Should have been Hillary

Just in time for Halloween, the crazies have come out—and I’m not just talking about Ms. O’Donnell and her witchcraft.

I could have told you during the 2008 election that if Democrats chose an extremely liberal candidate, there would be hell to pay later—and as it turns out, I was correct.

It just wasn’t the time. Sure, the whole black and proud thing was appealing, but let’s be honest, folks. After eight years of him, the 2008 election was not the time to be rash.

Using Obama as a solution for “Dubya” was like using an acid to clean up another acid—a big, explosive no-no.

You see, people tend to get angry when you burn holes in their indoctrinated life-styles. Heck, some even start tea parties!

I was watching the last senatorial debate the other night, and Senator Richard Burr sheepishly admitted that there were senators in Congress that purposely stymie Democratic legislation without looking over it.

I would have liked to go along with Elaine Marshall and say “Come on you guys, that’s not how government should function! Can’t we all just get along?”  But the thing is—I don’t blame the GOP.

Republicans are ticked off, and I would be too. Change is strong enough without a leftist catalyst in the equation of political chemistry.

Now, If Obama was an acid, then Mrs. Clinton was a base—and no, I’m not comparing her to bitter, washed-out Clorox.

Hillary Rodham Clinton was the perfect democratic solution for an eight year scientific experiment gone terribly wrong.

She was experienced in the state level as the First Lady of Arkansas and experienced on the federal level as the First Lady of the United States.

Even in being the First Lady, she wasn’t your average story-book-reading president’s wife. She took notes, developed political ties, and helped to influence President Clinton in his hay-day.

Mrs. Clinton was (and still is) an exceptionally good, traditional and moderate Democrat with the ability to reach over party lines. She would have been more appealing to Republicans in regard to national defense and lean toward fiscal conservatism.

In contrast, for the good of the Democratic conscious (and the nation), she would have never backed off of public option in the health care bill.

Obama’s weak knees along with Pelosi’s (surprise, surprise) buckled under the manipulation of big business and the growing conservative private sector.

Health care was Clinton’s passion, and if she had been elected, health care would have been a lot less complicated.

Clinton would have stressed from the beginning that public option does not constitute a socialist government.

She would have loudly stated that health care providers would still be private, and that the government would only regulate the insurance companies themselves, making sure big business couldn’t take advantage of the American people.

Not only would health care been taken care of, but the economy may have improved. Think about it—her husband is Bill Clinton!

President Clinton balanced the budget after Reagan and Daddy Bush ran up the deficit, so why not use the resource?  

So, why didn’t she win?

Let’s not forget that in the Democratic Primaries, Clinton won the most populated states including West Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, and good ol’ Ohio of all places.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Clinton fell short in organization. The Primary was a race, and a good rule-of-thumb for all races, whether by foot or vote, is that the longer the race is, the harder it is to catch up with someone who is far ahead of you.

Obama began campaigning in caucus states before Clinton even announced she was running for President. So even though Clinton attempted to catch up with Obama, he already had an advantage in campaigning.

This advantage was mainly comprised of young, inexperienced voters and masses of African-American supporters who made up about 30 to 35 percent of votes in southern states during the primaries.

With all of my complaining of what could have been, the only question left to answer is “so what?”

It’s not like we can rewind time searching for common sense or anything.

America voted Obama in, and we must move on.

All I am saying to Democrats is to not be disgruntled if we have a hard time winning this time around. All we can hope is that Republicans make the same misjudgment and vote radically.

Let them have their tea party with extra cream and vigor, because after looking at the trend of politics here in America, we don’t like our tea too strong, and change tends to scald the tongue.

Elisabeth Jones, Staff Writer