To people that bash Hillary as a loser here

[Smith_3]

I want to remind you that the persumptive victory of Obama is a very narrow one. Although I don't consider myself a Hillary supporter, I acknowledge the fact that she has a vast support by the American public. Ok, now it looks like Obama will get the nomination, but I want to urge everyone not to make the mistake and ignore that fact that his margin is slim, and that all Democratic votes will be necessary to win agains McCain. Obama supporters, do not fool yourselves into thinking that this slight margin is a devastating defeat for Hillary. It could have easily be the other way around. To alienate fellow Democrats now is the sure path to another four years of Republican.

[tekisui]

1. His margin is unsurmountable. Not slim.

It is not narrow. It's Clinton's denial and bravado that causes a backlash against her.

[Maddy McCall]

2. He will never beat McCain if the present division in the party isn't healed.

I think that that's the OP's point.

[chascarrillo]

7. Then maybe the non-winner should get started trying to heal it.

Crazy idea, but it might work.

[jasmine621]

14. It really isn't up to the non-winner to heal anything. If anything

the slings and arrows have been thrown her way a lot more by the media, the party leaders, and Obama supporters. And most of the scorn has been undeserving. Misquoted, mis characterized, lied about, and deionized, Hillary has stood tall and will bow out gracefully just as she and Bill did after his TWO TERMS in office. Need I remind you that upon leaving office Bill Clinton was the MOST respected former President world-wide and his legacy surely does not wholly depend on how American feel about him. We will never enjoy an era like that under his Presidency again. Things were not perfect, but they sure were a hell of a lot better than they are now and will be again. People felt good about themselves and each other. Even through the Timothy McVeigh ordeal, Clinton was a healing, comforting, voice. None of us is perfect and the sorrid affair with Monica, not unlike that which many of us face in our own lives, was more grist for a few powerful men and women to use against the Clintons. Some of the most god-awful names were they called on public airways and in private. The whispering campaign against them followed them all the way through both terms and exists today. Still they left office without the bitterness and rancor so many of their detractors felt and displayed. They will be the same way after this is over. Thus, the healing must begin with those who chose to open old wounds, accuse falsely, betray willfully, and besmirch gleefully.

[chascarrillo]

17. No, the healing begins by Hillary not continuing to pick the scab.

Every day that she attacks the Democratic nominee is another day that we can't start the healing process.

Yeah, it most certainly is up to the loser to start to patch things up. She has attacked the VOTERS who didn't choose her. She needs to fix this. Don't you agree?

[Warren Stupidity]

18. Oddly it seems that in almost all other primaries in both parties

the losers make a graceful concession speach in which they urge their supporters to work for the presumptive nominee. It seems that it is a tradition, an unstated rule, and simply a good and obvious idea for the non-winner to publicly bring the party back together.

[tekisui]

8. I think that the divisions are not as great as believed.

The job of bringing the supporters of both candidates together is on Obama and Hillary. Hillary needs to promote Unity and encourage her supporters to rally around Obama, when she exits. I think she will do that, and most will move to supporting the Nominee.

Obama needs to be humble and gracious, and respectfully welcome them.

But, here and other places where supporters hash it out, it is not so easy. Obama supporters are going to defend him, and continue to argue for Obama as long as Hillary stays in, and visa versa.

[DrDan]

3. an "unsurmountable" margin could be 1 delegate

and this margin you boast of of applies only to the primary results - not the GE.

You are running the risk of winning a battle and losing a war. And you are in denial about that. There are plenty of Hillary supporters that may not vote or may vote for mccain. And there are a lot of Florida/Michigan voters who feel they are being treated as second-class citizens.

I agree with the OP - to overestimate your victory could lead to another bush-era.

You could be your own worst enemy.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Nothing to add to your post but...

this. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[tekisui]

9. We have work to do in the GE, to be sure.

Hillary supporters voting for McCain have none of my respect, even those considering it. It is as foolish as one can get.

As for FL and MI, it is not Obama or Hillary's fault, and they will work out a way to enfranchise them. We have to work in every state, with every voter for a win. We can't take any state for granted, or concede defeat on any one, now.

[DrDan]

13. they are not looking for anyone's respect - they just do not have a loyalty to the party

and that may not be a bad thing in general. (Although I certainly fear what 4 years of mccain could lead to.)

Regardless, that vote still counts against us.

Fl and Mich need a solution that brings some credibility to the votes of those states. Dean needs to lead.

and I agree with you 100% - ALL states must be recognized and not taken for granted. There are a block of posters on this site that continue with a "who needs 'em" attitude. And that could lead to disaster in November.

[leftofcool]

20. Yes, and it will

You have a divided feminist movement, half which will vote for Mccain in the GE because of a few Obama statements and the MSM sexist attitudes, the other half will either vote Obama or not vote. You have blue collar workers that distrust Obama, you have white working class people who love Hillary and will vote for McCain in the GE. You also have many swing/independant voters where some will go for McCain and some for Obama. You have moderate Dems that will vote for McCain because they think Obama is way to liberal. There are many divisions. Some can not be healed and some, maybe.

[DrDan]

21. well - 4 years ago there was a lot of support for mccain on our ticket

He was VERY well thought of. I think there is still a lot of that still lingering today.

It would not take a huge change in a few of his positions, and he would be very very hard to beat. He may be anyway.

[bridgit]

11. But you guys can't have it both ways. Aren't you even required to hear yourselves talking?

BHO DUer's are all over the map *and* off the reservation about HRC's 1.1 in IN. Now it's all, "Well nee-ner nee-ner, all it takes is one vote!!!!!" Dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

[DrDan]

16. you have me confused

[MyNameGoesHere]

23. yes let's throw away the supporters of HRC. we don't need em.

Really right? I mean those roughly 16 million are expendable anyway. Obama doesn't want them so screw em.

[geiger]

4. it's just time to stop all the bashing.....

[Vinca]

6. No one is bashing her as a "loser," but it seems she's trying her

hardest to make sure no one is a "winner."

[bridgit]

10. But, but...some are truly elitist!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5896369 or so that is their aspiration

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

12. It's not a devastating defeat, but it is a defeat

Hillary just seems completely incapable of admitting defeat. I honestly don't care if she wants to keep running, but her right-wing style attacks need to stop if we are ever to have any hope of unity. Obama has been respectful and gracious towards Clinton through this whole primary compared to how she has behaved towards him. The main source of division is Clinton herself.

[bowens43]

15. It isn't that close.

[Warren Stupidity]

19. My bashing is about her efforts to derail 2008 for 2012.

Clinton is not stupid. She knows she has lost 2008. She is campaigning for 2012, and that campaign requires a Democratic Party loss in 2008. Screw that.

[Window]

22. She just yesterday obliterated me and my race. Yes, she's a loser.

Even if she somehow managed to become the nominee, in my book she is and will always be a loser. Not only to me, but my white grandfather and black grandmother's memory, my children, grands and great-grands.

[saltpoint]

24. You're right, but also wrong. The presumption of victory in politics

can be narrow, but it is a lot less narrow this morning than it was last week, and a study of national polling from January 2007 through Christmas Eve, 2007 shows Sen. Clinton in a commanding lead.

She lost that lead. A handful of bloggers on DU or elsewhere did not take it from her.

On the subject of alienation, please see under 'Geraldine Ferraro, Billy Shaheen, Mark Penn, and any prestige-educated world-recognized Democratic women knocking down shots and beer in Pennsylvania bars blathering about duck-hunting and using racially-coded speech in the media."

Papers who formerly endorsed Mrs. Clinton are now berating her for the shit tactics of her campaign. She's acting like a 2-year old who doesn't get its way in the adult world. Recent editorials in the New York TIMES have called her on her conduct, in very strong terms, and properly so.

Presidents are supposed to lead. Hillary Clinton hasn't given voters much evidence that she's up to the job.