Since Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination (yay), I have heard of a not insignificant number of Clinton supporters who say they will end up supporting McCain in November. Their reasons include Obama’s lack of experience, although he actually has two years of elected service on Hillary Clinton.  That’s if you don’t count her time as first lady.  Others claim doubt about his patriotism, whether or not he wears a flag pin (do the others?) and the kind of people the media links him to. Some of those links are really stretching it while others can barely be called tenuous. Characterizing Obama’s former pastor’s views as being identical to his? That seems rather odd, even for politics. I mean, did everyone assume that McCain’s views were exactly like those wacko pastors that he chased for support? What about Romney and his Mormons?  Obama and Hillary are so politically close that they had to work hard just to elaborate their differences. So why would former Clinton supporters consider moving across the aisle? Breaking it down to the basics, there is something strange about a voter that would support a candidate who holds positions that are diametrically opposed to everything they supposedly believed in while they were supporting Hillary. It’s as plain as the nose on my face. And it starts with an R.

I just read with interest about Al Sharpton and his woes with the IRS.  Over the years, his National Action Network’s income (corporate donations) has apparently increased faster than the expertise of his accountants.   Mr. Sharpton seems to be the heir apparent of Jesse Jackson, taking up the causes of people of color who have had troubles with the way the government treats them in the legal system as well as corporations that need help to achieve diversity.  In my opinion, that sounds like good works until you consider how wealthy this has made Jackson and Sharpton.  That makes me see the legal system stuff as being used to get the cred for convincing the corporations that they need the “help” and making them willing to pay for it.  It is insulting and erroneous that these “leaders” can represent all viewpoints of all people of color, but the real racism exists when so many people in the majority believe that they do.

Hey, I admit it.  I was surprised that Obama had not been beaten down by the Reverend Wright’s deliberate intentions, Hilary’s scorched earth tactics, the media, and the overall plight and image of the brother in America.  I think he survives because his message is overwhelming to the people at this moment in time.  So many things are so bad right now that anyone in their right mind knows that continuing to do business as usual will only result in misery as usual.  Therefore, CHANGE is a popular concept.  Speaking of change, when the First Black President’s babymamma Hilary talks of her support, she now mentions Hispanics, blue collar folks, and seniors.  No Blacks.  Given their overwhelming support for Obama and Hilary’s “us or them” political tactics, I wouldn’t want to be an African American if she gets nominated.  Hey, wait a minute!!  I AM an African American.  

Viva Obama!!!

In a way, it’s worse than Jim Crow.  Back in the day, they would whip your butt for looking them in the eye or literally take your property right out from under you.  In your face.  In this era, you are subjected to innuendo and insults that never directly address the fact that you are being treated differently because of your culture, as defined by the good ole USA.  Obama would know.  What other presidential candidates have been pressured to repudiate people whose views most obviously differ from his?  How many other candidates are sweated for not wearing a flag pin?  Especially when others don’t wear them either? (I noticed)    How many others repeatedly are told that they can’t get a certain segment of the vote, when they happen to have the most votes out of all others?  After watching CNN and Tom Russert take objectivity to new lows, the message is clear.  Instead of a national ID card, we all need flag pins. 

The question is all over the media.  “When did Obama find out about Reverend Wright’s views and how exactly does he feel about them?”  In the context of the entire presidential campaign, this seems a little unfair.  Pat Robertson once declared that gay relations should be paid back with an earthquake “or possibly a meteor.”  His support was COVETED by conservative Republicans.  John Haggard’s ideas about Catholics compared to Louis Farrakhan’s views on Jews.  John McCain is proud of and actively sought his endorsement.  Jerry Falwell was a conservative kingmaker while there appeared to be few groups outside of white males that he could tolerate.  I am not shouting racism, but I have to admit to bewilderment.  Why are SOME candidates pressured to “repudiate” people with certain views while other candidates are rightly and simply not judged by the opinions of people associated to them only by acquaintance?  Again, I am not shouting racism.  But while I am being bewildered, I wouldn’t begrudge a shout out there from somewhere.

There is imaginary conflict once more. First there was the attempt to pretend that Obama’s views were identical to the pastor of his church.   When you think about it, who can ever say that??!!   Keep in mind that these were views that had been horribly distorted by fox news. Now they are saying that Obama is out of touch with the electorate and is a member of the elite. !!!   This from two people who are each worth more than $100 million, Clinton from all the backyard and book deals and McCain from knowing just who to marry.   From this individual perspective, the result may not be what they desire, because in my lifetime, I will NEVER vote for a Clinton or a McCain.   It’s just too dirty.   I guess I will have to take a look at Nader’s platform.

As I grow older, I recall the metamorphosis that my opinion of my parents’ childrearing abilities went through.  I frequently whined about how they could have enriched my childhood years by doing so many things differently.  I had resentments galore.  Until I got older and had children of my own.  In too many instances, my reactions to my children’s budding psyches could not compare to the relative patience, selflessness, and common sense that my own parents exhibited toward mine.  I learned through my own experience that parents are woefully human and that’s not only okay, there is no other option.  The best blessing out of so many they have given me would be for this liberating insight to eventually pass down the line.   

Hillary Clinton said, “When there was a trip to a country that was too dirty, too poor, or too dangerous, the White House would always say, ‘Hey, let’s just send the First Lady.’”   I hate to break it to you, Hillary, but Barbara, Nancy, and Laura  didn’t have to dodge the bullets that you have had to.  I think that was Bill’s special policy for YOU.

Hillary “misspoke” when she remembered her trip to Bosnia as first lady. She actually DIDN’T have to engage in hand to hand combat with Rambo or do a tuck and roll from the gunfire. Obama managed to sit in those pews for TWO DECADES without hearing anything inappropriate from Pastor Wright. I guess we should assume that he did hear all of the good stuff but NOT the bad stuff. John McCain’s campaign staff roster looks like a list of leads for a head hunting company specializing in lobbyists. All those favors he did right after being given stuff are just pesky and bizarre instances that fall into that awful chasm between irony and coincidence. What happened to the good old days when we only had to watch what we said while Tricky Dick was taping?