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The Campaign That Never Ends

I’m reminded of one of my favourite childhood shows where Lambchops sings, “This is the song that never ends, yet it goes on and on my friends. Some people started singing it not knowing what it was and they’ll continue singing it forever just because.”
Hillary Clinton at every turn in this hotly contested political race has been pushed aside by the punditry, had her campaign trivialized by liberals eager to be a part of the most recent political extravagance, been attacked by conservatives’ disdain for her husband’s presidency, and faced a seemingly insurmountable sexism still prevalent in the American society. She has risen above the fray and offered a candidacy based on thirty-five years of public service to the American people. She has offered tangible solutions many with which her opponent Sen. Obama agrees. If you stop there, one might think (or at least that’s the story at www.hillaryclinton.com) that Hillary is the only candidate who has been attacked.
Over on www.barackobama.com, there is another side to this story. Sen. Brack Obama has been attacked as well. Those attacks being aimed at his alleged inexperienced in politics, though to be fair, historically he has more experience than Abraham Lincoln before he took office (and I think Lincoln did ok without the thirty-five years), his campaign has been called too idealistic and hope-oriented (as if “hope” is now a bad thing), and every step of the way he has likewise defied the odds and the punditry. He has attempted to rise above the fray of politics as usual, running a positive campaign based on change and politics of hope.
Clinton’s campaign has been attacked with the political expedience of “the race card.” Both Hillary and Bill have been attacked by some members of the Black Community for their alleged “racism,” a claim that Sen. Geraldine Ferraro attempted to refute to only become the latest target of the Obama Campaign’s series of racially-charged attacks. Such politics is not uplifting for the American people. It is not full of the “hope” that Sen. Obama claims his campaign supports. And it does nothing to promote the dream that Dr. King spoke of, not too long ago. And Clinton is not off the hook on this issue either. Both Democrats need to cool it down before one of them embarrasses the party.
It is true and fair to point out that some Americans found Sen. Ferraro’s comments to be fallacious and unfounded and while Hillary Clinton might not have spoken publicly on the issue it is interesting to note that Ferraro is no longer “officially” part of the campaign. While Clinton has been fighting the race issue, Obama has been fighting the “elitist” charge by Clinton and surrogates.
Obama’s statement about “people clinging to their guns and their religion” seemed to upset voters, but most polled Keystone state Democrats felt that Clinton pressed the issue too much. The New York Times agreed that Clinton was rather negative this primary and just like in Texas and Ohio it seemed to work, but can it continue to bring in the votes?
While both Clinton and Obama surrogates have emphatically stated that “Democrats have a wealth of talent and resources” and “that that has been the legacy of an open party full of ideas and eager to lead this country to our nation’s better pastures,” there is yet much controversy within the party of ideas. Additionally it seems that the politics of sexism, racism, and negativity are still deeply entrenched within the American mindset. After so much claims to progress as a nation we have seen reverse-racism that purports to represent Black Americans when attacks are made at the Clintons and their records in office. Unfortunately, for our country’s women this is a case lesson in the sexism that still exits, much of which can be noted within the comments of campaign surrogates and political pundits. Obama has seen charges made against his patriotism and religion. The brouhaha over statements that his pastor made at a service he did not attend was telling that the Clinton campaign would take any perceived mistake as a chance to pounce–and did her campaign pounce.
Throughout this protracted process both campaigns have thrown the kitchen sink at one another. They moved onto the bathroom sink after that, then onto the garage sink and now the house has no more sinks. . . Democrats are left wondering what comes next? More phantom shootings, attacks on experience, squabbling over healthcare specifics when both plans are a step in the right direction, charges of plagiarism, pastors with odd things to say, photos of Muslim clothing (as if with America and the so-called War on Terror it would be a bad thing to have a president who actually knew the difference between a Shia and a Sunni)?
All the while the Republican “presumptive” (and that’s another issue of mine, Ron Paul has no chance in winning, even if the Republicans adopted the crazy Democratic allotment of delegates and recalculates all of the primaries, he’s out, so let’s call Sen. McCain what he is, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE!) John McCain barbecues and presses “record” on his TiVo to save up all of the prime footage the Democrats have so conveniently prepared for him and his campaign this summer.
And to think we have to go through all of this again. . .
This has become the “Campaign that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends. Barack and Hillary started running not knowing who would win and neither one is getting out. . . so this is the campaign that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends. . .”

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