This diary is based on four fundamental premises: (1) for all intents and purposes, the Democratic nomination is over (yes,Barack wins); (2) the November election is going to be far more difficult than most Democrats have been assuming; (3) Democrats have no chance if they are not completely unified; and (4) the actions by the candidates and their supporters over the next couple months will determine the outcome of number (3) above, and most likely the November election. Given these factors, it’s time for these two candidates to confront some realities and step up.
In an effort to advance the chances of a happy outcome in November, I’m going to offer some "tough love" to both camps. I’m hoping this may be better received from someone who was "neutral"...I was not a supporter of either camp. (Indeed, I wrote in December that I thought each was unlikely to prevail against the Republicans...for various reasons. But they are all we have left now, and it’s time to all pull together for the common good.)
First, some ‘love’ for the Clinton camp. You are entirely justified to be bitterly disappointed and outraged at the way the media have treated Hillary, and particularly, Bill Clinton. The continuing animosity toward the Clintons by major figures in the television "news" industry has been well documented by folks like Media Matters. The whole "racism" fiasco leading into the South Carolina primary will go down in history as a classic case of media "assassination through distortion", and that was literally the sequence of events that turned the whole campaign. The ease with which the "first black president" was quickly turned into someone who was despised by a large proportion of the African American population is astonishing, and will be fodder for political science courses for decades. (Unfortunately, and perhaps more importantly, this may have permanently tarnished what should have been a strong political weapon for Democrats in this and future elections: a popular and talented ex-president. Karl Rove is laughing his arse off.)
So yes, Clinton supporters, you have righteous anger about this biased treatment, and frankly, about the cavalier manner in which too many Obama supporters have ridiculed your complaints and fanned some of the media distortions. You have my genuine sympathy. But now for the "tough" part.
This nomination is essentially decided. Barack Obama has too much momentum, your media coverage is far too negative to mount a miracle comeback, and the Obama camp has conducted a very successful public effort to make it politically impossible for "superdelegates" do go against the delegate count and support you at the convention. It’s over. Any further efforts to "go negative", or to try to somehow muscle out a win with superdelegates at the convention, will not only be futile, it will rip apart the party and assure a Democratic defeat in November. It is time now to "call off the dogs" and avoid any further negative attacks, and start to plan for the proper timing of the classy "grand gesture" to concede the nomination to Obama. This election is far too crucial to risk losing for the sake of ego, or anger.
In fairness to Hillary, I believe that she tried to move in that direction last night in the debate. It is another shameful example of appalling media conduct that the headlines today read: "Hillary Attacks Barack on Plagiarism". No objective person who watched that debate could possibly write that as the headline from that event. That issue only came up after direct prodding from the moderator, and was an isolated aberration from an overall debate that was extremely conciliatory in tone.
On a more positive note, there is a robust consolation prize awaiting Hillary if she handles this properly. Hillary Clinton has a chance to be a truly historic figure in the U.S. Senate, and a major power broker in Washington, D.C. for years to come. The White House is not the only place to have a profound impact on policy.
Now some tough love for Obama and his supporters. You have run a brilliant campaign, and deserve much credit for that. But to whom much is given, much is asked. It is time for a little bit of humility and compassion by you and your supporters regarding the Clinton camp. For starters, this could have been an incredibly historic election for women. Instead, you swept in and captured the moment. Many genuine supporters of Hillary, with pure motives, have been collectively disrespected by some of your supporters’ sweeping criticisms. It’s time for some healing.
Recognize also that the Clinton supporters have some legitimate beefs. In contrast to the Clinton vilification, up until the last week when it became clear you would likely win, your campaign has been blessed by overwhelmingly positive media coverage. In fact, as a Ph.D. psychologist and long-time student of the media (who once taught a course on "the Mass Media and Social Movements" at a major university), I have to say that yours has been the most consistently positive media coverage that I have ever seen for a Democratic presidential candidate, in 40 years as a political junkie.
So it’s time for some empathy for the Clinton supporters. It’s time to call off the dogs in the Obama camp who have seemed to relish every Clinton stumble. Enough of the calls to the talk shows and the letters ripping on the Clintons and their supporters. This is a time to be genuinely magnanimous. Clinton supporters have sometimes rightly perceived certain Obama supporters as being too self-assured, even arrogant. That kind of behavior must cease.
As I’ve noted in other posts, the media shoe is gong to be on the other foot very soon. The corporate media loves John McCain, and in the general election campaign the Obama’s (yes, she’ll be a target too) will be under relentless attack. (Does anyone think that the corporate interests that have run this country for the past seven years are going to give up without a hellacious fight?) There is absolutely no room for over-confidence, or a feeling that somehow those Clinton loyalists are expendable. The bottom line is that Barack will need every last Clinton supporter in November to have any chance of winning the presidency. It’s time for the Obama camp to start acting that way.
So here we have all the ingredients for a marriage of convenience and necessity. (No, I’m not talking about an Obama-Clinton ticket...just a sincere unified party.) Let’s hope that concern over the "public good" will triumph over egos and hurt feelings. It’s only the fate of the country (if not the planet) that depends on it.