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# Don’t turn to the dark side
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dont-turn-to-the-dark-side/
- Published: 2008-08-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:49:01.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Bennet Kelley The Soap Box*

TUESDAY NIGHT, ON THE 89TH anniversary of women becoming full citizens of this country; 36 years after Shirley Chisholm’s single primary victory; 32 years after Barbara Jordan’s keynote address provided “evidence that the American Dream need not forever be deferred”; 24 years after Geraldine Ferraro’s nomination signaled to America there are “no limits on achievement”; Hillary Clinton ended her historic campaign and began the fall campaign with six simple words, “No way, no how, no McCain.”

I was in Chicago 12 years ago when Democrats gave Hillary a thunderous welcome and rallied around her after a Republican Convention filled with cheap shots against her.

This year, she returned the thunder as Democrats celebrated the finale of her historic campaign, which began nearly two years ago with a promise to start a dialogue about “fighting for women’s basic rights … our children’s basic healthcare. Protecting our Social Security, protecting our soldiers.”

Sadly, some of her supporters are willing to join forces with those who have mocked her for many years and to embrace or enable a candidate who will do none of these things — even though Sens. Clinton and Obama have identical ratings from over 20 different interest groups on choice, civil rights, health care, veterans and other issues and are nearly identical on countless others. Her response to the so-called PUMA’s (Party Unity My Ass) was the name on top of the ticket may be different but the fight is the same.

When I hear the attacks still being made by some of Sen. Clinton’s more virulent supporters, I am reminded of two past conventions. The first is 1980\. I was a strong Kennedy supporter from the day he announced and supported his fight at the convention given President Carter’s record disapproval rating. After the convention, I briefly supported independent John Anderson before ultimately backing President Carter. Months after the Reagan landslide, I went to college in Washington where I had a front row seat to the next 11 years of Reagan- Bush policies to make me question the wisdom of and the price we paid for our disunity.

I am also reminded of 1992\. I remember hearing claims that Gov. Clinton was unelectable, attacks such as Pat Buchanan’s mocking statement that “Bill Clinton’s foreign policy experience is pretty much confined to having had breakfast once at the International House of Pancakes,”and questions about his patriotism in light of his draft records.

Ironically, many of those same claims are echoing among Clinton supporters about Sen. Obama. Unlike President Clinton, who entered the convention in third place in the polls, Sen. Obama has held a small lead since wrapping up the nomination. In addition, with four years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Obama would enter the Oval Office with more foreign policy experience than four of our last five presidents.

I am also reminded of 1992 because President Clinton’s and Sen. Obama’s message are very similar.Both called for new leadership that was “not mired in the politics of the past” and which would “make it exciting and energizing and heroic to be American again.”

To Sen. Clinton’s supporters, I urge you to declare victory. You have not only made history, but you are only 10 weeks away from making her vision a reality. I am not asking that you like Sen. Obama, but I am asking that you renounce your embrace of what would be a third Bush term. Your disputes about the nomination process ultimately will seem trivial to those whose lives will be lost or their dreams deferred should McCain win.

I am asking that you heed the lessons of 1980 and remain loyal to the party both candidates represent and to the legacy of the Clinton administration they seek to continue. I am asking that you work with us to build a country that “once again lifts its people and inspires the world.” Above all, as President Clinton said in his own address, I am asking that you once again believe in a place called hope.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 29, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/082908.pdf?ref=smdp.com)