When I heard Obama's "bitter" comment, I thought he must have read Carl Sagan's book 'Demon Haunted World'
Sagan ponts out the same, when times are bad, people become distrustful. They turn to religion, superstition, luck... it's our nature.
Obama will handle this. Clinton is coming across as the bitter candidate.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Barack shirts...
from www.barackstar08.com
"This shirt is an answer to the negative attacks at Senator Obama's middle name. It seems that we only hear the full name, Barack HUSSEIN Obama, with a strong emphasis on his middle name, when there's only ill intention involved.
These negative tactics are not just an attempt to bring Barack Obama down, and create a divided America, but they in effect send a terrible message to the world as well. So, it goes without saying that this shirt campaign of ours goes beyond politics. And by the way, Hussein is a fairly common name and is a name that means "beautiful" or "handsome". Let's spread THAT message instead."
Friday, March 28, 2008
Supporting Rev. Wright
Obama has really been put in a tough position with the endless media coverage showing an edited clip from one of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright's sermons. I've watched three of his unedited sermons and I have not heard him say anything that was not true. Maybe there were statements that some may not want to hear but that's another story.
I'd like to show some support for Rev. Wright and the church members. They have been unfairly attacked and put in a painful position.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Trouble in Texas
From the Daily Texan
"When recounting, the volunteer noticed a whole list had Sen. Hillary Clinton written in similar handwriting in the presidential preference column for each of the six voters on that list. Skidmore started calling each of the voters on the list when he reached finance senior Ronesha Holmes, who told him she did not write Clinton as her preference; Holmes said she was instructed to leave that line blank.
Even one discrepancy threw up a flag of suspicion, Skidmore said.
As he continued calling people on the list Thursday, he found that two other students, history and pre-med sophomore Abigail Cheney and government sophomore Adam Aldrete, said they did not fill in a presidential preference and that Clinton was not who they would have listed."
go to:
http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/03/07/TopStories/Caucus.Chair.Uncovers.Discrepancies-3258732.shtml
"When recounting, the volunteer noticed a whole list had Sen. Hillary Clinton written in similar handwriting in the presidential preference column for each of the six voters on that list. Skidmore started calling each of the voters on the list when he reached finance senior Ronesha Holmes, who told him she did not write Clinton as her preference; Holmes said she was instructed to leave that line blank.
Even one discrepancy threw up a flag of suspicion, Skidmore said.
As he continued calling people on the list Thursday, he found that two other students, history and pre-med sophomore Abigail Cheney and government sophomore Adam Aldrete, said they did not fill in a presidential preference and that Clinton was not who they would have listed."
go to:
http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/03/07/TopStories/Caucus.Chair.Uncovers.Discrepancies-3258732.shtml
those years of experience ...
Everything points to Obama winning the nomination.
He is clearly the people's choice.
Hillary talks about 35 years of experience.(shared with Bill)
She supported NAFTA, strongly opposed by supporters of Ross Perot and other Democrats.
She headed the task force for universal health care, a Clinton failure. This was during the time the party still held a majority of the house and senate.
Under the Clinton team, the Democratic party lost control of both houses in Congress for the first time in 40 years.
During the second term we had Monica Lewinsky, a problem that lead to the senate voting to impeach Bill. Hillary said it was all a "vast right wing conspiracy"
Some believe the Monica distraction combined with the continued unresolved problems in Iraq set us up for an event like 911. Remember Operation Desert Fox.
911 took place early in the Bush term.
Hillary needs to open her records and clarify some of the events that took place during her period of experience.
He is clearly the people's choice.
Hillary talks about 35 years of experience.(shared with Bill)
She supported NAFTA, strongly opposed by supporters of Ross Perot and other Democrats.
She headed the task force for universal health care, a Clinton failure. This was during the time the party still held a majority of the house and senate.
Under the Clinton team, the Democratic party lost control of both houses in Congress for the first time in 40 years.
During the second term we had Monica Lewinsky, a problem that lead to the senate voting to impeach Bill. Hillary said it was all a "vast right wing conspiracy"
Some believe the Monica distraction combined with the continued unresolved problems in Iraq set us up for an event like 911. Remember Operation Desert Fox.
911 took place early in the Bush term.
Hillary needs to open her records and clarify some of the events that took place during her period of experience.
Real Estate deals and the Clinton House
With all the talk about Obama's real estate dealings with his neighbor, I'm reminded of the Clinton's housing deal in New York. There was a lot of suspicion at the time but the media seems to have dropped that one.
"On "Inside Washington," gruff liberal columnist Jack Germond was the exception. He suggested Mrs. Clinton was "going to start to get a little static from the Republicans on the Terry McAuliffe putting up the $1.3 million for their house. No other Senate candidate could do that and get away with it. If that were a Republican we'd all be screaming at the press." He added that if a conservative "were getting that kind of money we'd all be saying that's illegal." In response, the pride of National Public Radio, Nina Totenberg, corrected Germond on what would be their precise pose of hypocrisy. "Well, that's not illegal. We'd all be saying it smells." By contrast, Totenberg implied, this smells like perfume."
from:http://www.mediaresearch.org/bozellcolumns/newscolumn/1999/col19990916.asp
"NY POST PAGE SIX - The last thing the Clintons want is for a Democrat from Arkansas to defeat Bush next year," says our spy about the ex-general [Clark] who is expected to announce his candidacy next month. . . Our source adds, "The Clinton master plan is for a Hillary candidacy in 2008 and they will subtly sabotage the Democratic candidate in 2004. That's why they insist on keeping their personal operative, Terry McAuliffe, in charge of the Democratic committee."
read more: http://prorev.com/mcauliffe.htm
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Hillary's big NAFTA story
Canada PM vows probe into leaked memo assailing Obama
2 hours ago
OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada on Wednesday announced a probe into the "blatantly unfair" and possibly illegal leaking of a government memo that cast aspersions on US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
"We will take every step necessary to get to the bottom of this. The leak of this kind of information for whatever reason by whomever is completely unacceptable to the government of Canada," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. "In fact, it may well be illegal."
"It is not useful, it is not in the interests of the government of Canada, and the way the leak was executed was blatantly unfair to Senator Obama and his campaign," he told the House of Commons.
"We will make sure that every legal and every investigative technique necessary is undertaken to find out who exactly is behind this."
I think this is called passive-agressive behavior. Hillary reaped the full benefit of this story planted last week. She even told Obama that he should fire the person in his campaign that spoke to the Canadian official.
But, maybe, in the end, it's the voters fault. To hear this sort of "breaking news" and vote before checking the source is so foolish. If she wins the nomination, they'll get no more than they deserve.
2 hours ago
OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada on Wednesday announced a probe into the "blatantly unfair" and possibly illegal leaking of a government memo that cast aspersions on US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
"We will take every step necessary to get to the bottom of this. The leak of this kind of information for whatever reason by whomever is completely unacceptable to the government of Canada," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. "In fact, it may well be illegal."
"It is not useful, it is not in the interests of the government of Canada, and the way the leak was executed was blatantly unfair to Senator Obama and his campaign," he told the House of Commons.
"We will make sure that every legal and every investigative technique necessary is undertaken to find out who exactly is behind this."
I think this is called passive-agressive behavior. Hillary reaped the full benefit of this story planted last week. She even told Obama that he should fire the person in his campaign that spoke to the Canadian official.
But, maybe, in the end, it's the voters fault. To hear this sort of "breaking news" and vote before checking the source is so foolish. If she wins the nomination, they'll get no more than they deserve.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
message from Katha
-----Forwarded Message-----
Sent: Mar 1, 2008 2:37 PM
I am compelled.
To my Texas friends:
This is scary to write...as I fear rejection from you, however this is very important to me.
As you know I live in North Carolina now and our primary is not till MAY!!! I feel futile. My vote may have little value by that time.
If you have DECIDED to vote Republican. You need not read this.
If you have DECIDED to vote for Hillary. You need not read this.
(I will honor that you have good reasons for your decisions.)
HOWEVER if you have NOT decided FOR SURE!
Please Read
...you may be still wavering who to vote for. You may have yet to decided to vote at all on Tuesday...
There may be a part of you not completly Republican or not completely convinced Hillery is your gal.
Please read ....
I would love to give you a personal view of how Obama has already changed my life and lives around me.
I teach high school students in the foothills of Appalachia...the foothills of poverty. I have primarily white poor as well as black and Hispanic and mixed race in my classes. 50% live in poverty.
Obama has offered my students inspiration to be something more than they thought they could be. And they are eating it up!!!!
It’s the first time many have ever cared about politics and I have had a dozen students tell me that their parents have never voted and have always been angry at politicians. But they are voting this time.
I am not saying I completely agree with the man’s politics… But to have 2 whole class periods (my class periods are 90 minuets long) where the students are asking questions faster than I could answer…because they do not understand the system….and NOW they want to know.
What does it mean to be a Democrat or a Republican? What is a caucus and a primary? When does North Carolina get to vote? Do we get a caucus or primary? Who was JFK? What happened to John Edwards? (as you know Edwards is from North Carolina but you may not know how much folks here truly love the guy…including myself) The questions went on and on…and on. Do you think a black man can REALLY become President? My Grandma says they will NEVER let him be President…if he makes it some white guy will shoot him for sure. Mrs. Underwood do YOU think someone will shoot him?
Honestly, I had a lot of fast soul searching to do. Should I spend my class time teaching civics or refocus the class and teach the curriculum that I am held accountable for at exam time??? (something called NCLB... how ironic)
I reminded them that they should have learned a lot of this in “Civics” class by now. The answer was…”It was not important then.” “I didn’t care then” “I never thought a person like me could ever be President.” “It had nothing to do with me”. One of the smarter kids said, sarcastically, ”Kerry or Bush…now THAT was something to getexcited about!” The class burst into laughter.
So I shelved my curriculum for a couple of days…
I have just taught the best civics lessons I could. We listed in columns general differences between Democrats and Republicans…and added a few other parties. We looked up the CNN web site and checked out the caucus and primary states. Even though I already knew we vote in May…I had them research when NC votes.
One black girl's grandma keeps telling her someone will shoot Obama… her family believes the white folks will never let a black man be President. The white kids re-acted to that assertion/accusation. I loved the discussion we had about that. It was testy at times and I even felt uncomfortable. But they laid it all out on the table and we talked it through. So many of the kids relate to Obama….it was like he was the common denominator that made the discussion work.
They relate to Obama because he is black and of mixed race…the white kids talked about him because his mother was a teen mom and his dad left him…like their dad left them. They talked about how his grandparents raise him most of his youth. Most all of them wanted to know how he got to this successful point in his life when he was just like them when he was younger. It was if to say...if he can do it ...so can I.
I truly wanted to offer them a non bias perspective. But only 5 of my students will actuality be old enough to vote in Nov…and only 2 will be old enough to vote in the primary. AND by May it will likely all be decided. So I felt safe if I unintentionally was not fair to all the candidates. I mostly wanted to support learning about their country and how they could all be a part of deciding their own futures. Not just jumping back into all the apathy we see day in and day out. I know Obama inspires these kids…and their families.
I asked them..."What do you think Obama means by "Change"? What Changes is he going to make? I was surprised by their answers and I started holding back my tears.
I will quote:
"He is Changing us."
"He is asking us to Change".
"He is expecting us...me, to do…be my best."
"Mrs. Underwood, he made us have this talk."
"He made me want to learn more about voting"
"He makes me feel like "I can"...I can do what I really want to"
"He made me understand everyone in this class more"
So my Texas friend, you can see....I am truly supporting Obama...with my meager financial donations, and I hope have inspired you to vote for Obama on my behalf. For my students, for their families. For the Change yet to come. So someday soon ...we can stop chanting "Yes We Can" ....and you, my students, and I can all look back and say "Yes We DID!" ...."We ALL did it together!"
Thanks for your time,
Katha
Sent: Mar 1, 2008 2:37 PM
I am compelled.
To my Texas friends:
This is scary to write...as I fear rejection from you, however this is very important to me.
As you know I live in North Carolina now and our primary is not till MAY!!! I feel futile. My vote may have little value by that time.
If you have DECIDED to vote Republican. You need not read this.
If you have DECIDED to vote for Hillary. You need not read this.
(I will honor that you have good reasons for your decisions.)
HOWEVER if you have NOT decided FOR SURE!
Please Read
...you may be still wavering who to vote for. You may have yet to decided to vote at all on Tuesday...
There may be a part of you not completly Republican or not completely convinced Hillery is your gal.
Please read ....
I would love to give you a personal view of how Obama has already changed my life and lives around me.
I teach high school students in the foothills of Appalachia...the foothills of poverty. I have primarily white poor as well as black and Hispanic and mixed race in my classes. 50% live in poverty.
Obama has offered my students inspiration to be something more than they thought they could be. And they are eating it up!!!!
It’s the first time many have ever cared about politics and I have had a dozen students tell me that their parents have never voted and have always been angry at politicians. But they are voting this time.
I am not saying I completely agree with the man’s politics… But to have 2 whole class periods (my class periods are 90 minuets long) where the students are asking questions faster than I could answer…because they do not understand the system….and NOW they want to know.
What does it mean to be a Democrat or a Republican? What is a caucus and a primary? When does North Carolina get to vote? Do we get a caucus or primary? Who was JFK? What happened to John Edwards? (as you know Edwards is from North Carolina but you may not know how much folks here truly love the guy…including myself) The questions went on and on…and on. Do you think a black man can REALLY become President? My Grandma says they will NEVER let him be President…if he makes it some white guy will shoot him for sure. Mrs. Underwood do YOU think someone will shoot him?
Honestly, I had a lot of fast soul searching to do. Should I spend my class time teaching civics or refocus the class and teach the curriculum that I am held accountable for at exam time??? (something called NCLB... how ironic)
I reminded them that they should have learned a lot of this in “Civics” class by now. The answer was…”It was not important then.” “I didn’t care then” “I never thought a person like me could ever be President.” “It had nothing to do with me”. One of the smarter kids said, sarcastically, ”Kerry or Bush…now THAT was something to getexcited about!” The class burst into laughter.
So I shelved my curriculum for a couple of days…
I have just taught the best civics lessons I could. We listed in columns general differences between Democrats and Republicans…and added a few other parties. We looked up the CNN web site and checked out the caucus and primary states. Even though I already knew we vote in May…I had them research when NC votes.
One black girl's grandma keeps telling her someone will shoot Obama… her family believes the white folks will never let a black man be President. The white kids re-acted to that assertion/accusation. I loved the discussion we had about that. It was testy at times and I even felt uncomfortable. But they laid it all out on the table and we talked it through. So many of the kids relate to Obama….it was like he was the common denominator that made the discussion work.
They relate to Obama because he is black and of mixed race…the white kids talked about him because his mother was a teen mom and his dad left him…like their dad left them. They talked about how his grandparents raise him most of his youth. Most all of them wanted to know how he got to this successful point in his life when he was just like them when he was younger. It was if to say...if he can do it ...so can I.
I truly wanted to offer them a non bias perspective. But only 5 of my students will actuality be old enough to vote in Nov…and only 2 will be old enough to vote in the primary. AND by May it will likely all be decided. So I felt safe if I unintentionally was not fair to all the candidates. I mostly wanted to support learning about their country and how they could all be a part of deciding their own futures. Not just jumping back into all the apathy we see day in and day out. I know Obama inspires these kids…and their families.
I asked them..."What do you think Obama means by "Change"? What Changes is he going to make? I was surprised by their answers and I started holding back my tears.
I will quote:
"He is Changing us."
"He is asking us to Change".
"He is expecting us...me, to do…be my best."
"Mrs. Underwood, he made us have this talk."
"He made me want to learn more about voting"
"He makes me feel like "I can"...I can do what I really want to"
"He made me understand everyone in this class more"
So my Texas friend, you can see....I am truly supporting Obama...with my meager financial donations, and I hope have inspired you to vote for Obama on my behalf. For my students, for their families. For the Change yet to come. So someday soon ...we can stop chanting "Yes We Can" ....and you, my students, and I can all look back and say "Yes We DID!" ...."We ALL did it together!"
Thanks for your time,
Katha
Friday, February 8, 2008
Louisiana and Obama
My hope for New Orleans is for Barack Obama to be elected as President.
It's the same hope for every city and state in this country.
Obama Postcards
I mailed a lot of postcards today.
I was thinking; a lot of people are involved in getting a piece of mail from here to there... machines can't do it all.
So, even if they glance at it for just a second, it will be another Obama reminder. With more participants, it's possible to have a flood of Obama cards circulating.
I bought blank cards, hand printed "si se pueda" on the message side and used a computer image for front.
Friday, February 1, 2008
fired up, ready to go
Obama was in IN CHARGE last night in the California/CNN debate. He managed to bring Iraq off the backburner and Hillary had no meaningful response. She can't.
At the same time, he was taking on McCain's obsession for "winning if it takes a hundred years"
Yesterday, I took my jacket to Ruta Mayas and had the guy there put my Obama message on the back...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
California Hispanics for Obama
"Now more California politicians are jumping on the Barack Express. Also Sunday, Xavier Becerra, the ranking Latino in the House of Representatives and assistant to Nancy Pelosi, announced his endorsement of Obama. Suddenly, California Latinos are coming out of the woodwork. Just before the South Carolina primary, state senate majority leader Gloria Romero was made a national co-chair of the campaign. By Monday noon, Joe Coto (chair of the CA Latino Caucus), Nicole Parra, Gilbert Cedillo and Dean Florez--all state legislators--were standing with Romero on the steps of the state Capitol in Sacramento to speak out, in both English and Spanish (Univision was rolling the camera), in a press conference for Obama. Why these folks didn't start campaigning last fall is the big question, but one drowned out by the bigger endorsements of the day from Ted Kennedy, his niece Caroline and Toni Morrison. Topping this good news--if such a thing is possible nine days out from primary--is the four million dollars the Obama Campaign raised online over the weekend."
from Mayhill Fowler / Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-camp-makes-gains-in_b_83750.html
from Mayhill Fowler / Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-camp-makes-gains-in_b_83750.html
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
slumming with friends
We should have known an image of the "slumlord" Rezko and the Clintons would surface.
And, last I heard Hillary's big contributor Hsu was sentenced to jail time.
I'm surprised she brought this subject up.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
first black president
I've always been offended by some one pretending to be something they are not.
Doesn't matter if it's religion or race, it diminishes that group. It's not like "joining a club"
Respect for differences is more important. By respecting differences, we honor.
SO, it has always bothered me that Bill Clinton would take on a so called black stereotype role...
playing "black"
It's like joining in a religious ceremony you know nothing about. Better to show respect and support. It's not a game or a fad that is purchased. (or used)
Bill Clinton didn't exactly "help blacks" during his term.
Everyone was doing well. Remember the technology/internet bubble ?
EVERYONE was doing well ... until it collapsed. A rising tide lifts all boats.
With all the negatives like signing in NAFTA, burning those innocent people in Waco (his first act) ... fooling around with and lying about Monica, and the never ending bombs in Iraq (remember the Aspirin Factory), and the failure of fiscal responsibilty. And, we musn't forget the 49 pardons.
Why would anyone think he was a credit to the blacks or this country or anyone ?
It takes more than an office in Harlem to understand being black.
Doesn't matter if it's religion or race, it diminishes that group. It's not like "joining a club"
Respect for differences is more important. By respecting differences, we honor.
SO, it has always bothered me that Bill Clinton would take on a so called black stereotype role...
playing "black"
It's like joining in a religious ceremony you know nothing about. Better to show respect and support. It's not a game or a fad that is purchased. (or used)
Bill Clinton didn't exactly "help blacks" during his term.
Everyone was doing well. Remember the technology/internet bubble ?
EVERYONE was doing well ... until it collapsed. A rising tide lifts all boats.
With all the negatives like signing in NAFTA, burning those innocent people in Waco (his first act) ... fooling around with and lying about Monica, and the never ending bombs in Iraq (remember the Aspirin Factory), and the failure of fiscal responsibilty. And, we musn't forget the 49 pardons.
Why would anyone think he was a credit to the blacks or this country or anyone ?
It takes more than an office in Harlem to understand being black.
Monday, January 21, 2008
remembering Monica
memories of Monica
Bill Clinton did put Bush in the oval office.
People voted for Bush to put as much distance as possible from that administration.
Hillary's tears worked in New Hampshire. I'm thinking Monica must have shed a few tears and I wonder if the 'clintons" ever apologized to her.
I say "clintons" because it seems that they are such a team we don't get one without the other. Monica probably believed Bill's promises.
How can so many women fall for the clinton promises again ?
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"How can so many women fall new
"How can so many women fall for the clinton promises again ?"
For the same reason so many people fell for Reagan's bullshit;IT SOUNDS GOOD TO THEM. You can attract a lot more files with shit than you can with honey. The American public,a vast majority of them anyway,never,ever want to hear the truth if the truth might in some way be painful.
_______
Friday, January 18, 2008
what happened in New Hampshire
from Washington Post
The Trail posted Jan 18 2008
"Trying to Heal a Rift in New Hampshire
By Alec MacGillis
Three New Hampshire Democratic leaders who signed a letter two days before the state's primary at the request of Hillary Clinton's campaign, attacking Barack Obama as soft in his support for abortion rights, are asking Obama supporters in the state to put the rifts of the primary campaign behind them and praising Obama for being "strongly pro-choice."
Of the two dozen prominent women who signed the critical letter, e-mailed by the Clinton campaign to a list of supporters and undecided voters, three have now signed their names to another missive asking abortion rights supporters in the state to come together and take comfort in the fact that all of the Democratic presidential candidates are firmly pro-choice. One of the three Clinton supporters went even further, saying in an interview Thursday that signing the letter attacking Obama was a "mistake."
Katie Wheeler, a former state senator, said the Clinton campaign had not given her background information about Obama's record on abortion rights when it asked her to sign the letter calling him weak on the issue, and said that, as a result, she did not understand the context of the votes that the letter was attacking him over.
"It should never have gotten to the point where anyone thought Obama was not pro-choice," said Wheeler, a founder of the New Hampshire chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "I don't think the Clinton campaign should have done that. It was divisive and unnecessary...I think it was a mistake and I've spoken to the national [Clinton campaign] and told them it caused problems in New Hampshire, and am hoping they won't do it again."
The new letter and comments by Wheeler are the latest twist in a back-and-forth that Obama supporters believe did real damage to his campaign in the final days in New Hampshire, though Wheeler said she doubted that the e-mail had that much impact in the final day of the race. "I don't think this one thing would sway people," she said.
Nonetheless, the conflict over Obama's "present" -- rather than "yes" or "no" -- votes on abortion bills in the Illinois legislature has left behind such deep divisions among the state's Democrats that some Obama supporters vowed, in the wake of her come-from-behind N.H. win, not to vote for Clinton, should she become the party's nominee.
The e-mail arrived in selected New Hampshire in-boxes shortly after a postcard from the Clinton campaign that attacked Obama for being "unwilling to take a stand for choice" was mailed to homes.
"The difference between Hillary's repeatedly standing up strong on choice and Obama's unwillingness to vote 'yes' or 'no' is a clear contrast, and we believe the voters in New Hampshire deserve to know this difference," the e-mail stated. "We support Hillary Clinton because she never ducked when choice was at stake."
The Clinton campaign has made the same charge repeatedly over the past year, including a couple weeks before the Iowa caucus. The Obama campaign had rebuffed it by invoking statements by an Illinois Planned Parenthood official, who said the "present" votes were part of a deliberate strategy to protect other pro-choice legislators, other than Obama, in vulnerable districts.
But the fresh New Hampshire attack arrived much closer to election day, leaving the Obama forces scrambling to respond by rushing out an automated phone call on the evening of Jan. 6, two days before the vote. On primary day, Clinton won by two percentage points after trailing in the final polls by as much as 10 percent, thanks in large part to a last-minute surge in support from women.
The new e-mail seeking conciliation was signed by five prominent Clinton supporters in the state -- including Wheeler, House Speaker Terie Norelli, and state senator Maggie Hassan, the three who signed the initial attack. The letter, which was also signed by several Obama supporters, states that "many of us...engaged in good faith in the rough and tumble of competitive politics. In doing so, feelings have been bruised and some deep anger has emerged." It goes on to downplay the dispute created by the initial e-mail as "nuanced differences" which should not be allowed to "drain our energy." And it concludes, in seeming contrast to the initial attack on Obama's abortion rights credentials, that "The good news is that all of the candidates within the Democratic Party are strongly pro-choice and we should be proud that our efforts have led to such a solid field. "
In the interview Thursday, Wheeler said she was not aware of the explanation of Obama's present votes by Illinois Planned Parenthood when she agreed to sign the critical letter at the request of Clinton officials in New Hampshire.
"What we didn't know was the circumstances of those Illinois pro-choice votes. Since then we've learned that it was the plan of the pro-choice community in Illinois. These were subtleties that those of us in the Clinton campaign here didn't understand," she said. "I for one did not understand the present votes....I did not know the full context."
Wheeler said she regretted the ill will it had caused. "I'm sorry there was a misunderstanding, and we're hoping to heal divisions that still may exist," she said. "It's a real pity it got so intense, but that's what happens in that close an election. People get impassioned and lose their judgment..It was the heat of emotions in a tight election where everybody cared deeply about the issue, and many of us over-reacted."
The other two Clinton supporters who signed both the critical e-mail and the conciliatory one stood more strongly by the initial one. Sen. Hassan said she, too, was unaware of the Illinois Planned Parenthood defense of Obama at the time she signed the critical letter, that she had only been told by the Clinton campaign that the Illinois chapter of NOW had cited concerns about Obama's present votes. She said it was wrong for anyone to suggest that Obama was not pro-choice, and that she was sorry about the upset that the letter had caused.
But Hassan stood by what she said was the main point of the initial e-mail, that Clinton was the most staunchly pro-choice Democrat. "All of the leading Democratic candidates are strongly pro-choice but I think Hillary's record is unparalleled. I stand by what I signed before the election and don't think it's inconsistent with" the new e-mail stating that Obama is strongly pro-choice, Hassan said. "Everybody's going to interpret these letters and e-mails as they want to."
Norelli, the House Speaker, said she had been aware of the Planned Parenthood defense of Obama's Illinois record at the time she signed the critical e-mail but was comfortable with the letter's attack against Obama nonetheless, noting the concerns of the Illinois NOW chapter had raised about the votes. "I would say that the record is clear that he voted 'present' seven times. Planned Parenthood, some of the time at least, says it was part of a deal. Well, NOW says that in 2004, they chose not to endorse Sen. Obama" because of the votes, Norelli said. "I would say every voter needs to have all the factual information and each individual needs to make their own decision."
As for the new conciliatory note, Norelli said there was no inconsistency in calling Obama "strongly pro-choice" after attacking him on the present votes. "I would take any of the Democratic candidates on issues of choice over any of the Republican candidates. But I would take Hillary Clinton and her leadership on choice over Senator Obama," she said. Norelli said the purpose of the latest e-mail was to help calm the ruffled feathers of the Obama supporters. "We are working to heal any problems that there are among the Democrats and looking forward to working together closely," she said. "They have time to get over it."
One of the Obama supporters who signed the reconciliation e-mail, Mary Rauh, said she did so because she was very worried that the rift created by the primary could seriously harm abortion rights efforts in the state if it was left unadressed. But she said that she remained aggrieved by the Clinton attack and by the willingness of so many Democratic leaders in the state to go along with it, and worried by reports that similar e-mails attacking Obama on abortion rights have gone out in other states preparing to vote.
"We still have battles to fight in New Hampshire and we can't let dirty politics destroy the choice voice here. It's too important," Rauh said. "But for Clinton to do this to the choice community is so appalling. I can't tell you how it distresses me ... how devastating this and how horrified I am that the Clinton campaign would do this. I fear it will happen elsewhere and it's just appalling."
Posted at 4:06 PM ET on Jan 18, 2008 "
The Trail posted Jan 18 2008
"Trying to Heal a Rift in New Hampshire
By Alec MacGillis
Three New Hampshire Democratic leaders who signed a letter two days before the state's primary at the request of Hillary Clinton's campaign, attacking Barack Obama as soft in his support for abortion rights, are asking Obama supporters in the state to put the rifts of the primary campaign behind them and praising Obama for being "strongly pro-choice."
Of the two dozen prominent women who signed the critical letter, e-mailed by the Clinton campaign to a list of supporters and undecided voters, three have now signed their names to another missive asking abortion rights supporters in the state to come together and take comfort in the fact that all of the Democratic presidential candidates are firmly pro-choice. One of the three Clinton supporters went even further, saying in an interview Thursday that signing the letter attacking Obama was a "mistake."
Katie Wheeler, a former state senator, said the Clinton campaign had not given her background information about Obama's record on abortion rights when it asked her to sign the letter calling him weak on the issue, and said that, as a result, she did not understand the context of the votes that the letter was attacking him over.
"It should never have gotten to the point where anyone thought Obama was not pro-choice," said Wheeler, a founder of the New Hampshire chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "I don't think the Clinton campaign should have done that. It was divisive and unnecessary...I think it was a mistake and I've spoken to the national [Clinton campaign] and told them it caused problems in New Hampshire, and am hoping they won't do it again."
The new letter and comments by Wheeler are the latest twist in a back-and-forth that Obama supporters believe did real damage to his campaign in the final days in New Hampshire, though Wheeler said she doubted that the e-mail had that much impact in the final day of the race. "I don't think this one thing would sway people," she said.
Nonetheless, the conflict over Obama's "present" -- rather than "yes" or "no" -- votes on abortion bills in the Illinois legislature has left behind such deep divisions among the state's Democrats that some Obama supporters vowed, in the wake of her come-from-behind N.H. win, not to vote for Clinton, should she become the party's nominee.
The e-mail arrived in selected New Hampshire in-boxes shortly after a postcard from the Clinton campaign that attacked Obama for being "unwilling to take a stand for choice" was mailed to homes.
"The difference between Hillary's repeatedly standing up strong on choice and Obama's unwillingness to vote 'yes' or 'no' is a clear contrast, and we believe the voters in New Hampshire deserve to know this difference," the e-mail stated. "We support Hillary Clinton because she never ducked when choice was at stake."
The Clinton campaign has made the same charge repeatedly over the past year, including a couple weeks before the Iowa caucus. The Obama campaign had rebuffed it by invoking statements by an Illinois Planned Parenthood official, who said the "present" votes were part of a deliberate strategy to protect other pro-choice legislators, other than Obama, in vulnerable districts.
But the fresh New Hampshire attack arrived much closer to election day, leaving the Obama forces scrambling to respond by rushing out an automated phone call on the evening of Jan. 6, two days before the vote. On primary day, Clinton won by two percentage points after trailing in the final polls by as much as 10 percent, thanks in large part to a last-minute surge in support from women.
The new e-mail seeking conciliation was signed by five prominent Clinton supporters in the state -- including Wheeler, House Speaker Terie Norelli, and state senator Maggie Hassan, the three who signed the initial attack. The letter, which was also signed by several Obama supporters, states that "many of us...engaged in good faith in the rough and tumble of competitive politics. In doing so, feelings have been bruised and some deep anger has emerged." It goes on to downplay the dispute created by the initial e-mail as "nuanced differences" which should not be allowed to "drain our energy." And it concludes, in seeming contrast to the initial attack on Obama's abortion rights credentials, that "The good news is that all of the candidates within the Democratic Party are strongly pro-choice and we should be proud that our efforts have led to such a solid field. "
In the interview Thursday, Wheeler said she was not aware of the explanation of Obama's present votes by Illinois Planned Parenthood when she agreed to sign the critical letter at the request of Clinton officials in New Hampshire.
"What we didn't know was the circumstances of those Illinois pro-choice votes. Since then we've learned that it was the plan of the pro-choice community in Illinois. These were subtleties that those of us in the Clinton campaign here didn't understand," she said. "I for one did not understand the present votes....I did not know the full context."
Wheeler said she regretted the ill will it had caused. "I'm sorry there was a misunderstanding, and we're hoping to heal divisions that still may exist," she said. "It's a real pity it got so intense, but that's what happens in that close an election. People get impassioned and lose their judgment..It was the heat of emotions in a tight election where everybody cared deeply about the issue, and many of us over-reacted."
The other two Clinton supporters who signed both the critical e-mail and the conciliatory one stood more strongly by the initial one. Sen. Hassan said she, too, was unaware of the Illinois Planned Parenthood defense of Obama at the time she signed the critical letter, that she had only been told by the Clinton campaign that the Illinois chapter of NOW had cited concerns about Obama's present votes. She said it was wrong for anyone to suggest that Obama was not pro-choice, and that she was sorry about the upset that the letter had caused.
But Hassan stood by what she said was the main point of the initial e-mail, that Clinton was the most staunchly pro-choice Democrat. "All of the leading Democratic candidates are strongly pro-choice but I think Hillary's record is unparalleled. I stand by what I signed before the election and don't think it's inconsistent with" the new e-mail stating that Obama is strongly pro-choice, Hassan said. "Everybody's going to interpret these letters and e-mails as they want to."
Norelli, the House Speaker, said she had been aware of the Planned Parenthood defense of Obama's Illinois record at the time she signed the critical e-mail but was comfortable with the letter's attack against Obama nonetheless, noting the concerns of the Illinois NOW chapter had raised about the votes. "I would say that the record is clear that he voted 'present' seven times. Planned Parenthood, some of the time at least, says it was part of a deal. Well, NOW says that in 2004, they chose not to endorse Sen. Obama" because of the votes, Norelli said. "I would say every voter needs to have all the factual information and each individual needs to make their own decision."
As for the new conciliatory note, Norelli said there was no inconsistency in calling Obama "strongly pro-choice" after attacking him on the present votes. "I would take any of the Democratic candidates on issues of choice over any of the Republican candidates. But I would take Hillary Clinton and her leadership on choice over Senator Obama," she said. Norelli said the purpose of the latest e-mail was to help calm the ruffled feathers of the Obama supporters. "We are working to heal any problems that there are among the Democrats and looking forward to working together closely," she said. "They have time to get over it."
One of the Obama supporters who signed the reconciliation e-mail, Mary Rauh, said she did so because she was very worried that the rift created by the primary could seriously harm abortion rights efforts in the state if it was left unadressed. But she said that she remained aggrieved by the Clinton attack and by the willingness of so many Democratic leaders in the state to go along with it, and worried by reports that similar e-mails attacking Obama on abortion rights have gone out in other states preparing to vote.
"We still have battles to fight in New Hampshire and we can't let dirty politics destroy the choice voice here. It's too important," Rauh said. "But for Clinton to do this to the choice community is so appalling. I can't tell you how it distresses me ... how devastating this and how horrified I am that the Clinton campaign would do this. I fear it will happen elsewhere and it's just appalling."
Posted at 4:06 PM ET on Jan 18, 2008 "
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