Why do they call them professional politicians? (0.00 / 0)

These two are the biggest f'n morons.

Jackson Jr watches his candidate lose in NH with Hillary possibly getting a boost for being attacked over her wet eyed moment, and what does he do? go back on the attack. Is he that STUPID?!!

And then Cuomo, to which all you can say is, jesus. Did these people get their clue at Sears?

There you go Bloomberg, have fun, if they keep this up it will be all yours.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

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by: Will @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 21:54:52 PM UTC

I don't know if that comment's much worse than the one Clinton (0.00 / 0)

herself made just before NH, saying it that it took LBJ to make MLK's dreams a reality.
  It's just astonishing how bad the stuff from her and her camp has gotten. 

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by: sb @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 22:02:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Been thinking same thing (0.00 / 0)

Back in the months after the OJ Simpson car chase and most of white America seemed to defend the man.  The big problem at the time was how we heap too much love on our sports stars.  I remember being very proud of my country that we had a black man accused of killing a white woman but race was playing no role in the coverage or attitudes.

Well, we all know how that played out.  My pride didn't last long.

I'm now very fearful we are about to see something similar.  Clinton was more about dynasty than being a women and Obama 'transcended' race.  But that all seems to be changing and if this is allowed to get out of control, this could get very ugly very quickly.  Yet again, my pride in America may be misplaced.

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by: Mark Matson @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 22:20:38 PM UTC

Re: Ugly, Nasty Mysogenistic Racism (4.00 / 2)

Mrs. C. and Mr. O may be understood in these things in the same way in which, to understand what has happened in Africa, especially, but in all former European colonies, we must understand the relations of power usually called 'colonialism.' (you can )

The 'world' gasped in disbelief at the "savagery" of the newly independent peoples, their 'corruption', and immediately created stereotypes by which to negate and dismiss the struggles of emerging nations to adapt. But the newly freed/liberated indogenes had only--albeit readily and enthusiastically--adopted the oppressive tactics and practices of their former colonial masters.

Given the infrastructure, and the structural demands of the universe into which they were thrown (think Heidegger), and which in fact was/is STILL the universe of their former masters, it is not a strike against their capacity for self-government, for example, that they mainly/often became mere local avatars of the system into which they were thrust.

So, is it so surprising that in a culture which has expunged neither racism not sexism from its underlying epistemological premises, infrastructures, and power relations, that even avatars of the victims of race/sex-ism would gravitate to the instruments which won and secured power for their masters/oppressors previously?

It's disturbing. But it is also an artifact of the necessity of the campaigns to inhabit all the old, colonial forms perfected over all this time, which have been almost 'unimproved'--that is, worked flawlessly--for the last 450 years.

Aside: So the 'boomer bashing' begins. Predictably, as the first of us start to call in our markers.

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by: konopelli @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 22:22:41 PM UTC

Where's the Outrage Matt? (0.00 / 0)

Matt, how can you treat eqaually what Cuomo said and what Jackson said.  Jackson made a point that HRC's crying seemed to be directed at HER plight and not at any citizens.  This is the conclusion reached at TPM;

"Asked if he was suggesting that The Tears were faked, Jackson said: "I wouldn't say that."

So it appears that Jackson's point is that Hillary hasn't proven able to show the same level of emotion about the problems facing our country that she did in response to a question about her looks."

And you admit Cuomo's statement is veiled racism.  How can you equate the two as being equally bad??

Honestly, by far the single most distressing thing about this whole process, and I am being completely sincere about this, is the acceptance on progressive sites for these veiled racist attacks. 

Apparently, these racist appeals are only outrageous if they come from Republicans.

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by: Andy Katz @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 23:08:30 PM UTC

apparent equivalence the problem (0.00 / 0)

I'm agnostic (that is, I can't tell for sure) on Cuomo's direct intentions using that term, and I don't think I go as far as this in criticizing that-- yet. But that hardly  matters absent a complete apology, and you're efinitely right on that this is worse than any "race-baiting" from the Obama camp.

Personally, I don't need to rationalize what Jesse Jackson Jr. said-- it was something very raw and politicky and frankly a bit stupid, though in a way that resonates and might even be genuine. But there's absolutely NO equivalence between that and what Cuomo said. None.

I don't necessarily think that Matt was trying to say that one equals the other, either. He clearly endorsed what he linked to regarding Cuomo, and I think his point was more of a "pox on both their houses"/this thing is getting ugly one. That said, it definitely could quite easily be taken otherwise, and just the framing of putting the two alongside one another does seem to suggest that Jackson's comments are somehow just as bad. Matt should have been clearer otherwise, if that was indeed his intent.

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by: sip1983 @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 23:33:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There should be (4.00 / 1)

It is wrong to say that racism is worse than sexism.

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by: Astera @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 23:55:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'd say (0.00 / 0)

The recent racist attacks by Bill Clinton are much worse than Obama's sexist slights of the last couple months. I'd also say sexist slights have been more acceptable and not commented on.

Everyone should cut out the ageism, sexism and racism.

Banned for posting five straight diaries.

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by: donna darko @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 00:44:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

racist attacks by Bill Clinton? (0.00 / 0)

I missed those, link?

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by: souvarine @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 01:30:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You might (0.00 / 0)

But that is just evidence that sexism is more acceptable to a lot of people including you.

Not that it is less wrong

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by: Astera @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 01:33:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

A link (0.00 / 0)

Donna Brazile Hints Bill Clinton's Obama Attacks Racially Offensive

I certainly don't find sexism more acceptable than racism.

Banned for posting five straight diaries.

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by: donna darko @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 06:21:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

comeback kid (0.00 / 0)

Brazile is reaching. The comeback kid called Obama a "kid"? I couldn't find Bill's quote but since it is Bill's own moniker I doubt Brazile has the context right. Her other claim appears to be that "fairy tale" is depressing as an African American, someone will have to explain to me how that translates to racist.

Bill Clinton attacked Obama on Iraq and his negative campaign, and more precisely attacked Obama's fawning media coverage. You cannot attack without showing a lack of respect and giving insult in some manner to the object of the attack. If Brazil's claim is that giving insult to Obama is racist then she is saying that no one may attack Obama.

Donna Brazile is welcome to defend her guy, but Bill Clinton's attack on Obama's Iraq record, and on D-Punjab and Obama's other attacks, was in no way illegitimate or racist.

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by: souvarine @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 09:01:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He also said (0.00 / 0)

Obama had no business running for President but that could be the "kid" thing again.

Banned for posting five straight diaries.

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by: donna darko @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 09:41:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Personally I think its a good thing (4.00 / 1)

Things may have looked ugly when MLK marched and people were killed, but he helped america through his actions.

Likewise both Hillary and Obama are helping women and black people respectively.  Any first is going to have to deal with crap like this.  They are paving the way for future generations who will think nothing of a woman or black president.

(which edwards could never do)

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by: Astera @ Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 23:28:22 PM UTC

As others have pointed out... (0.00 / 0)

.......but you appear unaware of neither of these candidates, Clinton and Obama, are firsts.

Say what you want about us 'boomers' we at, the least, know our history. And we understand why what Santayana said matters. We've lived through shit that makes this era look like what it now increasingly appears to be:

Folks just going through the motions.

Peace, Health and Prosperity for Everyone.

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by: ACitizen @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 00:52:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Katrina (4.00 / 1)

Jesse Jackson attacked Clinton for refusing to cry over Katrina

Obama barely said anything about Katrina and he certainly didn't cry.

Banned for posting five straight diaries.

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by: donna darko @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 00:51:01 AM UTC

Matt, could you update this post with the facts.... (0.00 / 0)

Which came out later from the Times Union blog who first reported it.

(We've been getting calls from the Cuomo people on this who want to point out, correctly, that the AG was not referring to Barack Obama when he used the phrase "shuck and jive," but to what politicians in general do with the media. Cuomo's point was when candidates meet a substantial proportion of primary voters or caucus goers in person, such as in NH or Iowa, there is a certain genuineness that can be avoided in a big-state media-heavy campaign)

 

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by: johnk @ Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 17:41:00 PM UTC