"That damn Hillary should know when she's beat. I mean what's her problem anyway? She's gonna waste everyone's time and money and energy for what? Her f---ing ego? Her g-- d--- desire to f--- it up for Obama? Her f---ing b---sh-- sense of entitlement? That idiot is trying to hand the election to McBush. We gotta run her outta here, and I mean now!!!"
And so goes the talk...
But reality is closing in on her campaign, and it won't take forever for her to see the writing on the wall.
The signs are big and neon and getting plugged in as we speak...
The "bigwigs" have said it's over without telling her to get out (well, a couple have)...
SuperD's she thought she could count on are breaking away...
She's hemorrhaging cash...
Her support among Dems is collapsing...
Her lies/exaggerations are coming home to roost...
Her "wins" are becoming defeats...
And now the endorsements and the rumors are flying...
What we Obama supporters need to start doing is taking the HIGH ROAD.
When you've won, you've won. We will not take our eye off the ball until she officially ends or "suspends" her campaign. But we must also begin playing the role of gracious winners.
Look, nobody has been more disgusted than I by the "kitchen sink," the repeated episodes of race baiting, the distortions of Barack's record, the ridiculous endorsement of our Rethug rival, and the exploitation of the Wright business.
But I have said it before. As odious as these tactics have been, ultimately this has been good training for Barack. He has gotten a taste of the General Election GOP strategy, he's had the opportunity to show he's capable of taking a punch and delivering one back, and he's shown that he can survive a "crisis" that likely would have destroyed any other candidate, responding with one of the finest political speeches ever given, earning him kudos from across the spectrum.
Now, as the pundits, party officials and advisers come to grips with the reality that the grassroots has understood for a month now, it is up to the winners to graciously build bridges back to the Hillary supporters. It won't happen overnight and it won't happen with all of them, but we will need the energy and support of as many from under the Dem tent (and the Indie tent, and yes even the Repub tent) come November.
I urge fellow Obama supporters, kill them with kindness. When attacked with anger, reply with love. When confronted with frustration, exude understanding. When pressed with lies, offer only the unvarnished truth. When verbally slapped, turn the other cheek (no not that one! :) ).
It would be easy to feel smug and superior. It would be easy to punish those who "couldn't see as clearly" what we see. It would be easy to allow anger and hate to make us ugly.
But it will get us nowhere. We cannot afford that.
Begin the reconciliation now, because the truth is, it's already over. All we do by fighting with Hillary supporters now is help to widen the gap and make it more difficult for ourselves in the future. We need to take the lead from our future president. Now is the time to stay above the fray.
Focus your anger and frustration on McCain. He is the enemy. Hillary supporters are just members of our family with different opinions. We need them.
Remember four years ago. It was "the most important election of our lifetime." And we lost. Lucky for us, we're getting another chance. I don't know that we'll get a third try. We've got to get it right.