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Read other letters about this article
It's galling to read these threads here, most of which could go in the dictionary to explain the phrase "missing the forest for the trees". Basic statistics and basic timeline facts are swapped around and ignored, with one instance standing in (as convenient) for an entire campaign. For example, the number of independents and republicans that crossed over to vote for Obama during the first few months of primaries, to the point that most of the states he won then were either caucus states that favored his constituents or open primaries that encouraged republican meddling to fuck with the supposed front runner. I really don't think any of that's even up for debate. But the same time, once Obama did become the front runner, the exact same thing started to happen with regard to Clinton - especially in PA. There are layers of manipulation here that are consistent and adaptive, and they have been a part of our politics for years now and we should not have such a hard time seeing them.
Similarly, the percentages of C/O supporters unwilling to support the other as nominee - 20% or 25%?! It hardly matters who has the bigger figure, or when - it's a problem shared by both sides that unchecked will prevent the Democrats from winning in November.
Let's just say that again: it's a problem shared by both sides that unchecked will prevent the Democrats from winning in November.
Many, many Clinton supporters feel that their candidate has been given a raw deal by the MSM and that, at best, the Obama campaign has blithely profited from that institutional and quite personal sexism. Obama folks: it doesn't actually matter if you disagree. Someone else said it earlier - it's not about winning, it's about losing gracefully, losing in such a way as to still be able to stay at the table.
The fact is, the burden is on the Obama people to make this work. That's what happens when you win this kind of fight. It's not a war. No one's being conquered. No one can afford those casualties, or those scars. But if it's put in those terms - if these Clinton supporters are treated, again and again, like idiots or goons or worse - then enough of them will (stupidly, cutting their children's noses off to spite their own faces) walk away. And Obama will lose, by losing this last battle. Really, the only way McCain can win is if Obama loses this last battle within the Democratic party - the point being that it's a battle that can only be won by forgiveness and patience and generosity. That's the drag of winning a primary fight this close. You actually don't get to do an end zone dance.
