DMR's Clinton endorsement is full of holes

[BeyondGeography]

How do you write about Hillary Clinton these days without acknowledging two basic truths: She is the most divisive figure the Democratic party has to offer and she has been running an exceedingly negative campaign for the past two weeks.

The DMR hints at these truths, but only tangentially:

==Unfortunately, for many Americans, perceptions of Clinton, now 60, remain stuck in a 1990s time warp. She’s regarded as the one who fumbled health-care reform as a key policy adviser to her husband, President Bill Clinton, or as a driving force in the bitter standoff between the “Clinton machine” and the “vast right-wing conspiracy.”
Her record in the Senate belies those images. Today, she’s widely praised for working across the aisle with Sam Brownback, Lindsey Graham and other Republicans.==

This is the DMR presenting Hillary as poor, misperceived victim. We're the ones who are stuck in the 1990's? Get out of your rut and see the new, bipartisan Hillary, stupid readers. So she has cultivated some inner sanctum collegiality in the Senate; she remains the least appealing candidate we can offer to independent and moderate Republican voters. Not even a nod to this reality by the DMR.

And then there's this bit of tortured prose:

==Clinton is tough. Tested by rough politics and personal trials, she’s demonstrated strength, resolve and resilience.==

Earth to the DMR: You have a front-row seat for the sleaze machine that her campaign has become. Instead, your readers are instructed to admire her toughness. We're only supposed to see strength and resilience in the face of problems that are all too often brought on by herself.

Lastly, there's this puzzling passage:

==Can she inspire the nation? Clinton is still criticized in some quarters as being too guarded and calculating. (As president, when she makes a mistake, she should just say so.)==

Does that make the answer on inspiration, "no," or "next"? I give up.

Personally, I don't see this having an impact on the campaign and her eventual finish in Iowa. No sour grapes, just a strange aftertaste.

[loveangelc]

1. I like Obama too

but its time to accept the fact that Hillary got the endorsement. Honestly its worse for Edwards than Obama. To people it will be seen as Hillary competing with Obama now and not Edwards and Obama. I don't know if it will ahve that big of an impact on polls. We'll just have to see.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Just pointing out the muddle

ObamaLand is doing fine, thanks.

[joeybee12]

23. You're pointing out YOUR muddle...

...you're entitle to your opinion, but please don't try and say your opinion is more valid than those people at the des Moines register. They came to their conclusion, and you can come to yours.

[niceypoo]

40. The only divisiveness in DU is 70-100 core Hillary haters

...who think they speak for the other 100,000 members. Obama supporters particularly are obsessed with anything Hillary. Oh, yes, I forgot....there are also the lurking freepers who join in with them.

[Andy823]

20. Actually I think

What they said about Edwards not being "corporate" enough will help him more than the endorsment would have. Think about it. That's his message, and the people love it. For them to say that about him, and then endorse Hillary, pretty much tells the people what side Hillary is on! :think:

[liskddksil]

27. absolutely

That was a backhanded compliment even if they didnt mean it. It just shows that Edwards is the one thats going to fight against them, if it means pissing people off.

[proudmoddemo]

29. Newspaper Endorsements Don't Mean a Single Thing

In 15 years in politics, I've yet to see a voter walk into a voting booth with a newspaper slate, or hear a voter say, "I'm voting the way the newspaper told me to."

[IndyOp]

2. Endorsements from local newspapers are always the result of a strange mix

of motives. I just hope all citizens are reading and thinking critically.

[rurallib]

9. One part of the mix is that they are owned by Gannet

Everything I read in the DMR I take with a grain of 'they got a corporate daddy'.

[madrchsod]

48. i remember the paper when it had really good journalists

it` s certainly is crap as all gannett papers are

[MadBadger]

3. Thanks for the fantastic analysis!

So true, so true. K%R!

[paulk]

4. Boo - Fucking - Hoo

The quality of support Obama has on this board is pathetic.

EOM.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

30. it's not so impressive on the other boards either

really, Obamamania is gettin' bad!

[MonkeyFunk]

5. Heehee!

I'm loving this fantastic explosion of unadulterated shitbaggery caused by this endorsement!

[BeyondGeography]

11. You're usually more intelligent than that

but, I understand, times have been tough recently.

[MonkeyFunk]

13. What's unintelligent about my glee?

I knew this place would explode, and I'm not at all disappointed. I love seeing the bitter asholishness of many posters here exposed for all to see.

[BeyondGeography]

14. If you think this is bad, go check out the DMR board

Here's a comment that sums your "victory" up pretty well:

==This endorsement is just plain sad. I feel sorry for The Des Moines Register, especially with the comments that people are making, but the fact is, 90% of those comments are generally true. There's nothing I hate more than seeing someone spend time writing something, only for it to be completely disregarded and dissected. Looking at that last line "We believe Hillary Rodham Clinton can do great things for our country" makes me sad, because it reads as if they don't even really believe it, themselves. The paper could have done something special. Instead they made themselves look bad.==

[MonkeyFunk]

17. What's your point?

There are assholes on another board?

All day long, people here were desperately hoping their candidate would get the endorsement. People talked about how much it helped Edwards in '04.

Then Clinton gets it, and people crawl out of the woodwork to criticize the editorial board, downplay the importance, and just generally be jerks. I think it's quite fun to watch.

[Cameron27]

18. Yep

"Then Clinton gets it, and people crawl out of the woodwork to criticize the editorial board, downplay the importance, and just generally be jerks. I think it's quite fun to watch."

The only thing I disagree with is the fun to watch part. It makes me sick to see this kind of reaction...again.

[Yukari Yakumo]

43. Just wait a couple of weeks.

You know all of the Cult of Kuch's heads are going to explode.
And, depending on who wins, all of Obama's or Edwards's fans around here (or both) are going to do the same thing.

[BeyondGeography]

22. It's the quality of the writing, stupid

The DMR has endorsed losers on the Democratic side since 1984, so their impact is neither here nor there. The most noteworthy thing about this endorsement is its emptiness.

[proudmoddemo]

38. Emptyness is a clue

It usually means a divided editorial board. Maybe it was 5-4. It reads like one of those compromise Supreme Court decisions...

[BeyondGeography]

42. Good point

either that or they were feeling some corporate master pressure. Something was off.

[Lucinda]

54. It felt like a split decision to me as well.

Or if not that, perhaps a respectful nod to their readers who are Obama and Edwards supporters.

[proudmoddemo]

32. Ah Yes, Now It's the "Vast Left Wing Conspiracy"

which is "out to get" Hillary. Please. Every single time people brought up the vile, pathetic campaign that she has run over the past month, Hillary people personally attacked the posters. But the holier-than-thou attitude fits in with the campaign...

[MonkeyFunk]

34. Giggle

this is fun.

[proudmoddemo]

36. LOL--"Fun," Hillary Agrees With You N/T

[ClarkUSA]

37. Actually, I never "desperately hoped" Obama "would get the endorsement"

In fact, on one thread I expressly said there didn't seem a reason for Obama to get it.

So get off your BS high horse. And Clinton getting it is not the reason for the criticism... it's the endorsement's reasons that are so idiotic. Bill can still charm
the ladies. It's funny.

[MonkeyFunk]

50. Whaaaa!!!!

[earthlover]

31. supporters of leading candidates don't whine about the assholeness of rivals....

Unless we are in an alternate universe and leaders whine....

[ClarkUSA]

35. Love the latest Iowa poll with Obama EIGHT points ahead of Hillary, don't you?

I do.

[MonkeyFunk]

46. Doesn't bother me

for two reasons:

1) The primaries don't end with Iowa and

2) I'd be quite content if Obama got the nomination.

[Windy]

25. I really just don't understand how ANY true democrat who has been upset for 7+ years can support HRC

She is the worst possible candidate who could win the nom. She has exhibited poor judgment when it counts and plays dirty.

Any of the other candidates and I mean ANY would be more true to the democratic party ideals and true progressive thought that she would be based upon her tenure in the senate and her behavior while running for president.

I frankly don't get it. Not at all... I baffled.

[MonkeyFunk]

53. and I don't understand how any true democrat

who has watched the last 7 years could think that constantly attacking someone who might be our nominee is either smart or productive.

[AX10]

6. So if this endorsement FOR Clinton is meaningless...

then the Globe's endorsement of Obama must too be meaningless too.

[calteacherguy]

8. Congratulations to Senator Clinton and her supporters on the endorsement.

:toast:

There will be many more endorsements on both sides, and it would be nice if we could all stay civil and gracious towards one another. We got Boston today; they got Des Moines.

There are persuasive arguments on both sides, and reasonable people can disagree. In the end, whatever happens, I'm hoping hope wins over fear. We need a new direction.

[democrat2thecore]

10. I still say the DMR endorsement hurts her by raising expectations

When she loses on caucus night (which I think she will do in a BIG way) it will be even worse because of this endorsement. The pundits will be saying, "Despite the support of the state's largest paper..." etc.

[MadBadger]

12. This will slow the bleeding though, and she may be able to ride this into the holidays.

[creeksneakers2]

15. I liked the part about Edwards the best

"Edwards was our pick for the 2004 nomination. But this is a different race, with different candidates. We too seldom saw the “positive, optimistic” campaign we found appealing in 2004. His harsh anti-corporate rhetoric would make it difficult to work with the business community to forge change."

[Cameron27]

16. That's very interesting.

[lyonn]

19. Truly interesting, so, are we talking corporations here?

If so, we the people just lost big time. The corps have been running things for 7 years now - it should be our turn.

[K Gardner]

21. Exactly.. n/t

[creeksneakers2]

24. Fighting corporations is great

but Edwards will have to work with them sometimes too.

[lyonn]

41. How about the corps working with "us" for a change?

Why is it that the Mattel toy company gets no blame for bad toys, just China. You would think Mattel would test the toys from time to time. Same with food from China. If a company imports wheat gluten from China and puts it in a food product for humans or pets it should be the U.S. company that is responsible for the safety of its products. The govt. is suppose to be a watchdog to be sure companies are producing safe products. One of the more disgusting product imported from China is apple juice which is often bought for kids. I bought some for myself and realized it came from China, disgusting, tossed it.

Ranting, I know. I am a recovering repub and can't believe how naive I have been especially when it came to corps. They were the backbone of our country, so we were taught in school.

[creeksneakers2]

51. Work with us, we work with them

That has to happen. We need a real Consumer Product Safety Commission. But, for example, if a Mattel wants to challenge a test result its a good idea to listen to what they have to say if that can be done promptly. Mattel could be right. We lose something too if we drive safe toys off the market in the process of protecting kids from dangerous ones.

The best situation isn't a multi-year legal battle between an agency and a corporation. The best situation is when both sides cooperate to try to protect the public while keeping as many jobs and products for the public as possible.

[Critters2]

26. Is Rahm Emanuel on their board?

Working with corporations for change. Please. I smell Vilsack and the DLC.

[MonkeyFunk]

33. Yes

Rahm Emanuel is on the editorial board.

God, you sour-grapes whiners are hysterical.

[fightindonkey]

28. Another Obama Fangurl Whiner

Boo hoo.

[ClarkUSA]

39. Are all your posts attacks on Obama and his supporters?

Just wondering.

[annie1]

44. You make your candidate look bad by this constant whining. big deal, dmr didn't endorse obama....

simmer.

[BeyondGeography]

45. I agree, big deal

it's much more of a critique of the writing than a lamentation of loss.

But why should you not miss the point like 95% of the other respondents to the OP?

[annie1]

49. Don't be so holier than thou, not a good quality

[BeyondGeography]

52. You think that's a well-written endorsement?

Other than parrot her existing (and failing) campaign narrative, is there anything in there that defuses the objections that many people have to her candidacy?

[William769]

47. No sour grapes?

Surly you jest! :rofl:

[BenDavid]

55. So the endorsement is invalid? would your guy want it?

you bet yo ass obama or edwards would have been over joyed if they had received it.....but its all bs since hrc received it. Well keep on thinking like that and before too long you will not be writing or saying Senator Clinton it will be Madam President...

[BeyondGeography]

56. Yo ass?

Hood talk from Ben?

[William769]

57. Busted once again.

:rofl: