Re: This Primary Campaign Has Brought Out The Best And Worst In Me

Graham Kirby — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:53:00 -0000

Hey.. just come across this website and decided to make a few comments.

I'm an Anglo-Irish Hillary supporter. I am not American. I am not a woman and I am not black. I am a white Anglo-Saxon man. I will not go into my reasons for not supporting Obama (who I have seen on the political radar since circa 2003) but as he takes on the nomination I still have doubts as to whether he can win, but I hope and pray I am wrong.

First of all... you probably don't know much about UK blogging but you Americans rock at it. Our pathetic efforts seems just like that compared with yours.

As much as I really thought it was an excellent post, it was a shame that the comments did not live up to the standards the author hoped to inspire.

Yes, its been an ugly campaign but it has been ugly on both sides and from both candidates. I can mention plenty of my female friends (both British and American overseas) who have been appalled by Obama's dog-whistle sexism as well as the sexism shown by the American (and indeed British) media towards Hillary Clinton.

Senator Clinator has her faults - vast and numerous - of course and so does Obama. Clinton can be accused of stirring racism. And while Obama has never said anything directly sexist, he has made some questionable comments whose results have been to pigeon hole Clinton by her gender.

I am equally unsure exactly what Clinton has said that is directly racist?

1) The reference to Johnson and MLK was merely pointing out that the civil rights movement was given traction by a white man. Is that racist?

2) She never called for Obama's to be assassinated. She merely pointed out that Robert Kennedy was assinated in June while he was *campaigning*.

3) Bill Clinton (not Senator Clinton) pointed out that Jesse Jackson had won primaries. This is the remark I have most problem with and can find no justification.

4) Geraldine Ferraro said that Obama would not be where he was if he was white. But isn't that true? Its no bad thing. The black vote is hugely important as is the ethnic minority vote in general. To call this racist is unfair.

5) Senator Clinton has said that she commands a majority of white working class votes. Well, isn't it true? Isn't it a bit unfair to call that racist. Obama has a constituency (the black vote and the intellectual/liberal vote), Clinton has a consituency too. Obama has failed for the moment to win over the bloc.

Please judge Obama and Clinton by the same standards. They are both flawed. And while Clinton may have to make peace with America's black community. Obama has to make peace with women as well.

It is to be expected (on both sides). We are from early age conditioned to see by their differences to us and sometimes when we are not on the receiving end of stereotypes we can be insensitive.

I do not think Obama is sexist nor that the Clintons are racist. Both were just unfortunate to be placed in such a sensitive competition. In my view neither of them has emerged from the process very well, "sweetie". (I will not tell you what my American friend said when she heard that - although she does liek John McCain.)

Until Obama supporters acknowledge this, he will struggle to unite the Democrats.

Oh, and three final things. Its 5am here and I'm knackered. I just wanted to post something on this site as I appreciated the original comment. I would appreciate it if I was not subjected to the general abuse that seems to characterise the blogosphere - calm down guys: freedom carries responsibility with it and freedom of speech is too precious to be abuse and shouted down.

Also, don't gloat too early guys. I worked out from a poll of polls that at the moment its a much tighter race for Obama than it would have been if the positions had have been reversed. Obama might have beat the Clintons, but he is not yet President. A few years ago the best candidate was beaten by a non-entity from texas. I really have to thank you guys for that one by the way... (Oh. And before you point it out - I apologise on behalf of all of the United Kingdom for Blair, Thatcher and really bad teeth)

And also as someone who heralds from the emerald isle and also who has done work with HIV/AIDS in Africa, I'll always take my hat off to those Washington insiders, the Clintons....

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Re: This Primary Campaign Has Brought Out The Best And Worst In Me