Dumb move Hill. Real fucking dumb.

Hello? IRS? What tax returns?

The Obama campaign released this memo today. Here's part of it:

The Clinton campaign has said that they have released copious amounts of financial information but there are many questions about their private dealings that could be answered in their tax returns but not in the information that is currently available. For example, here are eight pieces of information that could be learned from her tax returns, the accompanying schedules, and attachments:

* Effective tax rate – including whether or not any tax shelters were used to reduce it
* Amount of income for spouses by source
* Amount of stock gains and losses
* Gross income for the couple
* Amount earned from stock dividends
* Amount of household employment taxes paid
* Personal exemptions taken
* Charitable contributions made

Senator Clinton has also claimed that she is too “busy” to release her tax returns. Given the fact she is able to loan her campaign $5 million, you would think the Clintons would be able to hire an accountant. The reality is that she wants to keep this information hidden from voters. The people of Wyoming, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and the rest of the country should wonder why.

Obama's going after her finances and her reluctance to release her tax returns after a weekend of being attacked by Hillary.

One could admire the Clinton's hutzpah on this issue if it wasn't so fucking dumb. They are two slimeballs who had such a strong stench of scandal surrounding them that it cost Al Gore the presidency and they honestly think they can get away with not releasing essential financial information.

The fact is that there has always been a well of anger towards the Clintons within the Democratic party. Bill's shenanigans cost us the public's trust and allowed the pack of rabid dogs that is the GOP to attack him and anyone close to him.

There's that and the fact that Hillary's campaign has chosen to go racist and xenophobic in their tactics, something that for most Democrats is unthinkable. The angry response of many from those attacks frees up Obama to attack her in ways he wouldn't have been able to before.

Obama's camp has been pretty good at responding to Hillary's attacks up until now. This may be the start of Obama's own "kitchen sink" stategy where he destroys her campaign under an avalanche of questions about every single thing that the Clinton's have touched since Bill won elected office.

And between, Marc Rich, Vince Foster, Monica Lewinsky, Ricky Ray Rector, Lani Gunier among others Obama could have a field day reminding people just why the Clintons come off so poorly.

It's about seven weeks until the Pennsylvania primaries. God help Hillary if she thinks she's going to make it to PA in one piece.

Don't get distracted

This is not the point

There is some discussion of a possible "subliminal message" in Hillary Clinton's 3 AM ad.

If you freeze the video at 11 to 12 seconds in you see the letters "NIG" on the pajamas of one of the sleeping children.

Is this a racist subliminal message sent out by the Clinton campaign to get people to think "NIG" = nigger = Obama?

In my opinion no.

First, the people for whom the letters "NIG" would have enough meaning to keep them for voting for Obama are already so racist that he wouldn't get their votes anyway.

Second, the Clinton campaign has not shown the aptitude to make convincing appeals with obvious messages let alone a subliminal one.

Third, when the Clinton campaign has used racial messages they have always been bumbling and plain to see. They haven't shown the ability to learn from their mistakes either, so I'm not thinking that they would take a more subtle approach, especially now that they are much more desperate.

The fact that some are actually having this conversation shows how much the Clintons have damaged their legacy with racist and xenophobic attacks against Barack Obama. Three months ago this kind of attack on the Clintons would have been outrageous and dismissed. Now the only criticism is of the hyperbole of the people who think this is something racist not that the Clintons would never stoop that low.

It also shows how easily distracted people can get. There are many more important things to discuss than this.

If we are going to have a discussion (and we should) about the racist images coming from the left and the right against Obama, then there are many more worthy things to talk about than a couple of frames of something that you have to cock your head like an owl and squint to see.

The Rise of the Angry White Female

Their Queen
Photo: blog.washingtonpost.com

In 1994 the Democrats lost control of Congress for the first time in 50 years in a wave of anger and resentment whipped up by the Republican party.

According to media reports the agent of that great change was the "Angry White Male" who was defined as the "regular guy" who in the wake of disturbing economic and social changes and a philandering and lying president that he could not tolerate exacted his revenge in the ballot box.

The Angry White Male was entitled to his anger in a world gone wrong where only his strength and moral guidance could make things right and the fact that he primarily responded with hate was something not to be questioned.

The time of the Angry White Male has passed.

Let's talk about his wife instead.

Meet the Angry White Female.

She is primarily concerned about sexism against her and her alone. There is no space for consideration of a broader analysis of sexism against women of color because women of color are subordinate.

Like her brethren, she is perfectly comfortable using xenophobia and racism and other types of hate to bolster her point and as an attack against the numerous forces working against her.

Hillary Clinton is the ultimate Angry White Female. She is strong, smart and capable. A wronged woman politically and within her own marriage and therefore is entitled to the presidency.

Forget her stand on Iraq, her questionable electability and her incompetence as the head of a political campaign. We OWE her! And goddammit if she doesn't get what she wants she'll stomp and scream until you do.

The Angry White Female a problem because she hurts the cause of women's rights by either crying wolf or self-centeredly spinning legitmate claims of gender based discrimination so far away from the real point that we all end up too disoriented to tackle the real issues.

The Angry White Female is not going to go away with a Hillary Clinton defeat. If anything she will be emboldened because Hillary's loss will be another example of the cruel world destroying her dreams.

As Democrats, leftists, hell anyone who wants to have a rational debate about women and the issues that effect them we have to stand up to them.

The irony of having to defeat the first woman to get close to winning the presidency can't be overlooked but we must not focus on that to the point that we forget the larger much worthier goal of speaking truthfully and loudly for the rights of all women.

I need a hazmat suit

The latest fashion for the spring

The right-wing smear machine is in high gear assisted as always by the supposedly leftist media outlets.

Tim Russert got the ball rolling with making Obama apologize to apparently all white Americans for having, if we are being extremely generous, an acquaintance with Louis Farrakhan.

That was followed by John McCain's campaign inviting a racist scumbag to introduce him at a Cincinati campaign stop and then being surprised that the asshole produced a racist and xenophobic rant using Obama's middle name.

This is just the beginning of the smear campaign against Obama's race and background.

These attacks need to be brought out into the open. Not just the ones that make it to the mainstream media but the conversations that the right hasamongst themselves on their websites and other media.

So I'm sacrificing my sanity for you in bringing you the lastest smears and other bullshit straight from the right-wing.

Obama Exposed is a pdf produced by Human Events a wing-nut magazine with a collection of the latest smears and fears on the rise of the senator

Link :http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfzgtt86_0gdwjd8dg

There are contributions from the stars of the right-wing media like, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin.

I would try to give a quick summary but it's so all over the place and insane that I could not do it justice. You really should read it for yourself.

I'm trying to control my anger

The racist bitch in her own words

The photo in question - AP

From Mike Allen of the Politico:

Obama slams smear photo
By: Mike Allen
February 25, 2008 10:16 AM EST
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe accused the Clinton campaign Monday of "shameful offensive fear-mongering" by circulating a photo as an attempted smear.

Plouffe was reacting to a banner headline on the Drudge Report saying that aides to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) had e-mailed a photo calling attention to the African roots of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

"The photo, taken in 2006, shows the Democrat front-runner dressed as a Somali Elder, during his visit to Wajir, a rural area in northeastern Kenya," the Drudge Report said.

The Clinton campaign did not deny the charge, but did not comment further...

Link to the article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8667.html

Despite my initial apprehension of Matt Drudge as a source, the fact the the Obama campaign has responded to this and more importantly the Clinton campaign hasn't denied it, the idea that the Clinton campaign has done this puts to rest any possible equivocation that the campaign is employing racist tactics and is trying to use Barack Obama's Muslim heritage as wedge issue.

It also for me is the last straw in cutting the Clintons any slack on the shit that they've been pulling.

I've been reluctant to call them racists for the many attacks they've used on Obama. I figured that they like many white Democrats see Rovian racist tactics as fair political play and that was what was fueling their smear machine.

After this however, I can't believe that they haven't gotten the message, especially given their incredible loss of standing with black folks over the previous smears, that this kind of crap is racist and has no business being employed by any political campaign let alone a Democratic one.

Fuck Bill. Fuck Hillary. Fuck that mammy looking bitch Maggie Williams for condoning this shit.

I don't want Hillary to lose at this point. I want her smited. I'm offended that I have to share the same planet as these people.

Some initial blog reaction:

Jack and Jill Politics, Daily Kos, The Moderate Voice, Marc Ambinder

MSNBC is straight fucking garbage

MSNBC's liberal beard

Courtesy of diarist Shane Hersinger at Daily Kos:

UPDATED: MSNBC's and Now CNN's Odious Attack on Obama Today

by Shane Hensinger

Sun Feb 24, 2008 at 03:05:14 PM PST

No flag pin, no hand over his heart: Is he exposed?

Exposed as what exactly? Not wearing a flag pen is to be "exposed" for not adhering to the Fox News/Republican Party-version of patriotism, which means meaningless gestures like wearing a lapel pin are far more important than words and deeds?

Glenn Greenwald linked to this image today on MSNBC which follows a Fox News attack line that Obama is not patriotic for "refusing" to wear a flag pen on his lapel, as if a flag pen is mandatory and not wearing one is tantamount to treachery and treason against this country.

Sen. Barack Obama's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin along with a photo of him not putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem led conservatives on Internet and in the media to question his patriotism.

Now Obama's wife, Michelle, has drawn their ire, too, for saying recently that she's really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.

Conservative consultants say that combined, the cases could be an issue for Obama in the general election if he wins the nomination, especially as he runs against Vietnam war hero Sen. John McCain.

Yes, because meaningless gestures of patriotism are so important, especially when you're the Republican party, which makes a show of "supporting the troops" and then undercuts them by awarding no-bid contract to Republican donors and lackeys who then manufacture sub-standard equipment every time they get the chance.

Link to the discussion : http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/24/17467/0743

The fact that CNN has stooped to this doesn't surprise me. They have been Fox News lite for years now and anyone who employs Wolf "They are so black" Blitzer isn't worth a damn anyway.

The difference here is MSNBC. MSNBC when compared to the right wing nut cases at Fox and the Fox wannabes at CNN have earned a bit of a reputation of being more left leaning in their news.

With Keith Olbermann anchoring the network's highest rated show, they unlike the others feature real lefty pundits like Rachel Maddow, who has been rumored to be the next in line for a show there.

That veneer of liberalism is so thin however that it might as well not exist considering the other fools they have working the place.

My earlier post, Brothers, I briefly touched on Chris Matthew's sexism. This new salvo against Barack Obama is obviously just the start of the networks racist campaign against Obama.

I'm not naive. I knew that the media's love-fest towards Obama would end as soon has he got within spitting distance of the Democratic nomination so they could get down to the more important business of kissing John McCain's shriveled ass. MSNBC has already shown that it is comfortable spewing sexist garbage at Clinton and her family and it's protection of Matthews is gauling. No one can really expect them at this point to have the scrupples to stand up to the racist shit that will be headed Obama's way.

And yes an anti-American charge against a black politician is racist because it reinforces the idea that blacks are somehow separate, untrustworthy and not real citizens of this country.

So what about Olbermann? I like his reporting but the fact is he's being used as a beard to hide the channel's obvious lack of ethical standards.

None of us are privy to what goes on in the newsroom but as the campaign goes on and the smear campaign heats up Olbermann will facr increasing pressure to speak out about what is going on.

During the whole Shuster "pimping" debacle he went on air to personally plead for the Clinton's forgiveness of his network.

One has to wonder if Keith already has some text prepared for the inevitable apology he'll have to make for the upcoming Muslim and racist smears that will be made by his colleagues.

The White Media and Tavis' ego

Image from blackstudentallianceyale.squarespace.com
The negro will shine your shoes too.

Sigh.

CNN: Obama takes heat for skipping State of the Black Union
Taylor Marsh's crazy ass: Obama Ducks State of the Black Union Forum
CBS News: Clinton leaves Primary States for "State of the Black Union"

The larger media is reporting on Tavis Smiley's "State of the Black Union" forum and the tempest in a teapot that has been stirred up about Obama's abscence from the event.

As usual, the media does a drive by with the facts not even touching on the fact that this is not a controversy at all within Black America if they are being fair to outright lying about the 99% of us who have no problem with Obama missing the event.

I can't get too angry at these media outlets. They really don't know better at this point and any energy spent on wondering why they are so duplicitous and stupid is wasted energy.

I'll save my venom for Tavis.

The question isn't why isn't Obama there it's why is Tavis doing this?

There is no reason for any report of infighting within the community. There is no controversy and any reports of such could be put immediately to rest by Smiley who knows from the angry emails and calls he's been receiving that his listeners have spoken and that's that.

So what does Tavis gain by the larger media portraying a split in the black community and a split between the community and himself?

For Tavis us black folks are the first wife. We're the ones who have supported him why listening and watching his shows and buying his books while no one else knew or cared who the hell he was.

We have been with him every step of the way paving his way for potentially a larger career.

And the larger career is what this is about.

Tavis can now portray himself as the victim of the irrational group-think of the blacks in America. He can shake his head and sigh as he has a meeting with some media bigwig and say "See what I do for these people and this is hwo they repay me. You know I would do a better job in a larger forum. How about a primetime show."

This about his name and his money and being able to reach out to a larger white audience using what was traditionally a black forum. By keeping the idea of a controversy going and by only having Clinton there in the last desperate throws of her campaign, he will get a slice of the demographic pie that would have never thought of tuning into C-SPAN on a Saturday afternoon.

If you go to Tavis' website you can see his slogan "Enlighten. Encourage. Empower."

From how he has acted over this apparently that only applies to his fan's ability to advance his career.