Dear Senator Clinton,
I have admired you for many years. I was proud to see a professional woman retain her career in the 1980's. I was proud to see a First Lady treated like an intelligent partner. I was astounded by your grace and strength in the face of personal tragedy. I have long considered myself a Clinton supporter.
My admiration has dimmed due to your hardball campaigning; it is not a choice I prefer. I'd rather see a campaign run on the issues than on the personalities. But I'm not a politician, I'm just a citizen, so I suppose I don't know how "these things" are done. Still smells bad to me, though.
Your use of identity politics and race baiting has caused me to lose all respect for you. Your refusal to denounce and distance yourself from Geraldine Ferraro's horrid comments is completely unsupportable. And so very disappointing. What happened? All these years I thought you were out for the little guy. I thought you were unfairly treated. Now I see you using the exact same tactics that you railed against for so many years. Maybe it's like they say, the victim becomes the perpetrator. I see a vast-conspiracy growing out of your house, and it both frightens and horrifies me. Are you really the person your enemies said you were? How could I be so misled? Bad form, Senator. Bad form.
I have worked in high tech for most of my career. It is as gender-biased a field as any. I know what it's like to be a woman working in a "man's world." Every professional woman knows that they way to get ahead is to be better than the rest. Playing the gender card will only get you pegged as someone who doesn't belong. There is no excuse for the way you have played both gender and race in this campaign. You have tried to turn any possible offense into a direct attack against you. It makes you look like a whiner. It makes you look like a cold, calculating operator.
And I want to live in a different world than that. I want a statesman, not a politician.
Until yesterday I was determined to vote for which ever Democratic candidate was selected. Because of the direction you have taken, I have decided that I will NOT vote for you even if you are the Democratic candidate. I cannot in good conscience support someone who uses the nasty, dirty, hateful positions you're using. I cannot support someone who would defame a competitor rather than lose with honor.
You have lost my vote. You have lost my support. You have lost my respect.
I urge you to drop out of the race, before you lose me the White House.