The Politico Whodunit: Barack Rocks Iowa Caucus 2008
Published January 04, 2008
Barack Obama wins Iowa Caucus 2008. No surprise there!
Like Muhammad Ali’s "Thrilla in Manila" and his "Rumble in the Jungle", Barack Obama floated like a butterfly (after 14-plus debate rounds and one Iowa caucus) and stung queen bee Hillary Clinton and Sir John Edwards. Politicking by the numbers: record turnout in Iowa 2008; triple and quadruple expectations; state is 95% white; front-runners had close numbers early on — the results: Obama 37%; Edwards 30%; Clinton 30% (at this writing the projected winner).
On the GOP side electability and money-honey remained key despite the confident win by Mike Huckabee with 34%, Mitt Romney with 25%, and a distant fourth by John McCain — a very lucky fourth place, I think. I wouldn't discount McCain despite his not placing in the top three. But the real story is the poor showing by Mitt Romney and his money. That was a surprise.
I wrote this copy while waiting in the dentist’s office the morning of the caucus. Why? Because I believed that the night might bring the beginning or the end of the (political) world as we know it. And I wanted to put pen to paper quickly and sort out my thoughts before any emotion might cloud them.
But before we start dancing in the streets at this history-making caucus outcome let us take stock in what this means or does not mean . This year conventional wisdom does not rule. In fact, I would throw it right out of the window. Why? Because an Obama win was needed really to convince profoundly as yet unconvinced black voters (and the Shelby Steeles) in states like South Carolina of his electability. Juan Williams said it correctly tonight: "...for a black man to win in Iowa is astounding! ... This man won the white vote." Yes, he did. But the real beauty of Barack Obama? He's a black man in America who clearly transcends age, gender, racial, class, and cultural divisions.
- The Politico Whodunit: Barack Rocks Iowa Caucus 2008
- Published: January 04, 2008
- Type: News
- Section: Politics
- Filed Under: Politics: Elections and Candidates, Politics: Local and Regional, Politics: U.S.
- Writer: Heloise
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Comments
Union Leader is the top newspaper of New Hampshire just heard on MSNBC.
BTW they have endorsed McCain for all you McCain lovers.
Heloise
Heloise, please follow the BC convention of posting correctly formatted links. In case you have been too busy studying Physics to acquire this fundamental 21st Century skill, here's a link to a clear explanation of how to format links.
Although Obama would almost certainly have to pick a Southern or Western white male as his running mate, Edwards wouldn't accept that position a second time after running for president himself twice.
Someone like Mark Warner of Virginia would be a great choice.
Maybe Edwards as Secretary of Labor or Health/Human Services.
Jeeze, you think Texas' primary is out of the loop? Try Indiana. Our primary is in May. May for crap sake! I think, though, that, even if it were held on New Years Day, few would pay it any mind. While we do occasionally elect a Dem senator or governor, our presidential preferences have consistently run somewhat to the right of Ghengas Khan. Much too predictable. Hoosiers would vote for Elmer Fudd if he ran on the GOP ticket. Afterall, Elmer would hardly be FOR gun control.
"Kill the rabbit!"
Baritone
"Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm hunting wibewals. Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh."
Careful there, in "What's Opera Doc?" Elmer actually did succeed in "Killing the Wabbit"
Not a surprise. As everybody knows, "What's Opera Doc?" was set in Indiana.
THAT'S where I've seen those helmets!!! Indiana state troopers where them... even the pigtails!
What did you you expect in an opera, a happy ending?
I've got to say, race pimp Juan Williams is showing how out of touch he is by being astounded at Obama's victory. His paradigm is old and by his own admission inaccurate. I bet he doesn't change it though.
Let me say up front, I have no race prejudices, my bleoved grandfather on my father's side was black.
Having said that, I don't think we can get a black man elected president, just yet. Backward southern states just won't hear of it. We're getting closer and closer, but not yet.
The problem with Obama is that he's only served one term in the Senate before announcing he's running. Sorry but that's just not enough experience. As I've said before, we're actually electing his cabinet advisors, not him, and like Bush, we didn't know who he was bringing with him (Rumsfeld etc.) before we elected him. Same problem-he's likeable, but being likeable doesn't mean he'll make a good president re: Bush.
Not the same thing can be said for Hillary, but she was there beside her husband through all kinds of Presidential disasters, so she's learned a thing or two by watching for 8 years. (better the evil we know)
I don't think we can get a black man elected president, just yet. Backward southern states just won't hear of it.
The backward southern states are going to vote Republican anyway.
Plus, the two coasts have a hell of a lot of folks who have no problem at all with a candidate's ethnicity.
I do like the idea of an Obama/Edwards ticket.
If Edwards means what he says about it being high time to take on the corporate welfare state we know and slave for, he'll take the job and run with it.
If not, maybe Ron Paul?
Jet, I don't know where you get this impression. As I said on the "Calling Iowa" board, there's no evidence of strong Southern anti-black racism. Sure, there's bound to be some racism lingering, but I've never seen it. I've seen it in the North though.
I get the feeling that the KKK is just a story that Northerners tell each other to feel superior to the South. (Figuratively.) In a way, Northern smugness is healthy, because it stems from a historical good. But it's a stereotype. An unsubstantiated fear of the other. I can't be the only person to see the irony.
I love it when friends visit the South. They always come back talking about how different and racist it is. They never see the racism, but they can tell it's there. It's a vibe. They just know it. Northerners have such prejudice against the South, and no idea of it.
Baronius, it's astonishing how much people can be misread, simply because it's impossible to see the writer's face, nor his tone of voice.
No disrespect was meant...
'Backward Southern states just won't hear of a black President.' How does your tone of voice make that statement respectful?
Baronius, you just called someone a gay ignorant piece of ****.
That can be taken as a compliment
That can be taken as an insult
That can be taken as sarcasm
Same with what everyone says, everything has as meanings as a twisted mind can construe
JOM Predictiom...2010
"Obama who...oh yea wasn't he the guy who won on Iowa?"
JOM
"Obama and Huckabee - Left Wing Media Creations"
One should remember that the Klan is not simply a southern phenomenon. The Klan lives in Indiana, and I assume to some degree in other northern tier states. Indiana was the home of the Klan's national "grand dragon," D.C. Stephenson back in the 1920s. Ironically, for a time Stephenson lived in an east side Indianapolis home which had much earlier in its history, been a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Unfortunately, the Klan is a part of Indiana's proud history. There are still periodically Klan marches here in Indy and other cities and towns around the state. There are certainly people in Indiana, Klanners or not, who would never consider voting for an Afro-American, or any other non-caucasian, for any office.
Still, I don't believe that there are numbers of such virulent racists significant enough to seriously affect a presidential race with Obama as the Dem candidate. At the least, I hope not. This country simply must get past such idiocy.
B-tone
Whellll, I'm certainly glad I don't live in Indiana. You certainly know a lot about the Klan!
"Whellll, I'm certainly glad I don't live in Indiana."
Don't kid yourself, Jet.
They're active in Ohio, too.
Here's their Ohio website.
Well, I don't want to over sell this. The Klan has little real power or impact in the state. But it is significant and maddening that they exist at all, here or anywhere. I don't really know much about the Klan, excepting for some of its more notorious history here in Indiana.
D.C. Stephenson's Waterloo came when he beat and killed a woman, perhaps a prostitute, while on a long train trip through the state. I'd have to go back and do some reading, but that is essentially the story. But for a time during the 1920s Stephenson and the Klan wielded a great deal of power in Indiana government.
B-tone
Racism is not limited to a specific location or region. I grew up in Oakland during the Black Panther era and anti-white sentiment was strong among the radical "non-caucasian" ethnicities. No matter, I had friends (and enemies) of all ethnicities. Shade of skin color ended up not mattering.
Then I moved to Vermont and experienced blue collar racism and sexism in the workplace, so open and blatant that I protested, to no avail. I was blown away by the ignorance of my coworkers.
Not all Vermonters are racist. Nor are the majority of the caucasian voters from Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama, or ANY other particular State or region.
I really don't think the outcome of a national election will be effected by ethnic bias.
Anticipated rationality, competence, and a respect for the Constitution, especially after 8 years of Bush, is much more important than the ethnicity of a candidate.
Bennett
THanks for the reminder Chris. I know how to do it, I just did not want to do it WRONG. Do you know how freaking long it takes Heloise to put together a cogent article that needs little or no editing? Hours buddy. I have been a writing phenom these past two weeks, went to CHicago. Now its back to physics.
Luv ya
Heloise
Bennett - I agree (except for the shot at Bush).
Baronius,
After all that's gone down, you still don't believe that Bush deserves a shot?
B-tone
Don't underestimate Indies video. The independent voter is lining up with Democratic voters. This is what I envisioned as a first step or the needed step in lieu of a third party.
Heloise
This morning, on one of the pundit TV programs, George Will said something like: "it used to be said that the Democrats had a problem with the South, now it looks like the Republicans have a problem with Everyone Else."





I just googled the newspapers of New Hampshire: here's the one from the capital Concord
The world will be watching and reading this one online.
Heloise