Clinton Strategy and Platform Influence

With the passing of each primary state I’ve been in the tank for Barack Obama for the most part. I’ve written several post’s on why Hillary should get out of the race with my own personal opinion on that subject. (links below)

It’s Over Hillary, Step Aside

Chris Matthews to Hillary, Pack it up!

Hillary Should Bow Out


Since the North Carolina vote I’ve been amazed at how resilient Senator Clinton is when faced with the fact that the numbers and super delegates will just not add up for her campaign for President. One thing I have not done is insult the Senator with derogatory comment or condescending remarks… well calling her the Queen could be complimentary in some respects. Over at the Washington Post they have this on the “Poor Hillary” hype.

Belittled Woman
The Candidate Refuses to Bend, Or Bow Out. Cue Another Chorus of 'Poor Hillary.'

By Libby Copeland
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 16, 2008; Page C01

At some point along the way, Hillary Clinton became "poor Hillary" and it stuck.
She went up against a charmer who once made an audience cheer just by blowing his nose (poor Hillary), and she lost states and delegates and she bet on a filly that died (poor Hillary), and nobody cares that she won West Virginia because it's over, except she can't see it because she's . . .

"Poor Hillary," write the op-ed writers and the bloggers and the newspaper letter-writers. "Poor Hillary's done," writes a gleeful reader in Portsmouth, Va., on Mother's Day. "The Billstone Around Poor Hillary's Neck," reads a New York Daily News headline yesterday. The talk show host Bill Maher has used the phrase, and the occasional CNN anchor, and, of course, the conservative yakkers who like the pure, distilled schadenfreude of those two words.

"Poor Hillary," Sean Hannity said at one point during this never-ending primary. "Running out of money, couldn't pay her staff."

"Bless her heart," said his conservative guest. - Washington Post


This article ticked me off because it was more of a bully in the school yard piece. If you look at the facts, Hillary Clinton should be damn proud of what she has been able to do in this race. No other woman in this nation could have come this far and kept the race so very close. Hillary and her campaign crew should be proud that the issues they care about are front and center and still being debated in the Democrat Party simply because Hillary is still in the race.

If you think politics is as easy as picking a candidate and sticking with them come hell or high water then you would be mistaken. Yes, I am still a large Obama supporter but now I think Hillary Clinton has a very good reason for staying in the race now more than ever. That reason is to use her influence and strength at the convention to form a better Democrat platform that can beat McCain come the general election in November. Without her influence on this race then Barack Obama could become complacent and “Yes We Can” us to death. Personally, I prefer discussion on the issues rather than creative jingles and speeches littered with catch phrases.

Make no mistake about it, even if you are not a Hillary Clinton supporter, Democrats owe her a huge amount of gratitude for staying in this election.

Papamoka

Cross posted at To the Center