Hillary's Best Line: Were You In It For Me?

This was a night with a lot of great lines. Even Bob Casey, Jr. who is not known as a rhetorical wiz had a couple of zingers. The four more months chant was terrific. And his line that McCain isn't a maverick, he's Bush sidekick was also really well done.

I was expecting to be annoyed at how little Mark Warner went after Republicans, but instead I thought he laid out a good case for how Democrats offer every person a real shot at the American Dream. He showed that the Democratic Party wants you to succeed, wants you to be rich -- which is important and a message you hardly hear from Democrats (you often hear that they want you to do better, but aspiring for real wealth has not been a Democratic staple and it is in fact the real American Dream).

Deval Patrick borrowed from Barney Frank effectively when he talked about government being an extension of the American people and how that is what we choose to do together. His line about having a stake in one another was great. It gave a sense of a community sticking together, which is what lies at the core of the Democratic Party.

But despite all of this, Hillary Clinton stole the night. I have been a vocal critic of Hillary Clinton throughout the primaries and a skeptic of her intentions to unconditionally support the Democratic candidate. But she put all those doubts to rest tonight. She delivered. It was an A+ speech.

The Twin Cities line about McCain and Bush being like twins was genuinely funny. And now every time they mention the Twin Cities during the Republican convention I'm going to think of Bush and McCain as twins.

I am embarrassed to admit that the Harriet Tubman story actually gave me a chill down my spine (at least it wasn't up my leg). I loved it. I think everyone in the building loved it.

But the best line in the speech was buried in the middle. Addressing her supporters, she said, "Were you in it for me?"

What a great and poignant question. Did you really think this was all about me and not about the issues? Don't you remember that this was all about getting the people who need help the assistance that they desperately need? Did you forget that we started down this road because we wanted to provide Americans with a hope for a better future? That we wanted to make sure the rules weren't stacked against them? Did you think this was all about me?

That is the winning line. That's the one that showed me that she genuinely did her best to actually convince her followers that they had to support Barack Obama. That's not a half-hearted effort. That's a line designed to win people over to her argument not over to her personally. Ironically, that's exactly what it did for me though. At the end of this long, contentious battle, Senator Clinton won me over when she was finally not trying to win me over.

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Comments

[MSGH]

"Were you in it for me?" The PUMA's answer is , "yes." Certainly, it couldn't have been for her platform, or they wouldn't voting for McSame.

[Law35]

Bravo Hillary! I'm glad she stated the obvious. Let's get rolling and get Senators Obama and Biden elected to the White House. It's about US. It's about Our families. It's about Our country. God Bless America.

Obama/Biden 08!

[112985]

HILLARY HAD A REALLY GOOD SPEECH - SHE AND BIDEN SHOWED HOW WEAK OBAMA IS - HIS RESUME IS ORGANIZER IN CHICAGO WHO GOT 150 PEOPLE OUT OF MILLIONS HEALTH INSURANCE AND PASSED ONE BILL IN THE US SENATE - SORRY HILLARY I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU BUT I CANNOT VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!! NOT THIS TIME THE COUNTRY IS IN A MESS AND WE NEED EXPERIENCE THIS TIME AROUND I WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE VOTE THE REPUBLICAN TICKET!!!

[UncommonSenz]

So, rather than vote for the person whose policies are EXACTLY like the candidate you "love", you will vote for someone who is completely OPPOSITE of those policies.

You are exactly what is wrong with the American electorate today. Despite the clear choice between policies, you vote on emotion. So rather than voting by considering the issues, you treat your vote for the leader of the free world as if it were American Idol. You have spit in the face of everyone who has struggled, fought and died to give you that right to vote. And you do so at one of the most critical junctions in our history.

If you were voting for McCain because of ANY issue, that would be fine. But the fact that you would vote solely out of spite explains why our nation is in the boat it is in. How about voting like a grown up, figuring out what the caps lock key is for, and examining an issue or two before you make up your mind?

[MEEU]

CENK
I like to believe people. I feel Hillary is sincere about pushing for ways she can help people. It sounds like making NEEDS affordable is a big point of her's. The following might help her efforts.
http://hubpages.com/hub/OUR-TEN-NEEDS

[S1m0n]

If Hillary Clinton was sincere in the love she professes for Barack Obama, she wouldn't have hijacked the convention to declare that love; her actions belie her words.

[LeftRight]

Not anymore! By coming out and stopping the count to get Obama nominated by acclamation, she showed that she really DOES care more about America than about Hillary.

[nancytheragingliberal]

Hillary was fantastic. Too bad she had that republican, Mark Penn "working" for her. She owes him 10 million, but, she should tell him to forget about it. He did nothing for her and did not showcase her positive characteristics. She would be the nominee, if she consistently displayed such grace and competence. If she runs again, I will vote for her.

[scandinavian]

it was an a+ speech i every aspect except one: she did not say that barack is ready to lead. at 3 am. i hope bill does.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

I thought hillary did a good job, but I really felt like the harriet tubman thing was a lame attempt to try and justify her continuing the race when she knew she couldn't win.

according to the campaign memos, they knew on march 4 that hillary couldn't catch up to obama in delegates.

so really, all of this anger, bitterness, and animosity is a direct result of hillary staying in the race past the point when she should have dropped out. it really wasn't fair to anyone to continue the race when it was essentially over.

[Texanna33]

The Harriet Tubbman reference had nothing to do with Clinton's campaign. She was telling all Democrats not to give up until Obama is in the white house.

[InTheSouth]

Democrats who are angry, bitter and/or hold any animosity toward the primaries are naive about politics. It is a very rough game and I applaud Hillary's staying in to the last. She was a great candidate and if she had thrown in the towel months before she did I would have been disappointed. I supported her run and now I support Sen. Obama. They were so close on message that those of us who supported her and do not support Sen. Obama are not true Democrats. No anger, no bitterness just want a Democrat in the White House. Great run Hillary. Great speech last night and now on to elect Sen. Obama as our new President!
P.S. Love Biden too! Fantastic choice. I want Hillary on the Supreme Court!

[112985]

HONEY GET OVER IT!!!! AND VOTE FOR JOHN MCAIN OR THE WEAKER CANIDATE/ROCK STAR
SHE DID A GOOD JOB - SHE WON WHAT THE DEMOCRATICS NEED AND WHAT OBAMA IS LOSING.

[poomplet]

The speech was great, as was the question.

But unfortunately, to many of her supporters, it wasn't a rhetorical question...they still want to give their answer:

"YES...IT WAS ABOUT YOU, HILLARY....YES, IT WAS ABOUT THE FACT YOU ARE A WOMAN MORESO THAN WHAT YOU STAND FOR/BELIEVE IN".

I don't care how great the speech was, I think Obama will be lucky to get 60% of hardcore Clintonistas to vote for him. God knows, I wish it was more, but it's weird how freakishly devoted they are.

[Texanna33]

I am an ardent Hillary supporter who will now vote for Obama ( something I planned on doing before Hillary's speech). But my support for Hillary was/is because of what she stands for and believes in NOT because she is a woman.

I am so tired of people who think it's all that simple.

[112985]

YOU AE SO RIGHT - I AM ONE OF HER SUPPORTERS AND I WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA HE IS JUST NOT READY FOR THE JOB. HE IS A FLIP FLOPER AND LIER!!! HE HAS TO MANY CHARACTER ISSUES NOT THIS TIME!!!!

[ChezMJ]

Agreed. That was the money phrase.

[DWSouthern]

Yes, "Were you in it for me?" was the most important line. But why was it buried in the middle of the speech instead of dwelt on much more dramatically at the end? Maybe he couldn't emphasize that question more because she knows that we know that she led many older women to think it was just about her.

Somehow I get the feeling that Hillary did her job as a professional. She really had no other choice if she was to keep her standing in the party and ever have another chance at the presidency. In her heart I think she hopes Obama loses so she can be viable in 2012.

[SurrealPumpkin]

I'm looking forward to seeing more Hillary on the campaign trail.

Bill's speech should be a corker. I'm hoping his basic instructions were: Talk National Security, go for the juglar.

[Lconzo]

Good to see this author (a man) actually saw the sense in Hillary's speech last night.

Yes - she went right on the edge with that 'Were you in it for me?’ line. It was daring and poignant to ask this question, and I think it might have hit the heart of some of her more stubborn supporters that are still on the edge of who to vote for.

I think she set out with a mission to truly turn the tides toward Barack, and I think she succeeded.

Thanks to the author for his honesty in this write-up.

[hipocampelofantocame]

Lconzo: You're correct; Mrs. Clinton's speech was extremely good
and better than I expected, but it had to be. This was the stump
speech for her next senate election. Mrs. Clinton is tough and dirty,
but she's not dumb.

[Lconzo]

Good to see this author (a man) actually saw the sense in Hillary's speech last night.

Yes - she went right on the edge with that 'Did you do it for me line'. It was daring and poignant to ask these questions, and I think it might have hit the hard of some of her more subborn supporters that are still on the edge of who to vote for.

I think she set out with a mission to truly turn the tides toward Barack, and I think she succeeded.

Thanks for the author's honesty in this write-up.

[DebraG]

Yes, I too want to thank the author for his honesty. Hillary's speech was magnificent, a reminder to me of why I am an avid Hillary Clinton supporter, of why I want her to be president, of why she is the best person for the job. And when she said "Did you do it for me?" through my tears I had to resign myself to vote for Obama.
I feel angry at the National Democratic Committee by the lack of an open convention. I feel betrayed by the choice of Biden as VP. I feel manipulated by the National Democratic Committee, and their refusal to consider the popular vote.
But Hillary Clinton handed Barack Obama my vote when she reminded me about the issues, "about getting the people who need help the assistance that they desperately need," about providing "Americans with a hope for a better future. "
I hope the Obamas, the party machine and the press will at last appreciate this great and magnanimous woman, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

[Awakenedcitizen]

The speech was a home run, one of her greatest moments. I was proud of her. She came back to what is important, the American people, and put them/us first.

We still have issues with the media--I can't say that they are simply mysogynystic and xenophobic, but the evidence is there.

[muhair]

Hillary had her cake and ate it too. If you missed the beginning and end of the speech, you'd think she was still on the stump.

[BinBaldwin]

There is video showing Hillary admitting Obama is not ready to lead and McCain is, Priceless.

[escorpion]

She put that remark from several months ago to rest last night when she said that Barack Obama MUST be the next president. That's exactly like saying he IS ready to lead.

Can't wait to see the Obama ad showing the videos of what Romney and other Republicans said about McCain during the primaries.

Priceless!!

[DRaymond]

I was watching the speech on the train via wireless internet with an army recruiter (and apparent Obama supporter). We both agreed that the line was the turning point of the speech, not only because it gave her supporters pause, but also because it ran counter-to-type. After all the driving story about how come she held on for so long was that it was her ego that kept her in.

Frankly at this point any Clinton supporter who will still vote for McCain is either a closet bigot or a Rovian plant.