Clintonism Deemed Harmful

[drscott]

The Democratic race is interesting now that the "machine" candidate (Hillary Clinton) has gone negative on the "JFK-like" candidate, Obama. Seeing one of their own subjected to the kind of dirty tricks the Clintons have always used to gain power is sobering for many Democrats.

My mother is a typical older voter. She thinks of the Clinton years as a golden age of peace and prosperity, which is the same kind of mythological aura based on ignorance she surrounds FDR with. This base of support among the ignorant (let's call them "faith-based voters," since this tendency to sanctify politicians who purport to be for the Little People is based on faith over knowledge) is large and very visible in poll numbers, where Mrs. Clinton is much stronger among the uneducated and elderly.

Most thoughtful Democratic party insiders are aware that Mrs. Clinton will be the weaker candidate in the general election - she already loses to McCain in the polls, and this is before the Republican attack machine reminds voters of all of the incidents which show the Clintons to be willing to fake any emotion and tell any lie to be elected. I don't want to hear again about her taking bribes (in the form of prearranged winning commodities trades), firing and unjustly besmirching the reputations of White House travel office employees to favor friends, or handing out pardons for cash and favors, or covering up for Bill's predatory sex habits. Having all this come up again is just too tiresome for words, and it is surely better to go with a candidate who, while he may not have the experience of the Clintons, appears to have retained some personal integrity.

Comments

[fyellin.livejournal.com]

The aspect you consider Hillary's weakness, I think is her strength. The Republican attack machine is going to go after the candidate, no matter who it is. For Obama, they're certainly going to find some juicy tidbit to titillate the public.

For Clinton, this is old news. The Republicans have been digging up dirt on her for 16 years. There's nothing new that they can say that they haven't said half a dozen times already. The public will be bored.

I held my nose and voted for HRC. I like Obama, and I look forward to voting for him in eight or twelve years. But I don't think the nation's problems can be solved by getting everyone together and singing kumbaya.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

I guess where we disagree is your assumption that digging through Obama's life will find similar material to attack him on. I think there is almost nothing to find or we would have heard it from the Clinton camp - they have already tried "he's a Muslim, his middle name is Hussein!" and brought up his writings in kindergarten.

[fyellin.livejournal.com]

I don't think you've seen anything compared to what would come out in the campaign.

I honestly like Obama. If I were voting for who do I think I'd prefer to be stranded on a deserted island, it would be Barack in an instant. But I'm voting on who I think has the best chance of beating McCain (I think Obama will be eaten alive) and who will make the best president.

I note that neither of us mentions Edwards. We probably both hold similar feelings about him.