MOMocrats

Where's the Beef, Sweetie?

I went to school at the University of Michigan, a stone's throw from Detroit. My husband's family is from the Detroit area where the economy is really hurting. Many auto workers want to support a Democrat, but most people I know in that area are Republicans because that's who's been listening to them - or at least who comes across as such. Barack Obama had a real chance to throw some policy "beef" into the discussion when he toured auto plants, but he failed to address the issue, trying to put off those who asked.

To make matters worse, he called a reporter "sweetie," a novice move that could make him look not only condescending, but sexist. If he did that to me, I might consider a write-in vote in November, something I do not take lightly. This had better be the last time he makes a mistake like that. Take a look:

Is Nothing Sacred?

Slate imagines a Hillary attack ad that goes after American icon and working man's hero, Bruce Springsteen.  Even the departed Mark Penn would have had enough sense not to go after The Boss.  If not, I'd need to open up a whole can of whup-ass on them for taking on Springsteen.

A MOMocrats' nod to Ben Smith at Politico.com for finding this one.

Staying Faithful - That's the Toughest Job in the World

Deconstructed:

Obama - WTF?  It is a damn hard job, and HRC can bring that up all over the place.  It's hardly the politics of fear to admit that the thing that has been occupying all of the nation's attention for the past 7 years has been the fight against terrorism.  And you know what?  As far as I'm concerned, the answer to the rhetorical question is you, no harm, no foul.

Clinton - but, really, WTF?  Because you know you're the wrong messenger to be putting a picture of Bin Laden in the middle of your last TV spot before the Pennsylvania primaries.  Because no one doubts that you are once again suggesting that there are ties between your opponent and Islam.   Because you're that boy who cried sheep one too many times. 

I swear, my three year old has more class than you people.  Sheesh.

On citizen journalists and the validity of accounts

The fireball that has erupted over a comment made at a fund raiser has knocked me off my feet. Over the past few days, what amounts to a standard, though creatively written account of another political event/fund raiser by a citizen journalist has become the fuel for an insane amount of intolerance described here that is almost as hateful as the thinking Barack Obama is being labeled for with his remarks on economically disadvantaged small-town people.

Do I need to get into all the reasons why one might expect a man who has campaigned for last 15 months or so all over the U.S. to know better than to phrase his remarks as such? Well, that is not where I'm headed, and quite frankly, I say this with all honesty, it often falls on deaf ears. However, I do intend to speak out for my citizen journalist colleague, Mayhill Fowler, with whom I, and a number of other of other contributors, have written on The Huffington Post's Off the Bus since June of last year.

Mayhill, as far as I have known, is unabashedly supportive of Obama. She also has very keen eyes and ears as her writing attests. She is very artful at describing the scene and the atmosphere as well as the reaction she experiences at campaign events. Over the last several months, I have read her many posts, of which a vast majority are favorable to Obama's campaign efforts. And I have followed with a slight sort of envy her outright dedication to covering the campaigns, which isn't always possible when you have young children under foot as I do.

Therefore, I am appalled at the amount of backlash she has received for having written her account of this expensive San Francisco fund raiser. I have attended numerous campaign events and throughout my years training as a journalist, I've covered events, people, issues I did and did not care about, much as a citizen journalist or any journalist for that matter would cover. Some were favorable to an idea or candidate I supported, some were critical. But, all were written from the truth as I believe Mayhill's account was written.

What I don't understand is how ordinary Americans can go on the defensive over the work of a citizen journalist, who is more like they are, than any big name paid reporter on any big news operation anywhere.

The value in the citizen journalist's account is that, unlike the paid reporter, they work for free. They are beholden to no one but themselves. And therefore, they are under no  obligation to write, cover or opine about subjects but from their own unique perspective.

We must remember the amount of varying viewpoints, accounts, thoughts and questions citizen journalists may pose is the very cornerstone to the idea a free press, most crucial in this age of corporate controlled big media.

Let us not become so embedded in our support of a candidate at the expense of free thought and dissent that we forget the underlying foundation that allows our candidate his or her platform in the first place.

-Christine Modern English

Yes We Can Mashups

Maybe it takes the demented, sleep-deprived mind of a parent to cross memes where no memes should be crossing...but someone else besides me noticed that Barack Obama and construction dude and kiddie character Bob the Builder share a cheery, uplifting tagline: "Yes We Can!"

Or in Bob the Builder's case, "Can we fix it? Yes, we can!"

I mean, I figure Bob would probably vote for Obama on the solar-powered sunflower farm ticket, given that you can use the seeds, stems, and flowers for all sorts of sustainable products. If only Bob were a U.S. citizen.

Tune up your casiotones, ladies and gentlemen, and check this out:

It's *Beyond* Time.

The folks at the Politico think the media needs to start mentioning the thing many have been saying for a few weeks, now; that is, Hillary's too far gone already to ever make an actual comeback.

Josh Marshall (from whence I found the above link) has further evidence that things truly are drawing to a close for Hillary.

And then there's the girl from the 3 a.m. ads.  She's got an opinion as well, shown in this video.

Race & the Elections: Standing on the Shoulders of our Predecessors

I am college educated, live in a good neighborhood and yes, send my children to private schools.  I also come from two parents who immigrated to the US, both had two jobs to make ends meet and yet somehow managed to raise a family and keep their marriage together.  I stand on their shoulders.  I try not to forget the history of where I came from - of why my family immigrated ( the lack of jobs and opportunity) and why they have succeeded (working real hard and taking any job that paid the bills, e.g working in a factory and shoveling concrete.)

Today Barack Obama's speech on racism and our country's history was exactly what our country needed to hear from someone who gets it and has lived it.  Barack thoughtfully layed out how the both public policies have impacted both the black and white communities and that it all has combined to create this chasm we have today.

He said quite a few things that resonated with me this morning, but what stood out for me was the clarity of Barack's conviction, his values and his integrity.  He simply did not put his pastor out to hang for his comments, but stood by him for the man that Barack knew well, for his pastor's accomplishments and contributions.  Barack layed out the greater context within which these comments were made and could make sense.  I respect that. 

Barack Obama—For What It's Worth

Let's put the past two days behind us and focus on the task at hand. I saw this video on Mauigirl's Meanderings.

The opening strains of this song choke me up every time I hear it, but it's the perfect anthem to get everyone—Hillary and Barack supporters alike (but, granted, mainly Barack supporters)—back on track. We have an important job to do, so let's get on it.

"Rage against the McCain!"

"It's 3 A.M. and your children..." support Obama

The girl in Hillary Clinton's famous "3 A.M." ad supports Barack Obama. The Clinton campaign bought stock footage of the sleeping girl, filmed when she was 8-years-old, from Getty Images. The girl, Casey Knowles, is about to turn 18 and has been campaigning for Obama.

McShame.

Let's stay focused on this, regardless of what else is happening with the Democratic presidential campaign, because it's where we need to set our sights.  Now.