Leon Panetta: "..a time now to concede and unify the party"

[Adelante]

Mounting pressure for Clinton to drop out

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A leading Bay Area Democrat joins a growing chorus. Has the time arrived for Hillary Clinton to concede the nomination?

President Clinton's former chief of staff says it's time for Hillary Clinton to think about dropping out. Leon Panetta is adding his voice to the growing number of people in the party who believe her candidacy is now doing more harm than good.

Panetta, who ran the Clinton White House, has been a supporter of Senator Clinton, but now says short of a lightening bolt, she's lost the race for the nomination.

For three years, Panetta was not only in the president's inner circle, he was in charge of it. He tells ABC7 News that if he were in Senator Clinton's inner circle and the votes play out as expected, he would advise her to withdraw.

"I think there does come a point where she has to be a gracious loser and be able to concede this race with honor. She's put up a good fight, she's put on a tough race, but I think there's a time now to concede and unify the party," says Panetta.

Panetta is joining a growing chorus of influential Democrats who are concerned that Clinton's fight for the nomination will only serve to beat up the inevitable nominee.

"I think what we have to worry about here is again pulling defeat from the jaws of victory in November," says Panetta.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=6131564

[gateley]

1. It's really becoming uncomfortable to watch -

especially with all these Clinton supporters chiming in with opinions like Panetta's.

[ProSense]

2. From Hillary's site

Swing State Democrats Say Hillary Best For Top Of Ticket

Arrogance on steroids.

[w13rd0]

6. And the list is like a checklist...

...one from each swing state, almost as if going down a list of "50+1" states...

[corkhead]

9. want to see some scary shit, look at the comments in the hillaryblog...

:wow: :crazy: :puke:

[Adelante]

11. I love how Obama supporters are called a "cult"

Goodness, gracious :D

[Triana]

3. She's beginning to be embarassing (OK she's continuing to be increasingly embarassing) n/t

[DevonRex]

4. This is truly like watching a horrific accident and not being able

to look away. We really, really need a prominent WOMAN to tell her it's over, although I am very pleased with Panetta's statement.

[newmajority]

5. JUDAS!!!!1111!!!!

(you know it's coming....)

[MindMatter]

7. She's staying in until there are more Judases than pledged delegates

Ad then, the goalposts will move on to the next point.

She is making a complete fool of herself and her supporters. Maybe you don't care about your own image, Hillary, but you really shouldn't be putting your supporters through this.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. but but Joe "Dead Intern" Scarborough wants her to stay in

he thinks she should go out fighting.

[Coexist]

10. I can't wait until GD: Anti-McCain starts!

[chill_wind]

12. Wow. That's about as painful as it gets. Talk about self-destruction

and surreal endings. The Clintons didn't have to do this to themselves.




K&R

[scheming daemons]

13. The number of people that are now "dead to her" could fill a football stadium....

...

[K Gardner]

14. Leon, Leon.. wherefore art thou, Leon...

[OzarkDem]

15. Voters disagree

and their opinion counts most. Or at least it should.

[Kahuna]

19. The voters have spoken. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. WOW and the list keeps growing

this is ugly to watch... time for her to gracefully exit stage left... and hope for an honorable SENATE career

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. WOW and the list keeps growing

this is ugly to watch... time for her to gracefully exit stage left... and hope for an honorable SENATE career

[Kahuna]

18. Uh oh. The party elders are lining up..

:popcorn: