Attention Hillary Clinton: Step Away From The Nomination Race

UPDATE: Our own Bad American asked Hillary Clinton to step away from the nomination race just two days ago. And that request prompted one of his readers to start a petition, which you can find and sign here. Thanks to Keith.

Talk about tough love and breaking from dysfunction: read this letter to Senator Hillary Clinton, written by Erin Kotecki Vest. Here’s part:

I truly believed you would be the best person for the job, and I had this nagging thought in the back of my mind that is now at the forefront. The thought that drove me on Super Tuesday to Vote for Senator Obama and the thought that is the driving force as I write tonight: Senator Hillary Clinton divides this country.

It’s not fair. It’s not right. And under just about ANY other circumstance I would go to the mat for you. However we are a wounded and deeply divided nation. We are a nation at war. We are a nation at odds with each-other. It’s ugly. I thought you could get people past it. I really did.

When I told myself it was gender that got people going, I refrained from asking and wanting you to step aside. Simply on principle, I wanted to see you run and win because they said it couldn’t be done. Because it was my belief, this was all about being a girl.

It’s not, and I was wrong.

I firmly believe while the gender issue has given you a handicap I hope we all one day overcome, it is NOT the reason people have a gut reaction to you or your campaign or your legacy.

The request?

Make history. Make us one. Step down now. [emphasis in original]

Will she? Or won’t she?

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:39 pm February 12th, 2008 in Campaigning, Hillary Clinton, WH2008, Women, Elections, Politics

Comments

21 Responses to “Attention Hillary Clinton: Step Away From The Nomination Race”

1 Ida Muorie on February 13th, 2008 1:01 am

Erin: All politics divides. It takes a great leader to mend the wounds. Hillary should not take the brunt on the jokes of white men and the indecisiveness of Black Americans and the ignorants of young voters who are following a mirage.
2 redhorse on February 13th, 2008 7:09 am

She will, but only if and when the knockpunch lands squarely.
3 Keith on February 13th, 2008 7:51 am

Heh, I blogged her an open letter to step aside two days ago, and one of my readers started an online petition with my post:

http://www.petitiononline.com/hegb2000/petition.html

But redhorse is probably right. Ohio will apply the coup de grâce.
4 Jill Miller Zimon on February 13th, 2008 7:55 am

Keith - I’m sorry I missed that! I’m going back to find it and will post it here too. Sorry.
5 Jill Miller Zimon on February 13th, 2008 8:03 am

Ida - I think you make an argument that many people feel as well, but still turn aside and vote for Obama. The bottom line is, both candidates, as candidates go, are choices that most Democrats would support, no matter how high Clinton’s unfavorables have been. I remain undecided.
6 Jill Miller Zimon on February 13th, 2008 8:09 am

Red - I don’t know - I’d hedge my bets a little on that. I think she’ll wait as long as absolutely possible. The real psychological barrier to her stepping down isn’t that it’s hard to imagine that she could squeak out a win. Rather, at this point, it’s very hard to imagine that the nominee won’t be Obama. And if even people who support Clinton sense the inevitability of even a simple majority wanting Obama to be the nominee, then it is the absence of the enthusiasm of those folks, the wind falling flat behind the Clinton’s back, that I think will cause her to be in irons and need to withdraw. As Democrats, if we want the White House, we cannot have the voters be in irons over a candidate. We will lose.
7 Jeff Hess on February 13th, 2008 10:02 am

Shalom Jill,

I’ll bet you lunch (once you’re mobile again) that Clinton steps down by Friday, 15 February.

B’shalom,

Jeff
8 MY COMMENTS… on February 13th, 2008 10:08 am

[…] Attention Hillary Clinton: Step Away From The Nomination Race digg_url=”http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?p=6664″; digg_skin = […]
9 Jill Miller Zimon on February 13th, 2008 10:09 am

You are on - because I don’t imagine her declaring defeat at Brush High School on Friday.
10 LisaRenee on February 13th, 2008 6:57 pm

She just opened a Toledo campaign office, she’s not going anywhere, and I wonder who’s going to write that Obama should step down because he’s dividing Democrats?

Ironically, reading stuff like this is making me actually support her more than I thought I would.
11 Keith on February 13th, 2008 8:32 pm

Lisa Renee:

She JUST opened a Toledo campaign office and the primary is less than three weeks away?

I just get the feeling she absolutely didn’t believe she would ever HAVE to open a campaign office anywhere in Ohio.

She can win here and in Texas but now its a uphill climb.
12 Jill Miller Zimon on February 13th, 2008 10:39 pm

Lisa Renee I know what you mean re: pushing you in a certain direction. I still wish Joe Biden was on the ballot! lol
13 Jill Miller Zimon on February 13th, 2008 10:40 pm

Keith I think you are right bout this: “I just get the feeling she absolutely didn’t believe she would ever HAVE to open a campaign office anywhere in Ohio.”

But what about Obama - what does he have in Toledo? I don’t actually know - is he that far ahead across Ohio?
14 Keith on February 14th, 2008 10:16 am

Jill:

I don’t know what offices he has where. I do know that I’ve been seeing his ads on TV here for almost 2 weeks and I have yet to see a Clinton ad airing locally. But then again, I watch a lot of cable.

The thing also is that he has the cash to do whatever he wants in Ohio. Hillary is pouring her own money into Texas and Ohio and if she gets a split decision or an outright loss in both, new money just won’t be there. It does seem like Texas and Ohio are do or die for Clinton.
15 Keith on February 14th, 2008 10:40 am

Did you see Maureen Dowd’s column in today’s PD? It might be worth a discuss:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/opinion/13dowd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
16 Jill Miller Zimon on February 14th, 2008 11:04 pm

Keith - from what I’m reading around the blogs, Obama is just opening his offices too - so let’s be fair when we get wide-eyed that they’re just opening offices here now. NEITHER of them thought they’d be here but Obama is probably slightly ahead because of his mybarackobama stuff - that’s my guess. Clinton on the other hand has perhaps skeletal operations related to Kerry or her husband maybe?
17 Jill Miller Zimon on February 14th, 2008 11:04 pm

Thanks for that link - I read it and it’s still an open tab - I hope to write about it tomorrow. Interesting.
18 Lisa Savage on February 15th, 2008 10:12 am

Jeff:
“I’ll bet you lunch (once you’re mobile again) that Clinton steps down by Friday, 15 February.”

Actually she is stronger this week that last. Several new Ads, videos,much more money, etc. Just won New Mexico and very strong in PA, TX and OH.
19 Jill Miller Zimon on February 15th, 2008 11:04 pm

The letter by Erin has garnered a lot of attention, deservedly so although of course as noted, she isn’t the only one to have these thoughts - that’s a hattip to Bad American’s letter written before Erin’s.
20 Jeff Hess on February 16th, 2008 8:50 am

Shabbat shalom Jill,

Well, I lost that one. : )

B’shalom,

Jeff
21 Jill Miller Zimon on February 16th, 2008 8:54 am

Good news, though, Jeff - I was JUST thinking about 20 mins ago about how maybe by this Weds. I’ll be up for a Heinen’s lunch.

I swear, every day, I get up thinking, TODAY I will be able to do more than ONE THING for my family. Then I walk around, do some exercises and say, OK! Time for the heating pad!

It’s really pathetic. lol