The Choices for Hillary Clinton's Supporters

Thursday, August 28, 2008

I was not a supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton but, had she won the Democratic Party's nomination, I would have held my nose and voted for her -- not only because she would have been my party's nominee but also because she would have been far better than any of the Republicans running.

So I find it interesting that so many of the people, particularly some influential Democrats, who supported Ms. Clinton are disinclined to support Sen. Barack Obama, the party's nominee ["Many Clinton Supporters Say Speech Didn't Heal Divisions," front page, Aug. 27].

Are they so bitter over their candidate's loss that they are willing to cut off their collective noses? Are they truly Democrats or pretenders hoping to sow discord in order to help Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee? And if they contribute to Mr. McCain's election, what will they tell themselves or us when he nominates someone right of center for the Supreme Court? Or when he forgets that he's supposedly a maverick and shows the same lack of compassion and comprehension as the current administration about the problems facing this nation's poor and working class -- you know, those with one or no homes?

ROBIN JOHNSTON

Alexandria

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As a white, middle-class senior citizen, I strongly believed in the message that Sen. Hillary Clinton was sending. When she lost in the primaries, I felt that my only alternative was to vote for Sen. John McCain; however, after listening to Ms. Clinton's speech Tuesday night [front page, Aug. 27], I have come to the realization that I would be voting not for Sen. Barack Obama as much as I would be voting for the Democratic Party to repair the damage that President Bush and his administration have done to the country.

LORRAINE RENNERT

Sterling

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Bitter and hard-fought primaries are not unusual in American politics.

Pundits and spin masters will dissect, psychoanalyze and throw in innuendo, but Hillary Clinton gave an eloquent and powerful speech and publicly endorsed Barack Obama. Her supporters should follow suit.

The energy crisis, the budget deficit and the war in Iraq should not be forgotten come November. If Mr. Obama loses in the general election because of defections among Ms. Clinton's supporters, there will be a payback in 2012 should Ms. Clinton decide to run. It may also signal the end of the two-party system as we know it.

MUSA K. JAWARA

Savage