I disagreed strongly with Markos’ March 15 decree. I really don’t get what the huge hurry was. And I’ve grown increasingly dismayed, annoyed and disgusted with the counterproductive and fundamentally stupid campaign on the part of Clinton supporters to cut this process short by any means, which entails trying to destroy Sanders and alienating a big chunk of his supporters. Both these things seem to me to have accomplished nothing but to create division and lasting animosity within our party.
But I’ve said from the beginning that the super-delegates won’t overturn the result of the primary/caucus process. I’ve said that doing so would tear the party apart. I believe that would be true had Senator Sanders secured the majority of pledged delegates and I’m certain it’s true now that Secretary Clinton has done so. I stand by that assessment.
Given that as of this evening, Secretary Clinton has secured a majority of the pledged delegates (it may not have technically happened yet, but it clearly will once California reports,) it’s time for this party to unify. That means that sometime during the course of the next few days to a week at most it’s time for Senator Sanders to concede and to endorse Clinton.
It’s my hope, that the Clinton campaign and Clinton supporters will make a serious effort to attract and hold that large and enthusiastic Sanders base and to make it as easy as possible for Sanders to enthusiastically support Clinton without appearing to abandon his core issues. The recently prevalent “fuck you, you lost, you get nothing and can be happy to get that” attitude is no doubt emotionally satisfying but it’s self-destructive. I’m encouraged by Clinton’s speech which just completed, as she decidedly struck the tone I’m asking for.
The Republicans have handed us an historic opportunity by nominating a maniac. Please, let’s not throw that away.
Update: I should have added that this plea applies to my fellow Sanders supporters as well. The last couple of months have been nasty and bruising. But I commit to not closing my mind and my heart to any effort at reconciliation and unity on the part of Clinton and her supporters. We still have the chance to make this party better and our nation better if we don’t give up and disconnect.