Quit The Race Senator! You Can't Win And You're Just Harming The Democratic Party... (Sign The Petition!)

If you agree with the sentiments expressed in this petition - please scroll down and sign at the foot of the page:

We the undersigned state the following:

1) We acknowledge that you have won a few big primary states. Including: New York • New Jersey • Massachusetts • New Mexico • Arizona • California

2) But you're running against a candidate who has won twice as many states, is beating you in delegates and the popular vote.

3) Now you have the temerity to declare that you will not quit the race and if necessary will fight this all the way to the convention.

4) On top of that you have the nerve to try and change the rules of the game so that you can try and grab votes that the party rules say you are not entitled to.

5) This is just DISGUSTING. And a clear sign that you care more about yourself than the Democratic Party you claim to love.

6) For the sake of the party we beg you to stand down now and not take your flailing doomed-to-fail campaign to the convention.

Please scroll down to sign
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Sorry - signing of this petition closed on July 10th 1980.

THE FACTS

• In 1980, Senator Edward Kennedy refused to pay any attention to the above points and insisted on taking his presidential campaign all the way to the Democratic Convention.

• He also fought an aggressive battle to have the party rules overturned so that he could attempt to secure votes that had been pledged to his rival - President Jimmy Carter.

• Despite having lost to Carter in states (24-10), popular vote and percentage of vote - Kennedy maintained his campaign through the spring and summer and till over halfway through the actual convention - refusing to concede to Carter until the day before the final vote.

• Only after that point did he give his "the cause endures" valedictory speech that is today hailed as his finest moment.

• Throughout the months of March, April, May, June and the first half of July 1980, senior Democrats including Senators, Representatives, Governors, party elders - and of course media pundits - lambasted Kennedy for what they said was his arrogance and vanity in staying in the race - and told him that by doing so he was "harming the party".

• They begged him to end his campaign.

• Senator Kennedy was steadfast in resisting all these entreaties and consistently invoked his right to stay in the race until the convention.

• He also insisted on his right to challenge party rules in order to try and secure delegates that had already been pledged to his opponent.

• After the 1980 election, Senator Kennedy insisted that Carter's loss to Reagan was NOT a by-product of Kennedy exercising his right to contest the nomination through to the convention but was a result of Carter's weakness as a candidate. A position that Kennedy has maintained over the last 27 years and holds to this day.

• Today Senator Kennedy is one of the most senior and respected members of the Democratic Party. His positions and his experiences are cited by Democrats - especially supporters of Barack Obama - as admirable and exemplary.

• Today Senator Kennedy is a leading supporter of Barack Obama.

'nuff said...