I have vowed on here several times that I would not vote for Hillary in November if she takes the nomination through abhorrent tactics.
But then I read Game Theory's diary on the rec list:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
And I realized something very big. I could vote for Hillary, even if she does win by tactics I don't support, under one condition...
It all depends on Obama.
I think Obama has already won, and Hillary is trying to overthrow the result after the buzzer. But that's my opinion. I still think Obama will ultimately take the nomination, and that's my opinion too. But if Hillary somehow takes the nomination away by succeeding in painting Obama as unelectable, then I will take my ball and go home. At least, this is what I have been saying.
But maybe not. It all depends on Obama.
I know if Obama loses this way he will feel it is highly unfair. He may take his ball and go home too. But I suspect not.
After reading Game Theory's diary, I realized that Obama may also have a longer view, and may choose to rally his 50-state strategy in support of Hillary. What if he did that? What if he didn't let the 50-state dream die, insisted that it mattered, and campaigned in all 50 states for ALL of the democratic candidates, including Hillary. What if he kept his organizational structure in place and used it to help Hillary and to help the downticket races too. What if he did that, and we supported him in doing that, and Hillary accepted that support?
(OK, it gives me a bad taste in my mouth to think of Hillary as the nominee, but still, I want to continue this thought exercise.)
I might still hate her, but I might be able to vote for her. Because what I am voting for is the 50-state strategy, which is why I want Obama to win. It's why I wanted Dean to win in 2004. If Obama doesn't want to let that dream die, then I won't let it die either, regardless of who is at the top of the ticket. Because we could still change the entire democratic infrastructure of this country.
Of course, if Obama isn't inclined to do this, and Hillary writes off most of the states, then I will write her off and support the downticket races I believe in.
Another thought. If Obama really believes in this strategy, he might also be willing to be the VP nominee even if Hillary "steals" the nomination. It would take a very big person to accept this, but again, if it allowed him to push forward the 50-state strategy, then the democrats would gain a huge amount in spite of Hillary. Changes in the lower ranks would force change on high down the road somewhere, and we have to keep that movement going.
(I still want to say that I don't want this to happen, I don't want Obama to lose the nomination, I think he has earned it already, I don't want Hillary as my president, but still, I could see one way, and one way only, that I could vote for her if the unthinkable happens.)
What do you all think?