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Hillary's Youthful Supporter: The Mayor of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh's mayor, Luke Ravenstahl, is 28 years old. He's the youngest mayor of a big city in the country. The Washington Post has an interesting profile of him, including his unwavering support for Hillary Clinton.

At 28, the youngest big-city mayor in modern U.S. history has become one of Clinton's key backers in Pennsylvania, her top surrogate in its second-largest city and an effective rejoinder to the idea that Sen. Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, has a lock on young voters in the state.

He's very popular:

During his 18 months in office, Ravenstahl has persuaded Pittsburgh's professional hockey team not to leave town, balanced the budget, cut city spending and helped promote new housing developments downtown. He was elected to retain office by 63 percent of voters in 2007. He recently announced an ambitious plan to make Pittsburgh more efficient by combining city and county governments -- an agenda that, if executed, would ultimately eliminate his job.

Pittsburgh has been hit by hard times. Hillary has a plan for it. [More..]

Tucked into the steep hills of western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh has traditionally been run by the kind of working-class, third-generation German and Irish immigrants who helped propel Clinton to victory in neighboring Ohio. The city, less diverse than Philadelphia, is bunkered on all sides by 100 miles of backcountry. Its population is shrinking, and more than 20 percent of residents live below the poverty line.

Pittsburgh's legendary steel and manufacturing industries have long since faded, leaving the city in a continual quest for new employers. On the campaign trail recently, Clinton credited Ravenstahl for helping "reenergize Pittsburgh," and the two politicians share a simple vision: maintain Pittsburgh's status as a manufacturing hub by investing in clean energy research and relying on universities such as Duquesne, the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon for innovation.

Last week, Hillary announced a big economic plan that included manufacturing concerns.

Today, she announced three new initiatives to help catalyze manufacturing research and ensure that the U.S. becomes a leader in clean energy manufacturing.

...* A “Made Green In America” Fund: Hillary will invest $500 million annually in a “Made Green in America” fund to encourage the creation of high-wage jobs in clean energy manufacturing technologies.

...* A Green-Manufacturing Extension Partnership (G-MEP): The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a highly effective program that provides technical and business assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturers to help them improve productivity and create and grow the number of good-paying jobs in this country.

In her own words:

We’re also going to create at least 5 million additional jobs in green energy. Jobs making public buildings more energy efficient. Jobs weatherizing homes to make sure that people get more value for their dollar, to save on home heating and cooling bills. Jobs that will re-open shuttered factories to build the clean energy technologies. I was last night in Bucks County at one of the keystone industrial port centers, I saw these big wind turbines being made, with as I understand it union workers from the steelworkers, and I saw the future, and it is a future that we can expand.

How will I pay for that? Take the tax subsidies away from the oil companies and put them to work in clean renewable energy.

This is another critical difference between me and my Democratic opponent. My opponent talks about clean energy on the campaign trail, but when he had a chance to do something about it in the Senate - remember where I come from, my dad was from Scranton, actions speak louder than words - when he had a chance to do something about it he actually voted for Dick Cheney’s energy bill. I voted against it. Once again, when it was time to turn talk into action, his promises were just words. We have to be smart and tough at the same time, it’s not going to be easy to take on the oil companies and the oil producing countries. But I’m ready to do it and with your help starting on April 22nd that is just what I will do.

On a related note, Hillary unveiled her economic Blueprint for Indiana today.

How unfortunate that while she lays out plan after plan of substance, people would rather hear Obama talk in generalities about hope, change and optimism.

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  • Display: Sort:
    See no substance, hear no substance, (5.00 / 4) (#3)
    by rebrane on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:31:09 PM EST
    acknowledge no substance.

    No, just shake your heads about how Obama only talks in generalities and about how his supporters are all drinking the kool-aid, then proceed to ignore everything that contradicts your prejudices.

    How is he going to go about doing those things? (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Radix on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:12:43 PM EST
    All I saw was a mission statement with almost no mention of how he was going to make those ideas reality. Any thoughts?

    Parent
    Read it again (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by shoephone on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:19:01 PM EST
    During his 18 months in office, Ravenstahl has persuaded Pittsburgh's professional hockey team not to leave town, balanced the budget, cut city spending and helped promote new housing developments downtown. He was elected to retain office by 63 percent of voters in 2007.

    This is a guy with a lot of political capital. Sounds like he's got tons of support already.

    Parent

    I think you responded to the wrong poster. :) (none / 0) (#37)
    by Radix on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:20:43 PM EST
    Oops. You were right. My bad! :-) (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by shoephone on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:31:59 PM EST
    In which case, I got the context of the "he" wrong too.

    LOL. When I go to Obama's website all I see is his big head wrapped in a heavenly aura of godly light and I lose all perspective.

    Parent

    Pittsbugh proper is very small (none / 0) (#42)
    by ding7777 on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:55:02 PM EST
    It is surrounded by numerous small communities;  if you go 10 miles in any direction, you'll pass thru 2 or more communities

    The city itself is run by the Democratic machine (1929 was the last time a Republican was Mayor)

    Parent

    yeah... here's an idea... (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Kensdad on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:28:30 PM EST
    Obama hasn't been reluctant to borrow from Hillary when it suits his purposes...  She's got lots of good ideas and everyone knows that there's no difference between the two candidates, right?  I mean the media keeps saying that so it must be true!  So, if Obama "borrows" a bit from Hillary, I'm sure that the media won't notice (or mind.)

    Parent
    uh huh. (none / 0) (#51)
    by DawnG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:28:50 PM EST
    and you're just saying that as a completely impartial observer are you?

    Do you always think that mutual agreement is some kind of intellectual property theft?  Or is Obama special?

    Parent

    Obama is definitely special (none / 0) (#66)
    by Kensdad on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:13:15 AM EST
    most of the time mutual agreement is great...  there's just a pattern with obama mutually agreeing after Hillary takes a stand...   check out his indecision on the opening ceremony of the olympics, then mutually agreeing with hillary 2 days after she takes a stand.

    i don't even necessarily agree with hillary on this one (i'm of two minds like obama used to be!)  but obama took a special stand i guess agreeing with hillary on this one!

    good for him!  i thought his new kind of politics would leave room for a nuanced stand like the one he abandoned on the opening ceremony issue...  i guess it's politics as usual despite what he claims on the campaign trail...

    Parent

    My favorite (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by rooge04 on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:09:59 PM EST
    part of his plan is where he says he'll encourage young people to become farmers. /snark

    Parent
    I'm kind of young still... (none / 0) (#52)
    by DawnG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:30:39 PM EST
    ...and I'd actually like to be encouraged to be a farmer.

    I want to raise tibetan yaks! or grow switchgrass for pellet stoves or hemp.  I just need a really good excuse (so I can convince my husband). :)

    Some of us really do have simple downhome farmer fantasies for our lives.

    Parent

    Of course you do. (none / 0) (#65)
    by miguelito on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 05:06:26 AM EST
    And the fact that "encouraging people to become farmers" is a tenet of Obama's plan is simply funny to me. How about more job creation and help with financing education? A lot of people live in cities and suburbs and have really no chance to do that farming they've always dreamed of. Especially all those college kids voting for O. Somehow I don't see them becoming farmers anytime soon.

    Parent
    having been a farmer, (none / 0) (#68)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:49:28 AM EST
    I can tell you most nonfarmers have no idea what is involved.

    Farming is highly technical and very demanding. If a farmer doesn't have the right training or education, s/he must (well, not 'must,' but only is s/he wants to make a living) then hire a consultant with that training or expertise.

    The hours are long, the job is difficult, and the rewards are uncertain.

    An old joke among farmers: How do you make a small fortune? Start with a big fortune and the become a farmer.


    Parent

    Really? (4.83 / 12) (#8)
    by Steve M on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:43:53 PM EST
    I guess I'm not surprised that people who agree that living overseas from the age of six to ten constitutes foreign policy experience are of the belief that a bunch of white papers on a campaign website indicate a campaign of deep substance.

    Considering that the consistent drumbeat from Obama advisers like Goolsbee and Power has been that you shouldn't pay any attention to the details of Obama's proposals since it's all going to change once he gets elected anyway, I think the white papers on the website have lost whatever minor currency they might have enjoyed regardless.

    Parent

    as opposed to people... (none / 0) (#54)
    by DawnG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:36:45 PM EST
    ...who believe being a professional wife is foreign policy experience?

    Please.  You could go back and forth with the cutting barbs and snide insults.  But beyond giving you some small degree of smug self satisfaction, it doesnt' really contribute anything to the discussion.

    Parent

    "professional wife"?! Oy. (none / 0) (#62)
    by nycstray on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 02:05:05 AM EST
    I don't believe it. (none / 0) (#63)
    by DawnG on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 02:18:24 AM EST
    But Iv'e heard that from the other side too.

    Neither of you are right.  I just said it to make a point. being pompus doesn't make you right.

    Parent

    any more insults from Dawn (none / 0) (#64)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 02:58:10 AM EST
    and she's suspended. I've had to delete several of your comments tonight for rudeness. You are alos chattering. See the comment rules.

    Parent
    well (none / 0) (#49)
    by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 09:24:25 PM EST
    we all know that everything you read in the newspaper is true!

    Parent
    Yeah... (none / 0) (#50)
    by DawnG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:26:40 PM EST
    ...that entire last sentence could have just been cut out entirely and it would have been a really good piece.

    It was like taking a perfectly good piece of pie and putting a scoop of poop on it instead of ice cream.  ruins the whole thing.

    If anything else is realized this primary, I hope it's the fact that it's hard to whine about people being jerks to you when you feel so gosh darn entitled to be a jerk yourself.

    Parent

    I have a question... (none / 0) (#53)
    by DawnG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:34:47 PM EST
    ...putting aside HOW he became mayor, is he doing a good job or a bad jobs?

    Plenty of fine public servants have come into their positions through...attrition.

    Teddy Roosevelt was never supposed to be president, and yet he was such an incredible one they carved his face into a mountain.

    Howard Dean became governor of VT becuase He was Lt Governot and the sitting governot died suddenly.  But by all accounts he was a very good governor.

    So rather than telling us the mayor is a joke becuase of HOW he became mayor, can you tell us how's he actually done AS mayor?

    Parent

    Sooo Frustrating... (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by bjorn on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:34:07 PM EST
    I wish the news shows would actually report the news and talk about these plans!

    Plans are complicated... (none / 0) (#55)
    by DawnG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:39:07 PM EST
    ...sound bites and gotchas are easy.

    the news never deals with the details, they get in the way of a perfectly good narrative.

    Parent

    I'm glad she's hammering him (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by stillife on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:34:36 PM EST
    on his pro-Cheney vote.

    I'm impressed by Ravenstahl - mayor at 28?  I'd say he has a bright political future ahead of him.

    He'd be considered a part of the Obama demographic, so it's heartening to see that he's supporting Hillary.  She's got some good support there in PA.  From that alone - polls make my head spin - I think that PA will play out like Ohio, only more so.  

    I think she's good to keep (5.00 / 7) (#16)
    by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:52:14 PM EST
    reminding folks that it's Cheney's Energy Bill--you know the one that was written by the energy execs, the very execs who secretly met with him and whose names he won't reveal.

    It's a bit ballsy that the same blogs who were screaming for the names of the execs who wrote the bill to be released are now supporting Obama for backing "clean burning coal."  How Victorian!  A black lung for everyone!

    Parent

    I wish she had done it earlier (none / 0) (#35)
    by kayla on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:16:35 PM EST
    She probably would have captured more of the youth vote.

    Parent
    She did ...but the MSM (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:44:09 PM EST
    and the blogs never listened.  

    Parent
    Youth tide may be turning (5.00 / 7) (#6)
    by Terry M on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:35:48 PM EST
    Students at UPenn are reportedly backing Hillary, bucking a previously set trend among the college-age voters elswhere.

    While there is a theme floating in the MSM media, that the educated and worldly dems favor Obama while ignorant and racist dems favor Hillary, the truth is that the demographics of the Democratic race are a lot more complicated than that.

    I just wish for one day, just one, Hillary would get a fair shake in the MSM.  I'm not holding my breath. . . .

    Where (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by nell on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:42:54 PM EST
    did you hear that Penn students are backing Hillary? That would be wonderful (though Penn State would be even better since it is way bigger and most of the students there are probably PA residents, while Penn attracts a lot of folks from out of state).

    Parent
    Precedent (5.00 / 7) (#13)
    by Athena on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:49:34 PM EST
    There's precedent - Hillary won the youth vote in California, a fact not widely reported.

    Parent
    Penn students are irrelevant (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:46:43 PM EST
    West Philly will be voting for Obama 95%. Count on it.

    Parent
    I love Pittsburgh (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Steve M on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:44:35 PM EST
    Great town.  Very patriotic city.

    One of My Oldest Friends... (5.00 / 5) (#19)
    by AmyinSC on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:58:12 PM EST
    Lives there.  She is DEFINITELY voting for Hillary.  She's a Nurse Practitioner, and mentioned the Nurses' Association's endorsement of Clinton - THAT never made it to the MSM, that's for sure - they were too busy touting DeNiro's endorsement of Obama to mention an organization that represents over 2 million people.  (kinda like how tey never mentioned Jack Murtha's endorsement.)  Whatever!  

    Parent
    "Green" industry can be a money maker (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by shoephone on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:50:11 PM EST
    If traditional industry would sign on to working with scientists and governments. Nothing lasting happens without real cooperation. But in many cases, incentives and encouragement work much better than strict regulations and punishments. The former make industry a partner in the new economy, while the latter often compels them to take their toys and move to other states -- and countries -- where 'conditions' are more favorable. There are many jobs (green and not green) that could go to cities like Pittsburg, but the major investment needs to be going into high-tech education. The steel industry has been suffering for many years. Tech educ. and advancement is the only way to boost manufacturing.

    In WA our high-tech industries enjoy fabulous tax breaks for R&D. It's no wonder companies like Microsoft and Boeing and the bio-techs do so well here. (In the case of MS and Boeing, they benefit a little too much, in my view.)

    Ravenstahl sounds like a guy with a lot of energy and vision. The fact that he's not simply doing whatever it takes to keep his seat of power makes me respect him and trust his insticts even more.

    You said it (5.00 / 7) (#17)
    by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:55:23 PM EST
    Ravenstahl sounds exactly like the kind of guy Obama claims to be, but actually isn't.  He is doing the things now that O claims he will do later.  This is how you show the ambition and courage to lead this country-by actually rolling up your shirtsleeves and earning it.

    Hm...Ravenstahl will be eligible for president in eight years...hm...

    Parent

    Ravenstahl (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by cmugirl on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:12:51 PM EST
    Seems like he already has more on his resume than some people.

    And from an above post - didn't the University of Texas paper (even though I dislike them - I'm an Aggie) endorse Hillary? So, I assume she had at least a pretty good following there too!

    Parent

    Yes... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by AmyinSC on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:47:42 PM EST
    They did indeed endorse Clinton.

    I can't help but wonder if this isn't more media spin abt who makes up her consitutency.  You know, all of the "smart", academic people go for Obama, and Clinton has blue collar and old people thing (and every time I have seen that said, a whole BUNCH of us who support Clinton prove them wrong with our academic creds).  Anywho - just wondering.

    Ravenstahl DOES seem like a bright light for the Dems. A whole bunch of PA mayors have endorsed Clinton.  Hope it helps!

    Parent

    If Anything Has been Proven True this Primary... (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Deadalus on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:51:32 PM EST
    it's that Mayors have a lot more sway than Senators in terms of endorsements.  This mayor seems very popular, and I must say, he's quite cute...so I'm sure he's an asset!

    Time will tell. (none / 0) (#57)
    by DawnG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:43:02 PM EST
    Like anything else, you can't know til after the votes are tallied.  

    I dont' care either way, I'm just tired of people projecting their own hopes onto the future.  The future will unfold as it must, there's no need to turn it into something it may or may not become.

    Parent

    Got to respect any politician (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by DWCG on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:58:08 PM EST
    That supports the elimination of his job.  If only more Republican legislators could be more respectful.  :-)

    Her position on Net Neutrality (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Edgar08 on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:07:31 PM EST
    Remains unchanged.


    I live in Pittsburgh...... (5.00 / 14) (#26)
    by Mrwirez on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:58:25 PM EST
    I am an International Brotherhood of Electrical workers (IBEW) Electrician in Pittsburgh. While it is true our Union, locally and nationally have donated to the Clinton and Obama campaigns  (so much for Obama NOT taking PAC money), don't believe the polls that Obama is closing in, the job sites says something VERY Different. Hillary will win western PA big with the Governor, the mayor of Philly and Pittsburgh's Luke Ravenstahl, Dan Onorato, Allegheny county's Chief Executive, and throw in John Murtha longtime congressman from Johnstown, it is a very impressive list. Our Local Unions put these guys into office and they endorse Hillary. I am on the largest construction site in the area. The New Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, it is a one billion dollar job with 1300 workers.... ALL UNION btw. The lunch pail talk is quietly talking Clinton all the way. We cannot wait until the 22nd to check the ballot box for Hillary. Obama? Not so much. He seems phony to us working men. The whole Reverend Wright issue did not help his cause around here either. I think Barack Obama will be a good leader, just not yet! Pittsburgh PA loves the Clintons.

    PS.  White Male/42 -not afraid to vote for a woman!

    Good on ya! (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:00:04 PM EST
    Love you! (none / 0) (#58)
    by angie on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 10:47:00 PM EST
    You're wrong (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by badger on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:07:22 PM EST
    At least about net neutrality.

    From ZDNet, Jan 2, 2008:

    Clinton: Yes. I am an original co-sponsor of the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, and I supported its reintroduction. No other communications medium in recent history has had such a profound impact as the Internet on free expression, education, the proliferation of commerce, and the exchange of political ideas. And it is the basic principles of neutrality and nondiscrimination that have allowed the Internet to flourish.

    There's also a discussion on OpenLeft (hardly a pro-Clinton blog) with Tim Wu (who coined the term "net neutrality") on Feb 4, 2008 where he indicates Clinton supports net neutrality.

    Do you have any facts to support your assertion?

    No facts to contradict you (none / 0) (#45)
    by magisterludi on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:21:52 PM EST
    but i have read that net neutrality accusation on some other sites, but only in comments and from particularly uh, fervent, Obama followers.

    Thanks for the info.

    Parent

    Tweaty was touting the polls (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:07:36 PM EST
    again, the ones where he is closing in, where Hillary is toast.  That is it.  

    Better (5.00 / 5) (#33)
    by nell on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:14:41 PM EST
    he does this because then it is an even bigger blow if and when Obama actually fails. Remember California, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas? Everywhere the writing was on the wall that he would be beating her big, even in the exit polling they touted...but when the votes came in, Hillary was well ahead in CA, NJ, and OH and did what she needed to do in TX. It is also good in that people will be more motivated to pitch in and get out to vote since they think it needs to be done...if 18 point leads were being talked about, people would get very lazy...

    Parent
    I hear you on this one Jearalyn (5.00 / 4) (#31)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:11:07 PM EST
    How unfortunate that while she lays out plan after plan of substance, people would rather hear Obama talk in generalities about hope, change and optimism.

    Well, it's boring you know, and it's just a plan does not make you feel good or get inspired or nothing.  And any way...that kind of stuff is just like foreign policy.  

    How annoying as well that only yesterday Tweaty and others heard her talk about the Iraqi Parliament voting about continued stay in Iraq while US congress will not get to vote--she repeated this in every stump speech and a number of debates.  

    Mayor Ravenstahl (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by CoralGables on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:15:52 PM EST
    I know this is really a post about Hillary, but if there is a politician that is trying to save his city money by ultimately eliminating his own job...that's a politician with far bigger things in his future.

    OT: Camille Paglia.. (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:47:09 PM EST
    Talk about horrible person of the year award...take a look at the latest.  I think she is irrelevant, maybe she thinks writing like this she will become macho and relevant again:  
    I agree that the male staff who Hillary attracts are slick, geeky weasels or rancid, asexual cream puffs. (One of the latter, the insufferable Mark Penn, just got the heave-ho after he played Hillary for a patsy with the Colombian government.) If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say Hillary is reconstituting the toxic hierarchy of her childhood household, with her on top instead of her drill-sergeant father. All those seething beta males (as you so aptly describe them) are versions of her sad-sack brothers, who got the short end of the Rodham DNA stick.


    oddly (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:15:09 PM EST
    the people who hated her a year ago for spouting crap like this will now celebrate her intelligence and wit.

    Parent
    I've long despised Camille Paglia (none / 0) (#46)
    by shoephone on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:25:55 PM EST
    She is a figment of her own imagination.

    But keep in mind that she believes Madonna is the most important woman in American life...

    Yikes. Off topic indeed!

    Parent

    Unfortunate and sad. We will pay the price. (none / 0) (#1)
    by Angel on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:30:22 PM EST


    DC has been taken over (none / 0) (#2)
    by 1jpb on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:31:03 PM EST
    by young folks too.

    It's time for change.

    Time for a change? (5.00 / 7) (#25)
    by badger on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:48:12 PM EST
    Disposable or cloth?

    Parent
    Oh, those changin' ways and days... (5.00 / 3) (#28)
    by Camorrista on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:06:11 PM EST
    Disposable or cloth?

    Bravo!

    Parent

    Substance over style any day (none / 0) (#47)
    by IKE on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:32:51 PM EST
    Wow a politician that actually has a record to be pround of. Why isn't the media reporting on this. A politician of substance backs another, I guess birds of the same feathers flock together. Pittsburg has completely been turn around. Now if only we can get this guy to move to Detriot, Detriot's high school drop out rate might decrease. Before you go on calling me a racist, just for the record, I am an African American.

    now that is just too funny! (none / 0) (#59)
    by cpinva on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 12:03:41 AM EST
    DC has been taken over by young folks too. It's time for change.

    let me enlighten you: DC is always being taken over by young folks, now, and when i worked up there in my late 20's. they aren't the power, the old folks are. they do like those georgetown bars though.

    so i wouldn't take that for any ground shifting change. they tend to be mostly interns or low-level assistants or aides, whose most important responsibility is making sure the office coffee pot is full.

    while some of them eventually do attain positions of influence, by that time, they're, um, well...................older.

    i hope sen. clinton beats the pants (metaphorically speaking) off sen. obama in PA. she'll probably lose philly (high concentration of AA voters), but take the rest of the state in a rout.

    i don't begrudge the AA community for voting for sen. obama in the least. i'm sure it's a rare treat for them to see someone, on the national stage, who they can identify with. no more wrong with that than the huge numbers of irish catholics who voted for jack kennedy, because he was "one of them".

    Okay (none / 0) (#61)
    by shoephone on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 01:29:11 AM EST
    I will understand if you want to delete my comment as well (since it now seems to come out of left field).