...And sons…??

Many years ago, in the heat of a bygone election, I was listening to the news on my car radio while driving my son to his daycare.  During a newsbreak in the music, one of the Presidential candidates came on and made a patently ridiculous statement. To be honest, I don’t even remember what it was. But I do remember my young son looking up at me with open eyes and asking… “Dad, did that man just tell a lie?” I remember how I felt as I tried to compose an answer for my child, who had yet to learn about the ugly in the world, about leaders and presidents who tell lies.

With the Democratic Primary winding down and the calls for Hilary to exit becoming increasingly loud and more frequent, that memory caused me to reflect upon this moment. While Hilary lost me (and my vote) somewhere South of New Hampshire, I have come to realize that, despite how I might feel about the race, this is really an important teaching moment. One we shouldn’t simply throw away in our election exuberance. As a single father, I know first-hand how precious and rare these moments are and how valuable they are to our kids.

Sisters,

I write this as a aging Black Man who is sympathetic to your cause. I know that I have not walked a mile in your heels, but believe me – I see and feel your pain.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Hilary threw me under the bus quite awhile ago. I mean, I felt myself slipping in New Hampshire - seems about ten years ago, I think. By South Carolina... I was a gonner! I was under the bus as the Clinton Campaign started the effort to paint Barak as the "Black Candidate" as opposed to a Democratic candidate who happened to be Black.

As we head into the final lap of the primary season, we are assailed with a constant barrage of accusations and insinuations - from all sides. As the campaign comes to a climax we have a three-way battle royale underway. It’s ugly and getting uglier. But at it’s heart, it is really just the same old political battle over power – but this time it’s complicated by questions of race.

Dateline: Las Vegas, NV

Unranked challenger Muhammad Ali stepped into the ring last night against the number 1 ranked Heavy weight Contender, in a preliminary bout to see who would get a shot at the Heavyweight Championship title fight in November. The Contender was heavily favored, he out weighed and out gunned the challenger, Ali, and was known to have the best trainer and cutman in the business. The pre-fight betting was booked in at 5 to 1 in the Contender's favor.

But in the breath-stealing heat of the steamy, sweltering arena, the fight unfolded very differently than predicted. Ali floated out of the corner thowing jabs and hooks and unexpected straight-rights. He won the first round handily, pumelling the Contender into the ropes. But in the second round the Contender surged back valiantly, taking the round on points. The battle see-sawed, with Ali taking twice as many rounds and scoring twice as many points, with brief flashes of fury by the Contender.

Or as the line from "The Kite Runner" puts it, "Nothing is free." That's something my mother was prone to tell me from time to time.

It's a lesson the Democratic Party leaders and Super Delegates need to internalize in a hurry. Nothing is free! It's getting close to time to pay the band, and the price is getting steeper and steeper.

Jeez... who knew? Tonight I was told by CNN that the Founders and drafters of the Constitution had it all wrong. Democracy is not about the choice of the majority!

In the midst of all of the angst and anger of the current campaign coming, for the moment, from my old home town of Philadelphia, PA, I was reminded of our shared humanity by Andrew Sullivan on his dairy... (Thanks Andrew!)

As the recent ABC debate and the "conservative" blogs evidence, the campaign from here on out is going to deteriorate into UGLY. No question about it. And as Sen. Obama has said... you've seen the roll out of the General Election Republican campaign. And much of the Ammunition will come, not from contemporary issues or concerns - but rather from old feuds and fights. Here's a few suggestions on how to deal with some of these attacks...

Tax day... Again! Don't cha just hate it!

This is the day we pay our part to keep America running... except we really don't! We are in fact just making the minimum payment on a massive credit card debt that we are leaving for our kids and grand kids to pay off. What's up wid dat?

Just so you know, our national debt is $ 9,452,948,339,024 and growing ...

National Debt Facts...

In the past few days the MSM and the cable news channels have been a buzz with the news that various folks are raising the "Wright issue" in various ways and forums. Specifically noted is the Clinton campaigns effort to raise the issue of "electability" via the questions surrounding Rev. Wright. It's time to stop with the nonsense and the inferences and let's ust dump all of this garbage out on the table!

Jeremiah Wright is being used as a Willie Horton! He is being used to raise the issue of race, pure and simple. While posed in all kinds of guises... What did Obama know and when? Why didn't Obama leave his church when his pastor said despicable things? And on and on...  In truth if it wasn't Rev. Wright, it would be Louis Farrakan, or Rev. Sharpton, or Whatever. Any angry or aggressive Black person will do.

So let's just ask the question that everyone is trying to, without wanting to be the one to say it out loud.

Will America elect a African American president in 2008? And under what conditions?

In response to the campaign message of hope promoted by the Obama campaign, his competitors were fond of saying that his rhetoric was only words... and words weren't action.

Despite the calls for one candidate or another to "drop out" and the adamant refusals to do so; despite all of the rhetoric, spin and campaign blather; despite the will of avid supporters... or detractors, the end of the Democratic race will be determined by political physics!

Having the issue of race come up in this election season was unavoidable. It was, after all, the first time a Black candidate had a realistic shot to win a major party nomination for President. And this is still America, with its long historical baggage filled with race determined destiny. So having race as an issue was not surprising. Nor was it surprising that the issue rose to media attention on the wings of so-called inflammatory statements by a Black person. Statements by Black folk tend to be inflammatory to folk who aren't Black. That's just the way things are. (Stay with here...)

As one who witnessed the run up to the massive Mt. St. Helen eruptions many years ago, and a student of politics, I think the signs are clear. The tremors that proceed the fracturing of the Democratic party are beginning to appear.

I am aware that many observers and pundits have downplayed the potential of party schisms - especially this far from the general election, but the early signs are there and should not be ignored.

I have watched in silence and some anger, as the media and far too many Americans denigrated Rev. Wright. I don't know the man... but I do know that of which he speaks.

A little while back I was chided by some members of this forum when I said I would have a hard time voting for Sen. Clinton if she became the Democratic Party nominee. I took this stance after having observed her campaign following the Iowa loss, and as it worked in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Over time, I had calmed myself and come back to some of the initial respect and appreciation I have historically held for her and the former President. But... she's heading South again...

It seems the prevailing Meme in the past few days is that Sen. Clinton is testing Sen. Obama's grit and fight, by throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him. "She wants to dirty him up", "drive up his negatives", "see if he can fight back", "stand the heat", or will "wilt under pressure". I've even seen a couple of commentators who opined that she has "gotten into his head". I would proffer a different take...

Clinton's approach is not directed at Sen. Obama, it's directed at you! The question is, can YOU pass the test... and can the other voters yet to come...