My Letter to Hillary...."bitter" IS the right word!
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When politics get in the way of democracy....
I don't know how other interested readers feel but I have had about enough of the Clinton campaign's nastiness and distracting attacks! Neither Clinton or Obama were my first choice in a Democratic nominee, but why is it that this race for the nomination has deteriorated to damaging the party's ultimate goal? When I witnessed how HRC leaped at the chance to misinterpret and undermine Mr. Obama's recent statements about the frustration and "bitterness" of small town American citizens...which rang of Truth in my ears....well, I just had to speak up. Isn't the Internet wonderful? My venting rant...straight from my outbox to her inbox!
Here is the content of my message to Hillary Clinton's campaign:
I have been undecided about which candidate to vote for in our May primaries. While it is exciting to finally have my primary vote count, it is disheartening to see a candidate pounce on and distort comments made by their opponent.
Mrs. Clinton's recent attack on Mr. Obama's comment regarding the frustration and bitterness that is growing daily in this country....and not just in small blue collar communties....made up my mind for me. Mr. Obama was telling the truth, low and middle income Americans are drained dry, robbed of hope and desperate for true representation of their needs and concerns.
American corporations have been moving OUR jobs to foreign countries and with what little financial resources we have left we must purchase the cheap goods those foreign workers made, that are shipped back to us to "consume".
The taxes we pay are not used to improve our lot but are spent on, foreign aid, frivolous government spending, and an unwanted war that is devastating lives and destroying our reputation as a strong and wise democracy.
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Is it taxation without representation?
Millions of citizens cannot afford health care and live in fear of not being able to keep their families well, or of becoming ill themselves and losing their jobs and homes because of it. Yet their tax dollars help provide superior insurance coverage for their congressional representatives. Those that have insurance still pay far too much for mediocre health care. Pharmaceutical and health insurance lobbyists have manipulated elected officials and laws so that drugs and premiums are too often unaffordable, and patients are prescribed drugs that are under-tested and not safe....some are long term killers themselves. WE are the guinea pigs.
Our hopeful votes to bring in Democratic majority representation has done nothing to change the stranglehold the Bush administration has on our destiny and the Constitution. Our civil rights are disappearing and that's just a sidebar to Congress's agenda, it seems.
Our wages are stagnating as the cost of living escalates, and corporate America thinks of new ways to drain every last drop out of our paychecks in order to line their shareholders' pockets.
We are being slowly poisoned by our own environment and by our leaders' negligence in putting an end to pollution, greenhouse gases and wasteful farming and manufacturing practices. Special interest groups have effectively smothered attempts to focus on better, earth-friendly ways to do business.
We are witnessing and living through families being tossed onto the street by the maleficent and predatory machinations of mortgage companies. I talk to people every day who are trying to "negotiate" with those lenders.....let me tell you the voluntary part of these negotiations are not working. Most borrowers cannot even talk to anyone with a pulse, let alone get help. It appears congress is willing to talk the issue to death as foreclosures go on every day. Why is it logical to bail out huge corporations, with taxpayers money, while there is a lengthy stalling discussion as to whether or not the taxpayers themselves are deserving of assistance?
So Mr. Obama is right.....we ARE bitter. And any mention of "elitism" is completely misdirected. And I applaud him both for telling is like it is, and standing behind his statement.
This was the deciding "conversation" for me. I believe Mrs. Clinton is out of touch, and therefore Mr. Obama will get my vote.
Really, this nit-picking muckraking is beyond the sense of honor any candidate should hold. Mrs. Clinton would do well to take the higher road.
Don't worry, dear readers, I really don't have much faith that this email will get past some minor level volunteer with an overflowing inbox. But I feel better for simply having said it out loud!
Published 4/14/08
http://hubpages.com/_2t5l6vfib17qu/hub/McCain-or-Obama-What-do-you-think
CommentsLoading...
Great letter, Mary. I'm an Obama Mama these days too, for many of the same reasons you cite. I started out on her team BTW. There is something ironic about Hillary, the Wellesley girl , Yale Law School grad, and suburban matron,trying to play like she's working class....talk about patronizing!!! Pennsylvania will be interesting, to say the least. Hmmmmm maybe I'll send Hillary a note myself:-)
Yes Mr. Deeds, too true.....really I don't know who "they" are polling, that the results come out the way they do....sort of luke warm, when most folks I talk to, and not just underpaid workers, are hotter than hell about how their government does not represent their interests, and their tax dollars are being spent on anything BUT what their families and communities need.
What better place to spend tax payers' dollars than on the taxpayers themselves.
And I really don't see any reason rural Penn. Dems should be offended. They should be pleased and hopeful that someone noticed their plight, and spoke up about it.
I think the nit-picking and muckraking makes us look foolish as a country to the rest of the world. :(
Could they ever run on the same ticket together?
Oh, God......I hope not. Oil and water.
Absolutely agree with you, Mary. I've never been a big fan of Mrs. Clinton, if not to say more. I do understand that Obama's talents to make speeches and pinpoint the problems (and he is right about each and every problem he pointed) could be very appealing, however so far I haven't heard from him any reasonable solution to any problems he brought up including health care. In any case - a great letter!
Great letter. Honest and to the point. This upcoming election will be a nasty one. But aren't they all? There are no candidates on either side who reach up and grab me. I fear our next president will be facing an economy in serious trouble, a devalued dollar, and many other social and foreign policy issues. I wouldn't take the job for anything. Let us know if you get any response.
Thanks Rob & Wanderlust. Yes, not an enviable job to take on for the next Prez. I have found that Obama's official website does offer a lot of proposed stratagies....good plans. None of the contenders have been consulting me, but my thoughts are that we will not see a healing and strengthening of purpose in this country until a) the war is ended (both wars!) and troops home, and b) we bring back livable wage jobs for all Americans. This corporate-controlled democracy is not working for the average person.
In another of my recent posts I had the pleasant opportunity to chat with women from Australia and New Zealand. My eyes popped when they told me an average worker in those countries earns $1,000 per week (the Aussie dollar is worth $1.09USD.) Imagine housholds with two people working grossing $8,000 per mo.! AND their health care is provided by the state...taxpayer dollars used to better the lives of taxpayers.
AND in those countries homeowner's equity is protected by law. If there is foreclosure they retain any monies beyond what is owed the lender, less expenses, etc. The US would not have to think about further regulating or rescuing the mortgage industry if we took the profit margin out of the forclosure industry.
You tell em Mary. They obviously can see it. I live in japan and last night watched the Movie Sicko, Man oh man. O.K. Michael is a muck raker himself and I am sure his report is one sided BUT even if a fraction of what Michael is saying is true about the medical system, then all America, Clinton and all her mates need to take a long hard and honest look.
I am a simple man, by no means as eloquent as you Mary and so I simply wish to say again. More power to you and may your letter arrive on her desk.
Your fan.
Mon.
Thanks Mon, it's getting pretty bad over here. More companies closing as consumers are running dry on dispoable income and only buying needful things. Just heard on the news Oregon lost 1,200 jobs last month. Not many jobs available to replace work for these now unemployed workers.
And yes M. Moore could be called a muckraker.....but I think he's more of a rabble rouser. Just call me rabble.
Dear Mary, your letter is an amazing example of what is profoundly wrong in USA, today. Political and social responsibility always starts at the top.
American 'filthy rich' leaders and the ruling class have simply lost their basic touch with a common life of majority of American people. They don't give a dime any more for at least basic social justice.
I will just quote your words:
'We are being slowly poisoned by our own environment and by our leaders'
'Why is it logical to bail out huge corporations, with taxpayers money, while there is a lengthy stalling discussion as to whether or not the taxpayers themselves are deserving of assistance?'
A Corporation, which is only a dead term - a word, means much more than a life of a real citizen!?
Shame on American President, senate and the congress, who allow such a disgrace of an American real core values of freedom and personal well-being.
I do like your letter, Mary!
Thank you solar, there are a lot of folks here in the US who suddenly find security and a thriving future are not things either guaranteed or completely under their control. Since I wrote this post we have seen quickly escalating imbalance in the wages to cost-of-living ratio. All about oil, and the cost of gas. Sadly it is also a quiet and often unseen suffering in American families, they're ashamed and embarrassed that they are no longer able to provide everything their families need.
I've often thought anyone running for public office, or hired by the government to make decisions on behalf of citizens should be required to work out a balanced budget for living based on a minimum wage income, after taxes. Because honestly....most public "servants" don't have a clue.
Mary, I simply needed to copy your wise words:
'Sadly it is also a quiet and often unseen suffering in American families, they're ashamed and embarrassed that they are no longer able to provide everything their families need.
anyone running for public office, or hired by the government to make decisions on behalf of citizens should be required to work out a balanced budget for living based on a minimum wage income, after taxes. Because honestly....most public "servants" don't have a clue.'
The new President and her/his government should loudly read these words, when they promise their loyalty to the people and to the country! AMEN.
Well Mary, I guess better late than never applies here. We definitely speak the same language.
Since we now know that Obama has the ball in his court, let’s hope he doesn’t drop it.
Excellent Hub and letter.
Never surrender.
Thank you CWB. I wrote this post 5 mo.s ago and yesterday was thinking of taking it down. After all Clinton seems to have walked toward the light. But then I thought about the two Clintons power-playing her "18 million votes", and back-stage encouraging the Cows and Crows of outdated feminism to linger in their support of her. So I left the post up.....lest we forget.
Sidebar: I just finished reading Sara Paretsky's "Writing in an Age of Silence." Brought me to tears of loss and anger, again. It's short and concise, you can read it in an afternoon....I'm recommending it to everyone I talk to. Maybe a few of us can open someone elses eyes and encourage all of us to 'grow some'. But then again I fear that anyone who still has their head in the sand....likes it there.
Interesting Hub... I am an HRC fan (I love how you made it into an acronym; it will make it easier to write about her), and I actually enjoyed reading this Hub because of what I consider the main message: there are so many things that are frightening in this country and someone needs to fix it. Like Coldwarbaby said, I just hope Obama doesn't drop the ball.
Well this is an old hub..... dating from primary season. I'm thinking I should go back and date my hubs at the front. Lord knows the real estate hubs I write become outdated within a very short time.
I'm just amazed any candidate still has the intestinal fortitude to want the job....and Obama seems to be chomping at the bit to get started. All I know is it will take bold and fast change, He better hit the ground running. And I think we are all ready to take the challenge as long as we know we're headed in a new and better direction.
Ralph Deeds Level 6 Commenter 4 years ago
Mine, too! Obama was correct in what he said. His comment was nothing more than what political pundits and political scientists have been saying ever since the emergence of the "Reagan Democrats" in the 1980s. However, Obama's remarks probably went over better in San Francisco than among rural Pennsylvania Democrats. There are more than one Hubbers who fit Obama's comment which was not intended to be disrespectful of anyone.