I was a Clinton supporter. I'm now an Obama supporter. My message to Clinton supporters who are still pondering whether to support Obama; get over it, and get off the fence.
All across America Clinton supporters are licking their wounds. In Los Angeles, New York and Washington I have talked to prominent Clinton fundraisers and operatives who have told me they need a period of reflection before they can decide whether to support Obama. Some feel that Senator Clinton wasn't treated fairly. Others cite vague concerns about Obama's economic or security policy. A handful say they "just aren't sure" they can support Obama without bothering to explain why.
A peculiar self-pity has set in among Clinton supporters -- a phenomenon that threatens Barack Obama's election as president.
On a conference call with reporters this week the President of EMILY's List (a group that supports female candidates) summarized the emotional state of some Clinton supporters saying "those of us who supported Hillary go through a process of dealing with our many emotions of disappointment and sadness and some anger," she went on to say that this "the election is not today. We've got five months."
But we don't have five months. John McCain has already dispatched Carly Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett Packard (who as fired by her board of directors for the company's terrible performance in 2005) in an effort to take advantage of the sad emotional state of Clinton supporters and work to bring them to the other side.
McCain's campaign plans to hold a "Virtual Town Hall" this Saturday and has specifically said it is designed to reach out to Democrats and Independents. The McCain campaigns press release on the event even said "Many town hall participants are expected to be former supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign."
If Clinton supporters continue to feel sorry for themselves and wonder what might have been they will hand the White House to John McCain -- not the independent John McCain of ten years ago but the John McCain who promises a Bush-style economic policy, Bush-style foreign policy and Bush approach to appointing justices to the Supreme Court.
If you want the Bush tax cuts to be permanent, American troops to stay in Iraq for many years to come, Roe v. Wade to be overturned and Bush's legacy to also be America's future -- McCain's your man.
I was lucky enough to serve President Clinton, traveling across the country and around the world proudly promoting him and his policies. I have worked with his foundation on AIDS in Africa and continue to work with him through the Clinton Global Initiative. I have also worked with Senator Clinton, who has been a passionate advocate of the issues that I care the most about. Throughout their lives, both Clintons have helped me personally in many ways -- and both have embodied the best of Democratic politics.
But the stakes are too high to sit around moping on their behalf. The next American president will have a profound impact on this nation -- and the world. Anyone and everyone who has hated what George Bush did to America must come together urgently to support Barack Obama ...
Quite literally the future of the world depends on it -- and that is far more important than hurt feelings and thoughts of what might have been. It's time for Clinton supporters to get over their hurt feelings, get off the fence, and support one of the most exciting candidates the Democratic party has ever seen.
Now, we Democrats are busy sinking OURSELVES with lies, smears, and disunity. How STUPID can we get????
Eight Dem candidates entered this race. Everyone knew that only one would win. As Bill and Hillary scolded, politics is a contact sport and if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Well, the kitchen imploded, and only one candidate won the delegates race.
I'm outraged that DEMOCRATS are now refusing to vote for our nominee in November. This is not about Obama or Clinton anymore. It's about ending the Bush/Cheney destruction of America and laboring to get America back on track, at home and abroad. It's about Iraq/Iran, health care, jobs, global warming, the SCOTUS, Social Security and Medicare. It's about family, friends, and fellow Americans who have suffered enough!!!
I would've held my nose to vote for Hillary, if she had won. But, I will also do EVERYTHING in my power to see that she and Bill pay for a Dem loss in November. From that point on, it will be ANYBODY BUT HILLARY. As long as it's a Dem, I will donate and vote for anyone who opposes her and do everything possible to convince everyone I know to do the same. I AM A DEMOCRAT FIRST.
It's been my experience that Democrats can get pretty darn stupid.
There is however, more to this. Senator Obama is up to his eyebrows in economists who favor world trade (See Naomi Klein’s “Obama’s Chicago Boys” here. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080630/klein) These trade agreements have decimated our nation’s working class, inhumanely exploited foreign workers, and dumped cheaply made and dangerous products into our economy. While the continuance of these trade agreements would be unconscionable, Senator Obama has said he will “Look at them.”
I do not know what I will do this November. I have in the past written in my name and voted for myself. I could write in Senator Clinton’s name and vote for her. Or most likely, I will hold my nose and vote for Senator Obama. I will however, vote Democratic on the down ticket.
Try playing nice ..... instead of being nasty. Obama stumbled in at the end and face it she did well.
Enough already.
You must be one of the 20% who choose to go down into the bunker -- or over the cliff -- for your "leader." Well, I say, that's your choice, and what do you want from everybody -- applause?
Go ahead. Stress yourself out over Hillary's dismally run campaign -- if that's what you want to do. Too much stress adds phantom years to your face and body, but, if she's worth it, then go for it.
You are right. Lots of bitterness, but it's a two way street you know. Think about it. Hillary ran a great campaign, no doubt. This isn't even about Hillary anymore. Just peek in at what the Obama supporters are now seeing. "I will vote for McCain" alone spells traitor to me. Come on yourself. For any "true" Dem, those are fightin' words. They HRC fans are hurt I know, but they are taking it completely out on Obama and using their hurt feelings to turn traitor.
I have known from the beginning, especially when Clinton was ahead, that I wanted Obama. I tried to anticpate my disappointment if he lost (at the time the chances were pretty good). However, I planted it deep in my soul that IF he lost, there was no way I'd vote for McCain, because I kept telling myself (and still believe) that Hillary IS capable and a hell of a lot better than the alternative.
HRC & BHO positions were very similar, everyone seems to agree, and YET HRC fans are turning to McCain??? What's that if not traitorism and/or sour grapes. It's not a one sided thing here.
I am sorry, but I find this kind of attitude just disgusting and just pathetic. It just makes me sick. These people need to grow up, they are such poor, poor losers. Elsewhere I heard it described as their 'period of mourning'.
I am usually a sympathetic person, but I have not one ounce of sympathy for people who sit about crying the blues like this when there is an election to be won. And the fact that Hillary isn't knocking some sense into them makes me think I was right in thinking that she was never fit to be commander-in-chief.
We'll see what they do. We'll see if they truly want unity. We'll see if they are serious about winning the general election. We'll see if their primary goal is to insult Clinton and her supporters.
Clinton supporters, you obviously don't need me to say this, but you take your time.
Clinton supporters have been told to get over it since February by the media, Obama's supporters and the DNC.
To combat this, many have plugged their ears to those entities.
The DNC and the media calling for us to do anything will not be heard.
The urgency seems as manufactured as the urgency that Clinton should leave the race.
I'm not saying that this is sensible or logical, but I believe it is true.
Many Clinton supporters have subsequently plugged their ears to the message of Obama.
Personally, I believe he can get through to us. But it will have to be him. His surrogates, his mouthpieces in the media will not be effective in championing his cause.
I believe that most Clinton supporters will ultimately vote for Obama. But their enthusiasm will be relative to Clinton's. They will not volunteer, donate or support his campaign unless they feel inspired to do so.
Thus, Clinton is the key factor.
The good news is that since Obama is now in charge, it is up to him to wisely use Clinton.
She will singlehandedly be able to move her masses to support Obama. If there is urgency, then it is up to him to set things in motion at his discretion.
Until then, Clinton's base is watching and waiting. They are not getting over it quite yet.
They also stopped funding the DNC for letting the war linger on an on.
Personally I could care less about either candidate. There all bullshitters.
You want them to get over it? Tell Obama to stop his games - it's a turn off.
Want to bring the folks together - don't keep insulting them.
Hey - you get over it - it's still a democracy and free world and if they choose to go another direction - it's their choice. No one takes orders from a smart mouth.
Frankly, I think that anyone should be utterly disgusted by McCain's behavior. It's like watching a woman crying after throwing a ring back in a suitor's face in a restaurant (the woman being Clinton voters, the Democratic party being the suitor in this analogy) and then sidling up to her saying "hey baby, so I guess this means you're single now?"
Not to disparage the judgment of the 2nd wave feminists backing Clinton this cycle, but in any game dealing with 100,000's of millions of people, some will always go the wrong way. That's pure statistics. If you consider your opinion important, then step up and lead. Now. Before it's too late.
The last thing that any "wave" of feminism needs is for someone like McCain to sneak through the back door and steal Roe Vs. Wade (and God knows what else) back for the forces of evil.
Don't let it happen.
one of the worst stereotypes about women is that they are too emotional to effectively lead.
the actions of these die-hards plays very well to this stereotype.
hrc is not the first to lose a contest- get over it.
I also think many of these women are Republicans (operation chaos).
Obama will get enough of the Republican vote that it'll be okay if these Hillary women don't vote for him.
They're not the educated, professional women. They would be voting (or not voting) Republican...sheeple. when did Hillary become the model feminist?