Ash writes: "It is said that President John F. Kennedy's favorite quote was from Dante's Inferno: 'The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality.'"
Hillary Clinton preparing to address the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, September 15, 2016. (photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty)
I Endorse Hillary Clinton
13 October 16
t is said that President John F. Kennedy�s favorite quote was from Dante�s Inferno: �The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality.� Accordingly, I hearby abandon my neutrality.
I saw in Bernie Sanders an FDR-like figure, a committed, practical reformer. That was the basis for my support of his campaign.
The DNC saw that too and decided they were having none of it. That was and still is the basis for my opposition to the DNC.
My decision to endorse Hillary Clinton at this stage is based on several factors. Not the least of which are arguments in favor of Secretary Clinton by Bernie Sanders himself, Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Labor secretary Robert Reich.
In essence, what they are all saying is, �We advise you in the strongest terms to get behind her.� But the subtext of what they are saying is that they are giving progressives their word that they have negotiable assurances from the Clinton camp that she is prepared to take seriously the need for progressive reform.
I was also swayed by the last debate. Misogyny is a term that gets used all the time in this day and age, sometimes to describe a very real pattern of abuse and sometimes not. During the Democratic primary contest, every time we took a position in favor of Sanders or against Clinton we were sure to be accused of misogyny, probably unfairly.
What I saw on the stage at the second debate was appalling. That was misogyny on full public display. Donald Trump actually referred to the former secretary of State as a �devil� and went on to threaten her with using the powers of the presidency to influence �his attorney general� to pursue a retaliatory prosecution against her. I am absolutely and sincerely outraged on her behalf.
My endorsement of Hillary Clinton notwithstanding, I expect her to beat Donald Trump like a drum on November 8th. In doing so, she will have dispatched one of the most abusive figures in American political history. That alone would be worthy of no small measure of respect in itself.
On domestic policy, I am reasonably optimistic that Hillary Clinton will be more progressive than Barack Obama. It�s a fairly low threshold, as Obama proved much better at articulating progressive ideals than sacrificing for them. The key on domestic policy will be the TPP. If Clinton signs off on TPP she will have zero credibility with progressives regardless. If she sidesteps it or shelves it, she has a real chance to be a uniter.
The Supreme Court in the wake of Justice Antonin Scalia�s unexpected departure is at a critical moment of transition. I am not wild about Judge Garland Merrick as a replacement for Scalia. Obviously he would be better than Scalia, but is he up to the task of restoring the Civil Rights Act, defending the Fourth Amendment? Would he acquiesce to the demands of the NSA in the interest of national security?
I suspect that Hillary Clinton might well want to leave her own mark on the court. What president would not?
On foreign policy, things get a lot more complicated. After the second presidential debate, David Brooks, appearing as an analyst on PBS, conceded that Clinton again looked more presidential, but he also needed to point out that �She has no plan for Syria.�
The problem is that the Iraqi-Syrian frontier, post U.S. invasion and destruction of Iraq, is quite literally FUBAR. The corollary for the rise of ISIS in the wake of the U.S. assault is the rise of the Khmer Rouge in 1975 in the wake of the U.S. carpet-bombing of Cambodia. The lesson there was once the killing started, there was nothing the West could do.
The notion that there should be an American solution, a way to fix the massive problems caused by the brutal and totally unnecessary U.S. military assault and occupation of Iraq, is absurd. The truth is, as the label FUBAR implies, there is no simple solution. Right now the best U.S. officials can hope for is damage control and crisis mitigation. That�s if everything goes really well.
Hillary Clinton said one thing with regard to the situation in Syria that gave me a little hope: �No troops on the ground.� Of course the U.S. can do immense damage without troops on the ground, but it shows she is wary of overcommitment. It�s a start.
So yes, I endorse Hillary Clinton for president. At the same time, I endorse and intend to join with the efforts of Sanders, Warren, Reich and organizations like Our Revolution who are lining up to press the administration for real, meaningful reform.
Marc Ash is the founder and former Executive Director of Truthout, and is now founder and Editor of Reader Supported News.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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And about Israel: I would hope that people allow that country to determine the best course of action for itself, and not pour money into campaigns that the Israelis themselves do not want. For those who point to Bible prophecy: I respect religious opinions, but consider the story of Jonah: he finally warned Ninevah, they repented, he got mad that he had spent time in the whale, and with the example of the gourd it was pointed out that sometimes forgiveness is given for repentance. Those prophecies are supposed to point to a good direction, not just give a blanket punishment, but prophecies may be self-fulfilling with the kind of meddling that Adelson is doing.
We the People just won't buy what they are selling. Let them waste their money. Don't vote republican on any level.
My post was to anybody who might give Adelson an excuse for his meddling. At one time, any foreign meddling in an American election was a serious offense; a foreign corporation could lose their licenses to do business in the United States. I wonder where those laws went?
This last year, I've been seeing loads of out-of-state license plates, all good cars. Most people change their license if they are moving here, so I assume these are all the out-of-state people coming to Ohio to pay people to vote Republican. Most people don't buy it, but all those out-of-state plates prove they are trying.
Yall benefited from the bail-out of GM I believe, so I hope many, many more Ohioans will also vote Dem. It is going to be a trying time, for since you are THE swing state, you will be bombarded with negative adds. STAY STRONG
Isn't that typical for the rich jerks. It is too bad that the people need the job, for I would LOVE to see them all march out and leave him stranded, high and dry with nobody to run his damn casino.
Of course, he does nothing for the community, People like him just take, take, take. they only give when they are certain to get what they want in return. A pox on him
I've been wondering if and how all this money that's flowing so freely is being written off. Of course when you make that much money, the IRS turns a blind eye. But if $1 of the Adelson, Koch, Rove, or other Super Pac money is being hidden or written off, we are making up the difference. Isn't that the other aspect of anonymous donations?
Not even social security will you find there and their equilivent of medicaid was gutted in the 1980's. Their master plan calls for a social security program to increase domestic consumption but it is a longer term plan,not immediate.
This Mr Adelson...Don't know him of course but I can only assume he is not really considering himself a citizen with US interests at heart but a global citizen here to use the US for all it is worth..very.sim iliar to Reupert Murdouch.
Their interest is to use the US for personal financial interest.
When the US is no longer at the top of the financial heap, his heirs by my take will then be Chinese citizens using that place for their personal gain. Similar to Reupert and his Chinese wife, really they care not about what country they are in or meddling in...their concern is all about personal profit.
The amounts of money now being donated to campaigns compared to the amounts of money at stake for guys like this is minuscule.
Keep in mind the ramifications of citizens united are just now being felt....it is just starting..
I wonder why they do not just start paying people to vote a certain way....would that not also be a exercise of free speech...since money is speech by their determination.
Your ward goes this way...1k each to each voter...why not?
Just imagine what Social Security and Medicare/Medica id could do with that money. Think of all the people it could help. And then I look at people like Cheney, Rove, Murdoch and this clown, Adelson... it puts me somewhere between rage and nausea.
"..There are no "undecided" voters any more. More crap on tv is not going to sway people one way or another."
Never over-under-esti mate the ignorance of the American public! Of course money can, will and does, buy elections, over the TV.
You may be correct that there are no undecided voters left.......in THE PRESIDENTIAL part of the election,... but
all that money can make a HUGE difference in the CONGRESSIONAL election.
I doubt the democrats will have a lot of money, and most people don't pay much attention to representatives and senators therefor if Adelson's money is used to throw a lot of dirt at the democratic candidates, it can make a BIG difference
So unless democrats really work hard for their candidates, they will have little chance of getting more Dems in the house.
This nasty SOB may be able to determine who wins this election, because of all his money.
We are certainly not a democracy any longer. He MIGHT not be able to unseat the president he hates. But his filthy money could destroy GOOD law makers.
....Contrary to belief....they DO exist.
He proves that no matter HOW much money some people have they want STILL MORE. And they want the middle class to pay the taxes, they want to avoid. He is sickening
And don't forget to volunteer to work with your local political group. You don't have to have money to get involved. And your involvement may be just the thing that turns an election around. This money is being used not only to combat President Obama, but all the way down to the local level. You can bet that Rove knows who's running in every district in the country and will bring his money to bear against any candidate he thinks is vulnerable.
The only way we can beat the money is with bodies - lots and lots of bodies.
It's men like Adelson who make the world an ugly place. If he continues, it will probably also be uninhabitable, because I guarantee to you that if the Rethugs win up and down the line, the biggest casualty will be the environment.
It could come from China!...We simply have NO idea. We do not have elections anymore. We have AUCTIONS.
And the winner is???.....The highest bidder. How sickening, and we have the NERVE to tell other countries, how to run elections and build democracy??
I meant to give you a negative not a positive vote for your foolish remark. Adelson hates America, he is a Zionist who would rather have worn the military uniform of Israel rather than the American one he wore.
I can't believe I spent some money at his Venetian Casino in Las Vegas when I was there recently.
I would hope he has a better use for 30 million dollars than to point and shame;thus throwing himself into the shame/blame game, the Republicans favorite form of lying which works well in this imbecilac country.I wish I could stop these lunatics,but my bank account isn`t big enough.
Frankly, I think there is a good chance that that may happen and that the Republican office-holders and wannabes will be swept away in a spew of voter vomit.
Billionaire (who owns a piece of everything) -
lots of ads, paid into big media -
owned by billionaires (who make profit on the ads) -
lots of ads, paid into big media - ...
They can't lose on this, and they will still have all their money in the end!
Of course that applies to the Middle East brand of Mormonism, another "M" cult absolutely devoted to denial of the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth. Masons too.. Interesting, the "Shriners" with their Islamic symbolism, swords and red fez costumes?
But the mills of prophecy grind along, with the Saudis deepening their ties with China, closer to the long feared oil for nuclear missiles transaction. Mr. Adelson would show much greater discernment were he and Mr. Winn et al able to grasp the need for American transport policy re-orientation as key element in defusing the Middle East noose around America's neck. It's about Petrodollars, stupid!
The scriptural warnings about Jerusalem as stumbling block for the nations do not necessarily include America, but as things stand, it seems likely. Adelson should read "The Blood Of The Moon" and counsel Mitt Romney on the prophetic and spiritual forces at play. America's relationship with Israel must be considered, not overplayed to bad end.
Could Jastrow's "The War And The Bagdhad Railway" scheme offer engineering solution to Palestinian resettlement and Islamic goals of regional unity, hold Israel harmless, and stifle relentless moves to cataclysm?
I think that God is intelligent, don't you?
I also always felt that's why Adelson vigorously solicited the Chinese to build casinos in their territory. He has a delusion that the Chinese government will let him take all his money there and they will protect him and his money.
I predicted years ago that Adelson would eventually take his bad ideas and his money and head for Macau to live permanently just not to pay a few percent of taxes.
Either human beings have rights or they don't. If you believe some group of humans identified by their ethnicity or religion do not have human rights, then you are in violation of the UN Convention Against Genocide and the Universal Convention on Human Rights. Such beliefs put Adelson in the company with Nazis and other avowed racist groups. I'm sure he does not give a damn.
The truth is that Israel would be a lot safer and better off with a viable and healthy Palestinian state.
I agree with Nick Neuaur (Ted Conference speaker who's speach isn't included because of what he had to say)that the middle class creates jobs because they can spend. Nick said he can buy 3 cars but the middle class can buy 3,000.
Adleson is in this for short term gain because when the middle class can't afford to gamble he's not going to make any more money.
Europe and America is:
No money in politics
No death penalty
No guns
universal healthcare
W O W what a difference that makes.
President Roosevelt in a message to Congress in 1938:
"A democratic society is in danger if people tolerate private powers...
Corporations, Adelson/Maher, AIPAC
...to an extent where these powers are
more powerful than the democratical state
itself.
That is the essence of fascism."
And it is hard to tell if the top dems are so out of touch but are actually repugs in dems clothing. Can anyone explain the difference between cheney and Obama, who seems to enjoy taking out civilians and supports big oil.
Adelson would prefer Romney because his authoritarian mindset is deeper than Obama's, but he can buy either one.
Notice how suddenly, after a few years, there are headlines about an investigation into "Fast and Furious?" And suddenly there are stories steering "The Conversation" into areas where things might have gone slightly better? I love Dennis Kucinich, who said that as much money as Solyndria lost, it lost much less than any nuclear power plant commonly loses, and is covered up. But does Dennis make headlines?
I NEVER click on any news story that is a (not so hidden) smear tactic. Sure there were some mistakes in Obama's Presidency, but in my entire lifetime (late 50s) there has NEVER been a President who has tried to achieve ANY healthcare package that would help young adults and middle class; and rarely a President who tried to help common people at all (let's see, the ones who did were all Democrats). Clean energy is still being talked about, and it wouldn't even be in "The Conversation" with Repugs running the country.
As far as being bought, Pres. Obama has tried to steer the ship; he has reduced and brought home forces from overseas. If it were Romney, these tired forces would be simply gearing up for Iran. You can talk to Pres. Obama; enough people telling him that Democrats need to be Democrats and he listens, but would you ever in your life get a Republican to listen to the needs of anybody who earns less than $250,000 a year?
Let's see - whose interests do you think a Pres. Romney would support? Sheldon "Mr. Greed" Adelson or the other 299 million Americans in the middle and "working" class? Hmmmm
If you care about the future of our country and our children, I'd suggest you don't vote for Sheldon Adelson (sorry - I mean, Mitt Romney).
...and so it goes, the Republicans are pitted against the Democrats and their supporters against each other and above the fray are the fat cats, Democrat and Republican alike, stuffing their pockets and grabbing power while we fight little battles amongst ourselves, trying to extinguish the little fires they set to divert us while the wholes system burns. Good night and good luck.
All I can toss into pot concerns the auctioning of our democracy.
It is a "silent" auction and we aren't invited.
The folks who own the construction companies contribute to Republicans, the road construction worker unions contribute to Democrats. They both lobby for crappy roads we have to replace every ten years. Good for their companies and jobs, bad for those of us who hate orange barrels.
Both sides buy influence.
Live with it, use it or figure out a way to fix it.
They're all traitors, Art947. These guys claim to be so "religious" and so "patriotic", but they're just the opposite. The Southern Christians and disparate hate groups despise Jews, Catholics, and Mormons, but they REALLY despise Blacks, Hispanics and any other people of color. So they're in. The other groups - regular conservatives, neo-conservativ es, the super-rich, libertarians, bankers, and corporations ("are people too") - who, incidentally, consider the Southern Christians and hate groups to be useful tools, manage to hold this unholy cabal together. So they're in.
Adelson and the others are awash with money. Shame of it is, the lemmings will follow them right into the sea. That's what we're up against.