Democrats Fear the Power of the PUMAs
Michael Kinsley of Time magazine vents his frustration with the PUMAs in a new essay, Divided They Fall, that was meant to be a scolding for all us naughty Clinton holdouts, but actually better serves as an expose of what is fatally wrong with the DNC and their media stooges. Kinsley is so out of touch with the American voter, I will have to break the article down piece by piece:
1. The one-on-one rivalry between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lasted only about three months from beginning to end. Their policy disagreements are negligible.
It’s true their policy similarities are uncanny, but many Hillary Clinton supporters have long held the notion that Barack Obama simply went to her website, copied her platform, then pasted them onto his own page…
2. For many Clinton supporters, the chance to elect an African-American President represents the culmination of a cause they have been fighting for all their lives.
Actually, many Democrats aren’t interested in propelling a skin tone to the White House just to be symbolic. If that were the case, Jesse Jackson would have been the party nominee in the 80s. The cause that we have been fighting for is to have an education system and a non-racist national environment that allows a qualified minority to get elected. Barack Obama is simply not qualified.
3. What is their problem?
If a single question posed by the party elites can possibly represent all the outrage NObama Democrats are feeling toward the media and party leaders, this would be it.
It is important to note that we are not the ones who have a problem. You are. It is your job to find out what we the voters want for our country, then offer up a candidate who will best serve those needs. Somewhere along the line, you got it backward. We chose Hillary Clinton. You chose Barack Obama. It’s that simple.
This year’s primary race was close only because the DNC’s proportional delegate system is seriously corrupt. Many of Obama’s wins came from caucuses that in no way represents the voice of the people. Take Texas as a prime example: Hillary won by nearly 100,000 votes, yet Obama took more delegates.
No one wants to admit to the fact that the superdelegates put Obama over the top only because they feared a backlash with black voters. Barack Obama ran a historical campaign based on voter intimidation and the fear of being labeled a racist, and it worked. Look at what the Obama campaign did to Bill Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro. Shame on you, Barack Obama.
4. News reports suggest that disgruntled Clinton supporters are angry about alleged sexism in the coverage of her campaign, while other Democrats are upset at Obama’s recent moves toward the center. The second complaint is childish. Securing your base and then moving to the center is the fundamental move of politics, like the basic steps of the fox-trot.
Wow. Where do I start? Did you just call me disgruntled? You see, Kinsley, the fact of the matter is that I am a unique individual first, an American second, and a Democrat by chance. It’s true that I was angry a few weeks ago, but I’ve since collected myself. I refuse to vote for Barack Obama because he does not represent what I believe to be the appropriate path for our country. Not only are his true political leanings too extreme for my taste, but I don’t appreciate a man who exploits the black experience for political gain. Especially when he grew up in Hawaii and got a free ticket to Harvard.
Alleged sexism? OK. This therapy session appears to be going nowhere. As long as you continue to deny the obvious, we will not be able to move forward. This is part of your problem.
As far as moving toward the center, it is nothing more than appeasement to get votes, and even though you think of it as a tradition common in general elections, voters tend to see it differently: They are lies. This is why Americans despise politicians. Obama promised he was different, he is not.
5. And Obama is hardly responsible for Clinton’s press coverage. But there is no easy way these folks can vent their anger at Chris Matthews. So they are taking their revenge on people without health care, women who need abortions, and others who they (if they supported Hillary) must think will be harmed by a Republican victory in the fall. That’ll show ‘em.
If Barack Obama cannot denounce sexist campaign coverage the way Hillary Clinton was expected to denounce any sign of racism, then Obama is even less qualified to be the world leader than I suspect. And stop dangling Roe v. Wade over our heads because George W. Bush appointee Chief Justice John Roberts revealed before his confirmation that he has no intentions of overturning the landmark precedent. Even if it was overturned, the decision would be based on the fact that abortions have absolutely nothing to do with interstate commerce, therefore the choice would fall back onto the states. So don’t you worry, Kinsley, your girlfriends are safe with McCain.
Finally:
6. In the case of Hillary Clinton’s erstwhile supporters, all of these feelings seem overwrought to me. But there is no point in arguing about this, or at least not now. Now is the time to just get over it…
Sorry, no deal. You can continue to use language describing us as "disgruntled" and "overwrought" all you want, but the truth of the matter is we know exactly what we are doing. In fact, the suggestion that PUMAs are only women who act upon their bitter emotions is yet another example of the rampant sexism throughout this campaign. Wake up! We are 2 million strong and we are not going away.




Fantastic rebuttal -
Authoritarianism is just nothing something you “get over”
Comment by Mary Lou — July 12, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Before reading your rebuttal, I had read this article/crap, whatever you want to call it, and my thoughts were the same as yours. I went to comment, but found no place to do so…sigh! Then I came here and it was like me saying it without having to type a single letter. Thanks for representing very, very well!
Comment by NYSmike — July 12, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
Give Kinsley credit: It’s a great piece of schlock that will cause the pub and Obama and his campaign tol congratulate themselves for the scolding and dismissal that Hillary Clinton and PUMA deserve.
All Democrat non-Obama-ites, Republicans, conservatives and anyone else who sees through this and Obama should actually find comfort in Kinsley’s propaganda. It’s indicative of how much he and Obama et. al. fear the PUMA movement.
Comment by CKA in Red State USA — July 12, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
A terrific statement, and one that represents my feelings exactly. If Obamamites wish to go further into the disection of Obama’s poor showing against McCain, here are some other thoughts to consider:
There is no end to Obama’s arrogance and deceit. His lies are outrageous; his political pandering and flip-flopping unbelievable! Who he really is, is unknown, but he obviously can’t be trusted to tell the truth or to say what he means and/or mean what he says. And then there’s the matter of his tremendous lack of accomplishment.
Comment by dwilson — July 12, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Political Pyro, Are you reading my mind? I couldn’t have said it better myself if I had said it myself. Perfect and SOOO true!
Comment by LoriInMo — July 12, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
Thanks for your great rebuttal to Kinsley’s article. You’ve hit the proverbial nail on the head! PUMAs are folks who refuse to believe the spin about Obama and recognize that he is truly not qualifed to be POTUS. We’ve already been through almost 8 years of lies, prevarications, spin that has put our country, economically, internationally, etc., in the toilet. We want a president who has integrity, intelligence, leadership, qualifications, experience, a spine to defend our democracy and our values—-Hillary! These “in-the-tank-for-Obama” reporters are projecting their own anger at themselves for drinking the kool-aid on us who did not drink the kool-aid. The truth hurts, Kinsley, but it will set you free to join the PUMAs.
Comment by Prem — July 12, 2008 @ 7:09 pm
Kinsley is without a doubt the biggest blockhead second only to Obama himself. This isn’t a high school prom where your date ditches you at the last minute and you “get over it” when someone else comes along. We aren’t “dating” anyone, we’re electing a President. And Obama isn’t qualified for the position. I’m sure all of us have our own ideas of his shortcomings, but mine are fairly concise: 146 days in the US Senate do not a President make. It actually doesn’t even a COMPETENT Senator make. Two bills, one to support democracy in the Congo and one to rename a post office, doesn’t exactly fill out a resume in a positive way. Not being able to debate the issues without a teleprompter for me is an issue. I want a President who has command of the issues and knows how to enact legislation and is a “policy wonk”, aka, experience. Obama’s obvert sexism, his middle finger salute to Hillary, his brushing off his shoulders and shoes, his “periodically” statement, his playing “99 reasons but the bitch ain’t one of them” at the Iowa ralley, those are issues to me. Not what I want or will accept in a President. Sabotaging the electoral process by bussing in supporters from neighboring states to pad the caucuses, the rampant voter fraud and voter intimidation reported in Texas and Nevada, those are issues that offend me and I reject. The allocating of delegates he did not earn from Michigan, stealing 4 delegates from Hillary and awarded to Obama by the DNC rules and bylaws committee, spending $1.2 million dollars in advertising in Florida and not being penalized but rewarded with half the delegates, that to me is an issue. We have many, varied issues on why we will not accept the DNC’s chosen one, none of which is “over wrought, disgruntled, menopausal, sour grapes”, or any other disparaging description Kinsley and Obama’s supporters want to insult us with. If they want us to unify, then do the right thing. Give Hillary ALL the delegates she earned, the popular vote total which she also earned, fix a flawed system, and get rid of Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, Donna Brazille, and Barack Obama. Get up off your lazy butts and DO THE RIGHT THING - if not, then you will loose half the Democratic Party come November.
Comment by jdona — July 12, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
I have read post after post after post, comment after comment after comment, interview after interview after interview. Through them all I have read, seen, and heard very thoughtful prespectives and opinions on why we are against Obama. Yet none of arguments seem to be getting through to these people. No matter what we say or how articulate we are, we are reduced down to being petulant spoil sports. Your post once again, excellently by the way, reiterates the reasons for our opposition. Yet no doubt it will go in one ear and out the other.
Comment by Sheila — July 12, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
What a great response, Political Pyro. Thanks for making it. It’s right down the line for me!
Comment by Nicki in Dallas — July 12, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
It is not how long one is a Senator, but what one’s experience and accomplishments are. It is not who your aquaintances and friends are, but what you say they are. It is not an issue that a candidate has 20 times more experience with a Pastor and church that he leaves in the middle of a Presidential campaign, than in Senatorial experience. What other Presidential candidate was so mindful to leave his Pastor and Church for our good? It is not anything but mirrors of hope and change. Is this the biggest con-job and fix that any US election or at least competitive primary has witnessed? Well anyone with open eyes and ears, knows the true story in front of them. Lastly, I bet no VP candidate could pass, if they were vetted with the anointed one’s background and connections.
Comment by BVA — July 12, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
Political! Awesome.
PUMAs aren’t going away and I wish I could an exact tally of how many men are PUMAs.
As for them not listening to us and calling us names; it’s because they know we are right and are to proud to admit it. The more they understand the worse its going to get.
Fight On!
Puma Prowl
Comment by DiamondTiger — July 13, 2008 @ 5:02 am
Seeing this piece at realclearpolitics at the same that I saw the TimeMagazine article led to our most recent posting–about PUMA power. Thanks for the inspiration…and feel free to stop by
Comment by Zoe — July 13, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Thank you, Political Pyro, for saying this so well.
The only thing I’d add to your fine list is the disgust that many PUMAs feel about the DNC’s contemptuously and cynically undermining the fundamental principles of our democracy as well as the fundamental precepts of the Democratic Party. We are fighting against the corruption by and of the Democratic Party; we want to send a loud, clear message that the process of selecting Obama will not be tolerated. Nor will we tolerate the misogyny of the Obama campaign itself
(many examples of Obama’s misogyny are listed here: http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2008/07/08/comment-of-the-day-4/)
or the Party’s silence in the face of blatant, widespread misogyny in the media.
(for a partial exposition, see http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/01/hillaryclinton.uselections2008 and http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/02/hillaryclinton.uselections2008)
For another excellent reply to “why are all you hysterical irate women so heated about the defeat of Hillary that you lash out in a blind, confused rage and vote against the good of the country as well as your own interests?”, see http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2008/06/29/pumas-and-sexism/ and http://hillarysvoice.reclusiveleftist.com/2008/05/07/why-i-will-not-vote-for-obama-even-if-hes-the-nominee-and-why-you-shouldnt-either/).
Thanks again for saying this so well. I’m glad I found this site. Thanks for that, Zoe!
Comment by sassysenora — July 15, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
Check out Bonnie Erbe’s article on Obama’s Fundraising Hypocrisy
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/7/21/
Comment by Garrett — July 22, 2008 @ 7:38 pm