MY WALK WITH A SUPERDELEGATE: What I regrettably left unsaid.

[daniellep]

My walk with a Superdelegate: what I regrettably left unsaid.

Sunny days don’t come often in Seattle, and especially not in April. Gotta take advantage of them when they do! On this particular day, a sunny Saturday at that, after spending my morning laying in bed watching an episode of Hardball that I had recorded the day before, I decided that politics would not steal my sunny day. Especially since all the good political shows don’t come on till Sunday! I decided the most Seattle-like way to take advantage of the unusually warm weather was to hit the path on Greenlake. I had no idea how that path would enrich mine.

So I got my walking shoes on, put the headphones in my IPod, and set out on a walk that would turn out to be the highlight of my year. I parked in my usual spot, a lot just off of Aurora that I don’t think I’m suppose to park in. But I do, and that day I did. I walked about a hundred yards before joining the mainstream of Greenlake athletes engaging in their various forms of exercise. I got my music situated. This day I choose “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder to set my mood and inspire my rigorous walk. I got no more than two minutes into my rythym when I was interrupted by a provoking sight: a Washington State Superdelegate. He and another gentleman were passing by me going the opposite direction. I couldn’t hear Sir Duke anymore. And my heart was racing, not from my impressive pace. (which wasn’t that impressive) What immediately came to my mind was something that I had seen on the Washington State Democrats website a week before: the Superdelegate that just passed me, I remembered, was an UNCOMMITTED Superdelegate! Time stopped in that instant. My mind started scheming and my legs carried me faster. My music interferred so I had to turn it off. Now I knew my real purpose that day: I had to convince the Superdelegate to endorse my man. I had to represent Barack.

Because the S.D. was walking the opposite direction, I figured we’d have to meet up on the opposite side of the lake. Usually this is my motivation to keep going in order to re-see an exceptionally cute dog or baby. But today, I used this Greenlake insider knowledge to stage my impromptu meeting with a man whose mind it was my job to make up. So I walked, and I planned. Kept walking. Kept planning. Walking, planning. And after a half hour of walking and planning all of the things I was going to say, all of the incredibly insightful ideas I was going to plant in this guys mind, I started to worry that maybe he was at the end of his walk and I would never get the chance to enlighten him. Dang. I decided after a while to let the dream die and just enjoy the sun and the adrenaline rush I got at mere thought of the possibilities. I turned Stevie back on, a slower song now, and trudged on. And just when I thought I had missed my opportunity, there he was. No more than 20 yards away. Oh yeah!- I remembered. He was walking slow. That’s why it took him so long. And here was my chance. My heart was racing. Partly because of my impressive pace, but mostly because I knew that I had to get the courage to seize a once in a lifetime opportunity: to influence a Superdelegate in the most amazing election of my lifetime. So, here’s how it went:

I walked right up to him and put my hand out for a shake. “Mr. Superdelegate?” I said. Only I said his name of course. “Yes…..?” He said, confused probably because he couldn’t understand why I, a 32 year old girl, would even know who he, a late 60’s or older politician was. I told him my first name, said I’m just a regular person, shook his hand, and asked if I could join him. He seemed reluctant, but amused and after looking to his, around the same age, friend for silent approval, agreed to let me join them. And so I did.

First I asked him if he was enjoying his day and his walk. He said yes and introduced me to his unimportant friend. I shook the friend’s hand and then got down to business. “Why do you think I might want to talk to you today?” I asked. He laughed and rightly guessed the election. Bingo, I said. “And who are you supporting?” he asked. I told him I’d give him one clue and let him guess. “My license plates read “OBAMA08″ , I declared. And then he knew. And he and his buddy laughed. And in one question, the buddy opened up the floodgate,…”Why Obama?”

I spent the next half hour walking and talking to the Superdelegate and his friend. And answering their questions about what Washington outsiders thought. (Brilliant pun there….) We talked about Barack, we talked about Hillary. I spoke about character and integrity, and one certain candidate’s lack of both of those things. They took turns asking me questions about my thoughts, and even, at least pretended, to seem interested in my answers. I highlighted what I consider the most telling snapshot of Hillary’s lack of character- when she gave her slimy answer to a journalist’s question about Barack being a Muslim. Despicable, I pointed out. We were in agreement about the fact that it’s important for all people to vote before the S.D.’s cast their votes. They asked about my thoughts on the candidates’ supporters voting tendencies if their preference didn’t become the nominee. I revealed that I for one, would not vot e in the fall if they (the Supers) did a “snaky” thing and over-turned Barack’s pledged delegate lead and handed Hillary the nomination. At one point the S.D.’s friend asked me if I “really thought the country would vote for a black”. I was cringing FOR the Superdelegate. I’m no politician, but that phrasing sure sounded out dated and offensive. But I answered the question in the best way I knew how: by pointing out the difference in cultural competency between the older and younger generations.

We talked and walked. And at the end of our conversation the S.D. shook my hand and gave me his word, that if, after all the contests were over, Barack still had the lead in pledged delegates that he would “do the right thing” and cast his vote for Barack Obama. Mission accomplished. Im sure he already had his mind made up long before he ever met me, but I will still give myself credit for persuading him…….

I said a lot that day. And I feel as though all of my hours of watching political shows and faithfully staying current on the info of at least 7 different political websites everyday, paid off. I had lots of information to back up my opinions. But it’s been a few days now, and after processing our conversation over and over in my head, I have thought of things I regret not thinking of at the time. Important things. Things every Superdelegate should know. Here they are:

1. I wish I had told the S.D.’s friend that his use of the de-huminizing term “black” showed that perhaps it was HE who may not be ready to vote because of the color of someone’s skin. I think sometimes, and especially in this case, we see the world as we are. If not now, then when? And why not now?

2. I wish I had encouraged both of them to read Barack Obama’s first book “Dreams From My Father”. I read it years ago on an airplane. I choose it instead of InStyle magazine that day in the Denver airport on my way back from Casper Wyoming, where I had grown up and gone back to visit my dad.

3. I wish I would’ve had the courage to tell them that they need to do what is important for the next generation….not their’s. Barack Obama has fresh ideas. He, alone can’t do much. He’s just one man. But what he can do, and has done, is inspire an entire nation of his millions of supporters to take action in their lives. And THAT will make a difference. It will reverse global warming through millions of individual efforts. It will bridge gaps and encourage communication between cultures here in America and countries around the world…through individual choices people make. Barack Obama brings to our national table a spirit of cooperation. It’s infectious. It’s invigorating. It’s the future.

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[JanS]

I think you did a wonderful job. What an opportunity to make yourself heard in a big way. Kudos to you…

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[TammiWS]

Amazing! What a wonderful way to start my day reading your inspiring message. Thank you!!

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[beachdrivegirl]

Very well said. And thank you!

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[charlabob]

Don’t worry about what you didn’t say–what you said is powerful and inspiring. And you’re so very right — it really isn’t for “us” — the damned boomers and beyond who seem to cling desperately to power. I’ve been trying to convince my fellow geezers to back off. Now I can point them to your much more eloquent words.

No matter what he and his friend were already thinking about — you had an influence, believe me. That particular SD still remembers being young and tilting at windmills, and clearly continues to do so. You just reminded him of why.

Thank you so much!

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[JenV]

Way to go danillep! Nice to see someone who not only talks the talk- but in this case quite literally walks the walk. :)

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[kathy]

I applaud the courage it took to snag the opportunity and speak up for your convictions!

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[JoB]

daniellep…

even i.. a strong Hillary supporter.. applaud you.

This was not an easy thing to do.. and i think you did a great job.

and i wouldn’t worry so much about what you didn’t say… we all armchair quarterback ourselves afterwards. if only we had said….

but i would ask why you thought it was necessary to spend any of your precious time talking about Hillary.. unless of course, you were asked direct questions?

this is the great mystery to me in this campaign… why so many feel they have to put her down in the most forceful terms to support him?

all of those examples you use to show what a bad person she is.. how dishonest she is.. can be heard more than one way… and most of you only listen to what the evening news and your candidates campaign spin doctors tell you to hear.

if you believe strongly in your candidate, you can support them best with your enthusiasm.

When that superdelegate left you… what did you want him to remember? That you could see no good in Hillary or that you passionately felt Obama was the best candidate?

I can’t urge you enough to find any opportunity to support your candidate..

and the only armchair quarterbacking i would offer is that you need to be sure that you leave them with the message you most wanted them to hear…

I don’t know you. You don’t support my candidate. But still, i am very proud of you… and proud to have the opportunity to hear you…

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[charlabob]

This is a thread to discuss and support a young woman’s contact with a SuperDelegate. I hesitate to respond to JoB’s reaction and I would hope further discussion can take place on one of the Clinton threads.

It is clear that DanielleP spoke eloquently of her reasons for supporting Obama. She also spoke eloquently of the Clinton negatives.

JoB, after the desperate tactics of the Clinton campaign, including during the debate last night, I can’t believe you think we should all stay on some imaginary high road and avoid attacking Clinton. She left that road months ago, if she ever was on it.

As you’ve said to me, in other forums about other subjects, you’re smarter than that.

This notion that Clinton can say and do anything and we should all just shut up about it isn’t going to wash. I wouldn’t bother post about it, except the attitude isn’t limited to this forum.

Good job, Danielle — on making all of the salient points.

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[daniellep]

Hi JoB. Thanks for the feedback. And for the writing intents of my story, I didn’t include even a fourth of the conversation that took place that day….it would have made for too technical of a read. I can see your point about supporters of my candidate feeling the need to insult Hillary in the same vain they are praising Obama. What I hope you’ll take some time to think about is that, to me, it’s as important that people realize WHY Obama supporters don’t like Hillary as it is to know why we DO support Barack. For me, issues of equality for all people of the utmost importance. I care less about any other issue in this race. That’s not to say that I don’t care about providing everyone with good healthcare, bringing our troops home safely, and getting our economy where it should be. My whole philosophy is that NO ONE CAN BE GREAT UNTIL EVERYONE IS OK. And even if all of the above issues were being acheived, an issue that we don’t put on the agenda is the uncomfortable one of leveling the playing field of opportunity for all Americans. When I pointed out to the S.D. the defining snapshot of Hillary’s character, (the opportunity she had to dispell the myth about Barack’s religion) it was because I feel as though that was her chance to validate that she ACTUALLY DOES BELIEVE IN what she says she believes in: civil rights, equality, etc. I believe we saw what Hillary Clinton is actually made of in that instant. Instead of saying, “you know, he’s my opponent…I believe his not ready to be president for other reasons, but let’s put this to rest. He’s a Christian.” Perhaps she could have even elevated the conversation by mentioning that being Muslim doesn’t make you a criminal or a terrorist either. But she didn’t. Instead, she took the lowest of roads. And in that moment I saw the most selfish, and fraudulent character come out of Hillary. And I think that should be relevant to anyone who cares about human decency. It’s easy to be a soldier when there’s no war. And right then was Hillary’c chance to show that she’s a true soldier for equal rights…AND SHE DIDN’T.

I totally respect your right to choose which candidate reflects your beliefs and views. For me, Barack Obama is what this country needs right now. I think he becoming president will lift the moral of so many who have been beat up by our system.

I read a life changing book years ago that I think is relevant here. And I’d love to read it again in some sort of book club format. If anyone is interested let me know. It’s called “The Education Of A WASP” by Lois Mark Stalvey.

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[Anonymous]

JoB, you sound like you’re giving an on topic compliment, but then you proceed to re-state your ongoing pet peeve in this campaign. I know you’re frustrated, but it’s not fair to turn daniellep’s accomplishment into a focus of what displeases you.

Sometimes it’s appropriate to just stop at *good job* and let a person’s actions stand on their own.

daniellep, good job. That took guts. Very impressive.

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[WSMom]

Very well said Danielle!! I hope you make it to Denver!!

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[JoB]

Daniellep responded to my comment in the manner i meant it… and i appreciate that a lot.

it wasn’t just another opportunity to get on a soapbox. Believe me there are plenty of those i have been passing up on purpose on this forum lately.

I mentioned the trend in this campaign because i think it is self destructive… it leaves the person you are trying to convince with more of an impression of your anger than your passion.

i believe very strongly that when you get the opportunity to influence someone else with your opinions that your influence is much greater if you stick to why you support something rather than why you don’t support something else…

I still believe Danielle’s argument about ethics would have been much stronger if she had simply given instances of what Obama actually did and said that illustrated the differences rather than instances of what his opponent did not.

I would do her a disservice in responding to her own armchair quarterbacking any other way.

I would encourage all of you to think about that the next time you have the opportunity to convince anyone about anything.

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[JoB]

Daniellep…

I am sure there will be some who will think this inappropriate on this thread.. but you opened a topic in a way that i think it might be possible to trade perspectives.. so i am going to try.

You said.. “What I hope you’ll take some time to think about is that, to me, it’s as important that people realize WHY Obama supporters don’t like Hillary as it is to know why we DO support Barack”

I have actually spent a lot of time thinking about this.. and reading everyone i can get my hands on who comments on it… so i know the reasoning.. but i can’t say that i actually understand it.

I do see what the Clinton’s and by association, Hillary, have come to be identified with by today’s media… and i understand fully that the young especially have no other context from which to evaluate her…

I even see how bitterly disappointed some are who saw the Clinton’s as just another broken promise… both Clintons. Bill for his personal lapses.. and Hillary because she didn’t make sure she could win the Health Care fight before she took it on.

Had she succeeded… this would have been an entirely different conversation.

but i think you are mistaken when you think that those of us who support Hillary don’t care about the same things you do…

which is why i see this entire storyline of party division as just another republican political gambit.

You and i are concerned about the same things.. we just see them being played out differently.

I too am an idealist.. starting in the early 60s… and i have lived my idealism with integrity.

I have invested in my community… in fact, in retrospect, i find my life’s purpose has been building community.

This is why i see the tactic of builing support for your candidate by tearing down the other as fundamentally wrong. That kind of divisiveness is counterproductive to my life work.. building community.

And, it is counterproductive to Obama’s message of unity.

Yet, it persists… and i think that is due more to manipulation than truth…

a desire for fundamental change and equality is not something new with this primary election. it is something many of us have been working towards our entire lives… and something we can collectively be proud of.

it is what both Jimmy Carter and BillClinton campaigned on and were unable to pull off working with a Republican congress…

It is what we all want… and have worked towards.

No, we didn’t get what we wanted yet… we are nowhere near achieving the dreams of our youth… but we have managed to create substantial change…

that change is why you expect so much today. so, when i look at the entire picture i see something entirely different than you..

i see how far we have come to have these two candidates… it is literally something that i could not have envisioned as a young democrat at the end of the 60s.

I was part of the group of young people who chose not to become part of the “revolution”…(counter culture… yes… revolution.. no)…

i believed then and still believe now that the process of revolution is ultimately unhealthy for women and children. I believed strongly in working from within to change the system…

i entered democratic politics. That is where i initially met a young and idealistic Hillary Clinton.

I only lasted through one political season trying to change the democratic party from within. But she stayed.

Your charge that she loves politics is true… That love allowed her to play in the least even playing field possible and to thrive in it… while still trying to get what she could out of the system for those she cares passionately about.

She really does have a 35 year history of working on issues important to women and children… you can check wikipedia.

what you see as selling out, i see as getting everything that could be gotten from the system at the time…

You fault her for not stepping up to the plate with heroism at what you perceive as her opportunity to do so. Yet, if she was the kind of woman who did that, she would not be a candidate for the democratic nomination now.

having lived in the system that produced her.. i understand all to well what was possible and what wasn’t. You expect far more from her than she can deliver… i don’t see that as a symptom of her failure.. but more a symptom of the collective success of our generation.

many of us have continued to live idealistic lives.. to change what we could when and where we could.. and we have changed some things… you can see possibilities that didn’t exist for us.

I say we because i have not been alone in my idealism or in my lifetime of activism. i try to keep it a secret, but i haven’t even just been among women:)

We too distrust the system. We too want real change. We just disagree about what will get us there.

It appears to me that all you can see is the system and that you have learned to identify Hillary with that system.

I see all kinds of evidence of that.. from the assumption of a Clinton/Bush dynasty to equating Hillary with McCain and looking for any evidence that she is one of “them”.

Yet, if you listen to her talk.. if you actually listen to more than the sound bits of one of her talks, you would find that she is one of us… and that when she isn’t busy defending herself.. which is difficult to find these days… she shares your ultimate vision for the world.

You want me to understand what Hillary is not.. how she has failed America and your generation… you think that her failures are something we somehow can’t see.

Speaking for those of us who support her from my generation, i can tell you that you are very wrong. We not only see her failures, but the failures inherent in all politicians.. even Senator Obama.

But I can also tell you that you are mistaken about many of the things you blame her for.

She played the only game there was well.. and now you fault her for playing the game.

I see the anger directed at Hillary. I see how public opinion has been manipulated to create that anger.. but no.. i don’t understand it.

Hillary is the first woman to play this game well enough to end up a candidate for President… against tremendous odds…

That you think it more important to hold her accountable for what you think she should have done or said than respect her for her accomplishments doesn’t bode well for another female candidate in my lifetime.

I won’t tell you that i don’t care whether she wins or loses, i feel as strongly as you do about Senator Obama… that the ultimate welfare of our nation hinges upon a Hillary Clinton presidency. I see that as the only path to real change.

But i have to tell you that i care more that the first female candidate for President be treated with the respect she deserves… if for nothing else than the enormity of her accomplishment… by every member of her political party.

the lack of basic respect for her candidacy and the unrelenting anger directed at her by Obama supporters is deeply divisive to our party… and to the causes we all hold dear.

i have spent over two hours carefully editing this post Daniellep.. because i wanted to say something that stood a chance of being heard…

I don’t know if i will ever be able to edit out my anger at the complete lack of respect that half of my party has shown to Hillary. I am personally deeply offended on more levels than i can say.

However I am writing in a attempt to say something beyond that… something i have learned as an elemental truth …

real change only occurs when you apply compassion and passion together…

I will admit to having fueled my passion with anger’s driving force in the past.. and occassionally i have won major battles that way… but i can’t see any instance that i have affected real long term change with my anger.

if i could pass along only one lesson from a lifetime of idealism… it would be that one..

i still have lingering hope that the blend of compassion and passion will fuel democratic unity creating victory this fall… and with that hope i write…

so that perhaps you can understand why i think.. why Obama supporters hate Hillary can’t be nearly as important as why they support Obama… if we are to win this fall.

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[beachdrivegirl]

I mentioned this in the Obama thread, but will mention this here too. JoB you should have tried to watch the debate last night and you should still try to find it somewhere.

“This is why i see the tactic of builing support for your candidate by tearing down the other as fundamentally wrong. “-JoB last night when asked direct questions about Clinton, Obama did not stoop to the level of the reporters, but took the high road and tried to get the debate on track for what is really important the issues. Then, when Clinton was asked questions directly about Obama she had a chance to follow in Obamas footsteps; however she chose not to. She chose to in your words “tear down the other canidate” which in your words is “fundamentally wrong.”

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[JoB]

beachdrivegirl..

I didn’t say it was wrong for the candidates themselves to try to expose the faults of the other.

it’s their job as candidates.

we will never know the answer to the question..

would i have thought Hillary went too far doing that at last night’s debate? …

because I am not going to watch that poor excuse for a debate so that i can either argue or validate your impressions.

We won’t even know my answer to the question..

did Obama do everything he could have done..

or did he just defend himself by deflecting the questions? … some of which are likely legitimate questions he should be answering…

We won’t ever know because i am not going to waste my time listening to that crap for any reason.

From everything i have heard, there is no redeeming value of any kind in that debate… and i heard far more sound clips today as a captive of radio and television than interest me.

What i was talking about is what you just did…

and i almost bit back with a response that would have undone two hours of hard work.

i didn’t because i still have hope…

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[beachdrivegirl]

She was not just exposing the faults she flat out exagerated “lied” about certain things she believed to be true about Obama and she did it to try to make herself look more electable. That is wrong. And if we are going to say it is okay to have the canidates bring up the weaknesses/faults of the other then I am 100% for the canidates supporters bringing up the fault of the opposing canidate because we need to educate all of the voters.By not supporting that we are having double standards.

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[JoB]

beachdrivegirl…

i certainly can’t and won’t try to argue your take on the debate… it’s not worth watching.

but, just out of curiosity..

where do you think you get the majority of your talking points about Hillary Clinton?

there is plenty of equal opportunity to go around in this campaign…

and sadly, no real discussion.

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