So racial issues are the most compelling issues in the 2008 presidential electioN?

[OzarkDem]

Are we getting sidetracked here?

Are we going to focus national discourse in this presidential election season on issues like:

Getting out of Iraq

Balancing the budget

Protecting social security

Universal health care

Poverty, jobs and declining wages

Energy crisis

Protecting the Constitution

Is the whole Obama/Rev Wright flap just another red herring to keep Democrats from focusing on the most critical problems our country is facing?

Just wonderin'

[anonymous171]

1. According to Hillary, Ayers, flag pins, and yes, Wright ARE the issues.

[OzarkDem]

3. Hillary is trying to talk about critical issues

but everyone seems to be trying to divert attention from them.

[anonymous171]

6. During the last debate Hillary seemed to be doing the opposite.

[AquarianRealm62]

13. I didn't get the let's talk about the issues vibe from her during the last debate..sorry

[SoCalDem]

15. oh please

[Starbucks Anarchist]

17. Yes, Bittergate and William Ayers are critical issues.

:eyes:

[OzarkDem]

24. Suggest you take a look at her speeches

and interviews.

Let us all know how many times she's mentioned this topic in recent months.

She HAS been talking about other issues, about her experience and readiness for office.

She' hasn't been talking about Wright.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

26. She mentioned it on the campaign trail and in the debates.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. Then why do you focus so much on sexism?

Surely, it can't be as important as those other issues. :sarcasm:

[OzarkDem]

4. Because women voters are interested in the critical issues

and they're wanting to make sure we all focus on them. Yet they're being minimized with the Obama/GOP "divide and conquer strategy".

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. And black voters aren't?

:shrug:

[Zhade]

33. So you don't think ongoing racial divisions and discrimination are critical issues?

Can't say I'm surprised.

[OzarkDem]

51. No more so than women's issues

and no, they're not more important than the energy, economic, health care and foreign policy crises that we're facing now.

Whoever is pushing these red herring issues now is doing so to muddy the waters of the campaign and distract voters from focusing on more important issues.

[rodeodance]

52. just as sexism is a critical issue.

[cottonseed]

5. If it wasn't the Clinton's would have nuthin.

This thing's over. I just hope Hillary and Bill can get their image put back together. It's a shame the biggest name in the Democratic party turned himself into stinky attack dog for his wife.

[jasmine621]

9. If it wasn't , Obama would have nothing. He would be history right now

if only 40% of the Black vote were taken from him

It was about race the day Obama announced.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

12. Yes, all the black people in Iowa, Idaho and other similar states.

[cottonseed]

18. Then thank goodness for the black vote!

It helped this country avoid the national nightmare of a Clinton/McCain election. This time, the good people of America will get the President they deserve.

[TheDoorbellRang]

29. I will be forever grateful to the black voting bloc

The thoughts of her in the White House make my stomach roil.

[Zhade]

35. Indeed, I salute them for not falling for her lies.

NT!

[OzarkDem]

40. WTF?

What are you talking about? Are you sure you aren't on the wrong forum? This is a Democratic forum, not a Republican/Green Party/Libertarian forum.

[cottonseed]

34. Start watching at 2:55

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=166850&title=indecision-2008-clintons&tag=generic_tag_hillary_clinton&itemId=104903

[OzarkDem]

11. Clinton is focusing on experience and national issues

Obama and the GOP are the ones focusing on racial issues.

[cottonseed]

20. I don't believe that is the case.

I also believe I share this view with a majority of the Super Delegates which have and will continue to gravitate to Obama.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

22. Then why does Hillary keep bringing up Wright to the SDs?

[OzarkDem]

25. Got a link?

One with a quote from her?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

30. She didn't deny it when asked.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/03/clinton-doesnt.html

Why couldn't she just deny it if it wasn't true?

And she certainly has no problem bringing it up with Richard "The Clintons killed Vince Foster" Scaife:

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/hillary_wright_would_not_have.php

[OzarkDem]

42. I think I'm putting you on ignore

Grow up, son.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

45. Put me on ignore when I proved you wrong throughout this thread?

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/ickes_confirms_hes_been_pushin.php

And you still didn't answer me above, so go ahead and run away when you're confronted:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5711284&mesg_id=5711380

:eyes:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

37. Oh, look at what I found:

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/ickes_confirms_hes_been_pushin.php

Harold Ickes Confirms That Wright Is Key Topic In Discussions With Super-Delegates
By Greg Sargent - April 1, 2008, 3:25PM

In an interview with me this morning, senior Hillary adviser Harold Ickes confirmed that Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a key topic in discussions with uncommitted super-delegates over whether Obama is electable in a general election.

The comments from Ickes, who is Hillary's chief delegate hunter, are to my knowledge the first on-the-record confirmation from a Hillary adviser that the Wright controversy is a subject in conversations between the Hillary campaign and the super-delegates her advisers are trying to win over to Hillary's side.




*CRICKETS*

[Zhade]

36. So you think it's a BAD thing to talk about racial issues?

NT!

[newmajority]

8. The most important issue in this election

is ending the 28 year corporatist, fascist enabling, middle class shrinking, constitution shredding, downward toilet spiral of this country which has been brought upon us by the BushClinton dynasty.

And that includes the economy, the occupation, and everything else we are now dealing with because of those sorry sons of bitches.

And we simply cannot end that destruction by keeping those responsible for it in office.

[OzarkDem]

14. So why is Obama taking money from corporations to talk only about race?

Just wonderin...

[cali]

41. link, please. YOU demand others provide links and arrogantly

you make one outlandish claim after another without providing a link. Do it, Baghdad Bobette.

[Condem]

10. The longer this thing goes, Ozark

The bigger IT becomes.

[Cali_Democrat]

16. Clinton wants to talk about Wright

She said she thinks the Wright issue is a legitimate concern that super delegates should consider. She said Wright would not have been her pastor and she would have got up and walked out of the church.

In the last debate she said that the Ayers association was yet another "concern." Hillary is playing that game while Obama wants to discuss issues.

[OzarkDem]

19. When has she talked about Wright lately?

She has been focusing on the issues, unlike Obama who keeps playing the race card at the expense of talking about the problems facing our country.

Red herring.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

32. In case you missed it upthread, she talked about it with Scaife:

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/hillary_wright_would_not_have.php

[mmonk]

21. The old story of having everyone divided

and distracted while they finish off the constitution.

[OzarkDem]

27. Yep

Those red herring issues are playing out nicely for the GOP and corporate candidates.

[FrenchieCat]

23. Well during Bill Clinton's run, the only thing that was discussed was hope and

adultery, by the name of Genifer Flowers.

[PBS Poll-435]

50. Ooooooh! SNAP!

:eyes:

[Lady-Damai]

28. Well, if Bill Clinton never opened his stupid racist mouth....

Race issue started in South Carolina. Bill Clinton is the one who ignited the flame.

[OzarkDem]

43. He said nothing racist

and that's been shown already.

The whole thing is a diversion to pump up Obama and keep everyone from focusing on his GOP-lit record and lack of experience.

He truly is the junk food of political candidate.

[Zhade]

31. Maybe. Ask your lying candidate who pushed this manufactured out-of-context scandal.

Or ask your mirror for aiding in the race-baiting.

[bridgit]

38. I don't think it was about race as soon as Obama announced, as was mentioned above...

Many were waiting to see what Barack Obama had to say to them, and the people they care for.

Many Americans voters understood clearly enough why his support has been so solid within the AA community of voters across the nation. It must be nice to have a candidate you can relate to on so personal, so societal, so religious, and philosophical a level as Obama offers to some. I know I'm still waiting for that candidate. And it furthers no point to assert that because I am white, I therefore have already "had my candidate", still...

My read is that this primary has become too much about race. Yes, others would contribute; but as well and in no small measure in that Obama supporters have been insinuating that people that are not voting for BHO are racist by default. Leaving out all but the 'you are a racist', some of the insinuations even here at DU are not so veiled. Or too mysterious to understand.

These non-mysterious, not so veiled insinuations have been propagating through the body politic of America for months now. It is folly to believe/think that only one (1) group has chickens out there just waiting to come home to roost. And that that group just happens to be your opposition, or enemy. Never including yourself, or the people around you. Folly to believe that such insinuations will not gather import causing others to turn their heads at more than was intended. And now it is about race when many were waiting for issues instead,

HRC spoke on issues & solutions very early on, and in mind-numbing detail; while BHO stood amidst cheer-leading university pom-poms again for months on end offering the re-appropriation of war funding for college tuition & scholarships to lingering, tumultuous cheers all round. A twin spin/double two-fer. The rooms fell more silent when he mentioned "work" and, "building things". But Obama understood his audience as being somewhat cloistered. He had yet to come out and speak to the land.

In the absence of issues, America, it is my further sense; her attention being short & easily drifted...the one thing America will entertain for certain is a good old fashioned smack-down. Like the kind we see here at DU, or on WWF. A back/forth, up/down, push/pull, right/left, salt/pepper, good guy/bad guy, good cop/bad cop, white...black smack-down congratulations!

The racist insinuations have worked, the race baiting has worked; it is now all about race. What is not clear is why so many did not see this coming, when they've been actively rolling into the belly of this cul-de-sac for months now.

[OzarkDem]

39. Obama early on chose to focus on the race issue

as a tool to deflect criticism of his lack of experience. He was the first to bring it up and continues to do so in some form or fashion every news cycle of this campaign. It has taken over the entire campaign, especially now when the diversion plays in Obama's favor. He's been aided in this process by the GOP, unfortunately.

We don't see endless news coverage of people discussing sexism, but we do see endless news discussion of the latest faux racism scandal or the latest faux scandal over counting (or not counting) delegates.

Obama and his surrogates have done a masterful job of preventing the public from discussing critical issues.

Gone is our opportunity to use the campaigns as a forum to address the many crimes of the Bush administration.

Gone is our opportunity to have a detailed national discussion about getting out of Iraq.

Gone is our opportunity to educate the public about returning to proven solutions for the US economy

Gone is our opportunity to have a serious discussion of our future energy policy.

Its a disgrace, and no, Hillary Clinton had nothing to do with it.

[psychmommy]

44. hilly has everything to do with it.

her kitchen sink strategy has included race. ed rendell wasn't being racial in pa?-that was quite blatant. ferraro blatant. the tactic is to scare white people with racist garbage and stereotypes. the angry black man was a favorite on du. she can't win without stealing and negativity. she should step out and stop with the bullcrap. party over personal. i am expected to vote party over my personal opinions. our party leaders should be held to the same standard. if she does not abide by party first then i will not either.

[TragedyandHope]

46. Obama has been trying to get that point across throughout this campaign

Is the whole Obama/Rev Wright flap just another red herring to keep Democrats from focusing on the most critical problems our country is facing?

This is exactly what Obama is talking about when he tries to get people to recognize divisive distractions and wedge issues for what they are.

Hillary is a woman. Obama is black. The record turnout in this Primary season has shown that most Americans simply want the best leader regardless of sex or color.

Unfortunately, there are a still few, including the MSM and Rethug troublemakers (especially those who can reach in and stir up things on the Democratic side), who wish to draw attention to the race issue and blow it far out of proportion, to distract from more pressing and universal issues facing the country which could threaten their own interests. Sure, there is still some lingering bigotry, but my guess is that the majority of those that are fanning the flames on this issue are using it even more callously and cynically as a purely political tactic to satisfy their own ends.

[OzarkDem]

48. Its being fed by MSM and GOP

but Obama is the one who let the genie out of the bottle when he started trying to play games of "race-gotcha" with Hillary and Bill Clinton early in the primary campaign. Axelrod apparently felt the best way to neutralize Bill Clinton's popularity and gravitas on the campaign trail was to falsely brand him as a racist.

It was a clever strategy considering most of Obama's base are people who were too young to know better, but now he can't put the genie back in the bottle. Dumb move on his and Axelrod's part, now they're suffering the consequences.

[TragedyandHope]

53. Well, I disagree on the question of who played the card first and with what intent

Obama is black, so it was going to come out sooner or later. During this Primary season, the Obama campaign has always been quick to address issues as they come up. Being generous, Bill's remarks were at best, condescending and impolitic. I think Obama's campaign jumped in to neutralize the dismissive pigeonholing of their candidate. Obama is running on a universal message (whether you buy it or believe or not), and he has been steadfastly avoiding being forced into a marginalized box, to the chagrin of various smaller factions of the party that don't feel he is adequately addressing their specific issues. (Yes, he is even getting these complaints from the black community and black press.)

Even before South Carolina, these racial undercurrents where already there within the media and coming from Right Wing whispering campaign emails and such. As I recall, some less scrupulous, lower level members of the Clinton campaign were dismissed for latching onto and spreading some of the RW bile.

In the same way that McCain can have it both ways by denouncing the recent NC GOP ad, appearing to be above the fray and respectable, while at the same time he unquestionably benefits from the negative message, I think that the Clinton campaign has also clearly benefited from playing both side of this issue (with implied racism and by casting themselves as victim of reverse-racism).

Clinton has made political hay out of fear of race and fear of the unknown, with the "he's not like us" undercurrent to her campaign.

Personally, I believe that she has done herself more harm than good by pushing away loyal Democratic black voters and longtime Clinton supporters in exchange for gaining a few votes from the "I wouldn't trust a black man in the White House" crowd.

[Armstead]

47. For once, I agree with you

[Texas Hill Country]

49. yeah, well, thank Wright for that.

[Moochy]

54. "Are we getting side tracked here?"

"Mission accomplished."

[madrchsod]

55. really... i did`t notice....

oh well time to clean up the house and wash some clothes...maybe the adults will be on when i check back later