The Last Post on the Bugle

For some reason, in this country, success has the immense ability to vindicate a public person instantly. In America, success proves you right, regardless of your wrongdoings. That is why Ronald Reagan is considered such a great president, despite his racist presidential campaign of 1980.

The same blogs that have been spanking Hillary Clinton for her ruthless attack campaign against Obama in New Hampshire (much of it with nauseating racial undertones), are now ruefully bowing their heads to the senator from New York. How does one do that? How does one negotiate such ideological changes of heart with one’s own morals? I don’t understand.

Hillary won New Hampshire, and there is nothing honorable about her victory. American “liberals”, for some reason, have bought into the narrative that if the conservatives attack someone, that person must be worthy of “our” defense, especially a Clinton. I hate to say it, but even the conservatives, the Chris Matthews’ of the world, get it right once in a while, and they are right about Hillary, even if they are no better. She is an opportunist, she will do anything to get elected, recklessly endangering her opponents chances of winning the general election in the process. It isn’t about the people, it isn’t about “what’s right”, its about her personal success, that much she has proven.

Women came out to vote for Hillary. Not surprising, in light of the popular narrative she has woven over the last few days, of being just another woman, fighting for recognition in a man’s world. It started off with the debate, where she fought two men, amongst them, John Edwards, a heroic liberal who is unfortunately inclined to dropping the odd chauvinistic sound-bite. Only 2 days later, far behind in the polls, she broke into tears, lamenting the immense pressure of the working world in a New Hampshire neighbourhood kaffeeklatsch. The question was very convenient, “”How do you get out the door every day? I mean, as a woman, I know how hard it is to get out of the house and get ready. Who does your hair?,” a woman, outside of the camera’s margins asked. With camera’s flashing on her face, Hillary choked up, croaking “it’s not easy” as the television camera zoomed in on her face. The news media, the media considered so hostile to Hillary, didn’t question the moment’s authenticity. Except, Fox News, who, with unsurprising vitriol, laid into the weeping candidate. Liberal blogs, jumped to her defense, despite their issues with the moral deficiencies of her campaign. At the time, I didn’t think voters would buy it, but it now seems that they did. Only a day later, two men, quite conveniently I think, showed up at a Clinton campaign rally, holding “iron my shirt” placards. Call me cynical, but if the campaign itself didn’t explicitly design this course of events, they fell into place quite neatly, and just in time.

Now, I am not denying that there is an obvious element of sexism to the right-wing’s hate of Hillary. I think such sentiment is distasteful, I don’t, however, think that these unreasonable attacks should awake sympathy for a candidate who so freely deals in prejudice herself. She hit Obama for supporting an end to mandatory minimum sentences for federal crimes, a flaw in the judicial system that leads to disproportionate incarceration of black males. What’s more, she has pledged support for the same measure, in the past. This was, of course, more subtle than other racially-tinged attacks emanating from the Hilary campaign. These include, the circulation of an email accusing Obama of being a “Muslim” (my, oh my, a MUSLIM!), and the repeated questioning of Obama’s past by Clinton’s aides, wondering aloud, “When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?’” The racial OVERTONES of such attacks should not be ignored.

So, now when I read “liberal” blogs coming to terms (Huffpo), or even worse, voicing their enthusiasm (TPM, C&L), for a Hillary nomination, I am heavily reminded of the free pass given to Ronald Reagan by the mainstream press. Success proves them both right, despite both of their racially-charged campaigns.

The American left deserves Hillary Clinton, and as a result, also deserves John McCain, or Mike Huckabee. You are as immoral, as opportunistic as the candidates who you accept as your own. Good Riddance.