No Longer Resigned to Hillary

It’s been both fun and encouraging to watch the demise of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Never say never, but there does seem to be a trend.

What’s more encouraging is this: Democrats are turning out in far larger numbers than Republicans, and two-thirds of them are supporting the perceived “liberal” candidates, Edwards and Obama. Clintonist triangulation, whereby her husband once ambushed liberals into supporting Republican policies, no longer plays. It’s all good.

What remains to be seen: Is Obama indeed a liberal? The Democratic Leadership Council spotted him before he hit the national stage, and included him in its New Democrats Directory. (Citing differences on NAFTA, Iraq, and health care, he repudiated his listing.) The DLC are a cagey bunch, working constantly to prevent liberals from taking control of the party. Their name is an albatross at this point, so sympathizers are wise to disavow allegiance. Still, Obama’s past affiliation is suspicious.

John Edwards is a late-to-the-fold liberal, but I take him at face. David Brooks calling for him to step aside is a good sign. And he’s not backed down from liberal stances. (That usually happens after the nomination anyway.) But he must have learned something from running a weak-kneed centrist race with John Kerry. I much prefer him over Obama.

But the only true liberal left is Dennis Kucinich, struck from the list of candidates in New Hampshire by ABC News even as he qualifies for matching funds and is actively campaigning. (The same fate befell Ron Paul. The media does indeed meddle in our elections.) It’s a simple thing to understand – the media does not like true liberals. We live in a right wing country where even our left wingers are right wingers. Kucinich is an anomaly. No wonder ABC did what it did.