In your speech, you asked your supporters to let you know what you should do next:
Now the question is, where do we go from here, and given how far we've come and here we need to go as a party, it's a question I don't take lightly. This has been a long campaign, and I will be making no decisions tonight. But this has always been your campaign, so to the 18 million people who voted for me and to our many other supporters out there of all ages, I want to hear from you. I hope you'll go to my website at HillaryClinton.com and share your thoughts with me and help in any way that you can.Well, I am not one of the "18 million" people who voted for you, but since you asked, I'd like to offer some suggestions on what you should do.
Show some humility.
Many of us bristled at the tone of your speech tonight. On a night when it was clear who the nominee would be, you could not bring yourself to congratulate the winner. Nothing is in dispute. The party has united around a nominee. Withholding your congratulation looks self indulgent and petty.
Tonight is not about you. Sure you have accomplished a lot with your campaign, but a majority of the party has spoken. You might not like like it, but in the spirit of humility, you could have accepted it.
Tone down the rhetoric...for you and your supporters.
The campaign is over, so continuing to make the case for your campaign is no longer appropriate. Basking in chants of "Denver" is no longer acceptable. It is time for real unity and not just perfunctory praise. The first step on that path is to ramp down the campaign rhetoric...even if you don't begin your wholehearted praise.
Show some grace.
Now is not the time to start making demands of the nominee. A campaign for the VP spot before you even utter a word of congratulations puts the cart before the horse. I thought I heard an implied threat that you would hold your voters hostage for your yet unspecified demands. That is not a graceful way to end the primary. People will always remember the way you lost, and it won't help your cause if you truly seek to be on the ticket.
Tell your supporters it is over.
Tell them it is time to put their disappointments aside and unite behind the nominee. You have to do this when it is clear you have nothing to gain by doing so. You have to make it clear there will be no fight to Denver. That you will throw all your support into electing the nominee, as you have promised. Implore every one of them to join you, in no uncertain terms.
Do it now.
I'm not sure if you were paying attention tonight, but John McCain began his general election campaign with a full frontal assault on Barack Obama. We don't have time for you to dither and ponder your next step. We need to move out now. We have a campaign to run. It's time for everyone to get on board. Now.
Tonight was a missed opportunity to begin the healing our party and country so desperately needs. Tomorrow is a new day and new opportunity. Don't let it pass. Begin the healing. That's what you should do.
