In that 1984 race for the Democratic nomination, Gary Hart – the candidate of “new ideas” was attacked by the party establishment (epitomized by Hart’s chief rival, former Vice President Walter Mondale) simply because he was not as well known nationally prior to the start of the campaign season. Even though Hart had authored numerous policy papers and was a defense and national security expert, Mondale acted as though Hart was junior varsity or something.

Remember what Mondale said in a debate about Gary Hart? Mondale was able to bury Hart’s 1984 candidacy with just one little line, plagiarized from a Wendy’s commercial: “Where’s the beef?” 



Similarly, the Hillary Clinton campaign often makes unfair attacks against Obama. For example, Hillary has said essentially that Obama is “all talk and no substance.” You know, that’s what the party establishment says about every insurgent candidate who threatens to disrupt the status quo.

My point is that the Clinton folks are attempting to do the same thing to Obama that Mondale did to Hart. Ironically, Hillary is actually the one who lacks substance when she repeatedly uses such simplistic inane arguments.

This whole thing about Hillary claiming all these years of “experience” and “being ready on day one” (in contrast, she says, to Obama) is really disingenuous to say the least. In fact, Obama actually has had more legislative experience than Hillary, if you include his years in the Illinois legislature. Just because he hasn’t been in Washington DC as long as Hillary is no reason to assume that he is less experienced in political matters. 

 Indeed, his experience as a community organizer and professor of law are actually very impressive credentials.

Notably, Obama is an insightful writer and an inspiring speaker who has taken numerous specific policy positions. Take health care, for instance, Obama has a very specific plan that would achieve universal health care. But just because he doesn’t want the federal government to mandate coverage (which is unenforceable anyway), Hillary accuses him of not having a universal plan. That’s just downright ridiculous, but Hillary keeps saying it nonetheless.



Do Democrats really want to win back the White House or not? I’m sorry, but Hillary is just way too polarizing a figure. I can’t tell you the number of folks I have talked to who say that they would never vote for Hillary but really like Obama.

Now, as a loyal Democrat, I would of course vote for Hillary if she’s our party’s nominee. But we would most likely lose the general election with her as our standard bearer. Obama, on the other hand, brings all kinds of people together. Importantly, he electrifies crowds and inspires people like no other politician since possibly Bobby Kennedy. We can’t afford to let the Democratic party’s status quo wing win this time. If so, the Democrats seriously risk losing the White House once again.