Hillary Clinton made some conciliatory comments in her victory speech in Kentucky Tuesday night, saying that “while we continue to go toe-to-toe for this nomination, we do see eye-to-eye when it comes to uniting our party to elect a Democratic president this fall.” But given that she has little to no hope of overtaking Barack Obama, who won Oregon yesterday, why is she still fighting full force? Much of the speculation about this has been negative, but here are some positive explanations:
The Washington Post reported that Clinton’s advisers say that “a major reason she does not want to be pressured out of the race is that she believes it will be easier to bring her supporters over to Obama once the primaries are over if they think she was able to finish the nomination battle on her own terms.” That makes sense, though it doesn’t explain the aggressiveness of her criticisms of Obama.
Columnist Richard Cohen wrote that Clinton “is acting as any leader would.” He added: “Take a tour of statues throughout the world, and, while you will find monuments to plenty of historical figures who lost battles, you will find none to ‘A Gracious Loser.’” However, Cohen also noted that fighting to the end could have political benefits later. Clinton would be 65 in 2012 and still younger than John McCain is now in 2016, so she would be “positioned to run for president, not as someone’s wife, but as a gritty fighter who just would not quit.”
The New York Times reported that Clinton thinks sexism was a significant factor in the campaign, and she wants to show younger women that she won’t be pushed around. But it also reported that Clinton thinks she still has a chance to win, and the more primary wins and delegates she can get, the more leverage she’ll have to argue for seating delegates from Florida and Michigan.
Right-wing radio hosts have tried to turn Sen. Ted Kennedy into a caricature. But columnist David Broder writes that Kennedy, who left the hospital today after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, “has probably touched more people, in more cherished ways, than any other public figure. And his illness threatens to alter, for the worse, the prospects of every other politician — starting with Barack Obama and John McCain.”
Four local families have filed a discrimination lawsuit against St. Anne Catholic School, challenging a rule that students can speak only English during the school day.
We’re not inclined to wade into a private school matter. But before activists against illegal immigrants get up in arms, some points to consider:
The Spanish-speaking students in this case are U.S. citizens who are bilingual — English is their primary language. The parents aren’t asking that the students be allowed to speak Spanish in classrooms — at issue is whether the students should be able to speak Spanish outside the classroom, during recess or other free time.
It’s too bad that any American student would be dissuaded from being bilingual, when U.S. schools, public and private, actively promote the benefits of being fluent in more than one language. How does this “English only†school rule support that educational goal?
Another top aide is leaving John McCain’s campaign, though this time it is not because of lobbyist connections. Mark McKinnon, McCain’s top media consultant, is leaving because of a pledge he made last year not to campaign against Barack Obama. “I just don’t want to work against an Obama candidacy,†McKinnon said last year, adding that electing Obama “would send a great message to the country and the world.†McKinnon is a former Democrat but was a key consultant in President Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns and has been with McCain since 2006. He said he will remain a “friend and fan†of McCain’s campaign.
Pat Salerno, with 18 years of experience managing rapid growth in Sunrise, Fla., appears to be a qualified prospect for the city manager opening — he’s experienced and results-oriented — although his forced resignation in his last job and reputation for secrecy are serious concerns.
“There can be no room whatsoever for holding information back,†said council member Jim Skelton.
It’s good that the council held a public forum Monday to allow Wichita citizens to see the candidate up close and ask questions. (The forum will be rebroadcast on the city’s cable Channel 7 at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.) This models the kind of transparency and accountability Wichita expects in its next manager. Council members and the public still need to interview several other candidates, though, before determining the best fit for Wichita.
Hillary Clinton made some conciliatory comments in her victory speech in Kentucky Tuesday night, saying that “while we continue to go toe-to-toe for this nomination, we do see eye-to-eye when it comes to uniting our party to elect a Democratic president this fall.” But given that she has little to no hope of overtaking Barack Obama, who won Oregon yesterday, why is she still fighting full force? Much of the speculation about this has been negative, but here are some positive explanations:
