A Rested Clinton Tells NYC Women Obama "Is The One"

"I've been trying to exercise a little bit, which I'm told does wonders for a person."

With that line, Sen. Hillary Clinton drew the first of several laughs from the largely female crowd in attendance at her joint appearance with a comparatively less energetic Barack Obama Thursday morning at the Hilton Towers in New York City. Hosted by Women for Obama and the DNC's Women's Leadership Forum, the event was another pit stop on the "unity" tour that kicked off in New Hampshire two weeks ago.

And, at least as a speaker, Sen. Hillary Clinton proved that she is currently in tip-top shape. After noting that Obama told her she looked "rested" at an event last night, the New York Democrat admitted to reaping the benefits of a non-campaign schedule, but also showed she is still willing to bring some partisan fire and enthusiasm whenever she is invited to join him on the trail this fall.

On issues ranging from education to abortion rights to global warming, Clinton pointed to Obama as the superior candidate for women. On climate change, Clinton took a moment to mock President Bush by accusing him of just discovering the issue months before leaving office. "Gosh, this is a problem, and I sure hope the next president does something about it," Clinton said while impersonating the president -- adding, in her own voice, "well so do I!"

But beyond the yucks and the fired-up phrasing, the former presidential candidate did also take a moment to talk about the still-raw wounds dating from the primary season.

"Now I've had countless conversations since the end of my campaign," she began. "And I know how difficult it is for people who have invested their time, energy and emotion -- just their entire being -- into any campaign or cause. ... When it is over, I know how difficult that is ... how challenging it is to turn on a dime. It is a process. It does take time for people to take a deep breath, to go forward. ... But anyone who voted for me has so much in common with those who voted for Barack. ... It is critical that we join forces. The Democratic Party is a family -- sometimes a dysfunctional family -- but it is a family. We care about what is going to happen to health care [and education], and in Afghanistan in Iraq. ... That work cannot be done if we do not have a Democratic president in the White House!"

As she wrapped up her remarks and began to introduce Obama, Clinton said, "this is the man -- this is the one -- we should be voting for. ... Do it for your children. Do it for your jobs. Do it for the education of future generations."

At which point, the crowd of women (and a few scattered men) took up the "Yes We Can" chant. With close to 2,000 people paying $250 per head to participate in the latest display of unity, that meant a cool half million dollars in one morning's work for the Obama campaign.

UPDATE: Some AP video from the event:

Comments

[theMightyT]

OK demfection, let's do this thing...

Point out all the crazy flip flopping, and we'll tackle them one at a time.

[closetodemfection]

Okay. In no particular order:

FISA - this is the biggest for me
Mental Health - break from NARALS pro-choice positions
Campaign Finance - this I slightly understand in theory, but it totally undermines his message
Expanding Faith based programs
Courting religious right in general
Iraq - this is also huge because this is what he seduced his base in with
NAFTA
Death Penalty
Guns

I'm sure I can think of more but we can start with those.

[bigbingtheory]

FISA, A compromise many of us don't like, but it aint no flip flop.
NARAL endorsed him, that doesn't mean he has to adhere to their opinions, and again, not a flip flop.
Campaign Finance, no pledge was made, no flip flop. If he was getting his money from big corporations I'd be upset. Since he is amassing millions from many small donors, I applaud it.
Faith based programs isn't a flip flop. I don't like it either but I don't remember him pledging to dismantle the program.
Courrintg Religous right? Your confusing evangelicals with fundamentalists. Last I checked the religious right like James Dobson, is smearing him every chance they get.
NAFTA, where's the flip flop?
Death Penalty, I don't agree with him either but it's not a flip flop.
Guns. Where's the flip flop?

[theMightyT]

I am going to leave FISA for now because it's all over HP and we can both read those posts... i'm sure we've both posted on those threads.

Breaking with NARAL doesn't seem to be a flip or a flop, if he's still pro-choice. I would argue that taking away abortion rights would be a flip. I happen to agree with his position; I had a nice long argument with DesertLight on that a few days ago. I agree with the Clinton adminstration's stand on abortion, which is that it should be legal, available and rare.

Can you explain how his stand on campaign finance is a flip? His position reinforces his philosophy behind the whole idea in the first place. So no, it doesn't undermine any part of his message. It's a perfect example of how the grassroots can determine the course of politics.

Expanding faith based programs means giving money to churches for community works. Not lunacy like Abstinence Only or Intelligent Design. It has strings... and not political ones. It's an encouragement for the church to get involved in the community. How is that a flip?

Obama has repeatedly said he wants to include all parties, all sides of politics in his policy making. That includes the religious right. Were you not listening to any of his speeches? Or policy statements?

How has he flipped on Iraq? That whole myth was dispelled days ago. His position today is the same it was months and months ago.

[Brillig]

You obviously watch only FAUX NEWS!

[gmtwin02]

Fisa - only radical lefties care losig issue for dems
Mental health - mental distress is not mental health and it was late term abortions
Campaign Fin. - I'll give that to you but hey he has to defend himself against 527's and bitter old women like you
Faith based programs- you never read his books
Iraq - just stop making things up
NAFTA- see Iraq
Death penalty - See Iraq
Guns - See Iraq

[barackobama4prez]

too bad y'all never held HRC accountable for her numerous trangressions.

NO THREATS NO DRAMA

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008-2013

[closetodemfection]

This is a conversation you're not invited to, sorry. I'm only interested in discussing this with thoughtful O supporters.

[orangepetal]

Clinton will always outshine Obama. The guy is a fraud. He cares about me, don't bother Obama and please don't give us another lecture, I'm an adult. Your solutions stink as bad as your character.
Mc Cain Demorat -- Just say no !

[doctorwang]

"Your solutions stink as bad as your character"

Sounds pretty childish to me........

[GuyRC]

Sounds like a republican troll to me.

[LawSource]

YES you GOT IT RIGHT, THIS Obvious RepuGlican IS CHILDISH!!

This Is Why They Have a DUMBO Nominee Insulting The Intellegence Of The American Voters,

GO GIVE MCBUSH YOUR insignificant VOTE, Then Cry Later!!!

[bigbingtheory]

good riddance, don't let the door hit you...........................

[MrRavini]

A McCain Democrat? On which substantive issues do you and McCain agree? Taxes? The war? Immigration? NAFTA? Abortion? America's diplomatic efforts? Supreme Court picks? Lobbyists? Offshore drilling? (and please make sure you can identify McCain's 'current' positions on these)...A McCain Democrat may have been possible in 2000 back when he he could actually make a claim to being somewhat of a "maverick"...Now it's just Republican talking points. No lecture here, don't worry. Like Lieberman, please don't pretend to be a Democrat.

[olivia]

Shouldn't you be off somewhere working for McBush?

You aren't changing any minds here. You would be more effective somewhere else, if your goal is 4 more years.

[Deaninphilly]

Olivia, you're not changing any minds either, so why not get off the pc for awhile and give it a rest. Who are you to tell anyone to go away? This is a forum open to the public and last I checked you don't run it or own it, so stuff it. I am soooooo sick of your holier than thou attitude.

Apparently going back looking at the comments I'm not the only one around here fed up with your snide comments and remarks. So IMO it's about time someone told you to STFU!

[bigbingtheory]

Yet she couldn't outshine him in the primary race. I sincerely doubt your an adult.

[Ides]

That's nice. She ain't getting the second-in-command job, though.
1) Consistently it's shown she loses as many votes as she gets Obama. While one would say "first do no harm," another would say, "I don't really want to gamble with losing a definitive 22% of the vote in order to get a different 22% of the vote."

2) Considering these people were going to vote for Hillary Clinton anyway, who are these people? Are they people who would otherwise sit out or are they McCain voters? Chances are, Hillary would lose the crossover voters and grab the petulant Democrats. Petulant Democrats can be won back over time and, for the most part, can be convinced at least not to vote for the Republican. But the people Hillary loses Obama will immediately jump ship to the Republican Party.

3) Her approval ratings are in the low 30's. She's a poison pill, so keep her the HECK away from the ticket. She's radioactive.

[closetodemfection]

"Her approval ratings are in the low 30's"

Sorry, I have to correct you on that one (even though many of you other points are wrong as well)

Her approval ratings are in the mid 50's, nearly as high as O's at the moment.

[bigbingtheory]

It's a pity. I was all set to give Hillary some props, and still will, for being a team player. Then Ir ead some of her alleged supporters with the same tired and inaccurate attacks that Hillary used. Whining and complaining about how bad Obama is. How they'll stay home, blah blah blah. Let me tell you seomthing Clintonistas, you are a bunch of bitter cry babys. We rarely get the candidate we most want. Hillary was and is far from perfect as about as far as Obama is. He won though. You want to cry sexism, fine. you want to pout and stamp your feet, demand your arse be kissed or you'll stay home, fine. Stay home. The bottom line is your being unreasonable and childish. McCain is a lot worse than Obama. Obama is much closer to Hilary on so many issues, the only reason, the only reason your still upset isn't because Obama is soooooo bad. It's because your candidate got beat. Well mine did to. You don't hear me threatening to withhold my vote unless Edwards is on the ticket do you? Suck it up and be adults. The stakes are too high for your petty emotional garbage.

[blueinannarbor]

Frankly, Hillary deserved better supporters than those you're talking about.

[bigbingtheory]

She did and does. I'm talking about a small minority. The majority of them aren't behaving this badly. It's just a shame they have no idea how poorly they represent their candidate and our party.

[TheGuide]

I think the problem is that these women are so new to this "ultimate" game, they don't know how to lose. Proof is the fact that they can't get it through their hard heads that this was a "competition," and in a "competition" competing parties do everything in their power to "win." Yet, for Hillary supporters, it's all Obama's fault that she lost. Of course it was his fault, he won! It's no different from a swimmer or runner who gets ahead just enough to come in first. What did they expect him to do, usher her in front of him? Jeez! These women are an embarrassment.

[BenMAF]

I was a $1500+ supporter of Hillary Clinton, which is way more than I should give anyone as a 27 yr old, I also volunteered, and hustled all my friends to give as much as possible --- but she is fairly out and he is fairly in. I'm not excited enough about him to give him any money or volunteer for him but I respect that he played fair most the time during the primary and he certainly won the support of the majority of delegates.

I do wish he would fairly consider her as a VP nominee and not exclude her because of her spouse. I bothers me to hear pundits say she is one of the best candidates for the VP position but Obama cant pick her -- not because of her -- but because of Bill. That is argument that would not be acceptable if the gender roles were reversed.

[BenMAF]

(It) bothers me to hear pundits say she is one of the best candidates for the VP position but Obama cant pick her -- not because of her -- but because of Bill. That is (an) argument that would not be acceptable if the gender roles were reversed.

[bigbingtheory]

Props to you for getting involved and letting go. I think the Bill excuse is a valid one, just as any other candidate's spouse woule be fair game. We always here about the wives so I don'tr agree with the gender reversal. But Bill has a lot of baggage, some real and some imagined that will no doubt become a liability for Hillary and the ticket. She herself has plenty of baggage too. I was a big Clinton supporter in the day don't get me wrong. i know a lot of the criticism was out right false. That doesn't mean it won't be trotted out again. In fact, I feel safe in saying it will. We will hear all about Vince Foster and Whitewater, Monica, Bill's pardons, and on and on.

[ohiodem250]

I can always tell a fellow Edwards supporter because of their empathy, common sense, and good writing.

[bigbingtheory]

gracias amigo, here's to Edwards on the ticket or SCOTUS or AG.

[ChristopherLib]

Well there are loudmouth PUMAs who will say sickening things about Obama, and there are Obama supporters who are ungracious winners and will childishly disparedge Hillary at every chance they get. I'm tired from both groups. These people probably represent less than 15% of the Democratic party, but they're quite a presense here and other places on the net. What's most pathetic is they don't know they're an embarassment to the candidates they support.

All we can try to do is have a reasonable discussion how to move forward. That's what Obama and Hillary have been doing for the last month. Lets follow their example. Talk to the reasonable, ignore the wackos.

[sclucie]

Nice to hear Hillary talking about women again. Between California and her concession speech - I didn't hear a peep. Heard alot about guns, whiskey, bowling, white working Americans and obilterating Iran - but nt much about me or my mother or my daughter and our lives.

So maybe Hillary is back - and I hope she goes all the way back - to those days with Marion Wright Edelman when she really fought for women and children without thought of political gain. She has enormous gifts to change the world and it is what she was born to do.

[eden4barack08]

True that. She was so ill served by her campaign. They forced that 'fighter' 'manly' image down her throat. Only in the end the 'woman' Hillary showed up, too late of course.

She still has a bright road in the Senate though.

[mergina]

Yippeeeeeeeeee! Hillary for V.P.
Sorry Sebelius

[bigbingtheory]

Please dear God no.

[TN60]

I'll second that !!!!

[Midnightrain]

I think he should just take her for veep, and get on with it.

[edwarvir]

Midnightrain I want to see if Hill and Bill are going to allow themselves to
be vetted Oh they will pretend that they will but I doubt it. Who donates to
his library???? Who is ALIBaba???? no no my friend I don't think so. and who
watches over them while the Senator is trying to do his job, and how many
times does he have a press release to clean up after these two sneaky
people. No Senator there are a lot other people to choose from. A veep who
has YOUR back!!!!!!!

[Meggie]

why bother - read down and you'll see that those who support clinton and think it's important to have her anywhere around the white house are not willing to vote for Obama even if she is on the ticket. the baggage she and her husband might bring isn't worth it. none of the rest of us see clinton as a necessity on the ticket, so there's no point. I guess she might have been good, but in the big picture it doesn't gain Obama anything with rabid clinton supporters, and nobody really took a look at what's been up with the clintons the past 8 years. I still think there was something big that the repubs were sitting on and that's why they wanted her so desperately.

[barackobama4prez]

please...we are SO not there yet.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008-2013

[PumaAnn]

I so don't want her to do that. But I'm sure that's not a possibility......on either side.

[Keith52]

Seth, maybe she shone brighter through your glasses. She was more relaxed, of course, and joking which was nice but she seemed to hesitate a lot. Look she was great. But so was Senator Obama. There was no "outshining" And this headline is not really true.

[susane07]

I totally agree. I was at the breakfast and can attest that this headline is not accurate. HRC did an excellent job and BHO seemed to stumble verbally sometimes in his speech, but the applause meter went berserk for him (way louder than for HRC) and the flashes from the camera was all over him. There was no misreading those items.

I sat at a table of HRC supporters and they have totally gotten on board the Obama train. Also, I was told that many people there - what a mob - paid much more than the $250 admission cost. I'm sure he made more than a half million on that one-hour breakfast. And it was only a continental breakfast at that!

Go Obama.

[MaeScott]

John McCain -- 61 Flip-Flops and Counting

http://www.alternet.org/election08/90956/?ses=1d3b4fadf7e8cc65a10df05e7fe53110


"Writer Steve Benen has graciously compiled a comprehensive tally of John McCain's flip-flops on issues ranging from national security to energy. The following is Benen's list of 61 clear 180-degree switches by McCain on the biggest issues of the day."

[Grunty1]

That's just TODAY, right?

[sclucie]

wow. thanks.

[JoDeeVa]

MaeScott,
Thanks for the link! Great to have those talking points. I intend to give them wide exposure between now and November! I only wish the MSM would do the same, given all the erroneous, misplaced frustration about and attention on Obama's "flip-flopping."

[edwarvir]

Gma11 It's possible that she can redeem herself. Although I don't know because
the ads that the REPUBs are set to run in the fall showing her and Bill
saying some very nasty things about Senator O is going to open up some raw wounds all over again Her husband has mistreated her, but that does not
give her the right to hurt others. What she did and the things she said about
Senator O was wrong is wrong and will always be wrong. She said a lot of
harsh things about Afro-American people and yet she expects us to vote for her
I can tell you NO! WAY! I will never vote for her that is why I am hoping
Senator O does not put he on his ticket.

[gala1]

It does take time for people to take a deep breath, to go forward.---------------

As a New York woman, all I have to say to Hillary Clinton about this is simply that we do not see Obama as going forward .

We don't need to be wooed, we aren't your votes to be presumptuously delivered.
And we won't be responsible for squandering our vote on the least of Two Bad Ideas.
I'll write you in, but I won't vote for Obama even if you are on the ticket.

The Democratic party is in no way a family. It is a political organization. One of two we are stuck with .
if it wants to win it won't foist a candidate that is symbolic fo nothing but division and a partisan agenda on us.
Not mention breaking campaign promises before he has even been nominated.

We are not going to vote for Obama simply because ewe have no reason to believe anything he says and no track record tha the can use to validate him.
And we can't fail to be reminded that the first person he broke a promise to was the woman who gave him a hand up in his political origins.
Not to mention that remark about his typical white Grannie, sweetie.

Obama is a hologram . Not a man who inspires any kind of confidence in those who have been around long enough to know what campaign promises sound like. Especially when they're broken.

-gala1

[olivia]

She's not much of a leader if she cannot get you to follow.

[Gemma08]

lol

[colette]

Oh Pul-eeze. Obama is not a "hologram." Clinton has been in the Senate only a little longer than he has. He has a voting record there, rated highly by environmental, labor and women's groups. He also has a voting record for his many years (often ignored) in the Illinois assembly.

If you want to disagree with him on particular issues, fine. If you want to disparage his candor about racial tensions in America, go for it. But Obama is a gifted, educated and idealistic person who beat Hillary in the primaries, fair and square, and who has been embraced and endorsed by many other people I respect and admire.

If all that adds up to a vote for McCain for you, or no vote at all (which is also a vote for McCain), I wonder how much you actually ever agreed with Clinton's positions which are for the most part identical as Obama's.

[PoliSci2008]

OOO! Olivia, that was a low blow, but a very good and truthful blow!!! LOL

[Meggie]

Then stay home and don't bother. Read it again - she just told you that she does not want your vote. Adapt or die, sweetie.

[mikeant50]

I fell the same way about Hillary. I'll change parties before I would go to a voting booth and pull the level for her. I will remember this post in 2012, when you will be begging me to support Hillary. If Obama loses due to Hillary supporter, Hillary will never be president.

[MyOwnPerson]

Wow, how frightening. I'm sure you shook every Hillary supporter, refusing to vote for Obama, down to their very core. Why bother?

[doctorwang]

watch where you step- PUMA droppings.

[olivia]

You've blathered on and on since March (you're new here) about experience. You do of course realize O has more years in elected office than H. And that he was a community organizer in the dodgy end of Chicago when she was making $$$ at a law firm, and not by helping disadvantaged people either.

You cannot see the big picture. And she isn't much of a leader if you won't even follow her.

[closetodemfection]

You equating community organizing with experience that would prepare someone to be POTUS is pathetic. There is ZERO comparison between him and HRC in that department.

His state senate record is a joke - he voted present hundreds of times.

He served 143 days in Federal office before campaigning. That's like from APRIL UNTIL NOW. Do you think that's enough? That's the experience that counts and he doesn't have it.

He will be a puppet of advisors. NO THANK YOU.

[gala1]

Olivia-

New here ? Hardly

Nope, I've been here a lot longer than you Olivia whoever brayingly rude you may be.
The HP isn't your to hall monitor, especially if you haven't been around long enough to know who's been here way, way before you.

I've been here since the day Cindy Sheehan set foot in Crawford, actually.
I'm not voting for McCain. But I think it's kinda cutely Obamabotish to label everyone who dissents with you a troll.

I've been here since before censors were allowed to extinguish dissent and homogenize the site into mere affirmation. You'll probably never even get to read this.

I'm not bitter needy or gullible. I simply think it 's a terrible idea to put yet another politician with no track record or experience into office. .

Obama won't win anyway. You can bully endlessly but you can't get one American to vote for a hologram, can you?

It's only going to get worse since Obama built his base on partisan sands.

I thought I'd be telling people here in the Flyover how to write in Hillary .
But they re all voting for McCain already. Not me.
They do not want Obama. Under any circumstances.

He's definitively unelectable.

If you didn't already know that, you wouldn't need to be so childishly hostile and defensive, would you?

Cause and effect, dears.

If you want us being part of this , start by showing us why.
Broken promises and brayingly gullible supporters are all we've

[MariaHopeful]

It is dump on Obama time, is it?
I would rather that this site does not lead with subjective headlines. People who were at the function tell me that Obama was brilliant.

[intelliwoman]

He'a always brilliant. THATS THE ONLY THING HE'S GOOD AT. Being a cult of personality that has mesmerized so many people, althought a few now are beginning to see through it.

He's an empty vessel, no integrity, a liar, a man who has shamelessly both used his race to court votes and cried racism every time someone asks him a question. Lets have gunns in the streets, not allow women control over their bodies, lie about public funding, stomp on the Constitution with faith based initiatives, oh, and yes call our health care plan "universal" even thought its not (go read his own web site). Unfortunately we're now stuck with him, and stuck voting for the lesser of 2 evils.

[theMightyT]

anyone else fairly sure that intelliwoman is one of those McCain-paid bloggers trying to make a few bucks?

Not sure how else you account for the lack of coherence in the posts... and they all seem to be slightly crazy...

[illus2003]

Your name does you a disservice by implying that you are intelligent.

It is patently obvious that you are still mad that Hillary did not win the primary.

Obama did not cry racism unlike a certain candidate who cried sexism at every turn.

Why do you feel that he would not allow a woman to control her body since he has stated that he is Pro-Choice and want Education instead of Abstinance only programs to be taught in schools?

I will still choose Obama over McCain any day of the week. You should probably think on that yourself.

[gala1]

This is the Sound of Kool-Aid Leaking

[macbabe]

News Flash, EVERY DAY for the media is "dump" on Obama day!!

[Meggie]

unfortunately, it's brought all the sore losers & kooks out again.
it reminds me of Animal House, where the parade band leader leads the band into an alley, performs a slick move to escape, and leaves the band trapped in the alley, banging their heads against a brick wall and making lots of unpleasant noise.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

"There can be only one."
-- Highlander

[Grunty1]

I can't see O'bama removing Mc'Cain head. Though Mc'Cain may be doing a good job of that himself.

[gaypastor]

The DNC will not regain the trust of Women-Americans until the adequately acknowledge the rampant sexism that has occurred during Hillary's run and insure women that there will be a roll call vote at the convention. Visit Women-Americans at www.womenamericans.com for ALL the facts about sexism!

[nclayla]

I am a Democratic woman and an ardent feminist and you do not speak for me.

Does sexism exist? Of course!
Were there some elements of sexism used against Hillary in the recent Dem primaries? Again, a resounding yes!
Did Hillary lose because of sexism? NO - Hillary lost because of Hillary!

Do you represent most women in Amercia? Hell No!

[TheProverbialMan]

Man, these headlines have been such over the top BS lately. I guess it gets people to click on the articles more, but the fools that don't read the article see it as sensationalism and get the wrong impression.

[cackal]

I agree. Where's the substance? "Clinton Outshines Obama" - that is nice. And I am happy that she is well rested - she deserves it. But what on earth does any of that have to do with the substance of her speech? Better and more honest (and less sensational) headline: "Clinton Points to Obama as Superior Candidate for Women." Unfortunately, now the standard for journalists (mainstream and alternative alike) is the Fox standard. "Fair and balanced" my foot. Cover the substance enough fluff and BS!!

[wutzhappn]

Lately? Over the top headlines is the norm at HuffnPuff Post.

[sclucie]

Is it 36 pt font or 72 pt? Doesn't matter if it's WWIII or a dinner party invitation.