Newsflash . . . Hillary Ain't Special

As you all know, I've been pounding the question: "What about the math?"

Yes, I'm one of those people who's biased towards things like . . . um, I don't know . . . FACTS! And I must admit that I'm crazy enough to lend credence to objective standards like . . . um, let me see . . . NUMBERS!

So you can imagine my frustration with the media after weeks of falling for Hillary's long list of ever-changing goal posts.

Well, I'm please to say that the MATH is finally catching on. As such I will begin posting relevant quotes on this subject in my sidebar. Which leads me to today's post: Hillary Ain't Special.

Now, this is not a personal dig at Hillary. Although I don't support her, I am fully aware of the fact that she is an accomplished individual who has inspired her followers and done her fair share of trailblazing for women in politics. No, my charge has nothing to do with her personally, but everything to do with her campaign.

So, again . . . Hillary ain't special. The same applies to my guy, Barack. It also applies to John McCain and a slew of other people involved in this political race.

Let's get down to it.

Word got out yesterday that Senator, and Obama supporter, Patrick Leahy had the audacity to ask Senator Clinton to drop out of the race for the good of the party. In an interview with Vermont Public Radio, Leahy said,

"There is no way that Senator Clinton is going to win enough delegates to get the nomination. She ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama."

Leahy released another statement later that day saying,

"Senator Clinton has every right, but not a very good reason, to remain a candidate for as long as she wants to. As far as the delegate count and the interests of a Democratic victory in November go, there is not a very good reason for drawing this out." - via the Huffington Post.

Oooh! You done did it now, Senator Leahy. I'm 'a tell Momma Clinton what you said! (LOL)

The "nerve" of this guy, right? I mean, where does he get off telling Senator Clinton to step down? How dare he? He has no right to say this. Why are people asking the WOMAN to step aside for the good of the party? It's sexist! It's elitist! It's undemocratic! It's . . .

nothing new????

Let's see. . . stepping aside for the good of the party. Why does that sound familiar?

Oh, there's this:

"It's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze it's path. We do not know who will take the final steps towards Pennsylvania Avenue, but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history. We will be strong. We will be unified. And, with our convictions and a little backbone, we will take back the White House in November; and we'll create hope and opportunity for this country." - Former Senator, John Edwards, January 30, 2008.

or how about this:

“Because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to stand aside for our party and our country . . .” - Former Governor, Mitt Romney, February 7, 2008.

Now I remember. Stepping aside for the good of the party and/or country is the reason most politicians give when they decide to drop out of the race. It ain't got nothing to do with Hillary's gender. It's not a matter of democracy. No, it's all about the math.

Sorry folks, but Hillary ain't special.

We started this presidential contest with roughly 20 people. One by one we dwindled down to the final three. With the exception of Mike Huckabee, every candidate voluntarily stepped aside before they had to.

John Edwards didn't have to quit when he did. Neither did Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani. None of them were mathematically eliminated from the race. However, each of them (yes, even the Republicans) stepped down when they saw the writing on the wall. Each of them stepped down when they saw that the math just wasn't going to work out.

Romney quit right after a disappointing Super Tuesday and a crucial defeat in California. He could have pressed on, but the math wasn't in his favor. He stepped aside.

Giuliani dropped out after a humiliating third place showing in Florida. He wasn't mathematically eliminated either, but he stepped aside for the good of the party.

John Edwards left the race just before Super Tuesday. Once again, he had every right to stay in it. He could have maintained his 15% showings in each state. He could have drained votes away from Hillary and Barack for the sake of ego or in some grand hope of becoming king-maker. But he didn't. Like the others, John Edwards saw the writing on the wall. He realized that some things are bigger than personal ambition. He stepped aside.

The Clinton camp would like to have people think that this is some travesty of justice. How could anyone even think of asking her to drop out?

I'll tell you how. Let's see if I can give it a try . . .

Hillary Clinton needs to drop out NOW!

My goodness. I'm still breathing. I haven't been struck by a bolt of lightening. Time has not stopped. The gates of Hades have not opened. I guess it is true . . . there really is life after the Clintons.

Ok, let me take a less sarcastic approach . . .

Senator Clinton. You cannot catch up in the pledged delegate race. You've will not win the states race. It is highly unlikely that you can catch up in the popular vote. Meanwhile, you're antics are giving the GOP its talking points for the Fall and both you and Senator Obama are wasting time, effort and money fighting each other while McCain sits nice and pretty taking adulation from your husband, Bill. For the good of the party, Senator Clinton, it's time to step aside.

Just like Edwards, Romney and Giuliani, Senator Clinton should see the writing on the wall. Sure, she's slated for a solid (10-15%) win in Pennsylvania. She'll get positive press and more "comeback kid" praise for about a week. But, just like after Texas and Ohio, Hillary will soon find that most, if not all, of her gains will be erased by subsequent Obama victories. We'll be in the same place we started, only with less money; less time; a weaker (more divided) Democratic Party; and a stronger John McCain.

Ed Shultz said it best when he reminded people that, after throwing the kitchen sink, Hillary is no closer now, than she was in February.

So my challenge remains. Hillary must show the Party and the people her MATHEMATICAL plan to win the nomination without:


1. Using super delegates to reverse the will of the people (Oh, and that "will" is expressed through pledged delegates as it has been in EVERY Democratic race); and

2. Strong-arming the DNC to change the rules at the end of the game by counting MI and FL after declaring that neither state would count.


So, like all the rest before her, it's time for Hillary to call it a day. The same thing happened to Chris Dodd when he dropped out. Same for Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson, Fred Thompson . . . the list goes on and on. Hillary is no different. . .

Hillary ain't special.

Recently, MSNBC's Chuck Todd (someone who actually agrees that she has the right to stay in the race) basically admitted that Hillary's best case scenario is the Democrats' worst nightmare.

Hillary's best hope is to muddy the waters so much, that this thing drags out until August whereupon she and Bill can strong-arm the super delegates into handing her the nomination. That means 3-4 more months of party in-fighting; declining poll numbers; and a lack of focus on John McCain. It would also likely have to coincide with the political destruction of Senator Obama and the subsequent defection of both the black vote and the future of the party, voters ages 18-30.

That's a pyrrhic victory waiting for whomever escapes that death match. Say hello to President John McCain.

Senator Clinton and her supporters are no different than any other candidate and their supporters. Each candidate faced this same scrutiny when the math didn't add up. Each candidate faced questions from the media. Hillary is no different.

And don't lie. We all know that Obama would already be gone by now if the roles were reversed.

Sorry folks. Hillary ain't special.