Blogs > Gordon: My Back Pages

Gordon Glantz is the managing editor of the Times Herald and an award winning columnist.



Monday, February 4, 2008

Morning Has Broken

When my carefully chosen candidate John Edwards exited the campaign before Super Tuesday - despite initially promising to hang on and hang in until after the gargantuan political event (designed to cure E.D. for all the talking heads at CNN and FOX) - I promised to go through some long nights and then let the two or three of you who care what I think in on ... well ... what I think.

Following my midnight at the oasis, I have reached a decision on who of the two remaining candidates - Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama - the Gordonville Post is endorsing as the Democratic nominee.

It wasn't an easy decision, particularly because I'm aware of the consequences, and I could've played it safe and waited.

But I felt I owed it to the two or three of you before Super Tuesday.

But first, before I'm skewered alive, some history.

The year was 1988 and the G2 you endure these days was taking form.

On the student-run newspaper at Temple University's Ambler campus, I make a mercurial ascension from sports writer to sports editor. I wrote my share of album and concert reviews to build up my clip file, but was made Op-Ed Editor for my final semester.

And I had my own weekly column that contained much of the same vibes of my current Sunday offering in The Times Herald. I dubbed the column "For What It's Worth" after the Buffalo Springfield song from the 1960s that some want us to forgive, forget and regret.

I usually leaned so far to the left - touting the virtues of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and writing about my newfound friendship with 1960s activist Abbie Hoffman (who I dragged to campus for a well-attended speech) - that the FBI and CIA probably built files on me.

You think I'm bad now, you should have read what I wrote then.

But there was one instance when I broke form. Jesse Jackson was running for president and, to be blunt, I couldn't stand the guy. I was still fuming over the whole "Hymie/Hymie Town" controversy and, I'm proud to say, was among the first to see through all his rhyming with no reasoning.

I've recently excavated my basement for the original column to no avail, so I'll have to paraphrase. My premise was that a black man as president, given all that has happened, would be a beautiful thing. But Jesse Jackson was the wrong man at the wrong time.

That was 20 years ago.

Barack Obama isn't Jesse Jackson.

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, working in unison, couldn't carry Sen. Obama's tie clip.

But is it the right time?

I'm not so sure.

One day, a black man or woman will be in the ring against an old white man battling for president and I'll be in his or her corner with a bucket of water and words of advice between rounds.

But not this time around.

I'm going with Hillary.

I see no other option.

John McCain and his intimations about being in Iraq for another 100 years are almost as disconcerting as Obama's broad-stroke, cause-for-applause pronouncements about ending the war and bringing the troops home.

Despite how nice it sounds on college campuses, we do need to maintain a war on terror. Sen. Clinton knew this when she voted for the Iraq invasion. The fact that it has been bungled is not her fault. It is the fault of the current joke of a president and the Republicans, like McCain, who kept rubber-stamping the failed strategies while singing refrains of "whatever will be will be" while our soldiers died.

We can't, under any circumstances, keep the likes of McCain in the White House. He's not as ridiculous at Mitt Romney or as off-the-wall as Mike Huckabee, but that merely equates to being the prettiest girl at Boys Town.

And I don't care what any pollsters are telling us during this time of fleeting Obama mania, there is no way Obama wins a national election unless Romney stages such a dramatic comeback - which would mean some major Super Tuesday upsets - that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg jumps in the race and takes away some moderate GOP vote (maybe 6-10 percent, a lot for a Jew in America, according to polls).

Even if Obama narrowly wins the popular vote over McCain, which is all current polls are showing us, there is no way he takes the Electoral College.

And the more he says "change" for a Pavlovian response from the Starbucks crowd, the more he is going to alienate many moderate Republicans and Independents - not to mention myself and other longtime Democrats - who don't exactly know what it entails beyond sounding groovy.

The current president made a lot of changes, too. And the country, sadly, may never be the same.

The Clinton Machine, for better or worse, is best equipped for the 500-lap race that will be the general election.

She is not perfect, but she is NOT the anti-Christ. Republicans just say her name and automatically recoil. I don't get it, but I don't think I want to get it. I'm tired of trying to pry my way inside their narrow minds.

My mind is open. It allows for the possibility of a black president, but it is more for a woman who has the best interests of her country at heart.

17 Comments:

Anonymous oh geez said...

Oh geez.

A former lefty who supported the Sandanistas is now voting for Hilary?

I guess that answers the burning question of my generation's leftists: where have all the 60's revolutionaries gone? They weren't all locked up or killed, they just assimilated.

Why would the FBI need a file on you? You're voting for Hilary. You're no threat to their power.

Abbie Hoffman must be rolling in his grave.

February 4, 2008 7:12 PM 
Anonymous Mike Brady said...

Hey Johnny Bravo ... don't expect me to congratulate you on your decision.

February 4, 2008 11:01 PM 
Anonymous Jennifer said...

Why all the disappointment in Mr. Glantz's heart felt decision. He is being pragmatic and Hillary is the pragmatic choice. Isn't that what the country really needs?

February 5, 2008 10:27 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gord, you really had me going there. You had me thinking you were going to go with Obama. Oh well. The revolution goes on without you!

February 6, 2008 9:40 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did you say pragmatic??? meaning...concerned with practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters. Now intellectual ,used in a sentence describing a person running for the office of President would be the type of person I could vote for,it of course means .. understanding..engaged in/or learning & thinking..requiring study & thought. If you believe Hillary and not Obama fits this description, then you should go for it.

February 7, 2008 12:29 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This whole Hillary thing is just to annoy Lisa Mossie, isn't it? Or has Lisa jumped on the Ann Coulter bandwagon and decided that Hillary is a better alternative than McCain? Now THAT would be a hoot...

February 8, 2008 8:34 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Something to Think On before you vote... Did they Vote for Iraq War?? The UN could not handle it soon enough for the US Congress?? That is right. Hillary did not stare into her crystal ball long enough and voted "YES" (Obama- NO). Hillary now says she made a mistake. Only one mistake is needed when you are in the White House. An OOPS or Tears will not work. We need to make sure before another event such as 9/11 happens we all know the game plan for the War on Terror of Hillary,Obama & McCain. Our present supply of young people will not be there for another war nor should we be using the National Guard and Reserve System as the major employer in the USA. The "Budget"...yes our Government does have a budget (guide lines) that they should/but do not follow - so there are no funds either. Who would likely be chosen to be in their Cabinet? You get my drift...so who will be our next President??? Do your homework NOW!

February 8, 2008 10:48 AM 
Anonymous Mike B said...

Gordon,
You really need to be careful with your hatred for GW Bush and almost all Republicans. It may get you a Dan Rather moment.

John McCain was calling for Don Rumsfeld to be ousted and wanted more troops. He, and perhaps Joe Lieberman, was more engaged in trying to change strategies than anyone else. He also was very instrumental in bringing the "surge" strategy to implementation.

You may not agree with these positions but it is simply false to state that he "rubber stamped" the Bush Administrations conduct of the war.

February 10, 2008 9:31 AM 
Anonymous Sweet Caroline said...

Mr. Glantz, great Sunday column today (Feb. 10). Except, where;s the tepid winter?

February 10, 2008 11:49 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gordon...I know you are a true lover of "good" music. Did you watch the last hour of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards? Now, the song and the singer that got a standing ovation AMY WINEHOUSE and the song "REHAB" was considered excellent??? Listen to the words, any First Grader could write lyrics better than that. I do believe the writer is probably in jail or is some kind of mental hospital...I hope so. Her performance ... you really must be pulling my chain. No accounting for taste.

February 11, 2008 8:25 AM 
Blogger Virginia said...

I went to Berkeley in the 60's and then went to work as a journalist for the Navy. Go figure. I think you make emphatic assertions about things that are far from certain.

I am so tired of hearing people say that Obama is vague about change. His ideas about change are all on his web site in gory detail. He is very aggressive, even hawkish, about terrorist.

Hillary supported Bush's foreign policy both in Iraq and Iran, which has increased terrorism and the threats of nuclear attack. Look what terrorist did to Benazir Bhutto last year. Look what has happened to our nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

February 12, 2008 7:44 PM 
Anonymous Gordon's Pal said...

I've been to his Web site. Just left it, actually. To, he is either vague or unrealistic on most of his so-called specifics. But the publics gets what the media wants it to get, so they get Obama the super-candidate.

February 14, 2008 6:38 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Huh? In English, please. If you're Gordon's pal, I feel bad for Gordon. you write like Stan Huskey.

February 14, 2008 11:17 AM 
Blogger Joe said...

I agree with Gordon that Hilary will be the next president because she's what this country is screaming for; more taxes, less freedom, and bigger government.
Remember Gordon, it takes a village to raise a moron, it takes a moron to vote for someone that believes it takes a village to raise one. Long live Fidel!

February 14, 2008 7:44 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

And it take a bigger moron to think that Hillary is worse than what we have now!

February 16, 2008 10:06 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm glad Hillary is not presently in the White House...Can you imagine the foot stomping and dish throwing that would be going on...Obama should know her way is the only way to go and run this country... Little Rock certainly would understand but then maybe not ...Come to think of it
even Bill spent more time at the office than any other Governor or President...maybe for a good reason... Stomp...Stomp the Party is getting louder...Enjoy! Both Red and Blue Conventions are rapidly approaching.

February 24, 2008 11:43 AM 
Anonymous Brett said...

Gotta give it up, Gordo!

March 2, 2008 11:27 AM 

Post a Comment

<< Home