Sen. Clinton,

I was with you from the very start, even when I discovered Barack Obama and hoped that he would be running for this office against you. I think that you have a lock on the policy issues, particularly health care. Sen. Obama is wrong to propose simply lowering the cost of individual health insurance policies, because while that may allow more lower-income families to purchase health insurance, it does nothing to prevent private health insurance corporations from denying coverage, rejecting claims, or setting deductibles so high that people cannot afford to pay them. That said, it’s important to point out that this is the strongest field of democrats I’ve ever seen, and I’ve never been so enthusiastic about a group of politicians.

I think that is unfortunate that your campaign has been plagued by misogynistic snipes from the media. It is unfortunate that people are allowed to joke about what your husband would do when left unsupervised in the White House, and that they are allowed to speculate about the power he would have in your administration. I think that it is unfortunate that your policy ideas are overshadowed by public opinion about strong, independent women and what they would do with power. And I think that it is interesting that the media has avoided or veiled any racist content, but has apparently not been so scrupulous when the topics turn to sex and gender.

But I know that you are an extremely polarizing figure, and that many people are angered by the mere mention of your name. That presents a big problem in a general election, and an even bigger problem for an administration trying to establish policy changes. I know that eight years of damage needs to be repaired. Your recent string of attack advertisements against Sen. Obama have not helped with party unity, and although I acknowledge that you are facing desperate times right now, Sen. McCain and his campaign managers should be left to dig for their own ammunition against Democratic candidates.

Sen. Clinton, I am asking you today to drop out of the race. I have somewhat reluctantly decided to give my support to Sen. Obama. I believe that he has the ability to unify the country and the government in a way that you cannot. And now that it appears as though you have no reasonable chance of gaining the nomination, our party should be allowed to rally behind one candidate without squandering the precious time for fund-raising or campaigning that Sen. McCain is currently enjoying.

You must acknowledge that Sen. Obama would be a competent, capable, energizing leader. You must realize that you can continue to work for the common good from your sphere of influence in the United States Senate. And I am asking you now to also realize that the good of the nation must sometimes come before personal ambition.

It is time to withdraw from the race. And after you do, please consider attempting to influence Sen. Obama’s health care objectives so that we can all be on the same page.

Better luck next time, Hil.

Love, Orin