Come morning, I expect to be an Obama supporter

[Tom Rinaldo]

And I am fine with that. Out of respect toward Hillary Clinton, I will wait for the Oregon primary to be called. Oregon will be called for Barack Obama and with that the final tiny window of opportunity for Clinton to win the Democratic nomination will close, barring Obama suffering a sudden incident of spontaneous combustion as documented in "This is Spinal Tap".

This has been an imperfect election season from my perspective. The candidates I wanted didn't run, the candidates who ran each gave me some cause for concern. Unlike many here it seems I had a lower expectation for what a relatively clean primary battle would look like, and more or less that expectation was met. Neither side was perfect. Each side was tame compared to what will happen later heading into November. I wasn't painfully disillusioned by either the Clinton or Obama campaign. I was far more troubled by the behavior of some supporters on each side, though there is no point in my mind to dwelling on that now when we will need to unify shortly. The mainstream media lived up to my very low expectations, but the blogosphere provided ample pearls of wisdom, taken from an unfortunately polluted sea.

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama grew in my estimation as the battle waged on. Their inner core strength increased as they each summoned the resolve needed to fight a 50 State battle for the Presidency. When I looked at the issues they actually ran on, I realized I could be proud to support either one. They are both solid Democrats; on economic issues, on international relations, on social justice, and on the environment.

From my perspective there was no perfect candidate running this year, but I know I will end up backing a strong one behind whom the Democratic Party will reenter the White House in 2009. I am fine with both candidates staying in the race until all the primary voters get to cast their ballots. I would have been proud to see America elect it's first female President. I will be proud to see America elect it's first African American President. I think Obama will be a great President.


edited to correct a typo

[anigbrowl]

1. Nice sentiment nicely expressed. Thanks for the positivity!

[book_worm]

2. It will be good to have you on the Obama team one of the classiest and

best of Hillary Clinton's supporters.

[goclark]

K and R ~

:hug:

[Heather MC]

80. What does K and R mean? I keep trying to figure it out but I give up!

thanks

[abburdlen]

81. K&R

Kick and recommend
Kick as in posting a comment to move the thread to the top of the heap
and recommend as in recommend as a 'greatest' post

hope it that helps

[Heather MC]

82. ha ha ha I thought it was Kiss and something else ha ha ha ha

thanks now my brain can rest for a while!

[jeff30997]

98. Hello!

Welcome tu DU Heather MC! :hi:

[InvisibleTouch]

3. Likewise.

I'm sticking with Hillary until it's official, and I'll be sad to see her exit the field, but I have absolutely no reservations about supporting Obama afterward.

[Texas Hill Country]

4. great sentiments.

[Swamp Rat]

5. k&r

[demokatgurrl]

83. Off topic but I remember your sig photo from long ago...

and it still makes me cry

[slinkerwink]

6. great post!

[K Gardner]

7. K&R

[Douglas Carpenter]

8. Great post!!!!!

[cali]

9. Thank you

If only we could all live up to the example you set.

[Shakespeare]

10. K&R this excellent, thoughtful post.

My path to Obama came by way of Edwards and a lot of heartache. I've finally reached the point where I'm very excited about his campaign, and am very much looking forward to November.

Delighted that you'll be with us!!

[JNelson6563]

11. Tom, we've had our differences and agreements

and throughout the time I've known you you've been a class act.

As a former Edwards supporter who is also on board with Obama now, I agree with you and am glad you're on the same train I'm on (oor at least will be by morning).

Cheers,
Julie

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. It's enlightening to go through this dance more than once

So many of us have backed differnt candidates at different times, but when we step back and look at the bigger picture, there are always strongly compelling reasons to come together to fight for victory in the fall.

I've been crushed to see the candidate I backed get eliminated before, and virtually all of us here were crushed to see George W. Bush still sitting in the White House come Februay 2009. If there is anything I can do about it I don't want to wake up some morning to some press conference by a President McCain. It is hardest the first time we have a dream crash, but the remaining battle is urgent, with the planet literally lying in the balence, not to mention so many of the values we find best about America.

I've learned to not hold grudges whenever possible in Democratic politics. We really need each other, and virtually all of us are acting out of sincere convictions that I can respect even when I have trouble with some of those specific actions.

Cheers for our Team!

[shadowknows69]

12. Good on ya Tom

Welcome aboard when/if it happens.

[Barack_America]

13. Come morning, I will be happy to have you on my *team* so to speak...

Although, really, we've been on the same team all along.

Thank you so very much for your support of your candidate and the way you've carried yourself during these primaries.

I only wish that I had conducted myself more like you.

[Doityourself]

Bravo! Kick

[eridani]

14. Perfect candidate =

Being right about damned near everything like Kucinich, a fiery populist orator like Edwards with a resume as long as Richardson's, who can organize like Obama. We don't have such a candidate, so I'll go with the organizer.

[Adelante]

15. I'll be glad to be on the same side again

I've really missed you :cry:

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. Me too Jersey (that tag goes back a ways for those who don't know it) nt

[tekisui]

16. You are a good egg, Tom!

Great post. Good to have you here.

[Geek_Girl]

17. Kick

:dem:

[RichardRay]

19. I bow in your general direction. n/t

[yardwork]

21. K&R for one of DU's best.

[knixphan]

22. come morning, I'll be making you a martini!

[Tom Rinaldo]

25. About 1:00 AM that should taste great! n/t

[SoonerPride]

23. K & R

I voted for Hillary in our primary and then have switched to Obama as I see him as the eventual nominee.

Nice post.

:pals:

[DevonRex]

24. Thanks for being a great dem! We need you to defeat McCain. nt

[Straight Shooter]

26. Tom Rinaldo, cleverly disguised as a departed Pope, releases the dove of peace into GDP.

[Tom Rinaldo]

27. That pope would role over in his grave

if he saw my name get linked to him, lol

[Straight Shooter]

31. Why, pray tell?

I must be missing something about your name. :smoke:

[Tom Rinaldo]

32. You could say some prayer might be in order

I think he might find my Catholicism somewhat lacking based on the standard indicators, lol

[Tom Rinaldo]

33. P.S.

Although I did once work for Catholic Charities (homeless youth issues) so maybe he would cut me a little slack.

[Straight Shooter]

36. Aha.

I belong to The Church of the Lapsed Catholic. I was useless as a believer, anyway, and when I was a little kid I used to see how long I could keep the Holy Communion stuck to the roof of my mouth before it disintegrated.

But I love that pic of the Pope. :)

[Tom Rinaldo]

43. It is a lovely photo. I can see why you like it. n/t

[a la izquierda]

78. oh my gosh,

me too. i always got pinched by my grandma, who knew what i was doing.

[DFW]

100. But Tom, the physical resemblance is so striking!

Well, OK, maybe not when you get close up...........

[road2000]

28. Beautifully said.

A toast to you from a 6-year veteran of Drafting Gore!

[jenmito]

29. For the first time I believe someone starting an "I'm changing my choice" thread.

Good post! And welcome in advance. :hi:

[madfloridian]

30. Nice post, Tom.

And I will let up any criticism when she gets honest about FL and helps us heal in this state.

[Mz Pip]

34. From one

former Clarkie to another: Let's kick some McCain butt in Nov!

I agree that both were good candidates and we all need to work together to put a Democrat in the White House.

[moondust]

35. Most gracious.

Well put. :)

[mkultra]

37. i love democrats

[grantcart]

38. And you will have arrived as an Obama supporter with more dignity

than a lot of your predecessors have. I have look forward to this genererous statement for some time and welcome somebody whose support of Senator Clinton I have respected.

[Tatiana]

39. You are such a classy person.

I, for one, would be a happy to be working alongside you on the same team.

[Tom Rinaldo]

41. Your comment, and similar ones by others on this thread, is much appreciated

There are some truly fine Obama supporters on DU, as well many fine activists for whom he was not their first choice or even their second. Soon though he will be our choice for President and we will be working alongside each other towards that end. It is a relief to close ranks. I don't begrude any Clinton supporter or undecided Democrat holding back now if that is what they feel they still have to do. But once we formally have our nominee there should be no looking back.

[robertpaulsen]

40. I have to ask about the candidate you wanted who didn't run.

Just curious. Was it Gore?

[Tom Rinaldo]

42. Clark, then Gore. Those were my big two. I liked Feingold also...

though I thought he might be harder to elect.

[madmunchie]

45. Mine to, Gore, Clark, Gore....when it became apparent Gore wasn't though, I went to Obama

I hope Clark soon joins his team, he would be a valuable asset to the Obama Presidency.

[DFW]

101. Gore was my dream as well.

I actually get to meet him again in ten days!!

When it became certain he REALLY was not interested,
I just dropped out, gave some token donations here and
there, but mostly just to the DNC. I'm still pretty much
of the same position--our nominee, whoever it is, MUST
win the White House. All else is background music.

[nemo137]

113. Man, I'd have given a kidney to see Feingold run.

I'd love to have someone with the same accent as me in the Whitehouse for once, as shallow as the sounds, above and beyond his manifold awesomeness.

[Tennessee Gal]

44. Come morning I will still be a lifelong Democrat.

[Tom Rinaldo]

46. To the point. The most important point. Thanks for those words n/t

[roseBudd]

47. Welcome, I think you will see he is wise beyond his years n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

49. I've believed that for a while already.

Obama has exceptional talent and leadership abilities.

[roseBudd]

54. I agree, and if not now, when?

[progdog]

48. Thank you

n/t

[kid a]

50. K & R -

[scheming daemons]

51. Nice post.... now if you could only convince others....

[Kahuna]

52. You're the best Tom. No matter how much I disagree with you at times,

I can never bring myself to disrepect you. :pals:

[myrna minx]

53. I have nothing but the utmost respect for you Tom.

You epitomize thoughtfulness and grace. We're fortunate to have you here in this pit.

[pnwmom]

55. Well said, Tom. We should be proud as we head

into the general election. The primary has only strengthened both candidates and our general position. And Obama will make a great President.

[windbreeze]

56. Thank YOU...Tom Rinaldo...

I appreciate your insight and your thoughts...wb

[onehandle]

57. Very good. More class than many on the winning side around here.

Don't expect them to congratulate you. It's not in some of them.

I followed Edwards down this path.

Well done to you.

Oh, and being a Hillary supporter, you're likely on certain lists floating around. So am I and I was never a Hillary supporter.

Which tells you more about them than us.

What's funny is they won't see your thoughtful post. Funny that.

[ExPatLeftist]

71. Way to shit on an otherwise classy thread.

There are/were loudmouthed assholes on all sides. More than enough to go around. The OP suggests a truce and unity and you "agree" and then go on to bash Obama supporters, which seems to me to completely miss the point of this thread.

Let's stop the moot argument about who is/was "worse", remember that those people were all individuals - not representatives of the campaigns they nominally supported, and come together as the OP suggests.

[onehandle]

89. No one is going to forget what happened around here this year.

Why do you think that DU had to prod us so much for the drive this Quarter?

GD-P was handled badly. And both sides had their share of bad behavior.

Seeing as I was attacked by the winning side because I was on neither side is telling.

I never said that the actions of DUers had anything to do with the campaign. Far from it.

Good thing for the Party.

[ExPatLeftist]

107. You seem to forget...

That you were not attacked by a "side", rather by a few individuals.

It was not a conspiracy, rather a few loose cannons letting off steam in an inappropriate way.

But they each have to answer for themselves, and the rest of us that happen to support the same candidate have nothing to do with it.

[Colobo]

58. Thanks Tom- GoDemocrats!

[Crunchy Frog]

59. Welcome to fold Tom, and let's kick ASS in November.

:toast:

[Tom Rinaldo]

66. Thanks Crunch!

The splits in old Clarkie ranks has been tough but I knew you were backing who you really believed in. Obama is a good man. I think he is prepared now to take on McCain and win. And we can help!

[Shae]

60. Great post.

Soon we get ready for the real fight.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

61. thanks Tom. I didn't even know who Obama was 7 months ago....

and my preference was based on priorities:

1. had to be opposed to the Iraq war,
2. opposed to pre-emptive wars,
3. change change change

There were SO many good democrats running it was almost awful.
I think any of them would make a great president!

Kucinich, Dodd, Biden, Edwards, Richardson, Obama.....how do you choose?

I never dreamed it would come down to Obama, and had narrowed my choice
down to Obama or Edwards, based on the war vote and populism.

When Edwards dropped out, I chose Obama.

The more I learned about him and studied him, the more I liked the
way he conducted himself.

[Oldtimeralso]

62. Tom, great post!

Tom on your day job I think you might have seen some of my work cross you path.(Brotherhood vs NRPC)

[ZinZen]

63. Tom, you are one of Hillary's classiest and

eloquent supporters. Great post.

[ladeyday]

64. Thank you &

if the roles were reversed, it would be me backing Clinton

[liberaltrucker]

Brilliantly and tactfully said. Welcome.

:toast:

[ekwhite]

65. Thank you Tom

I'm glad to be on your team. :thumbsup:

[ruby slippers]

67. you are a loyal supporter and we welcome you to a brave new world

[Sunnyshine]

68. K&R- Thoughtful folks like Tom are at the heart of The Democratic Party.

May your post be the harbinger of party unity behind the common goals and dreams we all share. Thanks for restoring my spirit, while inspiring us to pay it forward, to the better way of doing things.

Plus, I can't wait to focus on The McW's, who are still actively trying to put out the sun and swindle America out of a brighter future. They know our side is loaded with lots of current ammo!
The GOP are shakin' in der boots. :scared:

Go US 08!:kick: Thank you Tom Rinaldo! :patriot:

[ObamaKerryDem]

69. What a great post! :) k&r

Thank you so much for your insight. It's great to see such an example of party unity. Oh and welcome to the team! ;) :D

[JustinL]

70. thank you! great post!

[ExPatLeftist]

72. Welcome.

Together we can win the White House in November and begin the long, difficult process of repairing our nation next January.

A very classy post and sentiments that I am sure are widespread. I would have gladly voted for Hillary Clinton in November. The past is done, the time for unity is now.

Thanks, Tom.

[quantass]

73. Good Morning, Tom!

[Maureen1322]

74. I am a Democrat who supports Hillary and come June (after everyone votes),

I will proudly support Barack. Defeating McCain in Nov. and saving our country is the goal.

[Aloha Spirit]

84. Thank you Maureen, for keeping your eyes on the prize.

:yourock:

[thoughtcrime1984]

75. So shines a good deed in a weary world. Thanks for taking the time to put reason into words.

Let's get that WH back.

[PA Democrat]

76. Great post Tom.

I was originally an Edwards supporter, but moved to Obama after Edwards dropped out.

I think your comment about there being "no perfect candidate" is something that we all can consider. We all judge candidates on what we perceive as their individual pros and cons. Everyone has their own formula based upon their own life experiences and issues. But what we must remember is that no one will be the perfect candidate for every person. It's a matter of compromise and choosing who is best.

Any of the Democratic candidates were MILES ahead of any of the Republicans. That's why I always said i would vote for whomever was the Democratic candidate. We just can't afford McCain.

[Name removed]

77. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SaveAmerica]

79. Noticing your new avatar : )

[Bucky]

85. "... there was no perfect candidate running this year..."

Nor has there been, at least since Adlai.

[Tom Rinaldo]

86. Gotta love a Presidential candidate with holes in his shoe soles n/t

[DevonRex]

87. Good morning Tom! nt

[shagsak]

88. Bigtime K & R

Unity is spreading.

[bpeale]

90. and this morning i have become a Nader supporter & advocate of a third party

we need that in this country when we have no choice at the polls.

[SoonerPride]

94. Adios, then.

Bye

[Barrymores Ghost]

96. C ya! n/t

[1trackmindGOP]

91. Nice post and Great attitude!

Thanks for posting positive stuff.

[Indenturedebtor]

92. Welcome aboard m8 :D

To Pennsylvania Avenue! :bounce:

[helderheid]

93. Nice avatar!

:hi:

[sojourner]

95. nicely said

[Barrymores Ghost]

97. Good morning, Tom. Thanks...and, welcome! n/t

[Shoelace]

99. to paraphrase Will Rogers, I never met a Democrat I didn't like

and you Tom Rinaldo are the heart and soul of our party. Couldn't have said it better myself. After all the bickering and infighting here, how refreshing to finally see us re-unite to win in November. We all know what's at stake.

[NJmaverick]

102. Good for You! and Welcome!

[Lena inRI]

103. Dupe comment <nt>

[Lena inRI]

104. Great news, Tom. . .

. . .happy to be shoulder to shoulder with you now on Team Obama.

Where's our General. . .General. . .YooHoo?

Happy Days Are a Comin' !

:grouphug: :kick: :grouphug: :kick: :grouphug:

[Binx]

105. WOW.

This is really a wonderful post to read. I am an Obama supporter by way of Edwards who has been making the rounds of other ostensibly Democratic blogs in an attempt to promote unity between the Obama and the Clinton camps. I have never been so shocked and disappointed than I was after reading the comments at Taylor Marsh and TalkLeft.

The real enemy is the Bush Administration and the Republicans, not fellow Dems from whatever camp. Thanks for your big hearted post.

[Mudoria]

106. Once Hillary concedes I'll join you in voting

for BO for President. But that only happens because he has a D following his name. I think he'll be an ineffective and possibly bad president but the alternative is worse. I wish I could be as happy as I was when Gore ran..

[Jackpine Radical]

108. Hey, it's morning.

And we still respect you.

[newmajority]

109. Welcome to the New Majority, Tom!

Hey, I know you're an old "Clarkie" from the previous campaign in 2004. What do you think about the General as Obama's running mate?

[Pilgrim4Progress]

110. Great post, Tom!

Glad to have your clear and logical perspective.

[Viracocha711]

111. I disagree...And then Agree!

Hillary did not start the primary campaign as a 50 state contest. No, she started with arrogance as the walk in Democrat nominee! Obama started the primary ready to go 50 states and Billary has yet to catch up...Now, she is in bed with Karl Rove and Fox News which further shows she is about Hillary and nothing else...Now that Obama has the majority of pledged delegates she needs to tone it down so that the party can come together and stop this talk of going to the convention!

No, I do not want Hillary as VP...All her and Bill will do is try to operate the VP like Dick Cheney!

I really feel Obama can win without the uneducated white vote! And I am white! GO OBAMA!



Check out the T http://www.zazzle.com/typical_white_for_obama_shirt-235320310849579360

[democrattotheend]

112. Yay, you changed your icon!

Kudos, and welcome to the cult!

[Robeson]

114. You've got class...

...nicely said.

[knixphan]

115. drinks are on me!

:toast: