Face-Off: Should Hillary Clinton Stay In the Race?
Hillary Clinton has shown more gumption, resiliency and tenacity than most of us expected - but is enough enough? That’s the subject of today’s Face-Off. Comments and opinions are encouraged as the Donkey Dish staff debates …
SHOULD HILLARY CLINTON STAY IN THE DEMOCRATIC RACE?
YES by harrytruman
All signs point to Barack Obama winning the Democratic nomination. No longer a question of if, it’s just a matter of when. Yet there are many reasons Hillary Rodham Clinton should - and likely will - stay in the race.
First, seeing this historic race to its end will give Democrats in more than 50 elections the chance to vote in meaningful primaries and caucuses.
Turnout levels across the U.S. are soaring - a boon for Democrats and a trend that should continue into November. As long as she keeps her campaign positive (a direction she has, albeit slowly, been heading), a protracted race does not necessarily hurt Obama. On the contrary, it makes him stronger.
The attacks have been heavy-handed, but ensure Obama will be ready for when the Republicans subject him to far worse. By fighting to the end, Hillary Clinton is forcing Obama to pass a vital, early test of political strength.
Finally, this isn’t like Mike Huckabee refusing to drop out.
While it may be game over in the eyes of the pundits, almost half of those voting in Democratic primaries chose Hillary, and she’s still winning states. If superdelegates want this over, they can make it so right now. They haven’t. Clinton is a giant who should set her own agenda, even regarding her own concession.
NO by woodywilson
Unlike other critics that have railed against Hillary Clinton for months, I believe she’s served her party well throughout these primaries.
By acting as an unabashed panderer - one who speaks directly to the lowest common denominator and will resort to any tactics necessary in order to achieve her supposedly rightful place in office - Clinton has set up the ideal dichotomy with Barack Obama.
She has proven that experience in Washington often only results in tired cliches, broken promises and rehashed, misguided threats.
Barack Obama, by contrast, looks like a fresh alternative, someone that actually thinks about an issue, weighs all sides of it and presents his views in a detailed, inspiring manner. Could there be a better time for a president with this sort of vision than right now?
That’s why I’d like to thank Clinton for doing her job during this primary season, for illustrating perfectly why we need someone so UNlike her in office, and then I’d like to show her the door. It’s time to go.
Hillary and her cronies can close down every bar in the country arguing over whether or not her victories in a handful of big states prove that she’s a more viable candidate in the general election than Obama.
It makes for a decent debate. But it’s got nothing to do with the law or the process by which America selects a president.
Hillary Clinton cannot catch Barack Obama in delegates.
She cannot catch him in the popular vote.
The only remaining option is for Hillary to essentially say to superdelegates: “I’m Hillary Clinton. How can I not be your candidate?”
If roles were reversed, Hillary Clinton’s people wouldn’t just be calling for Barack Obama to drop out - they’d be calling for an apology that he even dragged the process out for this long.
We don’t need the latter from Hillary. But we do need her to step aside in order to put Obama on full display against John McCain.
Let’s put it in language Clinton will understand:
It’s time for more pandering, Hillary. This time, though, do it to the entire Democratic party and drop out.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
A Democratic Unity Ticket with Obama as president and Hillary as vice president would satisfy party factions, lower the temperature, lead to a landslide victory in November. Obama would bring to the marriage the young, the black, and the liberal suburbanites. Hillary would attract her proven constituency of older voters, women, whites, workers and Hispanics. she would bring the “experience” too! On to victory. Yesterday I heard that Hillary wants Veep. I don’t know if Obama can handle her and Bill but that would work for me.
Meanwhile this is getting worse! It ain’t over ’til it’s over, but a growing number of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s closest friends now think it’s really over. It gets worse
May 8th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
This is one woman who would like to see Sen. Clinton fight her way to the convention. Many NH (and other early primary states) voters have buyer’s remorse regarding Sen Obama. The media dropped the ball in not introducing him to the American people early-on. I also resent this baloney about highly educated voters swarming to Obama. Virtually every friend I have, including college professors, doctors, a lawyer, two archaeologists, artists, business people, a dentist, a veterinarian, and an ex-CIA novelist, are 100% behind Sen. Clinton. I will not vote at all if the candidate is Obama.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I would love for Hillary to stay in.She definately has my family and friends votes she should also be awarded Florida !!!!!!!!!! So what if they voted a couple days early it is just a way to cheat her out of votes!!!!! I will not be voting for barack hussein so its either her or Mccain
May 8th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Darn right Hillary Should fight on and not quit! Would you want Obama when the going gets tough to quit? It is so frustrating in watching CNN. They have been pro Obama from just about the get go. Ever since he won Iowa and then reeled off his 11 straight in fairly small states or ones he should of win cause of hie association of living there or because of the predominent make-up racially of the state. CNN did a terrible thing and an unethical thing on last tuesday night when they even after more than 23 percent of the precinct counting and Hillary having a 22 percent lead in the vote, they still didn’y want to give her the nod that she had won Indiana. On the other side of the coin They were so quick to give Obama North Carolina the Check mark as having won that state although not a single vote had been posted on the board, and 0 percent of the precints even showing as well as the polls hadn’t even closed in the state. That is a clear example of Band wagoning Favortism that CNN has been showing just about throughout this whole campaign.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I am absolutely thrilled that Hillary is not caving in to the Obama supporter bullies and ceding this race just yet. Obama supporters need to realize that you can’t shut this race off prematurely and not enrage Clinton supporters to the point we won’t vote for anyone come the general election. What is with the vitriol of Obama supporters anyway? In my community, Marin County, one Obama supporter gave the finger to the woman with a Hillary bumper sticker on her car and in another incident, a man ran up to a Hillary supporter in the parking lot and shouted at him that he was an elitist. This was back in January (I shudder to think what they are doing now). I actually didn’t want to put a Hillary bumper sticker on my car for fear of what Obama supporters might do. What’s wrong with this picture? Then I watch people like Ed Schultz and Donna Brazile bullying the Clinton supporters and I feel absolute disgust and anger and can’t change the channel fast enough. Bullies should not drive this race.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
The suggestion that Sen. Clinton should step down, as has been swelling for months now, is like Michigan suggesting that Penn State should quit the game because Michigan is leading by a field goal in the fourth quarter.
While I have a Hillary for President bumper sticker on my car, I have not experienced personally the vitriol described by one responder. But, I must say, the vitriol spewing on the internet toward Senator Clinton is outrageous; the disprespectful spoofs etc. (e.g. “they are going to have to hogtie the bitch to get her out of this race…”) are really unacceptable, clearly targeted at her gender. There is plenty to spoof on any candidate without using gender or race.
Sen Clinton has demonstrated an unprecedented ability to take the hits. No male (whatever gender) candidate has ever or would ever have had to take the hits hurled at Senator Clinton. Her support in the American community is deep for many good reasons. It is absolutely unAmerican to deprive the electorate - including the superdelegates of the right to vote for and support Sen. Clinton.
As important the “end” of this all, the “process” is so much more. Embrace American democracy which has at long last permitted our diverse community to partiicpate in a meaningful way…let go of the fear of the convention. It will be a beautiful thing.