Far Left Unhappy With Clinton Flirtation
By Don | November 18, 2008
Left wing supporters of Barack Obama aren’t happy with the possibility that former rival Hillary Clinton is being considered for the Secretary of State position.
From the Politico.
Barack Obama’s serious flirtation with his one-time rival, Hillary Clinton, over the post of secretary of State has been welcomed by everyone from Henry Kissinger to Bill Clinton as an effective, grand gesture by the president-elect.
It’s not playing quite as well, however, in some precincts of Obamaland. From his supporters on the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, to campaign aides of the soon-to-be commander-in-chief, there’s a sense of ambivalence about giving a top political plum to a woman they spent 18 months hammering as the compromised standard-bearer of an era that deserves to be forgotten.
“These are people who believe in this stuff more than Barack himself does,” said a Democrat close to Obama’s campaign. “These guys didn’t put together a campaign in order to turn the government over to the Clintons.”
An overlooked theme in Obama’s primary victory was his belief that the Clinton legacy was not, as the Clintons imagined, a pure political positive. The Obama campaign had no compunctions about poking holes in that legacy and even sent out mailings stressing the downside of the last “8 years of the Clintons” – enraging the former president in particular.
And the clearest opposition to the Clinton appointment comes from Obama’s backers on the left of his own party, whose initial support for him was motivated in part by a distaste for the Clinton dynasty, and who now view her reemergence with some dismay.
The far left is expecting payback for their support not reconciliation with someone who hammered their candidate during the primary.
16 Comments | Post a Comment
I believe that the deal that the Clintons and Obama mde in Bill’s office in Harlem is the first Supreme Court slot.
The “far left” and the “far right” - the minority extremist ideologues and very partisan tails that are wagging the dogs of both political parties equally - have accomplished NOTHING but bitter political division and governmental gridlock. It’s time party leadership of each major party told their respective extremes to get lost - permanently!
Both parties use the term “base” to refer to these nutcases in some kind of ostensibly positive and inclusive way. I think the negative connotation of “base” - i.e., “mean, low and despicable” - is much more appropriate - to both the “far left” AND the “far right” rabblerousers.
Hillary Clinton would be a fool trust Obama and accept any cabinet appointment from Obama. When the far left, who own the party, decided they like Obama better, changing their support wasn’t enough. They trashed the Clintons and decided the only way to like Obama was to hate every fiber of her being. Ken Starr treated the Clintons better than the Democrats treated them both over the past year. She should publicly state that working directly for Obama would be a step down and then make it clear that in the U.S. Senate she will be voting with her conscience and not necessarily her Party, so don’t take any votes for granted. If she accepts the S.O.S cabinet position and resigns from the U.S. Senate Obama could then turn around and fire her to take away all her power and don’t think for a moment he wouldn’t do something like that. Behind that bright smile is a very ambitious and ruthless politician who only cares about himself. When he first ran for the state senate in Illinois he ran in the primary against three opponents and somehow managed to get them thrown off the ticket on a technicality. One of them was a close personal friend who helped him quite a bit in his early days.
Hillary should refuse the position for her own sake. The sit back and watch Obama become another Jimmy Carter right before her very eyes and then when Obama is fed to the lions Hillary can return as her Party leader.
As far as all the negativity about Obama - I’ll wait to see. I never saw so much doom-and-gloom BEFORE THE FACT! And, if ANY president succeeds - we ALL succeed - so I would say we should support him and the Congress until actual experience proves otherwise.
I believe Hillary Clinton would be an unqualified success as Secretary of State - but I really believe she can accomplish more and build a greater legacy if she remains in the Senate at this time - and, then, maybe transition to Governor of New York when the timing is opportune.
And, personally, I believe that’s exactly what she’s going to choose to do.
“When the far left, who own the party, decided they like Obama better, changing their support wasn’t enough.”
I’ll repeat the first poster’s query: What is the definition of “far left”? Left of Rush?
Hi Polly, There is no dictionary to define “far left”, but I’ll give it my best shot.
The “far left” are people who believe the answer to all problems come from the government. People within the government who want to choose where your children attend school are “far left”. They oppose school vouchers for parents who want to take their kids out of failed public schools but can’t afford private school, yet those same politicians wouldn’t dare send their own children into such hellholes. Places like that are for your children, not theirs. The far left are people who only object to using our military when it’s used for national security. They couldn’t care less if our troops are maimed, tortured, or killed while doing social work in third world countries run by gangs of thugs. But don’t let them defeat al Qaeda in places like Iraq. The far left are those who speak kindly of Fidel Castro and applaud him for his free health care and free education. They won’t acknowledge it’s false because the far left media will never say anything bad about a socialist utopia created by one of the most intellectual leaders of our time,the elected president of Cuba, Fidel Castro. Check out http://www.therealcuba.com and spend some time navigating through that website to see the Cuba that the far left at MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN won’t ever tell us about. The far left are people seen wearing Che Guevera sweatshirts. They are also the people who have a poster on their wall at Barack Obama’s campaign office in Houston Texas. If you don’t give to charity because you think the government can and should solve all problems you’re likely from the far left, or just plain cheap. If you like to tax the rich for the sake of taxing the rich, like Barack Obama, you’re from the far left. The rich pay nearly all the federal income taxes. For the rich to “pay their fair share” the government would need to cut their taxes and raise mine. Proponents of gay marriage who protest, sometimes with violence, against those who subscribe to marriage as something between one man and one woman are from the “far left”. People who complain about losing free speech while trying to take away your right to free speech are far left. Most, if not all, elected officials in San Francisco are far left. People who favor legalizing medical marijuana and say nothing when hundreds of pot houses open up in their town are “far left”. Dennis Kucinich is far left. He wants a cabinet level position created for his dream called “The Dept of Peace and Nonviolence”. Those who believe in “peace at any cost” are far left, like Kucinich. The anti-war movement in America is organized by a group called A.N.S.W.E.R. It’s a group created by the World Workers Party, a Stalinist group created by the Soviet Union in the 1950’s with the goal of bringing America down from within. ANSWER came into existence within three weeks after 9/11. It’s purpose was and is to oppose any use of U.S. military force in response to 9/11. The far left are those in our media who sugarcoat their protests where speakers have called for the death of Bush. The “Free Mumia” posters and the literature promoting totalitarian governments like North Korea are kept off the evening newscasts and morning newspapers by those from the far left who don’t want the true agendas of such groups to become known. Some very well intentioned people who opposed the war in Iraq got a rude awakening when they saw what the anti war movement is really about. Those who went back to protest with them for a second time are from the far left.
Polly,
When I say “you”, I mean the generic “you” and not you personally. I hope that came across in my post. If it didn’t, then I apologize.
TK,
I agree about Obama. He’s about to be our president and we should all give him a chance. I hope he turns out to be the best president we ever had. If that happens we all win. But as a New Yorker I wouldn’t want Hillary as our governor for two reasons. 1)I don’t think she would ever want to live in Albany. 2) I just don’t think she’s up for the job.
Mike, Post 8;
Just keep in mind: there are as many if not more “far right” rockheads as there are “far left” loons.
However, both the “fars” are minorities in their own parties - maybe a maximum of 20% of the DEMs and 25% of the GOPs - and the far right is just as bad in its own way as is the far left. Both parties should CEASE calling these extremists their “base” - and make it clear that in the interests of the vast majority of us - their extremism will no longer be recognized in either party.
“The “far left” are people who believe the answer to all problems come from the government.”
Well that’s a good start; based on that there is no far left whatsoever.
“If you like to tax the rich for the sake of taxing the rich, like Barack Obama, you’re from the far left.”
wow. lots of nonsense. but thanks for allowing me to give you enough rope…
Ok Polly, there is “no far left whatsoever”.
The people I described above all all straight down the middle, like youself. Everyone else is a “far right extremist”. You know who they are. They are those evil Christians who wrap bombs around their children to blow up innocent people. Ward Churchill and Rev Wright are two more misunderstood people who are right down the middle because, as we all know, there is no far left whatsoever.
Speaking of rope. Why is that Democrats keep electing middle of the road Sen Robert Byrd? He’s a former recruiter for the KKK who, along with Al Gore Sr., filibustered the Civil Right Act of 1964 because they were like the majority of Democrats who opposed blacks in America getting civil rights.
I hate to break the bad news about your messiah, Barack Obama. When told that when capital gains tax rates go up revenue to the government goes down he didn’t care. Same thing about “taxing the rich”. He didn’t like the idea of Wall Street moguls earning hundreds of millions a year. Who the hell is he to take money from people because he thinks they earn too much? You can be sure he won’t hand over his millions, that he accumulated while Bush was president. He will put some of it to good use because he’s sending his daughters to private school. Failed public schools are for other peoples children, certainly not his. Even in Chicago he wouldn’t put his kids in the same schools as the people he exploited for his own personal gain.
Hi TK re: Post 10
I don’t know the percentages of far right/left etc.. But 20 and 25% sounds reasonable. The big differences I see is the hatred from the far left. They even turned on the Clintons. When Tony Snow died the loons at the Huff Post celebrated with some saying they hope his death was slow and painful. When Nancy Reagan fell earlier this year I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the things written about her. People wishing that she would have split her head open and bled to death was among the milder criticisms about her. It got so bad they had to remove all comments and lock the post. They only reason why it was cleaned up is because Fox News covered the hatred, none of the other networks covered it.
When someone on the far right does something bad they don’t get praise and applause, they get loudly condemned. The far right doesn’t have the media covering their tracks either like what happens at war protests or the current protests by radical gays in California.
Mike, Post 13;
Your comment:
“The big differences I see is the hatred from the far left.”
I live in a county (in a Red state) that hasn’t voted for a DEM in a presidential election since 1944 and where voter registrations favor GOPs over DEMs by 3 to 1. The county voted for McCain and every other GOP on the ticket in this past election and the state legislature is usually 75% or more GOP.
BUT - since primary voting season last January/February - there has been a constant “hatred” problem from the “far right” from then through to the recent election:
To a level I’ve never seen even here before - there’s been serious and significant vandalism of cars and homes of people who displayed bumper stickers or lawn signs supporting any DEM candidate (in the primaries) - and the problem surged from the time Obama won the DEM nomination.
Almost every day, there were articles and pix in the local press and on local TV news describing the politically-oriented “vandalism of the day”. Cars, homes, and large political signs and billboards were damaged in various ways and spray-painted “hate messages” appeared over and over again on cars, homes and signs. Damages were often very significant.
I’ve lived in the area for six presidential elections - and while there has been some of this in every election (including attacks on me and my home for having campaign signs on my lawn for Perot in ‘92 and ‘96) - it was worse than ever this year. And, it’s becoming routine here for people who support DEM candidates to NEVER advertise their preference with bumper stickers, lawn signs, or attendance at DEM campaign events.
In my experience - the worst of the “hatred” I see in my home area comes from the “far-right” - and I really haven’t heard more verbal viciousness from DEMs than I’ve heard over the airwaves from extremist rightwing zealots like Coulter and Savage. And, to me, the hatred exhibited by GOPs towards the Clintons in the late ‘90s was completely beyond the pale - like that I might have expected in some semi-civilized Banana Republic!
Extremists at either end of the political spectrum are, at the very least, EQUALLY bad news!
TK,
I haven’t seen any news stories about threats against Obama supporters by McCain supporters. I live in New York. The Bronx. The only bumper stickers I’ve seen on cars are Obama stickers. I wouldn’t put a Bush sticker on my care for fear that I might get a slashed tire or a broken window. I also wouldn’t place a Bush sticker on my car for fear that I would get pulled over by police and given a ticket for “anything they choose”, because the judge is not likely to take my word over a cop.
A friend of mine who I visited recently just outside NYC had an Obama/Biden sign on his front lawn. I opined that if he had a McCain sign instead he would likely get his property vandalized and he agreed with me. He said if he was a McCain supporter he wouldn’t put any signs on his property or his car. The only incident I’m aware of involving Obama signs being stolen was a home that had the sign taken several times of the front lawn. The homeowners set up a camera and it was a local boy about 9 or 10 years old that took signs on people lawns. He also took McCain’s signs as well. If you can post some links to Republican vandalism of the day I would like to see it because if there was any worthwhile story the msm would have covered it. If there was a pattern the msm would have saturated the airwaves and newspapers.
I don’t believe the right and left are equally as bad. Just look at stuff written here by people who access this website. Check out readers remarks on Townhall, then check out the daily Kos and Huff Post. There is a big difference between “extremists” on either end, except that right wingers will condemn other right wingers when they go too far. The left wing blogs only encourage more. Even Obama told people at a rally to get in the faces of Republicans and independents and argue with them, of course I only found that out recently because the media had a blackout on that story. Ann Coulter at least covers stories the rest of the media won’t touch. Her latest column is about a terrorist released from Gitmo. He was given a taxpayer funded artificial leg when he was held there. he lost it to a landmine in 1996. Then he returned to doing what he only knows: being a terrorist. He and his group kidnapped two Chinese workers in Pakistan. One of them was killed. On the bright side so were him and his fellow terrorists.
Mike, Post 15;
You know, I’m not really into trying to determine which set of political extremists, Left or Right, is “more bad” - or trying to determine their respective “degrees of badness”.
And, I guess your story proves my point: In my neck of the woods, the extremist “anti-Obamaites” committed vandalism against those indicating support of Obama - and in your neck of the woods, the “anti-McCainites” did the same to those indicating support of McCain. Badass extremists of both stripes who should be totally rejected and permanently ostracized by their respective parties.
Personally, for the first two-thirds of my life, I lived in the greater NYC “solid Blue” area - and for the past third, in the South in a “solid Red” area - and, among the respective older adult hard-core party supporters in each area - to me, the old-line, hard-core GOPs in my current “Red” area are F-A-R nastier and M-U-C-H more into the politics of personal destruction than were the hard-core DEMs in my former “Blue” area.
But, overall, I do believe the extreme partisan childishness and immaturity of the young extremist DEMs today (who can make a lot of noise - but vote only in small numbers) probably matches the nastiness and attack-dog attitude of the older extremist GOPs.
Either way, I’m anti-extremist - and the fact that neither major party openly condemns the extremist political propaganda of people like Ann Coulter and Markos Molitsis is what makes me totally unwilling to support either party as currently constituted.
November 18 at 10:55 pm | #1 | Link
What is the definition of “far left” anyway?