This is my first diary, and I never thought it would be about my amateur ponderings on campaign ethics.
I began this primary season a Hillary supporter - I wanted my daughter to grow up in a country where a woman can hold the highest office in the land. I ended up an Obamamama because I want my daughter to grow up in a country where we are called together for a higher purpose. But I have tried very hard not to be anti-Hillary - a soft spot for a woman walking over new ground, I suppose.
Odd, then, that what has finally gotten to me is this - is it ethical for a campaign to raise money off hard working Appalachian white folk to pay campaign debts to the wealthy?
I'm not sure that's what is happening here. But exit polls last night said that 60+% of West Virginians think Hillary will be the nominee. And the biggest voice convincing them of that was hers (aided and abetted by some media, for sure).
Now there is money flowing in to her campaign on the heels of her victory last night. I hope it's from financially comfortable donors who know the true score - that her chances of winning are awfully small. But I worry that it might be coming from her "hard working white base" - who think they're supporting a solidly viable candidate who just needs a few dollars to pull out a win.
If she truly believes she is likely to be the nominee, then I guess the issue isn't one of ethics. But I believe Hillary is a very smart woman, and an astute politician. I'm guessing she's got a pretty good sense of what the odds are.
I worked in rural Appalachia for four years. They've been lied to so damn often. I hope this isn't the latest lie.