Henry Cisneros: Clinton supporters don't need to divide to conquer

[rodeodance]

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject Mrs. Clinton has a big heart and a good heart.
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4597095#4597095
4597095, Mrs. Clinton has a big heart and a good heart.
Posted by bigtree on Thu Feb-14-08 08:05 PM

Henry Cisneros: Clinton supporters don't need to divide to conquer

03:52 PM CST on Thursday, February 14, 2008

One of the noteworthy dimensions of this year's Democratic primaries has been the loyalty shown to Hillary Clinton's candidacy by Democrats who supported President Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, especially female voters, blue-collar families and Latinos.

. . . Despite the tendencies of the media pundits to speculate about divisive reasons to explain the preferences of Hillary Clinton voters over Sen. Barack Obama, Clinton supporters have made the following points:

•Mrs. Clinton is ready to take on the difficult problems confronting the country on her first day in office. She will be able to go from the inaugural platform to the Oval Office and begin to tackle the challenges of our economy and the war in Iraq, while starting to work on her stated priorities of universal health care and investments in education. Voters tell me that she is smart and prepared and that they trust that she is primed for action.

•Clinton voters seem to feel instinctively what I have observed personally for the many years I have known her: In addition to being smart, she is extremely well-organized and managerially competent to address the problems our country confronts. As a Cabinet officer in Mr. Clinton's administration, I watched her run meetings to produce outcomes. She is a no-nonsense person who breaks problems down into their component parts and systematically solves them.

As first lady, she represented the United States abroad in dozens of foreign countries, meeting world leaders and learning the intricacies of international relations. She doesn't make many mistakes – and when she does, she learns from them. At a time when the stakes in our world are so high, voters appreciate her battle-tested, sure-handed qualities.

•Her supporters feel a sense of loyalty to a person who contributed significantly to some of the best years our country has enjoyed in its modern history. She was part of a team that produced the largest economic expansion in American history with lower unemployment rates, lower poverty rates, higher business formations, a record homeownership rate, higher levels of school performance and even a narrowing in the income gap.

Female voters in particular add to that fond remembrance a sense that the unique experiences of a person who has been a mother, a daughter, a wife and a sister can bring fresh perspectives and distinctive contributions to the nation's highest office.

•Voters tell me they recognize that Mrs. Clinton has a big heart and a good heart. Yes, her commitment to the public good is driven by her intellect and her experience. But her inner drive comes from a desire to help people, to advance the country and to make a meaningful difference in our world. Since her early years working in the Children's Defense Fund to her years in Arkansas working to expand public health clinics for seniors to her work as a U.S. senator on children's health insurance, she has shown she is determined to reach out to families.

Unfortunately, in the heat of a political battle, passions rise, and it seems necessary to draw hateful divisions between candidates or to denigrate one worthy candidate at the expense of another. Hillary Clinton supporters shouldn't be drawn into that game. There is no need. We have solid reasons to support her based on her public service record of a lifetime.


full article by Henry Cisneros: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-cisneros_15edi.State.Edition1.1e3a2d5.html

[NastyRiffraff]

1. Great article

And I noticed in GD-P the Obamatons immediately attacked it. I don't think Cisneros meant that we have to take frontal attacks on our candidate.

[kikiek]

2. I really admire you and the work you do on behalf of Hillary. I just love her, I know that she is

the best candidate for presidency by far. I think she will be the best president ever. The attacks against her on DU are so disgusting I have to back off. I don't feel like any facts about Obama will make any difference. The vast majority of Obama supporters on this site aren't reasonable. They're "hooked on a feeling". I found my book "The True Believer" Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer about the look into the mind of a fanatic and the study of how someone becomes one. Not all supporters are in this category, but it appears most are. The media seems to be perpetuating this. However, I think they will turn on Obama if he does end up with the nomination. As you have said Hillary has been raked over the coals for so many years they won't have anything more to attack her on. He hasn't faced that yet, and his closet seems to have plenty in it. At any rate I want to thank you for all you do. I will be fighting with you on and off. I am very worried right now that if I stay around I won't be able to vote for him if he does win the nomination. His supporters on this board are for the most part disgusting, and I am starting to have problems separating that from Obama. I will be doing all I can to help Hillary in the "real" world. But you deserve recognition for all you do everyday. I have a lot of respect for you.

[displacedtexan]

3. Even with the media and "Republicans" supporting him...

Obama has made some major rookie mistakes, which I believe will haunt him
if he somehow gets the nomination:

Alienating the vast Clinton appeal to Latinos (2:1 voting for Clinton) and to
Asians (2:1 again);

Attacking the strong points in Clinton's healthcare plan (which covers everyone
and saves each family the tax money they spend on those who go to the ER for routine
care because they don't have insurance);

Falling into the age-old "he won't debate" trap;

And now, flip-flopping on public financing.

As for that "R" support, I don't believe for one minute that they would actually vote for him, do you?

[kikiek]

4. He will be ripped to shreds. I don't believe they will vote for him either.