CNN

IF HILLARY WOULD STOP WITH "WHITE AMERICA" COMMENTS AND BOW OUT NOW ... THEN DEM'S WILL BE FINE

REMEMBER HILLARY SAID SHE WILL WORK HER HEART OUT FOR OBAMA

no...Bush has made such a mess with MCCAIN being so closely associated with him the democrats can unite and win this election handily, especially with Barack Obama

I think the wounds will take quite a while to heal. For me anyway...especially since the Clintons are boldly continuing to tout their campaign as the one most acceptable to white voters. The race baiting is painful to watch and painful to experience. I've never voted for a republican before, but should the Clintons hijack the nomination, I may just have to hold my nose, vote McCain and pray for forgiveness from my democratic ancestors.

Only if Clinton chooses to let them fester.

democratics are not wounded beyond repair yet. but if those spineless undeclared superdelegates won't declare soon, hillary might get her way after all. everybody knows that's her intentions.

Both parties are bleeding because for decades they have pandered to social and economic special interests–and ignored the real problems of Americans in pursuit of controlling Washington.

The whole place needs a massive enema–and then we can start over. If there were ever an argument for a third party-this years 3-stooges will become the poster children.

Democrats will lick their wounds and move on. When they enter the polling booth and the choice is between the Democratic candidate and an elderly man who loves outsourcing jobs, plans to continue the war in Iraq and has a health care plan that amounts to "every man for himself," the Democratic lever will be pulled.

Not yet, but they are getting very close. Any more race-baiting tactics by Team Clinton and there will be wounds that will not heal for generations. Further, if the stuper-delegates overturn the will of the voters, shame on them and a curse on the entire Democratic Party. Those wounds will be fatal.

No, we'll be fine. Now that Hillary Clinton is finally imploding, more and more voters and superdelegates will flock to Barack Obama. He's already within 8 superdelegates of Hillary.

Since her recent comment about Barack Obama losing the white vote, she has alienated many whites, not to mention her few black supporters.

This will most likely cause her to do relatively poorly in the next few states, even the ones she's expected to win. People are now looking at her like she's the crazy lady pushing the shopping cart full of stuff. And they will finally start to give Obama the respect he deserves.

Hmmm, for now NO, but if Clinton continue and felt that white house belong to the Clintons alone then the wound will not be healed and that will be the end of democratic party in America

There are definitely wounds within the Democratic party but I hope that they can be repaired for the good of the country. For those female Hillary Clinton supporters that are refusing to vote for Barack Obama consider Roe v Wade. John McCain is definitely going to appoint a justice that will overturn that decision. Think with your heads and not your hearts. Do not allow the Republicans to take away right to choose.

I do not believe the Democratic party is wounded beyond repair. If ever there were an appropriate time for the word 'bitter' it would be in reference to the hard-core Hillary supporters. They feel just as entitled to the White House as she does. However, once a nominee is decided and the major issues are aired against the Republicans, I feel that all those hard-core Hillary supporters will remember why they are Democrats and reluctantly rally behind Obama.

Once the annointing of obama is done it will be time to focus on McCain and the general election. All of the infighting will be forgotten,except by Hillary followers who feel that they have been cheated and pushed aside. The republicans already are putting out their attack ads on obama and the 527's are ready with their attack ads to swift boat obama. If obama thinks that Hillary was mean to him,just wait until the republicans get through him. There won't be any mud or slime left in America!

Jack, let's have a history lesson. Bush spent his first five years in office without using a single veto. Why? Because the Republican party gave him everything he wanted. Democrats and independents need to understand that McCain may be the nicest Republican, but we don't need any more Republican party leadership.

Interesting question. It sure seems like it when one reads the blog posts and hears the comments some people are making about voting for McCain if their democratic candidate isn't the nominee. In a year when the Dems should have coasted to the presidency, the divisiveness of the party may be handing the election to the other side. I'd like to think that everyone will pull together, but a great deal depends on whether the non-nominee will throw all support behind the nominee – both give their own and show the ability to bring their supporters along. That's the only chance to heal the wounds and unite for a common cause.

Bow, NH

The wounds that won't heal are minor although they seem larger now due to all the press coverage and the media complaining about Hillary's continuation in the primary process. After June 3rd and after the Super Delegates put Obama over the top, which seems inevitable now, Hillary will either fade into the background or work for the Democrats for Obama to become President. I believe she's a team player and will end her campaign in classy fashion. The "nuclear option" would only destroy the Clinton legacy and perhaps her own future ambitions for another elected office. She's way too smart to do something that dumb.

There is no wound that cannot be healed unless the nefarious activity of race and class instigators, which the Clintons are begining to appear like, prevail. Democrats, as witnessed by the outpouring of support for Barak Obama, know that Americans want to look beyond race and class in order to reach for a more just and perfect union. One where race, gender and wealth is a distant second to merit; and the interest and just cause of USA is paramount.

Seeing Hillary Clinton campainging in West Virginia the other day made me sad.

I also hear the spin she is giving on her present sitaution. Spin is recognized now very easily. We have had seven years of it from the Bush administration. I don't want someone as president who so easily and obviously "spins" things.

Let her finish and do what she wants. We see what is happening.

Sign me Louise in Florida

Clinton wants it to be because she is a spoiled sport. She has tried to smear her opponents creadability unfairly and has now moved to outright race baiting. If she is not stopped soon there is going to be real trouble in November for the Democrats.

It has seemed clear to me for a long time that either the passionate Obama supporters or the passionate Clinton supporters would feel robbed at the results of this primary season. The candidates, especially Clinton, have made this into an extremely polarizing process which has thrown activists of political correctness into chaos. Either a white person keeps the black person down, or another woman gets tossed aside for yet another man. There's certainly a lot of reason for people to be worried, but the only thing that's going to give us an answer to your question is time.

Jack,

At a time when Hillary should be helping to unite the party, her recent comments made in USA Today only seem to want to deepen the divisiom. She is not only damaging the Democratic party but her own chances of re-election in New York.

There may be a few wounded stragglers, but this is the most energized Democratic party in decades. The Democratic voter registrations are breaking all records, and most Americans are excited about a big change in Washington politics. We can thank our current president, and his nominee, McBush Lite, for this new lifeblood in the Democratic party.

Tightly wound bundle of ambition that she is, Hillary Clinton will not graciously concede anything. She will go down fighting like Custer at Little Bighorn. The Democrats have consistently demonstrated their capacity for self-inflicted wounds. An unpopular war, an unpopular Republican president, and an economy widely perceived to be circling the bowl should be the materials for a sure victory, but do not underestimate their ability to fashion them into a defeat. The best hope is that John McCain will either have a senior moment or a temper tantrum between now and the election.

Ralph in Orange Park, FL

Yes, all the racist and gender bias has cerainly hurt. Just look at how people are voting–Blacks for Obama and middle class Americans and seniors for Clinton.

The wounds will definately heal. The difference politically between Clinton and Obama are few. I say the wounds will heal, but it will depend on what both Bill and Hillary do over the next few months. Will they finally rise above their own political ambitions and egos and bring the party together, or will they continue their path of destruction in a vain attempt to set her up for 2012? We need to unite to defeat McCain and turn back another four years of Bush and this disasterous Republican party.

Jack,
I don't think the democrats are wounded beyond repair but as long as the knife is still in the back of the democratic party the wound will never heal. I just hope Clinton get's out early enough to allow time to heal.

Jack, the democrats are not wounded beyong repair, they just have to move beyond the clintons, with a clinton supporter threatning speaker pelosi, with withdrawing finacial support, it just show that hillary supporters think the nomination and white house is for sale to the highest bidder or financier, the superdelegates need to end this blood-letting now!!!!

Sounds like Hillary Clinton to me, what's the story. She has always used African-Americans and now she's saying there's something wrong with educated people, they're eggheads.

By the way, African Americans are a mixture of educated and non educated people also. I hate to hear AA and intelligent people, as if all AA are not intelligent. Typical Clinton to be so divisive.

I don't think so not yet. I think there is still time to unite and focus on the end game. But I don't know how many more "Kitchen Sink" tatics we will take. But then again, I not a blue collar, working, hard- working, white American. I'm simply a hard working American who wants who wants to really wants people from all walks to unite and be a better nation.

If the moron in the white house isn't enough to sink the G.O.P. what could the democrats possibly have to worry about??

Her campaign has caused a serious rift in the Democratic Party. I am Independent, for good reasons. The Democrats love to fight more than they love to win. I find the Clinton's strategy of throwing black voters under the bus appalling. I will vote for Obama in the fall because we need a change.

This battle is over and it's time to coalesce behind the party's nominee. The longer Clinton continues the division, the longer it's going to take to mend those wounds, and we can only pray she sees the writing on the wall soon and start the healing.

It won't just be the Democratic party that will unite behind Obama, there will be independents like me and Republicans ready for a change in "politics as usual."

Jack,
This is a very sad event for America. Hillary and her supports in the limelight are not only hurting the Democratic Party but America and her image in the world!!! We remember Imms thrown off the air for racial comments and other media types apologizing again again. Seems to me Hillary is using scorched earth, bomb them back to the stone age to in this contest. Her true colors have come out. Sorry day for America.
John
Hovland, MN

Jack,

There will definitely be some wounds that can't be healed but overall any INTELLIGENT Democrat would realize that America would be better off with a Democrat in office and would thus rally behind Obama.

Erica, Atlanta, GA

The Democratic party will be just fine if you get Hillary & Bill out of the picture.

I am truly fascinated with Clinton's tremendous desire to effect this year's election. It seems that if Clinton doesn't leave at a timely pace, she will potentially sour almost half of the Democratic party and thereby influence the vote after she bashes and degrades Obama and, by handing the election to McCain, will be able to say" See, I told ya so!" What an ego. What's that saying "There's no wrath greater than a woman scorned
"? We better all start watching our backs, I think.

As long as Hillarys selfishness keeps her in this race, the wounds will grow deeper. Can they heal? Not while shes still in the race.

Are you kidding? They are just getting started. With the likes of Limbaugh providing entertainment on the sidelines as if he has any value at all in garnering any influence here. When people begin to mobilize around Obama(especially, the youth), there is nothing to stop it! Witness the media's attempts to keep the Hillary thing going when at best she has only a heart-beat of a chance to overtake Obama's hopes of winning the democratic nomination. When Obama goes on-on-one with the Old Man, there will be no contest! The only way is to rig the vote against Obama and that would have to be done overtly and not covertly, the massive grounswell is coming for honest government, honest players, and honest and above board openness of government actions. Obama is that man!

Jack,
Objectively, there appears to be about 10% of Democrats or 5% of the total vote in a General Election that cannot be "healed" when Obama is confirmed as the nominee. This compares to about 20% of Democrats or 10% than cannot be "healed" if Clinton is somehow (through her current convoluted proposals) handed the nomination.
The 5% who will "vote McCain" will be lost for the 2008 election. The 10% for Obama will probably never be regained by the Democrats.
In short, Hillary Clinton is finished as a present OR future presidential candidate. The only question is, has she dragged Obama down with her?

Im a Republican and will not vote for McCain unless Hillary is the nominee. No more Clintons or Bushes. Americans need new Leadership and new ideas. Clinton and McCain both represent status quo and will only provide a repeat of the Bush years.

The way Hillary is going she is creating that situation. She really has a problem dealing with defeat, and rejection. It's like she doesn't know that the race is over. She hear it but refuse to believe it. She act like someone who was told by her boyfriend, It's over. But, refuses to accept it.

Maybe for the moment and when Nov get here and people are still loosing their homes they will wake up and smell the burning coffee of the Republican mess and decide to try the Dems for a while.

I'm appalled that Ms. Clinton is claiming that working class whites won't vote for Obama. Just another way to call Obama an elitist and to add racism into the kitchen sink (whole house if you ask me!) thrown at Obama. Well, I'm a retired white woman, no college, who's been for Obama since his announcement to run and I know many others who are for him, too!

Stop being tough (a lying bully), be a lady and exit gracefully.

In one word No, if Hillary Clinton drops this foolish attempt to steal away the nomination from Barack Obama. If Hillary Clinton was a true domocratic leader she would get behind the presumptive nominee and fight to defeat the republican party and the death grip it has on the throats of American citizens.

I liken the recent DNC to the Chicago Cubs. They've got all the components they need to win, but the guys in charge have no idea what they're doing. And the fans (voters) sit around all season and discuss how they're going to blow it this year. Every small mole hill gets turned into a mountain, and by the time a long and hard fought season is over, all anyone can focus on is the negatives, and they try to assign blame to individual players when it was the loser mentality of the team that did them in. It might be...it could be...it is! A nomination! Holy Cow!

I think we can heal if we stay on message and get to the business of what we can do to help our country. Enlisting the people to work together to undo the damage done by the Bush administration is a first step.

Jack

I think the Democrats went into this election with as much
thought as Bush did going into Iraq.

Jerry
Roselle, Illinois

I'm not sure. I know that I once held great respect for Hillary Clinton, but after watching her assume she had the nomination, cry for sympathy, whine over the press coverage, throw a temper tantrum over comments made in regards to her policy agenda, mock her opponent, use race and fear to divide, claim that only she and John McCain were good enough for the white house, lie over her involvement for NAFTA, lie over her experience in Bosnia, and then suggest to her supporters that the rules and regulations of the democrat race do not apply to her and has somehow reconstructed the math to her favor, have made me change my mind.

I don't think Hillary made it possible for another woman to run with any creditability with in the next century.

If working class blue collar white males vote for McCain over Obama for no other reason than race then your country has far greater wounds than the Democratic Party could ever have.

The undeniable truth is if a person votes for John McCain then they should be content with their current circumstances because McCain is publicly embracing the same policies as the current administration. Obviously if McCain didn't intend to continue on the same path he would be publicly voicing opposition to current practices and policies.

Perhaps both McCain & Bush can go to Lebanon and put an end to the Shiite-Sunni dispute using the same formula they are going to use for a similar resolution in Iraq!!!!

Anyone who uses race or religion as rational for who they vote for deserve exactly what they get.

Hillary bashing was the popular sport of this political season. In November we'll know how her supporters took to that. Also, most, if not all, of Sen. Obama's 'problems' so far (Wright, "bitter", etc) have nothing to do with Hillary.

Jack, of course not. Both parties have weathered far rougher primary campaigns than this one, and have ended up closing ranks and winning the presidency. That secnario will be easily replayed this year.

I find it indubitably ironic that we've profiled every major ripple from every not-so-major Clinton/Obama supporter on the subject of race... but when it all comes down to it, Clinton and her campaign analysts are proving to be the most racist persons of all. She's essentially saying that Blacks don't know any better than to vote for Barack Obama and haven't studied politics at all; in addition to the supposition that for some reason, college-educated people are exceedingly and irrevocably ignorant.

Democrats still want a court system that isn't peopled by corporate lawyers trying to stamp out all our individual rights and destroy the Constitution in favor of corporate policy. We still want out of Iraq. We still believe universal health care is a primary concern and a human right. Democrats still understand that the poorest 95% of the nation deserve help, too. The Republicans are liars, hypocrits and corporate whores. We haven't forgot who are real enemies are. cy gardner arlington, VA

NO!!!!!! Hillary is not for Obama and she know it and now to play the race card on top of that make it all the more wiser for Obama to separate himself from her. I get so tired of people taling about the "white" vote - are you saying that the "black" vote is worth nothing? The same way Obama can't make it to the whitehoue without the poor white votes –Hillary can't make it to the whitehouse without the BLACK vote...Now report that...CNN is so bias I have stopped watching and am encourgaging my friends and family to do the same. Black people get tired of you all treating and talking about us any kind of way. The Rev Wright story backfired on you all didn't it??
You should take heed because the Bible tells you "touch not MY annointed"...FEED UP IN THE ATL

In November of 2006 I was happy, ecstatic, euphoric with the Democratic victories and the first thing out of Nancy Pelosi's mouth was, "No Impeachment." Since then, nothing about Bush/Cheney Impeachment, war crimes trials, nothing. Silence. What the current administration has done is most assuredly a series of, "High Crimes and Misdemeanors." I have come to the conclusion that the Democrats (pardon the colloquialism) "Don't have the balls," to accomplish anything beyond the mundane. They do not stand up to Bush, they have accomplished anything to stop the war in Iraq, they have done nothing on gas prices, they have done nothing on the mortgage crisis and in short, they have done nothing. Lou Dobbs, you have another convert to the Independent Registered Voter. I obviously do not earn enough money to interest either party.

Hillary FAILS to mention that most of the new, enthusiastic, young voters, and Black voters, will NOT VOTE if she steals the election in closed door meetings. Then, McSame will win. God help us.

Are we wounded beyond repair? No, we aren't. However, we are going to change this process so it's not so time consuming & costly.
We've wasted 5-8 months on this & we are all tired.
Patricia
Palmdale, Ca.

I rather doubt that the Democratic Party is wounded beyond repair, but Bill Clinton's face sure is. Jack, did you see Bill's grill at Hillary's victory speech in Indiana? My god, his mug looked like the main course at Red Lobster. Did somebody set fire to Bill's face or did he fall asleep under the sun lamp in an attempt to look more African American?

Not yet, but like someone with a gun pointed squarely at their own foot, they have an outstanding opportunity to do so. The on-going battle will only get nastier and the devisiveness stronger. this will inevitably lead to dissapointing someone and polarizing a lot of factions. Besides, if they're not carefull, soon they may actuially have to talk about their positions in substance, instead of hype and oratory. When the dems discover the cost of doing half the "hopeful" ideas and the "change" and the ultimate impact of them, they are sure to start squabbling and squeeze off a round into one little piggie or another.

The wounds inflicted on the democratic party are nothing compared to the wounds inflicted on our country over the last 8 years. The Bush administration has taken our glorious country into the dumper economically and morally. The Dems are mad this year, and right now, we are taking it out on each other. But after June, we'll regroup and focus that anger on the Republicans and it will turn into a fight to take our country back.

Hey Jack,

I'm sure the Clinton's are aware of the damage.
Even if Obama cant reunite the party by Nov. Hillary and Bill will try their best to do so come 2012 for Hillary!

I just hope people realize it's up to us to do the healing!

Vote Smart People!!!!!

I'm waiting for Al Gore's message to the democrat party before determining the democrat party is wounded beyond repair.

No, the party will unite after a canidate is selected. It would be much better if we already had that canidate. Then they could spend more time on issues instead of mud slinging.

OBAMA IS THE MAN WITH THE PLAN!!!

There may be some wounds that won't heal...or at the very least will take time to heal. However, I don't believe that the democratic party is scarred for life. A TRUE DEMOCRAT will be able to see that whoever the nominee is, hopefully Obama, is astronomically better than the Republican Nominee, McCain.

The best way to start the healing process, though, is to start unifying. And that won't happen until Hillary admits defeat -
so Good luck with that!!!

Yes Jack, there are wounds that will not heal in the Democratic Party.
I hear them eveyday from my friends and family members. Some will never vote for Hillary and some will never vote for Barack. Also, when I read the blogs on your website people are making rude comments about Hillary or Barrack and have taken hard stands.
Also, as far as I can tell people feel insulted when they hear that the party will unite an come together. As if they think people are puppits and will fall in line just because some BIG WIG said so. Goodluck.

Yes, and the media has been the biggest contributor to this riff. Just as if it was planned. You started by telling everyone that the Republicans were relishing the thought of running against Hillary, and it was just the opposite of what they wanted. Then all of the negatives that you ran constantly on all of the TV channels, and now this is what we have. So be very proud of yourself when you get this novice as your President. Don't bkame the older people who tried to tell you different, this is all on you.

Luckily the Democrats do not have to be at 100% strength against this particular candidate at this particular time in our history. What I don't understand is Paul Begala, a law school graduate, making fun of college educated people. When Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh neither of whom graduated college start screaming about latte liberals I can understand but I expect more of Paul.

Jack, After Hillary lost, I could not have been more healed if Rev. Wright
himself laid hands on me.

Jack, it is a bad idea and the rational is faulty. First, Hillary is going to quit sooner or later, if not today, then tomorrow, and if not tomorrow day after tomorrow. She lost to Obama in the primaries, and is in no position to bargain. She lost the election the day she voted for the iraq war 5 years ago despite her "experience",presumably because she wanted to create an impression that she was a macho woman, and now despite the fiasco and the blood shed of last 5 years duration refuses to call it a mistake. She is obstinate arrogant, egomaniac, and also a bit of a liar (like Bush she she needs a medicine called liagra to cure that sickness). She is an old guard who learns little from her experience. Recently came up with a bribe for the Indiana and North carolina voters in the form of gas tax holiday for the summer, despite her so called experience. And finally if Obama buckles to the pressure and takes her as his VP, he will have to change his slogan from hope and change to false hope and flase change!!! And you will see a exodus of young and new voters whom he has brought into the democratic fold, from his campaign and from the democratic party.
So Obama , beware!!!

I am bothered that some of Clinton's supporters claim that they wouldn't vote for Obama in the general election, or would even vote for McCain. I don't know what they would be voting with, aparently not with their heads nor with their wallets; it is so absurd, that I am thinking that most of them are not for real. This irrational and poisonous attitude has been indirectly encouraged by some of Sen. Clinton's comments, and this is one of the reasons why I believe that she shouldn't be a part of the next Administration.

Come on Jake, You know both Parties are wounded beyond repair, Time for a third party in my book

It will take time to heal the great devide that the Clinton's are working on. They will not take it to the convention floor because that will damage the "Legasy" and her daughter's chance but making it harder for Obama will not be a problem. When will all the media really start calling it as it really is, this is no longer about the Democratic party it's just about a Clinton getting the white house with white blue collar workers.

I am a Democrat and yes its Over the DNC Blew it and Blew Off Florida and Mishagan! The Damage is Done Florida will go in the Republican Side in November Thank you Howard Dean

I am sorry to see a person with as much potential for good as Hillary Clinton embarass herself like this. It makes me sad

No Way I will never Vote for Obama as the President never ever he is a white racist look at his 20 year church record where he rasied his faimily and his wife hate this country he is freinds with Farakahn “The Black Islam Nation” which hates Whites and Jews and he has a link to the Black Panthers on his website. Hillary do not do this I would rather you run with MCCaine that I would vote for and I am a Democart

I um Hillary, although she may behind in every part of the race, she would be the greatest President of all times. It's time for Obama to realize this and bow out now.!!!!

Is everybody forgetting Michigan and Florida?

No, they are not wounded beyond repair! Remember, there was no sniper fire, as was previously stated!

The Democratic Party is going to hell in a handbag with its system of superdelegates. It smacks of elitism.

I think just the opposite has happened. I am a republican who will be voting democrat for the first time, because of Obama. I know a lot of other republicans that are doing the same. The democrats have involved more people, met more people, and registered way more people than the republicans. I think the republicans should be more worried because they are losing voters. For the first time, people who haven't had a say in a long time are getting their voice now. I think it is great. I am happy that Obama won, and I am optimistic and inspired by his ideas. I really believe for the first time that things really can change. I am willing to do my part to make that happen. Who will join us?

No, we are not. The community will have to put their money where their mouth is and forgive. Then move towards reconcilation. Especially those of use who confess to be Christians. It would not be Christ like to stay divided. Evidence of the Holy Spirit always being with you will not be there if people refuse to come together for the greater good. That is to win the election and be the united states of America.

Another war is brewing. We cannot afford to be divided.

Wounded? Heck, the Democrats are doing what they do best; make a mess of everything. They lost two presidential bids to Nixon and two to George W. Bush simply because they couldn't get their act together. I don't know why anyone would think it would be different this time.

Yes, wounded beyond repair. Unfortunately, the republicans are wounded also. In reality there are probably three major groups, the extremist right, flaming liberal left and a supermajority in the middle. The question is of the remaining candidates, which two would attract the most votes. McCain already has his ticket and of the democrats, Clinton is clearly more appealing to the supermajority in a the general election.

The Democrates will only be hurt only if the play right into the hands of the other party. They're trying to portray the Democrate party split by race, however, we the people need to stick together and not be fooled by this RACE HYPE and vote for the candidate who wins the nominee.

WE MUST STICK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK!

Is the party wounded beyond repair? No. Is the Clinton family alienating themselves from the democratic party? Yes. The longer they continue this campaign, the more respect and support their family is going to lose for any and all future runs for office they have.

Hillary needs to accept that her time is up right now. Let her try again for 2016 after Obama's had a good run if she likes. Of course, by then, Chelsea will be 35 and they'll probably be pouring efforts into her campaign instead.

The Democrates will only be hurt only if the play right into the hands of the other party. They're trying to portray the Democrate party split by race, however, we the people need to stick together and not be fooled by this RACE HYPE and vote for the candidate who wins the nominee.

Getting over Racism vs. Getting Our Country Back from the Republicians..you choose!

WE MUST STICK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK!

It depends. Usually people have a short memory. The sooner Obama is named the nominee, the faster the wounds will heal. This assumes there are no dirty tricks played. Big assumption.

Anna in Prague

Jack,
No, I don't think the party is wounded beyond repair. I pray that Hillary will see this as an opportunity to begin the healing process right now and bow out gracefully. Will she though is another question. If she would take this opportunity and bow out gracefully within the next week everyone would benefit greatly.

Democrats as a whole, no. The Clintons personally, yes. Their behavior begs the question: what is the motive behind their brand of public service.

The Democratic Party has succeded in accomplishing something that by any account we should be enormously proud of, providing the pathway for a black man and a woman, simultaneously, to become serious contenders for the leadership of the most powerful nation in the world. A political party that can accomplish this, can truly earn the right to be seen as the greatest party in the world. But, the democrats have allowed this campaign to degenerate into the pettiness, and political manipulations that seem to have become the hallmark of politics these days. If they are able to rise above tired, same old campaign tactics and get behind the historic significance of this incredible accomplishment, they will emerge as THE undisputed example of our American beliefs in action. If they cannot, they will become known from here on in solely for their prime time entertainment value and will join the ranks of reality TV shows.

Dear Jack:

Almost, and it hurts to say it. In a year the Democrats should've won if they had even nominated a tree stump - they may end up losing to John (I'm just a Bush) McClone because of the selfish and pig-headed way Clinton has run her campaign.

from Charlotte, NC

We are splitting, not wounded. Some feel that that might be a bad thing, but we have all been wondering what a 3rd party might be like and we just might get to see that if Hillary keeps on splitting the party. It might just split the party into two separate parties. After what she said in "USA Today", I would find it hard voting for her if she somehow took the nomination away from my candidate, Barack Obama after what she said. I don't mind if my party splits into. Maybe that would be a good thing. I would join Barack Obama's half of the party. His vision is one of hope and change.

The party will be just fine when Democratic leaders develop a backbone and bring this fighting to an end. Clinton must be a part of the healing and that includes speaking at the convention and empowering her base to vote for the candidate leading in delegates. If she does that genuinely, my respect for her will be restored.

No, the DNC is stupid beyond repair! Clearly the party leaders were split from the start, so the nomination process has resulted in a tie.

The Republicans in Florida and Michigan changed their primary dates and the DNC is inept enough to exclude their votes. The Republicans have long feared the Hillary Clinton presidency. Had the Florida and Michigan’s votes counted, Barack would have dropped out by now.

As long as Americans keep focus on what's important, whatever wounds there are, will heal by November. Americans aren't that stupid that they would side with McCain just because Hillary is not on the ballot. There's a lot at stake here. And I really think Americans would rather take a chance at change than another 4 years of the same Bush BS. And we already know where that will lead us.

Americans need to let go of their differences, and move forward toward a bright future... and that is with Obama.

I believe so. I don't believe the wound is bad enough to allow another 4 years of what we are living through. But it will certainly not be a landslide victory for the democrats.

There seems to be a more disturbing divide that is being created as this fight continues. We keep hearing about the white vote vs. the black vote. It appears this battle for the nomination may be creating a racial divide between the people in this country.

The party division will seem like a crack in the sidewalk compared to the chasm that will exist if we continue to say that all blacks are voting for Obama because he is black

Wounded-There is barely a red mark. Wait until they go after McCain. his wife won't ever give up her assets she said today, and all that has to be done is bring out the clips of the Republican demands about Kerry's wife and Clinton's library to show the massive hypocrisy. She wil be forced to reveal things eventually. It will be all about McCain all the time-Hagee, Keating five, corporate jets, airport parking, violating his own McCain Feingold law, flip flopping, age, health record, inconsistancy, lack of knowledge of health care etc. And at 3 AM he won't even hear the phone. I can't wait.
Phoenix, AZ.

No next ?

Americans are a very strong people, I am confident we can and will handle this exciting contest on the road to the Presidential office. The finish line, no pun intended, is important in any race. In order to win, we must cross it.

If Americans can't handle a contest, then we should stop competition altogether. No Olympics because competition is too tough; or football, why bother, the stronger team might win, we should cancel football, the World Series.... are you seriously asking this question?

Nope, the democratics will be ok after Hillary is the democratic nominee.

I don't think the wounds are ever too deep people will just complain and say the party will be devided then at the end they will look at who they will have for president if they vote Republican. Then after the election everyone will just complain more because that is what people do best instead of finding the answer.

Don't think so. I believe the party will come together very very soon.

Bob
Rome NY

Mr. Cafferty,
I don't believe that there are any wounds within the democratic party, because I don't believe that the polls accurately reflect the views of the American people. I am one of those Americans and none of the pollsters has ever asked me, (telephonically or at a voting station) or anyone I know to answer any poll questionaire. Most of us out here in the Real World do not view ourselves as a Democrat, or a Republican, or Independent, We view ourselves as Americans and we want what is best for this country. In the end, we will all join together to support Sen. Barack Obama (the numbers are the only things that don't lie) in his bid for the presidency because deep down we all know what is best for this country.

No!Barack's message of change is what has attracted so many to his voice. His message is basically trying to get rid of the "usual players" or should I say "usual suspects" in washington. And I am sorry to say that Clinton is part of that group. Siding with Clinton now will only cause him to lose the support base he has worked so hard for.

I don't think the differences are irreconcilable. Even those democrats who might still feel Obama's evil will find him to be the lesser of the two. It would be amazingly helpful, though, if Hillary, in her all out, 100% support of Obama that she's promised, would explain to the white, male, working class voters how Obama isn't an really an elitist. Of course, with it this difficult to get Hillary to accept that she's lost this one, I'm not betting any money on the chances of getting her to sit down and eat a healthy helping of crow.

The short answer....no. They might have bent, but they are not broken. Once Hillary is out of the picture then true progress can be made towards healing this nation and repairing the damage done to the USA by Bush, Cheney and the Republican Party. If anything, McBush does not stand a chance simply because the sins of the Republican party have become so obvious to the world. The middle class American finally sees that the the Republican Party for the last 20 years has been nothing more then the "rich man's party" hiding behind the lie of false morality, false religiousity, false compassion, jingoistic patriotism and pure arrogance. If anything, no matter how weird things seem to get with the Democrat party right now...they still come out the winners thanks to dubya and his little band of neocons who have a special dark place waiting for them in hell. If anything, the nation owes the republican party a big thanks for the momentum gained by the democratic party as we all now see that republican rhetoric about "restoring dignity to the whitehouse" was pure lies meant to manipulate impressionable minds who will believe anything. Republicans made such a mess of this nation and Iraq and it will take Democrats to step in and fix everything. This is the same pattern we saw when Bill Clinton became President.

These were never ever healed in the first place. People just did not want to discuss it. However, the skeletons are creeping out of the Democratic Party's closet. We are seeing the Dem party is split down the middle. Split into red and blue. Its sad but true. The Democratic party is not the party of acceptance as they say. There's lots of hatemongers in the Dem party.

Probably not at this moment. But the longer Sen Clinton and the former president are still campaigning the chances increase that a spoken misstep will occur that will finish the golden opportunity the Democrats have to capture the White House.

Sen Clinton–don't blow it for your party and the nation. It's time to return home to New York.

No. The Democrats, no matter how wounded, will heal. They will heal because they cannot loose to John Mccain. This country needs change and reform, John Mccain brings more of the same Washington policies that benefit the rich and few, and leave out the needy and many. The Democrats will unite come November, because there is too much at stake to allow four more years of a Republican chokehold.

The wounds are deeper than we know. There are many in the Democratic Party who feel Barack Obama has overstepped his bounds by interfering with Hilliary Clinton's run for the presidency. She was anointed for a return to glory. Obama threw a monkey wrench into the works. The party will united behind Obama and If he beats John McCain the wounds will heal. If he loses– the wounds will fester.

The party symbols are reversed. Elephants never forget and Donkeys are stubborn and do only what they want.

There are high position Dems who haven't forgotten the "stolen election". Years later, they throw it into debates and discussions. Some Dems will remember Hillary's inability to see the truth and abide by it. She and Bill, have lied, race-baited, etc. with their win at any cost philosophy, and some Dems will not forget nor forgive.

Most Dems will, however, come together for the good of the party.

Right now, it's close. If Hillary stays in until the convention, then yes, they are very much so. It really all depends on when she will bow out and how she will bow out.

Jack,
I think Hillary should offer to run with John McCain. That would bring together two with alot of experience that have already worked on bi-partisan issues. Unlike Obama's unfounded claims that he can cross party lines, Clinton and McCain have worked together, along with other Democrats such as Kennedy and Kerry. Obama hasn't done a thing since he was elected to the Senate except for run for President. The Democrats are going to loose with Obama.....this dog won't hunt.
Laurie, Marion SC

no jack, come november democrats will be united and defeat mccain. it's all poilitics my friends. on to the next question.

I do not think that a Obama/Clinton ticket is a good idea. Yes, it might unify the party but it does negate Obama's strong point of overall change in Washington. It could make him look like a hypocritcal business-as-usual politiican. And it could be seen as a major betrayal to his supporters and principles.

Howard In Hollywood Florida.

the real problem is black and white are split on who can win the democratic party they don't have a winner if Obama is the pick so it will be McCain for (4) years and clinton in (2012) you can take that as a I told you so.