Democrats Unite

The violence of the political dialogue lately has made me understand how desperate the electorate is after nearly eight years of Repugnicans and three stolen elections. I totally understand Obamamania--and I also get the frustration of voters who wanted this to be the year we broke through the glass ceiling for women.

But let's get real. It's time for Democrats to put all personal bias aside and unite behind the things we believe in: a planet we can live on, reproductive choice, workers rights, health care for all, education for poor and middle class students, fair taxes, a Constitution made whole, rescuing America from war profiteers -- if indeed there is still time.

It's already very late. It's too late for quarrels about whether race or gender is more restricting. It's too late for prognostications about a future presidency we won't know until it has unfolded. Remember so-called compassionate conservatism? It turned out to be neither compassionate nor conservative. Why anybody believes election slogans mystifies me. But we do know this: a landslide for Democrats will change the direction of this country. So let's join forces to make it happen--and let's start now.

I don't believe that passionate Hillary supporters will vote for McCain in fits of pique. I sure won't. The truth is that Obama and Clinton are so similar politically that without generational and gender differences they'd be indistinguishable. Perhaps the passion for or against these two Democrats was revved up by how very close they are in vision. Sometimes people need to disagree for the sake of disagreeing.

Obama is right to offer his applause for Hillary's tenacity. He is right to take the high road. I doubt that she will be remembered for taking the low road. In politics as in life, tenacity is all. Where is Chappaquiddick now that Teddy Kennedy has honorably served decade after decade in the Senate?

If Hillary loses the nomination, maybe she can get a life by divorcing Bill. I was always a defender of their curious marriage but having seen him try to sabotage her campaign, I wonder. Maybe she'd get a burst of energy by cutting loose. Imagine her with additional fire -- she could rescue our stalled space program with her own built-in rocket.

Comments

[ENOUGH1]

Everyone has an opinion but if you want it to count:

Let the DNC know how you feel about Hillary Clinton trying to hijack the nomination.

You can email them at: demconvention.comn.com or you can call them at
[phone]

Yes We Can!

[Amminadab]

Why bother the DNC?

They have no power to end the contest.

[leftcoastliberal]

If there weren't any policy differences between the candidates, then the Clinton camp's depiction of Obama as an upstart interloper would have been spot on. But that simply isn't the case. There's that little matter of THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF OUR TIME: the Iraq war vote, where Clinton sided with George Bush and Obama didn't. Also, Obama favors negotiation while Clinton speculates about the potential need for "obliterating" whole nations. Put simply, Hillary is a hawk, Obama is a dove.

[Amminadab]

Obama's anti-war stance is a fairy tale. He continually votes to keep the war going.

[amiblueyoubet]

McCains stance on war is, everlasting war.

[ldsrapha]

He votes to SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, not keep the war going. There is a big difference. He cares about the soldiers and do no want them endangered or suffering. BIG DIFFERENCE. Get your facts straight.

[Bladernr1001]

Wow Erica,

Even you are not far enough left for this site.

[clevelandchick]

Erica,

I applaud the sentiment of your post but I'd also hope that you'd take responsibility for some of the discord between the supporters of the respective candidates. Look back at every thing you wrote on this blog since this journey began and you'll see where your passionate support for your candidate was not only couched in your admiration of her but your denigration of him and those who support him. You're not the only guilty one here to be sure.

Looking at what are the most important things to weigh when choosing a leader: the issues, political affiliations, experience and votes while they were in office; we should have had a great and civil debate for why we support either of the candidates. But the conversation veered wildly from those important criteria into identity politics which is a shallow, selfish and immature method for picking a leader.

The sexism, the racisim, the jingoism, the condescension has damaged this party. That's why a man who will follow the Bush Doctrine on women's reproductive rights (no abortion under any circumstance), will keep us in Iraq with the same raping/pillaging of our treasury and theirs as Bush has, will appoint judges that will rule against the people in favor of corporations and reactionaries, and will continue to allow every industry fox in every agency henhouse of our executive government putting the lives of Americans in danger.....has a real shot at becoming president.

[freshnotbitter]

Erica has nothing to apologize for. She supported Hillary in good faith based on what she knew about her, watched the campaign proceed and now she says we should unite under one banner and if that is Obama then so be it.

What is so wrong with that? That is why we have primaries, after all.

Three cheers for Erica Jong.

[Umungus]

Freshnotbitter,

Your argument carries no weight. If you look at her entry from May 16, 2008 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/electing-sweetie_b_102081.html
Ms. Jong attacked Senator Obama with some of the most divisive, hateful, race-baited language you'll read from any paid writer outside of the right-wing hemisphere.

What she needs to explain is how she became a convert in less than five days. If she had been objective no one would be questioning her blog, but five days ago she referred to Senator Obama as a "boy", compared him to George Bush, and questioned his intellegence.

On the contrary, Ms. Jong has a lot to apologize for.

[brooklyncitizen]

Except that support for CLinton by these hard-core feminists has come at the expense of tearing down a man such as Obama who repeatedly has executed this campaign by not selling out his principles and values.

[jeplanet]

Erica should apologize for her "Electing Sweetie" article here on HuffPost.
It was so insulting and consescending, it was a real disappointment.

[LulaB]

I agree read your own blogs. Obama did nothing sexist through out his campaign.

However Hillary has profited from racist whites.

[afgail]

Nothing sexist? You must be kidding. How about his demand that she step aside despite his very thin resume. His career consists of 8 years as a part time Illinois state representative followed by 13 MONTHS in the US Senate before announcing for President. Just another case of a highly qualified women being told to step aside for an less qualified male. Add to this his attempt to steal the Indiana election. No thanks. I prefer a divided federal government rather than one led by a crooked mysogynist pig.

[FJRinLA]

JONG SEEKING MEDIA COVER WITH THIS HYPOCRITICAL POST
PART ONE

I applaud YOU ClevelandChick: for outing Ms. Jong's culpability. Like The Clintons, Ms. Erica Jong wants to be an active agent of fomenting DEM and white female dissent against Obama for the purpose of defeating him in the general election; then just blame Obama's own imperfections and flaws; and claim "plausible deniability".

To paraphrase Malcolm X: "If you stick a 12" knife in my back and pull it out halfway; that's not progress and don't expect a Thank You Card."

He went on to cite a laundry list of action items for America to begin to redress the historical financial, physical, and emotional injuries inflicted on the descendants of African slaves in this country.

If I thought this were a sincere start at some process like that; I would be more gracious. But Ms. Jong's reach and literary skills are broad and deep; and this post seems more tokenism than reflective of the type of passion she displayed in belittling Sen. Obama as a man and a politician in some of her posts which you clearly read as clearly as I did.

No this feels just like the same misdirection we've gotten from The Clintons: they pull back a little in response to criticism; but essentially they tear him down as much as their own loyal supporters can stomach. Some just have more of a belly for this type of politics of self-aggrandizement and personal enrichment than others.

[FJRinLA]

PARTTWO

JONG SEEKING MEDIACOVER WITHTHIS HYPOCRITICAL POST

I'm quite sure Ms. Jong is aware of the damage she has caused and has NO SINCERE INTENT to really undo any of it.

That would require something apparenty lacking in her: Humility and/or Personal Responsibility.

...Speaking of Hillary's pseudo-feminist pyscho-babble in FL TODAY about sexism costing her this election....

...here is what you don’t want to hear (especially from a man like me): it's BECAUSE of her gender....BECAUSE of whom she married that Hillary ever was “inevitable” and granted such electability advantages over much more experienced Sens like Biden and Dodd. At least Obama, if you believe Sen. Dodd, performed his way into the professional admiration of SUPERDELEGATES due to his creation from scratch and careful stewardship of a worldclass campaign organization that bested The Clintons and every other DEM organization this year in technology, fundraising, strategy, message, and operational ground game.

Still, you so-called feminists defend HRC with false arguments that undermine the success of other female GOVs and US SENs throughout America.

You annoint HRC’s careerpath as the standard though it is as undesirable as it is unattainable for most real feminists; then you blame Obama out of frustration; and tell us all we need to now play nice.

And by the way, did I mention how sexist and arrogant that "Sweetie" Barack Obama is?

To quote your least favorite President now, “Puleeze, G-I-V-E M-E A B-R-E-A-K!!!!!”

[metropolitan]

finally you've come back to your old self! smart, spunky and opinionated.
welcome back erica.

[Sheridan1]

wino486 - the reason why Obama supporters have a hard time believing Hillary people would vote for McCain is because it would be insanity to do so. No matter how much she might respect McCain publically, he is a Republican and he is a lying hypocrite to boot. He is not going to be pro-choice, he is going to keep us in Iraq and take us into Iran, he is on the brink of senility, and several military commanders say they would never want to see him "near the red button" due to his well known temper tantrums.
You don't have to vote for Obama if he gets the nomination, but it would help our country if you would. And I know it's what Hillary would want you to do.
Thank you.

[TheEnticer]

If Hill supporters truly think that McCain will be better than BO, they should vote for him, that is what democracy means. But that doesnt mean, Hill should get the nomination because democracy also means giving the nomination to the person with the majority of the delegates with the rules that everyone agreed to.
I personally do feel that McCain would be better than Hillary and I would vote for him over her, but BO would be better than McCain. I dont think there is much difference between Hill and McCain except different lobbyists and corporations but at least McCain has faced real bullets ....

[afgail]

It is a case of too much power in the hands of a crooked Chicago politician. Obama tried to steal the Indiana election. Way too Bushian. Time to clip the wings of the next president with a divided federal government. With big majorities of Democrats in the House and Senate, McCain will be hamstrung. And there will be no stopping Democratic initiatives with a veto proof congress. McCain will not get his Supreme Court nominees approved unless they are true centrists. I think that is an eminently satisfactory solution.

[nolabels]

Reading the headline, I thought, "Wow, for the first time, I will agree with Erica". Well, I wanted to but those final few shots are so absurd. Maybe some day...
I do agree however that we do need to come together. I am getting a sickening feeling that we will have a "Unity" ticket. Now, if Hillary pulls off an upset and gets the top of the ticket, I will pay someone to taze all the way to the voting booth and I will pull the lever for Clinton/Obama. If Obama is on the top of the ticket, I will pull the lever for him but feel sad that he had to "win" like that. Under no circumstance should we vote for McCain. Such sour grapes has no place in this election. We will all get over it. We are all very energized and impassioned right now and that is great. This country needs that. What it doesn't need is to keep going the way it is going and we can all rest assured that Obama and Clinton will work to make sure that this country get's headed in the right direction.
Since I am still upset, can I please ask that Clinton apologize for her Iraq War vote if she get's put on the ticket? Is that too much to ask? She might have had my vote if she had.

[DoomtoNeoCons]

Obama has the pledged delegate count sewn up. This isn't a slam against Hillary, it's the truth. How we procede from here depends on ALL Democrats realizing that we have a common goal: The destruction of the Neo Con's strangle hold of the country. We need to work as one to defeat our enemy, and it starts with apologizing and forgiving.

Let me be the first Obama supporter to say that Yes, I've said terrible things about Hillary. I was swept up into the nomination like many others, and I let it overwhelm me, and I lost sight of the truth. The truth that it is the Neo Con's that want to divide theis country, and send it farther into darkness.
I don't want that to happen. I don't want my children or grandchildren growing up in Neo Con America, where the politics of fear and hatred are the norm. So it is with a full and open heart that I say I'm sorry for the anger i've felt towards my sister and brother Democrats. As an Obama supporter, I know I need your help. We all need each others help. Only together can we save America from this dark path we are marching down.

[Nobuks]

Let's end the unseasoned crap once and for all! He has beaten the most recognizable name in liberal politics. He has beaten both a seating senator and an ex president. He has out raised one of the most prolific money machines in Washington history. He has amassed the largest number of donors in political history. He is leading the cutting edge of technology in the vote process. He is going against conventional wisdom that states a black man wouldn't have a chance at this moment in time. All this, yet some of you still insult him as green?: As an empty suit. If he is these things to you, then what the heck does that make your candidate, the one who is being beaten, fair and square by this man? If there has been any amateurish plays by a campaign, it has been by the Clintons. I mean, just how do you go from being front runner to being displaced by a newcomer? Unless that newcomer was infinitely more capable than you.

[MariaHopeful]

On point!

[Dots]

This morning,
I added together ALL the votes cast on Tuesday and HRC got 150,000 more than BO.
Yet he wins??? Fair and square?
Let her stay in the race till its over.

[clevelandchick]

Let's also be gracious winners. I understand for the multitude of reasons that make you angry at many of the Hillary supporters on this blog and even Erica. Regardless, he's the nominee and we all know it. Obviously so does Erica. So even if she or other Hillary supporters get their last digs in we have to concentrate on how to get a Democrat elected to the White House in November.

The Republicans want us to fight and to hate each other, it's the only way they can win. At some point we have to stop focusing on the past and focus on this race.

[afgail]

Nah, she has been battling a very biased press and he has been given a pass. The Republicans will not be as kind or predisposed to sweep his crime under the rug. Like his attempt to steal the Indiana election. (Attempted robbery is still a crime isn't it?) The media wall of conspiratorial silence will not hold into the November election.

[wino486]

Reading these comments, I have to laugh. Obama supporters just can't believe that Hillary's supporters will vote for McCain. Yet I have seen several of Obama's people state on this blog they would never vote Hillary. They do not realize that, if the shoe was on the other foot in this close race,
they would likely feel the same. Guess I am rare. I want to vote for the person I feel is best for the job, not who the democrats or repugs tell me too. Hillary has been my choice for awhile now. The dems telling me to let her go and favor Obama are not moving me an inch. And yes, I am a middle aged white hard working American. Are we supposed to let our votes be tossed aside. NO!!!!!!!

[clevelandchick]

I've read way more Hillary supporters promising to vote for McCain than Obama supporters. There is a whole movement of Hillary protest voters so angry that she is losing they are promising to vote for McCain. You don't see such a movement from those who support Obama.

This whole thing boils right down to ego. Both sides accuse the other of having way too much of it which is silly because we're both guilty of it. Which is normal. But it is not normal or admirable to be so stubborn that you won't do what's best for the country.

Every four years, millions of Americans who vote Democrat eventually have their votes tossed aside when the nominees are eventually whittled down to one that goes up against the Republican in the fall. That is the process for selecting the nominee. It hasn't changed just because Hillary Clinton is one of the candidates this year. This is a process, there are rules and that's just how it is.

I was an Edwards supporter, millions of those who supported him have had 'their votes tossed aside". You don't see anyone who supported candidates other than Obama or Hillary refusing to support the Democratic nominee in November.

So go ahead and refuse to vote for Obama, but I don't want to see you on this blog bitching about McCain even once if he wins, because you couldn't grow up and do the right thing for the country.

[Canadienne]

*claps*

Very well said, indeed.

[Karenina44]

Dear Wino --

Of course your passion for the candidate should not be tossed aside. You should be commended on your vigor and vive for the political process when apathy has brought us what... GWB part one and two. I will put one comment forward -- it is time to circle our wagons. The Republicans are nasty and they have McNasty at the helm. I think if you would focus on what Clinton and Obama have in common, rather than their minor policy differences, and take a pragmatic step back and look at the big picture devoid of the cult of personality, your reason, should you be a true democrat, will be to vote for the democrat who ever gets the nomination. It would be truly said to give Limbaugh and Hannity their gleeful talking points that the democrats cannot bring things together.

If you cannot bring yourself to vote for Obama should he get the nomination, I would strongly urge you, instead of filling McCain's quiver, to think about voting for Bob Barr, the libertarian. That way you are not actively supporting a republican.

[tchristin]

Any person who favored Hillary and says they will vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee will be willing to sacrifice our country and our children's future in exchange for what? The very idea of this makes me sick. Don't they realize what's at stake? My children and your children's future is at stake. We don't have the time for games. Do the right thing. Please.

[afgail]

The right thing is divided government, rather than an unqualified, crooked Chicago politician as president. (He tried to steal the Indiana election.) With big majorities in the congress we will get most of what this country needs to correct the damage Bush II did.

[Northernmom]

I agree that the party must come together. Why vote for either Cinton or Obama over McCain? We cannot afford another Republican appointed Supreme Court Justice. Period. Hillary may yet win this nomination, or Obama might. Everyone needs to let the process continue and get behind the strongest ticket. My preference would be Clinton-Obama, for 16 years of Progressive leadership in the White House. Can the Obama supporters get behind that idea? They certainly want the Hillary supporters to cave, yet she garnered 155,000 more votes than he did yesterday.

[Endora]

"She garnered 155,000 more votes than he did yesterday."
____
SO WHAT?!!! She is behind overall. And please, spare the whining about Florida and Michigan. The candidates agreed with the ruling that those votes would not count. Hillary cannot keep her word, and she wants to fight dirty. She is trying to delegitimize Obama's nomination to help herself to 2012 - and destroy any chance of the Democrats winning this year.

I, for one, will NEVER EVER vote for her, and I will support any candidate who is willing to go up against her for her Senate seat, too. Enough, enough, enough of her sick lies and spin.

[zstroud]

and I feel the same way about lying, conniving, way tooooo slick Barry Obama. and oh yes, i would rather a repub win the this guy. and how exactly did she fight dirty and what about his dirt, oh no wait, let me guess, his hands are as clean as jesus right?

[Northernmom]

It's called momentum.......Who will be the strongest candidate, and what will be the strongest ticket to win in November? We need a Democrat in the White House. As for Michigan and Florida, if the Democratic party decides that the vote of any American who voted in a legitimate, taxpayer funded election will not count, they lose my financial support forever. The right to vote in this country is fundamental to our democracy and Howard Dean, Barack Obama, or anyone else should not be able to take away anyone else's legally cast vote.

[jeplanet]

Erica Erica Erica
Between this article and your horribly condescending "Electing Sweetie" one; I'm seriously beginning to wonder about you. Is this a case of feminism gone terribly awry?
I completely understand why you were so supportive of Hillary Clinton's campaign in the beginning; I was pulling for her, too. But Barack Obama has a whole lot more going for him than you seem willing to give him credit for; and his supporters are not under the sway of some pied piper or "sepia Brad Pitt' (that one really bothered me). This election is about more than women breaking through the glass ceiling. It's about a new start. You bashed Obama in your last piece, now you point out that he and Hillary are pretty much the same; and then you bash HER by making a snide comment about her marriage.
Obama is to be commended for taking the high road. Maybe you could do the same.

[MariaHopeful]

Well, let us accept Ms. Jong's olive branch. Maybe people like Ms. Jong will be able persuade Ms. Clinton to just let it go already and give the party a chance to heal and get ready for McCain.

[jeplanet]

I won't hold my breath.

[tdbach]

I must say, I'm a little suprised by the reaction of some Hillary supporters who pledge not to vote for Obama if he prevails. I can only imagine that, at least among bloggers here, it is because they feel like the system is rigged against a woman, otherwise how could a relative upstart "steal" the nomination from her? But that does a disservice to Obama's very real genius - at least for campaigning - and the remarkably effective strategy he and his team have executed.

I worry about what will be left when the campaign is over and he's sworn in. Will the honeymoon be brief and the enormous groundswell of hope come home to roost, as the Rev. Wright might say. His executive prowess - again, in the context of a campaign - does give one hope. I would ceretainly vote for him in November without the slightest hesitation.

But this has been an unbelievably divisive campaign, and the wounds run deep. All those commentors who point the finger at Hillary for this, all the while spitting the most hateful vitriol at her need to take stock. If the shoe were on the other foot, and it looked like Hillary was the presumtive winner, I shudder to think what they'd be saying right now.

[DietrichMoody]

Thanks Erica. but let me write this. How pathetic that while Moderate Republicans and some conservatives don't even like or want to vote for McCain and even some even CONSIDERING and endorsing Obama - like Dwight Eisenhowers grandaughter and stalwart Republican, and here we have Democrats, threating to vote for McCain themeselves.


These people considering voting for McCain out of spite, she take into account that the media has been very complacent in ignoring how poorly McCain is doing among his party. One of the greatest incentives Moderate Republicans and Conservatives will need, is a Clinton, and will get out and actually vote for McCain. The Clintons are the Republicans Viagra. Yes, the same Republican party taking away your rights, invading your privacy, and listening to preachers and evangelist instead of civilians.


Many Republicans are not going to mind having a Black for President, they didn't mind Condoleeza Rice as Sectretary of State or Colin Powell as a one time as a possible candidate on their ticket. The ones that mind having a Black on the ticket are Democrats, and Republicans are laughing and loving it. Because Democrats have spent their whole time about Affirmative Action and women's rights and civil rights, and now they think it should be a Woman who should be FIRST. You want to argue content of character, like Martin Luther King - THEN BE THE PARTY THAT PROVES IT.

[mypolitics01]

DM... You are SO right on. I am a 50+ white female who has voted republican in every major race. One thing that struck me is that if Hillary supporters think John McCain is liberal enough for them then maybe Obama is conservative enough for me. Seriously, I do not care for John McCain... so while I am still sitting the fence waiting for the debates to decide my family and friends (all republicans) have made up their mind. They are voting Obama.

None of us would have dreamed of voting for Hillary, you are right, were she the nominee my circle would ALL be HIGHLY motivated to vote McCain. This is just the most confusing part of it. Obviously Obama is a democrate but his talk of change, when we need it so badly, just seems sincere and makes sense and we are thinking, why not, it just might work, he gives us hope.

Lord knows what we are doing now is not working. So yes if Hillary's people want more of Bush vote McCain. And we republicans will negate their vote with one for Obama. Wow, things are insane this year.

[researcher]

"I doubt that she will be remembered for taking the low road"

she proved the myth about her. she does not care for the country she cares for hillary. of course most politicians do only want the power.

the repubs were right about her she is ruthless give them credit for that.

of course the repubs are war mongers so never lose sight of that. war mongers against hillary it could be worst.

give mc war a chance he will let lie er mann have his way with iran. bomb bomb iran.

americans need another war to teach them a lesson about their thirst for wars.

calling mc war a war hero is the very essence of imperialism.

germany called their guys war heros also.