Did anyone else receive an e-mail from Hillary Clinton asking for money, thanking us for being part of "the team" and dangling the possibility of winning a trip the Democrats' national convention later this month? She says she'll be happy knowing that we’ll be in the room when she accepts her party's nomination. The woman raised $29.9 million for her campaign in the third quarter alone and she wants me to donate $3 so I can take a selfie with her in Philly.
I realize politicians need to raise money but I thought they paid people to clean up their lists so they didn’t solicit folks who’ve repeatedly, publicly renounced their Democratic Party memberships and declared their allegiance to true progressives. I’m as likely to donate to the Clinton campaign as I am to single-handedly lift our 4,652-pound Chrysler Towne and Country minivan and throw it on the roof of our garage.
On June 8, with wins in California, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, Clinton supposedly locked up the nomination. (The media insist that her insurmountable lead in pledged delegates is the ribbon on her present from the Democratic National Committee although she needs superdelegates to put her over the top and they don’t vote until their convention.) Shortly thereafter, I ran across the following anguished, well-written response in Facebook:
Y'all, I haven't been this absolutely devastated since I woke up to the sound of Kerry conceding the 2004 election.
I take no pride in seeing a woman clinch the nomination. I have no hope for our future, whether or not we see a democrat or a republican in office. In fact, I see no hope.
You see, I live in a severely impoverished neighborhood. I see the vast array of presentations that poverty has. I feel the crush of desperation, desolation, and soul-killing fatigue. And I know in an unshakeable way that without immediate and intense change, we are fucked.
For every person desperate because their car needs repairs they can't afford, there are people who can't scrape together enough for a bus pass.
I am one voice among hundreds of thousands of people experiencing poverty saying "we can no longer endure this system." And I am privileged among them because I have food, shelter, a job, access to the Internet, and the protection of my skin color.
For every voice like mine, how many people have no voice?
You can tell me all you want about the incremental changes Mrs. Clinton will bring. You can explain to me all you want that we have to keep Trump out of office and therefore my vote is needed. For the very first time in my life, I don't believe it. And I won't be sold that bill of goods.
Until the voiceless and hopeless are accounted for and helped above the interests of the rich and powerful...until the lady talking about inequality is wearing more practical clothing than a $12k jacket, I'll be over here sobbing for the fatigue and hopelessness I feel, knowing it's a fraction of the fatigue and hopelessness felt by people who have endured more and longer than anyone like me.
I’m thinking the writer is not the only one feeling this way.
FBI Director James Comey’s announcement yesterday that Clinton will not be charged with any crimes relating to her “extremely careless” handling of sensitive e-mail messages while she was U.S. Secretary of State has been met with mixed reactions. Sanders and Trump supporters are devastated that Clinton isn’t being forced out of the race; Clinton supporters are as joyful as my 11-year-old on Christmas morning because their candidate will live to see another disappointing poll.
I’ve already whined about alleged fraud, disappearing ballots, misleading polls and inaccurate vote tallies – those who say “Hillary got more votes than Bernie and won fair and square” obviously don’t know what “fair and square” means – and denied being a closet Republican or GOP troll intent on helping to send The Donald to the White House.
What I haven't helped point out is that if Trump makes it to the White House, it won’t be the fault of Sanders supporters. The DNC and the media will have to take the blame for choosing one of the most disliked, disingenuous, entrenched politicians in the world to represent voters who wanted change.
The essay writer lives in the Pacific Northwest with her partner and their four children. Originally hailing from a small impoverished mining town in the Iron Belt, she is more than a little familiar with the damage done by poverty. Her words are reprinted with permission.
Sources: Democracy Now, CNN Politics, NBCNews.com.
Love this! You nailed it.
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