Is Clinton Saving the Democratic Party?

I know this may not be what you are reading in the news or on blogs and it may not be what you personally think, but I am seeing a new side to Hillary since Tuesday. I don't know exactly how I would label her recent approach but if I was forced to call it something I might call it brave. Sure this is easy coming from someone who feels certain 'his guy' is going to win. Its always easier to be magnanimous when you get what you want. But still I think Hillary is not deserving of some of the criticism I have seen lately. Granted I think at many times throughout the campaign she acted in ways that made me want to strangle her, but I am seeing a new side to her. Its a side that has most likely come about because she knows she has no real shot at becoming the Democratic nominee, this time around at least.

What I have seen is her courage to persist, but in a new direction. This is what I think she is thinking. She knows she cant win. But she has incredibly passionate supporters who have poured their hearts into her campaign and she wants to honor their effort. She can do that in a couple of ways. One, see this thing through to the end. June 3rd. This will make her supports feel she did everything she could and that her not winning had nothing to do with a truncated primary season or her being forced out. If her supporters feel that she lost legitimately they are far less likely to resent Obama and therefore more like to vote for him this fall. Second, she can use this time - and the platform that comes with it - to be constructive to the Democratic party. Granted, there was that stupid comment about 'hard-working white voters' that, even if not intentionally, did have the effect of implying that other voters are not as hard working. But I don't think that is what she meant and she has apologized for that comment. I think what she has been trying to do in general, however, is to continue to make the case for why she is a qualified candidate and by doing so from the position of someone still in the race she is going to ensure that all the benefits associated with primaries (voter registration, organization, etc.) are brought to every last state.

Sure some people think that she should drop out. But I think as long as her tone remains what it has been for the last couple of days, I think she is actually doing Democrats a favor. She continues to make her case - she has to if she is still a candidate - but she is focusing the majority of her criticism on John McCain. This does a very interesting thing that is probably even more important that all the voter registration and organization building. If she is no longer attacking Obama so forcefully but is rather going after McCain, now what we have in the news is what appears to voters as a united front. Even though they are still competing, they are saying many of the same things and this helps remind voters that in the end Democrats are Democrats and people should not vote for McCain if their first choice is not the eventual nominee. So while pundits and strategists are decrying Clinton for 'destroying' the party, I think that if she maintains a respectful tone, she is actually helping in the healing process.