If you vote for Obama, this is what you’re voting for (Reminder #10)
“Remember, Bobby Kennedy was killed in June!”
That was me, talking to my brother in March or so of this year. We were discussing the Democratic primary and the prospect of an extended battle for the nomination. My point was that there was no reason for Hillary to drop out, no historical basis for the insistence from Obama supporters that it was somehow bizarre and destructive to the party for Hillary to continue her campaign. There have been many years when the nomination was still open well into the summer, even right up to the convention, but 1968 is the most obvious analog for 2008: two (or more) powerful candidates, a divided party, an impassioned electorate. When Bobby Kennedy was killed in June, he had just won the California primary — and the nomination was still wide open.
And that’s what you say: “Bobby was killed in June.” You don’t say “remember, Bobby Kennedy won the California primary in June,” because that would be like discussing JFK’s trip to Dallas in November 1963 without mentioning what happened in Dealey Plaza. You think of Bobby in California in 1968 and your mind immediately goes to the Ambassador Hotel, the scene in the kitchen, Bobby on the floor, the shock, the horror. My God they killed another one. The nightmare of that moment is burned into your brain, inextricably bound up with the political fact that Bobby Kennedy had just won the all-important primary in California. It would feel almost obscene to talk about the one without immediately acknowledging the other.
In fact, I can guarantee you that if I had said to my brother something like, “well, gosh, remember that Bobby Kennedy won California in June,” my mother or father or some other member of my family would have immediately broken in with a reference to the assassination, and the conversation would have halted while we all paused to remember and reflect. Because that’s what you do. That’s how your mind works.
And that’s exactly how Hillary Clinton’s mind was working when she spoke with the editors of the Argus Leader on May 23, 2008:
HRC: People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa.
Q: Why?
HRC: I don’t know. I don’t know. I find it curious. Because it is unprecedented in history. I don’t understand it. Between my opponent and his camp and some in the media there has been this urgency to end this. And historically, that makes no sense. So I find it a bit of a mystery.
Q: So you don’t buy the party unity argument?
HRC: I don’t because again I’ve been around long enough. My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it. There’s lots of speculation about why it is.
Q: What is your speculation?
HRC: I don’t know. I find it curious. And I don’t want to attribute motives or strategies to people because I don’t really know, but it’s a historical curiosity to me.
There was nothing remotely sinister or even remarkable about Clinton’s statement, which is why the Argus Leader editors didn’t remark on it. It was perfectly obvious that Hillary was talking about primary contests that lasted into June.
But the Obama campaign, aided by its allies in the media, managed to turn this innocent exchange into the grounds for a witch-hunt. They spread the lie that what Hillary said (or meant) was that she was staying in the race in case Obama was assassinated. It’s the kind of interpretation that you would never in a million years come up with on your own, but if somebody primes the pump by telling you that’s what Hillary said — before you’ve seen the tape yourself — then you might believe it. Especially if you’ve been bombarded for months with the message that Hillary Clinton is a monster, an evil bitch who will do anything to get elected, a would-be murderer, a Glenn Close type from Fatal Attraction, someone who would poison Obama’s food if she could get to his chef.
(Similarly: remember the Mickey Kantor “white nigger” tape? Just before the Indiana primary, an Obama supporter circulated a doctored clip and transcript from the documentary The War Room, in which Mickey Kantor’s question to another Clinton campaign aide, “how’d you like to be in the White House right now?” [this was election night 1992] was re-transcribed as “how’d you like to be a worthless white nigger?” [allegedly referring to the people of Indiana]. As incredible and completely nonsensical as that is, it nevertheless persuaded the Obama true believers. Go dig up the comments at any blog where the story was covered. “You know, now that you mention it, I can definitely hear him saying “white nigger!” Such is the power of suggestion. It was probably enough to cost Hillary a few points in Indiana.)
Obama’s team pushed the RFK smear aggressively, just as they had pushed all the other smears against Hillary: the Somali garb smear, the Muslim smear, the darkening of Obama’s photo smear, the Bosnia smear, the fairytale smear, the MLK/LBJ smear, and on and on and on. The Obama machine functioned smoothly in all its parts, from campaign headquarters to media outlets, from netroots astroturfers to hysterical commenters shrieking for blood. They’d done it all before, but the RFK business ratcheted things up to a new level. The public hatred of Hillary reached a fever pitch. The sheer noise drowned out all rational speech. And the Obama camp’s cynical exploitation of race, history, and our nation’s tragedies made it virtually a thought-crime to point out that the whole thing was a put-up job — not to mention that if anyone was playing the role of Bobby Kennedy in this election, it was Hillary herself.
People who had been watching the race closely (as opposed to watching Obama campaign ads and gazing adoringly at copies of Dreams of My Father) already understood that behind the “hope and change” propaganda, the Obama folks were hard-core Chicago machine types, experts in dirty politics, ruthless and utterly without scruple. About as far from “a new kind of politics” as you could possibly get. But even so, the RFK smear was eye-opening.
There are moments in history when a political movement shows its hand, when it reveals itself for what it truly is. With the RFK business, it became clear: Barack Obama is a demogogue. And that’s all he is. It is the very essence of the man. He is not a moral leader temporarily caught up in the fever of a hard-fought election. He is not a devoted public servant with a solid record of achievement whose followers just happen to get a little carried away. That’s probably what you want to believe, and it’s what I assumed was true — had to be true — for a long time. But look again.
There is literally nothing in Obama’s record except his own career advancement. There is literally nothing in his movement except the aggrandizement of Obama himself. And there is literally nothing he will not say or imply, no passion or prejudice he will not exploit, to achieve power.
Is that really what we need in this country? A demagogue backed up by a mob of fanatics who will believe anything they’re told?
38 Responses to “If you vote for Obama, this is what you’re voting for (Reminder #10)”
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myiq2xu says:
Actually Violet, some members of the sippy-kup kingdom were even claiming that Hillary was suggesting that someone should assassinate Obama.
October 31st, 2008 at 7:12 am EST -
kenoshaMarge says:
Barack Obama is a demagogue. And that’s all he is. It is the very essence of the man.
Absolutely perfect definition of who and what this man is. Bravo once again Dr. Socks!
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Gayle says:
Yeah, they were pushing this lie throughout the internet. It was all over My DD and when a few honest souls tried to knock it down. . . well, you know what happened to them. Banned or pushed out.
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Brad says:
myiq2xu is correct. Here’s Crazy Majorie Cohn of The National Lawyers Guild: “Clinton ’s remarks offer a look into her character. In Olbermann’s words, they “open a door wide into the soul of somebody who seeks the highest office in this country and through that door shows something not merely troubling but frightening.”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/i.....p;aid=9064Crazy Cohn, Insane Keith Olbermann and don’t forget Barack Obama’s campaign was faxing Olbermann’s comments to reporters to keep the “HOW DARE SHE!” crap floating.
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Lisa says:
Speaking of Hillary, have you all seen the flyers that the McCain camp is sending out in Pennsylvania. They are fantastic- you have to see.
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madamab says:
Isn’t it amazing that Obama is willing to accept campaign help from someone who called for his assassination? And an unrepentant r*cist like Bill Clinton as well?
Boy, that guy is sure forgiving!
/snark
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Kat says:
There is literally nothing in Obama’s record except his own career advancement. There is literally nothing in his movement except the aggrandizement of Obama himself. And there is literally nothing he will not say or imply, no passion or prejudice he will not exploit, to achieve power.
Is that really what we need in this country? A demagogue backed up by a mob of fanatics who will believe anything they’re told?
This is the entirety of the whole affair, right here. This is everything disturbing, repulsive and alarming here, succintly put. I’ve muttered many times in the last few months, “of all the elections some fanboys and fangirls could push an empty, narcissistic, power mad infomercial American Idol on us, it had to be **now**?”
Yeah, the RFK smear was my point of no return, without a doubt. Every time I so much as think about it, steam curls out my ears. Dirtiest campaign smear job of the season, dirtier still because it was done so utterly as an insider group crucifixion, the Obama campaign and the press in their hip little clique. Explicitly, without a doubt. And BO got caught red-handed feeding his poison pills to the fawning press. Ugh. See? I even start talking about and I get livid.
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myiq2xu says:
Violet:
This is OT but you should check it out. It’s allegedly an attack on Sarah Palin’s feminist credentials, but the first think attacked is her intelligence!
I guess Sarah isn’t smart enough to be a feminist.
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d'line says:
A previous post disappeared.
I just watched a news clip of Palin’s recent outdoor speech. At the end a reporter was filmed asking three or four young women, teenagers, what they thought of her. They praised her being a feminist. They saw her as a role model. Wow. Now that’s remarkable. When have you seen or heard middle America young women who aren’t poli sci politicos praising a politician, and saying they admire her feminist creds. They see themselves in her. They sure as hell don’t see themselves in Hillary (that may come later), or in Robin Morgan, or Gloria Steinem. Palin, with the gorgeous husband, the children, the career, the groomed good looks. I can do that they think.
She’s done more for feminism in 10 weeks than all the stature feminists have in 30 years. When they look at her they think “this is how”. Where they go after that, there’s no charting. I applaud them, and her.
Then I watched one of Obama’s speeches. He’s a televangelist. His audience, just short of responding in tongues. I’m stunned at how this could pass for political and legislative leadership capability. He frightens me as much as any ayatollah.
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octogalore says:
Myiq2xu: wow, that Morgan article is something. I am on my way to lunch and became so sick to my stomach after reading it that the only antidote was the comments — many of which were excellent.
As a number of the comments pointed out, Morgan’s politics of division within the feminist movement cater to the critiques of feminism as an exclusive club. She clearly is more focused on pulling cards and checking creds than actually building a movement and focusing on specific goals. She managed to flip flop on a number of the propositions she laid out in her earlier articles as a Clinton supporter. While she has the right, as do all of us, to form an opinion based on her substantive views, I saw no rigorous arguments in her flimsy piece, only finger pointing and ridicule. She’s an embarrassment.
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d'line says:
She said WHAT?!
“Oh, as Joe the senator says, lord love ya…”
Morgan has taken up bonsai in her retirement.
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votermom says:
I find it so sad that Robin Morgan is using classic sexist tropes against Palin.
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RKMK says:
My ex-roommate just sent me this link on Facebook - most likely because she and I were West Wing addicts who would have marathon DVD watches - and I think she thought I would think it merely interesting… but I actually find it discomfiting. Really discomfiting. I’m absolutely swamped at work this week, and mentally exhausted, but the last few months I’ve felt an overwhelming sense of unease about the media conglomerates and the people behind the scenes, and how the election has come off so… rigged, and the idea of Axelrod planting the seeds into the collective unconscious as far back as 2004… Discomfiting.
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votermom says:
RKMK — I remember that West Wing link being discussed during the primaries also — was it art predicting life or life imitating art.
It sounds to me a lot like Axelrod doing trial runs on his perfect candidate — first on tv, then on Deval Patrick, and rolling out The One in 2004 (Dem Convention).
The resemblance of Vinick to McCain makes everything surreal; but possibly that is the logical result of the GOP being forced to field it’s most bipartisan candidate. -
sister of ye says:
Axelrod is an absolutely worthless piece of fecal material covered with pond scum covered with whatever else disgusting you can envision this Halloween.
He and Rove are finalists in the competition to match the lyrics desribing the Grinch. As in, “You’re a three-decker saurkraut and toadstool sandwich - with arsenic sauce.”
What he did to Clinton is particularly shameful when you consider how she fought for legislation that helped his sick child. It’s not just that he worked against her, but how - utterly trashing her reputation, making her appear to be without any honesty, generosity, decency or honor.
I got some advice for you, David - don’t have your family tuck slippers into your coffin, because where you’re going, your toes will be quite toasty enough.
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madamab says:
Violet - Have you seen this flyer being distributed by McCain in PA?
Note this part:
I share Senator Clinton’s goal of promoting women to more important roles in government. By the end of my first term, I promise you will see a dramatic increase in the presence of women in every part of the government. You have my word on it.
My vote for McPalin just went from protest to joy. The man gets it, he really, REALLY gets it!
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DancingOpossum says:
Same here. I am astonished by that flyer. The pictures, the words–they moved me almost to tears. I’m going to ask my friend in PA to save one for me if she gets one.
Is he pandering to us? Well, at least someone is…
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madamab says:
DancingOpossum - He is not just pandering. He backs up his words with actions. He picked a female VP, didn’t he?
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votermom says:
I got that flyer the other day. Most flyers go in the trash but I’m saving that one. Beautiful and classy.
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Violet says:
I never get flyers. Well, hell, I live out in the woods. We barely have electricity.
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votermom says:
I think I got on the RNC mail list by calling our local congresscritter several times to complain about stuff. :P
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votermom says:
A post on NoQuarter reminded me that Obama’s friend Bill Ayers dedicated his 1974 book to Sirhan Sirhan, the guy who actually killed Bobby Kennedy.
Yet the Obama campaign had the gall to use Hillary’s mention of Bobby Kennedy’s assasination as a smear.
The sheer gall is of it is appalling. -
m Andrea says:
Can’t remember if I posted a previous comment or not, but somewhere floating on the internet is quite a lovely article delineating Obama’s employment history from the very beginning. It was factual, no hyperbole at all, simply listing what he accomplished in each position.
His only contribution was to create a stepping stone to a better job. He is very good at orchastrating self-promotion by proxy, but if he loses this time he won’t be nominated again in 2012 — folks would catch on by then. Speaking of which…
/think it’s time somebunnies nominate Violet for a webby award, oh hum.
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Cyn says:
I take great offense at Robin Morgan’s article.
This may be the reason I was sometimes uncomfortable being labeled “feminist”. Because of women like Morgan making me feel I wasn’t “doing it right”
What utter bullshit.
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Yanni Znaio says:
DancingOpossum says:
Same here. I am astonished by that flyer. The pictures, the words–they moved me almost to tears. I’m going to ask my friend in PA to save one for me if she gets one.
Is he pandering to us? Well, at least someone is…
October 31st, 2008 at 2:55 pm EST
I live in Pennsylvania. If *I* get one, I’ll let you know.
Best regards,
YZ, who is really, really tempted to write on his spare tire cover on Tuesday,
“VOTING? YOU BETCHA!”
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Shane says:
There is literally nothing in Obama’s record except his own career advancement. There is literally nothing in his movement except the aggrandizement of Obama himself. And there is literally nothing he will not say or imply, no passion or prejudice he will not exploit, to achieve power.
And of course, the really clever part was convincing everybody that Hillary would ’say or do anything to win!’ (and your list of smears doesn’t even include the smear that she wanted to nuke the entire Middle East because of her answer to a hypothetical question about Iran nuking Israel), which thanks to the wonders of media bias deflected anybody calling out Obama for doing exactly that all along. Thanks Rovean campaigning!
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Kat says:
This may be the reason I was sometimes uncomfortable being labeled “feminist”. Because of women like Morgan making me feel I wasn’t “doing it right”
Oh gosh, Cyn, that captures very well how I’ve often felt. I wasn’t doing it “right”, so I couldn’t be a feminist.
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Violet says:
Re the Morgan piece:
What’s interesting is that she never answered my question: Why is Robin Morgan lying?
I have actually refrained from writing the piece I’d like to write, a dissection of the ways in which women like Morgan have completely come unmoored from anything feminist and are now just helping the patriarchs throw stones at the Bad Woman. Morgan is a particularly embarrassing example.
I think her conscience is bothering her.
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octogalore says:
I like that linked piece, Violet, and would love to see the one you’ve refrained from writing.
What is so disappointing to me about Morgan is that her first “Goodbye to All That” article was about her break from the male Left, followed by her “Sisterhood is Powerful” and later “Sisterhood is Forever” collections.
In her most recent work, she seems to have come full circle. Her next piece should be “Hello to All That.” It’s almost like she’s trying to prove the titles of her Sisterhood collections wrong. How fucked up is that?
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Violet says:
Her next piece should be “Hello to All That.”
HAR! Good one!
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Violet says:
A post on NoQuarter reminded me that Obama’s friend Bill Ayers dedicated his 1974 book to Sirhan Sirhan, the guy who actually killed Bobby Kennedy.
Yet the Obama campaign had the gall to use Hillary’s mention of Bobby Kennedy’s assasination as a smear.
The sheer gall is of it is appalling.We need a stronger word than gall.
Sirhan Sirhan. What a name. I was a child in the 60s, of course, and I grew up in that world of turmoil. A world where people were assassinated. It was like learning the capitals of the states: okay, Lee Harvey Oswald was the guy who killed JFK (that was before my memory), Jack Ruby killed Oswald, we don’t know who killed Malcom X, James Earl Ray was the guy who killed Dr. King. And now this Sirhan Sirhan character.
When RFK was killed my mother just shut down. She couldn’t cope with it. She wouldn’t watch the funeral on TV, nothing. My father was in Vietnam, and it seemed we were drowning in a world of death.
I thought about writing that in the post, writing about my feelings about those events and how Obama’s exploitation felt like a personal violation — but in the end I decided not to get weighed down in my own emotion. Suffice it to say that if you lived through those years, what Obama did is beyond the pale.
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Greenconsciousness says:
Violet Demigod - exactly - with a frenzied mob of stormtroopers yup - but nothing like success to expose the lies -
Lisa — Beautiful Posters - I sent on the link.
Octogalore — exactly right about the Robin Morgan POC- just reading these so called “brilliant” feminists on Palin makes me sick. P Chesler on “Chesler’s Chronicles” just wrote a hilarious post on how major feminist are in a frenzy about BO.
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Greenconsciousness says:
I meant; Violet - Demigod
Not like Demigod was your last name - sorry
Happy Hallows Eve !
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Kat says:
I have actually refrained from writing the piece I’d like to write, a dissection of the ways in which women like Morgan have completely come unmoored from anything feminist and are now just helping the patriarchs throw stones at the Bad Woman. Morgan is a particularly embarrassing example.
Violet, I’d really like to read this piece, if you’re still considering writing it.
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samanthasmom says:
I was 17 the summer Bobby Kennedy was shot. Two weeks later a childhood friend was killed in Vietnam. I grew up quickly that summer. I am still having a difficult time understanding the Kennedy support for Obama. The feud between Ted Kennedy and the Clintons must run deep.
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Yanni Znaio says:
samanthasmom says:
I was 17 the summer Bobby Kennedy was shot. Two weeks later a childhood friend was killed in Vietnam. I grew up quickly that summer. I am still having a difficult time understanding the Kennedy support for Obama. The feud between Ted Kennedy and the Clintons must run deep.
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm EST
I’m a few years younger than you.
As for the Clinton/Kennedy thing- blood feud.
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DancingOpossum says:
Thanks Yanni!! I’ll treasure the flyer forever…:)
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Yanni Znaio says:
DancingOpossum says:
Thanks Yanni!! I’ll treasure the flyer forever…:)
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 am EST
Haven’t gotten one so far, but I just moved.
I’ll ask around, though to see if any of my friends at work got one.
Stay tuned.
