2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWas it like this for Clinton supporters in 2008
I forget that I didn't support her in the primary but, it was very easy for me to transition to her. It's like when I hear anyone say something negative about her I get pissed and I love watching her speeches and campaign ads, just wondering if it was this easy for you to transition to Obama as easy as it was for me to transition to Clinton
Laurian
(2,593 posts)I came to love Obama after the convention when Hillary supported him wholeheartedly and I marvel at the wonderful President (and human being) he has been.
Wounded Bear
(58,660 posts)but was a Bernie backer in '16 primary.
No problem at all switching over to supporting Hillary.
Go Dems!
TrekLuver
(2,573 posts)Obama would be running now.
But I was very torn in the primary. I was a Hillary supporter and then this guy came out of nowhere...and I liked him! What was I to do? I voted for Clinton and I said worst case scenario is she doesn't win the nomination and then as a consolation prize I get Obama. Not too shabby.
kwolf68
(7,365 posts)I am still not a fan, have no bumper stickers of her (like I did Kerry and Obama), aren't even telling many people anything about how I am voting, because honestly I can't promote someone I don't truly believe in or who does not resonate with me, but my vote will be cast for her. That's the best I can give her. And sorry not every Clinton voter can be rah rah lovers of who she is. I am not, but she's got my vote because she is markedly better than her opponent.
If she gets in and I really hope she does, I want her to be the greatest President ever so she can win the millions of people who don't like her, and win over those like myself who otherwise should like her. And I also hope she does great so it could end the Trump tide and help America.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,854 posts)If Hillary had been the nominee in 2008, I would've gladly supported her.
If Bernie had been the nominee this time, I would have supported him.
I mostly voted for Obama in the 2008 primary because I assumed, after seeing the past Republican "inquisitions" against the Clintons, that he'd have an easier time gaining bipartisanship.
Ho, ho, ho! Was I naive, or what?!
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)obamanut2012
(26,079 posts)And yes, was pissed at how the GOP treated him from the DemCon on.
Stallion
(6,474 posts)Awsi Dooger
(14,565 posts)Extremely difficult. They were often disgraceful, here and on other progressive sites. There were literally ignore lists passed out around here, aimed at Hillary supporters. I didn't recognize this place at all. Many great DUers left and never returned. I don't blame them.
Other progressive sites were less antagonistic. The best back and forth, IMO, was on MyDD. Plenty of tension and heated discussions but Hillary supporters were more respected and not treated like alien threats. Many Hillary supporters flocked there. I think a book was written about it.
Sadly, MyDD is now gone. The final entry from the blog owner -- who veered radically toward Gary Johnson in recent years -- was written a few weeks ago.
Obama supporters tried to pretend that Hillary was basically the equivalent of Donald Trump, if not worse. Some of the characterizations of her on this site were every bit the level of how Trump is viewed. I wish I were kidding. If ignorance isn't sufficient, throw in loads of hyperbole.
I left for a few years, checking in only occasionally. Memories are fresh. Now it is more than amusing to see some of the same posters who absolutely ridiculed Hillary in 2008 now penning lengthy glowing tributes to her.
Many of us saw it all along, like when she got the best of Obama in the heavy majority of those primary debates from 2008.
No, it was never difficult to switch to Obama in 2008. Seamless and passionate. I did it early once I read Nate Silver's dissection of the primary math. He was posting under a pseudonym on several sites. For about a month I wanted to believe his projection was slanted toward Obama. Once I spent a few days quietly checking his forecasts of caucus and small state delegate realities, I gulped and understood what he did, that Obama owned the math. No reason to fight it, as a handicapper.
Besides, Obama owned a surreal "vote for" percentage. That is incredibly influential. I may not have been caught up in it but 68% of his supporters reported they were voting for him as opposed to against Hillary or later against McCain. That 68% is the highest number in recent history. Last I checked, Hillary this cycle is at 56% and Trump owns a regulating 41%.
Republicans spend so much time spewing hate while winning midterms that it never dawns on them that they need to rally around a "vote for" candidate to expand base and win a presidential election. I hope they never figure it out.
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)But I do recall some Clinton supporters losing their minds during and after the primaries on other forums. Clinton has some disadvantages when it comes to winning the hearts and minds of disgruntled voters though. I voted Clinton in 2008 and Sanders this year :-P I loathed her (and her most dedicated supporters) through a good chunk of the primary process, but came around later.
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)But I was quickly won over by President O and his wonderful family. I even fell in love with their dog Bo!