Fear and Loathing – Let Us Not Indulge

I hadn’t realized until yesterday that some Obama supporters have been regarding HRC to be conspicuously absent from the campaign because, in large part, my political radar had been tuned to pick up Obama‘s presence. Although now I can’t find the specific Salon.com article through which I became aware of this acrimony, the eagerness and vehemence with which some Salon.com‘s readers thrashed HRC with charges of being a selfish saboteur and traitor were alarming. Especially in light of the fact that HRC has been out there campaigning on Obama‘s behalf:

• Hillary Clinton: Sarah Palin Exciting But Not Vote Worthy, ABC News, September 16, 2008
• Clinton Stumps for Obama, but With Little Fire at Palin, The New York Times, September 8, 2008
• Obama Camp Turns to Clinton to Counter Palin, The New York Times, September 4, 2008

While I too share the anxieties resulting from the past two weeks’ surreality, it does no good to to cast unfounded aspersions on HRC, insisting she isn’t doing enough to win it for Obama. Besides the fact that winning this election is the responsibility of Obama, his campaign, and his supporters (by which I mean me and you, that is if you want to see Obama in the office), we can do better. We can start by stepping back so that we can get a better view of what actually is happening and what needs to happen.

Palin’s Teen Pregnancy

I personally don’t care about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy. What I object to is the hypocrisy, not just of the Palin family but of the claim that it is a subject inappropriate for public debate.

On the one hand, of course, it is entirely a private affair; however, it was made a public affair a long time ago by those who insisted on abstinence before marriage, who cast judgment on anyone who had pre-marital sex, who sneered at teen pregnancies and particularly those of black teens, who supported policies that either rendered it impossible to terminate unwanted pregnancies or eroded public forms of support for girls/women and their unplanned offspring who lack the kind of support that Bristol fortunately has, etc.

Sarah Palin vs Hillary Rodham Clinton

	Sarah Palin Isn’t Hillary Clinton   (For full comparison, please refer to the original site.)
BA, Communications/Journalism, University of Idaho, 1987.	Education	JD, Yale University, 1973 BA, Wellesley College, 1969.
Media Utilities	Professional Experience	Attorney, Rose Law Firm, 1976-1992 Faculty, University of Arkansas Law School, 1975 Author Former Staff Attorney, Children’s Defense Fund.
Governor, Alaska, 2006-present Former President, Alaska Conference of Mayors Former Mayor/Manager, Wasilla City Former Council Member, Wasilla City Council	Political Experience	Senator, United States Senate, 2000-present First Lady, President Bill Clinton, 1992-2000 First Lady, State of Arkansas, 1978-1980, 1982-1992.