Briefly...

Senator Clinton today officially suspended her campaign, and endorsed Barack Obama. From all reports, her speech was most impressive, as she is herself. While she suspended and did not concede, thereby allowing her delegates to still go to the Convention, she has asked her supporters to support Obama.

As anyone who has read this blog knows, I think Senator Clinton is heads and shoulders above her competition, Democratic and Republican. She is incredibly smart, has great positions on the issues, is compassionate, is a fighter, and is a committed public servant. I hold her in the absoulte highest regard. But I am afraid I cannot, and will not, support Barack Obama. The manner by which he obtained this nomination is highly flawed, filled with voter disenfranchisement; vote stealing; strong-arm tactics by his representatives (talking to YOU, Jesse Jackson, Jr.!); bullying, intimidation, and locking out of Clinton supporters in the caucuses; race-baiting; sexism; and general disrespect for a Former First Lady of Arkansas, Former First Lady of the United States, and a two-term US Senator. I am afraid I cannot do as she requests. Instead, I will be writing her name in on the ballot.

I recognize that Senator Clinton is the comsummate Party politician, and despite the lack of loyalty the Party demonstrated toward HER, she is showing hers for the Party. Frankly, it is WAY more than they deserve after the way Dean, Brazille, Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, Kerry, Carter, Leahy, Cohen, and others have acted toward her. Way, way more than they deserve, if you ask me. But, she IS a Former First Lady, and IS a two-term senator, so it is to be expected. However, I do not feel compelled to show loyalty to a party that has treated Clinton, women in general, working class voters, and others, as disposable. I do not feel compelled to show a Party that has engaged in WILLFUL voter disenfranchisement in FL and MI any loyalty. As I have opined here before, the right to vote is SACRED, and for ANY party to disregard the magnitude of that does not deserve my loyalty, nor my membership, much less my vote. That the DNC not only disenfranchised voters, but proceeded to steal votes from voters in Michigan was beyond the pale. It was abhorent. I cannot condone that with my vote, and will not. There are, after all, consequences to actions. While many politicians may not be able to maintain principled stands for fear of losing votes, I do not have any problems with my backbone. That is to say, I have one, and it is intact. I am more than capable of taking a principled stand and maintaining it, no matter the pressure to do otherwise.

And the pressure is sure coming from Obama supporters to try to convince Clinton supporters to move on, and jump on board the Obama wagon. Um, no. In fact, hell to the no. Some of the supporters may not be as rabid as those whose comments I have seen here and on other boards, but that does not matter - it is the way Obama conducted himself, and the way in which the DNC enabled him, to which I object. So, Obama supporters can kiss up to me all they want - I will not support a candidate like Obama. I have no respect for him, and will not violate my own conscience to put such an unqualified, arrogant, sexist, candidate in office who not only is a chameleon, but cannot even talk extemporaneously!! I have had MORE than enough of a president like that, thank you so much. Oh, sure, he can read other peoples' words just fine - he mimics others just fine, thank you so much (excellent video at No Quarter USA that highlights this), but thinking on his feet, or crafting his own policies? Not so much. Like I said - we have had almost 8 years of a president like that. Frankly, I want the candidate who crafted the polcies he stole in office - SHE is the one who pays attention to detail and is able to effect change! Just sayin'.

I want to go into this more indepth down the road, but PLEASE don't throw the whole Roe v. Wade argument at me. If the people who are touting this argugment REALLY cared about a woman's right to choose, they would have voted for the candidate who has been working for a woman's right to choose for years, and that would be Clinton. They would have voted for the candidate who proclaimed Women's Rights as HUMAN Rights. Not the candidate who voted, "Present." Or who claimed that Pro-Choice Progressives do not understand how painful a decision it is to have an abortion, a COMPLETE right-wing talking point, and insulting as HELL. Don't tell ME I don't know how painful it is - I have accompanied TWO women to have abortions, and I KNOW it was not an easy choice! I have marched in solidarity at family planning centers against Operation Rescue, making sure women can get in, so don't tell ME I don't know how painful it is!! As I said, this is a right-wing talking point, and implied being Pro-choice is being Pro-abortion. The two are NOT interchangeable! Like Senator Clinton, I believe abortions should be legal, safe, and rare. That is a huge distinction Obama fails to grasp. So, if these folks were REALLY worried about the Supreme Court, and a woman's right to choose, they should have picked the candidate who will ensure women have choice. Again, just saying. (I might add, this Democratic-led Congress has done blessed little in keeping conservatives off the bench, Supreme or otherwise. They have passed along just about everyone Bush has sent down the pike, so SPARE me the emotional manipulations!)

Senator Clinton is an amazing woman, classy to the end. I am in awe of her. And I will continue to support her.