Will superficial bandages heal democratic primary wounds?

Will superficial bandages heal democratic primary wounds?

By Judi Panasik
The Weekly Recorder
May 16, 2008

It’s been about 200 years since Thomas Jefferson started the Democratic Party. Could the Democratic Primary of 2008 be the first step in a break off of the party and the start of a new one? As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have strong holds on different party demographics, neither of which seem to want to support the other candidate, what will happen to the Democratic Party?

In a race that Obama has practically declared himself a winner along with several media outlets, Hillary’s supporters came out in record numbers for West Virginia’s Primary on May 13. It’s been almost a month since Pennsylvania garnered the same attention in this race, a race that many thought was over all the way back in February. In a state she knew she was going to win, Hillary and her family pulled out all of the stops campaigning through West Virginia over the past several weeks. In contrast, Obama made minimal appearances.

This is no surprise; it’s true to Obama form. He knows he can’t win it and doesn’t even try. He didn’t even give West Virginia the benefit of getting to see who may represent the Democratic Party in the fall. Obama did the same thing to Western and Middle Pennsylvania. It was during his run in Pennsylvania that he made the still talked about comment about us being bitter and clinging to our guns and God. Since the West Virginia demographics, like those of us in Western Pennsylvania, resemble that remark, maybe he was to chicken to face those voters.

The Clinton’s on the other hand fit the state like an old glove. President Clinton was making unscheduled stops that weren’t publicized by anything but word of mouth and was drawing huge crowds.

During his speeches, which were slight variations of the ones he had used a month before in Pennsylvania, he had modified them to the West Virginia crowd. And he didn’t cut his speeches short even though he knew he had won their loyalty before he even arrived. In Philippi, West Virginia, the home of the first shot of the Civil War, Clinton gave a speech that went on for over 40 minutes. He audience was what most of America is, blue collar workers who are in need of job’s, healthcare, lower gas prices and hope.

These are not a people necessarily looking for this “change” that Obama talks about. They are looking for someone who understands their immediate needs and who they are, not someone who thinks they are bitter. Clinton told them that the average household that drives about 25 miles a day will spend an additional $400 in gas a year with the increases. He went on to say that living in West Virginia and having more roads and mountains they would need to get around on, those numbers would probably be increased by another $200 a year.

As always at the end of his speech Clinton went around shaking hands and having his picture taken. Parents had taken their kids out of school to meet him and mothers had brought their babies to have pictures taken with the President. One baby was literally body surfed back to a mother. Another parent had made an outfit that said world’s youngest Clinton supporter. Clinton went out of his way to try to meet everyone in the crowd.

As for Hillary, she was given cheers by a crowd of over 300 hundred that stood outside of the B&O Railway Station in Grafton, West Virginia on Mothers Day. That’s no to mention the crowd of about 200 that was inside the station awaiting Hillary and Chelsea’s arrival. The crowds outside waited in the wet cold as Hillary gave her speech inside and meet with the audience. Her speech was outside of her normal campaign rhetoric and focused on the importance of Mother’s Day in the town that founded it. She drew comparisons to Anna Jarvis, who Mother’s Day was in memory of, and her own marriage. Both she and Jarvis were Methodist while their husband’s were Baptist’s.

Hillary went on to discuss her own mother’s struggles as a young woman that she slowly learned while becoming an adult. She also talked about the strength her Grandmother had when she barricaded herself and Hillary’s father in a room refusing to let doctor’s cut off his feet and demanded they fix them. She then told the audience her father went on to play football in High School and College.

She’s also talked about her husband’s mother’s struggle as a single mother and her concern and compassion for single mother’s out there today.

As Hillary came out in her yellow suit and raincoat to address the crowd that had been patiently waiting, they chanted “don’t give up” over and over.

One group talked to “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Show” telling them that every state should be counted, and that they wouldn’t be happy unless Michigan and Florida were.

And this is where the problem is coming for the Democratic Party. They have the old time Democrat’s on one side with the Clinton’s, and what may be viewed as the new super-liberal Democrat’s on the other.

Neither is willing to budge and this may cost them the election in the fall if Obama becomes the Presidential Candidate. If anything the Hillary supporters have shown exactly how much they didn’t want Obama by coming out to vote in West Virginia on Tuesday. Their votes could be looked at, as less for her and more that they do not want Obama. Hillary stated in her victory speech to West Virginia that no presidential election since 1916 has been won without winning West Virginia.

As much as we make fun of the state, the truth is they may represent most of America. We need to think back and look at how and where President Bush won in the last two elections. These are not states that will go to Obama. If he isn’t winning big in large democratic states how is he going to beat McCain if most of Hillary’s supporters are going to vote for McCain or not vote at all.

The truth is Obama has not won over all of the Democratic Party, and by the party trying to force Hillary out they are alienating her followers that may represent half of the party. I know more people who are thinking about becoming Republican’s because they are not happy with the course the democrats are taking.

And the Democratic Party must feel this or they wouldn’t have announced on Wednesday that they are pulling together a campaign fund to help both Obama and Hillary. Hillary’s campaign is over $21 million in debt while Obama, who talk’s about not taking money from lobbyist, is out spending Hillary but still has a deep well to tap from. Where is he getting all his money for someone who wants “Change”?

The Democrat’s know they are in trouble. They need Hillary’s voters to follow them into the fall. But will that happen?
Jon Stewart asked McCain last week if he had picked a running mate. McCain came back with the name of a character off of the TV show “The Office.” Stewart made a suggestion that oddly enough many of my friends had been discussing. If McCain took Hillary as his running mate he could win the whole thing. McCain laughed and said he had not considered it but said he’d think about it.

The truth is he would win. Republican’s aren’t going to vote for a liberal like Obama, and Democrat’s that wanted Hillary would be willing to vote for McCain. And you want to talk about unifying parties; this would be the end all be all attempt. Plus think of all the publicity they would get. They wouldn’t need to raise a dime, let the media do all the work.

It sounds impossible, that’s what people say. They like the idea but say that it can’t happen. Why not, it’s just a party name. No one with spontaneously combust and the world won’t come to an end. If Dick Scaiffe the billionaire owner of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, who spent millions to bury the Clinton’s in scandals is now saying he has a new respect for her and his paper endorsed her for the Pennsylvania Primary.

And least us not forget the great attempt play of the week, John Edwards, who most of us forgot ran for President in this race because he pulled out so early, and is now a two time loser, came out to back up Obama on Wednesday after he lost to Hillary. Edward’s may be looking for a Vice Presidential nod and may have come out to help Obama take away the blue-collar vote from Hillary.

For a party that claims to be looking out for the best interest of the people why does the Democratic Party continue to ignore it’s voters, and keep trying to make their decisions for them? If Howard Dean and Obama want to keep the Democratic name let them have it. Maybe it’s time for a new party that stands for what Democrat’s used to stand for but actually listens to what the people have to say. Maybe that name is already taken, Republican?