Category Archives: Political thoughts

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My experience with the “birther issue”

No, I am not a member of the Tea Party.  I am not a conspiracy theorist.   Occam’s Razor could be tattooed on my forehead.  I think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and we went to the moon.  Anyway, you get the point.

In late 2008, I was working as a freelance writer/PR person.  For a very brief period I wrote for a Sunday morning, political round table television show (won’t say which one but the host is super obnoxious and, for once, I am not talking about David Gregory — hint two: it’s also not Chris Matthews, whom I have never met).

In one morning meeting the host told us (there were two writers and the host in the room) what he wanted the theme of the next show to be.  They then recanted a tale of political intrigue that defied logic.  The then President-elect was planning go go back to Hawaii to retrieve his real birth certificate from Kenya that was cleverly hidden under the left, third drawer of his grandmother’s study (seriously, how would that detail get out?).  The host went on to explain the people who had been hired, sometime earlier in the President’s life, to cover up his real birth place and forge a new birth certificate, which is the one that was released.

To me, this story was/is/will forever be, absurd beyond belief.  My first reaction was to laugh really hard and I said, “THAT’s the story your’re going with?  Really?”  I also pointed out how absurd that was. Being really new to writing for TV, this was probably not my best plan and the host’s reaction backed me up on  that point.  They back peddled a bit and then said, “I didn’t say it was true, I just said people are saying this.”  Right.  I am not saying he’s a liar, I am just saying other people are.”

In a subsequent conversation, we had a back and forth that went like this:

Host, “You, you are obsessed with Obama!”

Me: “No.  No, really, I am not.  If anyone has Obama-fatigue, it is me.”

Host: “Obama fatigue, where did you get that?”

Me: “I just said it.”

Host: “I cannot figure you out.”

There would be few more of these pleasant exchanges as soon after, I was informed my services would no longer be needed at the program.

I am not saying I was fired for not supporting this birther nonsense.  I am just saying some people are.

(Note:  I am a Obama supporter.  I voted for him in 2008 and will do so again in 2012.  On the morning of the above conversation, I had seen two disturbing pieces of memorabilia — a toilet seat with the First Family on it and some sort of random OTC medication that claimed to be “Obama’s favorite.”  My fatigue was more attributable to that than any thoughts I had about the now President.)

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Calling Willie Geist

Dear Willie Geist,

I start a lot of sentences with “I know this is going to make me sound crazy but…” I have never been as correct with that assement as right now. I was going to title this post “Way too addicted to Willie Geist” but that seemed too stalkerish and I am nothing if not sensitive to the needs of the famous.

But alas, I have a problem. I really like – and by “really like” I mean “I am addicted to” a show called “Morning Joe.” I like it so much that I started watching another show called “Way too early.” (Ps. One day they will take my response about why I am up then, they didn’t like my chocolate bacon answer but one day…).

And yet, I have digressred again. Mr. Geist (remember my caveat), my mornings are not the same when you do your “Today” show thing. You are the glue that holds the entire “Morning Joe” ship together. You add a sense of irreverence to the show that changes the entire dynamic. My instinct is to add how you change the tone of the show but that feels like overexplaining.  I would add that I look to you for my Snooki news but that probably won’t help my argument.

For the record, as a Met fan, I have no business liking you. I am probably betraying some sacred oath but I do. And so, I hope you don’t leave “Morning Joe.” Your career goals are clearly not as important as my morning routine but I have to go now – my Pappa John’s pizza just got here and I have some Kiss Me Kate beer chilling in my new fridge.

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Moral failures and the American Dream

I have a problem with the American Dream.  I was raised to believe that this is the ‘land of opportunity’ and that anyone can accomplish anything they want if they work hard enough.  While I still believe that, I am troubled by the other side of this coin: If we assume anyone can accomplish anything, we then assume that if someone has not succeeded  that they have done something wrong.

Nowhere is this presumption of moral failure on behalf of people struggling today more apparent than in conversations about the housing crisis.  The assumption is that anyone who has either lost their home to foreclosure or is in danger of doing so must have done something to deserve it.   Worse, people accuse distressed homeowners should not only be blamed for their problems but their irresponsibility caused the entire system to collapse.  The problem with this narrative is not that it is mean, which it is, but that it is not accurate.

Realty Trac http://www.realtytrac.com/trendcenter/ok-trend.html

US foreclosures in October 2010

The stats on foreclosures prove my point.  Today, one in nine people worries about losing their home.  This year is on track to become the year when this country saw more foreclosures than any time in our history.  In 2009, 2.8 million homes were foreclosed on.  In 2010, it is predicted that more than three million people will suffer the same fate.  That translates into one out of every 200 homes.  That’s an average.  If you look at the map, you’ll see that in some areas, one in 79 homes will be affected.  If you live in an area even moderately impacted by the current crisis, if you own a home and are not in foreclosure, you know someone who is.

The two top reasons people go into foreclosure are a reduction in income or health problems.  If you think people who lose their jobs are to blame for that, well, look at California and how they have dealt with their financial crisis by asking workers to go months without a real paycheck.  These employees may have to accept an IOU in lieu of a paycheck but banks won’t accept that for a mortgage payment.  Go here for more detailed info on each state.

Medical debt is something unique to the United States.  If you are a believer in American exceptionalism, you should know we excel here.  More than 50 percent of personal bankruptcies are due to medial debt incurred by people with health insurance. The US is the only industrialized country to not offer its citizens universal health care.

I love the idea that the US provides so many opportunities to the people who live here.  It’s the reason millions come here every year.  We also have the capacity for compassion.  We need to stop blaming people who need help and start helping them.

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So much going on and so little time to write about it.

1. Wikileaks; as a liberal, what is the party line I am supposed to follow here?

It seems there is one thing Americans of all political stripes have found something they can agree on; Julian Assange.  Politicians and pundits hate him.  My personal views are more nuanced.  Few ideas reside closer to my heart than freedom of the press.  I may not like that these documents were published but Mr. Assange is not the bad guy here.  Neither is the New York Times.  There is a villain here and that’s the guy who pretended to be downloading Lady Gaga and was really trolling for secrets to share with world.  A secondary villain is the piss poor security that let this guy access all these cables in the first place.

Mr. Assange seems to be a bit of a douchebag; arrogant and possibly delusional.  I do not share his worldview but that does not invalidate his right to have it.  US politicians have no business calling an Australian citizen that he is a traitor for leaking anti-US documents.  I also find it ironic that some people who fear the coming of a ‘one world government’ are under the impression that non-US citizens who don’t live in this country can possibly commit treason against us.  I have no idea if he is guilty of the crimes Sweeden has charged him with but see no reason for him not to face them.  It would not make sense for any court on the planet to send him to this country.  It is pretty clear that he would never receive anything close to a fair hearing here. We are just pissed off that we are embarrassed.

The New York Times also seems to have tried to be as responsible as possible when it came to what documents they released and what information was redacted.  Our system of government relies on the ability of the press to print the information they receive.  Again, it is not their job to keep US government secrets hidden away.  That’s the government’s job.

I read today that someone leaked tons of credit cards as a protest against any action against Mr. Assange.  Again, I am all about the freedom of the press but leave my personal credit information out of your protest, please.  That’s identity theft and your outrage does not justify this.

2. Tax cuts for everyone!

I think President Obama is doing pretty good job.  I feel like when he took office he faced what I like to call a Himalayan array of problems; each is gigantic when looked at independently but not so much when compared with each other.

My final verdict on the tax cut plan that the White House has worked out with some in Congress is both the best deal he was going to get and a little too far.  Well, not too far but too far, too fast.  I think the deal on the tax cuts for the uber-wealthy might have been a necessary evil but I would have liked him to publicly fight it.  I think Joe Scarborough has been dead on about this.  I would have liked to have heard him use the term hostage a week ago.  Truthfully, I would like to have heard that before the election.  Here’s the exact wording I would have liked to hear, “As a candidate for president, I said that I oppose the tax cuts for people making over $250,000 a year.  I understand that the definition of wealthy differs in areas of the country where the cost of living is high.  I have asked the Republicans to consider extending all the tax cuts but those on individuals making more than $1 million a year.  They have refused to even discuss this and are threatening to hold tax cuts for the middle class hostage.  We cannot let them.”

That would not have guaranteed anything but would have made the lefties among us feel like he remembers who elected him.  It also may have made if this package was the best they could do, that the lefties in Congress could support this.

This is a minor point, really in the overall scheme of things.  Even more minor is one problem I did have with President Obama’s press statement.  He said “if they are (wondering) if I am itching for a fight I suspect they will find that I am.”  You suspect.  YOU don’t know if YOU are ready for a fight?  Seriously.  You should have a clearer idea of what is going on in own head.

3. Can we all agree that we all want the economy to create more jobs?  Can we get our politicians to skip to the part where they tell us what they propose we DO to make that happen?

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is considering running for president.  Today he gave a speech in which he railed against Washington gridlock, partisan bickering and reiterated his desire to see the economy grow.  He was short on specifics and long on rhetoric.  It may not be fair to signal him out for something all candidates or would be candidates do but something about this speech got under my skin.  I wish we could just stipulate that we all want the economy to improve, kittens are cute and all humans are mammals and just get on with our lives.

 

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You will be missed, Mrs. Edwards

In a past life, that occupied a lot of my entire life, I did presidential campaign advance.  In that capacity, I worked for John Edwards’ campaigns in 2003, 2004 and 2007.  One of my favorite campaigns comes from 2004.  I spent a few weeks in South Carolina working on the primary there (we won, it was great).

The day after the primary I flew back to Washington, DC.  I noticed Elizabeth Edwards on the flight but, not being a jerk, I didn’t bother her on the flight.  (For the record, it was a commercial, all coach flight.)  While waiting for my luggage, however, she was next to me so I said hello.  We talked about South Carolina and random things you talk about with people you really only know marginally.  I found her to be really genuine and honestly friendly.  When I got home I was a much bigger supporter than when I left for SC.  When we got our bags, she turned me and said, “I am so sorry but I cannot drive you home.  I have not been to the grocery store in weeks and the kids are getting home today.”  It never would have occurred to me to ask for such a think but still think that was a sweet thing to say.

That is one of my favorite stories from the campaign trail.

Elizabeth Edwards’ passing today may not have been totally unexpected but that doesn’t make that any less sad. She will be missed.  A lot.