Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

Reporting from Denver

John Harris
has got it and it’s lethal.

… .. It also requires them to embrace a generational transition in which the Clintons — whose political personas once stood for youth and the excitement of change — are cast as sunset figures, two conventional politicians in their sixties being shoved aside by a charismatic young celebrity. “They are both going to do what they have to do,” said one veteran of Bill Clinton’s White House who remains close to them. “That does not mean they will enjoy it.” But Obama, too, is part of the Denver psychodrama. Some Democrats with high-level ties to both the Clinton and Obama camps said they were surprised that Obama has not done more to make the Clintons more enthusiastic about his candidacy.

The Hill adds more.

Only in America’s media world would the only two-term president since F.D.R., and
the only woman to ever get 18 million votes and almost win the nomination, be
considered “sunset figures.”

Newsflash: This continual storyline is not helping the Democrats unite. That’s
the point. The American press want to make this all about the Clinton’s “passing,”
as Obama takes the helm. Guess what, the Clintons aren’t going anywhere. I know
this will come as a shock to many, but as I wrote yesterday, there are two camps
in the Democratic Party now, Clinton and Obama. We need them both to win.

But going forward, no matter what happens, Hillary’s star is not dimming. There
are two many of us who continue to believe in her to give up on her role in
Democratic politics. We are supporting Obama because he’s our nominee and we
absolutely know we have to elect a Democrat. But our belief in Hillary Clinton
remains strong. Tonight you’re going to see why.

On the other side you have Barack Obama who is the nominee and deserves all
Democrats to jump on board to beat John McCain. It might not be enthusiastic
for everyone, but a vote is a vote is a vote. It doesn’t register in passion.
It registers against an unacceptable alternative.

Hillary will give a magnificent speech tonight. Afterwards it will be all Clintonites
(who care about changing the course of this country) and Obamamaniacs on board
for a common purpose. Keeping John McCain out of the White House should be enough to unite us. If it isn’t, well, considering the stakes, then we deserve to lose.