Full disclosure: I voted for Hillary in the primary, and then changed my mind after hearing Obama’s speech on race.

Hillary Clinton is a liar. She’s a racist. She’s advocating for the assassination of Obama. She’s put her own personal ambition ahead of the good of the Democratic Party and the country. We all know these things are true, because we hear about them in the media, and read about them on blogs, and tell each other on the Fray.

Except that these things are not true. This is the same type of politics that turned Max Cleland into a traitor, John Kerry into a war criminal, and Bill Clinton into a raping murderer. Sure, Hillary’s ambitious. She wants to be President of the United States. So she’s exactly as ambitious as Barack Obama and John McCain. The other claims are reminiscent of those spread in the so-called liberal media during the Clinton Administration. When Hillary complained of a “vast right-wing conspiracy,” the press scoffed at her, but now we know the conspiracy was real.

Now these claims are being spread by Obama’s supporters. This is incredibly self-destructive. We in the Democratic Party have the opportunity to retake the White House and to build a filibuster-proof majority in both houses of Congress. For this to occur, we must have the votes of a large majority of Hillary’s supporters. Many of Hillary’s followers are fervent admirers who see her as a ground-breaking standard-bearer for women everywhere. These energized, politically active people are essential to Democratic chances in the fall, and this means that it is important to have the support of Hillary herself.

More importantly, the charges are just untrue. Hillary has made mistakes—she was wrong on the war—but she’s not evil, and characterizing her as such is just using what her husband called the “politics of personal destruction.”

So, Obama supporters, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to relax. We’re going to congratulate her on her win in the Puerto Rico Primary next week. Soon after, the superdelegates will put Obama over the top. Then we’ll salute Hillary’s service to the country, and a race well-run, and welcome her and her supporters into the most important campaign the Democratic Party has ever conducted. In the meantime, we’re going to quit claiming that Hillary is a racist, or that she’s just waiting on someone to kill Obama, or that she’d rather see McCain elected than Obama. We’re going to quit lying about the woman.

After all, we’re not Republicans.

But Kerry was a war criminal and Bill Clinton was a rapist.

Jack

Here's the first: <link>

Here's the second: <link>

When does one become an ex-rapist? Sort of like being a former orphan, as WS Gilbert would say. It's more accurate to say "Bill Clinton is a rapist."

I wasn't aware of the war crimes charges against Kerry. I do distinctly recall him being outed as no friend of the military, when he was very fairly Swiftboated by having his own testimony before the Senate looped over and over, in which he accused his purported "Band of Brothers" of being truly horrible people.

Why is everybody talking about your great ass? Is there a link to it somewhere on the web?

some extent, it just comes with the territory, which means Obama and McCain are too. I know it sucks, but it is reality.

Dear Friend,

Last Thursday I sent you an email asking you to call CNN and tell them that it's never OK to call a woman a "bitch," and to demand an on-air apology. On Friday, CNN contributor Alex Castellanos -- who had stated that some women "are named that and it's accurate" -- said the following on The Situation Room:

"Last time I was on the roundtable I was trying to make a point about Senator Clinton's toughness and strength, which I respect, and I chose the wrong words and the way to say it and, you know, I'm sorry I said it that way, it was the wrong thing."

You can watch the full video by clicking on the video player.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your calls and to make sure you know how much your voice made a difference in getting CNN, and Alex Castellanos, to live up to their responsibility with an on-air apology.

Thank you again, and I look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Eric Burns
Chief of Staff
Media Matters for America

I would have voted for her had she taken the ticket, but quite frankly, her neocon alliances worry me.

Voting to criminalize flag burning? voting for the christianist "marriage defense act? ICK.

And I gotta admit, I think it was racism that informed her decision to vote for invasion of iraq...and to vote against the ban for clusterbombing. Cuz we all know that if Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine were full of "hardworking white" people, we wouldn't be murdering off their kids.

Do I think she meant to signal folks to assassinate Obama? no.

But neither do I see anything wrong in criticizing this senator for the fact that she has sided with republican nazi pigs, and is therefore partly responsible for the war crimes we've committed in the middle east.

Mary, Mother of God and all the Blessed Saints.

People still watch CNN? Outside of airports and cruise-ships, I mean, where the audience is captive.

Here's the thing. Media Matters is a totally Clinton-funded operation. They are focusing on CNN, which has zero viewership. This is perhaps an indicator of how the Clinton campaign managed to piss away nine figures to little effect.

Please, please, let the Obama campaign hire a lot of Clinton advisors.

...taking issue with her politics and accusing her of wanting Obama murdered.

I think that if Obama had uttered that remark, the Fray Hilliary Fanatics would be spamming the boards right now, claiming that Obama was calling for her assassination.

So when I see Obama supporters doing it, I'm embarrassed for them.

I agree with a lot of what you say.

I guess my problem is that when people say things like "Now these claims are being spread by Obama's supporters" it makes me cringe. Not ALL Obama supporters do that!

I am an Obama supporter and I don't think Hillary is a demon or evil.

I'm totally fine with agreements to speak and post civilly.

But I guess what I don't want to do is give up my right to not choose her. I feel like that is wrong - that I have to somehow "like" her and "support" her in order to prove myself NOT a: koolaide drinker, a moron, a fanatic, a robot, etc.

I avoid most television coverage so I don't hear all the nastiest stuff about her that most people are talking about. I read some stuff about her claims for the Florida and Michigan delegates and I roll my eyes.

I don't think that demonizes her, but I can stop that. "In the meantime, we’re going to quit claiming that Hillary is a racist, or that she’s just waiting on someone to kill Obama, or that she’d rather see McCain elected than Obama. We’re going to quit lying about the woman." -- Sounds good.

But please tell me this slippery slope of goodness will never lead to a request to stop demonizing W!!!

;)

dallasne is posting mean stuff about mccain up above.

would you please make him, stop, since you've taken on the role of poltiical sherrif here?

or are we only forbidden to post things about politicians you personally admire?

personally, i admire condi rice, because she DIDNT give a speech about race. she didn't have to, because she doesn't attend a church where the pastor hates america and screams ugly stuff from the pulpit every sunday.

too bad condi isn't running for president. she's definitely more intelligent, has better credentials, and more experience than hillary, mccain, or obama.

Well-said and about time, too. Thank you for your well-thought-out, well-backgrounded post here, Mr. Archeo- etc etc.

The Speaker Has Spoken

Please be realistic, artandsoul. Many, many, MANY Obama supporters are indeed guilty of demonizing Senator Clinton -- many of them, right here on the Slate Magazine's Frays. Please admit to that at least that. (You may not be among them but plenty of people with whom you post, ARE.)

Mr. Archeo-etc. etc. is quite right and it is WAY past time, on here at least, that someone with strong credibility and yes, a MALE poster, spoke up. Thank you for your support!