UNITING THE PARTY IS A JOB FOR THE WINNER NOT THE LOSER OF THE PRIMARIES
Florida said 08/26, 02:09 AM
IF YOU ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE, PLEASE ENSURE TO FINISH IT DURING THIS WEEK OF THE CONVENTION:
I argue that we expect too much from Hillary Clinton. She has done all there is to do to put her weight behind Obama's nomination, but we still have people doubting her honesty in doing so. They blame her for the disunity that still exist and claim that the dead heat between McCain (47%) and Obama (47%) in the polls is Hillary's fault.
In my view, Obama did not play his role enough after the Primaries to put Hillary's supporters (18 million of them) at ease. They still don't feel welcome. In fact, the Obama campaign continues to segregate them and make them feel like poor cousins.
Obama has a larger responsibility to unite the party not Hillary. He is the one who won and wants to go all the way. I do not have reasons to doubt that Hillary is sincere in her endorsement and support of Obama for the White House, especially after what she has done since she suspended her campaign. All there is to do is 4 Obama to ensure that all the Democrats who are Clinton's die hards are lured into supporting his candidacy.
If he fails to do so at the convention this week, it'll be his fault.
Mark said 08/26, 12:01 PM
ur basic argument is that it is up to Obama to unite the entire party all on his own. Every single election in this country's history (in memory) has the loser or losers siding by the winner to bring their supporters to the winner's table and help get him or her elected. In today's political climate, the race was amazingly close, and i strongly believe that the unification of the party falls upon both the winners and losers.
I think we all know that Clinton especially Bill could have done a bit more for Barack to help bring their supporters to side by him. Because hillary has lost in such a close race, the party is divided. So it is NOT only Barack's responsibility but also Hillary's to help unite the party they are both part of. If barack were to work alone and she didn't help at all only because she lost, than the dems would lose their chances at a historical election.
They would also lose their only chance to take advantage of an unpopular president. It's both his and her responsibility to unite the party, not only his.
if she wants the country to have a dem president than she should be helping him unite everyone. I believe it's both their responsibilities to unite the party
Florida said 08/26, 02:56 PM
Firstly, Hillary was in the race legitimately and was in it to win like everyone else. You make it sound like it was wrong of her to give Obama such as tight competition. So your argument that "Because hillary has lost in such a close race, the party is divided" is neither here nor there.
The Clintons owe no one nothing. In the contrary, I believe that they done way beyond what anyone in their position could have done. If Obama is the rightful nominee, he must take up the responsibility to unite the party. I would have expected the same from Hillary had she won. If you ask this, why dont you expect the same from Edwards. He got some votes too. Wouldn't you say that he had his contribution in the division of the party?
Please understand me, I am not saying that Hillary must not help to get a Democrat in the White House. I am saying that she must not be treated any differently from other party seniors. Obama has the spotlight, Obama must lead the battle against the Republicans not expect others to fight his battles.
Mark said 08/26, 04:22 PM
The division of the party is largely due to the historically tight race run by Obama and Hillary. Edwards had some supporters BUT he was responsible enough to endorse Obama and fully help him throughout the campaign(until the scandal)cuz it's the job of every lossing candidate to help the nominee get elected!. Especially clinton. Listen i understand that Obama does have work to do, BUT SO DOES HILLARY! They were both responsible for the tone that the primaries took, and both for the constant attacks.
So it's BOTH their responsibilities to move on and unite the party. Obama can't bring in those "die hard Clinton fans" unless she does her part today at the convention and continues to urge her supporters and delegates to vote obama! He won. It's that simple. and Every single person in the party ,winner or loser, should being doing their party to help energize people about the nominee. But They BOTH have to do it because of the political climate they and the media have imposed on the primary election. Obama should unite the party, but Hillary and others should also do the same. Most others have helped him. Hillary and especially Bill are the only ones who are complaining.
Florida said 08/27, 09:30 AM
Rubbish, loosing candidates have no such job. This suggestion is laughable. Edwards did not immediatley endorse Obama. He stayed as long as he could in the race, until he realised that he was not going to make any difference, and then deceided to endorse Obama. This is normal. You contest until you are convinced yourself that there is no more you can do then quit and endorse whoever you want. Did Hillary do any different? NO. She just had better endurance and following than all the early drop outs. She was not going to quit with such a narrow difference between her and Obama. I don't understand you when you say "Especially Clinton", but I think Its a silly expectation from anyone.
On the "Die Hard Clinton fans" I hope you listened to her speech on Tuesday in Denver. But if your argument is that "he won, its that simple", then it must be so simple for him to lure them onto his side.
If anyone has out performed everyone in the role to endorse publicly Obama and seek to unite the party, it is Hillary Clinton. All she can do now is to sit and watch like everyone who ran in the primaries. Her legacy is protected. Obama must grown up and fight his battles.
Mark said 08/27, 01:11 PM
In Edwards case, it was only normal for him to take all the time he wanted because he had to choose between Clinton and Obama! Clinton really has no one else to help bring the party together but OBAMA!
The political climate calls for Clinton and Obama working together to unite the party especially because of the "die hard Clinton fans". If she knows what's good for the party she would work with Obama to unite everyone.
They both created the wounds the party has, and now both have to do all they can to bring the party together. In her speech at the convention, Clinton did an amazing job at trying to bring the party together, as she should have done. Now, we just have to wait for Obama's speech to bring everything home.
Hillary has made an effort(as she should have) at uniting the party and so should Obama now (which he will).
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Best speech of DNC night 2 was not Hillary's, but the Montana governor's. He gave the memorable speech of this convention, a la Obama '04. Watch out for that guy.
USA Pit Bull 63 | 08/26/08
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Tuesday was Hillary night. No one came any close. Not even Obama's 2004 speech matches that. It was not rhetorical. It was leadership in action.
Florida | 08/27/08
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Hillary was a good American on Tuesday, she was an honorable soldier, and a loyal Democrat. What more can anyone, especially Obama, ask for?
Florida | 08/27/08
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EXACTLY! READ MY LAST ARGUMENT! SHE RECOGNIZES THAT SHE CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT TO OBAMA TO UNITE THE PARTY! IT'S ALSO HER RESPONSIILITY TO HELP HIM FOR THE BETTER OF THE PARTY AND COUNTRY FUTHER PROVING MY STANCE AND POINTS! now Obama has to do the same in his acceptance speech. so i was right afterall. It was both their responsibilities not only Obama's.
Mark | 08/27/08
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Nobody has said it yet, so I will. The reason that in this circumstance Hillary has the EXTRA burden of assisting to bring her supporters "back into the unified party" is because many of them were FEMALE and really, truly wanted to see a woman President in the White House in their lifetime. In addition to the gender difference, there is the race difference, and although we don't want to highlight it in neon lights, it plays a role in how to best approach a situation. Therefore, Obama graciously went over to the Clinton's residence after he had won (an unusually humble candidates gesture) to chat with Hillary, she decided on the timeline, while he allowed her to continue to "campaign as a viable candidate", and then when she was ready, she decided on the time table to call her team together. And I have to agree with Mark, the losing candidate has the duty to say, in most gracious and undeniable terms, that they support and want EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR SUPPORTS to vote for the party's candidate. And it should be done immediately upon calling off their candidacy, as soon as the following morning. The Clintons were blind-sided by the loss, and I do believe they took days to figure out if they wanted to legally fight the results. But at the convention, the Clintons united the Democrats like I couldn't ever have predicted. Yes, the Elephants are slightly worried.
Brent_GOP | 08/28/08
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Only Axl Rose remains in the group, but since 1987 GnR has been rocking with fury
More than 50 years of cover stories about the 35th President
Just this afternoon, i watched this report about Bill not liking his spot in the convention, and Hillary not doing enough to help Obama unite the party. Barack should and is trying very hard to get her voters but she shouldn't be any different than other candidates, and should work to get the party united behind him.
Mark | 08/26/08
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