I've never felt entirely comfortable with Rebecca Traister portrayed as a "pro-Hillary" commentator (as Melissa Harris Perry cast her). My instinct was correct according to her New York Magazine article.
She once was, she admits in this article a "young Hillary-hater." But a
few days with Hillary on the primary trail have elicited an article
well worth a read.
There’s nothing simple about this candidacy—or candidate.
Photographs by Brigitte Lacombe
Clinton speaking at the Louisville Slugger Hall of Fame on May 10.In
a locker room at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, people
are waiting in line to get their pictures taken with Hillary Clinton
before a rally in the school’s gym. It’s a kid-heavy crowd, and Clinton
has been chatting easily with them.
But soon there’s only one
family left and the mood shifts. Francine and David Wheeler are there
with their 13-year-old son, Nate, and his 17-month-old brother, Matty,
who’s scrambling around on the floor. They carry a stack of photographs
of their other son, Benjamin, who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary
School in 2012, when he was 6. David presses the photos of his dead son
on Clinton with the urgency of a parent desperate to keep other parents
from having to show politicians pictures of their dead 6-year-olds.
Leaning
in toward Wheeler as if they are colleagues mapping out a strategy,
Clinton speaks in a voice that is low and serious. “We have to be as
organized and focused as they are to beat them and undermine them,” she
says. “We are going to be relentless and determined and focused … They
are experts at scaring people, telling them, ‘They’re going to take your
guns’ … We need the same level of intensity. Intensity is more
important than numbers.” Clinton tells Wheeler that she has already
discussed gun control with Chuck Schumer, who will likely be leading the
Senate Democrats in 2017; she talks about the differences between state
and federal law and between regulatory and legislative fixes, and
describes the Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, which
extended the protections of the Second Amendment, as “a terrible
decision.” She is practically swelling, Hulk-like, with her desire to
describe to this family how she’s going to solve the problem of gun
violence, even though it is clear that their real problem — the absence
of their middle child — is unsolvable. When Matty grabs the front of his
diaper, Clinton laughs, suggesting that he either needs a change or is
pretending to be a baseball player. She is warm, present, engaged, but
not sappy. For Clinton, the highest act of emotional respect is perhaps
to find something to do, not just something to say. “I’m going to do
everything I can,” she tells Wheeler. “Everything I can.”
Unlike
Traister, Aaron Loeb is not a famous author or commentator. But he was,
for a long stretch of the primary season a fence-sitter. His article
in Medium
is an Odyssey with some good healthy helpings of the history of
Republican strategies against prior good, solid Democratic candidates.
Less than 100 years ago…There
are women alive today in the United States who were born without the
right to vote. We are on the verge of nominating the first woman in our
history to be a major-party candidate. On the other side, we are on the
verge of nominating the first major-party candidate to have never held
political office since Eisenhower. Eisenhower beat Hitler. Donald Trump
thinks Hitler had a lot of good ideas.
On
one hand, we have a potential to yet again move our country forward,
past its darkest histories of prejudice, exclusion, and failing to live
up to its own ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for
all its people. On the other hand, we have a man who has expressly
stated that America needs to move backwards to the “good old days.”
Personally,
I began this long, bruising, ugly primary feeling thrilled at the
prospect of a Sanders or Clinton candidacy. It seemed like the
Republicans were going to throw up all over themselves, while lighting
themselves on fire, while tripping on a garbage can. And they certainly
did that! But meanwhile, the Democratic primary has descended into
hyperbole, lies and nonsense — mostly targeted at Hillary Clinton — and
driven a harsh wedge between friends. Support for either candidate has
now become a kind of moral litmus test: if you support Clinton, you are
no true liberal and you don’t care about working people; if you support
Sanders, you are a privileged white male and you don’t care about
women’s reproductive rights, or the rights of minorities. And while it’s
categorically obvious that there are true liberals who support Clinton
and there are women and minorities supporting Sanders, these simplistic
shibboleths have taken hold: Clinton is “conservative”; Sanders is
“progressive.”
I’ve found
the growing divide confounding and depressing and remained undecided
until recently. I’ve leaned Sanders (after Michigan); I’ve leaned
Clinton (early on and after New York). When it became clear Clinton had
locked the primary, I thought of splitting my vote: Sanders in the June 7
primary; Clinton in the general. But now, I’m firmly for Clinton and
will vote for her on June 7 with conviction.
Regulars
here know that I am not in the habit of recommending articles. Most of
us have loved Hillary so hard and so long that we may be a little blind
to sources of criticism. For different reasons, both of these articles
that I happened upon on the same day convey a message that we
Still4Hillers do not really need to hear - - - but as we enter the
general election season may want to pack in a back pocket as we
encounter the #NeverHillary troops. Traister's "now I know her" moment
and Loeb's analysis are two gems to bury in the palm of your hand for
the mud-slinging that is to come in just a week. Ready? We are ready.
Have been for a very long time. Let's go do this!
If you can, please donate a few dollars before tonight's midnight deadline.
A week before the high-stakes primaries in California and New Jersey, Hillary Clinton has earned some noteworthy endorsements.
In early January, Hillary Clinton, accompanied by Dr. Judy Chu (D-California), launched an outreach to Americans of Asian and Pacific Islandancestry. Today, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), with Dr. Chu at the helm, will be endorsing Hillary Clinton for president.
Hillary Clinton’s official presidential campaign announcement photo.Led by two California lawmakers, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus‘ political action committee will formally endorse Hillary Clinton for President next week.
Reps. Judy Chu, who represents the Pasadena area, and Doris Matsui, whose district encompasses metropolitan Sacramento, are scheduled to make the announcement Tuesday morning in San Gabriel.
In
attendance will be Asian and Pacific Islander elected officials from
throughout California who are endorsing Clinton. Earlier this year, all
of California’s Congressional representatives of Asian descent announced
they are supporting her. Read more >>>>
In an open letter on his website to California Democrats and Independents today, Governor Jerry Brown also endorsed Hillary.
On
Tuesday, June 7, I have decided to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton
because I believe this is the only path forward to win the presidency
and stop the dangerous candidacy of Donald Trump.
I
have closely watched the primaries and am deeply impressed with how well
Bernie Sanders has done. He has driven home the message that the top
one percent has unfairly captured way too much of America’s wealth,
leaving the majority of people far behind. In 1992, I attempted a
similar campaign.
For her part, Hillary Clinton has
convincingly made the case that she knows how to get things done and has
the tenacity and skill to advance the Democratic agenda. Voters have
responded by giving her approximately 3 million more votes – and
hundreds more delegates – than Sanders. If Clinton were to win only 10
percent of the remaining delegates – wildly improbable – she would still
exceed the number needed for the nomination. In other words, Clinton’s
lead is insurmountable and Democrats have shown – by millions of votes –
that they want her as their nominee.
SNIP
The
stakes couldn’t be higher. Our country faces an existential threat from
climate change and the spread of nuclear weapons. A new cold war is on
the horizon. This is no time for Democrats to keep fighting each other.
The general election has already begun. Hillary Clinton, with her long
experience, especially as Secretary of State, has a firm grasp of the
issues and will be prepared to lead our country on day one.
Next January, I want to be sure that it is Hillary Clinton who takes the oath of office, not Donald Trump
The National Resources Defense Council, (NRDC),
which has never endorsed a presidential candidate, has also endorsed
Hillary. Both New Jersey and California have beautiful coastlines
threatened by potentially catastrophic climate change. This first-ever
endorsement should have an impact across the nation because we are all
at risk in a variety of ways, and as Hillary says in her statement,
"...there is no Planet B."
In
160 days, voters will face a choice between two major party nominees in
the 2016 U.S. presidential contest: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Only
one of those candidates wants to build a future powered by a clean
energy economy. Only one of those candidates will make America a leader
in the global fight against climate change. And only one of those
candidates will work to ensure that every child and every family in
America has clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, and a safe and
healthy place to live.
That
candidate is Hillary Clinton, and that’s why — for the first time — the
NRDC Action Fund is stepping up now to endorse Secretary Clinton for
President of the United States.
Today,
following the endorsement of the NRDC Action Fund–the first time in
their history they have endorsed a Presidential candidate–Hillary
Clinton issued the following statement:
“I am honored to have earned the first-ever presidential endorsement of the NRDC Action Fund.
“Climate
change is real, it is being driven by human activity, and it is
happening right now. We can’t wait for climate deniers and defeatists to
get on board–we need to take immediate action to build on the progress
President Obama has made in fighting this unprecedented global threat.
We need to use every tool we have to make America the clean energy
superpower of the 21st century and to make sure no one is left out or
left behind in the clean energy economy, from communities struggling
with the legacy of environmental racism to the coalfield communities
that kept America’s lights on for generations.
“That’s why I have a
comprehensive plan to combat climate change with bold, national goals
to expand clean energy, boost energy efficiency, and slash oil
consumption. I will fight alongside the NRDC Action Fund for
environmental and climate justice and invest in building a bright future
for coalfield communities. And together, we can get half of our
electricity from clean sources within 10 years, create millions of
good-paying jobs, protect our communities from the dangerous climate
impacts that we’re already seeing, and ensure America is leading the
world in the fight against climate change.
“The stakes for our
children’s health and the future of our planet have never been higher.
The presumptive Republican nominee has called climate change a Chinese
hoax and called for scrapping the landmark Paris climate agreement. He
has pledged to open up millions of acres of pristine public lands and
waters to fossil fuel production at a time when America’s public lands
are under unprecedented pressures. We need to be accelerating the
transition to a clean energy future, not letting a climate denier doom
our children to a future beyond their capacity to repair.
“It has
never been more critical that we come together to face the shared
challenge of climate change–because there is no Planet B.”
It will probably be the last time for awhile that Hillary will be
able to march in her hometown parade. Next year, she will be leading
ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Chappaqua showed itself to be
solidly behind her today. The local grassroots group, Chappaqua
Friends of Hillary, gathered to distribute stickers and cupcakes and to
sign up volunteers. Dawn Evans Greenberg organized the effort, and her
team did a great job! Up and down South Greeley, folks were sporting
Hillary stickers as they cheered the parade: the vets, the scouts, the
bands, the pipers, the musketeers, the first responders, the soccer kids, Governor Cuomo, and both Clintons.
The morning had been iffy. It had rained - no poured. But as folks began setting up, the drizzle stopped and the sun began trying to break through.
The
Hillary tent was where the action was. Everyone wanted to pose with
the cutout of Hillary. One little girl about three-years-old called to
the Hillary figure as she walked past. "Hillary!" There were homemade
signs, lots of Hillary gear, and kids- lots of kids and lots of dogs!
Then came the parade!
The Revolutionary War contingent shot off their muskets every 1000 yards or so - deafening. The kids loved it!
As the parade ended everyone drifted to the ceremonies at the monument on the green.
The sun came out. The roads dried up. Hillary was happy to see us. She said "Thank you, so much," and put two thumbs up.
____________________________________________________________
Addendum:
It
seems there are questions about the Navy officer next to Hillary. He
is Oscar Flores, U.S. Navy Ret., who worked in the White House during
the first Clinton administration and is employed by them now in his
retirement. If you have read any of the many emails Hillary released,
you will see his name on some of them. The Clinton family attended his retirement celebrationsome
years ago. He is a trusted friend and member of the household and
deserving of our thanks and respect for his service. So, please no
more malarkey. He has been there all along. He is an officer and a gentleman. Please be respectful and thank him for his service!
