What About Getting Over it, Moving On and Looking Forward?

by Deb Cupples |   I was in Florida during Recount 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to stop the vote counting and hand the White House to George Bush.  The "victors" shouted derisively at any Al Gore supporter who dared gripe or vent or publicly question what had happened.  "Move on," they bellowed, sounding like Sgt. Carter from Gomer Pyle.  "Get over it, and look forward."

Even after Bush began occupying the White House, the "victors" refused, for quite a while, to actually "move on" themselves.  Instead, they kept insulting Gore and Lieberman.  Some clever person renamed the then-defunct ticket "Sore Loserman."  They snidely dismissed Democrats as whiners.  They even kept right on griping about Bill Clinton, though he had already sent the U-Haul to the family home and left the White House -- that and he could not legally become president again.

While right-wing pundits and Bush supporters continued to shriek like peacocks about the election they had already "won," George Bush stood at various podiums talking about unifying the nation.

I'm reminded of all this by an article I read today, which states:

"A Democratic superdelegate from New Jersey said this week he is worried that unifying the party behind Barack Obama may be difficult because the Clinton camp "has engaged in some very divisive tactics and rhetoric it should not have."

"U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, who supported Hillary Clinton throughout the primary season, disclosed he received a phone call shortly before the April 22 Pennsylvania primary from a top member of Clinton's organization and that the caller explicitly discussed a strategy of winning over Jewish voters by exploiting tensions between Jews and African-Americans.

"'There have been signals coming out of the Clinton campaign that have racial overtones that indeed disturb me,' Andrews said at his campaign headquarters in Cherry Hill Tuesday night after he lost his bid for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. (Newark Star Ledger)

First, I question the veracity of Rep. Andrews' statement, because it doesn't make sense.  How -- in practical terms -- could any campaign exploit the alleged tension between Jewish and African American people?  Seriously. 

Second, I wonder why he didn't find noteworthy the Obama campaign's earlier use of race (more accurately, false accusations of racism) as a vote-getting strategy.

In January, an internal campaign memo found its way to the press: it indicated that Obama campaign staffers were looking for ways to accuse Hillary Clinton of racism. (Huffington Post)  Yes, the same Hillary whose record of civil-rights activities over the last 40 years inspired Maya Angelou to endorse her. The timing of the Obama campaign's efforts couldn't have been better: it started just before the primary in the heavily African American state of South Carolina.

Third, why would Rep. Andrews make such accusations now? 

Hasn't he heard that Barack Obama is now the presumptive Democratic nominee?  Hasn't he heard that Hillary publicly voiced her support for Barack Obama on the night of the primary and the few days that followed?

The referee already finished the count and the bell has already sounded. Who benefits from hauling off and repeatedly kicking the ex-candidate in the ribs?

Who benefits from the bellowed messages aimed at disappointed Hillary supporters, telling them to move on or to get over it?  Who benefits from calling Florida's voters cry babies -- or Michigan's voters to stupid to grasp the Sophisticated Math on which DNC leaders relied when tallying the half of Michigan's primary votes that they were willing to count? 

Who benefits from the toxic spirit that inspires some "victors" to call Hillary supporters "sore losers"?

When something that I really want comes to pass, it tends to elevate my mood -- even makes me overlook things that had earlier caused me vexation.  That's what "moving on" is all about.

That's why I'm so baffled at present, when seeing so many Obama supporters in the media and blogosphere still barking and screeching and yelling like Yosemite Sam.

I don't know who is benfiting from all this, but I do know who isn't benefiting: the Democratic party -- the folks who are eager to "unify," to bring into the fold some of the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for Hillary, so that Sen. Obama will have a sporting chance of beating Sen. McCain in November.

Memeorandum has commentary.

Comments

[Danny]

I know! I've been quietly thinking about exactly what you're talking about. Money and ownership of newrooms is affecting the reporting of the 'news' - they're not just report it anymore - they make it up some times! Every one of the media hacks are really desperate money grubbers and they will do anything to keep their money, position, and power. I wish they would get their due. If every one of the 18 million Hillary supporters would turn off their TV (as you have) that would just start to get their attention. They know that Obama loses if they keep bashing the Clintons - and that is what the corporate bosses want, I suspect.

That being said, I'm still in it with Hillary and I'm not going to CHANGE my vote until after the convention in August. Then I'll still have to THINK about who I'll support in November. I hate what Obama and his surrogates and supporters did... they engaged in race baiting and even went so far as to say that Bill, Hillary and Hillary's supporters are racists. I hate even more what Donna Brazile and the rules and bylaws committee did to the Democratic Party last weekend. That was just UGLY.

I am joining P.U.M.A. (Party Unity My Ass) on June 10th - that's right, I am leaving the party - It might be forever, it might be for a year or four - only time will tell. Just to be clear - I am done rewarding behavior like that of the John Kerry or Barack Obama campaign with my vote - I am not going to enable that sh*t any longer!

[Deb]

Hi Danny,

I hear ya! I'm not leaving the Dem party yet, because I want to vote in primaries. If Florida opens the primaries, I will go NPA.

I don't know what I'll do in November, but I too am tired of the DNC's politics (and the media).

[Danny]

I can re-register anytime in my state - just as many Republicans did so that they could vote for Obama. I wonder if he is now courting those Republican votes as McCain is courting Democratic voters? I wonder if Obama's ego will whisper to him that his Republican votes will be there in November?

[Deb]

Danny,

I've no idea what Obama's strategists will do. God know, I didn't expect them to run such a toxic campaign.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

It'll be interesting, because the RNC has no qualms about hitting the campaign back and hard (unlike the DNC, which seemed rather protective of Obama's campaign).