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The Bright Line

By Pat Racimora on August 26, 2008 at 10:03 PM in DNC idiocy, Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, Racism, Sexism

webbrightline-2_edited-1.jpg

It’s challenging to create a cartoon where the main character in simply a bright line. But please bear with me:

“Clinton supporters are spoilers and not supporting Obama just because she didn’t win” is a statement I hear a lot, and I am damn sick and tired of it. Yes, we supported Hillary, and we are very disappointed that things went as they did. And yes, we are angry. Very angry.

But for most of us a bright line clearly demarcates the two sets of feelings. It’s no longer about Hillary. She has moved on and is doing what she needs to do. That’s her business and her right, and we wish her all the best. She is a great and gracious soldier for her party.

So why are we so angry?

We are angry because misogyny raged in the media like the California wild fires I could see from my porch, and the DNC and Obama campaign just let it burn. Only after damage was done did Howard Dean weakly acknowledge that the media was sexist. In the meantime, the Clintons, who have been working for civil rights since they were kids, were derided as racist. Silence from the DNC to this day on that one. Many of us (men and women) will be putting considerable focus on this matter as we move on after November.

We are angry because the DNC has acted in biased and manipulative ways that puts mega-doubt on the appropriateness of the term “Democratic” in the party name. Florida and Michigan are given full rights, but wait…it no longer matters. Caucus fraud was ignored, and for many the totally undemocratic nature of caucuses became clear for the first time. “One man [sic] one vote,” my ass.

Many of us feel that our party has left us. And after being loyal Democrats for many years, this makes us angry.

Again, this isn’t about Hillary. So, if things don’t turn out so well for Obama and the DNC in November, all they have to do is look in the mirror for the answer as to why.

  • Bud White

    Well said, and great visual.

    • roseeriter

      Absolutely right Pat. The DNC and new Dem Party choosing an inexperience empty suit like Obama lost this selection.

      If this primary had been ‘normal’ there would be unity. By acting like the bad neocon repugs the dems put themselves in that disgust area.

      Obamabots= Bushbots- neither are worthy of my support.

  • Leisa

    Right On, Pat,

    This is not about Hillary anymore. It is about democracy, democratic principles and our rights.

    Unfortunately, it seems as if many people in our country take our rights and privileges for granted. They appear to have no sense of history, that will be our country’s undoing.

  • Disgusted

    Great as usual Pat.

  • Northwest rain

    Simplicity of dueling emotions. But also there is the intellectual part — Hillary Clinton is us.

    Valentine bonnaire is doing a in depth review of Malignant Narcissism — and yes it is about Obama/Soetoro.

    http://vbonnaire.wordpress.com/

    bush II is a mess probably due to poor parenting and perhaps his mom drank like a seal while she carried GWB. Whatever — we don’t need another psychological basket case who has issues with white women in the White House.

    The UK press has done a fairly good job of checking up on Obama’s claims of his god like father — as promoted in his fictionalized account of a bi-racial guy “discovering” his black roots. One of Obama Sr. white wives was interviewed and investigated. Turns out that Obama Sr. abused her — beat the heck out of her when he came home late — drunk as a skunk.

    Valentine postulated that Barry probably saw his father beat his mother — which left a huge impression on him — and thus LEARNED disrespect for women — plus I’ll add that Barry spent his formative years in Indonesia where women’s status is probably lower than a donkey.

    Back to the brilliant cartoon — Hillary Clinton is one of us — we love her — she understands us. We know that Obama trashed the Clintons — he went out of his way to trash the Clintons.

    Barry Obama/Soetoro — we will never forget — and we understand that you hate white women — probably all women. THAT is your problem — WE do not have to vote for someone who hates us.

    • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

      Again, do you have any evidence to support these allegations? You do remember the his mother and grandmother as well?

      • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

        Again, do you have any evidence to support these allegations that he hates white women? You do remember that his mother and grandmother are white as well?

  • http://! Buzz Latte

    We simply don’t need Barack Obama to work out his mental problems on a whole country.

    We can wait. We will vote for McCain. We will support Hillary in 2012. But, we will never, never enable a fraud named Obama.

    Uh, uh, no, no, no!

    • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

      Please elaborate. What are Obama’s mental problems again?

      • uhh uhh somehow this notion that I am qualified to president is uhh uhh ridiculous

        You elaborate on your support of a guy that hangs out with terrorists and lies to you about it.

      • Seattle Moss

        Obama has the messiah complex and ran for president too soon.
        If he had waited a few years Obama probably could have been president.
        Now Obama will be lucky to keep his senate seat after the humiliating defeat in November.

  • SqueakyW.

    I’ll tell you why I’m “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!”… May 31, 2008. Rules and Bylaws Committee rulings. They didn’t follow their own frickin rules.

    Now they are trying to prevent a roll-call vote.
    According to the DNC “Call for Convention” which lists the rules/protocols…a roll-call is mandatory, and no votes are to be taken in secret.

    I downloaded the Delegate Selection Rules, and the Call for Convention from the DNC website. (pdf files). I read them thoroughly. Apparently no one in the DNC has read them.
    “This is not the Democratic Party I knew!” Grrrr.

  • Sam Copeland

    Pat:

    I agree. Very well put.

    I am angry because this was the year for liberals to set forth a clear agenda for the nation and move us forward after 8 long years of Bush.

    Now that won’t happen. The DNC selected somebody who can’t figure out his position on the issues and hasn’t advanced core principles that I believe in.

    In her speech tonight, Hillary Clinton made those principles very, very clear.

    So, in November, we will either get a GOP President who moves the country in the wrong direction or someone who has no leadership skills and will not be able to govern the nation at a time when our nation is facing great peril.

  • Buzz Flederjohn

    I’m not so clear how this has devolved into statements like, “Barack Obama hates white women….” It’s an odd thing to claim, and I’m not sure we’re watching the same campaign. Hillary Clinton has been perpetually treated badly by the media, but it’s hardly necessary that a U.S. Senator competing for votes in a primary feel inclined to come to her aid on this matter…He’s being called “Barack the Magic Negro” on the most popular talk radio show in the country….Hillary did not denounce this talk either…and she shouldn’t.
    Hyperbole doesn’t serve to better the debate on what’s best for the future of this country. Not from the Republicans….and not from “out own”.
    Hillary gave a great speech. I, for one, loved it…

    • http://IthinkIfeel... Tricia Spiegel

      But Buzz–Obama was part of this problem. He made sixist remarks and gestures himself. Is it too much to ask that at least HE refrain from such behavior? Doesn’t he realize that over half of the voters are women and don’t take well to see one treated badly?

  • Buzz Flederjohn

    I’m not so clear how this has devolved into statements like, “Barack Obama hates white women….” It’s an odd thing to claim, and I’m not sure we’re watching the same campaign. Hillary Clinton has been perpetually treated badly by the media, but it’s hardly necessary that a U.S. Senator competing for votes in a primary feel inclined to come to her aid on this matter…He’s being called “Barack the Magic Negro” on the most popular talk radio show in the country….Hillary did not denounce this talk either…and she shouldn’t.
    Hyperbole doesn’t serve to better the debate on what’s best for the future of this country. Not from the Republicans….and not from “our own”.
    Hillary gave a great speech. I, for one, loved it…

    • roseeriter

      I loved Hillary’s speech too. But I despise Obama and his filthyBOTS. You own the selected one. I believe in democracy and Country before SELECTED candidates. Got that? You Deal with it.

      • Northwest rain

        Obama is a sexist jerk — he made sexist remarks about Hillary and those remarks were also about white women and by extension ALL women. When Obama attacked Hillary he attacked us. Obama-Soetoro is racist — anyone who stays in a racist church for 20 year IS a racist.

        Obama insulted women by his choice of the key note speakers tonight — a male chauvinist pig.

        This whole convention is the worst EVER — the idiots seem to be building up to a Thursday night orgy for the Precious. HA!

        Obama is a psychopath. He is an unrepentant liar — There is no way that his word can be trusted on anything.

        Obamabots — own your candidate.

        America will give him a message loud and clear in November.

        • orogeny

          “Obama is a sexist jerk” so I’m gonna vote for a guy who calls his wife a “trollop” and a “c*nt.”

          You people are insane.

          • destardi

            Strong words from a person who votes a certain way only because he’s told to.

            If you cared, you’d be paying attention to FISA…you’d be paying attention to cheney’s energy bill.

            you’d be paying attention to obama’s blatant willingness to use RACIAL discord to GET VOTES.

            How low can you go?

            First, it was “Hillary is republican lite..voted for the IR, blah blah”

            Now, Biden is the VP..and he VOTED FOR THE IR!!!!

            You people are hypocritical sacks of nonthinking crap.

            • orogeny

              Who, exactly is “you people”??? I was and still am a Clinton supporter. I gave money to her campaign and wrote a number of comments on blogs like Balloon Juice and Washington Monthly defending her (check their archives for my handle if you don’t believe me). Heck, I was branded a “Clinton Troll” on Balloon Juice because of my comments. But dammit, there is a time to admit defeat and move on.

              No candidate in the history of politics has ever felt that they were beaten fair and square. I was a Tsongas supporter who was really ticked off when Bill beat him, but I went on to work for both Clinton campaigns. I started out this cycle as an Edwards supporter (which I regret now), and though the media gave him a raw deal. But as the primaries developed, I became a Hillary supporter.

              No candidate is perfect, they all sometimes take positions that don’t line up perfectly with one’s personal convictions…I disagreed with Hilliary’s vote for the AUMF, but that didn’t keep me from supporting her. I disagreed strongly with Obama’s FISA vote, but that won’t keep me from supporting him. In my opinion, Hillary would have been the better candidate and the better president, but that doesn’t matter now. The bottom line is, do you care more about this country or your own personal feelings? There are many issues on which I disagree with Obama, but those differences pale in comparison to my differences with the Bush/Cheney/Rove machine.

              If you really think that a vote for John “4 more years” McCain is better for this country than a vote for Obama, you are a Republican and should go ahead and admit it.

        • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

          PUMAs love to accuse but never state when and where the alleged incident happened. Northwest Rain, I call BS on your claims. Tell me what Obama said about Hillary and when. Explain exactly how Obama has been misogynistic or sexist towards Hillary. If you can’t, you are a liar just like those two women on MSNBC yesterday.

          • http://IthinkIfeel... Tricia Spiegel

            OMG–How about giving the finger when talking about Hillary? How about “Your’e nice enough, Hillary…” how about being OK with Bernie Mac’s sexist joke? How about Being OK with his kids listening to Ludicrus and with calling Hillary an irrelevant bitch?

            • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

              When did he give the finger to Hillary? Is there photographic evidence of it? No, he chastised Bernie Mac for that. He also condemned Ludacris for those lyrics. He also defended her when Father Phleger said what he said. Obama has never been blatantly sexist towards Hillary and has defended her when other have been. For that matter, where was Bill when all this was going on?

              • http://IthinkIfeel... Tricia Spiegel

                Dearest Kevin,
                Yes, there is evidence of the finger. I will find the VIDEO for you.

                http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15303
                and
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhkq11UExcw

                Please–he told Bernie to be careful and THEN quickly added, “I was just messin’ with you man.”
                He lets his kids listen to the Ludicris song and laughs because his daughter doesn’t say the words right. (There is video on that as well.)

  • http://! Clinton Fan

    I’m mad as hell, and I’m not taking it anymore.

    I’d rather see the Old Guy in the White House, because if he has any misogynist tendencies, they’ll be right out there in the open. We’ll be “en garde.”

    A closeted misogynist who masquerades as a “liberal” is a thousand times more dangerous. You turn your back and that bastard will stick the knife in–kind of like he did with FISA.

    I’ve never heard “99 Problems and a Bitch Ain’t One of ‘Em” ever played at a McCain event during those campaign stops we see on CSPAN! Golly, I guess chivalry isn’t dead after all….

    • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

      The same question for you, Clinton Fan. Please explain how and when Obama was misogynistic or sexist towards Hillary? I’d like to know. Because I followed the same campaign you did, and I saw no such thing.

  • Tuppence 411

    Hillary asked us last night: “Were you in this campaign just for me?” No Hillary. I was in your campaign for ME. For my family. For my community. For my country.

    • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

      No, you were in it for her. That other stuff is merely window dressing.

    • Seattle Moss

      This has never been totally about Hillary although I believe that she is the most savvy politician in a generation.
      This is about the Clinton wing of the party.
      As we all know, we are not wanted and have been kicked out.
      Moreover, this is now about the democrat party being exposed for being undemocratic in the same way as two bit thug dictatorships America has fought in the past.

      The biggest reason I have now left the party is that the New Democrats have been hijacked by the Hate America crowd that wish for America’s defeat and retreat in the world.
      I’m looking for Pro American candidates that share my values and respects my heritage.
      I’m coming home to the Republican party after 24 years.
      I will never vote for another democrat until the nominating process is scrapped and those that were in on the fix are fired.

  • Sassy

    Right on Pat!
    I am not angry, BUT I am more determined than ever to deny ANYONE the power or ability to stereotype me!
    My decisions are MINE to make, and I take full responsibilty for them!
    At this time, I cannot forsee ever cast a ballot for another Democrat!

    • Kelvin Hearts PUMAs

      Yet you are stereotyping Obama. The hypocrisy is thick on this blog.

  • clairtx

    Wonderful cartoon! Expresses my feelings exactly. I can’t say I won’t vote for another Democrat because there are things going on in Texas that are just plain wrong. If we don’t get rid of the greedy thugs in Austin, it will never change.

  • Don S

    As usual, Pat, your great cartoon puts the spotlight on the big divide within the Democratic party. Hilllary probably gave the best speech of her life last night and outlined the principles and issues she fought so hard far in the campaign. It’s a shame that the DNC and the biased media and the Obama empty rhetoric denied her the nomination. She is clearly the only qualified candidate. I hope there will be a roll call vote and that the Hillary supporters will give her the vote she deserves. Obama will have to do major damage control and make a really sincere effort to make amends to Hillary’s 18 million supporters if he is to have any chance to win in November. At this point, it appears he will not be able to assuage the hovering anger that you so brilliantl1y depict in your cartoon. Go Hillary!!! And Bill!

  • texaslatina

    as much i adore President Clinton and Hillary, their speeches will not win me over to osama hussein. i cannot in good conscienceness vote for this crack smokin, terroist lovin, man ho. ewwww!

  • texaslatina

    oh yeah. thanks youguysareunbelievable. i forgot LIAR too!!

  • texaslatina

    oh yeah. thanks youguysareunbelievable. i forgot LIAR, forked tounge & etc.. etc.. etc..

  • Lanlan

    Had Obama won fair and square, I would have no problem at all voting for him. But since he won via crooked, undemocratic and outrageous means, voting for him is tantamount to buying stolen good from a thief, which is unethical, to say the least.

    The conduct of the DNC undermines our democracy, decency and fairness, we tolerate it at the peril of this nation.

  • Rich

    Very interesting cartoon that says to me that the DNC does not get what is going on with Hillary supporters and without understanding and accepting the situation how can they expect to solve it.

    I think there three different kinds of Hillary supporters. There are those who love Hillary and no one but Hillary will do and these people may not vote. There are those who love Hillary and who will hold their nose and do what Hillary asks of them, and they will vote for Obama. And then there are a large number of Hillary supporters who will not do as she asks. Some will not because they are very angry at the DNC and how it handled the election process, women’s issues, and how it dismisses the concerns that drew them to Hillary in the first place. Others who saw Hillary as closer to the middle with experiences that count and see Obama as to far to the left and all talk and no experience to back up the talk. The last group will hold their nose and vote for McCain because of the experiences he has had which leads them to believe that even if they do not agree on every issue, that he has shown that he can get things done and can work with Democrats. Then there are people like me who worry that too much power in inexperienced hands is a terrible thing. Remember what happened when the Republicans finally had all the power with an experienced leader! If Hillary was running because of her experiences that concern would be greatly reduced.

    Rich