I've tried to stay away from blatant political posts so far this election cycle (there is plenty of time for that later in the year!), but I have to say something to this one. For those of you who don't know, I believe that Hillary Clinton is waging a very negative, divisive, rude and pompous presidential campaign. While she herself has mostly stayed away from dropping the big bombs, folks within her campaign have consistently shown the nation the true colors of a politician who is desperate to win for the sake of winning. Whether they're digging into his kindergarten papers, suggesting that he is unelectable because of talking openly about his teenage drug use, or spreading false rumors about him being a fundamentalist Muslim, to name very few, they've been finding new and even more desperate and petty ways to sling poop at Barack Obama, who's been running a relatively clean and class-act campaign, despite the fact that it's been widely reported that she's had problems running even her own campaign, both fiscally and organizationally.
Anyway, whatever. It's politics, and they're going to go after each other. I understand that. However, until now, it's simply been the campaigns "drawing distinctions" between themselves. Then, the other night, a man by the name of Tom Buffenbarger, the president of a prominent machinists' union, gave a long introduction for Hillary Clinton's Ohio victory speech. You'd think he'd like to talk about the virtues of his candidate, why she's good for America, why he personally likes her, etc. He decided to take the opportunity not to talk about his candidate, but to attack Barack Obama. Attack he did, but not just the candidate… he went ahead and attacked the very people who support him. Take a minute to view an excerpt from his speech:
Wow. So… he seems to suggest that Barack Obama's only support comes from college kids, who of course are completely naïve and ignorant of real life. He attacks the beverage Obama's supporters choose to drink, the cars his supporters drive, their footwear they wear on their feet, and suggests that his supporters are rich people who don't actually work for their money. Well, as an Obama supporter- one who has supported his presidency since long before he ever officially announced, has donated money to his campaign, has volunteered his time, has stood for 3 hours out in the cold to see him speak, and has worked as a Precinct Captain for his Minnesota caucus campaign- I'd like to personally respond to Mr. Buffenbarger's remarks.
"Latte-drinking": I actually prefer to take my coffee black, as I would imagine Mr. Buffenbarger does, because he seems to be a straight-shooting, no-nonsense kind of guy. Every once in a great while I will indulge in a soy latte of some sort. Mainly, though, I don't have time for lattes, because I work for Starbucks, and when I have to get up at 4 in the morning to send his crabby working-class behind off to the factory, I need a straight shot of no-nonsense caffeine, and FAST.
"Prius-driving": Okay, I admit it… I REALLY want a Prius. Or at least a super-fuel-efficient car of some sort. I hope they start coming out with more soon, so I have more options than just the Prius. I tend to be one of those greenie, let's-stop-wasting-resources-so-we-can-keep-the-Earth-livable kind of guys who hates burning gas and wishes he had more gumption and self-determination to ride his bike to work in rain or shine. But alas, Mr. Buffenbarger, you've caught me in my hippie daydream; I'll give you a break and come back to reality. In actuality, I drive a Mexic*AHEM*American-made Ford vehicle, probably not too far removed from the Dodge or Chevy that Mr. Buffenbarger drives. It gets 30mpg and I wish it got more. I'll be honest, though… it's not because it would be better for the environment, but because I am incredibly CHEAP. I am a penny-pinching fool, and would love to spend less of my miniscule paycheck on things like gas. I am sure that Mr. Buffenbarger understands this working paycheck-to-paycheck mentality, and might forgive me if I explained my situation.
"Birkenstock-wearing": My apologies, again, Mr. Buffenbarger- I own a pair of Birkenstock sandals. They are incredibly comfy and durable, and I've owned them for the last 5 years, the same pair, wearing them about 8 months out of the year. This year, though, I might need to replace them, because they've become worn out. Actually, they were probably worn out 2 years ago, but I didn't have the money to replace them. Mr. Buffenbarger, do you own anything that might be considered "above and beyond" what would be considered a necessity? A Snap-On ratchet set, maybe? Or a Makita saw? They're a little more expensive than the Sears Craftsman brand, but they last longer and are much more durable for everyday use, and you use them almost every day, so why not spend up a little bit? It's the same thing with my choice of sandals: I wear them all the time, and I'm going to spend a little more so that I can have a good product that will last for a very long time. I could buy the Target brand, but then I'd be spending $40 every year or two, when I could spend $80 one time on a good pair of Birkenstock sandals that will last me 5 times longer. Again, Mr. Buffenbarger, it's a matter of money for me, like it is for you; I don't make much, so I have to be careful with what I have and not spend much.
"Trust-fund babies": I assume by leveling this accusation, Mr. Buffenbarger seeks to depict us as wealthy, out-of-touch liberals who financially set themselves up by cheating the system. I don't fully understand the function of trust funds, but might look into them as I would any other legal financial savings plan. And as for being financially set and cheating the system, let me tell you a story: once upon a time there was a 3-year-old boy whose mother died of leukemia at the age of 31. This boy was privileged to live in a country where its government believed that investing in its people, especially those who may have fallen on hard times, was the most noble of tasks, and it established a national savings plan to ensure that everyone could live a financially stable life and not have to worry about going under because of a hardship, and could even retire in peace and comfort, being financially set after a hard life's work. This savings plan was called Social Security, and for the next 16 years, they cut this boy and his brother a check every month so that he might have good clothes, participate in public school and church activities, and save some for college. When this boy grew up and wanted extras like cars, his parents told him to go get a job, and so he did. When he left his parents' house, his went out into the world and blew that money on a year of failed college, and then 2 more of living the high life, working a full-time job while buying cars and lots of toys, taking road trips, learning to budget a little bit for rent and groceries, health care, and car insurance. This money dried up, however, and as he had no more cushion for his paycheck, he learned even more about living within his means, the value of each and every paycheck, the value of savings, and the value of penny-pinching. He's now stabilizing and learning to build a decent little life with his wife on $30k year.
The boy, by the way, is me. Someday I hope to make a lot more money than I do now, maybe even hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. My candidate has proposed taxing these people, those who make more between $97.5k and $150k a year, a bit more out of their paycheck, not because he's out to steal your hard-earned money, but because the Social Security fund that helped give me my life might not be around for other 3-year-olds, or for me when I retire, 30 years from now unless we start putting more money into it YESTERDAY. (I watched a news clip about this one time, it seems to work: check it out) Your candidate has railed against this plan, scaring up votes by calling it a "10-trillion-dollar tax increase on the middle class", while proposing no specific plan of her own, and accusing my candidate of being naïve for even proposing this idea. I would gladly pay more to ensure that what Mr. Buffenbarger's candidate referred to as "one of the greatest inventions of American democracy" remains intact for as long as I am still alive, and certainly as long as this country still stands. Because, Mr. Buffenbarger, it's not about who makes more or who makes less, it's about the opportunity that each of us is afforded by our government.
And Mr. Buffenbarger, that's what college is all about. After learning from my wasteful spending mistakes, I've been able to save up a bit of money to begin taking college classes through a reputable institution. I used to be like you and was rather annoyed by the groupthinkish tendencies on a lot of college campuses. And why spend all that money on a degree to get you a job when all you'd have to do is work hard and move up in a factory or restaurant someplace to get the same effect? Just work a job, enjoy what you do, accept life as it is. I agree. That's why I chose to go back to school after 5 years- I enjoy learning. I enjoy learning about the way the world works, exploring different beliefs and the lives of other people outside of the four walls of my apartment. This exploration and belief that there's something else, something better out there is what brings many people to college, and what has also brought millions of people to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. This attitude is reflected not just in young college students, but in the college-educated folks in general who have been supporting him. Maybe I'm young and naïve, just like my candidate, but I think we can do this thing, and I think Barack Obama is a great start for people of my generation to begin getting involved in our public affairs again. We're excited, and maybe a little bit gullible, but my goodness do we want to leave this world in better shape than when we came in, something your generation might not, for the first time in the history of our country, do for us.
You're not against Barack Obama, Mr. Buffenbarger, you're against the very things that he is against; racism, classism, non-opportunism, left-outism, and societal biasism. I would suggest that your candidate is taking your anger and desire to change these things, and letting you loose against her opponent, for the simple fact that she wants to win this presidential campaign at all costs. She's already done it in New Hampshire, and those people are still very angry at her for misleading people into turning their anger against Barack Obama. Mr. Buffenbarger, before you get angry, make sure you're getting angry for the right reasons, and turning that anger into something constructive. It's hard to stay angry when you're a part of something big, broad and effective… it becomes a positive experience. That's why Barack Obama is such a huge "craze", and I'd invite you to join this craze. There's a lot of people involved in the Obama campaign… I'd never seen so many young people, old people, veterans, blue-collar, white-collar, green-collar, black, white, Latino, Asian, Somali… 20,000 people lined up outside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Mr. Buffenbarger. I think I even saw a guy who looked like you. Maybe it was you, I don't know. It's not all college campuses and college students, Mr. Buffenbarger: it's pretty much EVERYONE who's joined this thing. But if you don't want to, that's okay, too… just don't spend your candidate's time tearing people down. It makes you both look horrible.
Stand For Change Rally with Barack Obama
2/2/2008 Minneapolis, MN
Anyway, whatever. It's politics, and they're going to go after each other. I understand that. However, until now, it's simply been the campaigns "drawing distinctions" between themselves. Then, the other night, a man by the name of Tom Buffenbarger, the president of a prominent machinists' union, gave a long introduction for Hillary Clinton's Ohio victory speech. You'd think he'd like to talk about the virtues of his candidate, why she's good for America, why he personally likes her, etc. He decided to take the opportunity not to talk about his candidate, but to attack Barack Obama. Attack he did, but not just the candidate… he went ahead and attacked the very people who support him. Take a minute to view an excerpt from his speech:
Wow. So… he seems to suggest that Barack Obama's only support comes from college kids, who of course are completely naïve and ignorant of real life. He attacks the beverage Obama's supporters choose to drink, the cars his supporters drive, their footwear they wear on their feet, and suggests that his supporters are rich people who don't actually work for their money. Well, as an Obama supporter- one who has supported his presidency since long before he ever officially announced, has donated money to his campaign, has volunteered his time, has stood for 3 hours out in the cold to see him speak, and has worked as a Precinct Captain for his Minnesota caucus campaign- I'd like to personally respond to Mr. Buffenbarger's remarks.
"Latte-drinking": I actually prefer to take my coffee black, as I would imagine Mr. Buffenbarger does, because he seems to be a straight-shooting, no-nonsense kind of guy. Every once in a great while I will indulge in a soy latte of some sort. Mainly, though, I don't have time for lattes, because I work for Starbucks, and when I have to get up at 4 in the morning to send his crabby working-class behind off to the factory, I need a straight shot of no-nonsense caffeine, and FAST.
"Prius-driving": Okay, I admit it… I REALLY want a Prius. Or at least a super-fuel-efficient car of some sort. I hope they start coming out with more soon, so I have more options than just the Prius. I tend to be one of those greenie, let's-stop-wasting-resources-so-we-can-keep-the-Earth-livable kind of guys who hates burning gas and wishes he had more gumption and self-determination to ride his bike to work in rain or shine. But alas, Mr. Buffenbarger, you've caught me in my hippie daydream; I'll give you a break and come back to reality. In actuality, I drive a Mexic*AHEM*American-made Ford vehicle, probably not too far removed from the Dodge or Chevy that Mr. Buffenbarger drives. It gets 30mpg and I wish it got more. I'll be honest, though… it's not because it would be better for the environment, but because I am incredibly CHEAP. I am a penny-pinching fool, and would love to spend less of my miniscule paycheck on things like gas. I am sure that Mr. Buffenbarger understands this working paycheck-to-paycheck mentality, and might forgive me if I explained my situation.
"Birkenstock-wearing": My apologies, again, Mr. Buffenbarger- I own a pair of Birkenstock sandals. They are incredibly comfy and durable, and I've owned them for the last 5 years, the same pair, wearing them about 8 months out of the year. This year, though, I might need to replace them, because they've become worn out. Actually, they were probably worn out 2 years ago, but I didn't have the money to replace them. Mr. Buffenbarger, do you own anything that might be considered "above and beyond" what would be considered a necessity? A Snap-On ratchet set, maybe? Or a Makita saw? They're a little more expensive than the Sears Craftsman brand, but they last longer and are much more durable for everyday use, and you use them almost every day, so why not spend up a little bit? It's the same thing with my choice of sandals: I wear them all the time, and I'm going to spend a little more so that I can have a good product that will last for a very long time. I could buy the Target brand, but then I'd be spending $40 every year or two, when I could spend $80 one time on a good pair of Birkenstock sandals that will last me 5 times longer. Again, Mr. Buffenbarger, it's a matter of money for me, like it is for you; I don't make much, so I have to be careful with what I have and not spend much.
"Trust-fund babies": I assume by leveling this accusation, Mr. Buffenbarger seeks to depict us as wealthy, out-of-touch liberals who financially set themselves up by cheating the system. I don't fully understand the function of trust funds, but might look into them as I would any other legal financial savings plan. And as for being financially set and cheating the system, let me tell you a story: once upon a time there was a 3-year-old boy whose mother died of leukemia at the age of 31. This boy was privileged to live in a country where its government believed that investing in its people, especially those who may have fallen on hard times, was the most noble of tasks, and it established a national savings plan to ensure that everyone could live a financially stable life and not have to worry about going under because of a hardship, and could even retire in peace and comfort, being financially set after a hard life's work. This savings plan was called Social Security, and for the next 16 years, they cut this boy and his brother a check every month so that he might have good clothes, participate in public school and church activities, and save some for college. When this boy grew up and wanted extras like cars, his parents told him to go get a job, and so he did. When he left his parents' house, his went out into the world and blew that money on a year of failed college, and then 2 more of living the high life, working a full-time job while buying cars and lots of toys, taking road trips, learning to budget a little bit for rent and groceries, health care, and car insurance. This money dried up, however, and as he had no more cushion for his paycheck, he learned even more about living within his means, the value of each and every paycheck, the value of savings, and the value of penny-pinching. He's now stabilizing and learning to build a decent little life with his wife on $30k year.
The boy, by the way, is me. Someday I hope to make a lot more money than I do now, maybe even hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. My candidate has proposed taxing these people, those who make more between $97.5k and $150k a year, a bit more out of their paycheck, not because he's out to steal your hard-earned money, but because the Social Security fund that helped give me my life might not be around for other 3-year-olds, or for me when I retire, 30 years from now unless we start putting more money into it YESTERDAY. (I watched a news clip about this one time, it seems to work: check it out) Your candidate has railed against this plan, scaring up votes by calling it a "10-trillion-dollar tax increase on the middle class", while proposing no specific plan of her own, and accusing my candidate of being naïve for even proposing this idea. I would gladly pay more to ensure that what Mr. Buffenbarger's candidate referred to as "one of the greatest inventions of American democracy" remains intact for as long as I am still alive, and certainly as long as this country still stands. Because, Mr. Buffenbarger, it's not about who makes more or who makes less, it's about the opportunity that each of us is afforded by our government.
And Mr. Buffenbarger, that's what college is all about. After learning from my wasteful spending mistakes, I've been able to save up a bit of money to begin taking college classes through a reputable institution. I used to be like you and was rather annoyed by the groupthinkish tendencies on a lot of college campuses. And why spend all that money on a degree to get you a job when all you'd have to do is work hard and move up in a factory or restaurant someplace to get the same effect? Just work a job, enjoy what you do, accept life as it is. I agree. That's why I chose to go back to school after 5 years- I enjoy learning. I enjoy learning about the way the world works, exploring different beliefs and the lives of other people outside of the four walls of my apartment. This exploration and belief that there's something else, something better out there is what brings many people to college, and what has also brought millions of people to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. This attitude is reflected not just in young college students, but in the college-educated folks in general who have been supporting him. Maybe I'm young and naïve, just like my candidate, but I think we can do this thing, and I think Barack Obama is a great start for people of my generation to begin getting involved in our public affairs again. We're excited, and maybe a little bit gullible, but my goodness do we want to leave this world in better shape than when we came in, something your generation might not, for the first time in the history of our country, do for us.
You're not against Barack Obama, Mr. Buffenbarger, you're against the very things that he is against; racism, classism, non-opportunism, left-outism, and societal biasism. I would suggest that your candidate is taking your anger and desire to change these things, and letting you loose against her opponent, for the simple fact that she wants to win this presidential campaign at all costs. She's already done it in New Hampshire, and those people are still very angry at her for misleading people into turning their anger against Barack Obama. Mr. Buffenbarger, before you get angry, make sure you're getting angry for the right reasons, and turning that anger into something constructive. It's hard to stay angry when you're a part of something big, broad and effective… it becomes a positive experience. That's why Barack Obama is such a huge "craze", and I'd invite you to join this craze. There's a lot of people involved in the Obama campaign… I'd never seen so many young people, old people, veterans, blue-collar, white-collar, green-collar, black, white, Latino, Asian, Somali… 20,000 people lined up outside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Mr. Buffenbarger. I think I even saw a guy who looked like you. Maybe it was you, I don't know. It's not all college campuses and college students, Mr. Buffenbarger: it's pretty much EVERYONE who's joined this thing. But if you don't want to, that's okay, too… just don't spend your candidate's time tearing people down. It makes you both look horrible.
Stand For Change Rally with Barack Obama
2/2/2008 Minneapolis, MN
