Hillary Can Make The Difference

Commentary by Gary A. Johnson

As Sarah-Mania sweeps parts of the nation, I never thought I’d say this, but Hillary Clinton can make the difference as to whether or not Barack Obama wins this election. Hillary, Barack needs you. This is the craziest and most exciting election in my lifetime. Is it me, or is this Sarah Palin thing starting to get out of hand? We need a steady, calming and reassuring voice to help some of the undecided folks regain their perspective. The fact that it may come from a woman may be a plus.

Hillary Clinton has been quiet since her speech in Denver. She could be Barack’s “Sarah Slayer” because this move by the McCain camp of adding “Sarahcuda” as Vice President just may give those voters who are on the fence and looking for a way NOT to vote for Barack a way out when they close the curtain in the voting booth. You cannot convince me that the McCain campaign actually thought that putting a woman on their ticket would attract the so-called disenfranchised Hillary PUMA’s (Party Unity My Ass) and undecided women to their side, just because Sarah Palin is a woman.

I’ll say one thing for the Republicans. They stick to the party’s talking points. Every Republican interviewed touts Sarah Palin’s vast experience. How many times have you heard them say, “Sarah Palin has more experience than Barack Obama. Having Sarah Palin on the ticket excites the conservative base of the Republican party. Republicans keep telling women that “Sarah Palin is just like you.” Oh really!

Let’s “peel the onion” on Sarah Palin and see if she’s really like most American women. Since I don’t know her, I can only judge her based on what is projected to the public.

• Sarah Palin is attractive and looks good on camera.
• Sarah Palin is a polished speaker. (She really upstaged that dead pan John McCain)
• Sarah Palin is a self-proclaimed hockey mom with 5 children.
• Sarah Palin has described herself as a “pitbull in lipstick.”
• Sarah Palin is a former beauty pageant contestant. (She lost the Miss Alaska title in 1984 to a black woman named Maryline Blackburn. There’s your little known black history fact).
  
• Sarah Palin is against abortion even in the case of rape or incest.
• Sarah Palin hunts moose and eats moose.
• Sarah Palin brandishes assault weapons.
• Sarah Palin proudly sits on a sofa with the skin and head of a dead grizzly bear behind her.

(Ladies, stop me when I get to the point of how she’s just like you).

The Republicans are banking on the fact that many Americans are not well versed in the intricacies of politics and current events. Therefore, if you say something often enough and people listen, at some point people start to believe what they hear. This is why you hear all these accolades about Sarah Palin and how she’s just like you.

This is where Hillary, the “Sarah Slayer” comes in. Hillary Clinton convinced me that she will campaign as hard as she can to get Barack Obama elected. It’s in her best interest to do so. In addition, Hillary Clinton wants to be the first woman president. If the Republicans win the White House and the 72-year old McCain dies in office, Palin would be sworn in as the first woman president of the United States. That’s motivation for Hillary stop the Sarah Express.

Hillary can go on the campaign trail and let everyone know that intelligent women will not vote for another woman simply because she’s a woman. Intelligent women can see through that ploy and are more concerned about Sarah Palin’s position on the issues of interest to women and her experience or lack thereof.

It’s clear to me that the McCain campaign is going to use her to be a “smart ass” hatchet woman against Barack Obama and Joe Biden. When the Biden, Obama or the media try to hold her accountable for her views and past decisions the McCain camp will play the “sexism” card and say the men and media are picking on Sarah because she’s a woman.

Regardless of her demeanor, the Republicans have already started to re-shape Sarah Palin’s image. Thanks to the McCain camp I see Sarahcuda as a mean spirited and cynical woman who makes fun of people who serve their community. What’s wrong with serving your community?

I thought service is to be admired? (I believe this strategy will backfire and the McCain camp will have to give Sarahcuda a personality makeover).

Back to Hillary Clinton and how she can help Barack win the White House.

Hillary Clinton has stature and a huge following. Whatever bad feelings people had for her before the Democratic Convention have dissipated for many after her speech in Denver. Hillary Clinton can remind both men and women that Sarah Palin is not the only woman who knows politics in this race. As my friend Jessica says, “this ain’t her first rodeo.”

It’s nothing wrong with having a woman on the ticket. However, at this time in our nation’s history we need the “right” woman on the ticket and Sarah Palin is not the right woman for America at this time. It may take another woman to help get that message across and that woman is Hillary Rodham Clinton.

What do you think?

Gary Johnson is the Founder & Publisher of Black Men In America.com a popular online magazine on the Internet and the Black Men In America.com Blog. Gary is also the author of the new book “25 Things That Really Matter In Life.”

Bill Clinton Says Obama Is Ready To Be President

August 27, 2008 – It was another night for grand slams. Former President Bill Clinton laid to rest any speculation tonight that he would not enthusiastically support Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for President by making a forceful call to action for voters to elect Barack Obama because “Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world.”

“I am here first to support Barack Obama,” Clinton said, opening his address in characteristic fashion by deviating from the prepared text aides distributed to reporters ahead of time.

Clinton acknowledged that his “preferred candidate” — his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York — had not won the nomination. But he said, “Like her, I want all of you to support Barack Obama in November.”

Bill Clinton did his job. He was focused and disciplined and gave the Obama campaign the kind of “back up” and reinforcement needed to defeat John McCain and the Republicans in November. In addition, Bill and Hillary can deliver victory among the key states needed to win the White House.

Job well done.

Is America Ready for a Black President?

By BMIA.com Staff

I was sitting the lobby of my bank today with my son. We were waiting to see an officer about getting my son an account for college. CNN was on the screen with their wall-to-wall election coverage. There were two older black gentlemen seated across from me in the waiting area. One of the gentlemen turned to me and said, “They gon kill dat boy. Part of me wants him to make history and the other part of me don’t.” I replied, “Sir, you sound a lot like my grandmother.” The gentlemen replied, “They killed Martin Luther King, John and Robert Kennedy, those 4 little girls, Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. What makes you think they won’t kill Obama?” I just stared at him and said to him with confidence, “I hope they don’t.”

I’ve heard these fears that Barack Obama would be assassinated from mostly older black folks for about 8 months when it became clear that he had a real shot at winning the Democratic nomination to be President of the United States.

Here it is August 27th, 2008, on a day in Denver, Colorado, when Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, became the first African-American ever nominated for President by a major political party after delegates to the Democratic National Convention chose him as their leader.

The nomination process ended when Obama’s chief rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, (who hit the ball out of the park with her support speech the previous night), asked her supporters to join in accepting Obama’s historic nomination by acclamation.

As I watch the convention coverage there were tears streaming down the faces of men and women of all races and ages. Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights hero was crying as he recalled the struggles of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

Do you think America is ready for a black president?

Articles written by “BMIA.com Staff” are unsigned reports from a member of the staff.

Hillary Makes Strong Case For Obama

By BMIA.com Staff

August 26, 2008 – On a night when the world was watching, Hillary Clinton approached the plate and hit the ball over the fence and out of the ballpark. Grand Slam! Grand Slam!

Throughout this election process this blog has not been let’s say “Hillary Friendly.” That being said, Hillary Clinton gave the kind of speech tonight that proved that under the most trying circumstances, she can be a team player, put politics aside and enthusiastically support Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States. To use a sports analogy, she was “major league” tonight.

Hillary Clinton clearly put her cards on the table “face up” and told her supporters “Obama is my candidate.” She stated her case in clear terms and acknowledged the supporters of her historic campaign. She also challenged her supporters when she told them that Democrats cannot afford to stay home in November and let another Republican administration ruin the economy.

“Whether you voted for me or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose.”

What was your reaction to Hillary’s speech? Did she say enough to convince her supporters and undecided voters to support Barack Obama?

Articles written by “BMIA.com Staff” are unsigned reports from a member of the staff.

The Bridge: Hillary’s Racism and Misandry Won’t Be Missed

By Darryl James

Now that Barack Obama is the Democratic Presidential Nominee and all the dust is starting to settle in the Democratic Party, people will be taking some deep breaths and refocusing the race.

Some people will miss the daily blow-by-blow between Hillary Clinton and Obama. Some will miss the hopefulness of Hillary’s charge to be the first female president. And, still others will miss the shock value of the extent to which Hillary was willing to go to win.

However, there are a few things that I won’t miss about the primary campaign.

I won’t miss the accusations of “hatred of all women” lodged against people who simply do not like Hillary. The accusers charged the nation with hating women vicariously through Hillary Clinton’s failure to reach the White House. It is sad and silly to take the dislike of Clinton and give it universal application.

But that has been a staple of Clinton’s campaign, which is why young, hopeful women of all colors and men who think independently rejected her.

Typically, many people dislike Hillary because she is note very likeable, not because they hate women. The “hate women” rhetoric is wrong, ignorant and silly.

I won’t miss the irrational support for a woman because she is a woman, even though she is unable to beat John McCain. And I won’t miss the backward logic of Clintonites, who are fine with such irrational support for a woman, but opposed to the same irrational support for a Black candidate.

I won’t miss the whining of women who believe that Clinton was denied the White House because women are hated. They are blind not to recognize the throngs of women who support Obama, unless they believe those women also hate women.

I won’t miss Hillary playing the gender card, even shedding crocodile tears over her alleged mistreatment. I wonder where those tears were when her husband’s cheating was played out on the world stage.

I won’t miss Clinton playing the “white woman in distress card,” with those same tears and hints of being attacked by a Black man.

Personally, I resent Clinton because her camp played the race card in addition to the gender card. I won’t miss the racist remarks from her camp, including the ones from their resident slave Bob Johnson, who dances quite well to prove to Ol’ Massah that he “ain’t lak dem udder darkies.”

They should have realized that Barack Obama is not Jesse Jackson, the clown pimp of poverty who fancied himself the eternal “Go-to” man for all things Black. Obama couldn’t be dismissed as a token candidate because he is just as qualified as Clinton. And, contrary to political rhetoric, Obama, as the Black son of a single white mother, represents more Americans than does the rich, white, privileged Hillary Clinton.

Clinging to a campaign that had been dying for months, I wonder if Hillary would have gone to such great, futile lengths to hold on if she were being trounced by a white man.

I won’t miss the duplicity of Hillary and her feminist supporters who wanted to simultaneously claim that women are hated, yet, also claim her time as the First Lady as “experience” in order to trump Obama.

I won’t miss the throngs of over the hill, angry women who were vesting hope in Hillary for all the failed hopes and dreams of their lives. The nation can not pay for dreams that were deferred and consequently, died, because some of those dreams could only come true to the detriment of men.

I’m not talking about dreams of equality for women in society, I’m talking about dreams of marriage and happiness for women who chose careers over relationships and personal goals over motherhood. Personal choices that found many of them over 40 and alone, blaming men for “an inability to commit,” or “being intimidated by strong women,” when, really these women failed to commit when they were young and began to confuse intimidation with disinterest.

The decrease in marriage is not representative of any hatred of women, but of a far more complicated cocktail of societal shifts as well as the growing fear of negative results in divorce for men.

If America hated women so much, the court system would not be so heavily tilted towards mothers in child support and custody cases, or towards wives in divorce/alimony and palimony cases.

Certainly now that Clinton has finished tarnishing the Democratic party as well as the Democratic process, many of her blind supporters may come to realize the destruction done in the name of electing the first woman president.

The only thing that would have been different in a Hillary Clinton White House is the raising of a feminist flag, which wouldn’t be a bad thing if she were really about the empowerment of all women.

Frankly, I don’t think Hillary cares about women of color, or even white women, just women of Hillary, which may or may not include Chelsea. I don’t think she cares about some woman who works at Wal-Mart in Iowa being called a bitch.

Which brings me to this point: Calling someone a bitch is not the same as calling someone a Nigger, as has been asserted by some women who attempted to paint Hillary as “oppressed.”

Personally, I am repulsed by the inane comparisons of alleged sexism to real life racism.

Sorry, feminists, but there is an historical attachment of savage violence, inhumane treatment and enslavement to racism that makes sexism in this nation pale by comparison. America has mistreated no other group as horribly, and no group should make comparisons, unless they are Black women who were mistreated mostly because of being Black.

I won’t miss the misandry demonstrated by women who supported Hillary simply because she is a woman, based on what her election portended for women, not for all Americans.

In many of their words and actions, they are actually demonstrating hatred of men.

Using their own logic, we must assume that they hate men if they assert their potential achievements as women over any potential achievements of their husbands, their sons, their brothers or their fathers.

And, when it comes to my own people, I have long since called it a grave mistake for Black women to begin asserting their status as women above their status as Black people as though sexism could somehow be separated from racism and classism.

For that position, I have been repeatedly rewarded with accusations of hating Black women, which is never accompanied by any sound reasoning or proof from the ignorant and vile feminists who make the accusations.

And how could I hate Black women when my mother raised me with love? When I have two sisters who also loved me? When I have never done anything to hold a woman back or harm a woman?

My defense is starkly divergent from the racist who claims to have Black friends. I can repel charges of sexism because I came from a Black woman, and was raised in an environment without gender issues.

I can repel those charges because I was also raised with a working brain, functioning emotions and critical thinking.

With my critical thinking and world view, I realize that Hillary Clinton and her supporters are the real haters. They hate men and many men hate them right back.

There is no doubt that some of the men who hate Hillary may also hate women. But the two groups are not mutually inclusive.

I don’t hate Hillary because she’s a woman.

I dislike her because she has revealed herself to be disingenuous, less than a good person and less than scrupulous. I dislike her because she is a radical feminist, a covert racist and frankly, not a solid presidential candidate.

I won’t miss her when she’s gone.

Darryl James is an award-winning author of the forthcoming powerful anthology “Notes From The Edge.” Discounted Autographed and Numbered Pre-Release copies can be ordered at www.darryljames.com. He released his first mini-movie, “Crack,” and this year, will release his first full-length documentary. View previous installments of this column at http://www.bridgecolumn.proboards36.com. Reach James at djames@theblackgendergap.com.

Hillary the Well Poisoner by Brandon Whitney

All is fair in love and war and what is politics but warfare. However, there are certain actions that a person can take that are seen as unacceptable even in combat. In politics, especially when both candidates are in the same party, there are rules that one follows. There are things that one just doesn’t do because it ruins things for all parties involved. Hillary is breaking those rules. One of the worst things you can do in a desert society is poison a well because everybody is dependent on this scarce source of water. Hillary is poisoning the Democratic well and it can have devastating consequences.

The nomination fight is over. Hillary cannot win mathematically. All of the ways to victory for her in the nomination mean defeat for the Democrats in November. She can only win by corrupting the process. That is why many are confused as to the reason she would continue to stay in the race. Had the tactics she used been more honorable, many would have understood her staying in until she had negotiated an advantage from Obama. But considering the damage that she has already done to the party it is now believed that she may be waiting in order to get the opportunity to run in 2012.

The Democratic Party is in real danger of ruining their advantage in November. Hillary, who at one time was a standard bearer for the Democratic Party, has become a millstone around the neck of progressives. Let’s hope she remembers the goal of becoming president is not to achieve glory for oneself but to improve the lives of everyday people and steps aside for the inevitable nominee.

Brandon Whitney is the creator of Homelandcolors.blogspot.com a blog that focuses on issues that affect the African American community. He is also a frequent guest on News and Notes’ Blogger Roundtable. Brandon has political experience as an Outreach Director for the Democratic party and is passionate about being a positive force in his community regarding African American issues. He is also a frequent guest on News and Notes’ Blogger Roundtable. You read more of Brandon’s work at Homeland Colors.

Hillary Clinton–Loser? Sore Loser? Or Both?

By Gary A. Johnson

This past week has not been good for Hillary Clinton. Let’s recap. She made a statement that Obama cannot win the white vote in the general election. She had a double digit primary loss in North Carolina, a narrow victory in Indiana and more superdelegates shifted to Sen. Obama.

Barring an act of God or some catastrophe in the Obama camp, Sen. Hillary Clinton cannot win the democratic party’s nomination for president of the United States of America.

Sen. Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton and some of their supporters look like sore losers as they continue to “move the goal post” to define victory. Remember Bob Johnson’s negative remarks about Obama? How about Bill Clinton’s numerous comments that offended many black voters in South Carolina? Or Hillary’s insistence that the votes in Florida and Michigan be counted even though those primaries were held against Democratic Party rules. Rules that all of the candidates agreed to abide by last year.

Clearly a fighter and consummate campaigner, Sen. Clinton found her voice and her stride too late in the contest. The string of 11 primary loses forced her to used the now famous “kitchen sink” strategy. It was at this stage of the campaign that America saw yet another side of Hillary Clinton. No more tears. She was rough and tough. We saw Sen. Clinton drinking beer and chasing shots of hard liquor. In walks a gift-wrapped Rev. Jeremiah Wright and game on again for the Clintons. With a faint political pulse Clinton need to win North Carolina (or at least come close) and Indiana. She lost North Carolina by double-digits and barely won Indiana.

So here we are today—early May. Hillary Clinton does not have any of the 3 M’s (Math, Money and Momentum) to win the nomination. Obama’s delegate and superdelegate count is so high that all the big state victories she piled up can’t win her the nomination.

What does Hillary Clinton do now? What does Barack Obama do? Obama should do exactly what he’s doing now—focus on John McCain and allow the Clinton camp to implement an exit strategy that will allow her to close her campaign with dignity.

If Hillary Clinton wants to continue the contest, more power to her. I would advise the Clinton campaign to be aware of the consequences of such actions to her political reputation and the Democratic Party.

In my mind, her behavior over the past several days have seriously damaged her chances of being on the ticket as Vice President. I wouldn’t put her on the ticket. I don’t trust her. Yes, I said it. Hillary Clinton would not be my Vice President. I don’t believe that she is genetically capable of being Vice President Clinton to President Obama. That was a dream ticket two months ago. It is a train wreck today.

The Democratic Party needs to focus on unifying the party and get ready to battle the Republicans and John McCain.

What do you think?

Gary Johnson is the Founder & Publisher of Black Men In America.com a popular online magazine on the Internet and the Black Men In America.com Blog. Gary is also the author of the new book “25 Things That Really Matter In Life.”

When Will Hillary Bow Out?

Commentary by Gary A. Johnson

Notice I didn’t say quit. Showing no signs of surrender, Hillary Clinton says she will remain in the presidential race “until there’s a nominee.”  Hillary Clinton is a fighter. However, she and her campaign have to face the reality that it is time to implement their exit strategy and work to unify the Democratic Party.

It is time for the Clinton campaign to stop moving the goal post when it comes to deciding victory.  For example, the Clinton campaign continues to bring up the votes associated with the Michigan and Florida primaries. That’s just silly. Obama’s name wasn’t even on the ballot.  The Democratic National Committee made it very clear what the rules were regarding those primaries.

Clearly, Sen. Clinton can stay in the race for as long as she wants, but for the good of the party I say it is time to bow out. I’m using a rather simple formula that I call “The 3 M’s” to come to this conclusion.

• Math
• Money
• Momentum

Do the math. Obama has more votes, has won more primaries and has more money. As of today Sen. Clinton has loaned her campaign $11.4 million dollars ($6.4 million last month).  The Clinton campaign acknowledged that Sen. Clinton may lend the campaign more money.  According to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Obama began the month of April with $42 million in the bank for the primaries to Clinton’s $9.3 million.

The Clinton campaign bus is leaking oil and dropping bolts. The Obama campaign has consistently raised more money than the Clinton campaign and after last night’s primaries in North Carolina and Indiana; the total delegate count is as follows:

• Obama – 1844
• Clinton – 1695.5

Once again, do the math. It is highly unlikely that Sen. Hillary Clinton can win. Obama has picked up 100 superdelegates since Super Tuesday and Clinton has picked up fewer than 15. The last two months Sen. Clinton has proven to be a tough campaigner.  She’s used the “kitchen sink” strategy and taken advantage of everything that has come her way (Rev. Wright).  However, it appears that this strategy was implemented too late in the game for her opponent.

Sen. Barack Obama has run an extraordinary campaign. Six months ago, I don’t think any of the political strategists and experts would have predicted Barack Obama as the front runner. It’s only a matter of time before folks start jumping off of the Clinton bandwagon.

As for momentum, Hillary Clinton has none. Barack Obama has string of decisive primary victories over Clinton and the Obama campaign has more momentum.  The next few weeks should be devoted to providing Sen. Clinton with a “soft landing.”  Sen. Clinton is still a key player in this race, even in defeat. She must be afforded a way to exit gracefully with her dignity intact.  Obama and the Democratic Party will need Hillary Clinton’s supporters to win the White House.

What do you think?

Gary Johnson is the Founder & Publisher of Black Men In America.com a popular online magazine on the Internet and the Black Men In America.com Blog. Gary is also the author of the new book “25 Things That Really Matter In Life.”