Barack Obama for President

I believe my credentials as a Hillary supporter were elegant. I started blogging in 2004 during the primaries, and I established something of a reputation at Daily Kos as a Democratic activist during the Kerry campaign after the Senator had received the nomination. When Hillary announced, I probably was the only long-term and recognized blogger at Daily Kos who stood with Hillary for the first three months of her campaign. It was a pretty awful experience. I went from being DCDemocrat of the golden Democratic credentials to being troll-rated on a regular basis. There was so much enmity towards Hillary in the early months of the campaign that the bloggers who now continue to fight to make Hillary the nominee (even after Hillary has endorsed Obama) were no where to be found, and the people who didn't stand up in those months included the names of all the bloggers who later became Hillary's most ardent defenders.

Many Hillary supporters are entertaining the idea that they can vote for John McCain. Last week on the night of the Montana and South Dakota primaries, I waited for John McCain to speak. When he appeared on the screen, speaking from Louisiana, I said to him, "Give me a reason to vote for you." By the end of his speech, I knew that he had not done what I asked, and I knew voting for him was impossible.

Other Hillary supporters are entertaining the idea that they yet will force the Democratic Party to nominate Hillary. As far as I can tell, there are only two ways to accomplish this end. Either Hillary must fight for the nomination, or someone must irreparably injure Obama's claim on the nomination. What is possible here? Hillary is not going to lift a telephone to call a superdelegate, so how can Hillary supporters get the nomination through persuasion? And how could they sufficiently harm Obama's reputation, given the unlikely prospect there's a smoking gun waiting to be found, without destroying the party; if they destroy the party, what vehicle would there be to elect Hillary Clinton president?

Hillary has conceded the race, and she has called her supporters to work to make Barack Obama president. I think it is time in the name of party unity to say that I stand with my party, and I will vote for the nominee of the party.

Last Tuesday night, Barack Obama gave a gracious and dignified speech. He was strong. He spoke to the policies I believe in. He extended his hand in friendship to Hillary and her supporters, and I have extended my hand back to him. He clearly wants and needs the votes of Hillary Democrats, and he has mine.

I congratulate all of you who have stood with Obama through this race. I congratulate Senator Obama, whom we all need now to make President Obama.