DeLong writes:
The argument that Wilentz should have made is that this spring's primary results show that white reluctance to vote for an African-American candidate could be a real and important factor this November -- and potentially key in these five states, all of them crucial to Democratic hopes. Superdelegates should therefore make a coldblooded calculation to cater to the prejudices of the American electorate in swing states by choosing Clinton over Obama.
(Emphasis supplied.)Um, why not argue that voters in key states for November are more likely to vote for Hillary than Obama in a general election? Because there is not bile you can spew at Hillary clinton if you do it that way. Let me give you an example of how I can turn Obama's electability argument into a perjorative:
Superdelgates should vote for Obama because the Media and part of the electorate still accept sexism and miosogyny as legitimate. Particularly in states like [take your pick - Western states, Virginia, etc.] Superdelegates should therefore make a coldblooded calculation to cater to the prejudices of the American electorate by choosing Obama over Clinton.
You see how easy it is? Brad Delong is a smart fellow. But he too just engages in Clinton Hate as a matter of course. It is one of the most remarkable developments of this campaign season. The easy resort to Clinton Hate from people like Josh Marshall and Brad Delong. And they sem oblivious to it.
Let me conclude that I too thought poorly of Sean Wilentz's argument that DeLong is responding to. But I also think extremely poorly of Brad Delong's response, as its Clinton Hate is palpable. folks like DeLong and Marshall have sacrificed a lot of credibility in this campaign in my eyes. They obviously do not care of course. But I will point it out nonetheless.
POST SCRIPT -
On the substance, DeLong finally gets to the issue at the end of his piece:
Which Democratic candidate, Obama or Clinton, has a better chance of carrying Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Iowa, New Mexico, Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Missouri and Colorado against John McCain in November?
My answer, as I have described in many posts based on demographics and polling data, Clinton does better in MI, PA, Ohio and Florida. Obama does better in Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, Iowa, NM, Nevada and Colorado. Obama also does better in Viriginia.
Missouri is a wash. DeLong continues:
And, alas, the arguments that Clinton would fare worse in those states, and that she is less electable generally than Obama, are numerous and distressingly powerful
Noooo, only for SOME of those states is that true. In others - particularly the BIG CONTESTED STATES, Clinton fares better.
But why does Obama do better in the other states? I think DeLong is right on that:
* She is a Clinton, and hence will energize the Republican base against her nationwide as nobody else can.
* The press corps has never given her a fair shake, and as Machiavelli once said, we can never forgive and be fair to those to whom we have done injury.
* Barack Obama is a charismatic, historic figure.
I find this argument specious, almost silly:
* The positions that Clinton has been taking vis-à-vis Obama in the past month appear to open up major vulnerabilities in the fall. McCain's national security experience in Vietnam trumps Clinton's national security experience in Tuzla, Bosnia.
I s Delong serious? As compared to Jeremiah Wright? Ridiculous.
But I love this kicker:
Now, none of these are Hillary Rodham Clinton's fault . . . None of these are fair. But they do make me believe that flinty-eyed Democratic superdelegates making coldblooded calculations about the national interest are making a better bet on the future if they decide to support Barack Obama.
I see. Beside rewarding all of the things DeLong describes, he advocate rewarding the sexism and misogyny of the Media and the electorate as well. It's ok if it is for Obama apparently.
At the end of the day, sadly and perhaps shamefully for me, I actually agree that Obama should be supported on elctability grounds. But I sooo detest the nasty Hillary Hate that sanctimonious Obama supporters like DeLong will display while feeding the most vile behavior. If they dropped the act, it would be much easier to swallow.
