| Update, 8/14--from CNN via Kos, the Obama and Clinton camps have "agreed" to allow her name to be placed into nomination at the convention...although truthfully the normal procedure would have required it, so what this really means is that Obama has backed off any idea of trying to prevent it. [posted on Steve's behalf--great to have the Candidate keep up his rep as the Commentator as well...] Let Them Vote!
I wasn't Hillarious in the primaries. I was with Edwards (I know, I know), then Obama. But I can't for the life of me figure out why the Obama forces would think for a second that they shouldn't let Hillary's name be placed in nomination, and let her delegates vote for her.
Pride may or may not be inherently a sin, but messing with someone's pride for no particular reason is definitely a sin. Some historians blame the rise of Hitler on the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, at the end of WWI, which Germans found humiliating. Among other things, the treaty required Germany to take full responsibility for starting the war. My recollection from history classes is that that might not have been completely off base, but even if it was true, what was the point of requiring the Germans to sign on the dotted line? The lesson of history is clear: If we don't let the Hillaryites have their day in the sun, are we prepared to take responsibility when, twenty years from now, their tanks go marching into Prague?
Hillary's people worked hard. They won a mess of states. They won a lot of delegates. They'd like the country to see how well they did, at the Convention. They want to proudly cast their votes, raise the roof, hoot and holler. They do that, they feel good, then they get on board for Obama. What's the problem? Do we think that, by avoiding a vote, we're going to make the American people think that Obama won all the primaries? I kinda think they know he didn't. Keeping the Hillary delegates from voting strikes me as a lot like asking the losing team in a 4-3 National League Championship Series to forfeit its three victories to show 'solidarity' going into the World Series.
One of my fondest political memories is of Mo Udall's speech at the 1976 convention. Udall had been the leading progressive alternative to Carter. (Udall was blind in one eye, prompting The Village Voice to write an article with the cute headline, "In The Country of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man Is Not So Bad.") At the Convention, his name was placed in nomination, by Archibald Cox, no less. His 300 delegates voted for him. The demonstration as he began to speak was so loud and long that Udall began by saying: "If this goes on much longer, I might have to accept the nomination." But later he said: "yes, Jimmy, I'll be wearing one of your little green buttons." There was no harm done to Democratic unity. Carter left the Convention with a 30-point lead.
So c'mon, Barack, let them vote. It'll be fine. Let them vote, and then remember not to give any interviews to Playboy about lust in your heart. |
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