The Empty Closet in the Democratic Party Home
The Democratic National Committee can be compared to the philandering husband who, having disregarded his wife's complaints, comes home to find a note on the table and an empty closet that once held her clothes. Although the break had been threatened, he chose to ignore it.
In the words of Paul Klugman, "...the fight for the nomination has divided the party along class and race lines in a way that I believe is unprecedented, at least in modern time."1 Meanwhile, the arrogance of the far left liberal, educated upper class Democrats ignores the Sword of Damocles, the imminent and ever lasting peril to those in positions of power that is hanging over their heads: the revolt of Hispanics, working class whites and older women.
This is what the Republican National Committee is counting on as it continues the investigation of Obama and prepares to release, in slow drips, its 1000-plus-page dossier of his activities before and during his role in politics, his rise to power with the help of the corrupt Rezko Chicago and Illinois political machine, his connections to former terrorists such as Ayers and the links between him and anti American and anti-Israel organizations such as Hamas. His history of voting "Present" on many important bills in Congress and self-serving votes on others is already flooding the Internet. Will it make an impact on those already tilting against Obama and toward McCain?
The caucuses in Nevada may be an omen of what is in store for the Democrats. According to the January 9, 2008 issue of The New York Times, even though Obama was endorsed by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Hillary received half of the women votes, half of whites and almost two thirds of Hispanics, while Obama got three quarters of the black vote. 2 Because of this she outdistanced him 51% to his 45% of the total vote because of these groups of voters that are vital to the Democrats winning the White House. She won by ten points in Clark County, home to Las Vegas and the supposed influential union blocs, an indication of the waning influence of the top bosses to deliver their members.
While the elites among registered Democrats believe that the anti-Obama constituency is pliable and can be persuaded to follow their lead, being sure that having more education and money gives them the ability to influence the working classes that have been demeaned by them, the recent voting patterns in North Carolina and Indiana contradict that illusion. It proved that Obama has a very narrow base: African Americans and highly educated whites. And the feeling of alienation between them and Hillary supporters has grown in depth and intensity. If the posts on the internet blogs are any indications, this has grown angrier and wider with the belief that Hillary is being cheated out of the presidency by the Democratic National Committee.
Like the wife who packs her bags and finally walks out in disgust, vacating the premises for the last time, this flight from the Democrats' base appears to be permanent.
1 Paul Klugman: Thinking about November, New York Times, May 9, 2008.
2. Jeff Zeleny and Jennifer Steinhauer : Vote of Women Propels Clinton in Nevada Caucus, New York Time, January 20, 2008.
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