Letter Series: My Letter to Senator Obama
Letter Series, obama 8:47 PM
Written May 22, 2008
-----
Senator Obama,
I am a Democratic voter in Florida, and I have some urgent concerns to convey to you and your campaign. I pray for your sake as well as for our country that you consider my thoughts.
This is not a fan letter.
I am as resolute in my support for Hillary Clinton today as I have ever been. However, I'm not blind to the increasing probability that in November I will be casting a ballot for either yourself or for John McCain. I do not intend to stay home that day. This is not a decision I take lightly, and I assure you that I'll give both candidates an open mind to win over my vote. Still, I have to warn you Senator that John McCain has a lot less work to do to win me over. I'd like to sincerely and openly tell you why, if you'll listen.
It has really caught my attention that you are campaigning across my state right now in a three day tour, trying to court hispanics, jews, and I-4 corridor voters that will prove crucial in the general election, as they always do.
I've got to tell you that I'm more than a little offended that you are waiting until now to reach out to us in Florida at all. We know too well how important our votes can be, especially when only 537 of us can determine a president. Florida is very much a bellweather state, and we are absolutely a swing state. That's as true in this election as it has ever been. Yet, until this week, we've gotten nothing from you. Alcee Hastings perhaps paraphrased our feelings best when he asked you in Washington, "Shall I kiss your ring now, or shall I wait until you come to Florida?" In an NPR interview, he added that in his conversation with you, he reminded you that you do, in fact, have to come to Florida.
Senator, you continue to make the argument to superdelegates as well as to voters that you are a different type of candidate in a different type of election than we are used to. That may be true, but one thing that will not be different in this election is MATH. It is appaling to me that superdelegates have been swinging your way since Super Tuesday, not because you aren't my candidate, but because of the basic and obvious realities of this race. When you were ahead in the popular vote and Senator Clinton was ahead in superdelegates, the media made a huge outcry over the concept, using terms like "overruling the voters". Over the past two months in particular, Senator Clinton has been picking up votes steadily and now at least ties you in total votes cast by any measure. Under any fair calculations, she beats you. Yet you continue to pick up superdelegates. You are ahead now with supers and building steam, yet there is no outcry. Senator Clinton has now received more primary votes than any candidate in any race ever. That sir, includes you. How then are your supporters not overruling voters now?
There are certain unfortunate realities that have affected this election throughout the primaries, and we must talk about them honestly before it's too late. The clock is ticking.
Voting blocs:
Your problem with working class white voters is that they don't believe you. They're not buying what you're selling, and they've heard plenty of speeches from you that don't translate into anything solid. They've heard great politicians traverse their states only to have their steel mills shut down or their auto plants hurt by unfair trade practices. They need something concrete, not abstract, and they need more than a soundbite to feed their families or pay their mortgages.
Race baiting has been accused of the Clinton campaign, and I submit to you that both you and Senator Clinton have used your whiteness or blackness to your advantage to drum up support among your bases. But when we look at voting blocks, we see where racism has presented itself most. White voters have voted in favor of Senator Clinton by about 55%-45%. But black voters have voted for you by an overwhelming majority, nearly 85-15. You tell me which group represents race-based voting.
Other voting blocs that are crucial to the democrats in November have presented you their own challenges. You will in fact have a hard time carrying hispanics and Jews in the general election.
I urgently warn you to expect a mutiny from one other crucial voting bloc, and that's gays. This may come as a surprise. I encourage political debate among my many gay friends nearly every day. We all come from different backgrounds, represent different cultures, different political backgrounds and different lifestyles. Besides our love of the same gender, one very important thing we almost unanimously agree on is that we are far more likely to vote for John McCain than for Barack Obama in November. You would be floored by how weak you are in the gay community, despite your gay media buys and your liberal ideologies. Like working-class whites, we too need more than words to inspire us. We too have been sold on a dream too many times, only to wake up disappointed. Whether or not we agree with all of his political stances, we do see John McCain as a strong leader, and as someone who represents integrity. We see him as someone who has consistently stood up for what he believes to be important, often in the face of opposition from his own party.
In spite of my concerns, there are some things you can do to win in November.
First, focus on specificity. You have done a much better job of this in past weeks, and it is already beginning to resonate with voters. When we go to the voting booth in November, we want to know in concrete terms what to expect from you. Abstract candidates are scary to us in uncertain and unstable times.
Second, do not discount swing states! It is true that you may be competitive in states that most democrats would not be, but you also have a weakened advantage in true blue states. So, don't get caught in a situation where you're begging for Ohio and Michigan and Florida to listen to you in the eleventh hour after you hose us in the primary. Get out of the way and accept a full delegation from Florida and Michigan. Believe me, you've got the delegate advantage to spare.
Third, don't discount John McCain and his acceptability to voters. Many of us already know that he does not and will not represent a third Bush term. Just as you are a 'different breed' of democrat, he is not a typical republican. It is true that a democrat won't take the White House if black voters stay home on election day. But against John McCain, many many white voters won't stay home either. They'll simply go vote for the other guy, and that hurts twice as much.
Thank you sincerely for your time.
You have 5 months to convince me to believe in your brand of change, and that will be one tall order.
-Nicholas Stone
-----
Senator Obama,
I am a Democratic voter in Florida, and I have some urgent concerns to convey to you and your campaign. I pray for your sake as well as for our country that you consider my thoughts.
This is not a fan letter.
I am as resolute in my support for Hillary Clinton today as I have ever been. However, I'm not blind to the increasing probability that in November I will be casting a ballot for either yourself or for John McCain. I do not intend to stay home that day. This is not a decision I take lightly, and I assure you that I'll give both candidates an open mind to win over my vote. Still, I have to warn you Senator that John McCain has a lot less work to do to win me over. I'd like to sincerely and openly tell you why, if you'll listen.
It has really caught my attention that you are campaigning across my state right now in a three day tour, trying to court hispanics, jews, and I-4 corridor voters that will prove crucial in the general election, as they always do.
I've got to tell you that I'm more than a little offended that you are waiting until now to reach out to us in Florida at all. We know too well how important our votes can be, especially when only 537 of us can determine a president. Florida is very much a bellweather state, and we are absolutely a swing state. That's as true in this election as it has ever been. Yet, until this week, we've gotten nothing from you. Alcee Hastings perhaps paraphrased our feelings best when he asked you in Washington, "Shall I kiss your ring now, or shall I wait until you come to Florida?" In an NPR interview, he added that in his conversation with you, he reminded you that you do, in fact, have to come to Florida.
Senator, you continue to make the argument to superdelegates as well as to voters that you are a different type of candidate in a different type of election than we are used to. That may be true, but one thing that will not be different in this election is MATH. It is appaling to me that superdelegates have been swinging your way since Super Tuesday, not because you aren't my candidate, but because of the basic and obvious realities of this race. When you were ahead in the popular vote and Senator Clinton was ahead in superdelegates, the media made a huge outcry over the concept, using terms like "overruling the voters". Over the past two months in particular, Senator Clinton has been picking up votes steadily and now at least ties you in total votes cast by any measure. Under any fair calculations, she beats you. Yet you continue to pick up superdelegates. You are ahead now with supers and building steam, yet there is no outcry. Senator Clinton has now received more primary votes than any candidate in any race ever. That sir, includes you. How then are your supporters not overruling voters now?
There are certain unfortunate realities that have affected this election throughout the primaries, and we must talk about them honestly before it's too late. The clock is ticking.
Voting blocs:
Your problem with working class white voters is that they don't believe you. They're not buying what you're selling, and they've heard plenty of speeches from you that don't translate into anything solid. They've heard great politicians traverse their states only to have their steel mills shut down or their auto plants hurt by unfair trade practices. They need something concrete, not abstract, and they need more than a soundbite to feed their families or pay their mortgages.
Race baiting has been accused of the Clinton campaign, and I submit to you that both you and Senator Clinton have used your whiteness or blackness to your advantage to drum up support among your bases. But when we look at voting blocks, we see where racism has presented itself most. White voters have voted in favor of Senator Clinton by about 55%-45%. But black voters have voted for you by an overwhelming majority, nearly 85-15. You tell me which group represents race-based voting.
Other voting blocs that are crucial to the democrats in November have presented you their own challenges. You will in fact have a hard time carrying hispanics and Jews in the general election.
I urgently warn you to expect a mutiny from one other crucial voting bloc, and that's gays. This may come as a surprise. I encourage political debate among my many gay friends nearly every day. We all come from different backgrounds, represent different cultures, different political backgrounds and different lifestyles. Besides our love of the same gender, one very important thing we almost unanimously agree on is that we are far more likely to vote for John McCain than for Barack Obama in November. You would be floored by how weak you are in the gay community, despite your gay media buys and your liberal ideologies. Like working-class whites, we too need more than words to inspire us. We too have been sold on a dream too many times, only to wake up disappointed. Whether or not we agree with all of his political stances, we do see John McCain as a strong leader, and as someone who represents integrity. We see him as someone who has consistently stood up for what he believes to be important, often in the face of opposition from his own party.
In spite of my concerns, there are some things you can do to win in November.
First, focus on specificity. You have done a much better job of this in past weeks, and it is already beginning to resonate with voters. When we go to the voting booth in November, we want to know in concrete terms what to expect from you. Abstract candidates are scary to us in uncertain and unstable times.
Second, do not discount swing states! It is true that you may be competitive in states that most democrats would not be, but you also have a weakened advantage in true blue states. So, don't get caught in a situation where you're begging for Ohio and Michigan and Florida to listen to you in the eleventh hour after you hose us in the primary. Get out of the way and accept a full delegation from Florida and Michigan. Believe me, you've got the delegate advantage to spare.
Third, don't discount John McCain and his acceptability to voters. Many of us already know that he does not and will not represent a third Bush term. Just as you are a 'different breed' of democrat, he is not a typical republican. It is true that a democrat won't take the White House if black voters stay home on election day. But against John McCain, many many white voters won't stay home either. They'll simply go vote for the other guy, and that hurts twice as much.
Thank you sincerely for your time.
You have 5 months to convince me to believe in your brand of change, and that will be one tall order.
-Nicholas Stone
Posted by Nick Stone
on 8:47 PM.
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