The Deal Breaker
By Taters on March 12, 2008 at 8:36 PM in Current Affairs, Hillary Clinton, Iran, Iraq, Music, Obama, Pat Lang
It wasn’t that long ago that I was leaning toward Sen. Barack Obama. He seemed different from the others and radiated change. It was getting late in 2007 and my preferred candidate for ‘08 gave me the impression he was not running, General Wesley Clark. (USA, Ret.) I had been a Clark supporter since the DraftClark days of 2003, and hoped 2008 would be the year. Then he declared himself a supporter for Hillary Clinton. I thought, Hillary? What’s up with that?
Let’s just say I was not crazy about her 2002 vote (To say the least) authorizing force in Iraq, Although as with Kerry, I could wrap my head around the fact that she - among many others - had been deceived by the WH to invade Iraq. And I was proud that both of my senators voted nay, but I had read Pat Lang’s seminal “Drinking the Koolaid” and knew that the deception by this administration was far-reaching, complicated and stunning in it’s duplicity. She, like many others was duped.
What of the Kyle-Lieberman amendment? How could Wes Clark support her when he and VoteVets had started StopIranWar? After all, Clark had testified and debated Perle in the 2002 HSAC hearing against going to war. I asked questions, did a little research and found out that her vote, as my senators, Levin and Stabenow, was among others who voted yea on Kyl -Lieberman. This didn’t make sense. There had to more to this.
I surmised (to the best of my knowledge) in the end that it was a political tactic by Dems, to prevent war with Iran, and in the end, the amendment was stripped of the use of force. (See pgs 8 and 9) While the Republicans were able to use bellicose language and thump their chests. A fellow Clarkie explained to me she had asked Wes and that he said it was the right vote and it accomplished it’s task. I’m fairly positive Clark has no love for Lieberman and the feeling, I’m pretty sure is mutual. And I had no qualms about the IRG being labeled as a terrorist group.
Especially if doing so prevented another war.
However I digress. Whatever leanings I had toward Barack ended with Rezko, when I found out his constituents were freezing and without heat during a brutal Chicago winter. He either turned a blind eye or didn’t care enough to fight for them. And a song kept playing in my head. It was from 1967, written and performed by Lou Rawls - the classic “Dead End Street.” During the narrative intro before the tune Lou, originally a native Chicagoan describes the Hawk. The icy wind of Chicago which blasts off of Lake Michigan. Partcularly the part about he and his family having no heat during a brutal Chicago winter.
Here is an excerpt.
Dead End Street:
Written by Lou Rawls
————————–
(Intro)
I was born in a city they call the Windy City
And they call it the Windy City because of the Hawk. Almighty Hawk
Talking about Mr. Wind. Kind of mean around winter time.
I happened to live on a street that was a dead-end street
There was nothing to block or buffer the wind, the elements -
(To) Keep them from knocking my pad down, Jim I mean really socking it to me
And the boiler would bust and the heat was gone
I would have to get fully dressed before I could go the bed
Put everything on but my goulashes ’cause they had buckles on them
And my folks didn’t play that (they) said - ”Don’t you be getting up in there with
Buckles on them goulashes and tear up my bed clothes.” but I was fortunate -
As soon as I was big enough to get a job, save me enough money to buy me a ticket, I split.
I got myself together now so I’m going back there to see about it see if its still the same
I just wanted to tell you about it, you know its all right..
Sen. Obama’s lack of compassion toward his constituents when they needed him the most was a deal breaker for me. I could no longer support him in the primary and the more I learned about Sen. Clinton, the more I realized she spoke for me.
It is nice to know another 2003/04 Wes Clark supporter frequents and writes for No Quarter. I belong to WesPac. Loke you when I first received the letter from gen. Clark saying he was indorsing Hillary I wondered why. I was supporting Edwards at the time. (My first choice, Russ feingold did not run.)
I came to Hillary like you. It was a long path. It was not that I did not like Hillary. I did and do. I just thought that we needed someone new from a Bush and a Clinton. When Edwards dropped out about a week before my primary (CA) I had to decide on who to support. It did not take me long. By that time I knew McCain was the R nominee and that the Ds would need someone strong and tough to beat him. I knew that was not Obama.
So anyway, this is a long way round to saying what my hope is. I hope that Wes Clark is Hillary’s pick for VP. Now wouldn’t that be a real dream ticket!!!!
Thanks, bert. One helluva ticket,to be sure.
I always think of the Mac Davis song, “In the Ghetto.”
Sung by Fat Elvis, god bless him, and I love Elvis.
Stanzas 2-5:
People, don’t you understand
the child needs a helping hand
or he’ll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me,
are we too blind to see,
do we simply turn our heads
and look the other way
Well the world turns
and a hungry little boy with a runny nose
plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto
And his hunger burns
so he starts to roam the streets at night
and he learns how to steal
and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto
Then one night in desperation
a young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car,
tries to run, but he don’t get far
And his mama cries
Hm. I womder if this describes ‘Bama’s childhood?
(And I say that because of his neglect, and exploitation of “the ghetto.”)
This faux Mac Davis song, sung by fat elvis, seems the perfect metaphor for the faux Presidential candidate.
I’m a big Elvis fan too and remember when this song came out. People were outraged that he dared to speak about the ghetto. But I always liked the song because of it’s words and of course the way Elvis sang them.
Another fan of the General.
I would love Hillary to pick Wes Clark as her VP. I’m a big fan of Clark.
WOW - your posting tracks me exactly. I went to NH in January 2004 for Clark - I put up yard signs (and proudly kept them up even after he withdrew from the primaries), etc.
I was also upset when he initially endorsed Hillary and then when I knew I had to commit myself to someone, I took a second look because of Clark’s involvement.
Good to know that I was/am not alone.
Hey All,
Don’t know how many of you saw the I Hate Hillary rant by Keith Obama-Man tonight but all of us over at Taylor Marsh are boycotting. Taylor had a brilliant front page adressing Keith tonight.
Please sign this petition and pass it along to as many people you can. The destructive sexit MSM will stop only when we make them stop.
http://noratings.blogspot.com/
Stopped watching KO when he had Alter as an “unbiased journalist” without prefacing his segment with a disclaimer acknowledging that Alter had been demanding Hillary just drop out and cede the nomination to Obama. Dishonest.
I haven’t watched any MSNBC except Abrams since. But, a couple of weeks ago, I decided that Abrams’ whole let’s be fair act was too phony for me, too. He stacks his panel with Hillary haters, then pretends to stand up for her. When the most rational people on the show are Buchanan and effing Tony Blankely, the world has turned upside down.
Taters,
Great piece. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Larry.
I too was not crazy about the Iraq vote. In fact I was adamantly opposed to the war from the start. I didn’t give any highfalutin speeches. But I spoke out forcefully and frequently against it to anyone that would listen. I did however support the inspectors going in and when they asked for more time to complete their mission and Bush kicked them out I knew we were in for a disastrous time.
And when the Kyl Lieberman bill was voted upon I thought the Congress made a huge mistake. But when I learned that it was Hillary that insisted that the inflammatory language be stripped from the bill I was able to be cool with her. At least she did something good even if I did and do disagree with the bill. And then she teamed up with Jim Webb to create legislation stating that Bush had to seek Congress’ approval before taking any military action against Iran and I chilled out big time.
I wish that for me this was so simple as being upset with Obama over his slimy relationship with a slum landlord. If that was his only problem I still wouldn’t support him but the list of his inadequacies goes on and on like the frickin energizer bunny. Not to mention that he is arrogant and uses sexist and racist statements with frequency and flair. And smiles about it.
So while I agree with your sentiments about the Rezko connection this is only the tip of the iceberg. And USS Obama is going down. All the way down.
I agree.
Fitzgerald has said politicians found new ways to take bribes (the “poker game,” for instance, the ones where Obama always wins) in an effort to beat the law.
Now the question is, as Obama was chairman of the state hospital planning board, the one front and center in the Rezko trial, now, why did Michell suddenly receive over a 200,000 dollar pay raise, in her job as a VP at the University of Chicago hospital, immediately after Obama’s election to the Senate?
This is Rezko, after all.
And Pundita wrote a guest column at Rezkowatch today, addressing the need to believe the Obama campaign spin regarding Rezko and Obama’s relationship.
200,000 dollar pay raise.
To pay for some land to build a fence on and hire a gardner.
I second that Taters. I can’t not vote for person that lacks “compassion toward his constituents”. The willful indifference Obama induldges in is not an example of the kind of leadership required in these times.
Well said.
And they call it the Windy City because of the Hawk. All mighty Hawk Was that Studebaker Hawk?
Hiya TWK,
You know that’s slang for the wind of the Windy City in the winter. It can come from several directions, not just off Lake Michigan.
How are ya?
Good TaTERS to you and yours
I have frozen my **s off in a NY winter once or twice but never once did a Hawk I see.
would have to get fully dressed before I could go the bed… Fingers to numb to play…brrr
Thank you, taters! That would be a deal breaker for me also, if I hadn’t already been for Hillary because of her superior expertise in foreign relations, health care, education, human rights, and just generally getting more good things done in Washington, not to mention that I greatly appreciate all her behind the scenes work in helping to bring about peace in Ireland. Then of course there is also the fact that Wes Clark endorsed Hillary and has worked very hard to help her win the nomination. As you well know, I have the greatest respect for Wes Clark and his good judgment. Nonetheless, I’ve given Senator O more than one opportunity to win me over; and he has failed or at best occasionally broken even in comparison to Hillary in every respect, except for that one utterly in-effective anti-war speech he made in 2002.
Finally, my dad was born on the south side of Chicago in 1904; and it makes me very angry to think that Senator O could stand by and let anyone have to suffer through a Chicago winter without heat.
How are ya, Nick? Well said. I posted Frank O’Connor’s First Confession here via your link on Christmas.
Ornery as always, Taters; but that’s all the confession you’ll get out of me!
Peace and justice, my friend.
Great post! I have tremendous respect for Gen. Clark, and his endorsement was a BIG deal for me, even though I can’t vote up here in Canuckistan
I wonder why the humanitarian aspects of the Rezko scandal hasn’t really “hit” yet. From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948:
Thanks for the great story. I learned a lot from it. I knew that many of housing building in Obama district was not in working condition. But I didn’t know that “his constituents were freezing and without heat during a brutal Chicago winter. He either turned a blind eye or didn’t care enough to fight for them.”
Hard to tell when others are cold if your heart is the same way.
I, too, love General Clark. The fact that the MSM did not treat him as a serious candidate in ‘04 shows just how dysfunctional they are. He was criticised for not being an experienced campaigner - guess they would have dissed Ike, too.
What I most like about this post is the description of how you decided to support Hillary. If only more Americans would take this decision as seriously and find out more about the candidates before they make up their minds. The most impressive thing to me is that you did not take what you were hearing at face value. Instead you were sceptical and did some homework.
Too many people, Dems and Reps alike, are taken in by the simplistic sound bites they hear and never think to question it the way you did. Wish more people would read your post.
Tater,
I still like Wesley Clark and don’t hold it against him that he supports Hillary.
Perhaps Obama will woo him when he takes the nomination.
Nice piece, justification why many have differing views as to why not to have liked Hillary when the contest got started, mainly reminders of the scandels of the Clinton Whitehouse years, lest we forget the good of those years, because by nature, we gravitate towards the negatives over the positives, thanks to American journalism! Yet we wonder why our tone in the world at large is for the most part held to such a low standard!
Then this shiney new face appears an speaks of “change, unity, hope and Washington of old just doesn’t cut it anymore” and everyone starts feeling good again!
Even the wild run in Iowa seemed like a new light was shining even brighter towards this new candidate! But for me, this shining light began to fade quickly and not by the new candidate, but by his wife and potential “First Lady” who uttered the twist on viable words of “fairy tale” on the Iraq War stancesinto racial overtones! This became a defining moment to wake up and take a closer look at this new candidate and what he stands for!
Shock and disapointment came when a very personal question came to Hillary and she became somewhat emotional and tears welled in her eyes, which was jumped upon and blown out of proportions by the media and the majority of Obama supporters, thus wondering, is this the “new politics” we are being told of?
Then things totally unravelled in SC, when a contrasting statement was made by Hillary, which was with complete merit in its content abouut MLK. But the distruction that was raised by it towards her was unjustly allowed to explode and could have easily ended by Obama, the “New Crusaider” of stepping forward and saying something right away, instead he waited, savouring the termoil it was causing his opponent and when things were becoming really dirty, he finally spoke out! Again this the “New Washington” and “Uniter of Hope” we were to expect?
During this time, Rezko’s name came to the forefront and a Pandora’s Box opened up upon this “New Washington Candidate” and wonderment abounded as someone who rides a gravy train of dirty politics can never bring change, combine his growth in debating to “on the job learning” and his actual words of substance showed an empty ability not needed at this time or in this job of America’s C&C or CEO!
Obama does create as he claims, when he takes a pulpit and preaches, he does make gains, unfortunately the majority listen with closed eyes and do not want to lose that feeling they got from his sermon that basically are “Just Words”!
But at the end of the day, on January 21st, 2009 the words will disappear and there is an actual job that needs to be done! This new light has words that make his record appears wonderful, but so much has come out as facts to the contrary and that becomes scarey!
When looking at his wins during this campaign season, they are totally made up of controlled events that lacks freedoms of choice and has become as masterfully crafted in execution as his first run at State Senator was by eliminating opponents in legal but unmoral means! Someone who claims to be a winner by excelling at the art of controlling the weakest of links in political electioning exposes a desperate need to win, that makes the pundents claims of the Clinton’s thirst for power fails in comparing!
The most unfortunate occurance that comes from this electioning season is the aftermath of the States who gave such large proportionate percentages to this New Candidate, in their abandoning of him after they wake up and see what they have actually allowed to happen by their doing! This is a prelide to January 21st, 2009 of what to expect should this New Candidate succeed in his quest for power and the people awaken to reality from their drunken stooper of “Just Words”!
Clinton unfortunately at a time of a country frothing at the mouth of 9/11 took a position on “Just Words” from a President who wanted an enactment of a Bill to give substance and power to seeking out an agenda towards Iraq, which at times is needed in this world we live, to show that “Just Words” are not being said anymore!
Clinton even stated clearly the “hope of this measure was not going to be used as a means for a Pe-emptive War” by the one entrusted with giving “words”! Then America failed by returning this same failed entrusting man to the Whitehouse 2 years later!
But everyone jumps on a bandwagon of attacking Clinton for believing in “Just Words” by a person who swore on the Constitution to uphold the “Will of the People” and yet the electorate is following the same path Clinton did, in believing in Obama’s “Just Words”!
When America will sit and watch someone in desperate need of money turn down the reality that they can immediately walk away with $250,000 on Deal or No Deal, instead acting on hope by abandoning reality that they could lose everything, America does the same in casting a vote for such an unknown to them candidate!
We also are former Clarkies who met the General and worked dilligently to nominate him. Like Edwards whom we supported, the media and democratic leadership chose not to support either candidate. Was it because they both are leaders who would have used their considerable energy and intellect to make reforms in Washington that are desperately needed?
Before supporting Edwards we checked into Obama’s background, listened to his statements and those of his supporters, took a close look at his advisors, knew of his connection to Rezko, Farrakhn, etc.. Early on in the campaign he said that he would ask Kissinger, George Schultz and Jim Baker to travel the world to restore our reputation with other countries. That was a bit too much bipartisan “unity” for us!! A democratic candidate who would send these despicable republicans rather than respected democrats such as Wes Clark, Richard Holbrooke is truly too far to the “other side”.
To see Hillary in person on the campaign trail delivering a speech is a thrill. Attractive, friendly, humorous, caring, her knowledge of issues is incredible and she speaks without a teleprompter or notes!
Hillary not only is THE candidate with intellect, respect around the world, concern for citizens, knowledge of issues, she has the fire in the belly to fight for the job. That is the kind of President our country needs now!!
I was an Obama supporter at first, too, but after doing research on all the candidates, I chose Hillary. The Obama supporters I know look at me like I’m nuts when I tell them this. How could I do that? What’s WRONG with me? At this point, all I can say is what’s wrong with THEM to keep supporting Obama?
[...] found out that he ignored the plight of Chicago’s poorest and most desperate. It was a “deal breaker” for me, as it was for Taters, whose “poignant story I hope that you read last night [...]
i dont know were to put this,not a part of this question
the clerk of ERIE PA BOARD OF ELECTIONS said
REPUBLICAN ARE CHANGING THERE VOTER REGISTRATINS BY THE HUNDREDS ,TO [ DEMOCRATE] TO VOTE FOR OBAMA IN THE PRIMARY…
SPECIFICLY TO DEFIETE …HILLARY CLINTON.
THEN THEY INTERVIEWS SOME REPUBLICANS
[WE ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA,SPECIFICLY TO MAKE>>>> HIM WIN, AND DEFIET HILLARY CLINTON]
THEN THEY ARE GOING TO SWICH BACK TO REPUBLICAN TO VOTE FOR MCAIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
if this is true in a small town of erie pa, then this is why , OBAMA WON ALL THOSE STATES, NATIONALY , BECAUSE REPUBLICANS , BECAME DEMOCRATS TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARYS.ALL OVER THE USA.
rather shocking to me to hear of a NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PLAN TO DISTROY HILLARYS CAMPAINE.
Let’s hope that Clark gets the VP nod if Clinton wins. He’s still the only person EVER to post a “100-year Vision for America” on his site, which was one of America’s greatest needs.
Taters, the link to the Lou Rawls tribute was amazing. Oh, that man was a great storyteller. The word-pictures Lou would paint in an intro or a bridge were seldom equaled by anyone. “Just don’t cut my suit!!!” Ha!!!
The votes on AUMF and Kyl-Lieberman are easy to classify as black or white, but that’s not fair or accurate. I’ve found that very few Obama folks do nuance; they’re as much binary thinkers as Dim Son.
Thanks for this, Taters! I, too, would not have given Hillary a second look if it hadn’t been for Wes Clark’s endorsement. He is not a man to use words lightly, and through the years I have come to trust and respect him enough to know that for a certainty.
Once I started researching Hillary’s record and history, I understood why Clark got behind her. Now I’m there, too and each day grow more and more concerned about Obama to the point that for the first time in many many years, I honestly may just leave that top spot blank on the ballot if he’s the nominee… If he is, I *hope* I can get over my anger and bitterness at how he’s run his campaign and cast a vote against McCain.