Make or Break Time for the Democratic Party.

[rateyes]

If anyone believes that in the event Barack Obama loses the nomination because of the vile attacks being made on his character because of the remarks of another individual that allowed the "guilt by association race card" to be played by whomever first played it, and that Hillary Clinton can win the General Election, in my opinion, that someone is living in la la land.

Speaking as a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, liberal as the day is long, Democratic die-hard, I can tell you that I am angry that this might very well happen. And, if it does, it will take a lot to get me in the voting booth in November. If racism loses this nomination for Obama, as angry as I would be, how much angrier will black folk be?

Think about this. John McCain and Mike Huckabee have both stood up and squarely defended Barack Obama's character. While Hillary Clinton has not attacked Obama on this issue, neither has she made the kind of supportive statements that McCain and Huckabee have. In fact, yesterday, in speaking about the debacle of the Michigan primary Senator Clinton made a veiled reference to the controversy by saying that "regardless of where one worships or the color of one's skin, their vote ought to count." That sounds good. But, would she have made that kind of statement absent the controversy that now swirls around Obama because of where he worships and the color of his skin? It makes me wonder.

McCain saying what he did about Obama, and Huckabee backing that up is smart politics on their part. They know that this squabble has the power to break the back of the Democratic Party. And, if the black community feels that McCain has recognized the depth of character in Obama that Clinton hasn't, Hillary can kiss the black vote goodbye. And, there is no Democrat that is going to win without the support of the black community. You can take that to the bank.

My fellow Democrats, I know that there are many who want their favorite candidate to win the nomination at all costs. But, winning the primary hand using the race card as the Joker will lose the General Election for us. You know I'm speaking the truth.

So, before those of you who want to keep attacking Obama because of his pastor, or attacking Clinton because of Ferraro, and want to keep playing either the race card or the sex card (because playing that card will lose the women's vote in the GE), please stop and think about what you are doing to the party, and what that will mean for the country.

Do you want an even more conservative Supreme Court? Do you want Roe v. Wade overturned? Do you want a Constitutional "Marriage Amendment?" Do you want the right wing religious bigots to take full control of the country?

Think about it.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Hillary could have knitted the party back together, black and white,

with a classy statement or speech denouncing the Wright issue, while at the same time strongly distancing herself from Ferraro's remarks. But because she doesn't care about the party, doesn't care about blacks now that they're not voting for her in the primary, deosn't care about Obama, doesn't care about anything except herself and winning, we can't expect anything like grace and class and honor and leadership. We can instead expect her to stay silent, hoping to reap the benefits of a smear campaign. I will never, ever vote for her, not even for dog catcher.

[rateyes]

2. She missed an opportunity, that's for sure.

[babylonsister]

3. I have thought about it, and I agree. Where are any Dems

denouncing this? Are they waiting to see how this will play out? This isn't a game. The republicans have taken the high road; what's our excuse?

[kikiek]

4. If the roles were reversed would Obama come to Hillary's defense? NO! I don't believe for a second

he would. In fact he has allowed her to be painted as a racist this entire campaign without coming to her defense. Why? Because he started them. It is part of his campaign strategy. Anyone who denies that is blinded by their Obama love. He is as, if not more, responsible for what is going on in this primary.

[rateyes]

5. Right. I have heard Obama in debates defending Hillary.

I've watched them all.

[kikiek]

6. As has Hillary with the same level of enthusiasm.

[rateyes]

9. Keep it up.

All this accomplishes is the slitting of our own throat.

[kikiek]

10. What do you think you're doing? Saying Hillary can't win the GE is fatalistic.

And untrue but repeated endlessly by the RW along with divisive. All you're saying is it is ok to slam Hillary, but Barak is beyond reproach.

[rateyes]

12. You didn't read my post, did you?

Else, you wouldn't have made such an unsubstantiated charge. I'm talking pragmatically. Tell me how Hillary wins without the black vote.

[kikiek]

13. Tell me how you know she won't get it.

[rateyes]

15. I stated my opinion on this in the post. Have you read it?

What makes you think she will get it if she doesn't defend Obama the way McCain has?

[kikiek]

20. Why should she defend him. He needs to explain it himself because only he knows his

beliefs and relationships. Not to mention they are running against each other. McCain and Huckabee aren't. And if you think that won't pop up later if he runs against McCain because of what McCain said, you're in lala land. All the hype about who will or won't vote if someone does or doesn't get the nomination is just that, hype. You state that Hillary won't win. So what is being misread? It is a backhanded slap. You claim to worry about November, yet still slam Hillary.

[rateyes]

23. I live in the real world,

and I'm simply speaking the truth as I see it. Perhaps I'm wrong. It's been known to happen. I don't think I am, though. You don't see how this has the potential to drive black voters away from the party? If not, tell me why.

[kikiek]

27. I believe that people will see, no matter which

candidate wins, who will fix the problems for all people not just blacks or whites. I believe people will see which candidate wants to get us out of the Iraq war, and which one wants to start more wars. I believe people will see which candidate will start working to lessen the oil dependence, create jobs, allow unions to form, stop the pilfering of the middle class. I believe this presidency will ultimately be decided on issues. And Hillary will win the voters support. She is smart and articulate and has ideas and plans. She will be able to unite the voters behind her.

[Voice for Peace]

32. Not only black voters; newly registered young voters, progressive voters, independents. n/t

[wileedog]

16. Are you for real?

The only way she wins the nomination is by sliming to death the first legitimate black presidential candidate, overturning the vote through SDs, and you think they are just going to forgive and forget?

[tabasco]

7. If the SDs make Hillary the nominee,

it will be the end of the Democratic party as we know it. It will no longer be an opposition party to the republicans but in partnership with them.

I'm a 50-year old Obama "kid" who has been a Democrat since I was 10, handing out pamphlets for Hubert Humphrey.

I am thoroughly disgusted with H. Clinton's filthy smear campaign. She continues to hide her records from Democratic voters as she smears Obama with the most vile tactics.

[rateyes]

8. If Obama ran on a 3rd party ticket with

a Bloomberg, or a Hagel, etc. we might actually see a third party win an election.

[TwilightGardener]

11. He won't, though--Obama would never do that to the Dem party. He is more loyal

to the party than the party is to him, apparently.

[rateyes]

14. I wouldn't blame him if he did. nt

[wileedog]

17. There may not be much left of the party

If the SDs overturn the vote.

I certainly have zero desire to stay in a DLC run Democratic party if a valid alternative forms.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Weird--I just said pretty much the same thing in this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=108&topic_id=127579&mesg_id=127580

[yodermon]

31. Hillary is more likely to go 3rd party than Obama.

IMHO.
She's entitled, after all.

[UALRBSofL]

19. OP, let me tell you about Huckabee.

I know Huckabee. He is from my home state. When he defended Wright I about jumped out of my skin. Huckabee is a snake in sheeps clothing. I have said this on DU every time someone on here says "Oh, I like Huckabee". When he said that yesterday I just kept my mouth shut but was thinking "what is up with this"? Now that you brought it up, trust me you hit the nail on the head. Huckabee is not a person that ever agrees with a democrat and is a die-hard rethug. This defense of Wright was no afterthought, it was on purpose. Thanks for bringing this up.

[TwilightGardener]

21. Huckabee refuses to release his own sermons, and the stuff that did

get leaked from his preacher days showed an awful lot of hate against certain groups--it's all self-interest. He doesn't want the "Wright" treatment. He is nothing but a self-serving asshole.

[rateyes]

24. Yep. Everything is a political calculation,

and the "right thing" gets lost in the ciphering.

[Dhalgren]

22. Democratic Party - R.I.P.

As Truman said, why vote for someone who acts like a Republican, when you can just vote for the Republican?

Both Clinton and Obama are very corporate candidates - either one is better than McCain, but that's all, just 'better'. As long as the Democratic Party continues to be the "Conservative-Lite" Party it will continue to be on the decline. This election cycle might just finish the ancient, lumbering old thing off completely...

[rateyes]

25. That's what I fear.

That's why I'm so angry that the leadership has shown no spine in going after impeachment articles, etc.

[UALRBSofL]

26. Spineless is an understatement

Pelosi et'al should be ashamed. They sure let the rethugs go after Bill, but, they have no spine to go after Bush/Cheney/Rove. It makes me mad.

[Dhalgren]

28. And not only that. We could talk about the years of spinelessness

but just the last six months is illustrative of where this Party is. Every other candidate was encouraged to exit the campaign so that it would be a Clinton/Obama fight. That was just a completely ridiculous move by the Party. As long as there were multiple players going into the convention the Party had a good chance of remaining coherent, because the "camps" were not as large and civility had to be maintained by all in order to lure opponents to your camp. The way the Party has allowed this race to play out has been a disaster...

[Skip Intro]

29. Wright will be an issue in November whether we bury our heads in the sand now or not.

This guy has listened for 20 yrs to his spiritual advisor who says things like, "God Damn America."

The repukes will use it in November, and they will win in a landslide, if Obama is the nom.

Willful ignorance of that political reality will not change it.

[Skidmore]

30. I fully understand your anger, and I agree with your sentiments.

Our family, too, will not support a candidate or the party if the candidacy derives from this base and vile manipulation of racism. We will not support a party that fails to live up to its stated values.