"... And We Aren't Entitled to Anything From You."

There was a diary on the rec list yesterday that may have been quoting something I said in a comment, entitled “You Aren’t Entitled to Anything From Us.”  It’s possible the diarist was referring to a different Hillary Clinton supporter, but if she was referring to me, she didn’t post the entire quote, which I’ll do below.

You’re not entitled to anything from us.

And we aren’t entitled to anything from you.  Hillary said that she would work for every vote, and I believe her.

I meant what I wrote.  Neither Bernie nor Hillary is entitled to anything.  Neither Bernie supporters nor Hillary supporters are entitled to anything.  

Not pats on the back.  Not assurances.  Not votes.  Not money.  Not man hours spent phone banking and canvassing.

One reason I support Hillary Clinton is because I see her working hard for every vote.  She knew she wasn’t going to win New Hampshire, but campaigned hard anyway.  

Hillary Clinton engaged in old-fashioned door-to-door, person-to-person campaigning Saturday as she sought votes in snowy New Hampshire.

The former secretary of state is far behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ind.-Vt., in most polls, but is hoping to beat expectations and create momentum for upcoming contests in South Carolina and Nevada, where she’s seen as having a better shot.

Clinton started her Saturday at Belmont Hall and Restaurant in Manchester ("since 1932"), a cozy little restaurant packed with breakfast eaters. Biscuits and gravy costs $6.99, and there were old-fashioned signs all over the ways saying things like, "Coffee 5 cents."

Clinton moved through the narrow aisles, talking to Mike Houle. "Try the French toast," he advised. Clinton said that was a good idea.

Knocking on doors and talking to voters in snowy Manchester, New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/2dbemcv5rW

Reason # 45 to answer your door during primary week: @HillaryClinton might be the one knocking! #HillaryInNHpic.twitter.com/9QWlqafFf0

She knew she wasn’t going to win West Virginia, that there was a large segment of people downright hostile toward her.  It would have been so easy to ignore the state altogether, to focus on states more favorable to her.  Yet she went there anyway, and had a tough, honest conversation with a registered Republican to boot.  

As Mrs. Clinton stepped onto the sidewalk on Monday to tour a health and wellness center here, a crowd of protesters stood in the rain, many of them holding signs supporting the leading Republican candidate, Donald J. Trump, and chanted, “Go home!”

Later, when Mrs. Clinton sat down with residents to discuss health care and other issues affecting the community and coal miners in particular, the chants of the protesters outside could still be heard.

“I understand the anger and I understand the fear and I understand the disappointment that is being expressed. How could it not be given what’s going on here?” she said. “Because of the misstatement that I made, which I apologized for when I saw how it was being used,” she continued, “I know that my chances are pretty difficult, to be honest.”

As for Mr. Copley, he said he won’t be voting in the Democratic primary. “I’m a registered Republican,” he said.

She may not have changed minds, but she showed that she cared enough about their opinions to appeal to even those who would not support her.  

And even though Hillary lost to Bernie in Michigan, she hasn’t stopped advocating for the people in Flint:

Just last week, Clinton released a detailed plan to fight for environmental justice, built off of her thorough understanding of Flint’s challenges and long record on these issues. Her plan would eliminate lead as a major public health threat and modernize drinking systems nationwide.

She recommends vigorously prosecuting the companies and individuals whose neglect results in crises like Flint’s and strengthening existing laws so that criminals can be brought to justice.

Should she win the Democratic nomination, she isn’t entitled to Bernie supporters’ votes.  Just as Bernie supporters are not entitled to any promises or assurances from her.  Nonetheless, I believe she’ll work hard for each Bernie supporter’s vote, and to reach out to any voters who have real concerns about her record.  Because that’s just the way she rolls.   

And hopefully some Bernie supporters who dislike her will come to see her as a strong, hard working fighter for their interests.  Not because Hillary Clinton is “entitled” to their support, but because they’ll have seen those qualities for themselves through her actions.  

There's a lot more that unites us than divides us.https://t.co/DLS4wsovcL