It's Over, It's Obama

“A little more than kin, and less than kind”

Hamlet
William Shakespeare

What a night last night. Barack Obama is now the Democratic nominee for the presidency. As a Democrat, I know we must put this primary season behind us. I also know that it will be difficult. This race became personal and many are not ready to let it go. The question to them is whether they are hanging on for the good of the country, or are they protecting their own self-interests. Regardless, the issues that divide the party and potentially divide the country are real and need to be addressed.

For Barack Obama to win the White House, he must first win back the Democrats. The race between he and Senator Clinton became personal and about race. Race an issue that needs to be quickly and decisively addressed. Senator Clinton can either help him or get out of the way. He needs to go to the areas of the country where he is weakest such as Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, and campaign hard. He needs to get out of the city and head for the hills. He needs to visit people where they live so that healing can take place. He needs to listen to them and hope they will listen to him. It will be a lot tougher for them to ignore him when he is in their town, standing on their front porch.

Senator Clinton must accept defeat. Her campaign came on the scene like they were the nominee and it backfired. If you study the campaign, I think you will find that it was about as fair as it could be, and that the tables weren’t tilted against her. Her campaign had some miscues. Comments were made that shouldn’t have been made. She let others control her message and it hurt. She now has to be the person she is and accept defeat gracefully. Her future is hers to enhance or destroy. She can either decide to rise above the fray or sink to its dark depths. She will make that choice in the real world, not in a vacuum. Her decision will have consequences and not just to her.

I hope that we can come together. I know I got caught up in it and am still part of it. I know that I need to let go and support the Democrats and not just Barack.