I will vote for the Democratic nominee this November.
Whoever it is - Clinton, Edwards, or Obama.
To do otherwise would be insane.
To threaten to withhold my vote is selfish.
I don't know about you, but I want to see the Republicans out of the White House. I would prefer that my candidate be the nominee, but if he is not then I would have no difficulty voting for either of the other two Democratic candidates. That's how the Democratic Party works. We air our dirty laundry during primary season, but then we put on the asbestos underwear for the general.
Just so that all the cards are on the table - I am an Edwards supporter and have donated to his campaign. I know - from some of my recent posts you might guess I was a Clinton supporter, but I have just been defending her from what I believe to be outrageous claims here at Daily Kos. Each of the candidates has his or her strengths and weaknesses. I identify most closely with Edwards' populist theme and can forgive him his AUMF legislation. There's no doubt that Clinton has her insider players, but she has the ability to walk through a wall of flames and come out unscathed. Obama's message has clearly struck a spark with many, but I remain unconvinced by his record.
Still - - each of these three candidates is light years above anything the Republicans can offer. None of the Dems gets us out of Iraq as quickly or as completely as I would like - but it's a hell of a lot faster than the Rethugs. None of the Dems offers a truly universal, single-payer healthcare system, but it is far more than any Republican is willing to allow. None of the Dems offers a position on civil rights that includes all Americans, but they won't appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn Roe v Wade.
Hello? This is the Democratic Party. Candidates and their supporters have an obligation to respect certain guidelines. We had this discussion before when Lieberman bolted the Dems for his own personal advantage. If you think the Democratic Party is still too DLC-controlled - work to change it. But if you participate in the Democratic Party primary process, it goes without saying that you abide by the results.
This fall. I'm voting Democratic.
Are you?