Hillary, Hillary, Hillary: An Open Letter to the Former Future President

Dear Hillary:
What happened? No really, what the fuck just happened to you? I can't for the life of me figure out how a once-promising presidential campaign -- a sure thing for Pete's sake -- turned into a pathetic embarrassment? You've had such a head start in this quest to occupy the Oval Office. I mean, literally, you and Bill have been planning it since at least January 1993 when he became president. Was there a more plausible, natural, inevitable scenario than you following in his larger-than-life footsteps? And Chelsea after you? The Clinton Dynasty. Has such a regal ring to it, doesn't it?

But then 2008 rolled around and something terrible happened. Both you and Bill lost that famous mojo. It started in Iowa, where you were all but certain to win. Everyone, including yourself, anointed you the Queen of the Ball before the dance even began. And then you lost. Some inexperienced kid named Barack Obama came out of nowhere and stole your thunder. And then you sat down and cried. In front of the cameras, and the good folks of New Hampshire felt sorry and gave you their state. And just like that The Comeback Twins came back yet again. Never count out a Clinton, huh?. Ahh, but then came February. Damn February. The junior Senator from Illinois, that pesky Kid, won big on Super Tuesday -- despite your pickups in NY, NJ, CA and a few others -- and later in the month racked up an impressive string of eleven consecutive wins. Ouch. That's when the chorus of "Hillary Should Quit" calls officially began. But you'd have nothing of the sort. This was a battle, and you were in it till then end. And we admired you for it.

March was much kinder to you, as was April and May. You won big key swing states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, and trounced The Kid in Appalachia. You even managed to obtain more delegates and popular votes in these three months than The Kid. But the "Hillary Should Quit" calls kept coming, weighing you down and casting an ominous cloud over your campaign. The endorsements kept going to Obama too (Richardson, Edwards, etc) and the superdelegates began to flow to your opponent in anything but a trickle, until he had more of them than you. Many even started to desert you, switching their allegiance. But you pressed on. Even with Bill out there accused of playing the race card and pissing off as many people as he once impressed, especially in the black community. To many, perhaps the "first black president" wasn't so black after all.

Then there were the many boneheaded comments you made. You remember, like the time you basically said that while you and the GOP's presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain, were tough enough and experienced enough to be commander-in-chief, Obama merely had "a speech." Didn't you realize how that irresponsible blunder would come back to haunt the party in November? Or how about the one where you told everyone that the "hard-working whites" won't vote for Obama. Honestly, Hill, with all those fancy degrees and years of elite lawyering, didn't you realize that some things were meant to be privately thought but not publicly voiced? And so the "Hillary Should Quit" calls continued unabated. Yet we were still in your corner.

You vowed to stay in the race and fight until the very last American exercised his or her inalienable right to vote. You vowed to fight for women everywhere. To be a role model for young girls. To show them that women can be just as tough, just as resilient, just as determined, just as ambitious and just as successful as a man. Your campaign was no longer merely about becoming president. It became a lesson for the history books. A paradigm-changing feminist movement. And we applauded your determination and stuck by you.

You parsed and nuanced and molded the process to fit your end-goal of ultimately snagging the nomination from the grip of The Kid by convincing the superdelegates that you had the better narrative. That you were the more electable candidate. Since neither you or The Kid would end the campaign with enough pledged delegates to win, in an effort to make your case even more compelling, you threw as much shit up on the wall as you possibly could in the desperate hope that something would stick, ie that you had more popular votes; that we should re-seat Michigan and Florida's delegates; that only you could win back the Reagan Democrats. At this point, while we continued to support you, we grew a little leery of your motives and a tad weary of your disingenuousness.

No matter how many "Hillary Should Quit" cries we heard, we still believed in you and went along for the ride, no matter how bumpy. We defended you wherever and whenever we could. Like Bill, we made excuses for you, and chalked up your blind ambition and your regrettable gaffes to long days, late nights and the general stress of the campaign trail. We vowed to support your valiant fight till the end, right along with you, no matter how taxing it became.

And then the unthinkable occurred. When asked last week by South Dakota's Sioux Falls Argus Leader newspaper about all this "Hillary Should Quit" nonsense, you said: "My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. You know I just, I don't understand it." Jeez, Hillary, are you out of your fucking mind? Even if you didn't mean it, to suggest that as a justification to stay in the race, Obama could be assassinated before the primary season is over, is perhaps the most shocking, shameful, morally reprehensible thing you could have possibly ever said. How could you? Do you realize that with that one comment you threw away whatever shot you may have had to fulfill your dream of convincing, brainwashing and/or bullying the super D's into handing you the nomination? How could you implode like that? It was a despicable act of desperation and, quite frankly, it was pathetic. With that one reckless opportunistic blunder you not only threw away the campaign, but your legacy as well. A once valiant warrior, you are now just a sad footnote in history. An embarrassment. I suspect you will never recover politically from your monumentally insensitive RFK comment, made in the very same week that Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor.

And so I can no longer support this destructive campaign of yours. It's time for me to say "Hillary Should Quit." You have taken your insatiable hunger for the presidency too far. You've let so many of us down. You will not be president. You will not be vice president. It's time to step aside and let the Democratic Party and the nation heal, ultimately with Obama as our nominee and hopefully our president as well. It's time for something different. You just convinced me that America needs more than politics as usual, especially your kind. I am so disappointed, Hillary.

Comments

[Daisy1111]

Two sentences, deep into a 20 minute interview, taken out of context.

The comment only "destyoyed" Clinton's career in th eminds of people who already hated her.

The camps have been entrenched. And all those "I was a Hillary supporter until the RFK remark" are highly suspect.

If the DNC thinks villifying Hillary and Bill serves the party, they're wrong.

[ayc]

Hey Daisy - i was never a Hillary supporter, not an Obama supporter until I saw something I had never experienced in my lifetime happening after Iowa. Now the Clintons seem to be doing the best they can to destroy what could be a really positive move in our country. And I don't think these were two sentences taken out of context. I have watched the whole interview, Senator Clinton's position is at odds with President Clinton's memories as put down in his book about that campaign. And if she is such a savvy politician, why would she invoke the last time there was a great movement in the Democratic party lost?

These were not two sentences, taken out of context. This was a repeat pattern of something that has been said four times. And then, another non-apology. The DNC is not vilifying the Clinton's; they are doing an amazing job of that themselves.

[Roshi98]

Please present the "four times" you're referring to. This "issue" is just another bogus attempt by the "progressive" blogosphere to undermine a viable candidate. Ultimately, all this comes down to is an irrational objection to her vote for the Iraq Resolution in 2002. That's it - that's what it's really all about.

[SeriousBlack]

"The comment only 'destroyed' Clinton's career in the minds of people who already hated her."; "And all those 'I was a Hillary supporter until the RFK remark' are highly suspect."

Sorry, Daisy, you're totally wrong in at least THIS case. Try going back and reading Andy's previous posts all the way up to this, his latest, one.

Not to mention the thousands of posts over the last few months from people like me who up until around February (i.e., the advent of the "kitchen sink" strategy by the Clinton campaign) liked and respected the Clintons (but no more).

[blaqntelligence]

Daisy1111: "The camps have been entrenched. And all those "I was a Hillary supporter until the RFK remark" are highly suspect."

Andy Ostroy is/was a true Clinton supporter. He has penned other articles that made me ask, more than once, the question at the beginning of his piece.

Contrary to what many, still blinded by the Clinton light, believe.....

Hillary is losing her supporters, such as Mr. Ostroy, because of her outrageous, embarrassing, and downright psychotic behavior.

High 5 Andy, I've picked my jaw up off the floor plenty of times after reading your comments, today was no different, but it sure felt good this time.

Welcome.

[NorVaGal]

Hey, Daisy: Sh*t happens! Kinda like when the words "bitter.... guns.... and religion" were taken out of context in the answer to a question posed to Sen. Obama prior to the PA primary; also, similar to the 2-3 minutes of sound bytes that were taken out of context from Rev. Wright's sermons in order to diminish Sen. Obama's credibility. In each case, the speakers were only "destroyed" in the minds of people who already disliked them and wished them ill.

If Clinton supporters think that continuing to villify and threaten Sen. Obama serves HRC's best interests, they are wrong. True Dems will put loyalty to the Party over the selfish, ego-driven goals of any one candidate. We will go with whomever we feel is best to beat Sen. McCain and be most able to fight for and implement the domestic and foreign policies that will move Americans forward.

Mr. Ostroy has reached the same conclusion that many of us reached at different times throughout this campaign: Sen. Clinton has waged a valiant fight, but she has made numerous mistakes, and continuing her negative campaign tactics DOES NOT SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE DEM PARTY. Daisy, my friend, YOU'RE the one who is wrong.

[Roshi98]

4. "Hard-working whites" - given that Obama has consistently pulled over 90% of the AA vote, I fail to see what's so controversial about this statement. "Hard-working" = "Blue Collar". It's not a slight against hard-working AA's, it's merely a recognition of her constituency during this campaign.

5. "Blind ambition" - way to employ that overtaxed sexist meme, as if the men in this campaign are somehow immune to blind ambition. Perhaps the better term would be "naked ambition", and, frankly, I would rather have someone who is obviously ambitious as opposed to someone who pretends they aren't. Looking over the past eight years, Mr. Humility has run the tightest closed-door administration since Nixon. Don't buy into the aw shucks act simply because it's more palatable. Policy matters, too.

6. Assassination - Andy, get real. This is akin to all of the false outrage over Bill's comments after NC about Jesse Jackson winning there 20 years ago. These are simply historic parallels being made that people can relate to, the point being, we don't know what the future holds.

In short, you'll be missed. But, to paraphrase someone famous, rumors of Hillary's demise are greatly exaggerated.

[FCBarca]

How other Hillary supporters haven't been coming to this very conclusion for this long, boggles the mind and, frankly, echoes the concerns about the state of America...Wake up people

[Roshi98]

So because we haven't jumped onto the Obama bandwagon we're somehow indicative of the "state of America"? Please! I think most of us (16.2m) who voted for her are just as entitled to our own judgment as you are. This is exactly the kind of arrogance that Hillary's supporters have been cautioning against since Iowa.

We're plenty awake. The difference is that we're for Hillary and you're not. That's all.

[onelife1]

Well said Andy.
GO AWAY HILLARY!

[DIdaho]

No, she's right to stay in, but after May 31 and following Puerto Rico, then she leaves - and declares her intention to nominate Obama by acclimation in Denver. After the bitterness she's encouraged (I'm losing because of the sexist media and Obama's denied Fla and Mich the right to vote) only she can end it, and there can't be any lingering charges she's been forced out.

If she still pushes this to the convention, though, her career is over.

[ColoradoAngryRU]

Boy you sure had more patience than Jobe with this one. Glad you finally came in out of rain!

[newzzzjunkie]

It amazes me that people are still supporting her. In spite of her constant lies, her "mispeaks," her "kitchen sink" strategy. People are still supporting her even though she insulted most of America using the race card. She whined and whined and even shed a tear using her gender card. And yet they support her when it seems that, perhaps, she was behind the whole "Reverend Wright" blowup in the press. And while she was ducking sniper fire while duck hunting in Pennsylvania in her Annie Oakley outfit, she was trying to sabotage Obama's credibility and his campaign. It doesn't amaze me that the undereducated white people support her. You would have to be really dumb to do so. It never got any press about the lawsuit deferred until after the election.....odd as that may be. The list of her gaffes goes on, mostly unnoticed. But she knew exactly what she was saying when she spoke about asassination. She has lost all respect. She felt entitied and was arrogant and dishonest and immoral. She had no organization, she couldn't even manage her funds. It's time for Hillary to slither off into the sunset and let Obama unite the country.

[INDYBIGT]

Undone
( The Guess Who )

She's come undone
She didn't know what she was headed for
And when I found what she was headed for
It was too late

She's come undone
She found a mountain that was far too high
And when she found out she couldn't fly
It was too late

It's too late
She's gone too far
She's lost the sun
She's come undone
She wanted truth but all she got was lies
Came the time to realize
And it was too late

I can't get this song out of my head. I think it is my new favorite oldie! Oh so appropriate today.

[rnb]

Welcome to the team, we're glad you've finally come around.

[furryone]

awesome "letter"
thanks

[DickTater]

Part II

I am sorry that HRC is the postergirl for losing her mind and morals in a pursuit for wealth and power.
I am sorry for all the dems that chose her. If she were truly a person of integrity and selflessness, I would have voted for her. I wish, for all the HRC backers, that they don't take this too hard. I feel bad for them. I would have liked to seen a great progressive woman win the Prez. But she is not a great progressive woman. She would not change substantially how this country is run, nor provide a great contrast to the Menz. She then went past just being a carpetbagger Senator who cowered from hard fights - and confirmed our worst fears. Powermad and in NO WAY progressive. She went over to the dark side....and the only politicians worth spit are the ones who successfully maintain their integrity and do the people's work. Rare folks, and she is not one of them.

[DickTater]

Part I
Welcome Back Mr Ostroy

There comes a time in a progressive life, where you realize a lot of who you rooted for (like a sports team or a racer or a politician or a political party) is no longer such a laudable entity. Maybe never was.

I know the Dems aren't perfect, and aren't as laudable as a group as they could be.....but they blow away the republicans. True Dems, progressives, have always been a little leery of UNDYING DEVOTION to corruptible things. That makes our blind fervor run alittle cooler than repubs willingness to believe everything they are fed. They don't even care which Corporate Hack gets elected, they just want the primaries overwith so they don't have to decide anymore and can get on with their blind rooting.

I really fear that repub mindset as it seemed to cross pollinate with some on the left. I saw many people had chosen HRC as their favorite even before they knew who else was in the race. Some out of blind loyalty to the only popular Dem Prez in 30-40 years. Some because she was a woman and being a woman....it was understandable that they really wanted HRC to win.

[ckdogs]

I am an Obama supporter, but I admired and respected Hillary. Had she won the nomination, I could have supported her, wholeheartedly. The not so subtle racial slurs sort of shocked me. Dems doing this? The Tuzla lie was surprising, but okay. The RFK reference blew me away. The word does not belong in any political campaign - ever, ever, ever! And I agree with Otay Panky - we want transparency and honesty in government - and that is the base of the Obama phenomenon. His comment about putting the health care meetings on C-Span made my heart flutter. It's been a tough fight - but maybe, just maybe - the good guy will win this time.

[londongal]

Wow, Andy! You really are pissed!!

I really can forgive Senator Clinton for the RFK remark, though. I don't believe she intended the remark as a call to harm toward Senator Obama.

Looking back, I think she would have been better served by her campaign had they advised her to direct her scud missiles at McCain instead of Obama, but at the same time, compare and contrast her accomplishments against Obama's. The many denegrating remarks coming from her campaign were a huge turnoff for me.

[jmpurser]

Hillary was only "inevitable" in her mind. Sort of like the only place Bill Clinton was "larger than life" is in his mind.

[ramblingjohnny]

Perfect just perfect. It too bad that Hillary is too far gone in her own imaginary world to hear you. On the other hand if she was able to hear you she be out already. I made myself excuse in the past and I may have switched early around the times she started raving about snipers everywhere! But nothing could excuse last Friday. In Politic their a line she crossed it she will pay a bitter price. Now instead of choosing when to leave on her own term she will be thrown off at first chance.

The smart thing would have been to do it after one of her big victory of a few weeks ago. A political campaign is a minefield if you rush in blindly you are going to step on one eventually and if you already lost why continue walking in the minefield and risk blowing yourself up for nothing!