Interesting article from a local community college opinion column
Not my writing a repost from a column someone sent me from the local college: there are typos I have not corrected apparantly whoever copied it did not know copy and paste and just retyped the entire article-
Anyway, these are some serious questions we should be asking ourselves.
Everyday I'm asked the same question by someone, "Will I vote for Barack Obama," and my reply is always the same, "Does it matter?" The answer is no because Barack Obama will never reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and here's why.
"The man has been talking for two years and I still don't know what he plans to do or how he plans to do it." Says Joe G. Gulf War veteran residing in Plymouth, Mass. Fair enough but the general election has just begun. " I'm not listening anymore." Says Joe shaking his head. " I've got a family to feed, a mortgage to pay and kids to put through college, I don't have time to listen anymore, I'll just sit this one out, things never change anyway. Aren't the Dems in charge now?" He says adjusting his cap and shaking his head once again referring to the majority the Dems hold in congress.
Joe is not alone in his opinion, the Democratic Party has been in charge in Congress and they have failed to challenge President Bush on a level that makes enough of a difference that American people see that relief at the gas pumps or in the grocery stores. A large portion of the American population believes Washington is not listening and has not been listening for a very long time. Problem one the Democratic party needs to convince Americans like Joe they are listening and so far they have failed that test.
"He seems to reinvent himself every other month. First he says he never heard that Wright guy say those things then he admits he did. I don't trust him, he's no different then any other politician, he will say anything to get elected." Says Gina L from Trumball, Ct. " I'm not thrilled with Hillary Clinton either but I think she could get the job done," I like McCain he's not anywhere near as bad as Bush." she adds thoughtfully touching on the one aspect of this campaign the Democratic party would like to sweep under the rug.
John MCCain is not President Bush, he does not need to reach to the far conservative corners of the Republican party to win the General Election thanks to the Democratic Party. For months there has been warning signs that Obama's appeal is not broad but pigeonholed into three demographics, African Americans, White Collar and the young voters who fuel his grassroots fundraising machine. What the Democratic party has refused to acknowledge is the far reaches of the extreme conservative and religious voters of the Republican Party that Bush reached out to in order to wrestle power from the Democratic Party in 2000 and 2004 will never be able to reach far enough across the aisle to vote for a man as liberal as Barack Obama. John McCain will reap the benefits of the liberal candidate the Democratic Party seems all but assured to trot out in the General Election.
"What about the war in Iraq? We went to war when Clinton was president and things were not this bad. I don't think Barak Obama has been honest in regard to Iraq anyway, someone told me he voted the same as Clinton since he has been in Washington. My best friend lost a son in Iraq and she won't vote for him, she doesn't trust him, why should I?" Says Nancy P from Brookline, Mass." Besides he aligned himself with Kennedy and I can't stand that guy all he cares about is his buddies in washington. When is the last time he did anything for us back here?" She snaps hinting at the reason Clinton won Kennedy's home state by a landslide despite his endorsement of Barack Obama along with Senator Kerry. Kennedy's power and reach seems now limited to his Washington as many voters believe Kennedy is no longer in touch with their needs and concerns back in his home state of Massachussetes.
" Well I heard all the blacks are voting for him just because he is black. That's not right so I guess I should vote for the white guy, kind of balance things out." says Tommy K of Hartford, Ct cutting right to the chase. Many white blue collar workers like Tommy perceieve the Black Community voted for Barack Obama simply based on his race putting race to the forefront of the underground struggle that will determine the winner of the General Election. Can Barack Obama convince Tommy and many others like him he will represent all voters in the White House, African American and white? Unlikely, the mere presence of the likes of Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Jr may very well have won Barack Obama the nomination but their very presence will cost him more votes then the Democratic Party is willing to admit in the General Election.
Barack Obama began his campaign attacking Hillary Clinton over Iraq, the foundation of his campaign runs around Iraq, but can it win him the General Election, early indications say no.
"He wasn't even a senator yet how can he claim to have known which way he would vote unless someone leaked him classified information that the other senators got way back when, to use in his campaign, if that happened then he is just another dirty politician anyway and I won't vote for him." Says Garrity K of Longmeadow, Mass. "Iraq yeah that was a bad call but it seems to me most of Washington voted yes, doesn't make sense why he is attacking his own party over the vote or Clinton for that matter, seems to me he is just giving the Republican alot of ammunition. He should keep his mouth shut about things he had no control over and do something about the gas prices instead of giving speeches."
"I remember during the Vietnam war we saw protestors and veterans nightly on TV getting their message out. I don't see any with him. He might find a soldier or two to stand next to him but I don't see the masses on Tv with him, they like Clinton and so do I. He speaks very elegantly but there is no substance to those speeches. He has not learned how to convey his message yet, if he has one." Says Hazel M, a 72 year old retired schoolteacher from Avon, CT.
Six voters in traditonal Democratic states makes a strong case for a landslide Republican victory in November. Barack Obama has numerous issues he must tackle successfully in the next few months just to win over his OWN party. A tall order that is even more difficult with the looming inevitablity that he will lose West Virgina and most likely Florida and Michigan in the Genetral Election, especially with the fiasco the DNC created in the latter two states by trying to exert their control and influence, which has and can be misconceived as a backroom deal to hand Barack Obama the nomination, costing the Party even more voters and donations.
John MCcain is not President Bush and many Democratic voters who have not been touched by Barack Obama admit they relate much more to McCain then they do to Barack Obama or even the Democratic Party anymore.
"They didn't let everyone vote, they didn't want a woman president, I'm not voting for any Democratic Candidate now, that was just wrong. Mr. MCCain is a decorated soldier, a POW, I would be honored to vote for a man who has truly served his country when we needed him to." says Cherrie L of Torrington, Ct who admits just last year registered to vote for the first time at the ripe old age of 22. " I registered with a big D, my friends tease me says it meant dumb choice, guess they are right." she adds unable to hide the bitterness in her voice.
And let's not forget these misconceptions that will cost the Democratic Party votes in November.... a long road indeed and one that just may too long for the Democratic Party to pull out a win. They had one ray of hope and Senator Kennedy quickly dimmed that hope when he publically skewered Senator Clinton while announcing Barack Obama would shun the Senator for the VP slot, nixing any thoughts of a dream ticket to heal the party. Until Kennedy opened his mouth Obama had a small window to get Clinton democrates to listen to him, Kennedy slammed that window before Obama ever got a chance to reach across that bridge all but assuring a Republican Win in November.
In 2000 they blamed Nadar and Bush, in 2004 they blamed the Swift Boat Campaign in 2008 they already have their scapegoat, Hillary Rodham Clinton, while they should be pointing the fingers at Senator Edward Kennedy or maybe Washington should start listening to the voters now instead of pointing fingers because as Joe said, "We're not listening anymore."
Anyway, these are some serious questions we should be asking ourselves.
Everyday I'm asked the same question by someone, "Will I vote for Barack Obama," and my reply is always the same, "Does it matter?" The answer is no because Barack Obama will never reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and here's why.
"The man has been talking for two years and I still don't know what he plans to do or how he plans to do it." Says Joe G. Gulf War veteran residing in Plymouth, Mass. Fair enough but the general election has just begun. " I'm not listening anymore." Says Joe shaking his head. " I've got a family to feed, a mortgage to pay and kids to put through college, I don't have time to listen anymore, I'll just sit this one out, things never change anyway. Aren't the Dems in charge now?" He says adjusting his cap and shaking his head once again referring to the majority the Dems hold in congress.
Joe is not alone in his opinion, the Democratic Party has been in charge in Congress and they have failed to challenge President Bush on a level that makes enough of a difference that American people see that relief at the gas pumps or in the grocery stores. A large portion of the American population believes Washington is not listening and has not been listening for a very long time. Problem one the Democratic party needs to convince Americans like Joe they are listening and so far they have failed that test.
"He seems to reinvent himself every other month. First he says he never heard that Wright guy say those things then he admits he did. I don't trust him, he's no different then any other politician, he will say anything to get elected." Says Gina L from Trumball, Ct. " I'm not thrilled with Hillary Clinton either but I think she could get the job done," I like McCain he's not anywhere near as bad as Bush." she adds thoughtfully touching on the one aspect of this campaign the Democratic party would like to sweep under the rug.
John MCCain is not President Bush, he does not need to reach to the far conservative corners of the Republican party to win the General Election thanks to the Democratic Party. For months there has been warning signs that Obama's appeal is not broad but pigeonholed into three demographics, African Americans, White Collar and the young voters who fuel his grassroots fundraising machine. What the Democratic party has refused to acknowledge is the far reaches of the extreme conservative and religious voters of the Republican Party that Bush reached out to in order to wrestle power from the Democratic Party in 2000 and 2004 will never be able to reach far enough across the aisle to vote for a man as liberal as Barack Obama. John McCain will reap the benefits of the liberal candidate the Democratic Party seems all but assured to trot out in the General Election.
"What about the war in Iraq? We went to war when Clinton was president and things were not this bad. I don't think Barak Obama has been honest in regard to Iraq anyway, someone told me he voted the same as Clinton since he has been in Washington. My best friend lost a son in Iraq and she won't vote for him, she doesn't trust him, why should I?" Says Nancy P from Brookline, Mass." Besides he aligned himself with Kennedy and I can't stand that guy all he cares about is his buddies in washington. When is the last time he did anything for us back here?" She snaps hinting at the reason Clinton won Kennedy's home state by a landslide despite his endorsement of Barack Obama along with Senator Kerry. Kennedy's power and reach seems now limited to his Washington as many voters believe Kennedy is no longer in touch with their needs and concerns back in his home state of Massachussetes.
" Well I heard all the blacks are voting for him just because he is black. That's not right so I guess I should vote for the white guy, kind of balance things out." says Tommy K of Hartford, Ct cutting right to the chase. Many white blue collar workers like Tommy perceieve the Black Community voted for Barack Obama simply based on his race putting race to the forefront of the underground struggle that will determine the winner of the General Election. Can Barack Obama convince Tommy and many others like him he will represent all voters in the White House, African American and white? Unlikely, the mere presence of the likes of Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Jr may very well have won Barack Obama the nomination but their very presence will cost him more votes then the Democratic Party is willing to admit in the General Election.
Barack Obama began his campaign attacking Hillary Clinton over Iraq, the foundation of his campaign runs around Iraq, but can it win him the General Election, early indications say no.
"He wasn't even a senator yet how can he claim to have known which way he would vote unless someone leaked him classified information that the other senators got way back when, to use in his campaign, if that happened then he is just another dirty politician anyway and I won't vote for him." Says Garrity K of Longmeadow, Mass. "Iraq yeah that was a bad call but it seems to me most of Washington voted yes, doesn't make sense why he is attacking his own party over the vote or Clinton for that matter, seems to me he is just giving the Republican alot of ammunition. He should keep his mouth shut about things he had no control over and do something about the gas prices instead of giving speeches."
"I remember during the Vietnam war we saw protestors and veterans nightly on TV getting their message out. I don't see any with him. He might find a soldier or two to stand next to him but I don't see the masses on Tv with him, they like Clinton and so do I. He speaks very elegantly but there is no substance to those speeches. He has not learned how to convey his message yet, if he has one." Says Hazel M, a 72 year old retired schoolteacher from Avon, CT.
Six voters in traditonal Democratic states makes a strong case for a landslide Republican victory in November. Barack Obama has numerous issues he must tackle successfully in the next few months just to win over his OWN party. A tall order that is even more difficult with the looming inevitablity that he will lose West Virgina and most likely Florida and Michigan in the Genetral Election, especially with the fiasco the DNC created in the latter two states by trying to exert their control and influence, which has and can be misconceived as a backroom deal to hand Barack Obama the nomination, costing the Party even more voters and donations.
John MCcain is not President Bush and many Democratic voters who have not been touched by Barack Obama admit they relate much more to McCain then they do to Barack Obama or even the Democratic Party anymore.
"They didn't let everyone vote, they didn't want a woman president, I'm not voting for any Democratic Candidate now, that was just wrong. Mr. MCCain is a decorated soldier, a POW, I would be honored to vote for a man who has truly served his country when we needed him to." says Cherrie L of Torrington, Ct who admits just last year registered to vote for the first time at the ripe old age of 22. " I registered with a big D, my friends tease me says it meant dumb choice, guess they are right." she adds unable to hide the bitterness in her voice.
And let's not forget these misconceptions that will cost the Democratic Party votes in November.... a long road indeed and one that just may too long for the Democratic Party to pull out a win. They had one ray of hope and Senator Kennedy quickly dimmed that hope when he publically skewered Senator Clinton while announcing Barack Obama would shun the Senator for the VP slot, nixing any thoughts of a dream ticket to heal the party. Until Kennedy opened his mouth Obama had a small window to get Clinton democrates to listen to him, Kennedy slammed that window before Obama ever got a chance to reach across that bridge all but assuring a Republican Win in November.
In 2000 they blamed Nadar and Bush, in 2004 they blamed the Swift Boat Campaign in 2008 they already have their scapegoat, Hillary Rodham Clinton, while they should be pointing the fingers at Senator Edward Kennedy or maybe Washington should start listening to the voters now instead of pointing fingers because as Joe said, "We're not listening anymore."
I think it was a huge red flag, but just like with Kerry we will ignore those flags and then wonder why the Republicans are in control. That's what the article is saying. At least that's the way I took it.