Don't be scared away from Clinton

In a political campaign season, we hear lots of silly ideas. When we have two people in the Democratic primary, each with strong credentials to be the nominee, things can get sillier than usual. So it is with the Clinton-Obama contest.

The assertion has been made that a Clinton nomination will unite Republicans behind their party's candidate, arguably John McCain. Does that mean that Barak Obama will not stimulate the same result? Is there an issue of concern to progressive voters on which Clinton and Obama differ to any degree that might lead conservatives to relax if Obama were nominated?

Women-averse voters are not concerned with issues, of course. Their reactions to Hillary Clinton are visceral, not intellectual. Their fears are as easily directed against a black man as against a white woman. For the remainder of us, it would indeed be tragic if our choice of a candidate were dictated by fears originating with the opposition party.

I hope readers will attend Tuesday's Democratic caucus at Centennial Hall and vote in accordance with the optimism we feel, with two excellent candidates, and not out of fear of a group whose day has passed.

Bob Doll

Juneau