My Response to Personal Attacks and Threats (Hillary supporter will vote McCain)

My name is Paulie Abeles and until two days ago, most people knew me as a typical busy wife and mom. I am a life-long Democrat. My father, a triple eagle at Boston College, campaigned for JFK’s first Senate campaign; my mother actively supported Democratic candidates. My parents instilled in me a strong sense of fairness and equality, a thirst for knowledge, and an expectation that intelligent discussion should be based on well-researched facts. I graduated from Smith College and have worked for Salomon Brothers, The Stars & Stripes, and The Freight Forwarders Council.

I have spent the past six months actively supporting Hillary Clinton by setting up a network of bloggers to ensure that Senator Clinton’s positions were understood by the electorate. My family and I campaigned on her behalf in the primaries. I supported Hillary Clinton because of her experience, knowledge of the issues, and her practical approach and commitment to the bread-and-butter issues facing this country.

During the campaign, I have become increasingly alarmed by the refusal of the media to properly scrutinize Senator Obama’s actions and associations. I have also been appalled by the political maneuverings of the DNC to ensure that their chosen candidate was selected—including, just as one example, breaking their own rules to ensure that the two states that supported Hillary were stripped of their delegates even though five states broke the rules.

Lastly, I have been aghast at the vitriol and name-calling being spewed by Obama supporters against anyone who has an honest disagreement with them.

As documented throughout by the “attack timeline” formerly found on the HRC website—the Obama campaign employed a concerted strategy of constantly questioning the likability, honesty, experience, and integrity of Clinton. While the candidate portrayed himself as ‘above it all’—his campaign relentlessly faxed pages and pages of material designed to stoke the fires of false controversies.

I do not believe that Barack Obama would make a good president of the United States. Frankly, I think there is a minimum standard of accomplishment and experience we should expect from a candidate for the toughest job in the world. By any metric Obama falls short. Kirk Watson couldn’t name Senator Obama’s legislative accomplishments. I can– two bills: to promote democracy in the African Congo and to name a post office. Certainly, Senator Obama’s 130 “present” votes in the Illinois legislature when asked to take a stand on controversial issues do not inspire confidence.

Many of the people that supported Hillary Clinton have similar reservations about Senator Obama’s fitness to lead. Thus, on Saturday, I helped organize an informational meeting and teleconference with John McCain for supporters of Hillary Clinton who were trying to decide whether to support Barack Obama or John McCain.

Less than 48 hours later, I was attacked, called “deeply racist”, a “lunatic”, “rabid” and with “a history of jobs, statements, actions and practice that leave her very vulnerable to accusations that she is a ‘racist’”. One site even claimed: “keeping black people out of the party has been a lifelong ambition of hers.” The basis of the attack was a controversy involving my husband’s ancestor, Thomas Jefferson.

As many of you have probably heard, some descendants of Sally Hemings, a slave in the household of Thomas Jefferson, have claimed that they are descendants of Thomas Jefferson. Sally Hemings had three sons: Thomas Woodson, Madison Hemings, and Eston Hemings. Descendants of Thomas Woodson had their DNA tested 7 times—each time there was no match. Descendants of Madison Hemings declined to be tested. The white descendants of Eston Hemings had their DNA tested and were a match to a Jefferson, but the DNA tests could not determine if the Jefferson genes were from Thomas Jefferson or one of the 27 other Jefferson males that lived in the area at the time and visited frequently. Additionally, since Thomas Jefferson was 64 at the time of Eston’s birth and was suffering from prostate cancer, which often caused impotency, it is less likely that Eston was a son of Thomas Jefferson. A 2001 Scholars Commission of 13 prominent Jefferson historians (including the former chair of Harvard’s Department of Government), examined all the evidence for a year, and issued a 500-page report that concluded that the allegations of a relationship between Hemings and Thomas Jefferson were not true, and that was not enough evidence to determine Eston Hemings’ paternity.

During 2003, a member of the Jefferson family set up a Yahoo chat room for family members and Hemings descendants to discuss the issues. Unfortunately, discussions became strained and many individuals who disagreed that Thomas Jefferson fathered Eston Hemings were barred from the site. Bloggers from both sides used assumed names to try to get information from the other side. When the moderator discovered me, a Washington Post reporter asked me if I was on the chat room under a pseudonym—and I—foolishly perhaps—answered honestly.

However, it was never a racial issue. Eston Hemings’ descendents (the only Hemings that applied) are, by any calculus, white. No doubt passions at the time were overheated, and honorable people can disagree. Part of the consideration was that as DNA typing becomes more sophisticated, a definitive analysis could prove the issue in the future.

This is the sum and total of the activities for which I have been vilified. I am a private citizen who has never held a position with either the Clinton or McCain campaign.

Barack Obama, the presumptive nominee of our party and possible President of the United States participated in a racist church for twenty years. A church whose “Black Liberation Theology” is the apotheosis of hate. In one year alone, Senator Obama contributed $22,000 to support the church. He has allied himself with other racists: namely Rev. James Meeks and Father Pfleger.

The National Review reported that in a single year, Senator Obama appeared on the cover of the church magazine four times. Three of those times, Senator Obama shared the cover with Louis Farrakhan. How is this double standard rational?

I am a mother of two small children living in a diverse community who has seen my life turned upside down by half-truths and vicious attacks. Some have printed my address and phone number. I have been harassed and threatened.

But, as far as I can tell, that has been the Obama campaign’s strategy all along—to isolate, to discredit, to destroy. But, Clinton supporters have seen this game before. You will not frighten us anymore. Even when four of our member networks were disrupted by mysterious viruses—with barely 24-hour notice—we managed to turn out thousands of HRC supporters on a conference call with John McCain. Supporters that will not, under any circumstances vote for a “democratic” party that disenfranchised us—not because we are racists, or ‘closet republicans,’ but because we are Americans.

I started to read this and some things needing to be addressed became readily appearant.

My name is Paulie Abeles and until two days ago, most people knew me as a typical busy wife and mom. I am a life-long Democrat. My father, a triple eagle at Boston College, campaigned for JFK’s first Senate campaign; my mother actively supported Democratic candidates. My parents instilled in me a strong sense of fairness and equality, a thirst for knowledge, and an expectation that intelligent discussion should be based on well-researched facts. I graduated from Smith College and have worked for Salomon Brothers, The Stars & Stripes, and The Freight Forwarders Council. Perhaps I'm being a little too thin skinned here, but it almost sounds as if some of these traits were rattled off because the writer thinks they are what makes a person a Democrat rather than a Republican. No Paulie Abeles, these same traits are more oftent than not found in the party that doesn't just have a strong sense of fairness and equality but puts those traits into practice, a party whose members don't base their self-worth on college degrees but how they conduct their lives and advocate for sound principles, and expect well researched facts to support the founding principles, individual rights, limited government, and self-determination.

I have spent the past six months actively supporting Hillary Clinton by setting up a network of bloggers to ensure that Senator Clinton’s positions were understood by the electorate. My family and I campaigned on her behalf in the primaries. I supported Hillary Clinton because of her experience, knowledge of the issues, and her practical approach and commitment to the bread-and-butter issues facing this country. Case in point, the best education in the land won't stop you from backing a socialist or worse. Only a firm grasp on what is best for this nation and it's citizens will. The only bread and butter issue that needs to be addressed, is to get government out of our lives, so that we can attain the best life we can for our families.

During the campaign, I have become increasingly alarmed by the refusal of the media to properly scrutinize Senator Obama’s actions and associations. I have also been appalled by the political maneuverings of the DNC to ensure that their chosen candidate was selected—including, just as one example, breaking their own rules to ensure that the two states that supported Hillary were stripped of their delegates even though five states broke the rules. When the Democrat party tried to steal the election in Florida, did it offend you? Did you at any point during the process that followed the election in 2000 think to yourself that if the Democrat party could pull what they were against the Republicans, that they could pull it on their own members as well? When the Democrats chose only to ask for recounts in the areas where they thought they would be the most likely recipients of new votes, did that bother you? You know, what you are complaining about here is very reminiscent of the 2000 election, only this time it's Democrats against Democrats. Now I guess you have some idea how the other side felt in 2000. It stinks huh!

Lastly, I have been aghast at the vitriol and name-calling being spewed by Obama supporters against anyone who has an honest disagreement with them. You mean like the vitrol and name calling that spewed forth from the Democrats in 1990s as they tried to defend a president who was indefensible? The Democrat party of the 1990s was willing to destroy this nation so long as they could back a very very problematic individual. And you probably saw that as a righteous effort. If so, quit your whining. You've actually gotten off rather light. Our nation's future wasn't on the line this year. You're candidate's future was all that was on the line. Grow up.

As documented throughout by the “attack timeline” formerly found on the HRC website—the Obama campaign employed a concerted strategy of constantly questioning the likability, honesty, experience, and integrity of Clinton. While the candidate portrayed himself as ‘above it all’—his campaign relentlessly faxed pages and pages of material designed to stoke the fires of false controversies. Surely you can't be this shallow, and be a member of the Hillary Clinton support team. What do you think took place during the Clinton years? Every dirty trick known to man was deployed to defend a child president. The Democrat party went into a full war footing, coordinating attacks as if the very existance of the nation depended on it. In truth, the very existance of the nation was what was threatened by this effort. Where were you then? You remained silent didn't you. You remained a part of the Clinton team, damn the nation. Now your candidate is on the line and suddenly, you notice the faxes, the manipulated press, or even the press that was Obama compliant. Where were you when it was Bill compliant, defending him every step of the way?

I do not believe that Barack Obama would make a good president of the United States. Frankly, I think there is a minimum standard of accomplishment and experience we should expect from a candidate for the toughest job in the world. By any metric Obama falls short. Kirk Watson couldn’t name Senator Obama’s legislative accomplishments. I can– two bills: to promote democracy in the African Congo and to name a post office. Certainly, Senator Obama’s 130 “present” votes in the Illinois legislature when asked to take a stand on controversial issues do not inspire confidence. Okay I can buy that. What political experience does Hillary Clinton have? What bills has she written? What is her great claim to fame. I realize she was the wife of a state attorney general, she was the wife of a governor, and the wife of a president. What offices has she held? It's 2008, and Hillary was elected in 2002, if I remember correctly. She has only held office for six years. What executive offices has she held. Was she the lead partner in the Rose Law Firm? No. Has she been a mayor? No. Has she been a governor? No. Has she been a CEO, COO, or held anything resembling such a position? No. Has she been a prominant member of the Military, say a high ranking official with a lot of responsibility? No.

Do you think the wife of any current CEO should be tagged to be president based on their husband's position? Do you think any governor's wife is qualified to be president based on her husband's peformance? Do you think your local police chief's wife should be the next police chief based on her husband's experience? Do you think any local business should ask the Mayor's wife to become it's director, based on her husband's experience? Hillary Clinton has used her husband's positions her whole life. But the things she used his postition to achieve, do not qualify her to be president. She is not qualified to be president. So you can talk about Obama all you like, she isn't any more qualified than he is.

Many of the people that supported Hillary Clinton have similar reservations about Senator Obama’s fitness to lead. Thus, on Saturday, I helped organize an informational meeting and teleconference with John McCain for supporters of Hillary Clinton who were trying to decide whether to support Barack Obama or John McCain. Oh great, you are trying to figure out which person with no executive experience should lead this nation. Toss a coin why don't ya.

Less than 48 hours later, I was attacked, called “deeply racist”, a “lunatic”, “rabid” and with “a history of jobs, statements, actions and practice that leave her very vulnerable to accusations that she is a ‘racist’”. One site even claimed: “keeping black people out of the party has been a lifelong ambition of hers.” The basis of the attack was a controversy involving my husband’s ancestor, Thomas Jefferson. And there you have it. Welcome to the treatment members of the Republican party have been showered with for the last forty years that I know of. And you were perfectly happy with this type of behavior by Democrats, as long as it wasn't directed at you. As long as it was directed at me, you were happy as a little clam in mud.

As many of you have probably heard, some descendants of Sally Hemings, a slave in the household of Thomas Jefferson, have claimed that they are descendants of Thomas Jefferson. Sally Hemings had three sons: Thomas Woodson, Madison Hemings, and Eston Hemings. Descendants of Thomas Woodson had their DNA tested 7 times—each time there was no match. Descendants of Madison Hemings declined to be tested. The white descendants of Eston Hemings had their DNA tested and were a match to a Jefferson, but the DNA tests could not determine if the Jefferson genes were from Thomas Jefferson or one of the 27 other Jefferson males that lived in the area at the time and visited frequently. Additionally, since Thomas Jefferson was 64 at the time of Eston’s birth and was suffering from prostate cancer, which often caused impotency, it is less likely that Eston was a son of Thomas Jefferson. A 2001 Scholars Commission of 13 prominent Jefferson historians (including the former chair of Harvard’s Department of Government), examined all the evidence for a year, and issued a 500-page report that concluded that the allegations of a relationship between Hemings and Thomas Jefferson were not true, and that was not enough evidence to determine Eston Hemings’ paternity. Well, you really need to get this message out to grade schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities across this nation. Because that's not the message they are craming down our kid's throats. And by the way, it's the blessed Department of Education that micro-manages what takes place in our schools, and the Democrat party has been absolutely thrilled to support the Department of Education, and have the unflinching support of it's teachers who are Democrat supporting union members. It honestly sounds to me like you're all of a sudden seeing the same Democrat party we have been for a long time, only now you're seeing it with your eyes wide open.

During 2003, a member of the Jefferson family set up a Yahoo chat room for family members and Hemings descendants to discuss the issues. Unfortunately, discussions became strained and many individuals who disagreed that Thomas Jefferson fathered Eston Hemings were barred from the site. Bloggers from both sides used assumed names to try to get information from the other side. When the moderator discovered me, a Washington Post reporter asked me if I was on the chat room under a pseudonym—and I—foolishly perhaps—answered honestly. Look, if you were a Democrat, you weren't required to answer honestly. Didn't you pay attention to any of the hearings in the 1990s? You should have said, I don't have any recollection of those events. You could have stated that you did what you did, but it didn't mean for you what it did when others did it. You could have stated that you never saw those papers when your fingerprints were all over them. You could have said you didn't remove documents, when others say you do it. You could have stated you didn't have any contact with the White House when phone records reveal you did. I'd like to feel sorry for you here, but you're essentially the consumate leftist. You don't take any ownership for what you have allowed to take place on your watch, until you're one of the people it's taking place against. Tough luck babe.

However, it was never a racial issue. Eston Hemings’ descendents (the only Hemings that applied) are, by any calculus, white. No doubt passions at the time were overheated, and honorable people can disagree. Part of the consideration was that as DNA typing becomes more sophisticated, a definitive analysis could prove the issue in the future. LMAO, the righteous indignation here is laughable. As I stated earlier, for the last 40 years the Democrat party has been race-baiting the Republicans when the Republicans had all the facts on their side. Where were you then? You started off this little charade by stating that you liked to have facts at hand when discussing matters. And here it seems you have forgotten a massive number of facts to try to get people to identify with your plight. How could you sign on to what the Democrat party has been doing for the last forty years, then come here and act as if you don't approve? You've got that degree. You've got all the facts at your fingertips. You're an intellectual.

You are a fraud.

This is the sum and total of the activities for which I have been vilified. I am a private citizen who has never held a position with either the Clinton or McCain campaign. Well, most Republicans have never held office or some party position. They are the rank and file people your party at various times has called racists, haters, ignorant, mobs, uncompassionate... you name it, we've been called it.

But, there is a curious double standard at work here. Do ya think?

Barack Obama, the presumptive nominee of our party and possible President of the United States participated in a racist church for twenty years. A church whose “Black Liberation Theology” is the apotheosis of hate. In one year alone, Senator Obama contributed $22,000 to support the church. He has allied himself with other racists: namely Rev. James Meeks and Father Pfleger. You noticed that too did you? Did you also notice that when churches were being burned during the 1990s, Bill Clinton blamed it on racist whites although that was seldom if ever the case. Where were you then? Did you take Clinton to task for this? No. You were a faithful supporter all the way.

The National Review reported that in a single year, Senator Obama appeared on the cover of the church magazine four times. Three of those times, Senator Obama shared the cover with Louis Farrakhan. How is this double standard rational? Did you miss the fact that the Democrat party talked about Obama becoming President before he was even elected to the Senate? We didn't. We saw what was going to happen years ago. And you are just now realizing the racial demogaugery that been at the core of the Democrat party for the last forty years. Let me guess..., you don't have any recollection of those events do you.

I am a mother of two small children living in a diverse community who has seen my life turned upside down by half-truths and vicious attacks. Some have printed my address and phone number. I have been harassed and threatened. Well, we have had members of our forum assulted on the streets of our nation. They were assulted by people you have been aligned with. How does that sit with you? This has been going on for a long long time. Let me guess..., you don't have any recollection of those events do you.

But, as far as I can tell, that has been the Obama campaign’s strategy all along—to isolate, to discredit, to destroy. But, Clinton supporters have seen this game before. You will not frighten us anymore. Even when four of our member networks were disrupted by mysterious viruses—with barely 24-hour notice—we managed to turn out thousands of HRC supporters on a conference call with John McCain. Supporters that will not, under any circumstances vote for a “democratic” party that disenfranchised us—not because we are racists, or ‘closet republicans,’ but because we are Americans. Nah, I'm not buying that for one minute. It didn't matter to you what was happening to the nation under the Clinton presidency. The nation be damned, your fair haired child in an adult's body had to be defended at all cost. You betrayed the U.S.A. then, and I'm not letting you off the hook. Screw you and your fake indignation. You were an idiot, and you're still an idiot.

And that must have you very worried. What has me very worried, is that a pinhead like you with your acknowledged past is very comfortable backing the person who won the nomination for the Republican party. What are you willing to defend that he will do? I can't wait to find out.

Actually, I can. I don't want to find out.

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