Respectfully, it is too Late Mrs. Clinton [Updated]

Respectfully, it is too late Mrs. Clinton.  The race has ended.  The fat lady has sung.  The closing bell has rung.

It is time for acceptance.

It is time to protect your legacy.  It is time to hold your head high and act with the dignity to which your distinguished history of public service is entitled.

It is time to model grace.

He is The One.   He is part JFK,  part Bobby.  He is part Martin.  He is part Lincoln.  

He symbolizes the good in America, the return of our constitution, the resurrection of our freedom, our second revolution, the end of fear.   He elevates us to a higher purpose.  He represents deliverance.

It’s too late for Plan B.  It’s too late for Plan C.  You  heard so last night.

Every new attack hurts you many times more than it does him.

It will be as if you are attacking The One, JFK, Bobby, Martin, Lincoln, the promise of America, the hope of generations, not just here, but throughout the world. And the people will not stand for it.  We saw that yesterday.

Even if it has some merit, any attack will backfire.  He would represent the victimized, and you - the terrorist. And the people will fight back with the force of 7 years of suppressed anger.  It is just too late.

We all heard. It was painful to watch.  Even the mild pokes, the subtle hints, the old stuff "ready on day 1", triggered the stirrings of revolt. The sounds of condemnation. The boos. As if you were personally attacking each voter's son or brother or father.  The people rose up ready to protect and fight – as if you were the bully, rather than the respected party leader.  

The attacks will. not. work.  Instead, model grace and dignity.

You must not go here.  Do not lower yourself.  You would generate ridicule, then scorn.

Your incomparable life of service, that of your husband, and the promise of your daughter’s do not deserve that. You deserve respect and appreciation.

Is there some possibility left that you could win?  Not really; it is too late.  For even if by some tiny chance you did, you would still lose.  Because you would be vilified.  You would be despised.  Not by the old enemies, but also by your own party, especially its newest members.  A vast left wing of hate. Your legacy would be "she who took down ‘The One’".  She who stole the hopes and dreams of millions.

It is time for acceptance. And grace. You have a different calling. Create your next role. One that honors your tremendous lifetime of service and commitment.  You and your family, your party, and your country deserve nothing less.

UPDATE: Reading this I can see why it appears as if I'm suggesting she quit the campaign now.  I don't believe she should do that. But it is time for her to accept that the attack plan won't work. She needs to conduct herself with dignity. And, as pointed out by MadScientist, accept that it is too late to reinvent herself.

•  Al Gore

  I will never forget watching Al Gore giving his "An Inconvenient Truth" presentation on Oprah, and realizing, "Who knew he had a bigger calling than being President of the United States?"

  by IL dac on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 07:54:43 AM PDT

  •  I hope you have you tin foil hat on, for this one

    by icebergslim on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:02:10 AM PDT

    •  Hmmm...

      tin foil, that she would bow out gracefully?

      or tin foil, because he has been "anointed" by so many?

      by IL dac on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:08:54 AM PDT

      •  Hillary has to run the race

        Obama must win the race by facing strong competition. The victory will be tainted if the competitors don't do their best to win.

        Hillary needs to stay positive to protect her legacy.

        by FishOutofWater on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:20:09 AM PDT

        •  Yes

          That is the best point. She stays positive and he gets stronger. So the answer is for her to just not go negative and let the process play out.  

          by IL dac on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:24:42 AM PDT

  •  It is not too late for Hillary

    See diary below where it is explained how Hillary still leads in the delegate race.

    But it is to late for her to reinvent herself yet again.

    She cannot by "Hillary the inevitable" and "Hillary, the Comeback Kid" at the same time.  She cannot be "Hillary, above the fray" and "Hillary, the negative campaigner" at the same time.  She cannot be "Hillary, the liberal woman candidate" and "Hillary, the barely distinguishable from neocon" at the same time.  She does not do herself any favors by never having a distinct position on anything, either.  

    by MadScientist on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:48:52 AM PDT

    •  Yes, well stated n/t

      by IL dac on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:52:28 AM PDT

•  You are wrong.

  I am no fan of Hillary Clinton and I don't want her to be the nominee.  But so far, state has had it's say.  We should not let Iowa choose our nominee.

  This process is not about Obama, Edwards or Clinton.  It's about us - the people.  We deserve a debate and we all deserve our chance to vote.

  If Obama is the one, as you say - he will win multiple contests, he will withstand the challenges, and he will be stronger for it.  And we will win in November.

  No one should drop out at this point - let there be a debate, let there be elections, and may the best candidate win.

  by landrew on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:04:02 AM PDT

  •  I hear you

    I have my reservations about both of these candidates, but it's way too early for a diary like this.

    by o the umanity on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:06:11 AM PDT

  •  One state

    I agree that it shouldn't be decided by only one state.

    And I also agree that with the challenges he'll be a stronger candidate.

    Really, it is her legacy that I'm feeling protective of.

    by IL dac on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:13:30 AM PDT

•  What legacy?

  by bugscuffle on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:06:24 AM PDT

  •  Only change I'm seeing is pantsuit combos....

    and think I've seen the grey/mauve twice in a week.

    by Theghostofkarlafayetucker on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:09:01 AM PDT

•  The show must go on.

  Excuse me, but you had a bunch of people from Iowa meet in the most undemocratic of fashion and by only 8%, Obama carried the day and you want others to quit?

  I like Obama.  I’ll be comfortable with either Hillary or Edwards as well.  Frankly I’d support a yellow dog over whomever the Republicans hoist up as their sacrificial cow.  Thus the term, "yellow dog Democrat."  But I want to see this play out.  Obama needs to be tested during the Primary season.  It will make him stronger if he emerges tempered by fire.  

  Yet I understand your fear. Hillary absolutely must be careful with any negative ads.  Both Bill and Hill have been complementary of the Democratic opposition and they must stay on that course.  I’d support Bill in a moment, but Hill is no Bill and while she is still the odds on favorite, she also needs to be tested and tempered by fire.  I only hope that if she is the nominee, I can swallow her waffling and support of this criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq.  If she wants to be tough, she needs to promise that she will get Osama and rid Afghanistan of the Taliban.  I cannot believe that war hawks have given Bush a pass over ignoring the mastermind of 9/11.  

   

  by motormouth on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:12:09 AM PDT

  •  I'm a yellow pootie Democrat

    and no Hillary fan, but I agree
    this diary is way too premature
    the contest has only started
    may the best candidate win

    by Lepanto on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:15:21 AM PDT

  •  The 100 Dinner

    The booing last night - without her saying much of anything divisive - is indicative of what's to come, I think.

    In the long run, there just isn't an out for her.

    by IL dac on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:21:10 AM PDT

    •  Yes, and look at ....

      all the folks jumping to speak out agianst someone actually booing a candidate at a Democratic function ...

      crickets....

      well, at least they all yelled foul play whne the booing was for a different candidate.

      by emsprater on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 09:13:26 AM PDT

•  LOL... 'Hillary, cruel stealer of dreams..'

  "She made us hate her!"

  Look:  down here in reality, two strong candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination.  You found it offensive when some Hillary supporters suggested that Obama, the upstart, was robbing her of what was rightfully hers?  Well now here you are doing the same thing, based on one (admittedly excellent) victory in Iowa.

  And if parts of the left become hell-bent on vilifying the victor all throughout 2008, long after the nomination process is over - that is their prerogative and choice, not the nominee's fault.

  by Torta on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:13:25 AM PDT

•  The voters decide...not you.

  when this race ends.  Personally, I'd like to see an Ali-Frazier like rumble in the political jungle.  The candidate that wins will have great legitimacy and will be a towering figure on the national stage.

  Hillary has a lot to offer to the country and she makes great points about getting things done and understands the underlying issues much better than Obama.  If Obama is to win, I want him to face that scrutiny and learn something from the experience so that he is in fact ready to be President.  

  On the flip side, if Hillary wins, I think she will have learned valuable lessons about the limits of political calculus in making decisions on key issues, especially national security.  She will learn that rather than playing to a frame, she should re-frame and break the mold as Obama has done.  She has the capacity to do that, as I would take her position on health care as an example.  She will also learn that you have to appeal to young people in order to win.  Young people formed the base of Clinton's victories, and Hillary will have to work harder to secure their support.  

  by khyber900 on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:25:32 AM PDT

•  The suggestion for HRC to --

  drop out now is absurd.  Let the primary process do what it is supposed to do.

  Obligatory disclaimer: I support JRE and don't like HRC.

  by dfarrah on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:34:04 AM PDT

  •  No, I don't think she should

    She shouldn't drop out now. That is not what I'm suggesting. But that she accept that the negative attacks won't work.  She needs to handle the rest of the race graciously.

    by IL dac on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:45:45 AM PDT

•  Another Sore Winner!

  In a rational world the winners are gracious, and respectful of the candidates they vanquished.

  But in DKos-World, the supporters of the winners demand IMMEDIATE ACQUIESCENCE. They demand fealty to their guy, a combination of Jesus-Martin-JFK-Buddah etc.

  What will you do if HRC wins in New Hampshire, and somebody like me puts out a diary talking about Hillary as Joan-of-Arc, leading woman to incredible new heights on her strong courageous shoulders?

  And then make it about Obama holding back the political future of women?

  I like Obama; I despise his supporters!

  by Saxman on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:34:05 AM PDT

•  Wow

  You are very effective at getting your point across:

  "Every new attack hurts you many times more than it does him."

  by fightorleave on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 08:38:05 AM PDT