The Greene Room

The Wrath of Kos

Uh-oh. I have drawn the ire of bloggers on Daily Kos after my appearance on The O'Reilly Factor last night. Daily Kos diarists are up in arms that I was critical of their beloved website. Interesting. I think most people would prefer my brand of constructive criticism vs. Daily Kos' vitriol.

The founder of Daily Kos, Markos "Kos" Moulitsas' statement:

• He has "enmity" towards Senator Clinton. (Fancy way of saying deep seated hatred or hostility)
• He calls Senator Clinton's voters, "low-information Democratic voters..." (Code-speak for "stupid")
• He refers to the millions of Democrats who voted for Senator Clinton in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island as a "shrinking band of paranoid holdouts" (Offensive and mathematically incorrect)
• He accuses Clinton of trying to ignite a Civil War within the Democratic Party (irresponsible and divisive)

They are mad at me for appearing on The O'Reilly Factor. Yeah, I went on O'Reilly and expressed my personal feelings of distaste towards comments I find to be offensive, threatening, divisive, and have no place in Democratic politics. Though I disagree with O'Reilly likening Daily Kos to the devil, I am happy to appear on the most-watched program on cable news and express my support for Senator Clinton. Because contrary to what the Daily Kos diarists may believe, not all Democratic and Independent voters sit in front of a computer all day and get their news from the blogosphere. The truth is many of them come home from a long day of hard work and sit down to hear what Bill O'Reilly has to say.

Don't Kos and his blogger posse understand that progressives need these voters to win in November? Instead of arrogantly dismissing their intelligence and espousing that all Democrats should follow blindly behind whatever he and his merry band of bloggers believe, Kos should reconsider his flawed rationale on the primary to date. On one hand he props up the party activists that are attending caucuses as the end-all-and-be-all of the Democratic electorate, while at the same time trying to downgrade the role of superdelegates to a rubber stamp. So it's okay to be a grassroots activist and have an opinion, but if you are a super-duper activist and have worked your way into a State Party leadership position or elected office, you must lose your own opinion and trade it in for someone else's??? And don't get me started on the disenfranchising nature of caucuses that exclude hourly workers, nurses, waitresses, senior-citizens and countless others who don't have four hours to spare...

This ain't North vs South, and there ain't gonna be no Civil War.  I may be in the minority here, but I am pretty confident I am right. The heated contest between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama has been good for the Democratic Party. It has produced record turnout and monopolized media coverage away from John McCain. The fear-mongering talk of Civil War within our Party is rubbish. It's a scare tactic to try and persuade superdelegates to cave for Obama. Regardless of whoever gets the nomination, we will be a united Party come November. Come to think of it, Senator Clinton has stated this unequivocally many times while Senator Obama has said in press conferences that he was not sure his supporters would unite behind Senator Clinton. Coupled with Michelle Obama's wavering on the question on whether she would support Senator Clinton if she wins the nomination, it calls into question which campaign is more comfortable with a split in the Party...but I digress.

I do not consider myself a "real" blogger, but I have praised the role of citizen journalists in countless speeches and interviews. Bloggers have brought a much needed fresh perspective and truth to political reporting. I also have a lot of respect for Kos and his service to our country while in the Army. Deep down, I don't believe Kos hates Senator Clinton. And I really hope that he doesn't honestly think that millions of Clinton supporters are dumb and stupid. I know for a fact that Kos wants a Democrat in the White House. So my advice - reign in your posse, Kos. Educate them on the real facts of presidential politics and what it will take to actually win the general election. While you're at it, try informing the netroots that supporting a candidate you believe in should not include insults, name-calling, and threats. At the end of the day, we all have the same objective.

This One's for Ann

Remember when Ann Richards held up the t-shirt that read, A Woman's Place is in the Dome? This video made me tear up. Props to Courtney Spence, CEO, Students of the World for putting this piece together and answering the question, "What would Ann do?"

Campaigning for Clinton

Former Rock the Vote President Jehmu Greene Endorses Hillary Clinton

Austin, TX – Former Rock the Vote President and Austinite Jehmu Greene announced her endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President today.

"I have met young people all over the country who are following in Senator Clinton's footsteps, speaking out against injustice at home and abroad, courageously fighting for what they believe in not because it's popular, but because it is right," Greene said. "And they are raising their voices against the noise, to ask the hard questions and vote for Senator Clinton because their hearts and minds tell them that she is the right choice."

"Jehmu Greene has broken barriers while encouraging our youth to be active in the community and I am proud to have her support," Hillary Clinton said. "The youth in our country are hungry for change and I look forward to having her support and guidance in spreading our message."

Jehmu Greene was the first African American president of Rock the Vote. She will serve as a youth outreach adviser for the campaign and will be a member of the Hillblazers Steering Committee.

Under Greene's leadership, Rock the Vote's membership grew from 1,500 to 1 million and registered over 1.4 million new voters. Greene has an extensive background in public service and issue advocacy and is a leading expert on voting, activism and pop culture.

Plaxico Burress is a Cry Baby

After the Giants won the Super Bowl last night, my victory dance was extra special. After scoring the winning touchdown for the Giants, Plaxico Burress' victory interview ended in tears. We live in a country where it's alright for 6ft 5in man made up of 232 pounds of muscle and pure athleticism to cry like a baby after winning the Super Bowl, but god-forbid Senator Clinton show any bit of emotion on the eve of taking a big step towards becoming President. On Your World with Neil Cavuto today, I intended to mention Plaxico's breakdown but I was so annoyed at Christine O'Donnell that I just yelled instead. I don't usually get so emotional on-air. Considering Christine's willingness to be a pin-up girl for chauvinism, I'm surprised she didn't ask me if it was my time of the month.

Grandma Got Run Over By the Youth Vote

In the Iowa caucus, young voter turnout tied with senior citizens. Yesterday in New Hampshire, people under the age of 30 surpassed voters 65 and up. After doubling their turnout in New Hampshire, young voters are in the pole position heading into the next primary battles.  A whooping 37% of people under 30 voted in the New Hampshire primary, compared to 18% in 2004. After losing the youth vote 5 to 1 in Iowa, Sen. Clinton pledged to do a better job reaching out to young people. She asked the young people in New Hampshire to vote with "your heart and your mind,"  and that helped her shave some much needed votes away from Sen. Obama, particularly with single women. Sen. Clinton even won with 25-29 year olds - reversing a 57% - 15% Obama win with the same age group in Iowa. Young voters are finally being courted by the leading Democratic candidates. Will speeches about saving social security be replaced on the stump with calls to end predatory student lending? While we have to wait to see the full impact the rise of young voters will have on the election and ultimately legislation, the Democratic Party should be thanking their lucky stars. Young people are coming out in droves for them while Republicans are only getting a trickling of support. 61% of young voters in New Hampshire went for the big D, while only 39% were down with GOP. The young and restless are this cycle's Nascar Dads. Democrats captured the hearts and minds of this generation in 2004 and again in 2006. If a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket keeps them loyal to Democrats for the 3rd election in a row, it's "three strikes, and you're out" for Republicans.

Listen to me discuss how young voters are learning they matter on NPR's News and Notes yesterday.

 

Happy New Year!

I could resolve to lose weight, spend more time with family and friends, get out of debt, learn something new, volunteer, enjoy life more, quit drinking, get organized, or post in my blog more. The problem is if I do not accomplish my goal, I'd feel bad and think woulda, coulda, shoulda. So I'm sticking with the same resolution I have had for the last ten years or so - No Regrets. Regrets give the past power over the present. Don't get me wrong, I will still reflect on the changes I need to make and try to accomplish them, but I will not beat myself up when if I fail. Now, if I only could get people to stop beating up on Hillary.

The folks at Your World with Neil Cavuto asked if Chelsea Clinton's snub of a 9 yr old reporter would cost Sen. Clinton a win in Iowa? I asked if they had been drinking.

Hillary's Gifts

Senator Clinton has a new Christmas ad out. What voter doesn't want middle class tax breaks, universal healthcare, universal Pre-K, alternative energy, and our troops to come home from Iraq?  Neil Cavuto thinks all these gifts will cause tax hikes and hurt the economy. I think the American people have been good this year and deserve a few presents from Hillary.

Hillary Clinton's Good-lookin Endorsement

Neil Cavuto thinks Hillary Clinton promoting San Fran Mayor, Gavin Newsom's endorsement of her is a bad thing. I disagree. You decide.

Besides being yummy to look at, I do agree with Neil that Mayor Newsom is "a great mayor...impressive... stands to his convictions...and unlike a lot of politicians he doesn't go back and forth." I shouldn't have talked over Neil while he was saying all those good things about Gavin.

The folks at News Hounds did a write-up which notes that I was "calm and articulate." Thanks for the compliment, but what was I supposed to be - angry and dumbfounded? For those of you who may not know, some people think "articulate" is a code word used by whites to refer to a non-threatening, black person who can talk properly.  Sometimes I talk improperly - just not on TV.

 

Bill: The Gift That Keeps Giving

Update: President Clinton is also pitching a Ladies (and men) who lunch (and write checks) event.

- - -

Within a 24 hour period, President Clinton was on Oprah, Larry King, and Letterman promoting his new book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World.  The Ellen Degeneres Show featured Sen. Clinton on Tuesday, but Bill gets the award for biggest giver to the Clinton campaign this week - he also spent quality time with his wife and voters in Iowa.

I'm buying the book.