Talk of the Nation's Political Junkie segment today took advantage of Obama's vacation to focus only on Clinton's reasons for continuing her campaign. Matt Bai, filling in for the vacationing pundit, used Clinton's talking points to justify her continued campaign and her "take no prisoners" tactics. The guest, whose name I didn't catch, was an out and out Clinton partisan, and justified Clinton's tactics to counter the meme that women are always expected to give in.
I am trying to write at least one "letter" per day to praise or question something I hear or see on the media as a way of reaching out beyond my circle of friends and Daily Kos. My comment to TOTN is after the break.
I would appreciate comments to make my letters more effective. And does this seem like a useful strategy? Is it something others are doing, too?
Dear TOTN,
Are you planning to have Obama supporters next week to balance today's partisan, one-sided opinions about whether or not Clinton should continue her campaign?
Clinton has run out of money and her rich contributors are maxed out; she has run an inexplicably ineffective campaign; she has not produced her tax returns, her earmarks, or Bill's list of contributors and business contacts; she has padded her resume; she is behind in states, votes, and delegates; and she is hated by the more than 50% of the population who would never vote for her. Despite her assertions to the contrary, she has not been vetted - else why the secrecy about her records? Is this the time, with all our challenges, for another four or eight years of searching for records?
Clinton has learned she can only win with dirty tricks and by knee-capping her opponent, and now she is working on that, no matter what the cost to her reputation and to the nation. Even her husband's reputation has been tarnished in the process. Please tell me how she is good for the Democratic Party, and why she should stay in the race.
If she were a less divisive person, I would agree with her staying in the race because I really do think it's good for voters to have their say and to participate. However, her campaign tactics are damaging the Party and the leading candidate without promoting her own platform. None of the other Democratic candidates had to destroy the rest of the field while trying to win the nomination. Why does she? Because she believes she has a right to the nomination or because she REALLY wants to win? What arrogance!
I am an enthusiastic Obama supporter, contributor, and campaign volunteer. I believe his pragmatic strategy of hope, justice and reconciliation is what we need for the future. He has obviously been well vetted, because Clinton has resorted to vetting his minister, based on 3 minutes selected from 30 years of sermons.
It is time for Hillary to concede - she has run a terrible campaign, she has lost the election, now she is undermining the party and demonstrating that she could not be an effective President, even if she could be elected. For the country's sake, for the Party's sake, she must concede.
I hope the Political Junkie will cover some of these issues next week on TOTN.
xxx
Updated. The guest was Leslie Bennett, h/t to Julia C