Hillary Clinton Speech Reactions (VIDEO)

Reaction to Hillary Clinton's Democratic convention speech has begun. Here are what some of the pundits and TV anchors are saying:

Tom Brokaw: "Hillary Clinton did tonight what she needed to do."

Chris Cillizza:

She made clear her unequivocal support for Obama but also thanked her own supporters for their efforts and lit into Republican Sen. John McCain.

CNN's John King: "She passionately endorsed Barack Obama... She's a big game player, that was a big-game speech... she did what Obama wanted."

Keith Olbermann: "A grand slam." (Olbermann also reported that on Clinton's way out to the podium and after she returned from delivering her speech, she was given a standing ovation by Obama staffers.)

James Carville: "This is what a major-league fastball looks like."

Anderson Cooper: "This speech has electrified everyone in this crowd."

Bill Richardson: "She couldn't have been clearer... She hit a huge home run, a 500-foot homerun. The best news is Democrats are unified."

David Gergen: "Perhaps her finest hour in politics."

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow: "Anybody who could be persuaded would be persuaded by that speech...She nailed it."

Wolf Blitzer: "Exactly what Barack and Michelle Obama wanted to hear."

Comments

[Territc]

Come on people, whether you think Hillary meant it or not is not even the issue. That fact is she and her husband are behind Barack Obama and will help in his campaign. Now let's focus on the issue at hand, winning the Presidential elections. Can we just quit analyzying what we think she said or didn't say. Why can't people just let it go, why must you constantly continue this so called strife.

[Inhale2Exhale]

This "unity" talking point is full of crap. Has anyone wondered why the MSM or anyone for that matter is not talking about the "unity" problem that exist with the GOP? If I'm not mistaken aren't Ron Paul & Bob Barr holding conventions in St. Paul the same time McCain is?

[Kaccey]

Many prominent elected Republicans are not even attending the Republican convention. I'm sure thats why the right leaning media are trying their best to focus on any discord amongst the Democrats

[RogerSeattle]

I watched the speech in hopes that she could look beyond her political future and seize the moment. The fact is she said what she had to and what was expected.....Did I believe it was from the heart...NO. She was honest enough to say she was a proud senator, mother etc. but with her husband and Ex-President in the room she was not a proud wife? The individual timely break always to President Clinton and Michelle Obama speak volumes. I don't think they felt the love and the camera doesn't lie.
The speech (regrettably) was more about her political future then getting Obama elected. I wanted her to tell the guys in back to turn of the teleprompter and let’s get real. I'm hurt and I'm sad I was not given the nomination but that is in the past. The future is now and it starts right here at this podium. You give Obama my 18 million votes and you will secure a democratic vision of what we worked so tirelessly for. What we got was "I will see you in four to eight years".....

[mtrav]

It's your remarks that are "regrettable".

[Active]

That was an simply an amazing speech. As a Clinton supporter, it was bittersweet thinking of what could have been.

I still don't understand why Hillary is the one with the duty of uniting the party. Like many have said, this is OBAMA's convention and I have yet to hear or see him reach out to fellow Clinton supporters. While McCain and the GOP have ads featuring Hillary targeting Clinton supporters, I see none from Obama.

[Goinghigher]

AMAZING SPEECH!! AMAZING PERSON!!

I was MORE than blown away by Hiliary Clinton last night.

All I COULD THINK OF was. "They have chosen the WRONG PERSON!!"

I am not, by the way An American, nor am I a Political Liberal. But I recognize an amazing LEADER who HAS What it takes to LEAD and Hiliary Rodham Clinton demonstrated that far BETTER than anyone I have have ever seen in POLITICS, ANYWHERE!

SHE has the STUFF AND SHE WALKS the WALK which is what she did so POWERFULLY last night!!

I may not agree with all her beliefs, BUT I cannot deny a GREAT LEADER when I see one and she IS A GREAT LEADER!!

WELL all the Best America with another great leader in Obama.

BUT there are Great and there are GREAT!

GO HILIARY!!

[CVale]

I was very happy with Hillary's speach. At this point, anyone who identifies themselves as PUMA are simply cutting off their nose to spite their face. Now is the time for all good women to come to the aid of their party.

[fanoftruthiness]

I like how the Democrats are again talking about the future. I'd like to hear Obama say "Sen. McCain, we honor your service to our country, but this election is not about your past, it's about the future."

[SpinDizzy]

Nice -- but I'd change one word: "Sen. McCain, we honor your service to our country, but this election is not about your past, it's about our future."

[Fenders]

From her speech:

We need to elect Barack Obama because we need a President who understands that America can't compete in a global economy by padding the pockets of energy speculators, while ignoring the workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas. We need a President who understands that we can't solve the problems of global warming by giving windfall profits to the oil companies while ignoring opportunities to invest in new technologies that will build a green economy.

We need a President who understands that the genius of America has always depended on the strength and vitality of the middle class.

Barack Obama began his career fighting for workers displaced by the global economy. He built his campaign on a fundamental belief that change in this country must start from the ground up, not the top down. He knows government must be about "We the people" not "We the favored few."

And when Barack Obama is in the White House, he'll revitalize our economy, defend the working people of America, and meet the global challenges of our time....

He'll transform our energy agenda by creating millions of green jobs and building a new, clean energy future. He'll make sure that middle class families get the tax relief they deserve....

Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq responsibly and bring our troops home - a first step to repairing our alliances around the world.

Stop Operation Chaos!!!

[mozey]

I remember at a point of time, all of us canadians (i'm a candian!) WANTED to find jobs in the states, we wanted to move south (we're on your guy's north!!!) for the big opportunity. But NOT ANY MORE!, in the past coupe of years things have REALLY changed. There are parts in the states where people live like third world countries!. THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

i have created a comic of my imaginary funnier version of this speech!. please enjoy!

http://www.foreclosuredoctoronline.com/2008/08/26/hillary-clintons-speech-at-the-dnc-supporting-obama-animated/

[dwood520]

Hillary started out be saying she is a proud mother, proud senator, proud woman - I noticed she missed "proud wife"? Hmmmm. . .
The speech seemed more about her than Mr. Obama.

[entropy2]

I was also amused by the "proud wife" omission. I don't think that the speech was too much about her, though. It was her evening and her due. As an BHO supporter, I was satisfied that H gave her endorsment everythng she had. Let's see how Bill does tonight and what both of them contribute in the weeks to come.

[lindaqqq]

It started out to sound like it was about her but I think it was her seque into these goals are Obamas goals

[fredamae]

Hillary's speech was Fine! I miss her, I miss hearing her speak...Last night was Phenomenal...

now,a bit off topic, but not really:

I was out and about yesterday and met my first "I'm For Hillary ONLY and if I can't have her, I'm out" voter.

I'm pretty sure he was/is a pub. What I am Not sure of is whether he was a "pub for Hillary" convert or just a "distraction-ator" :-) It was like talking to a three year old having the worst tantrum ever....
Anyone who, IMHO, who is a real Hillary fan and a Dem will Not bail on BO just because.......I
People be aware, don't waste time on their efforts to waste Our time in getting BO elected.

[Nancyok]

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOSTS HAVE BEEN PUSHING ALL THESE UNEDUCATED SMALL-MINDED VOTERS WHO READ OR LISTEN TO NO ONE BUT THEM TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO DUST UP THE NON-EXISTENT BATTLE. THE PARTY IS UNIFIED.

ANYONE THAT IS POSTING TRYING TO RILE PEOPLE UP BY PRETENDING TO BE OBAMA SUPPORTERS BASHING HILLARY OR HILLARY SUPPORTERS CLAIMING TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN ARE PROBABLY JUST THAT....REPUBLICANS TRYING TO KEEP ALIVE ANY REMNANTS OF ANIMOSITY. 90% OF THIS ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN JUST THAT.

UNIFY

[davenav]

Yes!

It's 'Operation Chaos' and you see it all over the place. The thing is -- it's so transparently obvious. Please be aware that the post you might be getting riled up over, was place there by a right-wing operative who wants you to be getting riled. They have been doing this for some time and to an extent it has been working. They are the best tr0lls in the business, and now it's all they have got!!! Don't let them win. Read skeptically when you see something that is making you mad!!!

[ontheroad590]

Some of the PUMA people are fakes paid by Fox News and Republicans.

http://www.the-peoples-forum.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=3855

[Gatormouth]

Wow! Ya really think so? Limburger's 5th columnists from Operation Discord too?? Holy Agents Provocateur, Batman, McCain would never tolerate that kind of BS! Now, I was not a big fan of Chris Mathews up to now, but you should take a look on his reaming of a Rush Baby! If MSNBC hands out combat ribbons for the convention, Chris gets one, with a cluster!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/26/chris-matthews-experience_n_121468.html

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

A fine tribute to the Democratic party and her adversary, and a compelling demonstration of why she should be our nominee right now in 2008. Hope the delegates were listening. Obama should release his delegates.

[lakat]

Oh great, nice unifying.

[ThankGodforAtheists]

I really like KO and Rachel but I had to change the channel last night as it sounded too much like cheerleading to me. I guess I am just old school but I really miss just good 'ol unbiased journalism or at least some semblance of it. Then I did something really ugly, I turned to FOX. As much as I cannnot stand them, they gave Hillary some good kudos and said where she fell short. This is where it gets really eery. They said what I had been thinking. She never said how her opinion had changed about Obama, never said that he would made a great president or even that he did have enough experience to be president. It was what she did not say that bothered me. She never contridicted all her primary rhetoric. After the first short blitz, which was sort of deadpanned, it was all about her and her experiences. Spare me. She finanlly got to McCain with some good lines. Grand slam? No. Home run? No. I give it a base on balls. Ya, I know, the rath of Hillary supporters is about to descend upon me. Just calling it the way I see it. After watching FOX I think I need a shower.

[ThankGodforAtheists]

Ouch, sorry for the typos!

[preemptivelove]

i woke up at three in the morning with EXACTLY the same thought. she did not say anything except no way no how no mccain. that's not exactly the ringing endorsement of obama that she should have delivered. yes, she delivered a very good speech aimed at her most hardcore supporters that need to be shoved into reality. but she did not exactly wrap obama in support.

whatever. i knew she would do this--make it about her. it's funny, because the speech made a lot of people here think she should be the nominee, and to me it just highlighted why she isn't.

yes it was a great speech for getting people fired up, but she needs to campaign FOR obama, not just against mcsame.

[justamazed]

MSNBC has been doing this for BO for months. Olbermann's special comment ripping Hil a new one?!?! What you missed was the forest for the trees. Fox while right leaning has at least all along been calling it like this because they have both sides far more then MSNBC and CNN do. You may not like Bill O but at least, unlike Keith, has differing opinions on. Matthews will have a differing opinion on but when they get too far into rebuffing Chris he starts talking over them. Bill can do the same thing but not to the extent Chris does. And Rachel.....yea okay. She is a female Keith. So it will be two hours of non stop hate America Obama will fix the Universe cheer leading.

When you hear repubs claim media bias, this is what they are talking about. CM and KO finally stepped out where you could see it.

[gulopartisan]

Good Grief? You think Keith and Chris are rough compared to Fox? Talk about double standards.

[Chuckwheat]

Watch the proceedings on C-Span, no commentary.

[ThankGodforAtheists]

LOL, I did and will! It is the only way to see the other speakers. I only turned to MSNBC after. Was really hoping for a good critique. I wish Tim Russert were still here.

[bellepepper02]

Aren't we asking too much of Hillary? She was convinced in herself that she would make the best Prez. And she had worked hard for it through many years, made financial sacrifices--and now has bills to settle. It's a bit hard to not only expect her to support the man who defeated her, but to also demand that she change her mind that she would make the better Prez. Let's allow her her self-faith.

[Profficer1979]

"Then I did something really ugly, I turned to FOX. As much as I cannnot stand them, they gave Hillary some good kudos and said where she fell short." (Thankgodf­oraethiest­s)

I took a glance at fox as well and i didn't see much kudos. Only Chris wallace thought the speech effective.

"She never said how her opinion had changed about Obama, never said that he would made a great president or even that he did have enough experience to be president" (thankgodfor aethiests)

You know, I don't think that was the way to go. The fact is that some disaffected Hilary supporters have their mind made up about Barack Obama. No matter what people say about his competence, they will continue to think he is inadequate. I think the best way to convince them not to vote for Mccain is to drive home to them the ramifications of a Mccain presidency.

On a side note. Did anyone criticise John Edwards about inexperience when he ran in 2004? I get the sneaky suspicion that if Edwards were the nominee in 2004 all demorcats would have been united behind him despite the fact that he was a first term Senator. That is why this argument about not supporting Barack Obama because he is inexperienced seems unbelievable to me.

[Outofnowhere]

I was tough on Hillary, but noticed lately she and Bill were being more conciliatory than the news media were giving them credit, including this site. The media seems to like keeping up division for ratings and money. She gave a powerful, effective and classy speech.