One of Hillary's Most Ardent Supporters Changes her Mind; Will Support Obama

While writing Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House on Bill Clinton's post presidency, I interviewed 167 people. None of them seemed as passionately committed--in love with, really--Hillary Clinton as Susie Tompkins Buell, the ultra-wealthy San Franciscan who cofounded Esprit with her ex-husband. She has since remarried and, with her current husband, Mark Buell, became the closest of friends with the Clintons. (I have written about the Buells in my book and often on the Huffington Post.) Hillary threw Susie an engagement party in the White House, they overnighted in the Lincoln Bedroom; Mark is a golfing buddy of Bill's; they are really best friends--or as best friends as one can be with the Clintons--individually and as couples.

In numerous conversations and emails with Susie she has expressed extreme distaste for the Obama phenomenon. She would not commit to voting for Obama in November. She seemed to flirt with John McCain's surrogate Carly Fiorina.

She emailed me yesterday from Denver:

"It is very sorrowful here but H will move us forward. It will be very emotional tonight. So many thousands of grieving people but seems ... some resolve coming. The reality has set in. It will be up to O to heal the party."

She emailed me this morning shortly after eleven, Denver time, referring to Hillary's speech last night:

"Tears everywhere in the center. I think it opened healing wounds. Reminded people of why they voted for her in 1st place. She was beautiful, gracious and above herself. So presidential. [emphasis added] It is now up to O to bring us home on Thursday..."

Okay, I thought, she is not quite there; still dreaming of Hillary taking the oath of office this January 20.

I just received the defining email from Susie Buell, sent precisely 31 minutes later:

"Hillary has convinced me and I will follow. She has unified the party. I am with Hillary and I support Obama. We must defeat McCain...".

For more Huffington Post coverage of the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.

Comments

[ECB]

Welcome Back !

[MYQUEEN7]

Welcome home Ms Buell. Our party needs every vote and all supporters, this journey will be very, very difficult. It is a journey we will arrive at victoriously! Thank you for your support.

[grata2ude]

This is the way I see things. Democrats may fight amongst themselves but we don't silence those who differ. We listen, we battle but we come together. We are not the little PUPPET PEOPLE that the Repugs are. We don't jump and recite the mantra that the Rovian press spew. We think things through and come to our own conclusions. We don't just nod our head and agree with Bush and Cheney and McCain.

[theobviouschild]

So now she wants credit for doing something that any sane, decent Democrat should have done from the beginning, when Obama beat Hillary? Please.

[Glooscap]

It is about time she realized that this election is not just about her friendship with Hillary.

[NotProvenGuilty]

Duh. What does McCain offer in policy that accords with Clinton?

Let's say you ignore policy and are just "mad at the DNC." First, how petty, when so much is at stake. Second, I've heard the coup d grace that angers pumas is giving 4 of Hillary's votes to Obama in Michigan. Well, I live in Michigan, and I can tell you, her numbers were completely inflated by the fact she was the only (significant) candidate who wouldn't cooperate with other candidates and remove her name from the ballot. And she said Michigan shouldn't count. Now she suddenly deserves every last bogus vote she got? Bottom line, Michigan's solution wasn't about Hillary, it was about being fair to Michigan's voters, and it basically was. So there is nothing to be upset about.

I have no respect for those "Democrats" who would even consider voting for McCain. Just look at what the man stands for.

[nypoet22]

we're having a positive, productive and unifying moment here. okay so you still don't like hillary. many of her supporters don't like barack, but we are all pulling together. on point of fact you're correct about mccain, but in pointing this out, do you really need to rain on the parade? hillary gets it, and slowly but surely her most ardent supporters are getting it too. isn't this good thing?

[egal]

I do commend her for coming to accept what is the best viable course for our nation, but it's hard to feel truly psyched about it.

Why are we in a nation where grownups let petty, highschool social politics an personality cults derail the governing of our nation just so they can feel they've punished the man who dared win against Hillary?

Hopefully, the calmer, more realistic and practical sides of so many even of those who turned their passion for equality into a temper tantrum after Hillary's politics were found less engaging by most will prevail so that they base their votes on research of the issues, the plans, and the potential of Obama's administration.

If it takes Hillary pointing out that the country has to be more important than a pyrrhic victory, that's understandable with the emotional and socio-political investment by these folks. It's hard to move on from something in which so many took so much pride and with which they asociated their own achievement, but it is reassuring to see so many recognize that their passion for Hillary shouldn't stand in the way--and, in fact, must take fire--for their loyalty to those issues she championed and those problems she targeted.

[hoos30]

Welcome home! Keep your eyes on the prize!

[Decipherer]

I am delighted to learn that this alleged PUMA mass hysteria is beginning to subside. The question is whether we're talking about the media or the disappointed Clinton supporters.

We report, you decide!

[Soothsayer08]

All of these crazy PUMAs need to realize that John McCain doesn't care about women's issues. These ladies favor abortion do they know John McCain doesn't? Do they have children and grandchildren? If so do they want them in a country engaged in wars that never end? Maybe they should change their call letters to PMS

[Josephsf]

TAKE BACK YOU COUNTRY, PART 2

America, do yourselves a favor and watch the conventions on CSPAN. Where you get to see it, as it happens, no cut-aways to commentators muddying the issues, because they feel you don’t need hear what that non-big-name person at the podium has to say. After all, they are just your fellow citizens. With CSPAN, you do your own programming. And then if you want a laugh at the end of the day, pop over to any one of the cable news channels and see how they saw it. If you’re like me, within 30 minutes you'll ask yourself: What the heck were they watching? I caution you against listening for longer than 30 minutes though for two reasons. First, everything they do is on a loop, the next 30 minutes are just a re-hash of the previous thirty minutes. Second, you brain needs the exercise; go do your own research.

Any person still clinging to the “I don’t know where he stands” dodge, just isn’t trying. McCain and Obama, publish their positions, in detail. The DNS and RNC publish their platforms. Pick a position or two see how they plan to address it, and then verify what they written through a non-political source. Be careful with this one, because it requires you to reach your own conclusion.

[dulios]

I've been watching the whole thing on CSPAN. Good advice!

[BluMoonRising]

It's better than watching it on McFox or O-CNN. You have to watch both to MAYBE get 50% of the truth.

[lisakaz2]

Glad to see some ppl are realizing what has to happen to defeat the Rethugs but good. We need every vote because who knows what additioal dirty tricks they got in store.

[Amplexis]

It's about time. Voting for Obama IS supporting Hillary!

[GeorgeP922]

I wish I was as rich as her, then I would play political soaps all day.

I will be starting a website soon, like wikipedia that chrnonicles all lobyist, super-donors, "analysts", and advisors.

Im tired of these people making money hand over fist, and by the time we realize their game its way too late.

[Juneau1]

Dems, on behalf of right-minded independents, please STOP BICKERING! Or do you want to lose another presidential race? My goodness!

[IneptitudePrideB4Fall]

The Repugs are soooo far down in the polls. That means that millions of former GOPers will be voting for Obama. During next week's GOP convention, the Dems should feature videos highlighting former Republicans stating that they are pro-Obama (only state why they have "seen the light"). The Obama campaign should mimic the Republican ads - with the same theme but from a Democratic Party point of view. It's a way to "balance" coverage without spending a dime. Democrats: copy those Repub tactics.

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