Clinton and Obama Need to Get Civil

This appearance of a feud between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama that has developed early in the Democrat nomination campaign for the Presidency is in desperate need of a fix. I am not certain who I want to support among the Democrats, although I was leaning toward Hillary as I desperately would love to see a woman become the President but then again having an African American would be historic and meteoric. What David Geffen said about the Clintons, something about lying with ease did hit a nerve among some of us. On the other hand, we have to differentiate lies that are important from unimportant ones and what most people have referred to as lies seem to revolve around Bill's sexual improprieties. I have never understood Hillary to lie about what is important, for instance, how she stands on the Iraq War. She admits she supported the war, that it was a mistake given what she now knows and that she would end it if she was in power. True she has not said she made a mistake but that is not the same as lying. The bottomline is I think Geffen's statement is unfair and misleading.

On the other hand, Hillary has a quality she projects that makes her hard to read. Obama seems less defensive at this point in time and more easy going. Of course Obama has no baggage to be defensive about. Obama is a great speaker and possesses ease of communication that is calming and beguiling. Actually, compared to Obama, Hillary seems like a hothead or at least simmering underneath ready to explode at times but never does. It might be helpful if she did then we would know what is really on her mind but then again remember Howard Dean! The worst thing that could happen to the Democrats is for Clinton and Obama to neutralize each other and hurt the Democratic Party's chances of winning the nomination. Maybe a third person waiting in the wings like an Edwards or a Gore could save the day by stepping in if the damage gets out of hand or both Obama and Clinton are seen as losing to Republicans in the polls.

Many of us out here are rooting for both candidates, may the best person win kind of an approach. I know Hillary doesn't like this basically putting us in a corner asking which side are you on? But the truth is it is early. We can wait to see who slips and fails. It is sad but that is the case. We can wait the feuding and campaigning out and then take our stand when it is time to vote in the primary. Hillary get used to it and for goodness sakes stop being seen as totally disdainful of Barak or you will lose the good will and votes of many. And Barak, I am waiting to see if the rest of you matches up with your distinctly positive image. Good Luck to you both. It wouldn't hurt to get civil.

Sharon Raphael