That's it. There's really nothing more to say. The plain and simple fact is if Hillary Clinton would have voted against the Iraq War and been a vocal opposition to it she would have the Democratic Nomination.
But she didn't.
If only Hillary would have fought as hard with "just words" to prevent the Iraq War as she (and her supporters) are fighting to stay relevant, perhaps 4,000+ American GIs would still be alive--not to mention countless Iraqis.
But she didn't.
Not only did Hillary vote for the war, she tried to wrap 9-11 and Iraq together in her floor speech in support of the Iraq War.
And finally, on another personal note, I come to this decision from the perspective of a Senator from New York who has seen all too closely the consequences of last year's terrible attacks on our nation. In balancing the risks of action versus inaction, I think New Yorkers who have gone through the fires of hell may be more attuned to the risk of not acting. I know that I am.
Hillary could have fought against the dishonest, deliberate obfuscation of Bush rhetoric in the run-up to Iraq, and earned tons of praise from core Democrats against the war.
But she didn't.
Do Clinton supporters approve of such false convergence of international issues? Aren't these angry supporters part of the same group that despises Bush for doing this exact thing?
And while I wasn't in Hillary's head when she cast her vote for war, I believe it was done out of presumed political expediency. The first Gulf War was a quick and easy affair the left the first George Bush with a 90%+ approval rating. How could this second operation be any different?
The most ardent Clinton supporters long ago walked away from facts, issues, or reasons. But they should know that this most glaring scar on Hillary's record is the single largest reason she lost the nomination.
If she would have stood up against this war, she would have the nomination.
But she didn't.