Enough with the Hillary bashing.
It's time for Obama supporters to start making positive messages about Senator Clinton-- about her service to the country as a Senator and as a First Lady, about the value of a robust primary campaign, about the historic nature of her candidacy.
The simple reason is that Obama will be the nominee, Clinton's supporters are showing signs of feeling bitter about it, and we want him to not have to worry about losing them to McCain in the general.
I do not suggest this as either a Clinton or Obama supporter-- I voted for neither one in my state's primary, nobody in fact since Illinois would not allow me to write Gore's name on my ballot-- but as a true blue Dem who wants a Democrat in the White House before I want to put a particular name to that person. This primary has generated feelings that run a little too deep on both sides of the Obama-Clinton divide.
Pause and consider that whatever you might be feeling in support of your candidate, there are supporters who feel just the same way to the same degree for theirs. It's not a solution to start the attacks in an attempt to prove that the other person is just plain wrong. You won't win over the supporters with that line.
I'm writing this as a Deaniac who hated our nominee in 2004, but at least appreciated how he tried to reach out to Dean supporters like myself. John Kerry invited Howard Dean to speak at the 2004 convention, had the delegates hold up "Dean For America" signs, and had a banner hung that read "Thank You, Howard." When I saw that, I felt like Kerry was extending an invitation to Dean supporters like myself to feel some ownership and some personal stake in the party as well. He was showing us some of the respect I felt we deserved.
I want Clinton supporters to feel just as valued and respected by Obama's campaign, and each and every one of us can start that process by refusing to bash her any more in our blog posts and our emails and by sharing positive messages about her.
I want Clinton supporters and Senator Clinton herself to be able to hold their heads up high in Democratic circles, so that they can feel a personal investment in an Obama victory against McCain in the fall.
We all can help with the process of uniting the party. Let's take our message to Clinton's supporters with a bouquet of flowers and a casserole dish to pass. Let's start a whispering campaign to support Senator Clinton to take over as Senate Majority Leader. (Is anyone actually impressed with the job Harry Reid has done? Does his heart even seem to be in it?) I don't see her as a good choice for VP, where she would just be a part of Obama's team. Her as Senate Majority Leader would mean she would face a President Obama as an equal player in the job of getting legislation passed. Her as the first woman to lead the Senate would be just as historic as having her as our nation's first viable presidential candidate.
Consider how different things would be now if both campaigns had stayed positive throughout the primary, having positive things to say about each other leading into each state's vote. I doubt the numbers would have turned out all that differently, but the feelings of Democratic voters and voters in general would be much more positive toward both of them than they have turned out to be.
Keep in mind that when any of us advocate for Obama, that person becomes an Obama campaign surrogate in the minds of that person's audience. For that reason we should keep it positive toward Clinton. (I count myself in that group because, as a loyal Demcorat, I accept the will of the primary voters and count Senator Obama as my candidate now, too.)
It will be a cold comfort to argue that Senator Clinton had a personal hand in the negativity of this race if we don't turn that around and instead allow the divide to undermine Obama's chances in the fall. As the winner of the contest, it's up to him-- and anyone who supports him-- to be the bigger person and refrain from any more attacks. Keep it positive. Show some respect-- for her personally, for her as a leader, and for her supporters.
Barack Obama is now my candidate for president, and I will do everything I can to help him in win going forward.
I also deeply respect and admire the junior Senator from New York, and I believe there is no shame in her candidacy nor in anyone's support for her.
I'm inviting you to join me in starting to heal the divide by sharing those sentiments.