This is a very hard choice for me. I really want to see Barack Obama elected. I am afraid that the longer the Democratic primary campaign fighting continues, the weaker he becomes. We have GOT to get Hillary to drop out; now!
I know the stakes are high, and that a vote for Hillary in the general election is still probably better than a vote for McCain, but sometimes you just have to take a stand for the good of the party. I believe that NOW is that time.
I think the risks are well worth the rewards. Time to take our our silver bullet and fire our one shot. -
Start a pledge drive where you pledge NOT to vote for Hillary. Just say No!
Here's why I see it could work (there's more):
- Progressive votes are taken for granted by Hillary and those behind the gates.
I've long since given up on Hillary showing any sense of decency and bowing out gracefully. I think she has made it clear that the only way she'll stop campaigning is if she is forced to go out the door kicking and screaming. She won't listen to us (as I assume she takes progressives for granted and thinks we'll all forgive and forget and vote for her in the General Election), but IF we pledge NOT to vote for Hillary (either abstain from voting all together, or vote for an alternative party) then perhaps, just perhaps, the Democratic leadership, who so far have not seen fit to pressure Hillary, might finally wake up and put a stake in her campaign.
- The pledge could get attention in the traditional media.
If enough people signed on, then at some critical mass, the traditional media would have no choice but to cover it. Once covered, additional pressure would mount on party leaders to persuade Hillary to stop her destructive campaign. The snowball effect would ensue, leading to even more pledges and more pressure.
- The pledge argues the opposite of Hillary's main campaign theme.
Pledging NOT to vote for Hillary in the general election flies in the face of her argument that Obama in unelectable. It is Hillary who becomes unelectable.
- The pledge must have teeth.
It does no good to qualify the pledge. For it to be taken seriously, one must decide that they are willing to NOT vote for the democratic nominee if that person is Hillary. No but-ifs here. Pledge it and mean it!
- High Risk / High reward.
The risk of seeing McCain elected is real. We can't expect the low information voter to appreciate everything that is wrong with the republican/corporate/media machine. However, it could be argued that Hillary represents a similar democratic/corporate/dynasty machine that wouldn't be all that much better than a McCain presidency. That's really a topic for another diary, but there's no denying the inside-the-beltway/corporate connections are with both Hillary and McCain. High risk with McCain, but the way I've seen Hillary campaign recently, I think there are risks with a possible Hillary presidency as well.
The reward for a large scale public pledge drive to NOT vote for Hillary could help tip the balance. It could speed up the closure of the Democratic primary early enough to allow Obama to concentrate on the real work at hand. If stopped soon enough, Obama will have time to campaign directly against McCain and the Corporate/Media machine, comparing his plans and hopes against McCain's spin, and using his war chest, educating the voters prior to the general election.
- The good news:
If it all works out, the pledge to NOT vote for Hillary will become moot with Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee.
I've done some quick web searches and haven't found a pledge site with what I've described. As a starting point, please take the poll below if you would be willing to take 'The Pledge'. I'm sure there are plenty who will vote for Hillary if she is the eventual nominee, but for the purposes of this poll, I'm interested in just those of us who would be willing to 'Just Say No' to Hillary.
Thank you.