All this "you'd better court my vote" stuff is just one last attempt to save face and weild power

I'd challenge you to search through my posts and find any consistent pattern of abuse toward Clinton supporters. I've done by best to stay civil and sane to the best of my imperfect human ability. But I've gotta tell you, I am not impressed with all the calls now from Clinton supporters threatening Obama supporters with their vote, or demanding they be courted, or asserting how much "we" (which should mean the american public and the democratic party, but in their minds means Obama supporters) need their vote.

I don't need your vote, the American people and the country need your vote. I have promised to vote for Hillary Clinton if she is the nominee, and I didn't ask or demand that Clinton supporters "be nice" or "court" me in order to make that pledge. That's because America is more important to me when voting than how I am treated on an anonymous internet board. It's sad how quickly we forget the cycles that have gone on here at DU during the primary season. At times when Clinton appeared to be taking commanding momentum, the rancor and insults from some Clinton supporters was nearly deafening. Now as momentum has swung the other way, some immature Obama supporters can't find productive ways to express their relief and pent up frustration after a long, excruciating process.

So what?

Waving your vote around, and boldly proclaiming that you'll fuck the country if your feelers and ego aren't stroked enough is no one's fault but your own. The idea that you'll choose what to do with your vote in a presidential election based on whether or not you were insulted by 19 year olds on the internetz is an example to me of why our country is falling apart. That's just the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard of. It is on final attempt by some Clinton supporters to exert power and control, to humble those who supported the victor and avoid their own sense of loss.

It boggles my mind. When things looked bleak for my guy, it honestly never even occurred to me to try to threaten Clinton supporters with my vote, because it never occurred to me to put my own ego ahead of thinking about what would be best for the country, or thinking about how to defeat an insane warmongering madman who makes bush look like a walk in the park.

Your vote is your vote. I welcome everyone to join in supporting the democratic nominee for president, and I urge Obama supporters to be gracious in victory. And I will go as far as to acknolwedge that we need party unity, meaning we need to come together from both sides of this party battle in order to defeat John McCain. But that's as far as I go. I will not pander to your bruised egos.

If someone isn't going to choose to vote based on the interests of the country, then that is there choice. And all their rationalizations and excuses for not doing so don't mean anything to me. They are responsible for their choice to help put a madman in the white house. They are grown ups.

A lot of us have come to Obama after our first or second choice dropped out. It's not easy seeing your candidate lose. Hopefully those Clinton supporters that are making threats will mellow with time.

Certainly there are those that will "take their ball and go home". But one has to wonder how progressive they really are if they are willing to forfeit their vote to McSame out of spite.

I think a lot of it is just the hurt of a loss. I think in time, the emotional will fade and the reason that democrats are so proud of will kick in.

because they didn't get their way. They'll either learn to vote for Obama or learn to deal with 4 more years of Dubya.

Couldn't agree more. I think a policy of ignore is called for (as has been suggested on other threads), cos its going to take some folks time to grieve. But bring on McCain and lets get going, I say!

There have been some rather sad attempts to assign responsibility to others for people's personal behaviors. "Look what you are making me do" is a diagnostic trait, and an unattractive one at that.

it's the talk of people who don't have the courage to face losing the nomination with class and accountability. It didn't go your way. Stop trying to soften the blow by being babies about it.

Try being an adult. You'll feel better about yourself in the end.

The reason I apologize when I say something stupid is not to try and "Woo people into the fold" or some kind of crap like that. The reason is (1) because I was raised to apologize when you're wrong and (2) because I plan to stick around here at DU, maybe not as much but still pop in and so I'd like to remain on good terms with everyone - including Hillary supporters.

So yeah, I'm not gonna go "courting their vote". They wouldn't have had to court mine, I would have given it freely and never threatened to withhold it.