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Wednesday, June 4, 2008 12:00 AM

Barack Obama's epic win

The young senator makes history not only in terms of race, while a determined Hillary Clinton delays the inevitable a bit longer.

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  • Wednesday, June 4, 2008 03:49 AM

    Too conceited to have conceded?

    "And I want the nearly 18 million people who voted for me to be respected, to be heard, to be no longer invisible."

    Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! But enough about you, let's talk about me! That's basically the HR Clinton mantra.

    For all of the Clintonite attacks about the Obama "cult" (words like "acolytes," and "fanatics" and "Obamaniacs" and what-not fired off like broadsides from Clintonian confetti cannons), HR Clinton appears to be the one very comfortably in demagogue country, busy trying to cobble together a mandate out of her own political misfortune -- rhetorically framing it as if supporting the Democratic Party nominee would disrespect, ignore, and marginalize the people who voted for her in the primary. That's shameful, but then, HR Clinton has no sense of shame, so it's not surprising she'd do this. If Obama was in her position, he would've conceded and urged his supporters to back HR Clinton. But no, she doesn't do that, doesn't say that.

    Are "her" 18 million people Democrats, or are they Clintonites? What she should've done is concede the race to the candidate who actually won her party's nomination. But that would've required more grace than HR Clinton possesses, sadly.

    Frankly, let her take her flock with her in a third party. Let her immolate herself in a bonfire of her own hubris. But let the Democratic Party not allow itself to be bullied by a cult of personality. Either HR Clinton respects the will of the Democratic Party voters, or she doesn't. Simple as that. Her mendacious and opportunistic campaign has really demonstrated where her head and heart is at in this, and it's all about her.

    Her time yesterday should've been spent mending fences; instead, she's trying for extra innings in a game she's already lost, as if pure will can somehow win her the day. She truly is the most Nixonian candidate since Nixon. Astounding.

    She won't step back from the breach, clearly; but her supporters have to decide whether they are Clintonites first, or Democrats first. It's just a shame for the Democratic Party that HR Clinton's hubristic, messianic run for president is forcing that decision on her followers.

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