Reverend Michael Pfleger Is Out Of Line On Hillary

The promise of a Barack Obama presidency is not that white people have been ruling and now black people are going to take over, the promise is that any person born in this country can grow up and aspire to be president, black, white, man, woman, anyone. A Barack Obama presidency is going to be a milestone for blacks, but it is also going to be a milestone for whites. Racism is not healthy for either side.

It has been my personal experience in New York City that the vast majority of people who support Barack just so happen to be white. These are not self-flagellating whites, or whites who lack confidence, or guilty whites, or white people who hate white people. These white people, their motives are positive and about the future. They are not supporting Barack because he is black, but because he is the best candidate. He inspires. He promises a future that these white people want to relate to. And they are not supporting Barack as white people, or they would be hostile to me when I show up for meetings, and they have not been so.

There is an understanding that this is not about race. This is a job application and Barack is applying. May the best, most qualified candidate win.

Hillary's tears in New Hampshire were not an act of racism. How ridiculous to suggest they were? (Hillary Cried, Women Responded, She Won) If she had lost in New Hampshire, this fight would have been over by February 5. That would have been total humiliation to Hillary, who she is, what her qualities are in terms of brain and heart, what she has already done, what she means to the women of America and the world. She was under enormous personal stress, and she cried. When I am under stress, I cry, what about you?

I have been one of those who has not been happy that I have had to choose between Barack and Hillary. If Barack had not run, I would have been as fanatically behind Hillary and I am on record saying so in real time. But I have tried to stay positive. (Switching To Obama)

Then I decided my first choice was a Barack-Hillary ticket, and my second choice was a Hillary-Barack ticket. And I thought we were headed towards a Barack-Hillary ticket and we still might be, but Hillary's Bobby Kennedy remark shook me. (Hillary's Bobby Kennedy Comment: Bitter Heart, Bad Taste)

We Can Put Hillary On The Ticket, But What Are We Going To Do With Bill Clinton?

The idea of the first woman president is the idea of taking gender relations in this country and across the world to new heights. The focus has to be on that gender agenda. You respect the democratic result and you realize you lost and then you go for the second best option: how to meld the gender agenda into a Barack presidency.

I am willing to give Hillary the benefit of doubt. All I know about her from before tells me she just meant to refer to the timeline. Bobby Kennedy was still campaigning in June. Don't push me over, don't ask me to quit. (But, Hillary, Quit)

When Barack Obama was running for the US Senate, Hillary once fought bad weather to fly over to make a campaign appearance for him. After Barack got elected, like Ted Kennedy, she showed him the ropes. Hillary is not my idea of a racist person. Besides, I personally know too many sexist and super sexist minority males to get too hard on Hillary.

The Barack loyalist in me says keep your running mate options open, the Hillary admirer in me says it is Hillary or it is nobody. It is not just about putting any random woman on the ticket. Hillary was the woman who got crucified in the 1990s. Hillary has been the woman who has embodied the aspirations of many women in 2008. It is Hillary or it is nobody.

Women have to express their feelings. And after they do that, they come around. Hillary and her supporters are understandably frustrated. They are having to face an outcome that they did not want, they did not foresee, they are refusing to face, and that denial is going to be a brief phase whose reality we are going to have to accept. I can understand that. I doubt I would have been any less frustrated if Barack had been the one who had lost the nomination battle. So we have to allow for the period of mourning. Then we have to allow for a period of healing. Then step three would be melding. We bring the party together. We make all the Hillary supporters feel this was no defeat. Barack's victory is theirs to share. We march ahead together.

Let's face it, race and gender are extremely volatile issues to talk about. We should be ready for more emotional, incendiary outbursts by more people. We can't get overly defensive when those outbursts take place. To get too defensive is to snuff out discussion on race and gender, and that is not a welcome attitude. We should encourage conversations on race and gender. We should not try to snuff out the emotional outbursts. Instead we should channelize. Those of us who think we can do better when talking about race and gender need to step out, step up, speak out, take charge.

Hillary Is Right About Sexism, Gender Bias
The Jewish Angst
Da WhaD Is Da Pasta
Black Anger Does Not Surprise, Bother Me, Absence Of Black Anger Would
Gender Talk: Coming At It From The Future
Sexism Bothers Me Directly
Geraldine Ferraro, Geremiah Wrong: A Dialogue
James Watson, Now, Was He Your Pastor?
Geraldine Ferraro, Geremiah Wrong
Madhesi Movement Victory In Nepal
Processing The Holocaust Pain
My Third World People Don't Get To Vote In This City
The Jewish Identity In New York City
Looking For 10 Ninja Women

In The News

Democrats Push For Quick End To Nomination Battle Yahoo "By this time next week, it will all be over, give or take a day," Reid said Thursday. ..... Obama picked up two more superdelegates Friday, bringing him within 42 delegates of clinching the nomination ..... leads Clinton by 200 delegates. .... Obama stands to gain a minimum of roughly 20 delegates in the three remaining primaries .... even if he loses all three. ...... Obama's campaign is willing to give Clinton the major share of delegates from Florida and Michigan .... Nationally, Obama has developed a clear lead over Clinton — 54 percent to 41 percent
Obama rejects pastor in latest Church flap AFP
On Policy, Obama Breaks Little New Ground at The Washington Post
Obama used party rules to foil Clinton AP
Obama distances himself from another clergyman AP
Condi Rice enlists in Kiss Army AP

NASA Spacecraft Appears to Have Landed on Mars New York Times
Clinton speaks of faith in face of adversity The Associated Press just 51 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination. ....... "I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year's primary contest is nothing unusual," Clinton wrote. "But I was deeply dismayed and disturbed that my comment would be construed in a way that flies in the face of everything I stand for — and for everything I am fighting for in this election."
Hillary's Latest Delusion: It's Obama's Fault Houston Chronicle blamed the Obama campaign for Hillary’s remarks about Bobby Kennedy ...... "She was making a point merely about the time line." ....... "If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn't find offense to it, why is it that everybody else should?"
Clinton Camp Stokes RFK Flap by Blaming Obama Washington Post The Obama campaign, meanwhile, delivered a strong signal that it expects the nomination contest to wrap up in the next 10 days, after the final primaries. ....... Axelrod acknowledged, "There's an enormous amount of pride and investment in Senator Clinton among millions of women across this country" ........ a unity ticket
McCain Hosts Three Possible Running Mates Washington Post
Obama Stands In for Kennedy at Wesleyan New York Times
Michelle Obama is fair game Boston Globe
Clinton struggles to quell Kennedy furore Independent "Some took my comments entirely out of context and interpreted them to mean something completely different – and completely unthinkable," she wrote in a front-page commentary in The New York Daily News. "I want to set the record straight: I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year's primary contest is nothing unusual." ........ Charles Rangel, the New York congressman and a Clinton supporter, said that she had said "the dumbest thing you could have possibly said". ......... Mr Obama himself said Mrs Clinton had made an understandable mistake. "When you are campaigning for as many months as Senator Clinton and I have ...sometimes you get careless," he said. "I think that is what happened here." The son of the murdered Kennedy, Robert Kennedy Jnr, said he had not taken offence.
Clinton Soaks Up Warmth in Puerto Rico New York Times
Obama Reminds Grads What They Can Do for Country Washington Post

Hillary Is Right About Sexism, Gender Bias

Did Sexism Derail Hillary Clinton? Wall Street Journal Blogs the New York senator has become increasingly vocal about what she views as one of the reasons why: sexism. ........ how many of Clinton’s women supporters feel that she has been the target of sexism throughout the campaign–particularly in the media. ....... some of the attitudes in the press ....... organizing a series of “End Gender Bias in the Media” rallies today in places like Burbank, Calif., as well as in Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan. ...... “The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted, and . . . there should be equal rejection of the sexism and the racism when it raises its ugly head,” she told the paper. “It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments by people who are nothing but misogynists.”
Clinton Puts Up A New Fight Washington Post they tearfully grab her hand to implore her to stick it out, to take her trailing campaign all the way to the Democratic convention in Denver. ..... Clinton for the first time addressed what women have been talking about for months, what she refers to as the "sexist" treatment she has endured at the hands of the pundits, media and others. The lewd T-shirts. The man who shouted "Iron my shirt" at a campaign event. The references to her cleavage and her cackle. ....... "The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted, and . . . ........ while there are plenty of men in the stands, it's the women who are most passionate. .......... as her Democratic opponent refers to her politely in the past tense, and the likely Republican presidential nominee simply ignores her, and the pundits snicker that she's delusional and should just step aside already, she is a woman definitely not preparing her remarks for a graceful exit anytime soon. And that's what her supporters want to hear. ....... "I do not want her to quit." ...... She's tenacious and I like that," said Pat ...... she's been treated pretty shabby ...... "Hillary: She is going to take care of women all over the world," Alam ...... She offered a new spin on the arithmetic, pointing out that the states she won would total 300 electoral votes in a general election. ........ you might think she was just warming up for a fight. ........ the "intensity of my support" was rarely reported ...... has looked rested and relaxed. ....... She let out a throaty laugh when asked in Sunday's interview if she could be put "on the couch" for a few minutes to talk about how she has grown through the campaign......... ....... she has become a far better candidate over the course of the campaign, and in particular over the past six weeks as she has become more comfortable and confident about her message. ........ No one is quite sure when Clinton hit her stride, when she stopped caring about the polls, when she took her campaign to the people and gave voters a window into her soul. .......... when she was losing and so had nothing to lose by being herself. ....... For Hillary Clinton, as you stripped away all the varnish, the core person is the most attractive of all.

Yes, there is sexism. Yes, there is gender bias. Yes, it is in the media, yes, it is among the electorate. That is why Hillary is the first serious woman candidate for the most powerful office in the world. Sexism and gender bias was what was holding women back till now, and still holds women back in all walks of life, including family life and relationships.

I am glad Hillary is finally talking about it. I hope she talks some more about it on Obama's ticket. There are too many women who vote Republican because they don't know any better. They are not politically conscious enough to cross over. But if Hillary talks gender like she has started to, many will cross over.

Like some idiot pointed out recently - I think it was Rush Limbaugh - that if Hillary were to get into the White House, we will all have to watch her age. (Rush Limbaugh: Idiot) Women are supposed to get off stage when they age. That is really curious because Hillary is way more pretty than John McCain.

Sexist jokes are not funny. Sexist attitudes are objectively so. Lewd shirts, the Iron My Shirt shout, references to her cleavage and cackle, asking if she could be put on the couch for a few minutes for a question: those are all sexism talking. And it's time to say no. If Hillary can be put through all this indignity, with her money, power, fame, famous husband, smarts, strength, you just have to wonder what women get put through at their workplaces by their male superiors and numerous male colleagues. Hillary has to fight off these little indignities on behalf of the women in the trenches. (Global Trafficking Of Women, Hillary's Beijing Speech)

To fight sexism is to build a progressive coalition of men and women. This is not a men versus women fight. The sexist comments that bother Hillary also bother me, and I happen to be male. Progressive men do want progress on gender.

Elizabeth Caputo: Trying To Make Sense
Tracey Denton, Al Benninghoff
Hillary Is All The Rage
We Can Put Hillary On The Ticket, But What Are We Going To Do With Bill Clinton?
Race, Class, Gender, Globalization And 2008
Gender Talk: Coming At It From The Future
Sexism Bothers Me Directly
But, Hillary, Quit
Hillary For VP: Going To A Hillary Event
Women's Unity Day: Event
Looking For 10 Ninja Women
Martha Outed Kenton And Women With Issues
Hillary Cried, Women Responded, She Won
Muscular Gender Agenda



In The News

Voting today expected to deliver more delegate ammo for Obama Los Angeles Times
Obama hopes to pass key marker CNN
With Primaries in Two States, Obama Looks to End Race New York Times he wants to do it subtly. ....... will deliver his primary night speech in Iowa ..... which is shaping up as a big battleground state this fall ...... a threshold he is likely to pass Tuesday night: capturing a majority of the pledged delegates selected in the primaries and caucuses. ...... Puerto Rico on June 1 and Montana and South Dakota on June 3. ....... white working class voters ...... 75,000 people .... the event had the effect of rattling the Clinton camp ..... two-thirds of the votes have already been cast by mail ...... not appearing to push her out; treating Mrs. Clinton with respect — even as he moves with increasing force onto the general election playing field.
China says over 70000 dead or missing from quake Calgary Herald
Memo To Michelle Obama: Toughen Up Sweetie Houston Chronicle Bill was criticized sharply for calling Obama’s lack of experience "a roll of the dice", for calling Obama’s opposition to the war a "fairy tale", and for his comparison of Obama to Jesse Jackson after South Carolina.
Obama Leads OR, Clinton Strong in KY FOXNews
Bill Clinton Blames “Slanted Press Coverage” for Obama's Delegate Lead CBS News
Clinton, Obama Heading To Florida CBS News
Clinton Camp to Obama: No Nominee Yet FOXNews
Some Democrats Want Obama-Clinton ‘Dream Ticket’ Voice of America

Race, Class, Gender, Globalization And 2008

The social issues are all rather hard to deal with. The identity issues are hard to deal with. I don't know what exactly Obama said in San Francisco at a private dinner but he got reported as saying that people in small town Pennsylvania are bitter and so they cling to guns and religion.

Like James Carville said, Pennsylvania is Philly and Pittsburgh, with Alabama in between. And there are no blacks in this particular version of Alabama.

The poor everywhere are extra susceptible to identity politics and prejudices. Guns and religion were there before the outsourcing of industrial jobs, guns and religion were there before industrialization, but people do cling extra tight to them when the times go rough. A lot of people don't know Barack's mother was a cutting edge anthropologist. She did microfinance work decades before Yunus got the Nobel for the same.

The reaction was one of defensiveness. You calling me poor? You calling me desperate? You calling me white? The media churn on the issue was so total that Obama 2008's millions in TV ads got drowned out.

It is hard to engage the electorate on social issues. Most people feel their particular worldview is cutting edge and they have no viewpoint they need to change. Roe V Wade was 1973, and the pro-choice agenda is still hot. Progress on social issues tends to be slow.

What to do?

1. Turn the class issue into one on globalization and how to tackle it best.
2. Inject the gender issue full force. That will put Hillary on the defensive. She desires to quietly squeak by, she does not seek to talk gender.
   
3. Address race. That one was a speech about Jeremiah Wright. Now tell the people how you will take race relations in America to the next level. (JFK, Obama Parallels: Catholic, Black)
   

Hillary's momentum from her nine point PA victory is a little unsettling. It will help to get a little paranoid.

Ground Rule: When you get hit, you hit back. The new kind of politics does not change that. What it does change is you don't get nasty when hitting back. When you don't hit back, people think you got hit and you did not even notice.

The Working Class Are Hurt By Special Interests And Lobbyists' Money
Hillary Is Seeking The Green Party Nomination
Taking Race Head On: A Speech
Lessons From PA: Race And Globalization Must Be Addressed
Gender Talk: Coming At It From The Future
Skyward Bound
Philly Debate: Quick Impressions During
Nobel Peace Prize 2008: Making A Case For Nepal (2)
Sexism Bothers Me Directly
Outsourcing Anxieties: The Internet Metaphor

In The News

Bush to address Americans' financial fears CNN
Clinton surges way ahead of McCain in latest poll Hindu
Rev. Wright more than Obama's former pastor CNN

Iranian President’s Visit Tests India New York Times
Wright's Remarks Leave Obama Wounded U.S. News & World Report
Obama’s Wright Response New York Times
Why Wright Doesn't Hurt Obama's Shot at the Nomination Newsweek
What's new: Is the Obama camp right about Wright? USA Today
Pastor's rebuttals fuel troubles for Obama Boston Globe led McCain by nine points in what is perhaps the best news her campaign has seen or heard in the last several weeks .... Both Democrats were roughly even with 71-year-old McCain in the previous poll about three weeks ago. .... 30 per cent of Clinton backers and 21 per cent of Obama's maintaining that they will vote for McCain if their preferred candidate did not get nominated. ....... Governor of North Carolina Mike Easley, a superdelegate, announced his support to her.
Clinton Tip-Toes Around Rev. Wright Issue ABC News
Clinton drives home her Lincoln-Douglas debate idea and Obama ... Los Angeles Times
Clinton Could Ease Racial Tensions Wall Street Journal

Obama Team Remains Unshaken CBS News, USA The Plan, a blueprint devised 15 months ago ....... Her campaign, ensconced in a Washington suburb, has experienced two major staff shakeups fueled by high-level staff rivalries, shifting strategies and an unusual degree of finger-pointing. ..... a candidate intolerant of infighting, a clear line of authority and a healthy distance from the city they want to take over. ....... 2000, who presided over a loyal, linear and leakless operation in Austin ........ “Intense loyalty to and belief in the candidate,” Jordan said, citing the similarities. “Simple, clear lines of authority with real discipline among the staff and consultants. Deep, talented teams. Maybe most importantly, candidates who trust their campaign, who understand what they’re doing, who deliver as well as demand loyalty, who intuitively relate to and handle their campaigns with just the right touch.” ........ the rival Democratic campaigns are a study in contrasts. ........ Obama strategist David Axelrod is the anti-Penn. ....... the low-key and well-liked Axelrod ........ run on change, win Iowa and then embark on a national campaign aimed at maximizing their delegate count. ......... a demeanor like Obama’s, tends to avoid highs or lows. ...... block out the din and the whims of the 24-hour cable news culture. ....... there should be only intentional leaks, and disputes must be dealt with in-house ....... we feel confident in the plan and we are still ahead

Obama on Rev. Wright: "He Does Not Speak for Me" Washington Post "I have said before and I will repeat again that some of the comments that Rev. Wright have made offend me and I understand why they've offended the American people," Obama said ........ Obama seemed determined to wrench his campaign back to the basic messages ...... "Having politicians bickering back and forth doesn't help you," Obama said. "Having them worrying about superdelegates doesn't help you. This election is not about me. It's not about Senator Clinton. It's not about John McCain. It's about you. It's about your struggles, your hopes and dreams."

Gender Talk: Coming At It From The Future

Sexism Bothers Me Directly

If you think about it, it is kind of weird that Hillary had to make the baking cookies comment in 1992. It makes no sense that women had to struggle to have careers. Careers make economy sense for the larger economy. Careers make money sense for the family. Careers make happiness sense for the individual.

Women do 60% of the work on the farm in a country like Nepal, but they have been deprived of power. Poverty complicates an already supremely sexist situation.

Often time we settle for incrementalism. We look at the weigh of the past as to how things were much worse than they are today. That time travel is supposed to justify the sorry state we are in today. Women still are nowhere close to parity.

The equal pay might feel like it is a nuanced issue. But domestic violence is concrete, and the two are related.

Only a few decades back most women were expected to stay home and "bake cookies" and rear children - all wonderful things to do - while men out there and made asses of themselves at their jobs.

But most college graduates today are women. There will come a tipping point. It will be like when a lake freezes. It is 35 degrees and men are still chugging down their beers. 34, fine. And then, boom, it is 33, and the lake freezes.

Scientific progressivism says you work to go up the political consciousness level. If you go high enough, you don't see gender as an issue for women, let them deal with it. You see it as a progressive issue. You are into it as a progressive, regardless of gender. You are not in it to do women a favor or anything like that. Ultimately you are just trying to get their votes. The act of voting is sacred to a progressive.

You come at it from the future. You model behavior. What will a nonsexist workplace look like? What will a nonsexist relationship look like? How do you curb gender violence like Giuliani went after crime in NYC? How do you end the global trafficking of women? Now that one will be in the same league as Lincoln ending slavery.

Overall I am optimistic that progress will be made. I am just a little impatient that progress will not come as fast as desired. So you try and do things to speed things up.

I must admit there is a certain selfishness to my take on gender. I feel like the rising tide will lift all boats. Women are just so large in number. There is no telling how much social progress they can make together. Gays, and ethnic and racial minorities can expect to ride the rising tide. Women are best positioned to lead of all the political - as opposed to numerical - minorities.

Barackface: The Spectrum On Gender
Barackface: Race, Gender, Progressive, Conservative Divides
Barackface: The Spectrum/Dialogue Concept Is Key To Power



In The News

Obama, Clinton deadlocked in US Senate, 13-13 Reuters
Hillary Clinton edges lead over Barack Obama ahead of Pennsylvania ... Telegraph.co.uk a lead of five to ten points in the state ..... "The bottom line for me is that we have a lot of contests yet to go. This is a really close race." .... close the 20-point lead she held a month ago, thanks in part to an onslaught of advertisements paid for by his vastly superior funds. ...... Obama has now raised $234 million, mostly from small online donations ..... Nine more contests are scheduled before the campaign concludes on June 3.

Cash Struggle Continues for Clinton, Filings Show New York Times

Carter Says Hamas and Syria Are Open to Peace New York Times found the Syrian leadership eager for a full peace treaty with Israel. ..... “The problem is not that I met with Hamas in Syria. The problem is that Israel and the United States refuse to meet these people.” ..... Carter said he found the Hamas leadership, including Mr. Meshal, to be clear-thinking, educated people who gave no sign of fanaticism ........ “They are just as rational as you are,” he said, adding, “The thing that Meshal and I have is that we are both physicists.”
Widespread Political Violence Reported in Zimbabwe's Rural Areas Voice of America
Beyond Pa., a Weakened Clinton Washington Post Her campaign has the aura of a march toward inevitable disappointment.
UPDATE 1-Obama struggles to win white vote in rural Pa. Reuters hurt by his comments on small town bitterness and his association with an outspoken pastor ....... Local people called the Illinois senator arrogant, unpatriotic and un-Christian ..... "There's no work here," he said. "You have to drive 30 to 40 miles to find a job." ..... comments about small-town Pennsylvanians, made during a closed-door session in San Francisco. .... "The guy demonized the U.S. and Obama still likes him." Bressler said. "We don't need him as president."
Clinton, Obama Hit Each Other Hard In New PA Ads CBS News
Clinton lead hits double digits in new poll Boston Globe A new poll out this morning gives Hillary Clinton a 52 percent to 42 percent lead over Barack Obama in Pennsylvania .... Clinton is within striking distance of the double-digit win she badly needs to build new momentum for her candidacy

Young Pennsylvania voters take a shine to Obama Reuters
Prachanda to head new government in Nepal Hindu
New Pa. poll has Clinton holding lead MSNBC
Clinton scrambles to hold onto waning lead in Pennsylvania Los Angeles Times

Obama fights for every vote to close on Clinton Guardian the critical Pennsylvania primary could end in humiliation for Hillary ..... Barack Obama was closing fast on Hillary Clinton for the vital Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday, as he emerged from the ugliest week in their 15-month race intact - and, using a memorable gesture borrowed from hip-hop, literally 'brushing off' her last-ditch attacks. ....... she is slipping rapidly in most polls ...... some predicting a photo-finish and one a long-shot Obama victory. ..... goal is to shrink Clinton's margin of victory to the point where it looks humiliating, even terminal. ...... Obama's crowd of 35,000 on Independence Mall in Philadelphia on Friday is not quite up with the Pope's expected congregation of 60,000 in New York's Yankee Stadium today, but gave him the look of being both populist and presidential. ....... he still won the endorsement of six more super-delegates and rock idol Bruce Springsteen. ....... Gary Hart, a former Democratic presidential candidate, who has endorsed Obama ...... he recovered on Friday in North Carolina by using hip-hop moves taken from rap mogul Jay-Z ....... Then he mimed brushing dirt off each shoulder, a move that Jay-Z, one of his musical heroes, uses to dismiss the negative sentiments of anyone ill-disposed towards him or what he stands for. The crowd went wild and commentators declared it a seminal moment in the campaign, combining his charisma, feel for popular culture, youth and resilience.
For Clintons, a Time to Find Truest Friends New York Times “She is a delightful young woman who loves her mother very much,” Mrs. Larson said. “She was really pushing me. She kept asking me why I was doing this. She just kept asking, ‘Why? Why?’ ” ..... nearly two decades building relationships with a generation of Democrats ..... a lot of Clinton fatigue in the party and in the country today ...... “These are people that the Clintons gave an opportunity to serve,” said Mr. Panetta, speaking generally. “They helped give them the titles they now have, and made them a lot of money. I think the Clintons probably feel they are owed something.” ....... Reich, who had said he would not formally endorse Mr. Obama out of “loyalty” to Mrs. Clinton, a friend for over four decades whom he actually went out on a date with in their college days. ..... while Mr. Clinton was a great leader, “I don’t want my daughter near him.” ...... “if Hillary’s campaign can’t control Bill, whether Hillary’s White House could.” ..... people around the Clintons practiced “gutter” politics and that they felt entitled to the presidency ....... “The relationship has become very strained,” Mr. Richardson understated in an interview. ....... former supporters like Mrs. Larson, people who revered the Clintons in the 1990s and still regard them highly ...... “There was something about Senator Obama that I found really fresh and exciting,” she said. “I like how positive he has been.” She also spoke of “the destructive negativity” of the Clinton campaign. ...... “I just told her it was something I had to do.”
Clinton Cabinet Member Reich Backs Obama Yahoo! News
Clinton hoping to capitalize on slim lead in Pennsylvania Chicago Tribune "Hillary is my age group. She's a woman. She's me. She's my goals. She's my aspirations. She's a goal that I could attain." ..... no-win criticism for a woman. ...... We women are strong. We are focused. .... "I want to change them. I don't want to become them."
Obama, Clinton trade barbs over negative tactics Reuters

Clinton and Obama debate who is the tougher candidate Boston Globe
Obama Fights On Two Fronts Washington Post
Primary Lures Those Too Young to Vote New York Times
Vote recount underway in Zimbabwe CNN International
Ex-Labor Secretary Reich backs Obama Los Angeles Times the fifth former Clinton Cabinet member to endorse

Clinton's Campus Backers Resist Draw of `Cool' Obama Phenomenon Bloomberg
Obama Meets Jay-Z in YouTube Mashup Slamming Clinton & Debate Yahoo! News
How Obama Fell to Earth New York Times
Obama faces road test for November election fight Reuters
Obama's Bitter Lesson TIME
Obama's Tax Evasion Wall Street Journal
Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, many others hold forth on the ABC debate Los Angeles Times
Obama says debate focused on 'gotcha,' not policy issues The Associated Press
Superdelegates Unswayed by Clinton’s Attacks New York Times
Obama and Clinton Campaign for Laughs on Comedy Central Show Bloomberg
Clinton, Obama, Edwards visit 'Colbert Report' Newsday
Clinton is Ms. Fix-It, Obama a media critic on 'Colbert' The Associated Press
MoveOn.org criticizes debate between Clinton, Obama as “gotcha” Reuters
McCain Plans for $3.3 Trillion Tax Cut, Balanced Budget at Odds Bloomberg
Maoists extend lead in Nepal polls, re-voting smooth AFP

जनजाति महासंघ गठन Kantipur
कपिलवस्तुमा पुरानै अनुहार खासै संगठनात्मक आधार खडा नभएका मधेसवादी दलको पक्षमा यहा“ जनमत प्रकट भएको छ ....... भर्खरै उदाएकार् इश्वर दयाल मिश्रा तथा २५ वर्षा सम्भवतः सबैभन्दा कान्छा संविधानसभा सदस्य अभिषेकप्रताप शाहको विजय ........ कपिलवस्तु घटनाबाट बढी प्रभावित क्षेत्रं ५ को प्रतिस्पर्धामा अन्तरिम संसदमा विधायकमा मनोनित भए पनि पदत्याग गरी मधेस आन्दोलनका पक्षमा खडा भएका युवा अभिषेकप्रताप शाह विजयी भए । उनले वयोवृद्ध ठूलोबाबु कांग्रेसका डा. रुद्रप्रताप शाहलाई पराजित गरे ।
सुनसरी-२ मा एमाले र महोत्तरी-२ मा फोरम सुनसरीमा मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरमले ३, एमाले २ र माओवादीले एक स्थान ...... यसअघिका संसदीय निर्वाचनमा ८० प्रतिशत परिणाम आफ्नो पक्षमा पार्दै आएको कांग्रेसले यसपाला सुनसरी-१, ५ र ६ मा तेस्रो स्थान र २ मा पा“चौं स्थानमा चित्त बुझाउनुपर्‍यो
'मधेसलाई अलग राखी देश चलाउन सकिन्न' लाहान, वैशाख ४ - मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरमका संयोजक उपेन्द्र यादवले नेपालको राजनीतिबाट फोरमलाई अलग राखी कसैले देश चलाउन चाहेमा त्यो दिवा स्वप्न मात्र हुने बताएका छन् । ...... 'संविधान निर्माण गर्दा मधेसको एजेन्डालाई सन्तुलन कायम गरी अगाडि बढ्नु फोरमको उद्देश्य हो ।' ...... सरकारस“ग भएको स्वायत्त मधेस एक प्रदेशसम्बन्धी सम्झौतालाई कायम गर्न फोरम अडिग रहेको ...... 'सुजाता हार्नु दुःखको कुरो हो, तर उहा“ प्रधानमन्त्रीपुत्री भएर हार्नुभएको छ ।' ...... यादवले तत्काल फोरमले माओवादीस“ग मिलेर सरकार बनाउने सोच नराखेको पनि बताए ....... यादवले बुधबारै लाहानको सहिदचोकमा गई मधेस आन्दोलनका क्रममा सहिद हुनेहरूप्रति श्रद्धाञ्जलि अर्पण गर्दै मधेसलाई एक राज्य एक स्वायत्त प्रदेश बनाउन फोरम कटिबद्ध रहन ...... सिरहा-१ बाट विजयी फोरम उम्मेदवार लक्ष्मण मेहता
अबको मधेस राजनीति मधेसवादी दलहरू मुख्यतः मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरमले सम्मानजनक स्थान हासिल गरेको छ ..... कांग्रेस र एमालेले सारा देशभरि पाएको स्थानको हाराहारीमा मधेसी जन अधिकार फोरम पुग्नु भनेको जनताको भरपुर र्समर्थन पाउनु हो ..... उपेन्द्र यादवमा कम्युनिस्ट राजनीतिको रङ छ भने विजय गच्छेदार समूहको कांग्रेसी पृष्ठभूमि छ । ...... अझै पनि रमेश महतो र गौरमा मारिएका माओवादी र्समर्थकका परिवारहरूको घाउ ताजा नै छ । ...... तर्राईमा कांग्रेस र एमालले भोगेको हार ...... सुशील कोइराला र्सवदेव ओझास“ग माधव नेपाल रौतहटमा देवेन्द्र पटेलस“ग सुजाता कोइराला उपेन्द्र यादवस“ग झापामा कृष्ण सिटौला पर्ूण्ाप्रसाद राजवंशीस“ग त्यस्तै मोरङमा शेखर कोइराला विजयकुमार गच्छादारस“ग महेश आचार्य भीमलाल चौधरीस“ग पारजित हुनु ....... प्रचण्डजीले जनयुद्धको बेलामा लाल तर्राईमा लेख्नुभएको लेखमा मधेस उपनिवेश हो र यसको स्वायत्तका लागि संर्घष्ा अपरिहार्य छ भन्ने अभिव्यक्तिलाई अब आफैं सत्तामा पुगेपछि कति इमान्दारिताका साथ पूरा गर्नुहुन्छ भन्ने प्रश्नको उत्तर भविष्यले नै दिनेछ । ...... काठमाडँैंका हरेक गल्लीमा "गर्व से कहु हम मधेसी छी" भन्ने नारा लेख्न मातृकाले ठूलै कसरत र साहस देखाएका हुन् । ........ माओवादी र मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरम अन्ततः सत्ताको नजिक पुगेकोे छ ...... संघीयताको सवाल सबैभन्दा सशक्त ढंगले मधेसले उठाएको हो ...... कञ्चनपुरदेखि झापासम्म एक स्वायत्त क्षेत्र स्थापित हुनुपर्ने धारण ...... माओवादीबाहेक अन्य दलले स्पष्ट खाका दिन सकेका छैनन् ....... संघीयतामा सबैभन्दा बढी मधेस बिर्ता कांग्रेसलेनै गुमाउने कुराको संकेत संविधानसभा चुनावको परिणामले देखाइसक्यो

Philadelphia paper backs Obama Boston Globe
Philly newspaper: Judge Obama by his campaign USA Today
Clinton, Obama in crunch debate The Australian

Sexism Bothers Me Directly

Sexism does not bother me because it bothers women, sexism bothers me directly, although women do factor in, how can they not?

Sexism bothers me because I am a progressive. You can't not be progressive on race and gender and still claim the progressive mantle. Progressives don't get uncomfortable talking race and gender.

I came to gender from the race angle. Early physicists studying electricity quickly realized magnetism is very related to electricity. My fascination with race quickly told me gender has so much in common with race. They are twin social realities.

The spectrum concept is my small gift to gender relations.

Barackface: The Spectrum On Gender
Barackface: Race, Gender, Progressive, Conservative Divides
Barackface: The Spectrum/Dialogue Concept Is Key To Power



I am for scientific progressivism. 10 is a good round number in science. It smells digital even.

1-10 is a gradation. It is designed to help progressives win elections. 1-10 is home to all views on gender. Each gradation is home to roughly 10% of the electorate. That is the idea. And so you can also have 10.1. That would be home to 1% of the electorate. Likewise you can dig further and label 10.1.1.

The good thing about using the spectrum concept to make progress on gender is you liberate it from identity politics and turn it into an issue politics. Men are also welcome. Making progress on gender is about building a progressive coalition of men and women.

If you build the spectrum good enough, you should be able to map gender as it exists not just in any one country, but also across the world.

Another advantage of the gender concept is that it is the least socially disruptive. Step one is mapping. Getting people to simply talk gender is a big achievement. Dee Dee Myers has come up with a book where she says the gender issues she dealt with as a college student are still the gender issues she deals with today. That is because gender has not been talked about. No talk, no progress.

Once people start talking and you map them as to where they stand on the spectrum then you can devise ways to nudge them on to the next level, to a higher plane of political consciousness.

I might see race and gender are related. But most white women don't. But you are not white, you don't belong in this conversation. When I look at you, I see race, I don't see gender. Curiously most white males see gender when they look at me. Like this guy at this bar on Saturday who takes one look at me and says he would like to throw his girlfriend off the balcony like in "Mortal Kombat." I am glad the girlfriend found that funny. That was supposed to be male bonding. Was it? "Sorry, I am not much into video games at all."

The spectrum concept is going to be especially useful to make progress on gay rights, something much more culturally charged. You got to get people talking and then you nudge them on to a higher plane of political consciousness.

Build the spectrum on every policy issue.