Please stop calling for "unity". It's not over yet. (edited)

[MercutioATC]

To those (some, very well-meaning) people who are calling for unity because the primary is over, please stop.

The race isn't over until somebody actually crosses the finish line.

I have no doubt that Obama will do just that by the end of the week, but he hasn't yet...and calling for unity, though well-intended, is insulting to Clinton supporters. They should fight for their candidate until a nominee is chosen, if that's their wish. "Welcoming them into the fold" at this point is premature and belittling.

We've got less than a week. Let'em fight.

(on edit)

For those who continue to insist that "it's over", I'd suggest that you're less interested in "unity" than belittling Clinton supporters. The nominee will be chosen within a week. Give it a rest.

[Catch22Dem]

1. I'm through tiptoeing across eggshells for the Clinton supporters

My message to them; Get on board and let's defeat McCain, or get gone.

[DeschutesRiver]

21. Ditto to that

the need to tiptoe is a good way to put it. And it is ridiculous - this is a rough and tumble race for the presidency, not the chair of the local small town library where you don't dare piss off anyone in a two horse town.

I've never been concerned about the need to be ridiculously careful around the supporters of ANY candidate.

[VolcanoJen]

44. Trippo to that

:thumbsup:

[papapi]

48. Quadrupo to that!

[Arugula Latte]

38. Exactly. The supporters of other candidates (I was one) sucked it up; why can't they?

Many of them (not all) have demanded special treatment this entire process. I'm bloody sick of it.

[Lerkfish]

42. I was a Kucinich, and then an Edwards supporter... and I am full behind the nominee

because I"m a democrat.

[backscatter712]

47. Same here!

Both Kucinich and Edwards bowed out with dignity - I was sad to see them go, then I moved on.

Obama's proved that while he isn't quite my way on the issues as Kucinich is, he's fairly close, and he has the ability to run a campaign, make his sale to the public, and win it! He's done it, and furthermore, he's done it within the rules, honorably, and gracefully.

Why can't Hillary bring herself to bow out with some dignity? Just say "It was a tough race, congratulations to everyone for fighting the good fight, but we didn't quite make it. Congratulations to Obama for running a brilliant campaign, I look forward to supporting him in the fight against McCain." Nobody faulted Kucinich and Edwards for being good sports, bowing out, and in turn helping the party.

[acmavm]

43. Or get gone? You Obamabots are gonna do it all by yourselves?

You're delusional if you think you can. She has a great big chunk of democrats on her side. You're gonna need each and every fucking vote if you want to win. And spewage like than coming from your keyboard is an absolute guarantee that you won't get 'em. And we'll be stuck with whatever hairball the repubics finally field.

But you go on with your bad self. You are just so intimidating and impressive that everyone who doesn't think you way just must be scurrying away in fear and awe.

I don't like either one so it's all the same to me. But I've never seen so much arrogant ignorance in my life. Nothing can even come close to this primary and the Obamabots who think they can demand that everyone support their candidates, that they 'own' everyone's votes, and that they are just gonna take the guy all the way just on their say-so alone.

Good luck with that McCain guy. That's exactly where we're heading with attitudes like yours.

[VolcanoJen]

46. Riddle me this: What if, in the middle of next week, Senator Clinton concedes?

What if she, Bill and Chelsea appear together at a press conference with the Obama family, and ask that the party unite behind Barack Obama?

What would you do, in that circumstance?

[acmavm]

50. I'm not motivated by Hillary or what she does. Apparently you've missed

the part where I say I don't care for EITHER of these two arrogant phonies with practically the same voting record.

I did just throw in the part about their records so you can see why neither impresses me. I'm not in the mood to hear the famous Obamabot retort of 'racist' today so I figured I'd better throw that part in.

For the first time in my life I'm not sure of what the hell I'll do in that voting booth. I won't vote for McCrazy, that's for sure. But who I will vote for is a puzzler. And it's that way for a number of people that I know.

I do know that everyone I talk to, and I mean seriously talk to, about this election agree on one thing and that is that it takes some guts for one candidate's cult following to demand that everyone support their particular candidate and also demand that they fork over their vote because they feel they're entitled to it.

[VolcanoJen]

51. Well, that was utterly predictable.

Thanks for playin'! Your Obama-bashing will come to an end around here next week, so go ahead and get it out of your system.

[acmavm]

52. What's even more predictable is the ugly reality you will be facing come

November because of the nastiness out of the Obama camp.

[VolcanoJen]

54. ROFL

Keep hope alive!!!

:rofl:

[Fox Mulder]

2. Ah, but it is over.

[ecdab]

3. Unity will come when Hillary drops out. Soon, soon.

[gravity]

4. It's over and everyone knows it

fighting will just make this process worst

[dkf]

5. Calling for unity when a person is an enraged ball of hate doesn't work anyway.

Only time does. Frankly, a lot of these people probably need to get away from politics for a while and cool down. I say this through experience with being on the other side.

[helderheid]

18. I couldn't agree more.

[melody]

6. These "well-meaning people" are trying to strengthen our party

Some of the Clinton supporters are weakening it by dragging this on as long as possible.

[Max_powers94]

7. IT is over !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hillary people let this go and help BO win the GE

[MonkeyFunk]

11. You guys have been saying it for months

bit it's over only when one candidate has enough delegates to secure the nomination.

[Bettie]

19. But the Clinton people keep saying.....

That even if Obama does get enough delegates to secure the nomination, she can make them change their votes at the convention.

I don't think she'll ever recognize that it is over, I expect to see her continue to campaign long after the convention, when she's not the nominee.

I spent years defending her, thinking the best of her even when others told me that she was simply an opportunist. I am so disillusioned now and I feel like a fool for believing in her.

[onehandle]

8. Where do you think you are. Civility is over at DU. DUers will never let this go.

As you can tell by many of the reactions in this thread.

DU = FR.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. Hear Hear!

:toast:

[Liberal Veteran]

10. I'm done with genuflecting towards Clinton.

I'm done being held hostage by petulant children who are too immature to admit they can't win and are simply waiting this out praying for some earth-shattering scandal to take Obama down.

I'm tired of walking on egg shells with people that only give a damn about themselves.

[glowing]

12. Unity is the theme so that McCain cannot steal the election.. Clinton is saying

the same thing..

Look, money-wise, she doesn't have it. Grass roots, she doesn't have it. Kitchen sinks, she's out of... and I think she got burned in the kitchen, too. I guess that's what ultimately threw me off of supporting her. After Edwards suspended, I didn't care. Then I re-Grouped and looked again. I like Hillary's healthcare and education platforms. I was wary of the DLC connection, but thought perhaps the known evil is better than the unknown. Then the kitchen sinks, gaffes, lies, and smearing came rolling out of the campaign. All of a sudden MI and FL (my state) were hers to count. So, I looked at Obama. His policies are vague. I'm aware of a few things that I didn't like about his ties to the Nuclear industry... but he is willing to listen and change the plan if it needs to be changed. He's willing to engage, quite honestly, about issues most politicians would lie about. Rev. Wright helped to really seal the deal with supporting him... I thought Rev Wright was extremely thought provocing...

Anyway, I think that its a matter of letting the last 3 go. I think they are trying to give dignity Sen. Clinton and the Former President. Obama's patience and consistent unity message has been amazing. He has a great temperment.

[nevergiveup]

14. Your last two sentences

are so spot on. Obama's temperament has been an incredible thing to watch and I think it has much to do with why he is were he is today. There are some positions of his that give me pause but all in all I think he will be a great candidate and I am proud to support him.

[glowing]

26. Its kinda like a buddha... the way he just lets the shit role to the floor.. but goes to bat

for the important fights.. I'm very at peace listening to him. There is a great bit of anxiousness in this country, and we need to proceed with calm determination.. I like that, strong qualities. Exactly what this country needs.. thought before action. Discussion before doing.... often Washington acts like its plugging a springing damn.. little here, little there without really addressing the true issue as to why it sprang in the first place. He's very intellectual.. I like that.

[cosmik debris]

It's all over but the funeral

Suicide by primary is rather messy. I hope they have a closed casket.

[BlueJac]

13. Hillary will drop out at the end of the week.......

That way she can save some face, and the foolishness will end.

[iamthebandfanman]

15. there will be no solidarity with some hillary supporters

thats simply not an option in their minds.
either you are going to vote against the last 8 years, or youre not.
if youre so irrational that youd actually vote mccain out of anger, then frankly we are better off without that kind of person representing us by being a part of this party.

irrational anger was the means for the last 8 years to occur.

[undeterred]

16. Its over.

Keeping it going just keeps up the fight. All the Clinton arguments are totally irrational, like she is.

[frickaline]

17. Wow, this post offends me.

Please defend this:
'I'd suggest that you're less interested in "unity" than belittling Clinton supporters'

Are you saying those calling for unity are being disingenuous? I beg to differ with you. Those calling for unity see the hatred spewed all over these forums and want to throw up. Frankly, if I see one more thread posted today calling out a racist Hillary supporter and answering with a slew of sexist remarks, I think the hypocrisy might make my head explode. I love how 2 wrongs make a right.

I see the call of unity as a call to end the anger and the hate, not the election. Things have taken on a terribly irrational, hateful tone here and one only needs to read the latest posted thread titles in GDP to realize this.

[helderheid]

20. Thank you.

[frickaline]

33. Thanks

for your support :hug:

[MercutioATC]

22. With one week left in the election, knowing how contentious it's been, WHY...

...insist on using the RBC decision as yet another "it's over" benchmark? It really will be over...in about a week.

Knowing that very committed supporters of ANY candidate in ANY election will want to fight until the end and knowing that the end will come when one candidate gets the required number of votes and knowing that Obama will get to that number in less than a week, why not just wait that week and then extend the olive branch?

I was a Dean supporter in 2004. I remember the Kerry people squawking about the "Dean scream" and how it proved that he was unelectable and how they "welcomed" Dean supporters into the Kerry campaign. I found it offensive. The party hadn't announced a nominee, and I was going to back my candidate until either they did or he ended his campaign.

I'm not addressing any of the other issues in this election...just this one point. The DNC announcement of a nominee is the absolute benchmark...not whether Clinton can win or not. By the same token, once the DNC announces, it's over...no calls of "taking it to the convention". Until the DNC makes that announcement, many if not most Clinton supporters will see a call to lay down their arms as insulting.

...and insulted people don't accept olive branches.


Just wait a week. We'll have a nominee then.

[frickaline]

24. Please let me know where your post here is relevant to anything I posted.

[MercutioATC]

25. Ok, I'll type slowly.

There have been not a few posts in the wake of the RBC decision suggesting that now is the time for Clinton supporters to drop their support of their candidate and come into the fold. As my OP indicates, I disagree. Further, I explain why I disagree. I believe it's a cogent argument.

I edited the OP after 6 or 8 replies when it was apparent that nobody wanted to address the issue, preferring to just repeatedly state "It's over"...which lead me to suggest that they were less interested in understanding Clinton supporters and working for unity than rubbing salt in their wounds. In hindsight, I suppose there is another possibility...they have no interpersonal skills.

It's a given that this has been a contentious primary. It's a given that the candidates' supporters feel a great deal of allegiance to their respective candidates. It's a given that many Clinton supporters have chosen (which is their right) to wait for the DNC announcement to declare an end to the race.

The DNC announcement is less than a week away.

Please explain the wisdom in calling for Clinton supporters to end things now, when the end is so near. Regardless of the sense it makes to Obama supporters (and it's made sense for a long time for most of us), do you really expect it to be viewed as anything other than a hostile act at this moment?

So, to address your question...

People reading an OP that calls for them to wait a week because acting now is likely to garner a hostile response (which is the opposite of what they're allegedly trying to do) and choose to respond with "But it IS over" seem to be more interested in beating up the opposition than welcoming them.

...unless they just have no interpersonal skills...

(and if that offends you, yes, feel free to be offended)

[frickaline]

28. You mistake my motivation for calls for unity, and continue to do so.

I ask you to read my original post here again to gain a better understanding of most calls for unity.

You make broad statements that interpret the motivation of others and I object to that. You do not reflect my sentiments. Perhaps you are correct with respect to certain posters but I believe the vast majority see unity calls as a call for calm and healing, not abandonment of candidates. I think you might find that the people on this thread posting "it's over" generally are not those making calls for unity.

I'd like to add that we can be a more unified party without all supporting the same candidate. I don't believe those to be mutually exclusive. For example, you can support one candidate while supporting another one MORE can't you? Another, you can respectfully disagree without a knock-down, drag out fight leaving blood all over the thread, can't you?

To me, unity means accepting other Democrats, despite their different points of view. It is about respecting others and moving away from this worthless negativity. It is a negativity that only serves McCain in the fall.

[MercutioATC]

30. I should have clarified the statement in my OP.

The suggestion that some were not truly interested in extending an olive branch was directed at the first few replies that simply stated "It's over" or some variation of the same.

I realize that there are many who do truly want unity.


The rest of my OP applies to them, though. Just wait a week. It may not be their intention, but they're likely offending at least some Clinton supporters who see a call for unity before the race is over as a call for submission.

[frickaline]

31. Thank you, I appreciate that. n/t

[berni_mccoy]

35. While Clinton supporters are free to post RW Garbage on Obama. This OP is a bogus attempt at best.

At worst, its subterfuge propaganda that Obama supporters are the cause of divisiveness.

[MercutioATC]

36. I'm an Obama supporter (feel free to check my past posts, youngster)

...and the OP isn't an "attempt" at anything other than getting some people to realize that waiting a week would result in a better response.

If you'd stop imagining hidden insults at every turn, you'd be a lot happier (and maybe better informed).

[berni_mccoy]

37. 'I'd suggest that you're less interested in "unity" than belittling Clinton supporters'

That's not an imagined insult.

[MercutioATC]

39. It was addressed to the first half-dozen replies here that insisted "It's over"

in some form or another.

If they want to insist that it's over, that's fine (it's actually not over until the DNC announces a nominee...that's the rule)...but it's unlikely that they're more interested in unity than they are about crowing.

[berni_mccoy]

49. Saying the race is over is not divisive. It's reality. It's been over for a long time.

But some can't face the facts. Your suggestion that it's for reasons of Clinton bashing and that the Obama supporters are to blame is wrong and insulting.

[MercutioATC]

55. Two points: 1) The race is over when the DNC announces a nominee...

2) Anybody who doesn't allow that a call for unity a week before the end of the race can (and probably will) be taken as a hostile suggestion is an idiot.


I'm not excusing anybody's behavior. I'm not placing blame.

I'm suggesting that we not be idiots.

[IsItJustMe]

23. We love you brother. Come and get on board of the Obama bus. It's time.

[dansolo]

27. These are the same poeple who were pushing for Obama as VP when he was in the lead

After that, they have a lot of nerve claiming that people are belittling them.

[Teaser]

29. Please do what I say. Because I say so. Thanks. Bye.

.

[Secret_Society]

32. Unity or I'll kick your ass!!

[NEDem]

34. It's over, Get used to it.

[LeftyMom]

40. It's over. It's been over.

You can ramble on in protest like the shop owner in the dead parrot sketch for as long as you like, but Hil's shot at the presidency has ceased to be.

[Lerkfish]

41. alrighty then. That sounds like explicit permission for us to not take it easy on clinton supporters

no matter how much they whine.


:)

[Hepburn]

45. What exactly is the advantage of continuing this...

...and dividing the party further?

:shrug:

[Patsy Stone]

53. Heaven forbid

we try and unify before Hillary's ready to let us.

[barack the house]

56. That is not the intention at all unity works 2 ways if Hillary won it would be needed too...

i AM COMPLETELY LOST WHY UNITY WOULD BE A BAD THING.