A significant number of people are calling the Democratic Primary over. And indeed, barring some horrible tragedy, Senator Obama will win the Democratic Primary... a man who may have some significant flaws, but who has a vision and seeks to bring that vision to the rest of the country. As a result, Senator Clinton's continued insistence on running against Obama and her refusal to admit defeat has upset a number of Obama supporters here at Daily Kos (and elsewhere). However, when considering the person Senator Clinton is... and considering her pride and what she has accomplished, perhaps we should not see this as blind refusal to bow out, but rather an effort to exit with style and grace.
But when Clinton eventually bows out... show respect for her supporters and let them know that they fought well and that they are welcome as equals in this era of Change.
A significant number of people are calling the Democratic Primary over. And indeed, barring some horrible tragedy, Senator Obama will win the Democratic Primary... a man who may have some significant flaws, but who has a vision and seeks to bring that vision to the rest of the country. As a result, Senator Clinton's continued insistence on running against Obama and her refusal to admit defeat has upset a number of Obama supporters here at Daily Kos (and elsewhere). However, when considering the person Senator Clinton is... and considering her pride and what she has accomplished, perhaps we should not see this as blind refusal to bow out, but rather an effort to exit with style and grace.
It is a foregone conclusion that Clinton is going to win West Virginia. The biggest hope Obama has is that some of Clinton's voters sit this one out, knowing that their candidate won't win even if she prevails in this state (as she is expected to). This voter apathy level may actually cut into her margins a bit more than expected... and while Clinton will likely win by double digits, I doubt it'll be even a 20 point spread. (Note, I've been wrong before. I predicted that Obama would take Indiana by .2% of the vote. Obviously that didn't happen. Still, I doubt her win in WV will be as huge as people are claiming.)
Likewise, Clinton will probably win Kentucky. The size of her victory there hasn't been guessed at, but a 10-point-spread may be possible. At the same time, she will suffer a decent, and possibly significant defeat in Oregon. At this juncture, with two significant victories under her belt, I believe Senator Clinton will retire from the race, for the good of the Democratic party and for the good of the country. She will tell her supporters that she truly appreciates their faith in her and that it breaks her heart that she will not be the next President... but that what is important is to ensure that Senator McCain is not elected President.
There is something we can do to help bring this about. There are Clinton supporters who will refuse to vote for Obama due to the misogyny of some Obama supporters. There are numerous instances where Clinton is ridiculed through her gender. There are multiple occasions when people say things that are downright sexist and that, if it was said about your mother or your girlfriend, would have you up in arms. We need to reach out to these people. We need to make peace.
Show respect. Respect is earned... both ways. Yes, there have been some horrible things said about Obama and about his supporters. Ignore it. I know you might feel angry about it... but we need to reach out to this disenfranchised segment of voters and let them know they are not going to be abandoned. We need to let them know they are not alone. We need to let them know that they are EQUAL PARTNERS in this endeavor, and that we care for them. We are not rejecting WOMEN in supporting Senator Obama. We are rejecting a candidate who just so happens to be female, but who embodies elements of the political system we do not want to be a part of.
Reach out to them. They will smack you and they will belittle you and they will attack you... but show them the respect you would want shown to you... and let them know that your hand is still open to them. They are a part of the Change we embrace. It doesn't matter if you're white, black, AmerIndian, hispanic, asian, male, female, transgendered, straight, gay, or bisexual... or any other aspect of humanity. We are all of us brothers and sisters... and there is room in this campaign for all of us.
Show respect... and let them know they are welcome with us. Because Change is something EVERYONE should be able to believe in... not just men and not just liberals and not just the young.
So when Clinton eventually bows out... show respect for her supporters and let them know that they fought well and that they are welcome as equals in this era of Change.