My thoughts (Posted on WesPAC)

[PatGund]

I posted this on SecuringAmerica.com, the website for Wes Clark's WesPAC.

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15680

First Post - and my thoughts

I've been away from this community for a while now. Not because I don't support Wes Clark - I'm still a very proud Wes Clark Democrat.

Indeed it was my respect for General Clark that was why I stayed away for a while. Why?

Because I, like a good many other Clark Democrats, had to respectfully disagree with his endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Now I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes and thinking "Oh God another Hillary Hater" or "Obamabot". And you do yourself or the people you support no favours by saying such.

When General Clark endorsed Sen. Clinton, it did cause me to take another look at her. And, sadly, I had to once again say that, while I would have voted for her in the General Election should she have won the nomination, I would not support her in the primaries. I supported Gov. Richardson instead, and then later (and with some misgivings I'll add), supported Sen. Edwards.

My problem with Sen. Clinton was that, while she is a dynamic figure with much to offer this country, she brought too many negatives to the table and would polarize the right-wing like nobody else. The fact that people like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News were openly supporting her and calling her the nominee sent up major alarm bells in my head. What I felt is that they wanted her to win BECAUSE they knew she would energize their base. The right-wing has been calling her the Democratic nominee for president since she won her senate seat in 2000, because they wanted to beat her as a symbolic victory.

Gradually I came to support Sen. Obama. Not without reservations, and still with a wish that he had more experience as a US Senator. I recognize he has more experience in elected office than Sen. Clinton, but I wished he had maybe waited a bit longer.

However, if experience was what the voters asked for, we would be celebrating the nomination of Sen. Biden or Dodd.

Gradually I warmed up to him though. He wasn't an ideal choice, but I felt he had less negatives to offer than Sen. Clinton, and that either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton would be light-years better than Sen. McCain and a continuation of the failed policies that have so ruined this country and it's standing in the world. And I was impressed with his "grace under fire", and the respectful way he talked about the people he was running against.

The 2008 Democratic Primary was a historic race. We had a surplus of fantastic people running, any one of which would be better than the mealy-mouthed bridge sweepings that the GOP ran. Any one of which could repair this nation and help restore our national pride and dignity. We had history in the making. Two mixed-race men and a woman were among the choices we had. It was a primary that went to the very end, not in some "coronation" that left out later states. The only flaw were the two states that tried to break the rules - and in the end, even that was settled fairly.

As Democrats, we should be proud of the primary race that was ran.

But in the end, only one person had the majority of the popular vote, the delegate vote, and the states won to win. That person was Sen. Barack Obama.

I can understand all too well how Sen. Clinton's supporters feel. I felt the same way when General Clark dropped out of the primary in 2004. Even down to wanting to write in Gen. Clark's name on my ballot in November of 2004. It's very very hard to make such an emotional investment in a person only to see them lose. But now, as Democrats, we need to focus on the true challenge - winning back the White House and our country from the NeoCons that have so trashed our great nation.

Sen. Clinton ran a historic race. General Clark did honor to the person he supported. Both people should get our thanks for their time and effort. The primary is over - the battle now begins. The battle for the White House, the House and Senate, our courts, our nation, our future.

President Bill Clinton once said "In primaries you fall in love; in general elections, you fall in line." And that is such a bitter, bitter pill to have to take. But the task we have in front of us, the task of rebuilding our country, rebuilding our economy, rebuilding the healthcare system, getting our brave men and women out of Iraq, mending fences that NeoCon arrogance tore down, all of that is too important - and failure to do that, failure to win in November is an even more bitter pill to take. Failure is not an option. Not for us, not for the future.

And it's a task that calls for all of us, of all colours, all races, all genders, all faiths, all creeds, all of us, to work together to achieve that goal. Clark Democrat, Clinton Democrat, Obama Democrat, in the end they all have one thing in common - Democrat. We're the people to change this country, we're the people to lead our nation into a new and brighter direction.

The primary is over. Take some time away. Pet a puppy or kitten. See the wonders of nature. Spend time with family and friends. When you're ready, come back and show your faith in the person you support and your country by working with our party to take back our country and make it into the proud country that people like Clark, Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Richardson, Dean want it to be.

All of us did a fantastic job in supporting our choice for nominee. Now it's time to unite.

And now it's time to take back our country.

[Crunchy Frog]

1. It's heartbreaking for me to see what Wes Clark's blog has become.

[PatGund]

2. Agreed....

But I was hoping that if some could see that we're STILL Wes Clark Democrats, then it would be a first step towards seeing the bigger picture

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. The mood will start to shift when Clark speaks there for Obama

The community there was split by his endorsement of Clinton last year, and those who disagreed with it the most gradually became less present there, while mostly remaining respectful of Clark. That dynamic will repeat in an opposite direction, but today is still a little too soon. Many there are taking this very hard, they worked hard for Hillary.

[PatGund]

6. I think a lot did what I did....

Take a leave during the primaries. Now that the GE has started, we're heading back.

It's going to be rough, but we've all got something in common, and we can build from that

[high density]

3. I'd love to see Clark in an Obama administration

I am happy he will not have to pimp himself for Clinton any longer.

[PatGund]

4. I'd like to see him in an Obama admin as well.

I think he'd do wonderfully there