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Aug. 26, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ERIN NEFF: Time for Hillary camp to move on

ERIN NEFF
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DENVER

Today's convention lineup is designed to focus on the one-party, big-tent, unity theme.

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But delegates here who were pledged to Obama see today more like "Catharsis Tuesday," and they will be quite happy when it's over. "A lot of us would like to just get on with it," said JoEtta Brown of Gardnerville, who has supported Obama from the beginning of the campaign.

National media like to focus on the divide between the Obama and Clinton camps from the side of the losing campaign. And there are plenty of Clinton delegates here to keep stoking that fire. Even with a prime speaking role and a ceremonial roll call vote, Clinton delegates were still talking about how the Obama campaign didn't do a full vetting of the former first lady during the vice presidential selection process.

Maybe it's because Clinton really made only the short list of media prospects, not Obama's.

The divide in the party is perhaps more hurtful to Obama supporters, many of whom think Clinton needs to do more than heal her own tonight. "There has to be something in her speech to say, 'OK, we're on this train now ready to elect Obama'," Brown said. "The train left the station long ago."

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, who caucused for Obama and was later selected as a delegate, sees it the same way. "It's clear who our presidential nominee is and it's time to rally behind our nominee," she said.

Xiomara Rodriguez of Gardnerville isn't sure the party can handle much more national media coverage of Clinton. "It's like your favorite aunt has passed away and every day someone keeps coming up to you to tell you their memories of her," Rodriguez said. "You can never heal as long as it keeps coming up over and over. That wound is deep, and every reference just pours more salt on it."

Rodriguez, a military veteran, is readying her own speech to the convention -- set for early in the agenda Wednesday.

She thinks Clinton's speech tonight is necessary, not so much to ease the frustrations of her supporters, but to try to bring some of her voters back into the fold. "It's hard to imagine there are Democrats out there that would honestly vote for McCain," she said.

Gabrielle Keys, a 20-year-old College of Southern Nevada student, said she would have felt hurt had Obama finished second for the nomination. "I know they're still hurting, but I just hope the Hillary supporters listen to her," Keys said.

The big post-analysis tonight is largely going to focus on whether Clinton's speech hit the right tones of conciliation and whether the party can now move on. And yet tomorrow could also bring a whole host of new splinter issues.

Clinton delegates may see any number of slights. Maybe the Obama delegates won't cheer respectfully enough. Maybe some will throw hateful barbs such as "Yes We Can." Or maybe the pundits will comment on her outfit or her hair or God knows what else.

If it's true the press gave Obama "a free ride" during the primaries, then it has allowed Clinton to ride along much longer than she deserved. This is no longer a fresh wound. And any Democrat who wants to keep picking that scab is putting emotion over simple logic. You cannot win a close election -- an election that should rest on independent voters -- without nearly lockstep support from your own party.

And this cathartic prime-time spectacle may not change anything. Just seeing Clinton on the stage will lead many of her supporters to once again wonder "what if."

Tonight's stage show is more suited for Lifetime than Prime Time. (There I go again, being gender biased.) And John McCain is praying the Democratic diva will try to steal the show.

Of course, unlike many of her most strident supporters, she has too much class for that. She understands, at the end of the day, that a party divided will not win.

It's just taken everyone much too long to let it go.

When you talk to voters here, you get a real sense Colorado may already be blue. Random voters have all told me over the past few days that they can't imagine a McCain presidency.

A family from Colorado Springs I met at Coors Field on Sunday said they would be first-time Democratic voters this fall. The two sisters, their spouses, kids and 75-year-old father each said they were voting for Obama because of his energy or economic policies. "It sounds trite but it isn't," said Jeanette Collins. "We really need change in this country."

Collins said if she were organizing the convention she wouldn't have let Clinton speak tonight. "It's only important for her," Collins said. "It's like she needs one more moment."

Her "One Shining Moment" tonight should be her last. This montage has already played on too long. And if we're left seeing this on reruns, Democrats will certainly also see a repeat of the past two elections.

Contact Erin Neff at (702) 387-2906, or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Stealing an Election, the Whiny Jewish CIA Way wrote on August 27, 2008 08:55 PM: John F: She could have been a whiny Presbyterian woman. That doesn't mean I hate all Presbyterians. She didn't find me repugnant. I had to throw her out of my home as I was supporting her, for the most part, but she wanted to stay. Happy-Go-Lucky Summerlin (by the way, why do you wear "Sad" on your lapel, forever affirming that as your identity?). Anyway, Happy, I don't know much about other elections, but clearly Reagan stole Carters notes. Don't be an idiot. He had the CIA men do it in the CIA way. Are you stupid? Can you refute the facts provided in the link? Just Google the claims made therein. http://www.geocities.com/thereaganyears/1980election.htm John F wrote on August 26, 2008 10:52 PM: And I'm not surprised that the "whiny Jewish woman" had enough of you. Sour grapes on your part, perhaps? You hate all Jews because one Jewish woman found you repugnant? John F wrote on August 26, 2008 10:48 PM: Love All Around Summerlin, "A meditative rabbi might be objective about race, but Joe Six-Pack, and Joe Bagel are not." Nor are you. Lose the bigotry, son. Sad Summerlin wrote on August 26, 2008 10:36 PM: To "Stealing..." Ummm... with supporters like you, I am sure Obama will have no trouble winning 49 out of the 50 States this year... Did you black out in 1984 or were you under severe medication? Anyone alive remembers how poorly Mondale showed at the polls... at least he won his home State (something Gore didn't do in 2000, which cost him the election --- that's right, keep focused on Florida since the truth hurts).... I wonder... why is it whenever a Democrat loses it is a conspiracy? I certainly don't remember Dole or Bsuh 41 supporters complaining that Clinton stole the election... But some people would have you believe every Republican victory has come as a result of election theft... I rarely make negative comments on posters here... but you have to be the most ignorant of all... Stealing an Election the CIA Way wrote on August 26, 2008 09:56 PM: I didn't remember Mondale's loss. What I do remember is Reagan's presidential win the first time around. It was based upon Stealing an Election the CIA way. Yep. Party boy Casey helped steal Carter's notes. Reagan's kids had lots of experience with that: Stealing and Election the CIA Way: http://www.geocities.com/thereaganyears/1980election.htm Bush and Gibbons are not running for election this year. But you guys support an elitist who underestimates (4) the number of homes he owns, as he actually owns three more than that, ala (moron) Gibbons and (moron) Bush. How many homes do you own, Summerlin? How many homes do you own, John F? If you want any help with Constitutionl Law, ask the Constitutional Law professor: Obama. Sad Summerlin wrote on August 26, 2008 09:41 PM: Thanks John F --- you saved me the typing... Even without the Jewish thing... Pull Thy Head Out continued to make my case. "You guys voted for the Worst President in History twice, and the Worst Governor in History." And if I said it once... I will say it 10,000 more times before November... George Bush and Jim Gibbons aren't running for President this year... "Because no presidential candidate, ever, ever, ever, in modern history has ever been ahead by that much. Pull thy head out." --- I wonder if Walter Modale's 40% of the Vote to Ronald Reagan's 60% counts (rough estimate I know).... Love All Around Summerlin wrote on August 26, 2008 09:41 PM: John F, Senior Jewish neighbors from back east are color blind and not race conscious? What's the Yiddish word for non-Jew? Goy? Goi? What's the Yiddish word for black? Of course, the root origins of those terms are based in love. Yep. As a goi who used to live with a whiny Jewish woman . . . Oh, never mind. A meditative rabbi might be objective about race, but Joe Six-Pack, and Joe Bagel are not. John F wrote on August 26, 2008 09:33 PM: Pull Thy Head Out, Where did the Jewish thing come from? Don't make Sad Summerlin's case for him/her by being a bigot yourself. Pull Thy Head Out, Summerlin wrote on August 26, 2008 09:29 PM: Sad Summerlin sez: "It is my belief the Democratic party has spent more time reflecting on Obama's race than the Republican Party." That's because the progressives are hip enough to know that race is a factor, a huge factor, while Summerlin is more concerned with his lily white tee-off time. " . . . Give me a Democrat pundit that doesn't drop Obama's race into their speech and I will show you someone that should be a party leader." Summerlin, if you don't think that race is a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, issue in this campaign, go ask some of your senior Jewish neighbors from back East while you're out on the links. You are so incredibly idealistic and naive. "To me... if Obama was running against Colin Powell, there would be the same comments against both on the race issue, but I strongly believe more would vote for Powell based on his experience and character far more than they would for Michelle and Barack." Uh, Summerlin. Michelle is not running for anything. "This isn't a race issue... this is about issues and regardless of the campaign promises and platforms that so quickly get ignored... as America learns more about Obama's lack of a constructive record, his candidacy weakens... Biden brings some strength, but is it enough..." Well, I don't know. You guys voted for the Worst President in History twice, and the Worst Governor in History. The Democrats come into this election with a position of strength, but if the best they can do is continue to call McCain - McBush or Bush III, they will be quite sad come November... Why isn't Obama ahead by 20 points?" Because no presidential candidate, ever, ever, ever, in modern history has ever been ahead by that much. Pull thy head out. Ultra Right-Wind, Shrill Propaganda wrote on August 26, 2008 09:13 PM: Bud Lite, Can you support your assertion that the "dummycrats" are "sniveling and whining" during their Convention? Please support that assertion here. "Sniveling and whining." Or is that some kind of catch phrase you caught on AM radio, or on a Fair and Balanced Web site? I watched your link of Bill Clinton. If that smells to you like a jab at Obama,(followed by your question mark [?]), maybe your nose has been fouled by ultra-right-wing, shrill propaganda as heard on AM radio and the Fair and Balanced Fox "News" Channel. Meanwhile, the rich get richer, and you continue to drink Bud Lite. Read All Comments