Confronting Al Gore’s "Deafening Silence" in the Democratic Primary

In her post at No Quarter yesterday, Ani confronts Al Gore in an open letter about his “deafening silence” throughout the Democratic primary and in the process, she effectively and cogently nails each of the major offenses of the media, party leaders, and the Obama campaign in their abusive treatment of Hillary Clinton, the obviously better qualified candidate in the race.

Ani starts out like this:

“When so many of us begged you to run for office again this year, you jokingly stated you were a ‘recovering politician.’ Certainly, you have more than earned the right to walk away from what you consider to be a toxic environment. However, much as I appreciate your desire to remain neutral in this nominating contest, as you have sent me a fund raising letter on behalf of the DSCC, I feel I must now question your deafening silence in this most critical of primaries.

“You of all people understand what it is like to be the far more qualified candidate and be on the receiving end of ridicule by the drive-by hit squad media. You have rightly stated that television is a one-way medium, not encouraging discourse, critical thought or active participation. This year, we see even more clearly the influence and effect that favoritism of one and vilification and misogyny toward another has on the voting populace, as junk food is fed to a citizenry struggling to make ends meet, at points overwhelmed by their own responsibilities, without time to dig deeper for the truth of the story.”

In the following paragraph, Ani addresses a point that infuriated me every time I witnessed Obama deceitfully presenting himself as the candidate who opposed the war from the beginning, while never once explaining that he was not a member of the U.S. Senate when the vote on the Iraq War Resolution was taken.

“It is both amazing and unconscionable to me that some educated people, possessing a master’s degree no less, actually believe that Senator Obama ‘voted’ against the war. They are clueless to the fact he was not even a U.S. Senator at that time.”

Ani continues her analysis of the Democratic primary:

“Yet, with all of the advantages he had going into this year: the DNC clearly gaming Michigan and Florida in his favor, the media offering pillow fluffing soft stories about him, rather than vetting him, while exaggerating Senator Clinton’s every step to negative effect, he still was not able to close the deal until the Super Delegates raced to forcibly shut down this process.”

I urge Katalusis readers to go here to read Ani’s post in its entirety.

Note: Feedback from readers is always welcome at Katalusis. I try to find time to reply to each of your comments as well as any email messages I receive.

Democratic Party Leaders Rally Behind the Weaker Candidate

Dems dominate the headlines in Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and South Dakota:

Clinton Expected to Win Big in Puerto Rico Today

From the Trail (Washington Post):

“The Obama campaign has said consistently that it expected to lose the primary here, given Clinton's popularity with Hispanic voters and the high profile she established on the island during her husband's presidency. A poll released last week by the Democratic firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, conducted for the Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero and the television network Univision, found that among all Puerto Rican adults, Clinton led Obama 55 percent to 42 percent, with the remainder undecided. But among those who said they were certain to vote, Clinton's lead expanded to 59 percent, compared with 40 percent for Obama.”

Clinton Campaign’s Statement on Results of Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting

The Clinton Campaign deserves the final word about the action taken yesterday by the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee to resolve the Michigan and Florida dilemma. Pointing out the violation of the Committee's own rules and its flagrant disrespect for Michigan voters, Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy issued the following statement:

"Today’s results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at our party’s convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates the delegates accordingly.

"We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.

"The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.

"We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast."

Word from Clinton Supporters

Clinton’s supporters aren’t taking the Michigan resolution lightly. Taylor Marsh begins her response:

"Dear Rules and Bylaw Committee Power Brokers

"@(*D!!!#!

"*(!#!!!$%!!*@!!

"Whew, I needed to get that out before beginning.

"Could you be more out of touch? Seriously. Have you not talked to any Hillary Clinton supporters, read their emails in your inbox?

"For 4 lousy delegates? How small are you people? Could you not understand what was swirling enough to allow Clinton her due in Michigan? Four lousy delegates?"

Read More.

The Obamas Withdraw Their Membership From Trinity UCC

In response to the latest widely circulated, videotaped outrage at his Chicago church, Barack Obama announced in South Dakota last night that he and his wife Michele have withdrawn their membership from Trinity United Church of Christ.

I just watched the video of Obama’s statement delivered at a podium somewhat ironically bearing his mantra, “Change We Can Believe In.”

I got the impression that Obama was far more annoyed with the public outrage at Father Pfleger’s mockery of Hillary Clinton from the pulpit than he was with Father Pfleger, his friend and long-time supporter on the Chicago political scene.

Obama described Pfleger’s remarks about Clinton as “unfair,” which seems to drastically understate the cruelty of the priest’s racially charged sexist diatribe.

Obama also used the occasion to reaffirm his respect for Otis Moss, Rev. Wright’s successor at Trinity. Recall that following Pfleger’s sermon last Sunday, Moss stepped up to the pulpit and told his wildly cheering congregation that we "thank God for the message and for the messenger." In case you missed it, watch Father Pfleger in action here, and watch Obama’s statement here.

Campaign Counsel Supports Clinton’s Key Points On MI and FL

The Clinton campaign has released a letter from campaign counsel Lyn Utrecht making a detailed case for Clinton's key points: That the Rules & Bylaws Committee has the right to seat the full Florida and Michigan delegations, and that it should. Read the full letter here.

Liberal Bloggers “Throwing Tomatoes and a Lot Worse at Hillary Clinton”

Howard Kurtz notices in his Media Notes (Washington Post) this morning that major liberal bloggers are “throwing tomatoes – and a lot worse – at Hillary Clinton.”

Stating the obvious, Howard says, “She's never been a particularly popular figure in that part of the blogosphere, and now that she seems to be making a new push on Florida and Michigan, the former first lady has really got folks mad.”

Howard seems oblivious to the several pro-Hillary blogs who daily compete with the blaring of the Obama megaphone by sites like Huffington Post and Daily Kos, but still it’s good to see someone in the MSM who dares report the Hillary-bashing in cyberspace.

Read more of today’s Media Notes: