Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Pander Bear
Chris Matthews had an interesting point of commentary the other night. He noted that Democrats always have a clear idealist and a clear "pander-bear" (a candidate who panders to interest groups). They(we) love the idealist, but in the end the pander-bear always wins the nomination because we bow to our fear of having our idealist blasted in the general election. It is easy to see who is the pander-bear this year and why that candidate is the front runner. Is it possible we could really buck the trend or will we pander to our fears and show a lack of faith in our ideals?
I have to stop and wonder why I don't like Hillary. The fact is that I have not met one person who supports her. These people must exist because they are dominating the polls, but she has no traction in my demographic. It is really making me question how much my view of Hillary is a mythical product of conservative propaganda. Am I allowing the conservative spin machine to create a false image of Hillary?
If I'm honest, I have to admit my reasons are deeper than her corporate connections. It is my disgust with the idea of having her and her husband back in the white house. Bill Clinton made the white house a joke with his sexual indiscretion. I have too much respect for the presidency to watch that happen again. I'm not excited about 4 years of more jokes, division, and media obsession with the presidents private life. I don't want to hear reporters talk about pantsuits, hair styles, affairs, and the authenticity of the president's marriage. This couple seems like ammunition for a media frenzy. I even wonder if the polls we see now are a complete fabrication by media sources who would make more money if she is elected. I can't find one real live person who likes her so maybe the conspiracy theory is true.
If she wins the nomination, I'll have some soul searching to do.
5 comments:
Mike,
I'm not thrilled with dynasties -- Bush, Clinton, etc. The only other clear dynasty was the Adams family, and neither lasted more than one term.
Like you I'm not thrilled with Hillary, but the choice if she wins the nomination -- and I'm not ready to concede that -- will be her and one of the current GOP candidates. So, if that's the case, do you not vote? Do you vote for Rudy or Mitt? Or, do you swallow your pride and vote Hillary -- who may turn out to be an excellent president.
You're right. Just think about it- Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. UGH!! Enough already. As a pro-life voter, I've often wondered whether I will stay home if Rudy is the GOP nominee. I am not a party line voter by any means, but I vote pro-life always and that usually means GOP in national elections- until this year, maybe.
Terry, can't we find more ways to be "pro-life" without forcing a woman to have a child against her will? Can't "pro life" mean stopping the senseless deaths of our soldiers in Iraq or the women and children killed as "collateral damage"? Can't "pro-life" mean getting quality life-saving health care for every american?
Mike, I used to think about it that way until I had a niece born at 22 weeks gestation by a relative who didn't realize she was expecting. 22 weeks! This child is now a happy healthy 11 year old. So for me, killing an unborn baby is just as bad as killing a child already outside the womb. These "fetuses" are real people. And given the various and countless methods of birth control available (especially in the western world), I see no reason to condemn innocent PEOPLE to die due to our irresponsibility. As for thr the rape/incest issue, statistics show that most abortions are not the result of rape and incest, simply the mother's choice not to be a mother, which could have been made ahead of time. And for the record, I am NOT in support of the Iraq war.
Well I support Hillary. Anything is better than what we've had to contend with. I'd take Bill's questionable morals any day rather than the lying deceit and criminal behavior of bush and his gang. And as for pandering...what really could be worse than Huckabee's claim of being a Christian candidate now followed by him reminding us of the "reason for the season," all the while sitting in front of a lighted "cross" and 3 bulbs in a window box (trinity?). Now that's what I call pandering. And its thoroughly disgusting. I'm not electing a Christian but a President. Apparently he thinks I don't know the difference.
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