Top Opinions of the Week

Posted on May 31, 2008

Mark Medford at The San Francisco Chronicle reflects on the success of Barack Obama’s campaign: ‘This is a cultural marker, a harbinger of something worthy to take deep into your awareness. You should take note, because Obama has accomplished his rise without the normal weaponry of American politics… He has not employed any of the disgusting tactics Karl Rove’s Republican Party used on Al Gore and John Kerry to secure a deceptive and brutal and failed chokehold on power…’

Eugene Robinson at The Washington Post writes: ‘For nearly five decades, the United States has pursued a policy toward Cuba that could be described as incredibly stupid. It could also be called childish and counterproductive — and, since the demise of the Soviet Union, even insane. Absent the threat of communist expansionism, the refusal by successive American presidents to engage with Cuba has not even a fig leaf’s worth of rationale to cover its naked illogic.’ (McCain, predictably, embraces Bush’s current Cuban policy.)

Carol Hoenig at The Huffington Post examines the White House disconnect: ‘It’s true, too, that 9/11 bode well for President Bush, since the horrid events from that day helped him take advantage of an anesthetized people. It suddenly became more important to don a flag pin than press the president about those nonexistent weapons of mass destruction. It’s also true that anyone who questions this administration is dismissed one way or another. No one in the administration is saying that (former press secretary) McClellan is lying, but instead they are puzzled that he is, well, telling the truth.’ (Bush is frequently puzzled by truth. And compassion. And cleaning product labels.)

As noted in the New York Times, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, has written an open letter to U.S. military personnel exhorting them to ‘remain apolitical at all times and in all ways… It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway. As the nation prepares to elect a new president, we would all do well to remember the promises we made. What I am suggesting — indeed, what the nation expects — is that military personnel will, in the execution of the mission assigned to them, put aside their partisan leanings.’ (Well said, Admiral Mullen!  Mullen has also indicated that the military is now prepared to accept gay service members if Congress appeals DADT.) 

Top Opinions of the Week

Posted on May 24, 2008

Chuck Todd of MSNBC considers the fallout from a McCain-loss scenario: “McCain’s folks will argue that the presence of Huckabee prevented McCain from being given an opportunity to prove that he could woo social conservatives… This is what makes McCain’s running mate choice fascinating, because a running mate on a losing ticket might end up sharing the blame. He or she then might not be trusted to help lead the party in the future. Think about that, Mr. Romney and Mr. Huckabee as you both vie to be on that national ticket.”

 The New York Times editorial board weighs in on McCain’s sudden denouncement of unhinged pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley: “Mr. McCain has tried to argue that his recent embrace of these two extremists was different from Barack Obama’s 20-year pastoral relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright… but that does not lessen the hatefulness of the views espoused by the Rev. Hagee or the Rev. Parsley, nor does political expediency excuse Mr. McCain’s willingness to overlook those views until they became a political liability.”

Andrew Sullivan targets Hillary Clinton’s latest gaffe: “You only have to spend a few minutes talking with African-Americans about this campaign to discover that the fear that Obama could be assassinated is very much on their minds… To refer to the June assassination of Bobby Kennedy in the context of reasons to stay in this interminable race against Barack Obama is therefore catastrophically inappropriate. Coming after her pitch for white votes, it is reckless.”

Politico deconstructs the viscous e-mail attacks against Obama, saying that the anonymous smear campaign “represents the dark side of the Internet’s emerging dominance in American politics — a phenomenon that has driven Obama’s unparalleled grass-roots and financial campaigns. After harnessing the Web to great advantage, Obama is now struggling to beat back the viral threat from the same uncontrollable medium.”

P! Update: Barack Defends Wife, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton

Posted on May 20, 2008

- Barack Obama defended his wife on Good Morning America, stating that he thinks the Republicans should “lay off” his wife.

- Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after suffering a seizure on Saturday: “Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe,” according to a hospital statement.

- Hillary Clinton is committed to staying in the presidential race after dominating Obama in Kentucky: “This continues to be a tough fight, and I have fought it the only way I know how - with determination, by never giving up and never giving in,” Clinton told supporters in Kentucky.

Hillary Clinton - Queen of Denial

Posted on May 15, 2008

Although Clinton won West Virginia by a forty-one point margin, she still trails Barack Obama in pledged delegates, superdelegates and the popular vote. And now that John Edwards has given his support to Obama, Hillary is facing even more calls for her to withdraw from the race. Dawn Teo at The Huffington Post writes: ‘(Joe) Trippi’s admission that he wishes he had advised Edwards to stay in the race could be taken as a nod to Hillary Clinton that it’s ok to stay in the race, but I don’t think so. I think it was simply meant to soften the blow of these specific words: “Would he be grinding out delegates only to be in a position to cut a deal at the convention for his own gain?” Of course, Trippi will be on the media circuit over the next few days, answering questions about Edwards, and I’m sure this will come up. I’m betting that he’ll say over and over that Edwards exited the race for the good of the country - this will be a hint to Clinton.’

Hillary doesn’t take hints. But we do like that she said this yesterday: “I’m going to work my heart out for whoever our nominee is. Obviously, I’m still hoping to be that nominee, but I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that anyone who supported me understands what a grave error it would be not to vote for Senator Obama.”

Words of wisdom.

Edwards Endorses Obama

Posted on May 14, 2008

Former presidential candidate John Edwards said today that he is throwing his support behind Sen. Barack Obama. “The reason I’m here tonight is because the Democratic voters have made their choice, and so have I,” he told the cheering crowd.

A Monarch in the Wings

Posted on May 7, 2008

Although Clinton was handily trounced by Obama in the North Carolina primary, in Indiana she managed to wrestle a narrow victory from the man many are calling the presumptive Democratic nominee. Incredibly, Hillary’s anemic success in The Hoosier State prompted her to tell supporters, “it’s full-speed on to the White House!” CNN has this ominous addendum: “According to early exit polls, half of Clinton’s supporters in Indiana would not vote for Obama in a general election match up with Sen. John McCain.”

It’s uncertain whether Clinton could actually win the White House, or whether she would make a satisfactory president if that happened. But tenacious as she is, we do think Hillary would make an impressive sixteenth-century monarch.

Demystifying Obama

Posted on May 4, 2008

As we move closer to November, the Republicans will continue to play on voters’ fear of change by presenting Barack Obama as a disturbing enigma. The main stream media has, in fact, already started banging that drum. The Washington Post’s ominously titled “The Obama Enigma - Where Would He Lead America?” contains this bit of GOP-friendly rhetoric: “His campaign platform is orthodox liberal Democratic fare. So is Mr. Obama a standard liberal clad in the soothing language of inclusiveness?” After this they proceed to tear down their self-created straw man, only to build him up again, and then tear him down again. Such is the state of contemporary journalism. But the fact remains, Barack Obama is successful because - like Kennedy and Reagan and yes, even Bill Clinton before him (the ‘old’ Bill Clinton, not this new, shrill incarnation) - he speaks to the hopes and dreams of average Americans. He reaches out to the best in people, unlike Republicans who luxuriate in the fears of the white middle-class. Watch out! There’s a terrorist behind you! Illegal immigrants are after your jobs! The gays want to get married! Hide the children! Run for your lives! There’s really no mystery to Obama. The mystery is why GOPers keep trying to convince America that more of the same is a winning strategy.

And speaking of luxuriation. The McCain camp has been dining out for too long on the Reverend Wright controversy. Can they honestly not see the hypocrisy of this? Obama continues to denounce Wright’s statements while McCain is “proud of” the very Reverend John Hagee’s endorsement.’ Thanks, yer worshipful!

From the Veracifier:

As you’ll see, Hagee blames Hurricane Katrina on da gays! (Cue dirge music.) But isn’t it strange that one of the least affected areas in New Orleans was the French Quarter which, by his reasoning, should have suffered the worst?

Over at Slate, Christopher Beam speculates Why Jeremiah Wright’s Tour Is Good For Obama: “The furor over Wright so far is nothing compared with what Republicans will drum up in the fall. John McCain announced yesterday that despite hinting that he’d leave the Wright issue alone—he asked the North Carolina GOP not to air an ad denouncing Obama and Wright—he now thinks Wright is fair game.” Now why doesn’t that surprise me?

Tom Hanks endorses Barack Obama

Posted on May 4, 2008

Tom Hanks has released a semi-humorous video endorsement of Barack Obama for president. In the video he says, “I want Barack Obama to be the next president of our country. As an official celebrity, I know my endorsement has just made your mind up for you.”

Hillary Challenges Obama

Posted on April 27, 2008

Hillary Clinton challenged Barack Obama to an un-moderated debate today. She said, “Just the two of us, going for 90 minutes, asking and answering questions, we’ll set whatever rules seem fair.”

Obama declined the offer, stating that they’ve already had 21 debates. He did say that he is “more than happy to consider something after Indiana and North Carolina”.

Is he worried about debating Hillary without a moderator?

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