Dear Senator Clinton, Please Step Down

This is a very hard letter for me to write, so please bear with me.

I'd like to ask you, with all due respect and humility, to step down as a Democratic candidate for president of the United States.

Please understand this is not because I believe you can not or should not lead this nation. Please understand that I find you qualified, capable, and worthy. Please also understand I want nothing more than to see a female as the leader of the free world. I would be pleased and honored if you were that female.

However I am finding, right or wrong, many citizens of this country seem to react to you on an emotional level. Emotional, not practical. They can't seem to see your record. They can't seem to see your policy. They just hear or read "Hillary" and venom or praise spews.

I thought that with your candidacy, would come reason. I thought that you would be able to get a fair shake by mainstream media, by voters, by sexists, and by soccer moms. I thought over time people would begin to see that you really are an effective politician.

I was wrong.

Tonight, I'm typing as I watch you speak in El Paso, Texas. I'm sad. There really is no other way to put it -- I'm sad.

I truly believed you would be the best person for the job, and I had this nagging thought in the back of my mind that is now at the forefront. The thought that drove me on Super Tuesday to Vote for Senator Obama and the thought that is the driving force as I write tonight: Senator Hillary Clinton divides this country.

It's not fair. It's not right. And under just about ANY other circumstance I would go to the mat for you. However we are a wounded and deeply divided nation. We are a nation at war. We are a nation at odds with each-other. It's ugly. I thought you could get people past it. I really did.

When I told myself it was gender that got people going, I refrained from asking and wanting you to step aside. Simply on principle, I wanted to see you run and win because they said it couldn't be done. Because it was my belief, this was all about being a girl.

It's not, and I was wrong.

I firmly believe while the gender issue has given you a handicap I hope we all one day overcome, it is NOT the reason people have a gut reaction to you or your campaign or your legacy.

Enter the Senator from Illinois, and what I think could be your true legacy. If you were to step aside now, shockingly early and shockingly un-Hillary-like, you could galvanize an entire nation behind your party. If you were to throw your weight, and your tremendous political clout behind Senator Obama you could still change the world and make your mark in a way no one would expect and everyone would admire.

I don't want to see you throw in the towel because the fight is too hard or the mountain too tall. I am asking you to throw it in because history is on the line. It is not the history either of us expected, however it is an equally important, momentous, earthshaking change in this country we sorely need.

Do something no one would ever expect. Do something extraordinary. Do something that changes politics as usual and changes history.

I could have never predicted having to chose between what my husband called "the lesser of two goods, not the lesser of two evils" when it came time to cast my vote.

It was agonizing.

But in the end, with no major policy difference and valid reasons on BOTH sides, I had to go with the candidate who I thought could best bring our nation back together. Who could cross party lines and gender lines and racial lines.

I wanted it to be you, but it's not. For some reason you still get people very riled up, and not in the good way.

There is no way around it-it sucks. But after 7 years of nothing but fighting and head shaking and feeling like we're living in two Americas, I can't do it again. Not even if my team is in office.

I really hate asking you to do this, but I want you to please step down and let this nation heal.

We've been too angry for too long and your history and your name brings a suitcase of anger to the White House front door.

With the full weight of the Clinton name, behind the scenes, your true legacy could be written. With the full weight of the Clinton know-how you could help orchestrate the next chapter in American history where an African-American leads our nation.

It is this time in history your nation needs you.

As nations go, ours has never been one to do things the way we predict. Who could have seen when we finally get our first, legitimate, female front runner we'd see our first, legitimate front runner of color?

Our nation and it's people need you to do what is best for this country. We need you to be true to what you say on the stump and bring us back together.

If you firmly believe that there is still time for you to change the hearts and minds of those rude and stubborn Americans who are voting with their gut when they see "Hillary" on the ballot-then please, prove me wrong. I'll be at the Democratic National Convention come August and I'll hold up my Hillary sign loud and proud and fall in line.

But I think you've tried. You tried with everything you had to overcome that Clinton-emotional reaction. Here we are, moving into Texas and Ohio and Pennsylvania-and it's not you winning over hearts and minds, it's the Senator from Illinois.

Let's end the division in this country now. Right now. Let's start with the Democratic Party early and provide a united front against the GOP months ahead of schedule.

Let's take back this country for the people, with you playing a much different role than you envisioned.

Make history. Make us one. Step down now.

Sincerely,

Erin Kotecki Vest

voter, mother, woman, feminist, writer, dreamer, and Hillary fan

Erin also blogs at Queen of Spain blog

Comments

[BJMS]

I couldn't agree more...This is a wonderfully written, heart-felt "letter." And everything in it is true. Of course, it won't work, but I'm glad someone is saying it. It needs to be said. For the sake of the Democratic Party, I hope Hillary does the un-Hillary, un-Bush like thing and actually listens. Sadly, I doubt she will...

[BillZBubb]

So, the right wing propaganda has worked on you. You should be so proud.

Hillary Clinton isn't the divisive one. She has been the target of the dividers.

I feel really sad for you Obama supporters when, after the November election, you can't believe how Obama having lead in the polls lost the election. Because, Obama will be seen as being just a "divisive" when the elections roll around--the right wing slime machine will make sure of that.

[YellerDawg]

Don't burst their pretty balloons. They will only resent you. Let McCain and company do it. I hope Barack can swim, because there is a swiftboat with his name on it just waiting around the river bend. It's going to take a united Democratic Party to win in November, and after reading the posts on Huffpo, I just don't see that happening. Are we all happy, now?

[jstock]

Why do HRC supporters assume that swiftboating will only be directed at Obama and not HRC? Or that it will somehow be more effective against him than her? Fact is, neither Hillary nor Obama has had to face any serious competition for their respective seats in the Senate. Remember the oh-so-scary Rick Lazio? This is the Year of the Democrats, folks. Let's nominate the person we want to best represent our party, and our nation.

[thegaygardener]

I was just thinking the same exact thing... but there's no way she'll do it. The Clintons are pure narcissists who have always put themselves & their "needs" above those of the party & the country. No, an action like this would require "class" & selflessness not exactly the Clinton's strong suit.

[GLU]

Yeah, I have been thinking about this. And I think she might do it and hope that Obama losses so she can run in 2012. (See 2004 election)

[coco57]

So this is the solution? Let the haters and the nutjobs win? Push the girl aside in favor of the less qualified man to make nice? I don't bloody think so, not this time. I am sorry but every woman I know has been there done that and this time, this time, we will not move aside. The good of the country my foot. Barack Obama is an empty vessel who only reflects the hopes of a bunch of people who don't know any better. He is no more prepared to lead this nation than Bush was and his arrogance is just as great and promise of unity just as empty. Unite around what? Him? What movement and to where? The country is divided because there are important issues on which people disagree and no amount of teleprompted rhetoric can actually change that AND IT SHOULD NOT DO SO. That is what democracy is about. What people hate is the nastiness and you are advocating enabling it. His policies may be like hers but he has no real experience, no respect from the military as she does, no connection to foreign leaders, nada. He is not yet ready to be President and at some point, hopefully before the convention, people will realize this. She would be doing the country a grave disservice by stepping aside and favor of this smooth-talking amateur. You do us all a disservice by suggesting it.

[starboymikey]

She would be doing the country a grave disservice by stepping aside and favor of this smooth-talking amateur. You do us all a disservice by suggesting it.
__________________________________________________

Unfortunately, you are wrong on both counts. Hillary Clinton is divisiveness personified. I can't even say that it is through no fault of her own. It is not her policies and it is really not mere sexism, which is a facile excuse. It is simply her personality, which comes across as arrogant. Misperception or not, that's just how many people see her. She would, in fact, be doing us all a great service by stepping down, because even though she may secure the nomination, she will go down in flames in the general election.

As to Obama, he is hardly an amateur, though you're right that he is smooth-talking. But being smooth-talking is in itself not a crime. JFK and RFK were "smooth-talking" as was Ronald Reagan. The gift of gab is a great asset to any politician, and it's seldom if ever something people hold against them. If anything, it can inspire people.

I think that in this case, Obama's relative lack of experience in the Senate works in his favor, as he is not seen as a Washington insider, which Clinton definitely is. If anything, it's as if Hillary's many years in Washington are actually working against her in this election cycle.

I don't know if Obama would do significantly better than Clinton running against the still popular McCain, but as a fresh face running against yet another insider, I think he has a better shot. And like most people here, I can't stand the thought of another four years of Republican diplomatic and economic mismanagement. The stakes are simply too high to hand the nomination to Hillary Clinton simply because it's "her turn," or because she's done a lot of political favors for a lot of people. And let's not kid ourselves by denying that she's done just that. This is part of what it means to be an "experienced insider" in Washington.

[qwr]

Did I read this correctly? Did you say that Clinton has respect from the military? Please, let some reality in. McCain has respect from the military because he has two children in Iraq. Chelsea works for a hedge fund.

[lynnn]

Well see I'm sure that hedge funds has investments in military contractors. So there.

[lynnn]

Less qualified, who is qualified to be president? Hillary has never been president, she's not more qualified than anyone else just bc she's around power (power corrupts sometimes). If that was true we should vote for the White House cook.

[sarge]

"What people hate is the nastiness and you are advocating enabling it."

This after writing: "Barack Obama is an empty vessel who only reflects the hopes of a bunch of people who don't know any better."

Gee, no nastiness there, or hypocrisy!

Obama is supremely qualified, and he has innate leadership and inspirational abilities Clinton cannot match. He has demonstrated superiority every where it counts. Judgment, statesmanship, leadership, ability to inspire, ability to unite, ability to bring people into the process. He is fabulously well repsected internationally. He is all substance. His vision is substance. His goals are substance, and his specific policies are substance (read his website...and his books).

"Unite around what, him"?...no his vision. End the war, end our dependence on foreign oil, end the tax cuts for the rich, improve our education and make it accessable to everyone, make healthcare available to everyone (without garnishing their wages). Save our planet. Restore habeas corpus, respect and adhere to the constitution, preserve roe v. wade, take care of our veterans, rehabilitate our world standing...

Have you been listening, coco57???

[Sina]

RE:
"Barack Obama is an empty vessel who only reflects the hopes of a bunch of people who don't know any better."

Something I still find curious are claims such as this that denigrate the critical intelligence of Obama supporters, despite the fact that "Obamabots" represent the most highly educated demographic in the Democratic party and beyond. Speaking of empty vessels, such claims cancel themselves out, and thus, end up making the strongest case against their own validity.

RE:
"You do us all a disservice by suggesting it."--

Yes, I hear your earnest support for HRC, which is understandable. What I don't follow is how that makes Ms. Vest's suggestion that HRC step aside for the good of party and national unity a "disservice to us all." One question might be who you mean by "us"? While I disagree with your point of view, I'm not going to claim that you do a disservice by expressing it.

[Zenith1959]

There is a lot of truth in what is said here. It's sometimes hard to accept what is true. I truly think that 4 years of Hillary would keep this country divided, but then I think that thought is playing into the repugs way of doing things. I guess we have to do something we don't like to get along with our obnoxious neighbors.

[repuglycon]

Wow Erin that was well put but I'd be surprised if she has it in her. She says I...I...I, he says we...we...we.

[MizJ]

Erin,you made me cry. Because in reality I believe you are correct. The Hillary bashing will just get worse and try as she might, and she has truly given it all that she has, we are looking at her defeat.

My tears are for what could have been had she not had to carry the Clinton legacy, right or wrong. She is a far superior candidate but the voices are loud and clear. We need to consider the choices for the Supreme Court which will surely come up again during the next 4 years.

We cannot afford a McCain presidency and as much as I feel the loss, I have to agree with you. Your post was heartfelt. And sadly too true.

[YellerDawg]

Don't you get it? Most of the alleged Obama enthusiasts who pollute the internet with the unending, Clinton-hating vitriol are Republican trolls intent on destroying Hillary because they couldn't destroy Bill. Nothing else makes any sense. How are Democrats and progressive benefitted by the irrational repetition of Republican talking points by supposed progressives such as Huffpo regularly features?

[altohone]

Alleged enthusiasts are winning elections by large margins.

Nothing else makes sense?
Have you considered her voting record?

Please, show us ONE example of a Republican attacking Clinton for her support for Bush's war.

Those on the "left" don't need right wing talking points. We have a completely different set of objections... and they are quite rational.

[qwr]

Why do you hold on to the idea that she is the superior candidate? I just don't understand this. It is narcissistic to say so. She has been on the wrong side of every major issue in her tenure. She has no good explanation for her war vote, for the Patriot Act vote, for Kyl/Lieberman, and for the first bankruptcy bill. Your narcissism just will not let you see the truth: she has been caught in lie after lie. Your narcissism leads you to believe that everyone is against her because she is a woman. I rooted my heart out for Ferraro and Schroeder. If Boxer were to run, I would support her. If Feinstein were to run, I would oppose her with everything I had. Why is this so difficult to believe?

[lynnn]

Hey this is not really the post to make the comment, this post is about healing.

[Karoli]

I would oppose Feinstein with everything I had, too, especially after her capitulation on the FISA amendments today. She and Lieberman should just switch party affiliations.

I was also disappointed that Hillary didn't vote on something so fundamental as whether the implementers of illegal wiretaps should be accountable for their actions, whether requested or not by the Bush administration. Anyone with respect for the Bill of Rights should have fought hard to strip telecom immunity from the Senate version.

[lynnn]

Wow your words not Erins made me cry. Very true words always touch the heart.

[trailrunner9]

I never did like succumbing to the pressure of a mob (something like the run-up to the Iraq War). I say hang in there, Hillary, if you believe you're the best person for the job, fight on, against the odds and all. The mob is against you, like this author said, not even listening to your reocrd or assessing you agenda, just reacting, just like they are reacting to the hype of Barack Obama, not his record or assessing his agenda. Just rhetoric that feels good. I haven't always been in Hillary Clinton's corner, but I am now, because I just don't like the ugliness of a mob and I actually think in the long run it is going to back fire. People are succumbing to the wave of hysteria, but actually not thinking very much at all. Keep going, Hillary. You have this person routing for you anyway.

[trailrunner9]

And I'm routing for you because, though I didn't like your war vote and actually bashed you relentless on the blogs for the last couple of years over it, I am smart enough to see that Obama's record is really no different than yours other than his pre-senate speech. From the senate on, you guys are the Bobbsy twins.

[dcshogun]

I'm sure you probably meant "rooting." "Routing" would imply retreating. God, I've turned into a grammar nerd.

[Ides]

Except for Hillary authorizing the sale of clusterbombs and their use in civilian areas, her no show on the FISA vote, her declaring an arm of the Iranian military a terrorist organization, her support of mandatory minimums for nonviolent drug offenses, her no-show on the S-CHIP vote, her vote on the bankruptcy bill ("I'm glad it didn't pass!"), her vote against timetables on Iraq....if you can't see that her legislative history is a consistent drift toward neocon centrism and power consolidation and you don't think it was in anticipation of gaining these heavily increased executive powers for HERSELF, then I don't know what to tell you.


Hillary Clinton is not your friend.

[freya100]

How about this instead...

Obama, please step down -- you have no experience and your approval ratings will plummet when you can't deliver on your unreasonable promises of changing everything in the whole wide world.

[camb94]

Did you read her article? This isn't about someone not delivering on promises. Let's say, for argument, Obama steps out and lets Hillary have the nomination, there will still be a minimum of 30% and probably closer to HALF of the entire US population who HATE HILLARY. It isn't just, it isn't rational, but it exists. That is her number one problem. She cannont get past her baggage, with Bill, with Travelgate, Vince Foster, etc. I like Hillary, but if she were already the nominee, and hadn't had this much difficulty with Obama, there would still be a large number of people who HATE her. Sure the shine of Obama may wear off, but that is a very different phenomenon than trying to convince people that Hate you to vote for you.

[Ides]

She has 44% disapproval ratings according to a recent CNN poll.

[maidyalook]

Oh, give me a break! Please, I"m writing this with such a heavy heart, but Sen. Obama, would you please step aside, you are dividing this country, we Democrats. Blah, blah, blah. See how stupid that sounds? I would never ask him to step aside anymore than she should step aside. If he is meant to win, then let him, if she is meant to win, then so be it. But these damn articles, day in and day out, are poison to the democracy and freedom of choice we all should have.

[YellerDawg]

Amen! A few hours on Huffpo and you'll be ready to tar and feather Hillary. This has been Huffington's plan all along. Infiltrate the Democratic Party by experiencing a "road to Damascus" conversion to progressive ideals and then, tear us apart from inside like some red-headed Trojan Horse. Beware Greeks bearing gifts.

[Thorn]

Wow. You've really got the Huffington Conspiracy figured out there. How'd you do it, Einstein?

[Aanya]

Sean Hannity, go away!

[starboymikey]

This has been Huffington's plan all along. Infiltrate the Democratic Party by experiencing a "road to Damascus" conversion to progressive ideals and then, tear us apart from inside like some red-headed Trojan Horse. Beware Greeks bearing gifts.
_____________________________________________

Wow, talk about paranoia. Get a grip.

[Egghead]

Bwuh. I don't think so.

BTW, what is UP with everyone hating on Arianna Huffington? I've heard her speak and I've got at least one of her books, and she's running this forum where pretty much anyone can say anything against her. It's not as though she hides the fact that she was a Republican. If she's been planning to infiltrate the Democratic party, etc., then she has had *one heck of a long range strategy.*

[lynnn]

Wow I like your ethnic hatred, so now it's the greeks, add them to the list of White Males, African Americans, Clowns and those damned kids that are all against Senator Hillary Clinton.

[starboymikey]

But you see, Obama really is not dividing the country in the way Clinton is. He simply does not carry the same sort of baggage. As much as you may love Hillary Clinton, her "fighting on against the mob" will simply bring four more years of neo-conism to this country.

But if you believe that this is a price worth paying just to see Clinton as the candidate, then there's probably no way anyone can convince you otherwise. Just take her defeat like a brave trooper.