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.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
I am willing to be happy that Susie is on board. As others have written here: now let's kick right wing butt!
36-Million Strong!
Onward!
36 million minus the 30% of Hillary's 18 million.
I heard it was around 20%....and that was before Hillary's speech.
I doubt it it's 30% now.
It is actually not 30% of 18 million. Just under 200,000 votes for Hillary in the primaries came from Operation Chaos. In addition, all the votes she received from Puerto Rico cannot be calculated because they cannot vote in the election. In addition, many California voters have since changed their mind and said if their primary had been held a month after Super Tuesday, he may have pulled out a victory. So that drops 18 Mil to approximately 17 MIl. Also, latest reports say it is not longer 30% not supporting Obama, but more like 20%, meaning it would be approximately 20% of 17 million. Watch that 20% drop over the next 60 days as the united party moves forward.
Thank you, Bill and Hillary, for throwing your support behind Obama. Let us move forward and put a democrat back in the White House this election.
I don't understand why this is worthy of an article. Is Susie Buell any different from Jill or Joe Sixpack in Stix, Montana?? Last time I checked, she gets 1 vote. Is she different because she's rich? I don't get the importance. If she is a Democrat, then I'm glad she came around to acting like a Democrat. I honestly think she was a bad best friend. I have a best friend of 40yrs. If she had been running for something as important as this and had lost fair & square, I would have bought us a big bottle of something, tied one over, and in the morning, I would have told her to pick her head up and move on. Now, if you want to hear something truly wonderful, I just found out over the weekend that my brother wasn't registered to vote. I just assumed he was, but you know where that gets you. After several harsh looks and a few choice words, he called me yesterday and told me he was registered. What's special about that you ask?? My brother will be 46 in October. He is a retired Army Veteran (24 yrs) who served in Korea, Germany (where he lost a finger), the first Iraq war (Desert Storm) and his company was the first to be deployed to Afghanastan (sp?) a few years ago. He is set to cast his first vote in November for Barack Obama. Barack Obama convinced my brother and he is following!!
Awesome! Now get your brother to pay it forward.
Yes, she's different and this is a worthy article. She's a wealthy activist and sorry if that bother you, but that wields more influence than an average voter.
Congratulations on your brother!!!!
Welcome. Let's fight on and win back the white house. Thank you.
Heal the party from what? The wounds that HRC and this wealthy bitter sore loser created. It shows HRC has much more character then her friends and supporters
The woman said she would support Obama. Why do you have to pile on insults? Just welcome her into the fold and move on. If you feel that she was somehow prodigal, then you should welcome her and move on. Your language will only turn off more people.
I agree...I think part of the problem is that many of Ob@@ma supporters are youngish and have grown up on video games and parents who over indulged them...they have limit concept with compassion for others as it has always been all about them.
It is a shame...the more they insult the HRC supporters who are coming over to Ob@@ma the more they hurt their own cause. I really can't wait until these kids are in their 40's and their kids then turn around and tell them they are unimportant and should just shut up. I can't wait.
Thank you, Carol, for helping us get a handle on the bruised egos and dashed feelings that are involved. Whether we are talking a few dozen or several hundred people total, these people matter because they make Supercarrier sized waves.
Now that HRC has declared that Michelle Obama is a full-fledged member of the "Sisterhood of Travelling Pantsuits" (if we don't like what we are hearing, we can call Michelle), many - if not most - of the other "holdouts" will follow Ms. Buell's example in the next couple of weeks.
According to a Gallup poll conducted mid-august 30% of Hillary supporters will either be voting for McCain or staying home. It's about half and half. So, no, we're not talking about a few dozen or a few hundred. I'd say at this point if Obama could win us over he'd have a significant lead or would actually be leading, because according to some polls he's trailing. Give Michelle a call about that, why don't you.
Welcome!
The power Hillary has over her devoted followers is incredible -- kind of frightening, actually. Where's the koolaid.
First, as Senator Clinton asked, I too will vote for the ticket.
Power HRC has over her followers? NOTHING compared to the cult like folllowing of Obama. His cult leader status has gotten him where he is - mesmerizing people with rhetoric and little substance. He's the one who is very scary - on authority from a dear friend who has a PhD in theology and whose specilaty is cults.
I WILL vote for the ticket, but I am voting for Joe Biden, not Barack Obama. I will continue to
distrust and dislike him, as will most folks I knw
Is your dear friend that is an "authority", just a friend or your deprogrammer?
Hi Intelliwoman: I am one of the Obama supporters. I LOVE Bill and Hillary and voted for Bill three times (one primary and two elections). I had very mixed emotions when I voted for Barack Obama in Feb. but I voted for him because, as a white 70 year old woman, I had the honor of casting my first vote for John Kennedy. Obama raised the same hope in my heart that Kennedy did and after eight horrible years of GWB and the hideous attacks by the Republicans against Bill Clinton, I just want somene that might heal those awful wounds in our country. Now, after watching these two remarkable people for these many months, I do feel I made a great choice.
Do not be sad, we are the best party for the people and by the people and your vote will help us reverse this awful, awful direction.
I guess the whole live and let live united thing isn't your cup of tea. Too bad.
The Clintonites are as guilty of the cult of personality as anyone else in politics, and you know, as far as I'm concerned, they can stop acting as though she was robbed of a coronation and either get on with the democratic party or vote for McSame.
thanks for your vote. it matters. no further comment. just thanks!
That is the same fear people have of Obama. How about live and let live and give the Republicans something to worry about from a united Democratic party?
One person, one vote. Welcome aboard!
I suppose we're expected to be grateful?
YES!
We NEED EVERY VOTE against McCain! We NEED EVERY AMERICAN to stand up for our Nation, for our FUTURE.
Yes, I AM GRATEFUL.
Lay down your bitterness. Lay down your antagonism at "the OTHER SIDE."
We need to ALL JOIN TOGETHER, even when we disagree.
We are ALL Americans. Like a marriage. Right or wrong, Liberal or Conservative, and everything in between.
It's not Us vs. Them. It's All of Us working FOR ALL of Us.
Obama supporters are sure a bunch of emotional people. Funny and they say he doesn't like drama.
Don't you get it?? This is not about YOU...this is about Ob@ma getting elected...learn to be gracious. Whatever it takes to get people on board do it. Otherwise the loss we might face in Novemeber will be on your shoulders.
People who are hung up on Hillary, who I supported 100% -- until her gunfire fantasy -- or Bill, or even Obama need to clear their heads. It's the issues -- Supreme Court, Economy, Environment, Soc Sec, Health Care, Justice System -- way more than any single personality IMO. Truth be told Obama ran a better campaign than Hillary. While the Convention looks like fun, they could be a bit more businesslike considering the state of things. But if Barry O can run the country like he ran the campaign, we have a prayer (with fingers crossed).. So here's a message for all you bloggers -- and especially the folks at CNN -- stop gossiping about trivialities and minor players like Susie Whomever -- we don't care care what she thinks. The Hillary zanies need to get lives 'cause it's over girlfriends. Talk about what Obama did vs what McCain did. Tell us who's lying. Tell us whether what they say they will do can be done. It's serious out there. .
Well said goutgrec. But don't hold your breath on MSM doing their jobs anytime soon!
Hillary conceded the nomination of her party to Obama. Thats what grown ups do. Any of her followers who do not accept that are simply not grown ups.
yes she did, but her timing sucked and she strung her supporters along for too long.
It is very troubling that a single Clinton supporter deciding to do what is logical and right for the nation at this criticial time in our history is worthy of a column and a headline. It speaks volumes, not much of which is good. Now that the Clintons have had more then their share of spotlight time, their catharsis, ovations and cheers and tears, CAN WE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE move past them and their suffocating egos?
Exactly.
Ditto!
Or else perhaps these wealthy (or not so wealthy) Clinton supporters can show their support by helping her pay off her debt--that will be worthy of a column!
Did you feel the same way when Oprah came on board of the Ob@@ma campaign?
As for egos it seems to me you still don't get hte message from the Campaign....Unity stop the bitterness already.
Welcome to the team Susie! Now, let's kick some neoCon butt!
Maybe I just don't understand simple logic.
Hillary now supports Obama, but since they support her they are against Obama no matter what.
Silly me thought supporting someone ment following their lead (within reason of course). If Hillary leads toward Obama how can her supporters not follow her and still be supporters?
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
