When you live in DC, and are involved in advocacy, it’s inevitable you will cross paths with other advocates. Over the years I’ve crossed paths with Donna Brazile a number of times. I’ve found her to be a straight talker — not in a “McSame” way, but in a way you can trust. And that is why this post is so distressing to me.
A young woman from Ohio sent an email to Brazile, urging her to use her influence as a member of the Rules Committee, to seat the MI and FL delegates. It’s a sentiment, as a former Florida resident, I support.
And while the letter might not have been as “politically correct” as it could have been, it certainly came across as respectful and sincere. So how did Brazile respond? Before I post the message let me say again that if this is indeed Donna’s response I find it very distressing.
From: “Donna Brazile” Add Mobile Alert
To: xxxxxxxxx
Subject:
RE: This Race
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 07:58:35 -0400
Thanks Natalie,
As of today, I am not going to respond to any more anti American, Anti Democratic emails. Have a nice day.
I am sorry because you are sincere, but the Hillary forces are uncivil, repugnant and vile. When you come up for air and would like to email a person who cares about America and not just a personality, I will respond.
Thanks for your time and your interest.
Donna
Please go read the message from Natalie and let me know if you think this was an appropriate response.
Obama campaign supporter Jamal Simmons said on CNN just now that Obama is doing so poorly in West Virginia because he didn’t campaign in West VA. Basically saying that he didn’t let people get to know him, and when he does the outcome is much different. So why didn’t Obama campaign in West Virginia?
Simmons then went on to say what EVERY Obama supporter said this week when they knew Obama was going to be defeated so handily — let her stay in the race as long as she wants to.
“It’s this kind of patronizing, ‘oh let the nice lady stay in the race if she wants to’ that’s really not what she’s trying to do,” said Hillary Rosen, a Clinton supporter. “This is the problem Sen. Clinton is facing right now. Her voters are not being spoken to. When you look at exit polls from West Virginia, as income levels go down, Clinton’s support goes up. And I think what her voters are really saying and what Sen. Clinton is really saying is start to talk about the issues I am speaking about that are attracting these voters. I think he can do that, but that is his challenge.”
Obama has a serious problem reaching white working class voters – a group that should flock to Democrats in the fall after seven years of George W. Bush.
National talk radio host Roland Martin probably doesn’t mean to, but he is making the perfect case for why Sen. Clinton should be the Democratic nominee – if the party wants to bring back into the fold working class voters who for far too long now have been voting against their own interests (when they vote Republican). He is saying that Democrats have to be able to speak to those voters. That this is somehow a “party issue” … an “infrastructure problem.”
I would suggest to Mr. Martin that Sen. Clinton IS speaking to those voters and it’s WHY she keeps winning in key states that have lots of working class voters!
Rosen reminded everyone that in a time of economic uncertainty, the idea of “change” or “reform” is not what is paramount on voter’s minds. They want to know how the next president plans to turn the economy around.
The discussion then turned to Hispanic voters, and how Democrats can win this important group away from McCain. Well, once again this is a group Sen. Clinton DOES VERY WELL with. It’s simply amazing to me that these talking heads on CNN don’t seem to even realize they are making a case for why Sen. Clinton should be the Democratic nominee.
It will be interesting to see what Sen. Clinton has to say tonight.
Robert Rauschenberg, a longtime Captiva (FL) resident considered to be among the world’s leading contemporary artists, died at his home on May 12, 2008. He was 82.
“European art critics have said there will be two artists remembered for the 20th century — Picasso for the first half and Rauschenberg for the second half,” said Mary Lynn Kotz, whose biography, “Rauschenberg / Art and Life,” was originally published in 1990.
He redefined painting with innovations such as all-white paintings. He reinvented printing-making with new processes. He revolutionized collage by combining media. He mastered photography. He designed lighting and sets for dance. He made sculptures out of found objects. [...]
Rauschenberg was a great philanthropist with many causes. One especially close to home was the Abuse Counseling and Treatment center, also known as ACT.
Rauschenberg was part of the ACT family and part of her personal family, said Jennifer Benton, ACT executive director and artist Darryl Pottorf’s sister.
“We’ve known him for the past 30 years. He was someone you could have the best time with but he was very serious about his art work. He was very passionate about family and friends.”
Rauschenberg was the inspiration for the first Arts for ACT auction, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Benton said.
Rauschenberg began by donating a print to the auction and kept donating his work through the years, he said.
One of the most important American artists of the twentieth century, since the mid-1950’s to the early 2000’s, Rauschenberg pioneered new approaches to an extraordinarily diverse range of media. The many aspects of his prolific creativity are explored in this film, which draws on the ideal resource of a major retrospective of his work at the Guggenheim Museum, New York. At his studio on the island of Captiva, Rauschenberg gives a relaxed and candid interview and is seen at work.
Southwest Airlines passenger Joe David Jones was met at the gate by Dallas police, for refusing to get off his cell phone while the plane was in flight. Early media reports left the impression that Jones was just another obnoxious businessman, who thinks rules are meant to be broken.
But was that the case?
It seems the call was with a physician treating his father, who had just suffered a serious heart attack. The doctor need to speak with Jones immediately, to make critical life-death decisions regarding his father.
Police said Joe David Jones, 50, of Austin, was cited for disorderly conduct. Jones did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
The Federal Aviation Administration bars use of mobile phones when planes are flying due to concerns about interference with navigation systems.
King said airlines can be fined up to $25,000 for allowing cell phone use, and passengers also can be fined.
If you were Joe David Jones, what would you have done?
