Political Bandstand

The Hillary Clinton campaign continues to champion the idea that delegates from states containing higher percentages of African-American Democrats and states where higher numbers of cross over voters reside are somehow less valid than delegates pledged by states consisting of larger numbers of Democrats like New York and California.

“I have won the big states. I’ve won the states that a Democrat has to win.” -Hillary Clinton, CNN Interview, March 12, 2008

“The Clinton campaign has been using the big-state argument on and off since Super Tuesday, when Sen. Clinton won big prizes including New York, California and New Jersey.” -The Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2008

“…the Clinton camp claims it has won the most important states…” -Tribune’s Washington Bureau, The Swamp, April 3, 2008

To Hillary Clinton supporters it seems like a point of leverage to not only win the support of superdelegates, but also to intimidate Barack Obama into abandoning his post as Democratic frontrunner. To everyone else it might seem like dogma. But a truly discerning eye would see it for what it is, downright dirty elitism. By calling to favor the delegates of some states over others it represents an effort to corrupt the nomination process and suggests disregard for a system designed to promote democrasy.

Clinton’s tactic insults the intelligence of anyone who has the comprehension skills to understand messages any deeper than basic meanings of words. It should be a warning to those who are not regularly inclined to follow politics that they must hold the words of politicians under closer scrutiny if they place any value whatsoever on virtues like honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency when it comes to our elected officials. A high percentage of Americans who voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 are now punishing themselves for being willingly duped into electing him not once, but twice. They should now be less willing to allow contenders to run laps with the good will of American voters.

My evaluation will likely not change anyone’s opinion. It is pretty tough to sway the vote of a citizen who stances steadfastly behind a candidate of their choice. Neither will I attempt to do so by debunking a single strategy central to the Clinton campaign agenda. I will, however, encourage those who are still unconvinced to read a particularly well thought out article that delves deeper into the analysis of this particular subject: Hanging by a Thread: Hillary Clinton’s big-state fallacy.
by Jeffrey H. Anderson