The Obama team is suddenly making a huge effort to gain women's votes, but many die-hard Hillary supporters -- dozens of my acquaintances -- remain bruised and confused. The fact that Palin is on the ticket when HRC wasn't even vetted may turn out to have been the major gaffe of Axelrod and Company, and the tipping point of this tight election.
If you've been an outspoken Obama supporter from the beginning, it's time to make amends with Hillary supporters you know. Arguing with, or browbeating them to get on board is counterproductive, but showing you've come around to respecting Hillary may ease their hurt enough to do the trick. (Even if you don't mean it. This is politics.)
Here's what you can do:
Eat crow. To get started, memorize this phrase, take a deep breath and say: "Now that I see how unqualified Sarah Palin is, I realize how I misjudged Hillary Clinton. Even Biden said she would have made a great vice president." Saying you wish she were the presidential nominee may go too far, and you may not be able to get it out. But if the Hillaryite brings it up, don't argue, and see below.
Let the HRC voter vent. You may have to draw on every bit of patience you have. You may have to hear once again how unfair it is that the Repubs chose Palin, and the Dems ignored Hillary, and that the party would assuredly be ahead if she were anywhere on the ticket. You may have to hear old-news complaints about sexism and Jack Cafferty's curmudgeonly comments, David Shuster's pimping Chelsea insult, the Monica mentions, the tougher debate questions for Hillary.
Do not look like you want to run and soak your head in vodka, even if you do. Do not talk unless asked. Listening without argument is the major way to keep this potential voter attainable.
Act empathic. Nod your head in agreement when the subject of Palin or Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann's Hillary-bashing commentary is mentioned. Learn these phrases and use them every so often: "I imagine it must be hard." "It must seem unfair." "I know, you wanted to see an accomplished woman as president in your lifetime." "I can understand your being hurt (sad, mad, furious, despondent, livid, resentful, apoplectic, intransigent, inconsolable, red-faced, nauseous, wretched, shit-faced"). Again, do not argue. Just listen.
Do not praise Obama. I know, this seems ridiculous, but now is not the time in this chain of events. Also, do not praise Michelle or their daughters. If the HRC supporter praises, agree and move on. This is not so much about Obama as it is the closure about Hillary's run, which remains a wound to some. Take a breath, and move to the next step, which may be the hardest.
Praise HRC. Never mention her flaws. Be gracious and do not bring up her vote for the war, or her "dirty campaign." Do not allude to Bill. Instead, try to find something you can praise with some conviction -- some version of "By the end of the campaign I could understand why people were so enthusiastic about Senator Clinton (not "Hillary"). I saw her toughness, her brains, her heart." "She is gracious and helpful in defeat." And especially, "Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton." You may have to go back to steps one and two. Nobody said this would be easy.
Know your anti-female McCain political facts. Here comes the logic. Make a cheat-sheet if necessary. If Palin can get past her ignorance about The Bush Doctrine and the Constitution in prime time, you can learn these few talking points. Remind HRC supporters that several Supreme Court nominees (and Roe v Wade) are in the balance. Discuss McCain/Palin's ultra-conservative record, and stands on right- to- life, guns, creationism, you name it. You'll need to do some homework here. Wikipedia and Google are there for you at all times.
Know your anti-female McCain emotional facts. If the above doesn't do it, remain low-key, with a pleasant visage. Remind HRC supporters that McCain left his disfigured first wife who waited loyally for him and raised their children alone, to have an affair with Cindy, the current, rich, much younger wife. But aha, continuing this behavior, he probably cheated on this trophy with blonde lobbyist, Vicky Isenman. (Where is this woman? In a rendition prison in Syria till after the election? Hello, National Enquirer.)
Remind the Hillary fan that McCain called his $300k-suited trophy wife the C- word in public, and has a notoriously terrible temper. And worst of all, and leave this for the climax of this entire exercise: McCain publicly laughed at the allusion to HRC as a "bitch" and -- lowest of the low -- made that public Chelsea Clinton ugly joke when she was just a teen. See here.
Know your Palin political and emotional facts. Emphasize that Palin is against almost everything that Hillary stands for. List these things. Be sure to mention that she called Hillary "a whiner." Then ask, "Do you really want this undeserving woman to break the glass ceiling before someone as deserving and qualified as Hillary Clinton?"
If you did your best but it didn't work, leave the door open. Don't lose it and attack the HRC supporter for being stupid, intransigent, short-sighted, emotional, unpatriotic, and thinking with her nether regions, even if those feelings are coursing inside you. Do not use the term "bitch," even though McCain did.
Hillary supporters may not want to tell you that you've reached them. Assume it will take a few tries. And even if these voters don't admit they've changed their minds, at a minimum, your attempt at taking one for the team may influence them enough to keep them from voting for McCain, or bad-mouthing Obama's so-far wobbly candidacy.
If each die-hard Obama supporter could convince even one disgruntled HRC supporter that he or she respects Hillary Clinton, it just might help secure this election. Even if you still don't like HRC, consider yourselves citizen-patriots, suck it up, and do your part to save our country. And fast, please.
BUT if anyone in Hillary's circle votes for anyone other than Obama come November, then they are taking an active hand in undoing all the good that feminism and strong women have tried to do for the last 30 years. With Obama, there will be a future, when you can try again. With P & M, the glass ceiling will be replaced by a concrete dome.
Your daughters need you to vote for a future that consists of more than having kids and finsing the right man to look after them.
P.S. I am a woman.
With the choice the 'Democratic' Party offers, no wonder...
They pissed away women, blue collars, low income, workers, less educated, rurals, gun owners, Catholics, churchgoers, anything but AA, egghead and college kids, convident that the cult following would be enough to win. Now they start to whine and court. Too late, too late...
The fact that Hillary is accomplished and does know her stuff ,
were the VERY reasons why I didn't want to support her candidacy.
To me, she was just another incumbent whose had plenty of time to exemplify change.
Anyone who is willing to give Hillarys vote to McPalin,
whether, it is out of spite or based on gender alone,
and, anyone who will vote for McPalin simply because Obama is black,
deserve the repercussions of their ignorance & idiocy, should McPalin win.
I'm tired of the phony, two-faced officials,
and, I can't stand, two-faced, phony people.
Be a two-face, phony when it comes to Hillary, for a vote....I THINK NOT!
I understand and get the rationalization but, I can't do that, that's not me.
Unfortunately, due to years of neglect by it's caretakers(us),
the weeds that were able to thrive and overrun BOTH lawns,
prevent any good seeds from flourishing and deprive any good seeds from being planted.
I so appreciate those who take the time,
to contribute the information and profound insight that is found here...Thank You!
(and I'm not talking about the people, like myself, who are posting here either)
Every time I leave this site, I want to round up a gazillion people and start a protest.
It would be a blessing if more people would start acting on the info. instead of just absorbing it.
I am a male Hillary supporter and I am 100% sure that she would have made a great president. Since she is no longer available, I have to settle for the next best thing and that is McCain.
I don't vote for him out of spite or gender or race.
I vote for him, because I think that he is the better choice to lead this country.
Other than you ("The fact that Hillary is accomplished and does know her stuff ,
were the VERY reasons why I didn't want to support her candidacy."), I do value experience and leadership.
I'm a disgruntled Hillary supporter who is voting for Obama. But I'll have to tell you, I'm holding my nose while I do it after how little regard Obama's supporters have shown towards me and my candidate.
If Obama loses, it'll be because of the absolute nonsense being spewed by some of his most rabid supporters towards those of us who are independent voters and/or Hillary supporters.
What happens when he's dissed by unfriendly types. Will be make sure to get even? We've got one of those already in the White House.
Back in January, I would not have dreamed about rooting for the Republican ticket, but here I am, voting for experience in troubled times over inexperience. This election is more important than party affiliation, so don't vote for a party because you always voted for that party. Vote with your heart and mind.
But ,IMO, some of the supporters haven't gained mine. Acting like petulant children who are STILL stomping their feet ,whining,pouting, and being sore losers doesn't do it for me.
It's time to look at the ISSUES and study McCain's and Palin's records and views.
It IS about the issues and not about the boobs.
And when those supporters start to act like informed adults, then I'll treat them accordingly.
Until then, you still have to earn MY respect. It's up to YOU. The ball is in YOUR court.
during the primaries and after, the attack of Obama supporters against Hillary and her supporters were as bad as what Republcians had to say about her, in fact, Obama supporters were even worse. You don't burn the bridges that you want to use later on...
"It IS about the issues and not about the boobs."
See, that's the attitude that hurts. It is not about gender, it is about issues. Support for Clinton was not about gender, it was about leadership, experience and issues.
Do you actually believe that you are going to gain something by electing a president and VP who are opposed to everything, Everything, Hillary clinton stands for, just out of spite? How are you supposed to justify a position like that?
Please - once this election is over and Obama wins, all you 'pumas' will slink back into your caves - if you want to pretend your a democrat, fine - we Real democrats know what you are and are going to turn out en masse to elect barack - keep wasting your breath.
McCain/Palin 2008
Hillary Clinton 2012
Hey Lea, a few words of advice: If you're going to lay out a strategy that entails condescending to and deceiving people, you might want to make sure that the people you want suckered don't have access to the game plan.
This is no game plan, and you haven't even touched on the issues as to why this strategy will not work on 'PUMAs. Talk to them about the caucus fraud in the primary election, http://www.lynettelong.com/caucusfraud/ , then the suppression of Clinton Delegate votes at the Democratic Convention...yes, we have proof...letters written by delegates for all states. That on top of the sexism towards women candidates and the corruption of the DNC.............and you will have a real conversation with PUMAs and not the trite dribble that is in this article.
Most PUMAs are educated adults and not the silly mindless people you think they are. Good luck on this plan. Hahahaha.
You're not exactly MENSA over there.
And Lynette Long is *who*?
Hillary ran a nasty campaign and she lost. She made you feel like this was owed to her because she is a woman and it was her turn.
Any candidate must rise or fall based upon the support of the voters - not demands owed to group that feels wronged.
It is about the issues - not your feelings.
If because the other side pandered and put an unqualified woman on the ticket you give up your long held beliefs and run to the other side, that says more about some women's sense of entitlement than it does our candidate.
If African Americans had the same mind set we would have voted for Allan Keys years ago.
Barack enjoys our support because he is the best candidate.
Merit - you should try it. It is much more adult than holding your breath until you get your way.
she got MORE votes than Obama, so that means she got more support from the voters, but the DNC had to cheat and give delegates to Obama that came from her voters. This happened May 31st at the RBC meeting.
The problem for most Clinton voters who now support McCain is that Obama is totally unqualified to be president. We just can't get over that fact.
That said, since Palin was announced, I’ve honestly come to appreciate Hillary. Palin’s helped me to see Hillary as very accomplished, and she KNOWS her stuff…and, unlike Palin, Hillary cares about women’s rights.
I do feel Hillary's where she is because of who her husband is. HOWEVER, I don't feel this because she's not capable or intelligent or deserving...I feel that way because it’s harder for women, and the Clinton "brand" helped her get further than she would have. I can certainly say I don't hate her and I respect her…and that is new for me.
I don’t think Hillary’s supporters should “get in line” and vote for Obama. I think they should vote for him because they care more about the issues that Hillary cares about than they care about their anger and frustration that she didn’t win the nomination. I think they should vote for him because a President McCain – or scarier, a possible President Palin – would be a nightmare and go against everything BOTH Hillary and Barack care about, and presumably both their supporters care about.
Let's move on!
The pundits say what they say, I don't believe them most of the time.
It may or may not be the case about Bill but we don't really know- all we have are the opinions of the punditry and we see what fools they are on a daily basis.
I don't think anyone said anything about vetting HRC--
I don't klnmow a lot of Hillary supporters who wanted her to be Veep... but their is the whole respect thing...
I also don't know many Hillary supporters who are upset or hurt or angry about O himself- I think his supporters pissed them off more than anything else.
I think you're right about that, and that's unfortunate. EVERY candidate, on both tickets, had some nasty, mean, supporters who've posted things that weren't helpful. But theirs a HUGE difference between a candidate words and the words of supporters they've never even met. It would be a shame for people to vote against their interest out of nothing but anger for people they've never even met and who's words do not echo the words of the candidate they support.