BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

What are the real issues?

• The Economy, Stupid
• Job Loss and Trade Agreements
• Healthcare
• War in Iraq
• Homeland Security
• Immigration
• Veterans’ Health care and Mental Health Care
• Education

and the list goes on….

What are we talking about?

• Black vs. White
• Male vs. Female
• Who is on Saturday Night Live
• Preferential Treatment of Candidates
• And, as a peripheral issue… a governor having sex with a hooker

A few lines from a Robert Frost poem comes to mind

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The Democratic candidates have spent much time apologizing for missteps of their supporters or campaign teams and we, including myself, have been suckered into the commentary on the family feud.  The candidates have been forced to distance themselves from statements by supporters or campaign workers, ultimately severing ties with those who misspoke. 

There is no need to rehash the Samantha Power statement or the Geraline Ferraro stand.  We have heard enough from both of them to carry us through the rest of the season without further derogatory comments.  Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement of Obama has been denounced and rejected.  Bill Clinton’s comments comparing Obama’s win in South Carolina to Jesse Jackson’s win in the 1980’s has forced Hillary to apologize to try to regain the “black” vote. 

While all this has been going on, Obama received the endorsement and support of several high ranking retired military officers.  Clinton tapped into support of the Mayor of Philadelphia. 

And, the media has gone into a feeding frenzy, fueling the idea that the Democrats can’t stand together long enough to win the White House.  The suggestion that black voters won’t vote for Clinton or that blue collar white voters won’t vote for Obama is creating the idea that the party has a wide crack and that by the time the candidates appear in Denver it will look Family Feud with Howard Dean as moderator.

And, now, back to the Robert Frost poem.  I would only remind the Democratic candidates and those of us who care about the future of the country…. We have promises to keep.  We have miles to go before we sleep.