Yeah, Right.
Below is the rough of a cartoon I was originally going to draw on this subject. Herb (my editorial page editor) thought it was too harsh, as he felt it created the impression that Hillary was racist, (rather than being “the messenger” that racism exists in the electorate, and she is, well, “white.”) Herb, who is African American, also said that for him the rebel flag conjured exceptionally painful images of slavery, civil rights abuses, and worse. He felt it was an image that should be saved for use in a different context. That was enough for me, and after much debate I conjured the above drawing instead. I do find it strange that Hillary is warning us about a powerful element in the electorate who would never vote for a black man…Yet these people are the evolved individuals who will put the first woman in the White House?
One thing is for certain, and that is that Hillary is making some very unpleasant arguments for why she would be the strongest candidate in the fall.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 10:59 am by Matt Davies.
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"I do find it strange that Hillary is warning us about a powerful element in the electorate who would never vote for a black man…Yet these people are the evolved individuals who will put the first woman in the White House?"
Cognative disonance, huh? Maybe Hillary really isn't warning you about race, but rather about class. Saying the working class votes for me would get her hammered by people who say she is forgetting the black working class. How presumptuous of her. Saying white working class, she now looks like she is stoking racial fires. I agree, those who will never vote for a black man, probably won't vote for a woman either.
Nice of you to say the population voting for Clinton are racists.
Who's a racist?
Maybe YOU should get out of the cartoon studio and visit there before dismissing a whole state because they do not meet your standards.
But this is why liberals are doomed anyhow, like the pile of dung beetles racing one another to see who can push the sh*t around first – doomed to that fate forever.
But seriously, best of luck in November, hope you guys really get it together!
The template is in place. Vote for Obama or else you are a racist. Any question or criticism = racism. The fact that over 90% of African American primary voters choose Obama does not implicate race, but any whites who choose Hillary are racists. McCain supporters, forget about it, Republicans are by definition racist, right Matt? How delightfully stupid. How typically liberal. The knee-jerk, offensive racism canard. Relieves you from actually thinking about the issues. But the obedient liberal cartoonist has spoken.
The cartoon isn't intended to imply that anyone who votes for Clinton or McCain is racist. Davies' point is that Hillary, in one last (pathetic? over-reaching? pointless?) effort to win the primaries, is playing the race card. But, Hillary is probably right – there are plenty of middle-of-the-roads whose vote will go "right" because there's a black man on the left. But I agree with wasa1 – those same people will go running right when they see a woman on the ballot.
I honestly have zero preference as to who gets the nomination. I am only reacting (with some surprise, I might add) to what Senator Clinton and some of the Democratic Primary voters have been saying.
It isn't the race card she is playing, it's a reality check card. If Obama can't win middle class white votes, he can't win the big one.
People throw around terms like racist and fascist as if they are meaningless. They are highly offensive terms to people whose legitimate opinions are simply different and the use of these terms cuts off any real debate.
Since Clinton and Obama have basically identical stances on the issues, what would you call it if a Democratic Clinton supporter refuses to vote for Obama and instead vote for McCain in the fall? It seems racism has to be part of the discussion. Many voters in exit polls say they are not ready to vote for a black man. That is racism. It's just that many people in America have no idea that they are racists. You don't have to carry a noose in the trunk of your car to be a racist.
J. – Well said.
Matt – You're just stirring a pot that's already boiling over. Is that fun for you? Just wondering.
Gary – Basically identical stances on the issues is a good place to start but for myself, and many voters, judgment and a sense of whether someone is genuine or not is also relevant. And add to that the much smaller, but still relevant, issue of feeling that something or someone is being forced on you. I once thought Obama was a Good Thing but my opinion took a distinct turn after his Selma speech; that was his proving ground for me. The behavior of the DNC has been icing on the cake.
All that is to say that a person that refuses to support Obama… even if they vote McCain… has a plethora of reason and issues to choose from. And the DNC has not helped, has in fact harmed, the party more than any other single thing.
Being labeled a racist for political choice is pretty harsh and creating a divide that may never heal.
sign me… ex-Democrat, now an Independent
Now i'm offended Matt. You show an over weight WHITE man in
a tank top t-shirt as a typical racist. Where will this all
end? (only kidding) Tell Herb the confederate flag is part
of our history like it or not. I do applaud him though for
not allowing you to print it. I don't think it belonged there either.
Polly,
It's quite a stretch to say that Obama, who started this campaign 20 points behind Clinton but has won more popular vote, more states, more pledged delegates and more superdelegates, is being "forced on you."
Aye aye aye…You "Clinton-or-nothing" supporters are missing the point entirely.
I should know better, but let's sort through this silly quagmire shall we?
The cartoon in no way infers that a vote for Hillary is racist. In light of the past eight years, a vote for Hillary is a perfectly legitimate and coherent thing IMHO – My criticism is of the fact that she has based the last month of her campaign on racial code words, championing the votes of "the working white people" – She essentially has said the Democratic Party needs the votes of racists in the fall (I don't throw that term around lightly, like some might, but saying in a poll you can't vote for a black man for President – as some of the "hard working white people" have – is 100% racist.) I always expected Hillary and Bill to challenge racism, not harvest it for electoral gain.
I am genuinely disappointed with Hillary – I expected greatness from her in this campaign, and she has been surprisingly rudderless. Her appeal that she is the strongest candidate because she is white is just beyond the pail.
Also, the only people that will benefit from a further drawn out primary fight at this point are journalists, satirists and pundits, and John McCain.
I also think that Obama and Hillary supporters should be careful about shredding each other and angrily pronouncing that they'll vote for McCain or some independent (Bob Barr?) candidate. Just keep your eyes on the Supreme Court, people. The next President will probably be appointing three new judges to it.
So the initial impulse to put a Confederate flag in Hil's hand is not calling her a racist? Please.
Speaking of Bob Barr, I checked the Libertarian party's website yesterday: Barr had been in contention for the nomination less than 24 hours… and his campaign had magically raised over $60,000. Being that Gravel is the strongest candidate, I find the numbers disheartening, nauseating, and far too suspicious.
I'm getting the feeling Barr is a plant to ensure McCain a victory in November so the GOP despots can continue their legacy of destruction.
Apparently truth has become the target of their "War on Terror."
Heather i thought Barr was a Republican? Wouldn't that take
votes away from McCain and let the Dems win?
The rejected cartoon is brilliant.
The substitute cartoon maligns voters, and is obscure.
The lesson?
Always go with your first impulse.
(Journalism does not exist, to suppress unpleasant truths.)
The Chief
Love the cartoon! It has nothing to do with the with the 08 Democratic Primary, but I still love it. The problems the Democrats have this year stems from its leadership. The Democrats don't know how to run a fair primary. Caucuses, delegates and super delegates. Oh No! If the Democratic primary was run with similar rules as a presidential election the Democrats would have a candidate that the entire party would support. I would have thought it impossible before the primaries that we could have four more years of Republican leadership! Democratic Leadership has blown another election! Maybe they can get it together for the 2012 election… if we are still here.