Clinton Speaks To Supporters: No Mention Of Obama

Hillary Clinton just wrapped up a private fundraising event for WomenCount.org, a group founded late in the primaries by a handful of major Clinton donors, and one that is shifting to become, according to one organizer, the "MoveOn.org of the women's movement."

Clinton's remarks reflected the extent of frustration and resentment over the presidential race among the few hundred gathered attendees, mostly women. Clinton didn't mention either Barack Obama or Joe Biden by name during the roughly 10-minute speech -- she referred once to "the nominees."

And the New York Senator's unity argument seemed to be aimed specifically at supporters who were considering abandoning the Democratic ticket and backing John McCain.

"I believe that with all my heart that the Democratic Party represents a much better future for everything we believe in and care about," she said, "and I will be making a very strong case tonight that we stand behind our nominees in order for us to keep pushing progress forward. We cannot be deterred, we cannot be diverted."

Conversations with attendees found much of the widely-reported anger over the Democratic primary.

One Clinton delegate from North Carolina, Marc Friedland, recounted his convention hall confrontation with DNC Chairman Howard Dean. He said he pressed him to explain why Clinton-backing delegates were being, in his view, blocked from supporting their candidate on the convention floor.

Some griped about Obama's outreach efforts -- "If he'd actually say what he stands for, maybe I could get behind him," said one -- while two major donors claimed that while they were willing to support Obama, they viewed the message from his campaign as, "Get on board, you don't have any other choice."

Comments

[Ruth Dawn]

I thought Senator Clinton gave a wonderful speech. If it had been too complimentary of Senators Obama and Biden, it would not have been believable. I was ready to send a little money to help with her campaign debt until I saw the new McCain ad where she says that McCain has experience and Obama has only a speech and I thought better of it.

If Hillary were to make an ad for Obama saying that McCain has experience - but it's bad experience, and point out her error in the date of Obama's speech (2004, not 2002, but McCain still approved the message) I might reconsider.

I think she was the first to bring up a Bill Ayers connection with Obama too. That was shown in April to be exaggerated and untrue, but the SwiftBoaters are using it now.

Many who voted to give Bush power to go to war in Iraq were voting to get the inspectors back in and thought that was the only way to do it. (Five years ago, Dick Gephart explained while campaigning here in Iowa, that he'd talked a long time with Bush and the understanding was that an invasion would be only as a last resort. Bush lied.) I wish people would stop saying that they voted for the war! They only trusted the president.

Hillary, however, took a long time to say sorry about her vote, if indeed she ever did. Otherwise, I probably would have supported her from the beginning.

[bswell]

Bill Clinton is an albatross that the Democrats need to throw overboard. He has "derided" both himself and the campaign process just by reverting to the redneck bubba that lies beneath the veneer of education.

If we Obama supporters are such losers, then why did we win?

What really galls me is the sense of entitlement that certain politicians have about being elected to office, and that includes Hillary Clinton, who not only was elected on her husband's coattails (which some "feminists" choose to ignore), but who also is a carpetbagger.

And if McCain is so in love with Hillary, why doesn't he make her HIS vice-presidential candidate?
I wish he would. That would sink his ticket as surely as putting her on Obama's ticket would have done.

[lobear00]

So True'''

[BelGazou]

It just shows that politicians such as Bill Clinton put their own egos ahead of the welfare of the country. Any Democrat who votes for McCain to spite Obama is truly cutting off their nose to spite their face. That would be a very stupid and petty thing to do. McCain is the ultimate Neanderthal on every issue but probably no more so than on women's issues. McSame and yet another 4 years of the SOS is unconscionable and frankly more than just a little frightening.

[chyko]

Every body should take a deep breath and relax. We have succumbed to the rightwing prescription, that is to talk about the Clintons throughout the election with little room to talk about the actual issues affecting the American people. Look, Clinton lost and Obama won. This is perhaps the second time in the history of Democratic party primary election that a loser is been talk about more than the winner. This is supposed to be Obama's party and those who are hidding behind the idea that Obama has to personally appeal to them before they can support his have not stated the real reason for not supporting him and we know why.

If Obama loss, this will have a long lasting reparcution on the party as those who formed the core of his support will walk and that will hinder future candidates at all level.

[PhiLLyinDaLLaS]

And for the record, I could've SWORE I heard Hillary call him "Barack" at one point as well as use his last name, especially when she was talking about how Michelle will be an excellent first lady. She also talked about Biden and his wife Jill momentarily.

[JXJASON]

One last thought. This author wrote a terrible article. Hillary didn't need to bring up Obama or Biden in her speech to this group. Hillary supports the OBAMA / BIDEN 08 ticket. She deserves some thanks and praise for her support and Democratic ideals.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

[justobserve]

Agree! Thank you Hillary for putting the party and its ideals first. Thank you Hillary's supporters who recognized that Democratic Party is more than a person, Clinton, and accept our democratic principle: majority wins, whether it is half +1 or half + millions.

[JXJASON]

I like Hillary and I would like to see her as Secretary of Defense. I am serious.

Just think of the different perspective Hillary would bring to the office of Secretary of Defense. Hillary is not a war monger like McCain. She would not send our young men and women into senseless wars. She would save us HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS in the defense budget and the savings could be use to provide jobs for Americans in the alternative energy industry...like more wind and solar electricity projects.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

[Ratso]

Before we count our chickens....win the election first. Obama missed the chance for an easy victory. Hillary should have been his choice.

[Bozwellian]

Those STILL ?YET proposing that HIllary SHOULD have been either THE nominee for CIC spot or VP are missing a slice of reality that the GOPS wanted her in either spot and drooled at the prospect for they have ammo YEt unreleased to lash out and KNEW it would indeed incentivize THEIR BASE who dissatisfied presently with their own, would come out in droves to make sure NO CLINTON. ADD in the BILL FACTOR, honestly,realistically, unable to fanthom and foresee the inherent "problems" he brings along ? Bill may be "popular", but if FULLY reviewed, his baggage is full of items that would serve the fodder to remain partisanly divisive and franl;y, Clinton on the ticket would guarentee defeat. A realistic, HONEST reality check is order...

[Nancyann]

Mrs. sort of Clinton is a big phony�.She is not qualified to be the president of anything because she has NO leadership qualities and is a windmill politician. Many of us New Yorkers are very disappointed in her. This will be reflected in her next run for the senate !!!!

CAROLINE KENNEDY FOR JUNIOR SENATOR FROM NEW YORKER !!!!

[Daisy1111]

O voted FOR the B u s h Energy Bill.

Mc voted AGAINST the B u s h Energy Bill.

O's vote bothers me. Ditto on O's FISA vote.

[ObamanextPresident]

O voted for the Bush energy bill because it contained substantial incentives for alternative energy.

Mc voted against the Bush energy bill because it contained substantial incentives for alternative energy.

[JXJASON]

What ObamanextPresident said about the vote is true. I read some of the legislation. What the public fails to realize is that the Democrats in the Senate need 60 votes to pass a bill. The republicans know this and the republicans take advantage of the 60 vote requirement to stall or prevent legislation from being passed.

Republicans are for big oil, lobbyists and themselves. This is the reason that the OIL SPECULATION BILL was not passed by the Senate.

Did anyone Go To:

http://www.stopoilspeculationnow.com/

and sign the petition? If you didn't, then do it and pass the information on.

Also, did you send this link to your congressman or senators? Complain too.

In my opinion, the American people got the government they deserved for the past eight years by being complacent. If McCain gets elected, you will suffer for another four years.

Get out and vote.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

[controversy101]

Mc voted against Bush tax cuts twice.

Mc wants to Mc Bush tax cuts permanent.

Mc proposed off-shore drilling.

Mc favors off-shore drilling.

Mc voted against women's rights to sue employer for workplace discrimination.

Mc voted against women's rights to sue employer for workplace discrimination.

At least he stayed consistent with one of his ideologies.

[HC4BO]

Basically, this is the MOST IMPORTANT message from madame Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech ...

IF You support her and She supports Sen. Barack Obama, then YOU have to definitely support Sen. Obama for President of the United States of America ...

YOU KNOW WHY ???

Because SHE (Clinton) considers Sen. Barack Obama to be MORE QUALIFIED to lead our COUNTRY into the FUTURE ...

She IS a wise woman and I am going to believe in her ...

Democrats '08 ... ( and beyond ) ...

[HC4BO]

McCain is NOT a maverick, ... He is a Sidekick ...

Democrats '08

[JXJASON]

HC4BO, Thanks. Excellent points.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

[virgowoman]

I'm writing to say that Hillary gave the most wonderful and presidential speech, over and above, anyone I have ever heard in all my adult life. She is so far above Obama, with intelligence, genuine sincerity, a person who feels for others and who speaks from the heart. She should've been the nominee of this party. If I were in Denver as a delegate, I'd vote for her during roll call. She is the one who, I believe, with all my heart and mind, that could have straightened so many of our problems. But, alas, we'll never know, as we're putting a man in who just says the word "change" and doesn't know specifically how he will make those changes. I believe he won't be able to do much of anything he espouses. He's just a man with a king sized ego, and an ability to orate in a stylized manner. And he should've vetted Hillary and made her the Vice President, letting go of his personal feelings towards her for the good of the Democratic Party. I, for one, as much as I admire her greatly, may not vote for the first time in my life because he is not proven to me what he truly stands for.

[ObamanextPresident]

"And he should've vetted Hillary and made her the Vice President,"

Senator and President Clinton are not, were not, and never will be willing to be vetted. There's a touchy little problem with the vetting process......having to fully disclose the names of the worldwide donors who have given milliions of dollars to President Clinton's library.

[Awakenedcitizen]

Hillary set the boundaries, she would not be vetted unelss she was the one.

[DCinFrance]

How people can find such virtue in a liar is beyond me.

[nomadicexpat]

she is the most vetted woman in the world, what else is there to discover?

Obama on the other hand really hasn't shown me anything substantial.

he voted for FISA, he wants to expand faith based initiatives, and he made a terrible VP choice.

sadly, im with virgo, i cant vote for mccain, so i will simply abstain in november

[QuicksilverKW]

Then you will get what you deserve. If McCain wins we could lose Roe v Wade. Along with probably getting a few new wars in the mix. So "Sadly" stop thinking with your feelings and starting looking at the possible consequences of your actions. If this is the way women deal with not getting their way ( and I am a woman) maybe it wasn't time for a woman to be president. At least Hillery knew what to do - and that was to support Obama. Why don't you follow her lead? Why don't you support the person you admire so much?

[aquarharris688]

OMG, what have you not been listening to. How many times does Obama have to tell you what he stands for. Have you checked out his website, did you listen to the debates? Did you realize what Hillary said last night, Obama and Hillary basically had the same platform and are for better and affordable education, women's rights, equal pay for equal work, universal health care, support for preserving social security, alternative energy, tax breaks for the low and middle class, alleviating the home foreclosure problems, and ending the war in Iraq. These are just a few of the items and I hope you will listen to Hillary and vote because if McCain gets in, not only are you in trouble but your children will also be in serious trouble. Give Obama a chance and don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Vote for the issues that will help you and your children and theirs. Think about it!

[imani1107]

Yes, Hillary gave a tremendous speech; yes, Hillary is an awesome women, and no one can deny that. However, there are many behind-the-scene issues that the average person is not aware of. Issues that gave Obama and his family pause in selecting her as his VP. O is very intelligent & would have loved to nominate her, except for the following history. (Word limitations would not let me post.)

(Pls. "Youtube" the Mena, AK murders & their involvement.) There have been 48 murders of friends of the Clintons!" Well-timed words during primaries re Bobby Kennedy's assassination was not for naught. Hillary is very shrewd! Google this info.
A quick refresher course lest we forget what has happened to many 'friends' of the Clintons .

[Nancyann]

Mrs. sort of Clinton is a big phony�.She is not qualified to be the president OR VICE PRESIDENT of anything because she has NO leadership qualities and is a windmill politician. Many of us New Yorkers are very disappointed in her. This will be reflected in her next run for the senate !!!!

[radical1]

Pitney, I don't see much difference between what the major media is doing in magnifying problems with Hillary supporters and what you're doing in this article. It will go away, but all of you need to STOP shining the spotlight on a blown up situation and get over it so voters can get over it. That is if you truely want peace among the Democrats. Or do you appreciate sensationalism more than party unity?

And I see nothing wrong with beginning a group of women, even if similar to "MoveOn" for the purpose of building up their confidence and helping them to attain elected office. What is it? Over 80 years, I believe since women, that is white women, were given voting rights. It is about time women are equally given the same rights men have always had in all of life opportunities. Women are not third world lack of opportunity candidates. I've been an Obama supporter in the belief that in this election season, we need a candidate without the bagage that Republicans have put onto both Hillary and Bill Clinton, but I respect Hillary, and I believe she has truely inspired women and young girls who will arise to positions where they can make a difference.

[Transit]

I have to agree with radical1, but will go a little bit further and say your piece was journalistic garbage.

"Clinton's remarks reflected (the extent of) frustration and resentment..." I listened to the speech and didn't find any of that.

"Clinton didn't mention either Barack Obama or Joe Biden by name..." So? What was the theme of the speech?

"Conversations with attendees found much of the widely-reported anger over the Democratic primary." Pretty general statement here, isn't it? You might have wanted to explain the "widely reported anger"

With Friedland you never tried to find out if Dean answered his alleged question or if the question even had any truth to it. And let's see... you interviewed two (some) of the hundreds of people (mostly women) in attendance about their gripes. Funny again, I didn't find any anger in their comments.

If you have an opinion and can present it without innuendos and half-truths then by all means go ahead. But don't attempt with what can be called half-baked, sloppy journalism to get your point across. But keep trying.

p.s. with the gift of hindsight Clinton's speech later that night would make the whole point of your article superfluous.

[jnealy1234]

Hillary I am so glad, your speechwas nothing but the true.you the best.
Tomorrow is a new beginning where the past no longer is allowed. We are moving forward. People can either get on board with the winning team, or they can stay stuck in the spite. Their choice.
Hillary Clinton just wrapped up a convention speechtonight now i am wait on OBAMA to speech Thursday night. i so glad i am a democrates. Once November rolls around, we can all be grateful that she'll go back to feigning concern for the people of her state.I 'm Hillary supporter but OBAMA got my vote noway I vote Republicans,
I A DEMOCRATES.YES WE CAN because that litter boy need help also
that woman need some Health Care benefit so VOTE for Barack's for next President of the United State 2008

[Twentylaws]

Hillary made "no mention" of being a proud wife of Bill Clinton either!

[LilyK]

I thought I was the only one who noticed that.

[Bozwellian]

LOL, naw , MANY 'noticed".....and figure she being a good "calculator", likely knows herself that Bill was NOT helpful in situations be it the campaign itself or even after let alone in the marriage itself !!! Most are just trying to overlook, be politie for again, most of us configured the nonsense of trying to impeach him for his personal messups were ridiculous and vast waste of OUR time and a diversion from taking care of OUR needs and the countrys !! It will be interesting to see if Bill can conform a bit this eve....lots of speculation and bets whether he will or won't deliver what IS needed .
BTW, she gave a good speech last eve, time will tell but in honesty...IT CAME FAR TOO LATE , should have been voiced prominently far earlier once the legit candidate was "known" rather than all the drama inbetween then and now. THink HAD she done so earlier , loudly and enthusiastically, she would have no debt remaining...most yakking about the disappointed Clinton supporters, need to note Obama won due to HIS and they did give him the WIN and not by small numbers.

[Nancyann]

WHY would a woman brag about staying married to a serial adulterer to get her to the White House again???? Coattails are not a feminine tradition !!!! Isn't she supposed to be a feminist. Phony that she is !!!!!

[proudprogressive]

"If he'd actually say what he stands for, maybe I could get behind him."

Well, one thing we know for sure is that he has stood against invading Iraq from the very beginning. And what again was Senator Clinton's stand? Oh, right, she voted for it, didn't she?

[renatam]

Against the interests and security of New Yorkers -- for ambition.

[StephenDedalus82]

Remind me, which way did Obama's running mate, Senator Joe Biden, vote on that particular issue?

[eXcommunicate]

Joe Biden apologized for his vote. It took 22 debates until Clinton could even muster a half-apology.

[renatam]

So - hopefully this vanity play movie will end it.

Barack's supporters PAID the Producers -- more "friends" of Hillary Clinton's.