I am an Obama supporter, and I want to take a moment to recognize the Clinton supporters

[Bjorn Against]

I was never a Hillary supporter, but I want to take a moment to recognize her and her supporters. While it is easy to get caught up in the politics of the moment I think everyone needs to see the big picture and recognize the disappointment that millions of people are feeling right now.

I don't like the way Hillary has ran her campaign, but this is about something much bigger than Hillary. There are millions of people out there who have waited their entire lives to see a woman President and many of them believed that they were going to finally see it. Imagine how this must feel to some of our seniors who are old enough to remember a time when women were not able to vote. Imagine how it must feel for the people who have worked for years to get greater representation for women in Washington. It is always hard when your candidate loses the election, it is even harder when that candidate had the potential to make history.

Certainly if Obama had lost it would have been a huge disappointment for many people as well, history is being made here and you better believe that the people who marched in the streets and got sprayed with firehoses back in the civil rights era are celebrating a major milestone today. This has been a historic primary season, and no matter who won or lost there was bound to be a lot of very disappointed people.

I know I have been critical of Hillary at times, but I think it is important that we recognize the long struggle her supporters have went through. Yes, there were some of them that drove me crazy but all candidates have their overzealous supporters. There were millions of other supporters of hers that were very good people however, and many of them worked very hard to try to make history by getting their candidate the nomination.

No matter what you think of how the Clinton campaign was handled, let's think about all the people who are profoundly disappointed today and let's invite them over to help us make history by putting Barack Obama in the White House.

[GOPBasher]

1. This Obama supporter agrees. K & R. n/t

[Yael]

2. I went numb when JRE dropped out. I can appreciate.

[question everything]

3. Thank you. This is the kind of word that I was hoping to hear on DU

instead of the continuation of trashing her and her supporters.

I watched the ABC News earlier this evening and the report was how everyone is using the term "history," and "historical moment." About many blacks who never thought they would see this in their lifetime. And I was thinking that had Hillary won, the reaction would have - should have - been the same.

[malta blue]

4. great post.

Thank you.

[Ian David]

5. Except for a few sour cats. n/t

[Olney Blue]

6. Thank you for this positive post.

:hi:

[reflection]

7. I'm down with that.

At least for the non-haters. Kick and rec.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Susan B Anthony and Frederick Douglas

Lived on the same square in Rochester NY. A statue of the two of them in conversation, a true depiction as they were friends and co-activists. I just keep thinking of that, and how hard they fought, and the changes they brought. They'd have to both be pleased as punch at our Primary.

[Captain Hilts]

12. Douglas was a tremendous sexist, actually. nt

[jonestonesusa]

13. In what sense was Douglass "a tremendous sexist"?

He was an active participant in the suffrage movement; I believe he was at the Seneca Falls convention that first set for the agenda for the suffrage movement. Are you referring to private behavior, public stands, or something else when you describe Frederick Douglass in this way?

[Captain Hilts]

18. Yes, but forced to choose, he abandoned the suffrage movement for women...

and encouraged others to do so.

He and Elizabeth Cady Stanton broke ranks because he felt black men - as reparations for the cruelty of slavery - were entitled to the vote before women.

Frederick Douglass, believed that white women, already empowered by their connection to fathers, husbands, and brothers, at least vicariously had the vote. According to Douglass, black men's horrifying treatment as slaves entitled the now liberated African-American men, who lacked women's indirect empowerment, to voting rights before women were granted the franchise. African-American women, he believed, would have the same degree of empowerment as white women once African-American men had the vote; hence, general female suffrage was, according to Douglass, of less concern than black male suffrage.

[jonestonesusa]

19. I appreciate the response.

Your answer is really qualified, though, compared to your first statement that called him a sexist unequivocally.

African American men and women were not treated equally within the suffrage movement, and some early suffrage publications really emphasized the travesty, if you will, of having blacks get the vote before white women. Not to mention that from the earliest periods after the Civil War, Black Codes, Jim Crow, etc. greatly restricted black male voting rights.

I do think that the discussion about racial privilege remains relevant today - with black people in general having 1/7 of the wealth, twice the unemployment, six times as likely to be imprisoned than the national average, isn't there something to Douglass's points about empowerment? I generally don't think it's good to compare oppression, but I do think it's important to disaggregate identity categories, including female, working class, etc. to see what segments of the population are suffering most severely from inequality to take remedial action.

I would like to learn more about the relationship between Douglass and Stanton.

[grannylib]

9. I agree. I was a Kucinich supporter, and then Edwards, and I was

SO bummed when he dropped out. I then became an Obama supporter, but was never a "Hillary Hater." Yes, I think she could have done things differently, but hey...couldn't we all?
Regardless of which candidate legitimately won the nomination, I would have PROUDLY and HAPPILY voted for either one of them, come November. I know what's at stake. I realize the differences between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton are miniscule compared to the differences between either of them and McBush.
Please, fellow DUers...please cease and desist with any and all bashing of Senator Clinton or her supporters or fellow DUers. Disagree with her, or them, as is your right, but please do so in a constructive and non-demeaning fashion! Let's not turn into the very kind of people we claim to deplore.
Please!
If we've been calling for unity, we'd better PRACTICE unity -
On to November, and OBLITERATING McBush! :bounce:

[RBInMaine]

10. Very good post ! THANKS !!

[BlueJac]

11. Go ahead....

[laugle]

14. Kudo's to you!

I remember when this was a good forum, not the sewer it's become.....but I guess even in a sewer you can sometimes find a flower, and that's what you are.......best to you............

[Phillycat]

15. Well hell, I'm a Clinton supporter, and *I* don't like the way she ran her campaign.

It was one of the most poorly-run campaigns in recent history, and that's a fact.

[kwenu]

16. I'm deferring on the graciousness until I see some on Saturday.

[Bjorn Against]

17. I think we already saw some graciousness, Saturday's event just brings it to a larger audience

Here is the text of the letter she sent to her supporters...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6285707

On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.

I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party's nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise.

I haven't liked the way Clinton has ran her campaign, but she is doing the right thing now and I think it is time to stop the fighting and bring people together.

[paperbag_ princess]

20. thanks

It is really helpful to hear that. I want our party to realize that just as much as this is a celebration that the first black candidate has been nominated. It is a loss for our party and our nation that we have not yet had a woman nominee and there is not equal representation for women or minorities in the government as a whole.

Honest and heartfelt communication like this is what will unite everyone. (well most everyone)