ENOUGH ALREADY!!
This article stated why Clinton supporters should vote for Obama. The article is directed at people who are undecided. This article is not about why Clinton is/was a bad choice or why Obama is/was a bad choice.
In every primary there is a winner and a loser. Not one of these candidates is perfect, or will ever be perfect!! Clinton supporters perceived what they believe as truth and Obama supporters perceived what they believe as truth. No individual is going to alter the opinions of Clinton"s or Obama"s supporters regardless of what is stated here or outside the blogsphere. Therefore, why are individuals attempting to change other people"s perception? If Clinton"s supporter want to vote for McCain or abstain from voting let them. An individual has the right to vote for whomever they desire. Similar to voters having the right to elect whom they wish for the next president without demands and threats; Obama should be given the right to elect who he desires for VP without demands and threats from anyone.
If you do not agree with Obama"s or Clinton"s issues that is your choice. If you simply do not like Clinton or Obama, whatever your reason(s) may be that is your choice. However, all this bickering, demanding, intimidating, and rehashing of events is not accomplishing any resolutions--only more anger and division.
To My Fellow Hillary Supporters: Why We Must Unify Behind Obama
To the end, I have been proud to have supported Hillary Clinton for president. Her race showed strength, tenacity and a commitment to improving the lives of all Americans. What spurred many of us on was a belief in issues like ending the war in Iraq, improving our standing in the world, providing universal health care and a number of other progressive causes and believing she was the best person to get us there. Unfortunately despite her best efforts and those of many of us, Hillary was not able to get enough delegates to win the nominations. Many of us have bitter feelings about things that happened during the campaign, however if we look to the big picture and truly care about attaining a better and more just America, we need to put those feelings aside and passionately unite behind the candidacy of Barack Obama.
In her concession speech, Hillary detailed many of the issues she strongly believes in and how Barack Obama shares those beliefs. Because it needs to be clear that John McCain does not. Obama and Hillary agree on most polices and ideals. McCain and Hillary do not. Obama and Hillary both want to move towards ending the war in Iraq soon. McCain does not. Obama and Hillary believe in ending the Bush tax cuts that mostly benefit high income Americans and giving a true tax cut to working Americans that need it. McCain does not. Obama and Hilary believe in moving towards universal health care. McCain does not. Obama and Hillary believe in the rights of workers to unionize and organize to improve their lot. McCain does not. Obama and Hillary believe in taking the measures necessary to protect the rights of all Americans regardless of race, sex, ethnicity or sexual orientation. McCain does not. I could go on and on issues that Obama and Hillary think alike and McCain does not. These are all reasons that Obama must win.
For her campaign and what she has done in the Senate, Hillary deserves a place at the table at the highest levels of the Democratic Party. Whether she ends up on the ticket, serving in the Obama cabinet, or enhancing her position in the Senate, Hillary will continue to have enormous influence and do great things for this country. This should begin with influence on the Party platform and other key areas leading up the Convention and the general election. This will all mean a lot less if John McCain wins. If we want to enhance Hillary's legacies we must join her on the campaign trail for Barack Obama. Our country needs a Democratic president as our future depends on it. With the help of Hillary and others Barack Obama will lead our country in a new and better directions. So I hope to see many of you whom I met on trips to New Hampshire and Pennsylvania or working in New York on the campaign trail this fall to elect Barack Obama!
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
"For her campaign and what she has done in the Senate, Hillary deserves a place at the table at the highest levels of the Democratic Party."
I note your return to reality and welcome the fact that you see great efforts and great opportunities to solve the problems that will soon be dumped at our feet. We've got much work ahead of us.
However, the sexist/racist/elitist tactics that were used by the Clinton Party were designed with two purposes in mind... divide and destroy the Democratic Party's decades old attempt to forge bonds and unity. The destruction has been done.
Yes, invite and encourage those who were disaffected by the Clinton tactics to rejoin the Democratic Party and play an active and constructive role by choosing from a wide array of real issues that face us... but leave your demands and overblown sense of entitlement at the door. Come to work. Contribute your skills and talents.
Anyone who would vote for McW was never a Democrat in the first place. No amount of placation will affect that reality.
With each passing day the HRC stuff is more and more becoming old news. Those that choose to vote against their best interest don't get it because they don't want to. Come November, unless sufficiently enlightened, they will vote their "hearts" and the rest will vote with their brains. The individuals posing as ardent HRC supporters as a means to serve their hidden agenda's won't vote for him anyways because come November, chances are he'll still be bla*k. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.. Simple as that.
Yes, some of the Clinton voters choosing McCain may be doing it because of race. Especially the woman in the Thomas Jefferson society that banned Sally Hemmings.
But when you call all former HRC supporters racists, it doesn't help Obama, and it isn't true. Many, many people invested their hopes and dreams in Clinton, just as many did in Obama. If the shoe were on the other foot, and Clinton barely got more delegates than Obama, I for one wouldn't be claiming that all Obama supporters who won't support Clinton for prez are sexists. Are some? Yes. Are all? No way.
A very significant percentage of Clinton supporters is undecided or is supporting McCain at this moment. I for one will abstain in November. We matter, and calling us racists certainly isn't going to get on board.
How Obama can unite the party:
He can not drag out the VP selection until August. It will be fatal to his campaign. The division will continue as long as there is the possibility that she will be on the ticket. We need to know very very soon whether that is the case.
If she is on the ticket - O supporters will have time to get used to it and there will be a quick solidifying of the base and a sure win in November.
If she is not on the ticket - O will have more time to get HC supporters to his side. Doing it too late will cause big problems.
IMO, there will be a second, even larger wave of anger at O and the DNC if and when he doesn't offer HRC a spot on the ticket. Right now for many, the dream is still alive - people are waiting and watching.
If it's not going to happen, better to have that bubble popped sooner than later.
All Obama has to do to unite the party is to continue campaigning as he has been. I doubt there will be any surprise at all if he doesn't pick Hillary as his running mate. I can see it now, Obama/Clinton 08 stickers with the Clinton blacked out with a sharpie. That's the kind of polarizing figure she is. God I wish my fellow Dems would see that. People love to hate her and other simply wishes she would go away. She has no support outside her base.
closetodemfection, you make a lot of sense in terms of strategy. The one other strategic consideration, is who McCain names. Obama might be waiting to see if McCain picks first (and vice versa).
If McCain chooses Carly Fiorina or Kay Bailey Hutchison or someone similar, who might appeal to some disaffected Clinton supporters, Obama may have no choice but to pick Hillary Clinton. This would be the only reason I can see Obama stretching it out. But, you are right, the longer Obama diddle-daddles, sending mixed messages on Hillary Clinton (praising her publicly, but making private decisions like Solis Doyle as COS for VP), the more disaffected Clinton voters become.
I am still dreaming of the dream ticket. Obama-Clinton '08 would be great. If it doesn't happen, I'll abstain in November for president.
statsguy, I have thought that myself. There is also talk McCain may pick Sarah Palin the Governor of Alaska. She's the most popular governor in the country with a 90% approval rating. Young, very attractive - a former beauty queen in fact, fiscally conservative but progressive on energy and some social issues, i.e. she supports civil unions, etc...
Someone like that would make things very challenging for O.
And yes, I too am still dreaming of the dream ticket :)
I think you're right.
And I guess you know this to be true for every one who supported HRC during the primaries? Oh WOW you are a genius. It must be nice to have such "strategery"! LOL!!!
I think a very large majority of HC supporters would be absolutely thrilled for her to be on the ticket. I also think the ones who say they don't want her on it out of spite would quickly drop their Mc Cane talk the minute she started campaigning side by side with O.
I'll never vote for anbody, ever!
I think HuffPo needs to invest in some psychological help for it's commentors, specifically the Obama supporters who can't stop trashing Hillary. Can we get some professional posters to explain what that means in psych circles? Problems with female authority figures, female rivalry, mommy issues.
So the Clinton supporter that wrote this post is trashing Hillary? Strange indeed.
Great idea! Perhaps they can help with your lingering anger and bitterness.
If my mommy was a warmonger who, among other things, voted to continue cluster bombing civilians I'd have harsh things to say about her, too.
Why was she a warmonger, those of us that are old enough to remember know that the Clinton administration worked aggressively making peace in N.Ireland, The Middle East and Ex- Yugoslavia. they also had a 73 % approval rating and were strong friends with democracies around the world. They also worked on Kyoto a major global enviromental policy. How come you don't know this stuff ???
There is a lot of that back and forth from "supporters" of both Senators Clinton and Obama, it is stupid. And pointless at this stage. But the psychological help would have to apply to both groups of "supporters."
Let me tell you what I do everyday Cleveland. I come out to this site hoping that there isn't anything negative about Hillary. There always is and as long as there is, I will be here to defend her. One day perhaps soon, there won't be anything about her. Then I can go on to something else.
Here, here! Thank you.
No true Democrat would vote for a Republican (especially not John McCain). Barack Obama won fair and square. The Clintons are responsible for their loss. They attacked Barack Obama and his family and he held his ground and it paid off. It shows that the American people are sick of the way the country has been run in the last twenty years and it's time for a change. Like it or not Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States of America and I couldn't be prouder.
AMERICA RALLY BEHIND THE BEST THING (BARACK OBAMA) THAT'S HAPPENED TO THIS COUNTRY IN A LONG TIME.
The first person to attack anyone in the Democratic primary was when Barack Obama attacked Hillary Clinton in the summer of 2007. He said Hillary Clinton was "Bush-Cheney lite." It'd be funny if so many people didn't actually end up believing it. He went first, which is fine, because he was behind. But to suggest Hillary Clinton is the attacker and Obama the victim is just wrong. In politics, people attack. And Obama went first.
Based on her voting record, she is Bush/Cheney lite. Go look at it. The proofis in the pudding.
He did not however, suggest Mc Cain would be a better choice than his Democratic rival as she did. He never mocked her on the stump, as she did. Nor did he say her supporters were naive and delusional, as she did. He didn't pounce on every comment and twist it to score political points, as she did.
Vsign, Obama is not a blank state i'ts just that you and the media continually and purposely forget that he has been a public servant way longer than Hillary. Stop denying that he was the Illinois Senator for years, that's like denying Bush and Clinton the fact that they were Governors before taking office.
Tired of the dismisiveness from some of you clowns who know nothing about Obama yet you spew out half truths and blatant lies.
Do ya research dummies!
We know he was in the Illinois state legislature. We just think time in federal or gubernatorial office is a qualification for being president and state legislator is much less so. Clinton had 7 years and 2 elections to the U.S. Senate under her belt, not considering any other previous experience, and Obama had only 3 years and 1 election to the U.S. Senate under his belt. And yes, I know Abraham Lincoln was also in the state legislature.
Let's look at what she learned.... Oh my, she voted with conservative Republicans a whole lot. She actually trusted George Bush enough to give him authorization to go to war. In all that time int he senate she rarely ever challenged the administration. I could go on and on. So stick with your Obama has less experience canard and I'll anal;yze what they did with that experience. It's clear, Obama has shown better judgment. It's clear he has been willing to stand up to the administration and speak out against invading Iraq when it wasn't politically expedient to do so.
So you would have been against Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Abraham Lincoln or Dwight Eisenhower, or for that matter Thomas Jefferson? I think rlying on tenure in DC as a qualification for president is a huge mistake. If anything his lack of time in DC is a boon.
...and in her biggest test, she failed miserably, voting to support Bush's war.
Being governor is administrative experience, so it does provide better experience for the presidency than being a senator.
Interesting, so McCain's your guy, and Bush before him? And people, please get over yourselves with spotting sexism and racism around every corner, in every statement and under every rock. IT IS THERE, IT EXISTS. But no one is going to win anything by trying to be more of a victim than everybody else. Discrimination and prejudice are out there and they affect everything, however, they are not present in sufficient quantities to be THE deciding factor in much of anything anymore. Black people, yes it may be harder for you. Women, yes it may be harder for you. Black women, my sympathies. But Black folks and women have overcome greater odds than these at the present to achieve and will continue to do so.
Are you insane? He has not been a public servant longer than she has. It is very sexist of you to suggest that being First Lady of Arkansas or First Lady of the United States is not being a public serv ant. Truthfighter, to fight for the truth you better know what the truth is.
Posted June 19, 2008 | 03:53 AM (EST)