She's not all machine yet. There's still good in her. I have felt it.
No gloating. No pouncing on her every perceived misstep or parsing every word in order to find the "true meaning" that she intends to destroy the Democratic Party, Barack Obama or, perhaps if you'd really like to take the exercise to the extreme--civilization itself.
Now, I am an avid Obama supporter that has often been out in front in dissecting Sen. Clinton's motives. Here are two examples:
Hillary: "I Took Her Stuff & Then I Left"
Is the Clinton Campaign Now Engaged in Intentional Race-Baiting?
The fact is, for the past few months I have been adamant in attempting to hold Sen. Clinton accountable for what, I perceived, as her hideously dirty campaign. However, despite what I believe to have been accurate criticisms of the Clinton Campaign, they have been extraordinarily heavy-handed and unnecessarily harsh. And considering the manner in which Sen. Obama has attempted to engage in a high-minded debate, as situations allowed, I think a mea culpa is in order on my end.
Sen. Clinton has been a formidable candidate, which, on some level explains the fervent nature of my reactions. Because she is someone to be reckoned with, my responses to her have been inversely proportional to my perception of both of the strength of her candidacy and the tactics in which she was engaged.
I admire her intelligence, detailed knowledge of the issues, passion for good government and personal tenacity. That said, I think the race is over. Although I strongly support Sen. Obama, in another place and time I could have supported Sen. Clinton for the nomination. I hope her actions in the upcoming months will leave the electorate focused on her good qualities and obvious strengths rather than the overwhelmingly negative traits that have been hammered home with such frequency lately.
In her heart of hearts, I believe she is a good person that cares deeply about all the problems that ail this country. I also believe that she strongly thinks that she is the best person to deliver much needed governmental reform. However, she has lost. It happens. And the 5-10% chance that experts have cited for her to secure the nomination would come with consequences. And those consequences would be a loss to John McCain in the fall and a deep and lasting scar on her legacy.
I know there are those that believe that she doesn't care about any of this. I simply don't believe that. She is an exceptionally bright woman and must know that continuing on her current path is a form of mutually assured destruction. I cannot believe that Sen. Clinton would wish to be remembered in such a fashion; to have the first paragraph of her obituary note that many people held her responsible for, basically, starting a political democratic civil war.
Perhaps I am naive. I don't think so. There are too many people that expect the worst of both Clintons'. Too many people that believe they are always up to something underhanded and devious. But those people need to understand that they end up complicit in the Clintons' subsequent actions. That by seeing and expecting the worst, they become overzealous in their pursuits, and often receive the very things which they feared.
Give Sen. Clinton some space. Allow here to think about what is the best course of action. In possibly the greatest leap of faith for people that ascribe the worst motives to everything the Clintons' do--I ask you to BELIEVE, that if given the opportunity, she will do the right thing. And by "the right thing" I do not simply mean that which would be most politically expedient for Sen Obama.
That's my two-cents. Let the bashing begin.
UPDATE#1:
I'm in a bit of an Obama fund-raising funk, which I guess is better then being funky in general. If anyone would care to drop a few beans, I would be most appreciative. Thanks.
Donate and Fight the Funk.