Enough About Them, Make This About Us

The Nation: Spotlight Has Been On Obama And Clinton’s Qualifications, Not Issues Of Campaigns

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Laura Flanders.

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From primary season, let's move secondary season; from the singular to the plural.

For as long as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been battling it out for the Democratic nomination, the spotlight's been on them: their qualifications, their promises, their baggage. According to a Pew Center study, in the first half of last year, only three percent of campaign coverage focused on issues. This year, that's stumbled to a pathetic seven percent. It's no surprise.

Feminists say the personal is political. In our privatized economy neoliberals say it's strictly personal. Your troubles, your chances, the way you're treated, it's all unique to - and determined by - you! So we're told. It's a convenient way to take systems of wealth and power and privilege out of the picture and a happy-for-some way to eradicate history. We've privatized prisons and health-care and education and war and we do the same to our politics and our politicians. It's all about them.

Well, enough about them. We better make this about us. The people I know who rooted for Hillary Clinton did it for a reason. It wasn't her hair, her shoes, her husband… It was out of a stubborn, long-suffering belief that after centuries of being put second, a woman president might put gender justice first. And by gender justice we mean human justice. As Kavita Ramdas of the Global Fund for Women explained on GRITtv Tuesday night, you can't teeter the welfare of the world on that part of society - the female part - that you treat the worst without consequences for the planet.

The Clinton supporters I know long for a president who would reprioritize; a president who would reapportion spending and security and power so that women had our fair share of each. They thought (and many still believe) that it would take a woman to do it -- and maybe it will, but it shouldn't have to. Not if we de-privatize and re-personalize. The problem - it's not about her. And the solution - it's not about him. It's about us.

Watch this commentary and a rollicking conversation among women on race and class and gender in the '08 race on GRITtv. "GRITtv with Laura Flanders" plays on Free Speech TV directly following Democracy Now, and online, atGRITtv.org. Sign up for a video feed.

[frankbowers]

I would have been happy to vote for Mrs Clinton and if H. Dean had not screwed the pooooooooooooooooooch down in Fl and up in Mi I would be voting for here come November. Now that obama has the ticket, I feel sorry for the democrat party down line, here in Texas very much.
I now will be voting for McCain and maybe down line republican as well.
So, America thank H. Dean for leaping on the RNC wagon in Fl. and Mi and allowing this to happen.
The best of good days to Ms. Clinton and to heck with the muslims, never say never, but here I can at the age of 70 I will say I will never vote for a muslim nor a gdblackidiot who follows a pastor who said GD America and the white man.

[patriot12436]

It doesn''t matter what the working class votes. The rich will retain control of the country and keep *** the working class.I think we are headed for a civil war. I don''t even have the heart to comment anymore. Just am waiting till it all hits the fan. When people lose their jobs, their homes, and can''t feed their families then they will act. It will look like the wrath of God when it happens.

[blackwater66-2009]

I already know who I am voting for, Big John McCain. We need to stay in Iraq to win this war on terror and to help these people gain their freedom as we have in the USA. Forget about the gas prices and the food prices they will take care of themselves !

[aldon61]

I thought it was pretty plain. It is time to stop addressing extranious non-issues and start talking about central issues like economy, healthcare, education, budget, environment, national security, infrastructure rebuilding, military rebuilding....

The list is endless. Find a couple of issues you care about and start reading. Then, come Nov, make an INFORMED decision.


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Posted by clestes at 10:20 AM : Jun 05, 2008

I totally agree with you. Regardless the candidate, or your position, know the issues and vote your conscience.

[clestes-2009]

rmsdm4,

try going to his website and reading. He has plenty to say on several issues. There are some that he has not defined as well, but he will.

Try googling an issue you feel strongly about and try READING. Then come back and post something that shows you can actually read. For Obama or against does not matter.

Just have something worthwhile to say.

[clestes-2009]

menmotoscutr,

I thought it was pretty plain. It is time to stop addressing extranious non-issues and start talking about central issues like economy, healthcare, education, budget, environment, national security, infrastructure rebuilding, military rebuilding....

The list is endless. Find a couple of issues you care about and start reading. Then, come Nov, make an INFORMED decision.

What issue was this article about?

[feelfree4u]

We''re done.

[jimfinster]

The best candidate should become president.

Not the best woman. Not the best man. The best candidate.

[o_nolan1]

This is what I have been writing about on here for weeks now. I did not realise that the issues were being discussed only 3% of the time. How is the election going to be about change if the side issues are going to be front and centre. We may not know what the changes are until after the election, which defeats the purpose of having a campaign. The media are at fault, because they have learned a long time ago that negativity and shock value sells newspaper and increases ratings. A sad situation.

[rmsdm4]

It is hard for obama to address issues because he has none. Oh I forgot, change and hope. Typical obama supportor: I "hope" they don''t "change" my welfare check.

[patriot12436]

I think this article is right. It is time we woke up and said Hey, we need someone who will address the problems here at home.

[cyberus-2009]

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Re: "According to a Pew Center study, in the first half of last year, only three percent of campaign coverage focused on issues. This year, that''''s stumbled to a pathetic seven percent. It''''s no surprise."

Sure, OK, but that''''s pretty un-American of you to point that out.

Posted by FeelFree4U
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Yeah ... pretty un-american to point out that we elect our leaders based based on a popularity contest fueled by millions of lobbyist dollars.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "According to a Pew Center study, in the first half of last year, only three percent of campaign coverage focused on issues. This year, that''s stumbled to a pathetic seven percent. It''s no surprise."

Sure, OK, but that''s pretty un-American of you to point that out.