Long time lurker here. I've never posted to dkos before today (didn't even sign up for a login until recently).
I wonder how many lurkers have similar thoughts to mine WRT Hillary Clinton's recent actions.
Back in the early days of the presidential race, I didn't have a strong opinion as to who should be the Democratic nominee. My overriding concern was defeating the Republicans in November - too much is at stake to think otherwise.
So. I knew that Hillary Clinton had a bit of "baggage" to overcome, but I was perfectly willing to vote for her in the primary (and, of course, in the general). I still say that I would have voted for her had she gained the nomination, but I would have done so "holding my nose". How did she go from worthy candidate to "better than McCain, but just barely"? It's a sad, squalid story...
(If you think I'm going to rehash the missteps of the Clinton campaign, think again).
Since I'm a lurker (and totally unknown to you), I suppose a bit of background info would be in order here. I'm male, fifty-plus years old, and a "born Democrat". That is to say, both my parents were life-long Dems, so I was brought up in that culture.
I would also say that I'm a "born feminist". By that, I mean that it never occurred to me that women are in any way inferior to men. My mother was the strongest, most impressive person I've ever known.
Enough of my background - what about the present Presidential race? HRC has conducted her campaign in a less-than-gracious manner. That's an understatement. The folks on dkos have made fun of her "creative math", etc., but really it's not funny. I'm just appalled by the conduct of the HRC campaign. The low blows, the scorched earth...
But I'm also in line with those who are urging unity. Let bygones be bygones. Yeah, it sticks in your craw, but you can do it!
Today HRC and her compatriots made the first real gesture towards reconciliation. And that's what my little diary is about. What constructive role can the Clintons play in our quest for the White House? I honestly think that they can contribute here. Big time.
Here's my little fantasy.
What if Hillary, Bill, and even Chelsea take it to the "HRC constituency" that they need to get a grip here? Could they deliver the long-overdue message that voting for Republicans is truly not in the interest of "White, working-class Americans"? Here's what they can do:
Small gestures: Wear an "Obama for President" pin, place an "Obama for President" bumper sticker on you American-made mini-SUV. Note to Chelsea: I'm not asking you to remove the bumper sticker supporting your mom. Just put an Obama sticker next to it.
Bigger gestures: Show up at campaign rallies supporting Obama. That should be fairly obvious...
Not just a gesture (get real): The Clintons can read the riot act to the folks in Appalachia (and elsewhere) who think that they just can't vote for a black man for President of the Unite States. Yes they can.
And Bill and Hillary Clinton are in a unique position to tell these people that they would be IDIOTS to vote for Republican interests - against their own interest to spite their own faces. Bill Clinton can go before these people and basically tell them that they're self-destructive assholes if they vote Republican. Not to put too fine a point on it. I know that WJC is considered to be a "loose canon", but sometimes the canon is on our side.
Hillary can rally her supporters in KY, PA, and the rest of Appalachia and spell it out to them. Voting for McCain, or sitting out the election, is working against your own interests. She can deliver the message. Yes she can.
Here's the best fantasy: What if Hillary and company could seek out the most unhinged, the absolutely over-the-top Hillary supporters? You know, the ones who've been featured in those Youtube diatribes - vowing to vote for McCain or sit the election out rather than vote for Obabma. Yeah, some of them are probably Rovian plants, but some of them can be reasoned with. Hillary could make a huge impact reaching out to some of these people. What if she could confront one of the nutjobs and say unequivocally I NEED YOU TO VOTE FOR OBABMA? Tears may be shed. Hugs all around. A signal is sent to all of her supporters.
I started out the campaign uncommitted - I honestly didn't know whether I would favor Hillary or someone else. I've been profoundly disappointed in the conduct of Hilary's campaign - I honestly hoped for better. She has a chance to redeem herself, and I think she understands that. Watch for this: HRC as champion of Obabma for president. Believe it.
Final thought. I know that there's been talk of Obabma appointing Hillary as VP. My snarky thought would be that she would like to be offered the VP position just so she could turn it down. My better angel says that she knows that the VP post is Obabma's to make. She has another role to play in this campaign. If she plays it right she comes out a hero.