The Political Chase

A Call to Super-delegates

It was January 31, 2008. I was sorely disappointed that John Edwards had just dropped out of the race, but as I watched the Democratic debate get underway, I felt good about what was taking place. In fact, I was still proud of the two candidates sitting on the gaudily decorated stage that seemed more fitting for Yankee Doodle Dandy than political rhetoric.

How could I not be? Especially after watching the Republican candidates just the night before, rip each other apart as if it was a Michael Vick production.

Sure, there had been a little political bickering between the Democratic candidates, but it wasn’t beyond the “norm” of political contests in the past. Besides, Senator Obama and Senator Clinton knew how critical it was to capitalize on the unified strength of our party and the people that were being drawn to its cause. I knew that in just one year, one of the two historic candidates sitting on that eyesore for a stage would begin leading the country out of the abyss George Bush had plunged it into seven years ago.

I was not pleased with some of the campaign events after the Iowa caucuses, but I was still moving along with unprecedented hope that civility, productive intellect and common objectives could somehow prevail over divisiveness and the politics of destruction. I was wrong. That was an incredibly naïve expectation on my part after living through decades of the latter. And, I can thank Senator Clinton primarily for taking the country and me several steps backwards to reality and worse.

I have never witnessed a more disgusting, despicable, and deceitful campaign than Senator Clinton’s has. I attribute part of that to my heightened awareness and participation this election cycle, but without any doubt, I place the majority directly at her feet. She has proven herself to be, at best, an equal among equals with George Bush, Karl Rove, and Lee Atwater.

I desperately do not want Senator Clinton to be the next President of the United States, but I do not want Senator McCain to be President either. And the more time Senator Clinton has to demonize Senator Obama, the probability of Senator McCain winning the general election increases logarithmically.

As it stands today, Senator Clinton will not beat Senator McCain, but her destructive behavior will damage Barack Obama to the extent that he cannot win either. I do not believe we have reached that point yet, but we are so perilously close it will be hard to discern when we actually do.

We can continue the processes and adhere to the schedule as previously defined by the Democratic Party, but it will be at the expense of the party and far more importantly our country.

Unfortunately, I reached my threshold when I read the editorial in the New York Times today. When the Editorial Board of the largest newspaper in the world condemns a potential nominee of the Democratic Party as it did today, there is something terribly wrong. I am not saying the Times’ opinions or its Editorial Board should govern the party or any election, but instead I believe the content and the tone of the editorial is reflective and symptomatic of the greater problem we face.

I am calling on the Super-delegates of the Democratic Party to step in and make a decision. This political discourse must stop. Please move rapidly and decide who the nominee will be. I may not like the decision, but I fear the consequences of not making a decision far outweigh any personal agenda others or I may have.

I am extremely disappointed in Senator Clinton. It is most unfortunate that she places her personal desires and wishes over the good of the country.

- - David Pleasant