Hillary’s Voice

Democrats Are Tied in New Poll (Wall Street Journal)
WASHINGTON — The racially charged debate over Barack Obama’s relationship with his longtime pastor hasn’t much changed his close contest against Hillary Clinton, or hurt him against Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

Matt Davies

Could the Republicans Pick the Democratic Nominee? — The Untold Story of How the GOP Rigged Florida and Michigan (by Wayne Barrett, writing at the Huffington Post)
The irony is that the drumbeat for Clinton’s withdrawal — coming on the heels of her recent wins and right before what may be her biggest in Pennsylvania — is rooted in the collapse of the effort to redo Michigan and Florida. The theory is that she should quit because there is no way she can win, and that there is no way she can win because two states she could win, at least one of which she actually did win, will not be counted until she gets out. Barack Obama would thus become the nominee — not because of an honestly earned if precariously narrow lead in the final national vote, but because of two elections he would not let happen… The Republican role is not some irrelevant anecdote. The DNC is charged, under its rules, to determine whether the Democrats in a noncompliant state made a “good faith” effort to abide by the party’s electoral calendar, and to impose the full weight of its available penalties, namely a 100 percent takedown of a state’s delegation, only if Democratic leaders in that state misbehaved. So the fact that it was Republicans who fomented the move-up of primaries in both these states to dates out-of-line with the DNC calendar is at the heart of the matter.
With the help of media darling Barack Obama, of course.  This is a long article, but well worth reading in full.

Michigan delegate compromise offered
Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., in a letter to DNC Chairman Howard Dean, proposed that Michigan’s 83 pledged delegates be chosen at congressional district conventions according to the results of the state’s primary… Under Stupak’s formula, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who received 55 percent of the primary vote, would receive 47 delegates. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who pulled his name from Michigan’s ballot, would receive 36 delegates. Many Obama supporters in Michigan voted for “uncommitted,” which received 40 percent in the primary. The remaining 73 delegates would be awarded based on the percentage of the popular vote garnered nationwide by Clinton and Obama after the last Democratic presidential primary is completed.
If it doesn’t give Obama a big advantage, it won’t happen.

Do They Hate Clinton More Than They Care About The Dem Party? (by Big Tent Democrat at TalkLeft)
Yes, let’s assume the worst of Clinton and ignore the damage people like Josh Marshall have done and continue to do. Why don’t we play that game with Clinton haters like Marshall? Do they hate Clinton so much that they will destroy the Democratic Party to make sure Clinton has no chance to win the nomination? Would they rather insure Dems lose Florida and Michigan in November instead of honoring the will of the voters in Florida and Michigan in a revote? Do they hate Clinton more than they care about the Democratic Party?

“Why won’t that stupid bitch quit?” watch (by lambert at Corrente)
Another dose from the Politico. I’m sure this one will go viral as fast as the last one did. Great headline, though: “Dem elite working for June solution”. Well, that’s sorted then. Barack as the choice of “the Dem elite.” That’s a talking point that’s going to change a lot of minds….

Hillary’s Consolation Prize? (by Jonathan Alter, Newsweek)
Some Dems float the New York Statehouse as an option.
My message to Jonathan Alter: Jonathan, just shut up about what Hillary Clinton should do.  You’re really starting to look ridiculous.  Alter’s response: Thanks! Carolyn. Always nice to hear from you.

“Why won’t that stupid bitch quit?” watch (by lambert at Corrente)
Apparently Big Media Matt didn’t get the memo: “One thing to note about Hillary Clinton’s Florida and Michigan strategy is the utter selfishness of it. Her best shot at getting her way on this issue is to keep observing, in a meta kind of way, that if the DNC disses Florida and Michigan by not seating their delegates, that this could hurt Democratic fortunes in Florida and Michigan in November.” Yeah, real “meta.” Haw… Why would any voter, let alone a Floridian, be sensitive about having their vote counted?… Pesky voters! Don’t they realize that every time they make Obama feel that campaigning is like a “Bataan Death March” a kitten dies?

You know, it should be apparent by now that Obama has a real hard time closing a deal. (Maybe that accounts for his thin legislative record?) I think he should admit the inevitable, and drop out, because there’s no clear mathematical path to the nomination for him. Obama’s got a bright future in the Senate, or maybe even as Attorney General. Or, with the whole law school thing, on the Supreme Court…..

Double Standards - Part One Million (by Big Tent Democrat at TalkLeft)
[Chris] Bowers writes: “The real problem is that of the three factors Clinton thinks delegates should take into account, electability concerns are the first two factors. How empty and soul-less are [sic] she expecting the party to be?” What angers me about this is Bowers is acting as if Barack Obama ran a sharp ideological campaign from the “Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party.” On issues, Obama’s campaign has been empty and soul-less. He has argued AGAINST Fighting Dems. He has argued that he can get her voters but she can not get his voters (presumably he means Republicans and Indies, an electability argument if you are paying attention Chris) He has argued that he has great appeal to Republicans, that he is a unifier, that he is “post-partisan.”

From staunch Clinton supporter Lucille, in one of my message groups:Seems incredible, doesn’t it?You graduate from Harvard; teach part-time for a little while; talk someone into backing you for a state senate seat, a part-time job; and while still there, talk someone into backing you for a U.S. Senate seat; after less than half a term, talk someone into backing you for a run for the highest job in the world.All this by just talking.

Seems incredible to me.
Not incredible when you consider all the help he had, Lucille.  People he will owe some big favors to.

McCain’s health plan fails her test (Los Angeles Times, thanks to No Quarter)
ARLINGTON, VA. — Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Democratic presidential contender John Edwards, said she and John McCain have one thing in common: “Neither one of us would be covered by his health policy.”… She declined … to make an endorsement in the presidential race. But Edwards said she favored Hillary Rodham Clinton’s healthcare plan over Barack Obama’s. “Sen. Clinton’s plan is a great plan” that closely resembles John Edwards’ proposal, she said. Clinton’s plan mandates that every American be insured. Elizabeth Edwards said only universal healthcare would resolve one of the problems plaguing the healthcare system — its soaring cost. [Emphasis added.]

US doctors support universal health care - survey
WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - More than half of U.S. doctors now favor switching to a national health care plan and fewer than a third oppose the idea, according to a survey published on Monday.
The survey suggests that opinions have changed substantially since the last survey in 2002 and as the country debates serious changes to the health care system.
So even a majority of doctors prefer Clinton’s plan to Obama’s, and would even like to go further toward the dreaded “socialized” medicine.

Dinner Conversation (by Susie at Suburban Guerilla)
Over a nice Vietnamese dinner yesterday with my Very Good Friend Paul Krugman®, who allegedly knows a thing or two about economics, he talked about the vicious hate mail he gets for saying positive things about Hillary Clinton. (No surprise to me.) He also said he can’t understand why Clinton doesn’t get more credit for pushing policies that are far more progressive than Obama’s. (Both he and Echidne explained why the no-mandate policy on Obama’s health care plan was such a bad idea, which didn’t go over so well with the Obama supporters in the audience.) I asked him what he thought of Austan Goolsbee, Obama’s top economic advisor. He told me Goolsbee was one of his students, said he was affiliated with the University of Chicago’s business school and not the school of economics, and that he was actually quite conservative.

Hillary, ‘lower class’ voters and those who sympathize with them (by BeThatBrighterDay at MyDD)
Those of us traditional working class voters realize Hillary has shortcomings but at least she seems to be fighting for us. We liked Obama at first but then began to realize his mantra of Change might be kind of empty — like Hare Krishnas in the airport… I am mixed race and I really don’t find it constructive to discuss race in a campaign with much bigger issues that affect people of all backgrounds… Sure, I’d love the revolution to happen but in the real world, I also know that revolution can wreak what Cuba has wrought. I am suspicious of grandiose claims that seem to be what the Obama campaign has become nothing more than. Also, I was a direct recipient of many Clinton advancements that were made during the 1990’s.

Weekend caucuses put Obama in Texas delegate lead (McClatchy)
Barack Obama dominated Hillary Clinton over the weekend in round two of the state caucus process, leaving him poised to win more pledged national delegates from Texas despite narrowly losing the popular vote March 4.

McCain Running Strongly In Some Key Democratic States (CQ Politics)
Arizona Sen. John McCain is running strongly in three states that have been solidly Democratic in recent presidential elections; a particular surprise is New Jersey where, a month ago, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton had a double-digit lead, according to a new round of state-by-state general election match-ups.

SurveyUSA: Obama Not Competitive in Kentucky (Political Wire)
A new SurveyUSA poll in Kentucky shows Sen. Hillary Clinton crushing Sen. Barack Obama, 58% to 29%, in the closed Democratic primary to be held on May 20. Key findings: Clinton leads narrowly in greater Louisville, but leads decisively in other parts of the state, including 4:1 in Eastern KY. Obama trails by 20 among men, trails by 37 among women.
My message to Taegan Goddard of Political Wire: I mean, really, Taegan.  Does Obama get his, and only his, name in every damn headline, even when he doesn’t stand a chance in the state?

PPP Poll: Obama Holds Huge Lead in North Carolina (Political Wire)
The latest Public Policy Polling survey in North Carolina finds Sen. Barack Obama leading Sen. Hillary Clinton, 54% to 36%. Obama’s greatest strength “is coming from voters who have a history of voting in general elections but not in primaries. With that group he has a 60% to 32% advantage. Bringing more folks into the political process has been one of the central successes of the Obama campaign, and it appears he’s doing that in North Carolina.”

In which I find myself defending her (by Blue Gal)
Michael Kinsley [wrote an] oped about how long it takes Hillary Clinton to get ready in the morning and isn’t it unfair that women’s looks count more than men’s… please… [T]here is NO reason to bring up the makeup issue in the editorial pages of the Washington Post. Kinsey is writing a piece on fluffy gender differences rather than political realities because he hasn’t a clue. Painting it over with the “life is unfair” conclusion does not excuse the intimation that Senator Clinton will lose valuable sleep because her LOOKS matter more than the other candidates. Why didn’t they tell that to Golda Meir and Maggie Thatcher?…. I’m not a Hillary supporter, and this article struck me as pandering to sexism.

The Courage of Your Convictions (by Fleaflicker at MyDD)
As many of you know, Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia took a bold and courageous stance when he came out in support of Hillary. And most recently he has been on ABC and Fox News giving interviews. As a result of his courage, his office has been bombarded by angry calls from Obama supporters. Let’s show Mayor Nutter that he has many friends that support his decision. Would you please call his office today and express that support? The number is: 215-686-1776.
The email address is michael.nutter@phila.gov.  This weekend, Obama supporters booed Sheila Jackson Lee for supporting Clinton.  Are these examples of how Obama will unify the country?

The Secret Side of David Axelrod (Business Week)
David Axelrod has long been known for his political magic. Through his AKP&D Message & Media consultancy, the campaign veteran has advised a succession of Democratic candidates since 1985, and he’s now chief strategist for Senator Barack Obama’s bid for President. But on the down low, Axelrod moonlights in the private sector.  From the same River North address, Axelrod operates a second business, ASK Public Strategies, that discreetly plots strategy and advertising campaigns for corporate clients to tilt public opinion their way… On behalf of ComEd and Comcast, the firm helped set up front organizations that were listed as sponsors of public-issue ads. Industry insiders call such practices “Astroturfing,” a reference to manufacturing grassroots support.
It is SUCH A SECRET BUSINESS that it has now been profiled in Business Week, so that he can get a lot more SECRET BUSINESS.  Shhhhh.

Some accuse Chicago Tribune of showing pro-Obama bias
Ombud Timothy McNulty had Tribune researchers check front-page headlines and photos over the past 12 months. The findings: Barack Obama was cited in 93 front-page stories in the last year, Hillary Clinton in 80 stories and John McCain in 39 stories. There were 40 page one images of Obama, 34 of Clinton, and 21 showing McCain.
Well, du-uh!

Lots more really good stuff at MakeThemAccountable.com.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com