To the Democrats’ Campaigns, A Word of Advice…
Do you know what word I’m already well and truly sick of hearing being bandied about with respect to the Democrats? “Surrogate.” Hillary’s “surrogate” said this. Obama’s “surrogate” said that. The remarks of the candidate’s “surrogate” or “surrogates” are attributed to the candidate, creating the need for candidates to surround themselves with supporters who are at all times completely reasonable, articulate, discreet, and in control of their emotions. Yeah: good luck with that.
The “surrogate” notion seems to extend not only to employees and designated official campaign mouthpieces (e.g., Bill Clinton), but also to close friends, supporters, well-wishers—persons over whom the candidates doubtless have at best only slight control. Now we have bickering not only between the campaigns but also between the candidates’ so-called “surrogates.”
Angela Winters earlier noted, “Their campaigns and supporters, who are the ones who really created this ‘race war,’ won’t shut up. They’ve lost sight of what is best for their candidate and fallen into the ‘just attack the other side’ trap that most campaigns seem to eventually fall into.”
Yes, and the campaigns and the “surrogates” need to shut up NOW, before they ruin it for their candidates, for Democratic voters, and for everyone else. In a race where many people like all three candidates and are having a hard time deciding, a personal attack on another candidate is a two edged sword. Each time “the Obama campaign” has a go at Hillary (or vice-versa), I dislike both Obama and Hillary a little more. Ditto the Edwards campaign.
And though I try very hard to separate statements by the candidates from those of their “surrogates” and supporters, it’s difficult to do because of the way the media insists on merging them with the candidates.
The racism accusations and innuendos are particularly toxic. Is this what the campaigns think ordinary Democrats want: to see one Democrat bash another for racism or for “racial insensitivity”? Wrong, wrong, wrong. Suppose “racially insensitive” Hillary gets the nomination? How do you back away from “Hillary Clinton might be a secret racist!” to “Hillary Clinton for president!”?
All the candidates have track records on civil rights. To select a candidate who will take a strong position on civil rights, all a voter need do is examine the candidates’ records. In other words, their standing on the “comparative racism” scale really ought to matter less than what they’ve done and are prepared to do to protect and further the civil rights of minorities.
But of course it’s much more fun—and much easier—to play “Gotcha!” than it is to delve into facts or to examine the candidates’ platforms, not only for the campaigns and “surrogates,” but also for the press. So I am not optimistic that the destructive, tedious, ugly sniping back and forth is going to stop anytime soon.
Angela Winters again, this time on Mr. Rangel’s recent remarks: “Is it possible that Hillary thinks if she can sic her ‘black supporters’ on Obama, that it protects her against the backlash? It’s more likely she had nothing to do with this, but she really needs to get a handle on those people claiming to support her.”
Yes, she does, doesn’t she? But how? I doubt anyone on the planet, including Hillary Clinton, could stop Bill Clinton, Andrew Cuomo, or Robert L. Johnson from expressing themselves.
And Obama seems to be having equal difficulty stopping his “camp” from trying to wring some sort of meaning adverse to Clinton out of statements that on their face are free of any racist content or intent.
Here’s an idea: the candidates encourage their “campaigns” to give each other the benefit of the doubt on touchy issues of racism and sexism and focus on showing voters why their candidate is going to make a happier world for us than the other two if elected president. In other words, how about some actual political discourse that allows us to thresh out the real issues so we can make a reasoned choice? How’s that for a plan?
opinions powered by SendLove.to
10 Responses to “To the Democrats’ Campaigns, A Word of Advice…”
Clinton camp, Obama camp, Clinton campaign proxies, Obama campaign proxies…
[...] Damozel wrote an interesting post today on To the Democratsâ?? Campaigns, A Word of Adviceâ?¦Here’s a quick excerptSuppose “racially insensitive” Hillary gets the nomination? How do you back away from “Hillary Clinton might be a secret racist!” to “Hillary Clinton for president!”? All the candidates have track records on civil rights. … [...]
[...] the Democrats’ Campaigns, A Word of Advice… January 15th, 2008 hillary clinton wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI doubt anyone on the planet, [...]
Good article. Makes me wonder what candidates did in the old days to keep their minions in order? I'm guessing the sensibilities were just a lot more coherent and cohesive then. Bottom line: The buck stops at the candidate, and they are the ones who will ultimately be held to account. Yup, the”surrogates Need. To. Shut. Up!
[...] DAVE DIAL wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSuppose “racially insensitive” Hillary gets the nomination? How do you back away from “Hillary Clinton might be a secret racist!” to “Hillary Clinton for president!”? All the candidates have track records on civil rights. … [...]
I agree with Dan Abrams and Rep. John Lewis on this one.
The public record clearly demonstrates that both of the Clinton's comments were policy-based and substantive. They addressed Obama's Iraq Senate voting record, as well as the important role of an experienced political operative, like Johnson, in affecting change.
The idea that these comments are in any way racist is absurd.
Less clear is why Jesse Jackson Jr. appeared on MSNBC for the Obama campaign and said:
“But those tears also have to be analyzed. They have to be looked at very, very carefully in light of Katrina, in light of other things that Mrs. Clinton did not cry for, particularly as we head to South Carolina where 45% of African-Americans who participate in the Democratic contest, and they see real hope in Barack Obama.”
I have to agree with Mr. Jackson in one sense, it is indeed all about South Carolina.
And while Obama may benefit from the race card in South Carolina, it will hurt him down the road with Reagan Democrats, Hispanics, and Asians.
The only thing right-thinking people hate more than racism, is when people cry racism where none ever existed.
Good post and I agree.
JSSpencer: oddly, in the time of Abraham Lincoln, in what was the established traditions of the day, the candidates did not campaign for President. They stayed home and their supporters (dare I say surrogates?) campaigned. It was considered demeaning to campaign actively. Maybe they were right. And Lincoln could not control what his handlers and surrogates said any more than today's candidate can control all of his/her minions and supporters. Then again, some supporters are so valuable you cannot even cut them loose unless they say something so outrageous that it shocks the conscience (like a Robert Johnson for example who no man or woman has ever been able to control).
But hey its a tough campaign with formidable opponents with a lot at stake. We would not have been able to get through it without facing gender AND race, and we probably arent done with it yet because, regardless of a truce with Clinton and Obama, the Repubs will have something to say about it all before they surrender the presidency.
Just keep thinking Supreme Court baby…supreme Court. Thats what it is all about in the end, the right to choose the members of a co-equal branch of government.
Hey, we haven't heard from Al Gore yet. Whose camp is he in? [grin]
Meanwhile, did Hillary “Diebold” Clinton steal New Hampshire?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2008/01/…
(I think it was just a case of bussing in several extra voters from Massachusetts, actually.)
“Just keep thinking Supreme Court baby…supreme Court. Thats what it is all about in the end”
Right Jammer, that's the big deal. If the next two appointments come from anything approaching a GWB clone we might as well kiss this country's arse goodbye… at least during the lifetime of those appointments.
With all this talk about racist jabs at Obama…..
You'd think Hillary might be a racist and a bigot after all? Or could be misunderstood?:
She angrily denies racist and bigoted statements as far back as 2001…..
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0007/16/…
But then, her campaign attacks African American candidate Barack Obama?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLVZbB2f5m8&feat…
IOWA: Points Must Be Deducted (using race to “scare” white voters and stereotype blacks)
http://blackstarnews.com/?c=135&a=4035
Is this smear tactic in 2007 against an African-American similar with previous “alleged” behavior?
Racism against African-Americans
Hillary Clinton is the only major Democratic presidential candidate who did not support the
Sentencing Commission's unanimous vote this week to apply recent sentencing reductions for crack-cocaine offenses retroactively
http://www.alternet.org/story/70467/
“Mahatma Ghandi, he ran a gas station in St. Louis for a couple of years”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDHbHcOV1N4&feat…..
Her famous “plantation” remark in 2006:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/17/clinton….
AP story version found here –
http://www.iccaustin.org/modules.php?op=modload…
Comments about Clinton by Randall Robinson, “An Unbroken Agony”, C-SPAN2 on Book TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FVlKY8Ispg
Honoring an ex-klansman
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/11/…
Bigotry against Jews
Hillary accused of 'Jew' insult to aide
<a href=”http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=CTJH0U2TFY1GNQFIQMFSFFOAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2000/07/16/whill16.xml”>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jses…
“Getting Used to Hillary”
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/julia/gorin112…
Bodyguard Details Hillary's Jew Bashing into the 1990s
http://archive.newsmax.com/scripts/showinside.p…
Time for Slur-Monger Hillary to Withdraw from Senate Race
http://archive.newsmax.com/scripts/showinside.p…
Anti-Semitic Double Standard
http://archive.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/7/1…
Hillary Caught in Fib with Slur Denial
http://archive.newsmax.com/scripts/showinside.p…
Hillary Slurred Jews 10 to 20 Times, Used 'N' word Too: Bodyguard
http://archive.newsmax.com/scripts/showinside.p…
'Jew Bastard' Immunity Deal Could Doom Hillary
http://archive.newsmax.com/scripts/showinside.p…
Jews Divided on Hillary Slur, UPI
http://archive.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/7/1…
Press Tried to Cover Up Hill's 'Jew Bastard' Slur
http://archive.newsmax.com/scripts/showinside.p…
For Better or Worse
http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/08/06/reviews/0…