Reverend Michael Pfleger Is Out Of Line On Hillary

The promise of a Barack Obama presidency is not that white people have been ruling and now black people are going to take over, the promise is that any person born in this country can grow up and aspire to be president, black, white, man, woman, anyone. A Barack Obama presidency is going to be a milestone for blacks, but it is also going to be a milestone for whites. Racism is not healthy for either side.

It has been my personal experience in New York City that the vast majority of people who support Barack just so happen to be white. These are not self-flagellating whites, or whites who lack confidence, or guilty whites, or white people who hate white people. These white people, their motives are positive and about the future. They are not supporting Barack because he is black, but because he is the best candidate. He inspires. He promises a future that these white people want to relate to. And they are not supporting Barack as white people, or they would be hostile to me when I show up for meetings, and they have not been so.

There is an understanding that this is not about race. This is a job application and Barack is applying. May the best, most qualified candidate win.

Hillary's tears in New Hampshire were not an act of racism. How ridiculous to suggest they were? (Hillary Cried, Women Responded, She Won) If she had lost in New Hampshire, this fight would have been over by February 5. That would have been total humiliation to Hillary, who she is, what her qualities are in terms of brain and heart, what she has already done, what she means to the women of America and the world. She was under enormous personal stress, and she cried. When I am under stress, I cry, what about you?

I have been one of those who has not been happy that I have had to choose between Barack and Hillary. If Barack had not run, I would have been as fanatically behind Hillary and I am on record saying so in real time. But I have tried to stay positive. (Switching To Obama)

Then I decided my first choice was a Barack-Hillary ticket, and my second choice was a Hillary-Barack ticket. And I thought we were headed towards a Barack-Hillary ticket and we still might be, but Hillary's Bobby Kennedy remark shook me. (Hillary's Bobby Kennedy Comment: Bitter Heart, Bad Taste)

We Can Put Hillary On The Ticket, But What Are We Going To Do With Bill Clinton?

The idea of the first woman president is the idea of taking gender relations in this country and across the world to new heights. The focus has to be on that gender agenda. You respect the democratic result and you realize you lost and then you go for the second best option: how to meld the gender agenda into a Barack presidency.

I am willing to give Hillary the benefit of doubt. All I know about her from before tells me she just meant to refer to the timeline. Bobby Kennedy was still campaigning in June. Don't push me over, don't ask me to quit. (But, Hillary, Quit)

When Barack Obama was running for the US Senate, Hillary once fought bad weather to fly over to make a campaign appearance for him. After Barack got elected, like Ted Kennedy, she showed him the ropes. Hillary is not my idea of a racist person. Besides, I personally know too many sexist and super sexist minority males to get too hard on Hillary.

The Barack loyalist in me says keep your running mate options open, the Hillary admirer in me says it is Hillary or it is nobody. It is not just about putting any random woman on the ticket. Hillary was the woman who got crucified in the 1990s. Hillary has been the woman who has embodied the aspirations of many women in 2008. It is Hillary or it is nobody.

Women have to express their feelings. And after they do that, they come around. Hillary and her supporters are understandably frustrated. They are having to face an outcome that they did not want, they did not foresee, they are refusing to face, and that denial is going to be a brief phase whose reality we are going to have to accept. I can understand that. I doubt I would have been any less frustrated if Barack had been the one who had lost the nomination battle. So we have to allow for the period of mourning. Then we have to allow for a period of healing. Then step three would be melding. We bring the party together. We make all the Hillary supporters feel this was no defeat. Barack's victory is theirs to share. We march ahead together.

Let's face it, race and gender are extremely volatile issues to talk about. We should be ready for more emotional, incendiary outbursts by more people. We can't get overly defensive when those outbursts take place. To get too defensive is to snuff out discussion on race and gender, and that is not a welcome attitude. We should encourage conversations on race and gender. We should not try to snuff out the emotional outbursts. Instead we should channelize. Those of us who think we can do better when talking about race and gender need to step out, step up, speak out, take charge.

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In The News

Democrats Push For Quick End To Nomination Battle Yahoo "By this time next week, it will all be over, give or take a day," Reid said Thursday. ..... Obama picked up two more superdelegates Friday, bringing him within 42 delegates of clinching the nomination ..... leads Clinton by 200 delegates. .... Obama stands to gain a minimum of roughly 20 delegates in the three remaining primaries .... even if he loses all three. ...... Obama's campaign is willing to give Clinton the major share of delegates from Florida and Michigan .... Nationally, Obama has developed a clear lead over Clinton — 54 percent to 41 percent
Obama rejects pastor in latest Church flap AFP
On Policy, Obama Breaks Little New Ground at The Washington Post
Obama used party rules to foil Clinton AP
Obama distances himself from another clergyman AP
Condi Rice enlists in Kiss Army AP

NASA Spacecraft Appears to Have Landed on Mars New York Times
Clinton speaks of faith in face of adversity The Associated Press just 51 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination. ....... "I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year's primary contest is nothing unusual," Clinton wrote. "But I was deeply dismayed and disturbed that my comment would be construed in a way that flies in the face of everything I stand for — and for everything I am fighting for in this election."
Hillary's Latest Delusion: It's Obama's Fault Houston Chronicle blamed the Obama campaign for Hillary’s remarks about Bobby Kennedy ...... "She was making a point merely about the time line." ....... "If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn't find offense to it, why is it that everybody else should?"
Clinton Camp Stokes RFK Flap by Blaming Obama Washington Post The Obama campaign, meanwhile, delivered a strong signal that it expects the nomination contest to wrap up in the next 10 days, after the final primaries. ....... Axelrod acknowledged, "There's an enormous amount of pride and investment in Senator Clinton among millions of women across this country" ........ a unity ticket
McCain Hosts Three Possible Running Mates Washington Post
Obama Stands In for Kennedy at Wesleyan New York Times
Michelle Obama is fair game Boston Globe
Clinton struggles to quell Kennedy furore Independent "Some took my comments entirely out of context and interpreted them to mean something completely different – and completely unthinkable," she wrote in a front-page commentary in The New York Daily News. "I want to set the record straight: I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year's primary contest is nothing unusual." ........ Charles Rangel, the New York congressman and a Clinton supporter, said that she had said "the dumbest thing you could have possibly said". ......... Mr Obama himself said Mrs Clinton had made an understandable mistake. "When you are campaigning for as many months as Senator Clinton and I have ...sometimes you get careless," he said. "I think that is what happened here." The son of the murdered Kennedy, Robert Kennedy Jnr, said he had not taken offence.
Clinton Soaks Up Warmth in Puerto Rico New York Times
Obama Reminds Grads What They Can Do for Country Washington Post

Hillary's Bobby Kennedy Comment: Bitter Heart, Bad Taste

Why Is There Secret Service Protection For White Male Presidents?

The Clintons should not think that they are going to force Barack to put Hillary on the ticket. I think Barack should put a woman on the ticket, but that woman need not be Hillary. Kathleen Sebelius would do just fine. (Running Mate) She might actually do better. She will bring a freshness to the scene that Hillary can't. There is a Clinton fatigue going on across the country.

Barack's first term is not going to be Bill Clinton's third term. Bill Clinton is an amazing political talent, but Barack is more amazing. (Bill Clinton In Top 10, Barack Obama In Top 5)

Hillary did the best she could. If this bitterness is about not having been able to advance the cause of gender, she needs to realize that preparing to be running mate would be the best thing to do on gender. Instead Hillary sounds like those West Virginia and Kentucky whites who votes against Barack in droves. Oh no a black guy is about to go to the White House.

And I am not worried that the groups that went for Hillary will not go for Barack. Iowa is not exactly Harlem, and we know how Iowa went. A Barack-Kathleen ticket will get all the voters that a Barack-Hillary ticket will. The party will unite just fine.

Besides Kathleen Sebelius has her own bonafides. She is more like Barack in that she has a track record of bringing Democrats and Republicans together.

One Senator and one Governor might also be a better mix than two Senators.

Hillary's Bobby Kennedy comment is like when Trent Lott made his lightning strike comment on Hillary herself. It is unfortunate.

And The British Left India On Their Own
Hillary's Racist Twang: Between Hope And Hard Work

This was not exactly Hillary's most progressive moment under the sun.

Smoothing Out Bobby's Rough Edges



Bobby For McCain's VP?
Bobby Jindal For President Of The United States 2016

No To Abortion

Roe V Wade will not overturned. So abortion will continue to be legal. But if you are staunchly against the very idea of abortion, what you do is you explore every possible way to make sure there are as few abortions as possible. You get into social programs, and sex education, and calls to abstinence.

Intelligent Design

If you are going to tell me you are for intelligent design, I am going to say I respect your religious beliefs. Christians say the Lord created this universe in six days, Muslims say seven. I respect both worldviews. I respect both religions.

The Dalai Lama has said every time new scientific views clash with his religious beliefs, he discards those religious beliefs. That is my religion Buddhism, but that does not have to be yours. I respect your religion, whichever it is.

No To Gun Control

Hunting should be cultivated as a sport. But then you don't need machine guns to go deer hunting. And urban areas are different from rural areas when it comes to guns. Noone is trying to ban hunting, but we all want lower crime rates.

Gay Marriage

Is the sex less good if it is called civil union as opposed to marriage? No discrimination based on sexual orientation is already the law of the land. The law has to be implemented.

In The News

WRAPUP 2-Obama empathizes with Clinton over Kennedy comment Reuters Clinton's remarks drew headlines and became a hot topic of debate on talk shows ..... There have long been concerns about the safety of Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president. The Illinois senator was given Secret Service protection 18 months before the November election -- earlier than any other candidate has received increased security. ...... Clinton's comment brought up the taboo topic of the possibility of a rival's assassination, and political analysts said the remark was a serious gaffe. .... "This is serious. It's more serious because there were already questions about why Hillary Clinton was still in the race and what she was hoping for," said Calvin Jillson ..... "What she articulated was the most catastrophic possibility," he said. Jillson said the reference to Kennedy's assassination made the chance of Clinton being asked to be Obama's vice presidential running mate even more unlikely.
Between McCain and Obama, it could get nasty AFP
Clinton Apologizes for Referencing 1968 Kennedy Assassination Voice of America She said she was trying to make the point that in 1968, candidates were still campaigning in June when Kennedy was killed.
Clinton says sorry for Robert Kennedy remarks Euronews.net
Obama: campaigning gets 'careless' TVNZ
Obama has lost women 'with sexist campaign' Telegraph.co.uk Miss Ferraro, the losing Democratic candidate for vice-president in 1984, said that she might abandon her lifelong party loyalties and vote for the Republican John McCain if Mr Obama is confirmed as the nominee. .......... Some other partisan female Clinton supporters have already insisted that they will either vote for Mr McCain or write the former First Lady's name on the ballot in November, in retaliation for her allegedly sexist treatment by the media and fellow Democrats. ....... Mrs Clinton blamed the media rather than the Obama campaign, saying: "It's been deeply offensive to millions of women." ....... Obama also apologised to a female reporter he called "sweetie" in an aside that received widespread coverage. ........ several women media commentators have responded to the "sexist" allegations by insisting that Mrs Clinton's downfall is due to a badly-run campaign.
Obama Says Clinton Meant No Offense With RFK Comment CBS News
Obama Says Clinton's RFK Comment Was Merely 'Careless' Washington Post
Barack Obama-Ted Kennedy bond intensifies Boston Herald Kennedy quickly recognized Obama’s commitment and star power and took the Illinois senator under his wing ......... the senators talk on the phone almost daily ..... “Barack seeks out his opinions and advice whenever he can” ...... Perhaps the most telling sign of their bond came this week when Kennedy, 76, had to back out as commencement speaker at Wesleyan University because of his health woes. Kennedy chose Obama to fill in for him in speaking to the graduates, one of whom will be Kennedy’s stepdaughter. ..... In accepting the invitation, Obama said, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.”
You Get Careless': Obama Blames Clinton RFK Quip on Stress of ... ABC News
Clinton apologises for Kennedy remark Irish Times
Clinton: Rewriting history with June hopes Baltimore Sun
Clinton Remark on Kennedy’s Killing Stirs Uproar New York Times
Obama accepts Clinton's explanation for RFK comment Chicago Tribune
Clinton remarks create new flap Seattle Times
Victim of Sexism? Women Rally 'Round Clinton ABC News
Hillary Clinton apologizes over Robert F. Kennedy remarks Los Angeles Times
How Clinton’s Comments Didn’t — Then Did — Catch Fire Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY
Killer gaffe: Hillary Clinton cites RFK assassination Boston Herald
Clinton apologizes for citing RFK killing Boston Globe
Clinton sorry for Kennedy gaffe Scotsman
Clinton apologises for Kennedy assassination remark Edmonton Sun
Clinton tries to move past Kennedy assassination comment AFP
Clinton raises spectre of assassination Globe and Mail
Clinton Apologizes for Reference to Bobby Kennedy Assassination Bloomberg
Clinton's RFK analogy: Made, withdrawn Baltimore Sun

Barack Obama wants Bill to heal Hillary Times Online, UK She quickly apologised, ashen-faced, for a comment which appeared dangerously close to wishful thinking about Obama, but the damage was done. ........ After the Kennedy gaffe, however, the implausible has become the unthinkable. ....... “It would be hard to take the country in a new direction with the Clintons in the White House,” a source in the Obama campaign said. “They bring controversy.” ....... They both came from lower-income families with a strong mother and went on to become very well educated and devoted their lives to public service. ..... Bill Clinton predicted last week that Chelsea, his 28-year-old daughter, could one day enter politics.
Barack Obama is master of the new Facebook politics Times Online, UK a generation that is now used to relating, thinking, talking and meeting online. ....... she missed the key element of the new politics: social networking. She was still AOL; Obama was Facebook. ....... “What’s amazing is that Hillary built the best campaign that has ever been done in Democratic politics on the old model – she raised more money than anyone before her, she locked down all the party stalwarts, she assembled an all-star team of consultants and she really mastered this top-down, command-and-control type of outfit. And yet she’s getting beaten by this political start-up that is essentially a totally different model of the new politics.” ......... It transformed its website into a social networking zone ....... One of the men Obama hired to set up this new effort certainly knew what he was doing: Chris Hughes is a co-founder of Facebook. ...... Obama’s campaign has in fact been the least elitist and most democratic fundraising operation in the history of American politics. ...... he has a huge list of names to ask for more. This is a money machine unlike any other. ......... open-source, web-based operation: the personal drain on a candidate is lessened ......... Everyone who wanted to get into the 75,000-strong rally in Portland, Oregon, last weekend had to provide an e-mail address. ....... By the time they came home from the event, an e-mail was waiting for them, asking them for money or for referrals to other friends, and encouraging them to form “affinity groups” to spread the network wider and wider. ......... No one had asked them. They were arranging the parties or performances or gatherings through Facebook and MySpace, without any formal leadership from Obama headquarters. ........... the online president of social-networking democracy is imminent.
To Claim Popular Vote, Clinton Is Seeking Wins in Last 3 Primaries Washington Post, United States
Clinton's Loyalists Say They're Also in the Race `to the End' Bloomberg
Obama picks up two delegates, Clinton one The Associated Press