What is it that fuels the Clinton campaign? Is it the constant, uninterrupted string of negative campaigning, which has been going on from day one? Is it the fact that she’s older, or that she’s a woman? Is it her perceived level of experience? Is it because of her husband? Is it because Barack Obama is black? As it turns out, it’s all of the above.

Be sure to whisper the word “black” as it appears in italics throughout this blog. Y’know, like you do when you’re talking to your white friends. Let’s take a look at the linked article to see what the typical, older Clinton supporter has to say:

John Peterman, 85, a former Navy engineer, said he supported Mrs. Clinton because “the world is not ready for a black president.” His wife, Mary, 81, agreed with him.

Wow, I’d think I was eating candy from all the sugar-coating in that statement. That is, until I bite down and realize I’m eating a fried puke-and-shit burrito. Blech!

There is only one thing “the world is not ready for a black president” means. It’s really another way of saying “a black man can’t win,” which is a polite way of saying,”I wouldn’t vote for a black guy,” a naked admission of racism. Before rolling your eyes, notice how his policies never come up when people make these statements.

What sickens me about it is that Clinton uses this to her advantage, this bigotry. Notice how she’s never come out and said,”No, he’s not a Muslim,” or how she never sufficiently distanced herself from Geraldine Ferraro, who was allowed to call Obama everything but a nigger without being condemned by the Clinton campaign.

Our next idiotic statement:

Arla Hacker, 49, a bank teller, said she also liked Mrs. Clinton because she had Ms. Hacker’s economic interests at heart. “The people who are 18 and 20 years old don’t know what it’s like to sit in a gas line,” she said. “Kids today don’t understand how tough it is. Obama just talks about it.”

Better than ignoring it. Obama talks about issues. Maybe you should listen to him some time. Clinton, on the other hand, talks about Obama, and how she’s one of you. She just knew it would come down to Texas, because Texas is soooo important. She’s got family history in Pennsylvania. She’s got Jewish roots.

Anything it takes to win, eh Hill?

This statement from Ms. Hacker is rich all by itself. “Kids today don’t understand how tough it is.” On a day where my bullshit detector might be set to low, I might have caught myself agreeing with this. Still, I would have eventually realized she was talking about my generation.

If we forget that gas is the highest price it’s ever been while the value of the dollar is now lower than the Canadian dollar… if we forget that the unemployment rate continues to rise, that the housing market crashed, that college tuition takes a lifetime to repay–if one can afford it in the first place. If we ignore the rising price of groceries, exorbitant energy costs and rising costs of living across the board, or this country’s insane healthcare system… while ignoring the fact the the United States is at the lowest point it has ever been in world opinion while people are afraid of being shot on their way to class, or in the mall, or being blown to pieces while waiting for a subway and worry constantly about loved ones serving their country in an illegal war of profit and aggression under the most corrupt and secretive administration in the history of the U.S… then sure, we don’t know a god damn thing you fucking idiot.

Yeah, we know it’s hard. Enjoy your cushy little job at the bank while the youth of this country works its ass off to barely make ends meet, then gets laid off while the company they worked for earns a massive profit.

Noel Stein, 72, and his wife, Judy, 67, both like Mrs. Clinton. Mrs. Stein said she liked her “because she’s a woman” and Mr. Stein said he liked her because of her husband.

I don’t want to jump on this with sexism accusations because women ought to be excited that Clinton has gotten this far. But to list that as your primary reason is pretty shallow. Her husband, obviously, is an idiot. There’s just no excuse for him.

“If I was in my 20s, maybe I’d support Obama,” said Germaine Donahue, 64, who lives in Sullivan County, in northeastern Pennsylvania, and helps run a cleaning service. “But life tempers you. I’m with Hillary.”

Ah yes, the tried and true “I’m older, therefore I’m right/you’re younger, therefore you’re wrong” argument. Not only is this one insulting, but it lacks merit.

“Barack Obama has no experience and no plans. He just works on emotions, and this is why young people like him,” said Kimberly Romm, 44, who is self-employed and heard Mrs. Clinton speak at Haverford College. “People who are more mature analyze things. They’re wiser.”

Another “I’m right for no other reason than for my age” argument. I guess that makes Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld smarter than you, since they’re older and therefore right.

See? It’s not a great argument.

It’s time to acknowledge that the older generation has failed us all. It is time for something new.

How’s this for working on emotion: As many as 28% of Clinton supporters would vote for McCain if Obama gets the nomination. Of Obama supporters, the people who are truly “more mature” and “analyze things,” only ten percent would vote for McCain.

The Clintonian reputation of divisiveness is not an exaggeration. Her people have made this personal and gave up all sense of reason in the process. Now, it doesn’t matter if Hillary is hurting the Democratic party. It doesn’t matter that she resorts to negative campaigning while Obama takes the high road. It doesn’t matter that Bill Clinton said he’d vote Republican if Obama gets it. It doesn’t matter if they intend to doom us to 4-8 more years of Bush’s disastrous policies. Now it’s about winning, forget principle.

This will eventually erode into a shouting match between us. On my side of the fence, Obama supporters who are fed up with idiot Conservatives and idiot Clinton supporters. On the other, Clinton supporters who don’t care that they’re fucking up the country as long as the (don’t forget to whisper) black guy doesn’t get nominated. Jerry Springer will moderate.

I’ll go first: SHE A HO!!

Consistently, I see polls that show smart people supporting Obama and, well, not stupid people, but less educated ones supporting Clinton. To wit:

Clinton continues to lead among women, whites, voters older than 45 and those without college degrees. Obama leads among men, blacks, voters with college degrees and those under 45.

Old. White. Feminists. That’s where Clinton leads. Just priceless.

After beginning to read through Obama’s book “Dreams From My Father,” I’ve really begun to put a more human face on the superstar Senator. This book makes him more knowable and I highly recommend it so far. Up to this point it has talked about race, but it isn’t preachy or guilt-ridden like some other books I’ve read.

The reason I’ve decided to blog is to address, yet again, the Clintonian brand of hypocrisy that causes me to wonder why anyone can take her seriously.

Earlier this month I went on about how Hillary remarked that this is one of the most positive campaigns she’s ever participated in. When I see that, I see head games being played with the rest of us. Not merely “do one thing and say another,” but acting as if what you say is more real than what you’ve actually done. It is very reminiscent of what we’ve seen during the Bush administration. Bush claiming the economy is great and working how it’s supposed to, yet people are losing their homes left and right while individuals and businesses with flawless credit are being flatly denied for loans they’re fully capable of repaying. Among others, far too many for me to list here while keeping on-topic.

Part of what I’ve seen from the Clinton camp has been a kind of immaturity. Thinking back to my childhood, I remember how all the petty arguments between playmates seemed to go. “You’re stupid!” “Nuh uh! You’re stupid!!” “Nuh uh!! You are!!!” One thing I’ve observed on several occasions is the Clinton campaign pulling a “Nuh uh! You are!”

Take, for instance, the blatant refusal of Hillary Clinton to distance herself from Geraldine Ferraro after her racially charged comments concerning Senator Obama. Her denunciation of those remarks was lukewarm at best. She didn’t ask Ferraro to leave, at least publicly, and only mildly criticized statements that required a strong, decisive response.

Then, through some super-human act of contortion, Ferraro turned it around to claim that the entire fiasco–over statements she made–was somehow the fault of Barack Obama. Somehow, drawing anger from people for suggesting that the only reason Obama is where he is is because he’s black means that people are being racist towards you because you’re white? How does that even make sense? How, in any way, could this be blamed on Obama?

The response from the Clinton campaign? Silence.  I wouldn’t characterize the Clintons as racists, but it’s pretty shameful that they’re still willing to exploit the issue for power.

For the tepid reaction, prominent figures from around the country made their disdain heard. Keith Olbermann and many others accused Hillary of campaigning against Obama by acting as if he were the Democrat, and she were the Republican.

What did the Clinton campaign have to say about this? “Nuh uh, he is!” It was perhaps a week ago when I saw this claim by Clinton’s campaign manager. Do they just copy what the other side says every time they want to make a comeback?

It gets me every time how Clinton gets all high and mighty over the matter of ethics. On the matter of such she says she’s been fully vetted, thus making “vetted” the latest buzzword amongst the news crowd. Because she has been fully vetted, it is argued, she is the most electable candidate. The overtones are obvious in this one: Barack Obama hasn’t been looked into like I have, and therefore has undisclosed baggage of the ethical variety.

Is that so? Senator Obama has released his tax returns and openly addressed controversies surrounding his dealings with Tony Rezko, who is under investigation for corruption charges, as well as the controversial statements of his pastor. As a response to the claim that he hasn’t been given the rubber glove treatment by the media, the Obama camp demanded that Clinton release records of her tax returns as well as a list of financiers for the Clinton library. For this, Obama is compared to Ken Starr–a name reviled by numerous Democrats–special prosecutor whose report eventually led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

So she hasn’t been fully vetted after all. Looks like she does, in fact, have something to hide. One can only wonder how much they cook the books for her tax returns and list of donors to her husbands library before finally releasing them.

The troubling part is not that she has something to hide–the Clintons have been hiding crap for years, we expect that. It’s the sheer hypocrisy of it all. How dare Barack Obama question Hillary Clinton’s integrity, yet she does the same thing by suggesting he’s got enough skeletons in his closet to cost him the general election? Then goes on record perpetuating myths against him with statements like “(he’s not a Muslim) as far as I know” yet expects us to buy her victim facade as her campaign releases unflattering photos and digs up dirt wherever they can get it, all while claiming that the media has given him a free pass?

Where does the madness end? Does anybody really buy this shit? Oh, that’s right, she’s attracted the uneducated majority. No wonder they keep falling for it. I guess I’ve answered my own question.