Help Hillary step aside and reunite the party
Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 03:18:54 PM PDT
This diary is dedicated to exploring ways Clinton could step aside while creating the strongest atmosphere for Democrats to win the White House -- united. Hopefully we will get some fun, creative suggestions. Even more hopefully, the Clinton staffers who read the blogs may stumble across this, find one that they like and say, "Hey, this sounds like a great exit strategy!" And share it with Hillary.
So use your ingenuity to solve this problem: How can Hillary step down from her campaign and reunite the party behind Barack Obama?
My solution follows:
Hillary holds a press conference. Her statement:
You know, this has been an amazing campaign. It has been a long, well argued race. I'm honored to have come this far, to have gained so much support from the American people and to have been given this opportunity to run for this important position. I'm grateful, deeply grateful for all the support. And I want to thank each and every supporter for making so much effort. Thank you. I'm honored. I'm also honored to have come to this juncture facing Barack Obama. He is a formidable opponent.
One problem with this campaign is that I've been so busy campaigning, I've sometimes forgotten to pay attention. When I started my campaign, I said "Let's have a conversation." But as things became more hectic, I've sometimes forgotten to listen. Most importantly, I've forgotten to listen to my opponents, to understand them and to address their message.
A short time ago a fuss was raised over things that Barack's pastor said. I myself jumped on the statements of Rev. Wright hoping to weaken my opponent. I made those attacks base not on Barack Obama's character or his policies, but rather to take advantage of a political tactic by trying to tie Obama to things someone else said.
Gosh, if I had to be held responsible for everything anyone I've ever associated with has said or done... well... nobody can meet that ridiculously high benchmark. It's a false standard. John McCain would fail that standard miserably. Some people, who's endorsement McCain has sought, have said ridiculously hateful things like America deserved 9/11. Just hateful. If John had to defend those statements... well... he wouldn't even try.
Even though Senator Obama was not guilty of making the remarks his preacher made, I and others unfairly tried to tie him to them... some people are still trying. And as unfair as that assertion was, Senator Obama met that challenge and addressed that issue, and he addressed it completely in a wonderful speech that I believe will become a classic.
Sadly, at the time, I was so busy that I never actually watched the speech. I guess when I look back on it... truthfully, I heard the great reviews and I didn't want to watch it. I didn't want to know.
Yesterday I took the time, swallowed my pride, and watched Senator Obama's speech "A More Perfect Union."
To say I was impressed is an understatement.
Senator Obama's speech was one of the most amazing acts of leadership and honesty this country has witnessed in a generation. It is the kind of powerful, clear-thinking leadership our country so desperately needs.
Afterwards, I sat in silence and thought about the part I play in this great country of ours. I thought about my long journey and about where I now stand. I thought about my supporters. I thought about the media. But mostly, I though about the people of this country. The individual men and women who make up this great nation... all of us. And I see how we are yearning for the leadership that Barack Obama provides. We need his wisdom, his courage, his honesty and his ability to communicate with us on all the complex issues we face.
We face some difficult challenges ahead. Issues of world leadership and the economy and healthcare. War is just one part. It is a part that John McCain feels particularly in touch with. Mr. McCain is a military man. He sees the issues through the eyes of waging war. He's comfortable with that. That's why he say's it would be fine with him if we are in Iraq for another hundred years. Yet the situation in Iraq has been going on well over 5 years now. Clearly there is no military solution to be had there. We've tried a lot of guns and a lot of bombs and a lot of sacrifice of our brave men and women.
Now... now is a time for change. We've got a great military. But we need a great leader to go along with it.
I have news for John McCain and George Bush; as much as they like war, we can't meet every challenge with guns. In fact, as the Republicans have well proven in Iraq, guns are probably the least ideal solution. War should be the last option. John McCain and George Bush see war as the first option.
Yet the world is too small to be making so many enemies. And it is too big to be meeting every challenge with guns and bombs.
Barack Obama is a true patriot. He is a true leader. And as I've watched him in this campaign, I've been impressed time and time again by his integrity, his principles and his depth of understanding of the issues and the American people. He is a rare man, a rare candidate and a true patriot... not because he wears a flag pin on his lapel... but because he carries the flag in his heart. He embodies what is right with America; Wisdom, understanding, the ability to solve problems, and the important ability to engage and unite people.
My part in this is clear, for the love of my country, I must step aside. No, I take that back. I can't just step aside. It is not that simple. I must let go of my disappointment and look toward the future. From this point on, I will be campaigning in support of Barack Obama to become the next President of the United States of America.
I know that many of my supporters will be disappointed. Some have sworn never to vote for Senator Obama. I appreciate your passion and I understand the bitterness of not winning. Believe me... I understand.
But we still can win. We can win the presidency of this country for the right candidate at this time. I urge those of you who have sworn not to vote for Senator Obama to rethink your allegiance. To understand what is at stake here. I urge you to watch Obama's speeches. Read his books. I urge you to get to know him.
I have and I can say without reservation that Barack Obama is the leader this country needs at this time.
So...let me be the first to say, that together, with Barack Obama as our president, Yes we can.
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So what are your ideas? How can Hillary get out of this endless cycle of campaigning... yet do so in a positive way that will bring us all together?
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