I understand that many supporters of Hillary Clinton have grave reservations about Barack Obama as president and honestly, it would be nice if people on both sides of the candidate divide would respect and acknowledge this fact rather than dismissing it with knee-jerk accusations of racism or "troll!" It's a reality. Now, if you are one of those currently considering voting for John McCain yet have been fighting fiercely for Hillary Clinton in the primary, listen up.
You are welcome here...But...don't expect to have a forum to argue in favor a John McCain presidency. This blog has always been open about its rasion d'etre: electing Democrats, and John McCain is no Democrat as his positions on choice (he's against), war (he's for) and healthcare (he believes the market should handle it, cuz that's worked out so well so far!) make clear. So, you are welcome here; pro-McCain diaries are not.
Hillary Clinton has time and time again urged her supporters to vote for the Democratic nominee and has made impassioned pleas to her supporters NOT to vote for John McCain. Here she was addressing the issue in March:
Clinton was asked by a questioner in the audience here what she would tell frustrated Democrats who might consider voting for McCain in the general election out of spite."Please think through this decision," Clinton said, laughing and emphasizing the word "please."
"It is not a wise decision for yourself or your country." [...]
Clinton stressed that there are "significant" differences between her and Obama, but said "those differences pale to the differences between us and Sen. McCain."
"I intend to do everything I can to make sure we have a unified Democratic party," she said. "When this contest is over and we have a nominee, we're going to close ranks, we're going to be united."
I would think any passionate supporter of Senator Clinton's would take this plea to heart and understand that voting for John McCain would be a direct slap in the face not only to her wishes for the fall but also to everything she's been fighting for in this primary campaign.
Quite frankly, a John McCain presidency would be a devastating blow to the agenda Hillary Clinton has laid out and intends to pursue regardless of the outcome of this primary, whether as VP or Senator or whatever the future has in store for her. A vote for John McCain is a vote against everything Hillary Clinton has been fighting for and hence, everything her supporters have been fighting for because ultimately a John McCain presidency would make it all the more difficult for Hillary Clinton to manifest the policies she's laid out in such incredible detail over this past year, whether on energy, healthcare or the war.
Now, as for the argument that McCain will be a better president with the large Democratic majorities in Congress, the question must be asked, "a better president than what?" Bush? OK, sure, but imagine what our politics is going to become with a Dem congress and a President McCain: all about compromise and contrition. Yet look at what bi-partisan compromise has gotten us over the past several years: the war in Iraq, No Child Left Behind, the Patriot Act, the bankruptcy bill, the Cheney energy bill, and the list goes on and on. The transformation that the 2008 elections hold out for us requires the marginalization of Republicans, their relegation to a vocal minority to allow the Democratic agenda, which is the American agenda, to be advanced unfettered without compromise. Electing a Democratic president to support the agenda of our Democratic majorities in congress is the only way to fulfill not only the progressive future we all want, but the progressive agenda Hillary Clinton has been fighting for.
So to Hillary supporters considering defecting to McCain, I say, vote for John McCain if you will, but know that doing so is voting against the very agenda you've been fighting so hard to advance and against the very candidate you've been fighting for to win the Democratic nomination.
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