Like many of you I heard Senator Clinton's remarks this morning on Morning Edition. Many of the comments I have read here in the aftermath address her equivocation regarding her agreement not to campaign or "participate". But what I want to talk about is her evocation of the word shortsightedness. It is a theme that resonated with me, but not in a good way. I have found that virtually every presidential campaign that I have lived through to be largely a choice between Long-view democrats and shortsighted, short term gain, profit-driven republicans. I like the measured, less-impulsive, strategically superior way that democrats see the world. This morning I heard Senator Clinton mention that word in regards to whether Florida adn Michigan delegates should be seated. She said that not to seat them would be short sighted.
With all due respect, I could not disagree more.
Her point seems to be that if those delegates are not seated based on the results of the primaries that were held, the disenfranchised democratic voters of those constituencies will revolt by way of withholding support of our nominee in the general election. I think she is underestimating democratic unity in this. Furthermore, I think it would be more "shortsighted" to change the rules mid-game in order to favor her. Should the party go this route, I fear that we will disenfranchise far more voters than the respective democratic constituencies of Florida and Michigan. With this move the party risks disenfranchising black voters across the whole country--perhaps for a generation. What happens to a Dream Deferred indeed? Okey doke bamboozlement on steroids.
Furthermore, it is totally shortsighted to set a precedent of not complying with the rules agreed to by the party. What state would have any respect for the primary calendar? And any time a state broke the rules, candidates would have no choice but to pour precious resources into what should be meaningless races, for fear that those votes would ultimately count.
Now much has been said about Senator Clinton "campaigning like a republican". This diary is not about that. But I would seriously hope that the party would not adopt republican shortsightedness as a guiding strategy.
In closing let me say that my diaries are meant to prompt discussion and not to bloviate. I have an open mind. If I am wrong, school me.