Acclamationed

These don't happen often, but, with yesterday being somewhat historic (and today probably being even more historic), we've decided to step outside of our normal field and actually talk seriously for a moment. Please indulge us.

Anyway, what we're specifically looking at is what Hillary Clinton has done at the DNC over the past couple of days. She not only spoke in a voice of unity, trying to bring her supporters over to the Barack Side, but she was the person to suggest that the roll call of states be suspended. It really couldn't have been anyone else making such a sweeping gesture, at least without causing even more bad blood.

But here's the question that we've been pondering for the past 24 hours or so. Was Hillary calling for the vote of acclamation the right thing to do? Not that we really necessarily believe that the DNC needed to continue the roll call of states. After all, it was fairly clearly on in the roll call that Obama was going to easily eclipse the number of delegates needed, as many of the voters had made their decisions to attempt to unify the party.

Still, the one thing that it seemed like Clinton supporters were really striving for was a voice. One of the largest complaints they had after the primary was that they felt they were being marginalized, and that their opinions weren't being validated. Could it actually be more detrimental for the Democratic Party for Hillary to have ended the roll of states? Is there a chance that Clinton supporters are going to feel as though they've been marginalized by their own candidate, and could damage Obama's chances of reaching the White House?

We can't be certain, one way or the other. On one hand, many Clinton supporters are aware that the candidate most likely to attempt policies that they will agree with is Barack Obama. Plenty are aware that John McCain has even admitted to wanting to repeal some things that the Democrats and Clinton have worked towards. And yet, after one of the longest, most drawn-out primaries in history, one that caused bitterness to flow from both sides, with neither candidate looking across the aisle, it's entirely possible that having the roll call cut short will actually lead to more disaffection, and more dissension within the ranks.

Hillary Clinton has spent two days speaking about party unity, and the need to join forces to ensure that the Democrats take the White House. For the party's sake, she has to hope that they've been listening.