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Dear xxxx,
I wanted you to be one of the first to know: on Saturday, I will hold an event in Washington D.C. to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you. 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. When I decided to run for president, I knew exactly why I was getting into this race: to work hard every day for the millions of Americans who need a voice in the White House. I made you — and everyone who supported me — a promise: to stand up for our shared values and to never back down. I’m going to keep that promise today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life. I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise. I know as I continue my lifelong work for a stronger America and a better world, I will turn to you for the support, the strength, and the commitment that you have shown me in the past 16 months. And I will always keep faith with the issues and causes that are important to you. In the past few days, you have shown that support once again with hundreds of thousands of messages to the campaign, and again, I am touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness. I can never possibly express my gratitude, so let me say simply, thank you. Sincerely, Hillary Rodham Clinton
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I don’t personally understand the Clinton faction that is so hateful towards Obama. One particular blog, No Quarter, was one I used to read until it became Limbaugh-esque in its venom. I have some friends who are the same way. I had a period where I thought the Republican Underground was succeeding in splitting the party – maybe it’s still true. Like the rest of us, I’m ready for the next round of attacks. But I’ve decided that’s really none of my business. The people of America are either finally over the divisive politics of the last eight years, or they’re going to send us on another round.
As for the Clintons, it’s time for them to get out of the way. Obama has had to run against racism, the Bush/Cheney/Republican machine, and the two-term Clinton regime that came before. That’s a lot. I initially liked both he and Clinton. I voted for Obama for two reasons – his vote against the Iraq War and a gut reaction that he is the "real deal." Over time, I’ve grown to be a stronger supporter based on his handling of the bumps that have appeared along the way. I don’t worry so much about the issues we know about. I’m more focused on the things that lie in the future that are obscured from our vision. That we’ll be on a new trajectory with Obama is clear. What stands in the way isn’t so clear – at least not to me.
I’m not mad about all the racism and sexism that this campaign has unearthed. Just the opposite, I’m proud to live in a place where it has been transcended by so many. We’re beyond political correctness now. It carried us out of a deep swamp. If we’re going to move forward, it won’t be by forced bussing, or political correctness, or legislation. It will be something else. The way to confront irrational hatred is to put the people who hate each other together. In my youth in the South, it was called "Integration." This campaign has reminded me of those days frequently. Having to choose between a black man, an woman, and a white War Hero has brought a lot of stuff out of the closet – besides just the ideological differences. There’s more to come, for sure.
As for Hillary Clinton. Everyone is talking about her role in uniting the Democratic Party. I don’t recall ever having seen a united Democratic Party. The Party is too subdivided for that. I think of her role in a different way. Scott McClellan has written a book that claims that the Bush Administration has created or perpetuated a culture of continuous campaigning – and that’s their fatal flaw. I think he’s being too generous, but he’s making an excellent point over-all. I believe that Hillary’s fate is a function of her being able to mourn her loss appropriately, and to move forward on another course. She’s a remarkably talented person who has much to offer. But if she stays in the campaign mode, she really has no place in an Obama Administration. We don’t need another power-hungry Vice President like Dick Cheney. It’s really up to her…
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