Politics: February 2008 Archives

His senior foreign policy advisor? Samantha Power, author of A Problem From Hell: America in the Age of Genocide.

...that Michael Lerner stop talking or writing for the remainder of the 2008 election cycle.

Because honestly, I don't think this is going to convince anybody of anything. Except that he likes to use big windy words. And that maybe they should vote for one of those other candidates with less flaky-sounded endorsements. Honestly, what was the Chronicle thinking? Did they do it on purpose? Are they seekretly hoping it's Clinton vs. McCain, and thus they got normal-sounding people to write their endorsements?

These are the first two paragraphs of Lerner's piece.

I enthusiastically support Barack Obama, the first serious spiritual progressive candidate for the presidency. Once in office, Obama's discourse of hope, challenging narrow technocratic consciousness, will open the possibility for serious social movements to push him beyond the constraints of Democratic Party spinelessness.

Spiritual progressives want a New Bottom Line so that institutions, social practices, even our own personal behavior is seen as efficient, rational and productive, not only to the extent that they maximize money and power (the Old Bottom Line) but also to the extent that they maximize love and caring for others, kindness and generosity, ethical and ecological sensitivity, and enhance our capacity to respond to others as embodiments of the sacred and to the universe with awe, wonder and radical amazement.

Uh... yeah. Right. Please, somebody... just make it stop.

OK, now that I've looked online, it seems that the Chronicle may have run different opinion pieces in different markets. This is better...

A friend of mine forwarded me an email from her father, a staunch Fox News-consuming Republican of many years standing.

Basically... If we Democrats want the White House back, we'll nominate Obama.

Hi guys and gals.

I don't think that you should vote for Obama just because he supports Israel. I do think, though, that he's quite a remarkable candidate, in many arenas. This includes his ability to inspire not only die hard
Democrats like ourselves, but individuals like my father, who is always arguing politics with his liberal family and his friends. Take a look at the attachment, even if it's just to humor me. My father wrote a
very surprising letter, introducing information which clearly indicates that Obama is far from being anti-Semitic, or anti-Israel.

Sincerely,

Wendy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Bloom, Elliott"

Subject: Obama is pro Israel

Hi All,
Recently I received email accusing Barack Obama of approving of anti-Semites, and being anti-Israel. I just assumed that this was another Clinton dirty trick and have obtained strong evidence of Obama's pro Israel record, and strong support from the Jewish community from the beginning of his political career. Marsha Alper, who is a volunteer for the Obama Presidential campaign obtained this material for me. I have included a PDF and web references provided by Marsha. This material indicates that it is a foul canard that Obama is not a strong supporter of Israel. He is not an anti-Semite and has been a strong supporter of Israel for many years.

I have voted Republican in all Presidential elections from the time of Jerry Ford. I ask you to join me in support of Barack Obama, the most inspiring, eloquent, and intelligent candidate for President since JFK. I will vote for him because I believe he can bring Americans together to solve the most impossible problems we have faced since world war II. If we take the path of partisanship, divisiveness, and politics as usual, the path of the Clintons, we do so at our peril as a Nation.

Best Regards,
Elliott