Clinton Campaign Deepens Divisions
By the News-RegisterSen. Hillary Clinton and members of her entourage, including daughter Chelsea and husband Bill, will be seen by many West Virginians during the next few days, as Clinton attempts to woo voters in the Tuesday primary election. Increasingly, however, it is becoming apparent that Clinton is fighting a losing battle. Her campaign is doing nothing more than deepening a rift in her party — and we don’t think the staunch Democrats of the Mountain State like that idea.
Clinton narrowly won the Indiana primary election on Tuesday, but lost in North Carolina. Once delegate hauls from those two states were totaled, analysts noted that Sen. Barack Obama has closed to within striking distance of defeating Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination for president. Obama needs just 180 national convention delegates to win the nomination. Clinton is trailing badly, 152 delegates behind Obama. Continuing her campaign — it no longer can be viewed as a race — is pointless.
Yet Clinton is remaining on the campaign trail, with several stops this week in West Virginia.
Notable in the Clinton campaign itinerary are the areas where visits have occurred or are planned. They include Charleston, the Eastern Panhandle, Mercer County, Philippi, Sutton and Fayetteville. Though the tour may be expanded, it is interesting that the Northern Panhandle has not yet been included.
Why? We suspect that Clinton, her family and supporters do not view our area as a promising source of votes. They would have good reason for that, in view of their failure, during Bill Clinton’s eight years as president, to do much to safeguard the steel industry from foreign competitors.
Some analysts have predicted that Clinton will win the West Virginia Democratic Party primary election next week. Perhaps so — but that would merely postpone the inevitable and, again, create more rifts among the party faithful.
It has been said of West Virginians that we tend to favor underdogs. That is true enough — but the Clinton campaign is not merely that. It is, instead, a lost cause from which the candidate should withdraw.
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Georgetwin
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05-12-08 3:12 PM
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VicDaring, I am VERY optimistic about America in 2012, providing The GOP runs a ticket of Jindal/Palin. As it is now, a Big Government Liberal Muslim Sympathizer, a Big Government Liberal Leftover Hippie or a Big Government Liberal McAmnesty McMidget will be hard at work DESTROYING America at least until The Mid-Term Elections.
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VicDaring
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05-12-08 12:18 PM
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"Vic Daring, smoking that stuff is illegal in WV." :-) I know, I know. Anyone who's actually optimistic about America and really believes that we have more in common than those who would divide of for political gain will ever admit is easily dismissed as a somehow loopy and out of touch with reality. It's time to change that.
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Georgetwin
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05-12-08 11:52 AM
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Vic Daring, smoking that stuff is illegal in WV.
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Virginian
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05-12-08 9:26 AM
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bekbekket, we'll call it a truce, and I will just say that if my statement came across as "race-baiting" it was not what was intended. I think folks are making way too many assumptions about people and how they feel about race, and that's part of my frustration...that there is this perception that "white, middle/lower-class, rural America" won't vote for a black person just because they're black. While I think this is true of some people in every area, it's not true of us as a whole and it bothers me that the media simplifies it to something so basic and false. If I said came out as something I didn't intend, I APOLOGIZE.
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bekbekket
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05-12-08 5:40 AM
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Obviously, I'm unable to articulate my point. I surrender.
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givemeabreak
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05-11-08 11:45 PM
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Hell, the northern panhandle voted for Bush twice, even after he broke his promise to stop Japan from dumping cheap steel on us, during his first four years. This is what happens when you vote for wedge issues instead of issues that affect your pocket book. This is what Obama was trying to articulate when he commented about small town america's being angry and voting on wedge issues like guns, religion, and people who are different than they are. It is what it is!
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catalina
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05-11-08 10:30 PM
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hillary at least is fighting for something. Many disagree with what she and bubba accomplished in their previous 8 years as cvo-presidents. But b. hussein obama is acting as the nominee of the msm as if the media should decide who should be president. Why can't obama fight his own battles rather than rely on his firends in the media who have refused to vette him but have instead opted for his coronation
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toughlove
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05-11-08 10:05 PM
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Hillary Clinton has every right to stay in this campaign as long as she wishes. Those pushing for her to exit the race are doing so to protect their man Obama. Heaven knows when he will make another offensive, stupid remark about typical white women or bitter small town folks. His latest stupid remark indicates that he believes our country has 57 states. Of course the excuse was that he was tired. Boo Hoo. Perhaps you need an afternoon nap Barack.
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Virginian
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05-11-08 6:28 PM
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bekbekket, I make NO assertions of WV based on majority vote, only the the media discusses it as if the "white, middle/lower-class, rural whites" vote overwhelmingly for Clinton because they won't vote for a black president. I do NOT agree that means it's true of ALL who vote against Obama. If you assumed I did, I apologize. AGAIN, I was referring to people who VOTE based on 1 DEM over the other and say they'll vote Rep if THEIR candidate isn't the nomination. THEY don't seem to be basing their votes on issues that affect us if they will flip to someone who has opposite views if their candidate doesn't win. If you don't support either Dem, I wasn't even talking about you at ALL. I was talking about DEMS who will "flip". I believe that of Dems who support EITHER candidate. If they'll flip if their candidate doesn't win, that's not basing a vote on the issues. That's all I was saying, & if you inferred anything else, it was an assumption!
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Quasar
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05-11-08 2:09 PM
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92% of black voters in the North Carolina primary voted for Obama, was that racist bekbekket????
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bekbekket
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05-11-08 12:17 PM
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Virginian- read my post again. I said you are wrong regarding your race assertions, should Clinton win WV. Time will tell. I also said to bring up that point is race-baiting... and I stand by that. Are ALL the states (or ANY), that voted Clinton percieved as racists by the media. I think not. Your first sentence in your first post chastized folks for not talking issues... yet you did not mention ANY issues yourself... only race. IF you wish to discuss ISSUES, I am all for it. But, right now, You seem like the pot calling the kettle "black."
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Virginian
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05-11-08 11:15 AM
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eToothman, people are quite defensive on here. I never said anyone is racist based on who they vote for. My point was that's the conclusion the media come to when they see a state that is 97% white vote against a black person. I've not called anyone racist and think people throw that term around far to liberally. Yes, I did state that there's really nothing Clinton can do at this point to change who the nominee will be. Point being people who seem to be strong supporters of hers or of Obama's, but are very against the other Dem don't seem to be focused on issues...epecially those people who have threatened to vote McCain if their candidate is not the Dem nominee. THAT is not basing a vote on issues that should be important to us: the war, the economy, ecological concerns, etc. I was talking about basing a vote on issues, not only a one specific candidate.
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Virginian
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05-11-08 11:06 AM
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bekbekket, I NEVER said you or anyone was a racist or a sexist. I simply made an observation that since Clinton can't win (& she can't unless Obama is revealed to be a serial killer or something to that degree) if WV votes against him in a huge way even though he's basically the presumptive nominee, you can bet that WV will be painted as a state who doesn't want to vote for a black person. My family is from WV & I never stated that WV is racist, nor would I presume to lump everyone in a state. I was pointing out that this is how the media will view it & that MANY people seem care only about a particular candidate, not issues. I was not stating this is all of WV, or even that it's only a problem in VW...it is a fact of SOME people. You're clearly defensive, but nothing I stated was directed as a criticism of you or of WV, so it was unwarranted.
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eToothman
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05-10-08 6:25 PM
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Thank-you Virginia. We're ready to focus on the issues. hmm...So, you're telling us that "unless Obama is a mass murderer he will be the nominee" and "if we vote for Clinton we are racist"...and McCain..and... uhm...what again are the issues you're wanting us to focus on?
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bekbekket
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05-10-08 4:02 PM
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Do all you Hilary supporters know you are "racists?" Give us a break, Virginian. I don't like either democrat nominee, so that makes me a rcist, AND woman hater. NOT! Beacuse YOU say WV will seem racist if it goes Clinton, doesn't make it so. As a matter of fact, to suggest such a thing is nothing more than race baiting. You should be ashamed of yourself... and YOU need to stick to your (soci alistic) issues of B.O.
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Virginian
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05-10-08 12:14 PM
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I've been disappointed by how many people aren't focusing on ISSUES. If you agree with Clinton, your views mirror Obama's, & the reverse is true. I do favor one over the other, but would support either b/c I will not vote for a war that has ruined our economy or the reversal of women's rights. At this point, unless it's found that Obama is a mass murderer, he will be the nominee, & VW voting for Clinton big just makes the rest of America look at small towns (I live in one) as racist. I hope those who disagree with McCain are willing to stand behind him & start unifying a fight against McCain NOW! THAT is what matters, & at this point, a vote for Clinton is a vote for McCain. Please support ISSUES.
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gneubeck
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05-09-08 8:51 PM
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Hillary & Foreign Policy. 9/11 was a direct result of the Clinton Administration’s feckless responses to the numerous Al-Qaida provocations and terrorist assaults against our national interests; as well as, Clinton’s inexplicable temerity in refusing to take Osama bin Laden into captivity when offered several times by the Sudanese. Clinton then exercised little more than his jawbone as bin Laden trained literally thousands of terrorists in his Afghan camps. All of which, convinced bin Laden that he could strike our homeland with relative impunity. The potential for success in bin Laden’s planned assault on our homeland was significantly enhanced by the infamous Gorelick memo which the Clinton Administration promulgated to prohibit any terrorist information exchange between our FBI and CIA intelligence operatives. Further, in the Dec. 4, 1998 Presidential Daily Intelligence Brief , Clinton was advised that Bin Laden was preparing to hijack US aircraft to employ in terrorist attack
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RedDish
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05-09-08 8:24 PM
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Wow Coleman---bet you read that line on another site and thought it was soooo funny. What do you think about the voters in Florida and Michigan whose vote won't count in the democratic party?
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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05-09-08 6:52 PM
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It takes greater integrity to admit defeat. Integrity that Hillary lacks.
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bekbekket
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05-09-08 6:37 PM
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Vic- I'm not angry... honest! I just don't like the guy. He gives me the creeps. There very may well be a change in American politics, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong, OR angry, because I disagree with it. It also doesn't necessarily make it right.
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atoddh
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05-09-08 6:02 PM
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It really is odd that neither candidate has appeared in Wheeling.However,a future, high profile Wheeling appearance by Obama prior to the General Election could benefit him in WV, Eastern Ohio and Western PA. The extreme decline of Wheeling & Ohio Valley will be the future of all of the US if American manufacturing continues to decline.
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Hermit
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05-09-08 5:56 PM
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I have to admit that I'm not a Virginian but I landed on a good site. Thoughtfull editorial, the usual sarcasm and some good punch lines. I had a relative mention Wheeling so I checked it out. He used to go to a barn dance or such there decades ago.Probably just partied. So what are the percentages for each candidate. Sort of like an online real time poll.
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VicDaring
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05-09-08 5:29 PM
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Mock the sea change in American politcs at your own peril. You may find you've been left behind, angry and irrelevant, while America moves forward.
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bekbekket
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05-09-08 5:17 PM
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"dare to be inspired" lol How 'bout "Care to be expired?"
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topsie
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05-09-08 4:11 PM
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vic- if elected BO will end all racizm!! RIGHT!!!" I am proud today to anounce an all black staff" coach of the green bay packers.
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