Finally, thankfully, the Democratic primary season has come to an end. But the end came much later than most of us could have ever predicted.
With the last of the 2008 primaries in Montana and South Dakota now over, the long, arduous, divisive and sometimes ugly nominating process has at last reached a conclusion. But it has been a historic contest for the Democrats, and for America in general.
The Democratic Party finally wrapped up a months long nominating contest between a woman and a black man, determining the party's presidential candidate in the November general election; Sen. Barack Obama.
This is historically remarkable for a number of reasons.
Black Americans weren't even granted citizenship, or guaranteed equal rights with whites, until 1866, when the Civil Rights Act was passed -- despite the objection and veto President Andrew Johnson. Later that year, Congress approved the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing citizenship to blacks, as well as due process and equal protection under the law to all citizens. However, the Amendment wasn't ratified until 1868.
Black American men were supposedly guaranteed the right to vote in 1870, when the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. But It took nearly 100 more years, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, before the majority of African Americans in the South were registered and allowed to vote.
Meanwhile, women in New Zealand achieved suffrage on the national level in 1893, and Australia followed suit in 1902. But American women didn't win the right to vote until 1920, when the 19th Amendment was ratified. My living grandmother was 7 at that time. To add further perspective, it was just 27 years before Hillary Clinton was born.
In retrospect, it is clear that our country has not always lived up to the values and ideals it has touted and proclaimed so proudly.
It's about time that a woman and a black man were seriously considered for the highest office in the land. Their preparedness and qualifications for that office were considered by the American voters, and for Obama, that decision remains in their hands. Being black or female are not in themselves qualifications, but both candidates are smart, educated, dedicated lawmakers.
Considering the hurdles that black Americans, and women in general, had to face in just earning the right to vote -- much less run for office -- the fact that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made it this far -- each receiving more primary votes than any other candidates in US history -- is remarkable, historical, and worth noting.
After all, it is the 21st Century.
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Comments: 41
Yesterday, when Hillary made the decision to quit, John McCain immediately praised her. I heard no praise from the Democrats. Mccain said that he has debated Mrs. Clinton many times and while they differ on many issues he has nothing but respect and admiration for her.
Obama if he really wants to heal the party should have beeen the first person to praise her.
McCain is a gentleman and a man of great character. The American people will see the contrast between the two candidates we are left with.
Now that^^^^would be a nice change.
It will also be a big battle in the fall with the GOP. Hillary Clinton's biggest mistake was thinking Obama was a nobody and it seem a lot of McCain predictors are thinking just like Clinton and that mean that they just my find themselves on the losing side in November.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF CLINTON DEMOCRATS WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA! HE WILL SURLY LOOSE IN GENERAL ELECTION, THANK THE BIASED CHEATING DNC WHO STOLE VOTES TO SUPPORT OBAMA!!!!
THEY PURPOSELY TOOK DELEGATES FAIRLY WON BY SENATOR CLINTON AND GAVE THEM TO OBAMA!!!!
WE ARE CHANGING OUR PARTY AFFILIATION
VOTE THEM OUT NEXT ELECTION!!!!
DNC Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but also delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.
SUPPORTERS URGE SENATOR CLINTON TO RUN AS INDEPENDENT
Obamas have Set Race Relations Back Decades
In general is Obama has used Poor Judgment REPEATEDLY! Obama proved Rev Wright was correct!!! Politically correct, that is. The fact that it is "painful" and took 20 years suggests he agrees with these racists "under the covers". He resigned not necessarily because he wants to but because it is the only course open to him. Imagine if the roles were reversed and John McCain had attended a white separatist church for twenty years. Would his resignation after two decades cure the concern that he had lived some sort of weird double life, cavorting with racists but talking about equal opportunity in his public life? He'd have been forced out of the presidential race by now. So the question remains: was Obama the least observant church congegrant on the planet (racism and anti-Semitism at Trinity? No!) Or a hypocrite.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT OBAMAS POLITICAL DAMAGE APOLOGY!!!
SHOCKING Obama words: what he really thinks of white folks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77cU3jsFs
http://www.dontvoteobama.net
MICHELLE OBAMA RAILING AGAINST WHITEY
http://www.dontvoteobama.net.
Republicans October Surprise on Obamas. Video of Michelle Obama railing against whitey in Rev. Wright's church.
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/05/16/will-barack-throw-mama-from-the-train/ More video showing Michelle Obama, railing against whitey from the pulpit of racist, anti-US pastor Reverend Wrights church, former Deputy Director in the US State Department.
Whitey cut folks off Medicaid?
Whitey let New Orleans drown?
Whitey do nothing about Jena?
Whitey put us in Iraq for no reason?
MICHELLE OBAMAS RACIST THEIS
"There is no doubt in my mind that as a member of the black community, I am obligated to this community and will utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit the black community first and foremost". Michelle Obama, in her own words, does not lookout into a crowd at a political rally and see Americans, she sees whites and blacks.
It is no wonder they chose Rev. Wright as a pastor, because his comments and his church's mission statement go right in line with her thesis. Promotion of the black race at ANYcost! If she didn't consider her inner thoughts of this thesis being revealed a liability, then why did she have access to the thesis blocked at the Princeton website until November 8th. A few days AFTER the national Presidential election on November 4th.
SHOCKING: What Obamas really think of white folks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77cU3jsFs
http://www.dontvoteobama.net
An Obama Presidency Will Set Race Relations Back Decades
Just this Sunday Father Michael Pfleger (a longtime friend and associate of Senator Obama) mocked Hillary Clinton & AGAIN ATTACKED WHTE PEOPLE at Obama's church OF 20 PLUS YEARS. "There are a whole lot of white people crying!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H11x6bMu4Y
http://www.dontvoteobama.net
Thank you Sean. Many folks do not know this but I do. A good friend of mine remembers voting at the Foster Elementary School for the first time in 1965 and now at the ripe young age of 87 will call everyone and tell them to vote - I can't wait to call her and see how happy she is about Barack.
I will be so glad to see an intelligenty man of outstanding character become the next President of the United States - Barack Obama.
Salud.
Then you weren't listening. Democrats were praising her left and right and up and down and in 4-part harmony. Hillary and her efforts were greatly praised and appreciated by the Democrats.
"Obama if he really wants to heal the party should have beeen the first person to praise her." (again from above)
And again you weren't listening. Obama has been praising her effusively for at least a week or two. In fact, he's pretty much started off every speech he's given in the last few days praising her.
Both McCain and Obama have character. The contrast between the two candidates is not one of character, but one of policy. [In fact, Obama has been praising McCain as well, though obviously disagreeing on policy]
On foreign policy, Obama is even more extreme and dangerous than Jimmy Carter was. He just doesn't ave the exprerience to be president. iI the Dems want us to vote for a black, give us qualified one.
McCain gets my vote.
Really? He didn't lose my support. Salud.
Obama said just days ago that he felt she could be a real asset come November. He has been gracious and well spoken through out all of this. McCain waited until last night to sing her praises because last week in an interview it was clear that he could not shrug her fast and hard enough. He waited until he had one single person to attack and did a poor job of it. He doesn't even support our men and women fighting in the military with something as simple as a GI Bill and he uses partial data to back up his faulty and poor decision. Then take into account where Hillary and Barack stood on the issues. Look them up and find an unbiased ontheissues.org site or something. They have very little difference in them. Where as their plans next to McCains are night and day. One stands to give us four more years of W while the other two really want to repair the damage done by shrub. So anyone who claims that they were a Hillary supporter but will withhold their vote or worse yet cast it for McCain to spite Obama suffers from at least one of the following:
a - Racist - and please dont start with Im not a racist but... whether they will admit it or not there are still too many (1 or more is too many) who cannot come to terms with a black man leading this country....seriously do you think he is going to enslave the white race or what
b- ignorant - I think you can be ignorant and not a racist but you can not be a racist without ignorace. Even if the IQ of someone is sky high any racist feelings stem from ignorance and fear.
c- smoke blowers - those who think if they say this loud enough and often enough between now and the convention in August that they can BULLY the superdelegates into throwing their support behind Hillary.
But one thing these people are NOT is someone who truly supports the same ideals, and hopes of Senator Clinton. Because I believe and past records reflect that she will do what is best for this country and then her party. I believe that she would make a good president but so would he. He won! He won without being on the ballot in Florida or Michigan where the state officials who control primary elections purposely held their primaries early to violate the DNC rules. He won with so many of the same ideals and hopes that she has. He won with grace. He won despite lies aplenty regarding his faith. He won. If you really supported the issues that Senator Clinton ran on then you would never cast a vote for McCain who is running on the opposite platform. If you idolize her so much then shut up and listen to what she, and the party and her party's nominee have to say.
It was not the first time a black or a woman ran for President but as many said, it was the first time a truly viable african-american, or woman ran for this office. And the country is coming out of its shell of apathy. One to rid the White House of Shrub before the movie "Idiocracy" becomes to much more real, we have some truly exciting people, and so many of us, even the younger generations are caring again!
So if you want to blow smoke up the DNC's backside just remember in doing so you are not serving the best interest of this country, of this party, nor your preferred candidate. Maybe if you quit this and give everyone some room to breathe we might find her truly taking on a new role such as a cabinet position, VP, Supreme Court nominee. So just try being rational and using your head and maybe just maybe you might stop before you truly cut off your nose to spite your face.
And Linda, I saw a video on the internet with the ex Pakistani Prime Minister saying Osam Bin Laden was dead, but I have NEVER seen that on the cable networks either, So, is he dead? Or was the video hacked?
This is certainly the stand of a faction. It's not a bad stand, but taken alone, it's trite and insipid. Who they are and what they stand for is far more important than their gender or race. When so much emphasis is placed on physical attributes, and that's to some extent, what they are, I wonder if we've really progressed or if we've actually regressed in our ability to choose a candidate worthy of the office.
My apologies -- It is long, so I will post in two parts. The entire speech is available here if you care to read it.
At this defining moment for our nation, we should be proud that our party put forth one of the most talented, qualified field of individuals ever to run for this office. I have not just competed with them as rivals, I have learned from them as friends, as public servants, and as patriots who love America and are willing to work tirelessly to make this country better. They are leaders of this party, and leaders that America will turn to for years to come.
That is particularly true for the candidate who has traveled further on this journey than anyone else. Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign not just because she's a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she's a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage, and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight.
We've certainly had our differences over the last sixteen months. But as someone who's shared a stage with her many times, I can tell you that what gets Hillary Clinton up in the morning – even in the face of tough odds – is exactly what sent her and Bill Clinton to sign up for their first campaign in Texas all those years ago; what sent her to work at the Children's Defense Fund and made her fight for health care as First Lady; what led her to the United States Senate and fueled her barrier-breaking campaign for the presidency – an unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans, no matter how difficult the fight may be. And you can rest assured that when we finally win the battle for universal health care in this country, she will be central to that victory. When we transform our energy policy and lift our children out of poverty, it will be because she worked to help make it happen. Our party and our country are better off because of her, and I am a better candidate for having had the honor to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton.
There are those who say that this primary has somehow left us weaker and more divided. Well I say that because of this primary, there are millions of Americans who have cast their ballot for the very first time. There are Independents and Republicans who understand that this election isn't just about the party in charge of Washington, it's about the need to change Washington. There are young people, and African-Americans, and Latinos, and women of all ages who have voted in numbers that have broken records and inspired a nation.
All of you chose to support a candidate you believe in deeply. But at the end of the day, we aren't the reason you came out and waited in lines that stretched block after block to make your voice heard. You didn't do that because of me or Senator Clinton or anyone else. You did it because you know in your hearts that at this moment – a moment that will define a generation – we cannot afford to keep doing what we've been doing. We owe our children a better future. We owe our country a better future. And for all those who dream of that future tonight, I say – let us begin the work together. Let us unite in common effort to chart a new course for America.
a - Racist - and please dont start with Im not a racist but... whether they will admit it or not there are still too many (1 or more is too many) who cannot come to terms with a black man leading this country....seriously do you think he is going to enslave the white race or what
Well Said Deborah B but most racists are already enslaved by their own stupidity and ignorance and it's pretty obvious that most of them self-destruct anyway. Racism stinks. Salud.
behind the black skin, and trust this man with
its greatest wealth. But if he fails to live up to
the high standard, I fear the public will not be very forgiving.
You really think that out of the top three (up until last night) contenders that these people are not good choices? Wow. I am curious who do you think would have made the best candidate for each side?
John McCain is a graduate of the USNA, who served in Vietnam, was captured and held prisoner of war there for YEARS. Since his release he has continued to serve his country and hold political office, first as a Democrat and then as a Republican. He is an intelligent man who has worked pretty much all his life for this country. My qualms with him are that I don't like his pandering to the exreme far religous right which has been trying to reign over us for the past 8 years and he said he would not do that. That and I strongly disagree with his platform - make premanent the tax cuts to the 250K plus per year group, overturn Roe, wont sign a GI Bill for our military men and women that is more than fair and his "reasons" are half witted, the Iraq war, etc.
Senator Clinton is a very intelligent and hard working lady. She has spent a great deal of her life serving this country in one form or another. I agree with where she stands on the issues. I disagree with the way she has "misspoken" at several junctures on this campaign including but not limited to the changing accent.
Senator Obama has had to work extremely hard to get where he is. He is intelligent, hard working, I agree with where he stands on the issues too. He is a fine example of what I want in a President and has handled all the lies spewing hate mongering with such stregnth and grace.
So exactly who do you think should be the two candidates?
All three of these people met the requirements of the office per our Constitution. And went far beyond. The only semi-legit argument I have heard against Obama is the experience factor. But several of our most favorably remembered Presidents had far less experience than he does so that one is out the window.
And it truly is an historic moment, considering our past, whether YOU feel he's right for the job or not. Other people do, or he wouldn't have gotten this far.
David K, thank you for expressing my reaction to the diatribe against the Obamas.
Mariana - Yes!!!
It is historic because the last two Dem. Candidates were firt time(s) ever to be in the position in spite of their gender or race.
It is historic because more people have voted in these primaries than in any other. Although sadly still far below the Americon Idol numbers.
It is historic for SO many reasons. My excitement has a little to do with history and even more to do with really be exciting about the idea of Barack being our President. As a union that is this country we are divided and hurting and bleeding. I really believe he has the chutzpah and the brains to go in and really fix it.
Let's just skip through the bs of your statement and let me mention that as of the time this new Father whoever spoke (who was asked to resign by the cardinal) that the Obama's had already sent their letter of resignation to the church.
Let's also address McCain's affiliation and long sought after endorsement of a Rev. in San Antonio who made horribly anti-semitic statements and it did not hit the news 10% of what Rev. Wright got. There was another one too. To top it off let's discuss the fact that just about two and a half years ago McCain had sworn he would never associate with the far religous right groupies but then low and behold. Oh and the lovely Pat Robertson and Company said that Katrina was God's wrath for New Orleans sinful ways and the scheduled gay pride parade. So draw me the line here. Show me where it is ok for McCain to get away with sucking up and pleading for endorsement from a pastor who says Hitler was just a hunter of the jews, and it got worse too. Ang that God would attack several cities with death and destruction of a Hurricaine that pretty much left the parade route untouched for the sins of New Orleans. Oh and even worse he got the thumbs up of Shrub the most idiotic detrimental president to ever hold office in this country.
I don't care what the religous affiliation of a candidate is. I am shamed that others in this country haven't grown more over the last 40+ years when JFK ran and they worried about his being Catholic. Then Romney grilled over and over about being a Mormon. Shame on those who did it. But those who FALSELY stir up outright lies about Sen. Obama's faith claiming he is a muslim. SHAME SHAME SHAME. It shouldn't even matter if he is, but to outright lie about it.
So it isn't good enough that he is a Christian and has been all his adult life, but then because the church has many black members (not all but many) and supports missions to Africa and addressing concerns of being an African American in this country - I get freaking emails about how they are complete racist, don't allow any non-blacks in the church and blah blah blah.
Stop Karl Roveing it. Shame shame shame