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Hillary and Rocky
Marc Lamont Hill | Posted May 6, 2008 1:02 PM
Just like Rocky, Hillary Clinton doesn't expect to win...the first time. I am convinced that Clinton is merely softening Barack Obama up for a sure-fire ass whupping at the hands of John McCain.
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill is an assistant professor at Temple University and a regular TV commentator. His award-winning blog is located at MarcLamontHill.com.
A few weeks ago, when Hillary Clinton was campaigning in Philadelphia, she began to publicly compare herself to Rocky. At first, I dismissed it as yet another ridiculous attempt to paint herself as a working class underdog rather than the delusional underachiever that she's been this election season.
Upon closer examination, however, I remembered something interesting about Rocky. Although he fought to the bloody end, the stubborn pugilist lost the first time around. To whom did he lose? That's right, a cocky black guy. That's when I realized that there's probably more truth to this Rocky thing than I imagined. Given all that's going on this election season, I am convinced that Hillary Clinton does not expect to win the nomination. Rather, she is merely softening Barack Obama up for a sure-fire ass whupping at the hands of John McCain. Then, a la Rocky II, Hillary comes back around in 2012 and wins the big one against a geriatric warmonger. (I'll reserve my theories regarding what happens to the cocky Black guy in Rocky IV)
Why else would Hillary stay in a race when all signs say she's going to lose? How else can we justify her pile-on attacks and unrepentant silence regarding flag pins, Jeremiah Wright, and Bill Ayers? Based on her malevolent strategy, Hillary Clinton is not staying too late in 2008, she's campaigning early for 2012!
The problem with Hillary's Rocky strategy is that it opens the door for a McCain presidency that would be scarcely different than the Bush regime. As Hillary spends the next four years mapping strategy, millions of people would die from war, poverty, and deficient health care. As Hillary plays politics, the nation's most vulnerable people continue to suffer.
Thoughts?
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Imari commented on Hillary and Rocky:
Keesha, The good thing is that Dr. Hill doesn't need your approval to post his opinion. That's why... -
harlemboy commented on Hillary and Rocky:
No, Hillary just really wants to be the nominee this time, and she will say what is necessary to con... -
Jim commented on Hillary and Rocky:
How is running a campaign finances so badly that she needs to get loans (from herself) suppose to sh... -
Keesha commented on Hillary and Rocky:
It is hard to believe you are a professor of anything. Instead of writing about facts and what is k... -
Keesha commented on Hillary and Rocky:
It is hard to believe you are a professor of anything. Instead of writing about facts and what is k...



May 6, 2008 1:36 PM
I have come to believe that she is that heartless but not that patient or foresighted. I feel that she is willing to do anything she can to get the nomination. Even if it means destroying the nation let alone the party.
This has become personal for her. I feel sorry for her in this sense, what will she do when this is all over and the those who bear the fears of yesteryear are no longer afraid and only Americans remain: African Americans, white Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans of conscience remain, and she is left to only be supported by the tragedy of her on actions and choices.
Rocky was a movie but she will find herself in real life. The only person discussing using nuclear weapons-Regan was not even that hawkish, sad sad sad.
May 6, 2008 2:52 PM
The battle for the Democratic nomination is healthy. I think the lack of foresight is with those that feel there should be no race in the presidential race. For every argument for her to pull out, there is reason for here to stay in. Since when was the convention just a ceremonial process where the presumptive candidate turns up to crowned? The race between Obama and Clinton has made me more aware of what both people believe and would they would bring to the job. McCain is sitting silent on the sidelines fighting no one. What have we learned about him in the past months since him become the presumptive nominee? Not much if you ask me. Those who feel that this is splitting the party apart must not have a strong faith in either the democratic process or the democratic process. I think it is foolish to believe for a moment that either Obama or Clinton would not support the other once the winner is decided.
May 6, 2008 4:40 PM
First off, obama is not black. He may be a 'true' african american, but he is not black. The fact that blacks adore him so much...well, speaks for itself. Truly, hillary is the only one that can beat mccain, but she will not get the nomination. As for mccain, he is very different from bush. He offers a logical foreign policy and a realistic domestic policy. NO candidate is going to 'pull' the troops out of Iraq. If you believe obama or hillary will, you are delusional. If you believe that hillary's or obama's tax plan is reasonable, guess again. They say they are going to target the infamous soundbite 'top 1%'. If you do the math, it simply does not add up. The best estimates are they will tax the top 50% to pay for their domestic socialistic agendas. Neither obama nor hillary has been challenged on their 'fuzzy math'...I have a feeling when ordinary hardworking americans realize that obama's national (socialized) health care plan will take money out of their pockets to pay for the 'free' healthcare of the unemployed, government-housed, there will be a big backlash against obama...he will lose in a landslide (however, he will get 99% of the black vote)
May 7, 2008 12:09 AM
It is hard to believe you are a professor of anything. Instead of writing about facts and what is known, you offer spiteful conjecture.
I voted for Barack. He's my choice. But I don't approve of this crap being hurled at Hillary. Either of them are strong candidates. I will gladly vote for either but I'm getting real pissed at community commentators smearing Hillary. You are divisive and you're trying to destroy the relationship between our community and the Democratic Party over a candidate. My allegience to the Democratic Party is not about Barack. I'll be happy to see him get the nomination. If Hillary gets it, I will work just as hard to see her elected and will be happy for her. In 2004, I was for Howard Dean. I still worked my butt off for John Kerry.
If you're just a Democrat because a Black man's in the race, you're hurting us all.
As a professor, you should grow up and quit acting so juvenile.
The race is a dead heat because both Barack and Hillary have great qualities. They are wonderful candidates. It was very hard for me to pick but I picked Barack for the primary. Whatever is decided, I'm voting Dem in the general. And doing so gladly regardless of whether it's Barack or Hillary.
Stop poisoning the community by pushing a racial divide.
May 7, 2008 12:10 AM
It is hard to believe you are a professor of anything. Instead of writing about facts and what is known, you offer spiteful conjecture.
I voted for Barack. He's my choice. But I don't approve of this crap being hurled at Hillary. Either of them are strong candidates. I will gladly vote for either but I'm getting real pissed at community commentators smearing Hillary. You are divisive and you're trying to destroy the relationship between our community and the Democratic Party over a candidate. My allegience to the Democratic Party is not about Barack. I'll be happy to see him get the nomination. If Hillary gets it, I will work just as hard to see her elected and will be happy for her. In 2004, I was for Howard Dean. I still worked my butt off for John Kerry.
If you're just a Democrat because a Black man's in the race, you're hurting us all.
As a professor, you should grow up and quit acting so juvenile.
The race is a dead heat because both Barack and Hillary have great qualities. They are wonderful candidates. It was very hard for me to pick but I picked Barack for the primary. Whatever is decided, I'm voting Dem in the general. And doing so gladly regardless of whether it's Barack or Hillary.
Stop poisoning the community by pushing a racial divide.
May 7, 2008 9:43 AM
How is running a campaign finances so badly that she needs to get loans (from herself) suppose to show how well she will run the much more complex national exonomy?
In which executive post(s) did she hold to gain that extensive experience?
How is taking positions advanced by the Republican party to distinguish herself from her Democratic competition suppose to make her "more electable" than the one that originally advanced the ideas that she is now espousing?
May 8, 2008 12:36 PM
No, Hillary just really wants to be the nominee this time, and she will say what is necessary to convince the superdelegates that Obama can't win. But I think the Clinton and Obama campaigns both know that the fundamentals strongly favor a Democratic tide this year. Either candidate is likely to trounce McCain, as long as the party unites at the convention. However, it's appalling when Hillary uses a purely racial argument ("white voters support me, so my coalition is better able to defeat McCain"). The reality is that the lower-income/less-educated white voters, who have kept Hillary's campaign alive in Ohio and Pennsylvania, will not vote Republican in November.
May 8, 2008 3:00 PM
Keesha,
The good thing is that Dr. Hill doesn't need your approval to post his opinion. That's why it's called "his" opinion.
I don't approve of you saying that Hillary is a wonderful candidate. See how ignorant that sounds?
You have your opinion. Dr. Hill has his.
Black people have been democrats when there have been no black candidates in the race. If we choose to support Obama while using race as a factor. Good for us.
Otherwise, kick rocks.