us. The price for this bargain of security is unquestioned loyalty. The mantra “we’ll keep you safe, but don’t ask how or why” is constantly implied and reinforced by accusations of naiveté and disloyalty by those defending the bargain.

It is imperative that our political leaders begin treating the American people as adults deserving of information and explanation, instead of tired children hiding under their covers from monsters. Ms. Clinton seems bent on pursuing the latter course and eager to battle with John McCain over which of them will be the more protective parent to the napping cherubs they envision the populace to be.