The Philadelphia Inquirer printed yesterday an analysis of which Democrat candidate is the most electable, including whether Barack would be the stronger candidate because of his gender or Hillary the stronger candidate because of her race.
I detest using electability as the criteria for choosing candidates. To exclude Barack as the nominee because some voters are racist empowers racism; to exclude Hillary because of her gender empowers sexism. Instead of using electability as our selection criteria, let's support the candidate who we think would be the best President.
Certainly, any of the three candidates (Obama, Clinton, McCain) would be better than the existing President.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Clinton Survives PA
Pennsylvania gave Clinton a ten-point margin, much larger than the three or four point margin that I anticipated.
Ten points is big enough to be a convincing win, allowing Clinton to continue.
Two of the reasons behind Clinton's big margin:
Ten points is big enough to be a convincing win, allowing Clinton to continue.
Two of the reasons behind Clinton's big margin:
- The Pennsylvania party organization was solidly behind Clinton.
- Obama's stupid remark about small-town Pennsylvanians being bitter.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Pennsylvania's Hard-Fought Primary
Both sides are fighting for votes in Pennsylvania. You cannot watch any television -- broadcast or cable -- without seeing their ads. Although Obama has more ads running, you usually see ads from both sides.
Radio news and talk shows are also filled with reports, analysis, and interviews about the campaigns.
My better half received an Obama postcard mailing; I received a phone message with Hillary talking about her strengths. (The voice mail was of terrible quality, and droned on forever. It was not an effective way of contacting voters.). The lone political yard sign in our neighborhood is for Clinton. (Since we don't have front yards, our neighbor placed the sign in their front window).
On Saturday, we went to some tourist sights in the downtown area and we encountered a large group of volunteers distributing literature for Clinton and a lone volunteer distributing fliers for Obama. On Sunday, we went on errands (Lowe's and Home Depot, of course) in one of the suburbs and encountered a large group of Clinton volunteers at all corners of a strategic intersection. When we returned home, we found that an Obama volunteer had left literature on our doorstep.
This morning, we awoke to find on our door a reminder to vote, along with our polling location, and the polling hours on a door hanger about Obama. At noon, the Obama campaign left another reminder to vote on another Obama door hanger.
My observation is that Obama is outspending Clinton, and is out organizing her, using volunteers in very effective contacts that usually target voters who are registered as Democrats.
My prediction is if Clinton wins Pennsylvania, it will be by a very small margin. This is amazing, because just six weeks ago she was leading Obama in the polls by twenty points. But even if she wins here, she has lost the race. She is already having trouble raising money, and that problem will accelerate after today. I suspect she'll withdraw sometime in May.
Radio news and talk shows are also filled with reports, analysis, and interviews about the campaigns.
My better half received an Obama postcard mailing; I received a phone message with Hillary talking about her strengths. (The voice mail was of terrible quality, and droned on forever. It was not an effective way of contacting voters.). The lone political yard sign in our neighborhood is for Clinton. (Since we don't have front yards, our neighbor placed the sign in their front window).
On Saturday, we went to some tourist sights in the downtown area and we encountered a large group of volunteers distributing literature for Clinton and a lone volunteer distributing fliers for Obama. On Sunday, we went on errands (Lowe's and Home Depot, of course) in one of the suburbs and encountered a large group of Clinton volunteers at all corners of a strategic intersection. When we returned home, we found that an Obama volunteer had left literature on our doorstep.
This morning, we awoke to find on our door a reminder to vote, along with our polling location, and the polling hours on a door hanger about Obama. At noon, the Obama campaign left another reminder to vote on another Obama door hanger.
My observation is that Obama is outspending Clinton, and is out organizing her, using volunteers in very effective contacts that usually target voters who are registered as Democrats.
My prediction is if Clinton wins Pennsylvania, it will be by a very small margin. This is amazing, because just six weeks ago she was leading Obama in the polls by twenty points. But even if she wins here, she has lost the race. She is already having trouble raising money, and that problem will accelerate after today. I suspect she'll withdraw sometime in May.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Bitter?
Obama was quoted as describing small town voters as bitter. What Obama described incorrectly was the cause.
Elected officials and candidates are failing to talk about issues that are important to the voters. They ignore the rising energy prices, lack of consumer protections, and lack of job security, especially in a slowing or recessionary economy.
Health-care and sub-prime mortgages have been the only domestic issues covered by the candidates. NAFTA has also garnered talk, but the candidates failed to realize that NAFTA concerns were really concerns about economic security.
Other issues also beg to be addressed, including immigration reform, the environment (does anyone seriously believe that global warming isn't occurring?), and the unsustainably huge budget deficit.
Elected officials and candidates are failing to talk about issues that are important to the voters. They ignore the rising energy prices, lack of consumer protections, and lack of job security, especially in a slowing or recessionary economy.
Health-care and sub-prime mortgages have been the only domestic issues covered by the candidates. NAFTA has also garnered talk, but the candidates failed to realize that NAFTA concerns were really concerns about economic security.
Other issues also beg to be addressed, including immigration reform, the environment (does anyone seriously believe that global warming isn't occurring?), and the unsustainably huge budget deficit.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Obama and Race
The first African-American presidential candidate delivered a wonderful speech about race. With his mixed race background, Obama can understand and relate to both races. I also agreed when he declared that this country has never had a discussion about race.
To judge anyone's character on their skin color is as useful a measure as judging someone by their eye color.
I also thought he was courageous to continue to associate with the minister who caused the racial controversy. In effect, Obama said some things (interpersonal relationships) were too important to politicize.
Kudos to him for a thoughtful, compassionate, and balanced speech about this extremely difficult subject.
To judge anyone's character on their skin color is as useful a measure as judging someone by their eye color.
I also thought he was courageous to continue to associate with the minister who caused the racial controversy. In effect, Obama said some things (interpersonal relationships) were too important to politicize.
Kudos to him for a thoughtful, compassionate, and balanced speech about this extremely difficult subject.
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