Nobama, No Thanks

Dear Senator Clinton,
I have been reading today that you will hold a rally in NY tomorrow night that will be a pivotal moment in your campaign. There are many rumors circulating and much speculation about what will occur. I understand if you are going to suspend your campaign. I will be elated if you continue your campaign. I would like to ask you to consider the following, however. As a feminist and a woman with two daughters I would ask you not to endorse Senator Obama.
I realize that as a Democrat the conventional wisdom is that you must endorse him to be seen as a team player. The fact is that your team has benched you. Your supporters see this and we are appalled. We have watched as the media and the pundits and your own opponent, a fellow Democrat for crying out loud, have insulted and belittled you time and again. We have watched as the leaders of your party remained silent in the face of the most egregious misogyny. The excuse given when cries of sexism erupted was always "it's not about women, it's about her," as if that made it ok.
The fact is that when Senator Obama dismissed a female reporter with his "sweetie" comment and the boyz with him snickered he showed his true colors, and demonstrated once and for all that the "it's just Hillary" argument is false. I am extremely worried about the fall out of this campaign in terms of what will now be acceptable behavior toward women who compete in traditionally male arenas.
My daughter, as the only natural born citizen in our Canadian immigrant family always used to say "I'm the only one in the family who can be President. I guess I'll have to do it." It was adorable to hear her say that when she was four and five years old and I never doubted that if that was what she wanted, that was what she could do. I doubt it now.
If you choose to fight this all the way, I am behind you. I will be happy to spend the summer fighting the good fight here in Washington state or wherever I would be effective. What I will not do is cast a vote for Senator Obama, period. I will also not cast a vote for anyone who has endorsed him. I will happily go to the polls and vote for any downballot Democrat who has endorsed you. I will write in your name on my ballot if that is allowed in my state, but I will never tick the box next to the name of a man who has condoned and benefitted from the demeaning and subdugation of American women.

Sincerely,

(me)

The Rules

After the West Virginia primary last night, CNN paid pundit and member of the Obamination Donna Brazile got into a heated discussion with Hillary campaign media honcho Howard Wolfson about the DNC "rules" with regard to the Florida and Michigan delegates. Wolfson made the case that perhaps the DNC might not want to disenfranchise the 2.3 million folks who voted in those states, but Donna is a stickler for the rules and wouldn't hear of changing them, even for 2.3 million Democratic voters. Two things strike me about this conversation, which is one that has been repeated ad nauseum since Hillary fell behind in pledged delegates.

First of all, the "rules" that Brazile and the other Obamination Democrats keep touting are not the rules at all. The actual Delegate Selection Rules provide a clear remedy for states that hold their primaries or caucuses in violation of the timing rules: the loss of 50% of their pledged delegates and alternates, and all of their "at-large" or add-on delegates. That is the actual rule. It is also almost never mentioned that Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina all held primaries or caucuses on dates that violated the timing rules.

The second thing that strikes me is the absolute failure of the media with regard to calling out Donna and the rest of the Obamination on this point. It seems a highly relevant point of interest in such a hotly contested primary, but no mention of it has been made anywhere except for a few Hillary forums. The rules are easily accessible from the DNC website. Here they are. If you don't believe me, read them for yourself.

MIckey "the Mouth" Obama

Today on CNN, Michelle Obama was shown campaigning for her husband, and talking about -gasp- his middle name! Yes, it's Hussein, or as Mrs. Obama calls it the "ultimate fear bomb." The speech was obviously a response to the political right's use of Senator Obama's middle name in a disparaging way, and a clever one at that. It's becoming a trend for the missus to tackle subjects too touchy for the Great One to deign to address himself. Like black pride. Remember the big flap about MO's "really proud" comment? When she said that for the first time in her life she was really proud of her country because people were voting for her husband, who is black? The Great One can't really touch something like that with a ten foot pole, but he can have his wife do it.

Barack Hussein Obama

Along with being the Messiah or maybe because of it, Senator Barack Hussein Obama is one sensitive guy. By sensitive I mean thin skinned. His campaign's response to the political right's sinful use of his middle name is to have his wife speak about it. Today Michelle Obama appeared in a story on CNN campaigning about how using her husband's middle name was the "ultimate fear bomb". To take her husband's middle name in vain is nothing less than fearmongering according to the Senator's wife. I don't get it. Can we say it or not? If I say it is it fearmongering? Is fearmongering a word? Is saying Barack Hussein Obama supposed to make me feel scared? Just one more thing I don't understand about the big BO.

"Hoping" Obama Will "Change" His Sexist Language

if he becomes President. Remember the "periodically" comment? When Obama said that "periodically" when Senator Clinton is "feeling down" she "launches...attacks?" How about the "claws come out" comment? The smug way he dismissed her diplomatic experience when she was First Lady as "having tea" with diplomats? Ugh. Never mind the fact that he hasn't said one word (and he's all about words) about the many sexist remarks that have been made about his fellow Democratic candidate, by the main stream media no less, and that he doesn't even bother to address women's issues on his campaign website.

Pretty Accurate Representation

of the press' treatment of Obama.

Obama's "Movement"

I finally figured out what makes me so skeptical of Obama's message. I watched a few minutes of one of his stump speeches today on CNN. I can't usually watch him for long before I zone out from boredom, he is so repetitive, but this time something struck me. He was speaking about the "movement" he was leading. I mused on that for a while. Why do I not believe in his movement, in the face of his undeniable popularity, and the hugely enthusiastic following he has developed? Well, ought not there be some criteria to differentiate an authentic movement from the followers of the cynical pedagogue I believe Obama to be?

First of all, a "movement" ought to come from the people, at a grassroots level, and work its way up to the top, don't you think? The women's movement, for example, did not originate at the highest echelons of power in one of our nation's two main political parties, as Obama's so called "movement" did. Obama's campaign is great at organizing people at the grassroots level to do his bidding, but it did not originate there, rather is was pushed down from above. There was no pre-existing grassroots movement for "change" of the vague kind that Obama orates about.

A grassroot movement for Obama's kind of "change" couldn't ever exist because real movements are designed to achieve a specific goal or goals. Unions organized workers to ensure things like safe working conditions, and fair wages. They fought real and prolonged battles for real, tangible things that can be quantified. There are no specifics in Obama's rhetoric. There is no specific "change" he seems to want to achieve besides "uniting" people. How, and to what end will he unite people? Which people? Where? Who? Why? Obama says we are all one people. I'm not sure I believe him when he says that, but even if he's right, then what?

Real movements take real work. Besides campaigning for him, what real work for "change" have the bulk of Obama's followers done? More than that, what specific things does he ask his acolytes to do besides attend his rallies, feel good about themselves, and vote for him? Those are pretty easy demands. Real "change" demands real hard work toward real, defined goals. How many people marched and fought for equal rights for women and minorities? How many millions of hours of work by millions of dedicated people did it take for those movements to get even as far as they have today?

I've seen a real, grassroots movement first hand, and it's hard work. My aunt started a recycling center, almost single handedly in a small rural town in Canada about 20 years ago. Concerned about the amount of toxins that were being released into the atmosphere when rural people burned their trash, she set to work to change that in her own small way. She found businesses who bought recycables, convinced the town to donate some space in a vacant building, rounded up some volunteers, and spent thousands of hours sorting and loading trash so it could be shipped off to be recycled. The recycling center still operates, with volunteer labor provided now by high school students who receive community service credit. My aunt is no longer involved, but through her efforts, many thousands of tons of trash that would otherwise have been burned or buried in the landfill have been recycled. My aunt started her own small movement for real change, and it took real hard work.

There are two other things that serve to reinforce my skeptism about the authenticity of Obama's "movement." These are his sudden rise to popularity, and way the mass media has wholeheartedly embraced him. Real change is usually really unpopular to begin with, because people resist change. The only reason Obama can be so popular is because he doesn't propose any specific change. Real, positive social change is almost always about a shift of power from those who have a larger share to those with a lesser share. People don't like to give up any of their power, and will not do so without a struggle. Real change requires not just hard work, but sacrifice from someone, and sometimes from everyone.

Finally, there is one thing my father told me when I was a teenager that has stuck with me my whole life: "Just because something is popular doesn't mean it's good."

Haters

Among the followers of the Cult of BO are many Hillary Haters, and BO cultists have infiltrated the mainstream media as well. I'm not the only one who doesn't get it though....

Cult of Obama

"Those faces. It was raw, naked, complete, worship, love, heart-whole passionate stunned and almost unbelieving but desperately wanting to believe him adoration. He is their Messiah. It’s a cult. And they are going to be so disappointed."

"The Obama Cult: Both Ugly and Beautiful," Hampton Roads.com

I haven't yet been to a BO rally but I found this account of his rally in Virginia Beach yesterday.

Obama Girl - Not Crushing Any More

I guess you all must have heard that Obama Girl did not actually make it to the polls to vote for BO. I'm not sure what to make of this. You hear a lot about BO and the youth vote. I wonder if they will actually make it to the polls in November. I think Obama Girl said she was busy the day of the primaries. Maybe she will be busy in November too. Hard to say really. What about all the other youngsters rallying around BO now? What will they be doing in November? Are they still going to be crushing on BO, or will their ardour have worn off by then? Doesn't really help me though. I'm not crushing on anybody, especially BO - ok, maybe my husband.

What About Women?

Women vote. Women are more than half the population of this country. The majority of Democrats in much of the country. But women support HRC right? Well, kind of.

Black women apparently support BO. Rich women apparently support BO as well. Educated women support BO also. Ditto young women. HRC is left with poor, elderly, uneducated, white women (at least according to the mass media.) I'm not poor, I am educated, and I'm not old, so according to the gurus at CNN I ought to be supporting BO. Well, let me tell you, I've tried, but I just can't get my head around what he's talking about. I guess I just need some reassurance. I hear him speak and just hear the same old platitudes politicians always crap on about when they are trying to get elected. I listen to Hillary and hear real workable ideas. Step by step plans to accomplish real goals that would help not only women, but children, the disadvantaged, the environment, everyone really. I guess I'm just not hearing BO correctly. He's the change guy, after all. One thing that I'm pretty sure I did hear correctly was the "claws" comment he made about the HRC campaign. It did kind of sound sexist to me, but that must have just been my imagination because the media sure didn't have anything to say about it. And we all know that the patriarchal, male owned, controlled, and dominated mass media is always ready to step right up to the bat on women's issues, right? They wouldn't let BO get away with a sexist crack against his opponent right? Right? I mean they were all over Bill when he played the, oh I can hardly say it, the... race card! in South Carolina. If BO had actually played the sexist card I'm sure the media would have pilloried him like they pilloried Bill. Yeah, they would have. Sure. Well, I'm pretty sure. Hmm.

Why Obama?

"I understood why Beltway publications and think tanks have heaped praise on Obama and want him to run for President. It's because he has shown a rare ability to mix charisma and deference to the establishment."

- from "Mr. Obama Goes to Washington," The Nation, June 6, 2006.

BO didn't spring newly formed from the ground in late 2007 to run for President. In his article from 2006, David Sirota describes why party insiders thought BO would make an excellent choice for a presidential candidate. Basically, he was a canny politician who didn't ruffle any feathers. Hmmm, where's the "Change" here? Frankly, the article was informative but I wouldn't call it inspiring.

Research Continues

One of the interesting things I came across while searching for information about BO beyond the usual spin and propoganda was this article on the Black Agenda Report website. I'm not in a position to comment on what black activists think about BO, but the description of BO drawing his own portrait while speaking to a reporter at a fund raising phone bank was very thought provoking.

Research Begins

After the caucuses, I spent a few hours on the internet finding out what people really thought about BO. I'll fill you in on the results later, but first I want to relate a story about what first piqued my interest in BO.

About a year ago, I was listening to NPR when an interview with BO came on. He was asked about how he had decided to run for the nomination. He said that people began calling him and asking him if he wanted to run. He was on that like fleas on a dog, ready to run right out and start doing whatever it is that presumptive nominees do. But the folks who were asking him to run (never actually identified by BO in the interview from what I can remember) sugested that maybe he ought to ask his wife before he signed on, so he did. The wife of BO told him to hold his horses and take a few days to think about and discuss with her all the ramifications of a presidential bid. He then noted that his better half often had to reign him in and prevent him from running off half cocked.

Wow, I thought as I listened. What kind of presidential nominee proudly lets the world know that his wife often has to reign him in and make him think about things before he does them. Thank goodness this flake doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination. History would certainly prove me wrong on that last point, but that was my first impression of BO.

Caucusing in WA

Let me tell you first off that I am a feminist, but that doesn't stop me from supporting HRC. So off I went yesterday to caucus for my candidate at a local elementary school. I'd signed up to be a precinct caption so I'd gotten a few pointers the night before from a dial in conference call. I had my clipboard, I had my agenda, I had my game plan. I scored a Hillary sticker from the table set up by the wall of the school gymnasium and looked around for a way to help the very stressed looking PCO (gal in charge - not sure what PCO stands for). I ended up signing in throngs of people at the tables set up near the entrance. Hostile and grouchy BO supporters surrounded me on either side. I smiled and was pleasant and helpful to everyone, though I was clearly in the minority with my Hillary sticker.

I had to navigate my way through crowds of BO supporters who glared at me when I and another HRC supporter spontaneously started up a HILL-AR-Y chant. I apologized and meekly took my place with my precinct. We had been advised on the conference call that our precinct may not have an elected captain, which was indeed the case in our precinct, and in that event, I could put myself forward for that position. It turned out that the BO supporters claimed to have already nominated a captain for our precinct, before we had even begun the caucus. Since no one really knew what was going on there was no way to challenge them, and I volunteered to be the secretary instead and was elected. We had to wait a long time for our sign in sheets to be sent over to us so we could start to tally the votes. I tried to identify the other HRC supporters in our group, and also try and see if there were any who were still undecided. As I asked around, I got a quite a bit of vitriol from the BO people, not so much about Hillary, but about Bill's hanky panky in the White House. I smiled and said that he wasn't the candidate this time. Finally our tally sheets were returned to us. Someone for each candidate got to speak to the whole district for two minutes, and then we split off into our precincts to get down to business.

The initial tally for our precinct was 2 to 1 for BO with about 10% undecided. After the tally, we went outside and each got to speak for a minute about our candidate. For the most part, we each listened politely to what the other had to say, although the precinct captain did cut in several times to try and sway the undecided voters over to BO. Finally, we convinced her to follow the rules and stick to one minute each. All the time I was thinking: this is my chance, I will finally understand the BO appeal, I will finally get it! I listened intently to the BO supporters, waiting to inspired, waiting to be ignited with passion. They spoke about BO and how he had inspired them. They spoke about BO and how he was going to change things. I waited with bated breath...

But that was it. That was all there was. How was he going to change things? They didn't know. What was he going to do? They couldn't say. They said they believed in him because he had voted against the war. They didn't know that he wasn't even a Senator until 2005, 3 years after that vote took place. There weren't many of us speaking for Hillary, but those of us who did talked about how we believed that she could do what she said she could do. How she could make things happen. I said that when I listened to her in the debates, I not only thought she could do what she said she could do, I believed it. I believed her, and I believed in her. Oddly enough, for all the "change" and "inspiration" hype that you hear about on the media, we HRC supporters were actually much more passionate about our candidate than the BO supporters.

In the end, we HRC supporters brought all the undecided voters to our side, and one of the BO supporters. One of ours left to go over to the BO side. Each side got 2 delegates. I left feeling exhilarated, excited, but still perplexed, and a little frustrated. I still didn't get the BO thing. More research was needed.

Hey All You BO Fans!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the "Prophet of Change" himself, the big BO - searching the internet, reading stuff, talking to people, caucusing, etc. I'm afraid I still don't get it. I can't climb on the "Change" bandwagon; I can't choke down the Koolaid no matter how hard I try. According to the mass media, that means I'm old, uneducated, poor, rascist, and female. Well, I am female so maybe that's why, but I see plenty of other females out there with vacant eyes chanting the "Change" mantra. Join me on my quest to understand the BO appeal.