Friday, They say “He’s Electable,” We say, “Not”

A couple of days ago my husband came tearing out of the bedroom saying that someone on TV said that she was a P.U.M.A. and that Obama was “Unelectable, Unqualified and Illegitimate.” These three things (he said she said) that meant Obama was going to lose the election if the Democrats give Obama the nomination.

That phrase, “Unelectable, Unqualified and Illegitimate,” has stayed with me ever since. It pulses through my mind with nearly every heartbeat. And I wonder sometimes why no one else can hear it. I spent a day with my parents (Dad a PUMA, Mom a TEPID) and an Obama supporting sister. And I swear the phrase was reverberating so loudly in my mind, I kept expecting her to tell me to shut up.

Not that she would. She’s not that sort of sister.

When I think of “electability” I always think of John Kerry and Howard Dean. I remember September of 2002 when my mom asked me who I was supporting for President (we have the sort of family where that question is often asked two years before an election.) I said I didn’t know but that I wasn’t thrilled about supporting John Kerry. She said what about the Governor of Vermont — she heard he was interested. Brainiac that I am I said, “Mom, I’m NOT supporting some Governor of Vermont for President. THAT’s just impossible!” And OH, how I wish I’d stuck with that feeling.

Because if there is one thing I learned in 2004, you may not be able to predict the most electable but, you sure as heck can see the most unelectable a mile away.

Obama and his supporters are trying to parse their way to the nomination and on through the election. They try to pretend that “Unelectable” is a racist argument because racism is the only thing stopping anyone from voting for him. And when we bring up the specific problems they claim those are “Republican Talking Points” as if Obama wouldn’t have to face up to such issues in the General Election.

Well, the Obama Campaign’s real problem is that those issues aren’t just “Republican Talking Points” they are serious issues that show very real weaknesses in Obama’s judgment and the judgment of the Democratic leadership that brought us to this point.

(Days pass: My brain is filled with a relentless buzzing sound)

As I contemplate and try to sort the list of Obama’s weaknesses, I finally figured out where that buzzing sound is coming from. It’s the result of that barrage of issues surrounding the Obama Candidacy and it’s not a buzzing: it’s the repetition of but, but, but, but, but. . . . .

But, He’s never really held a full-time job. Is the Presidency an entry level position?

But, even before his recent flip-flop on FISA he signaled that he didn’t have the same judicial priorities as me.

But, even with important endorsements he lost the major states on Super Tuesday and after Hillary restructured her campaign he lost nearly every major state. Don’t candidates usually start sweeping the states after they get tagged as inevitable? Obama managed to lose every single county in West Virginia at a time when he was supposedly our inevitable nominee.

But, I keep hearing “God Damn America” and wonder how that’s going to sound in the fall.

But, he’s not brave enough — his willingness to distance himself from longtime friends like the Reverend Wright aside — what about his flip-flops on issues? Has he stood staunchly for anything?

But, He keeps laughing at voters and talking down to us and could his affection for rap music come back to haunt him?

But, what about the stuff that hasn’t come out? Will Obama’s relationship with Ayers and Rezko play a role? What about the history of corruption in Chicago?

But, he thinks Universal Health Care isn’t fair to people who don’t want access to health care . . . Reminding me of how he thought counting the votes in Florida and Michigan wouldn’t be fair to the people who didn’t vote.

(Putting my hands over my ears to mute the buzzing)

The list goes on and on — I never get to the But that makes it all OK. Am I missing something?