Ryan ChartrandSen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as of now, is doing nothing but hurting the Democratic party. It’s hard to predict her motives when she invokes comments like the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy as one of the reasons why she should remain in the race. But one thing is clear: The only way she can win the Democratic party nomination is by successfully dividing the party. She, her campaign, and obviously her followers have been making arguments like “let everyone have their say,” “let all states have a chance to vote,” and so on. However, if the pledged delegates represent the proportional vote of the people, then the race was democratically over after the Oregon primary because Barack Obama won the majority of the pledged delegates.
Another divisive political tactic of the Clinton campaign is stirring up the issue of Michigan and Florida. Both states were stripped of their delegates because they violated party rules by moving their primaries to an earlier date. All contenders, including Sen. Clinton agreed and signed that they will not campaign in both states. Surprisingly, not only is Sen. Clinton, calling for the seating of the delegates from both states, she wants the delegates seated based on the results of their primaries. Though these states are crucial in the presidential election, Clinton’s idea is totally absurd and inconceivable. Not only is the idea unfair to Obama, who didn’t include his name on the Michigan ballot, but it also means those states will be heavily rewarded for violating the rules, which makes no sense. The delegates should be seated but not in any way that they will determine the outcome of the nomination. Former president Bill Clinton and his wife always advocate the idea of “follow the rules.” However, they are definitely not living up to their standards.
Lately, the Clintons have also unfolded another chaotic idea of taking the battle to the Democratic convention floor. This desperate idea shows that they are willing to do anything to win the nomination, even if it’s detrimental to the Democratic party. While Obama has been gaining ground with the women’s vote, which Sen. Clinton once commanded, she claims Obama cannot gain the support of “white working class” Americans, thereby making her a better candidate.
While I respect the votes and decisions of these people, I believe the majority rules. John Kerry and Al Gore, the two previous Democratic nominees, probably didn’t have the problem of gaining the support of these people, but the last time I checked their records, they both fell short of becoming president of the United States.
For Obama to have gained the endorsement of at least three previous presidential contenders – including Sen. John Edwards, former Gov. Bill Richardson, who served in President Clinton’s cabinet, and Sen. Chris Dodd – it shows they believe he will be a better candidate against John McCain compared to Sen. Clinton. Moreover, there are more than 300 million people in the United States and most Americans are probably tired of the Bush-Clinton family presidential swapping.
The bottom line is that Sen. Clinton should quit the race now, so that the Democratic party can unite behind its presumptive nominee, Barack Obama. The fact that Obama doesn’t have ties to lobbyists like Sen. Clinton and McCain do embolden his case of bringing about the fundamental change America desperately needs.
Henry Ureh is an electrical engineering junior and a guest columnist for the Mustang Daily.