PUMA -- Endangered Species

So... was that a speech, or was that a speech?!?

After Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech tonight, every single one of her supporters who could be convinced now have been convinced. Clinton gave certainly the best speech I have ever seen her give, if not the best speech she has ever given in her entire life.

Maybe, just maybe, the media will stop obsessing over a party division that does not exist any more. I watch convention coverage on PBS because they show the whole thing, and because the people they have on are not idiots. On every other channel, you get an hour, where all you hear is talking heads getting the story massively wrong. And since this convention has begun, this is what their coverage has sounded like to me:

[You have to read this with an Australian accent, of course.]

"Crikey! We're on the hunt for the elusive PUMA, here on the streets of Den-vah. The PUMA is a wily beast and has so far evaded every attempt we've had to corner her. We asked hundreds and hundreds of women delegates inside the convention hall, and absolutely none of them would rant and rave in full PUMA fashion before our cameras. By crikey, we've heard stories that say the PUMA is a mythological animal, and even though we haven't found one yet, we're still out here looking..."

Sure, there are a few of these folks out on the streets for Chris Matthews to argue with, but the PUMA folk (which comes, of course, from their outcry: "Party Unity, My Ass!") as a segment of the Democratic electorate should now be considered if not totally extinct, at least an endangered species.

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Any Hillary Clinton supporter who heard her speech tonight and still plans on voting for John McCain really should just start calling themselves a Republican and get it over with. As Hillary put it, the "sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits" need to heed her call that "we don't have a moment to lose, or a vote to spare."

I'm looking for the media narrative to shift immediately to "Wow, Hillary really united the party!" but I'm not exactly holding my breath (this is, after all, the mainstream media we're talking about).

I had planned on writing up my thoughts on the first two days of the convention tonight, but after I heard Hillary speak, I find it hard to remember anything that happened previously. Michelle Obama gave a fantastic speech last night, I know, and many other speakers have also done a good job. Bob Casey got a line off that every Democrat appearing tomorrow and Thursday should repeat (because it was such an enormous and spontaneous hit with the crowd):

"Four More Months" not four more years.

This line got so much enthusiasm going from the crowd (a spontaneous chant of "four more months!"), that it needs serious consideration for inclusion in speeches from now until the end of the convention. If this is the "theme" of the convention, things could be a lot worse.

But Hillary Clinton hit it so far out of the park with her speech that I will have to address other convention news at another time.

I don't get blown away by political speeches very often, and I have admittedly said a few rather pointed things about Hillary Clinton during the course of this campaign, but all is forgiven, as far as I'm concerned. I could strongly support Hillary if she chooses to challenge Harry Reid for Senate Majority Leader, because I think she'd do a much better job than Reid is doing. I hope she writes the health care bill next year for President Obama to sign.

Because Hillary made the case she needed to make to her supporters who were still sitting on the fence, and she did it perfectly, in a speech for the ages. She strongly told them that if they honor her campaign, the way to do it is to get out there and vote for Barack Obama. She told them it's not about ego, and it's not about her. It's about putting Barack Obama in the White House. It's all about -- in the best line she had tonight -- "No way, no how, no McCain."

Any Hillary supporters who are still planning on voting for John McCain must not have heard her speak tonight, that's all I can say.

 

Chris Weigant blogs at: ChrisWeigant.com

 

Comments

[TommyMcCarthy]

HuffPost's Pick

Truly and well said, Chris

I have always believed that this idea that true Clinton supporters would REJECT the opportunity Obama's candidacy offers..... has been far, FAR oversold......Largely by a media that much prefers conflict and acrimony ......to unity of purpose, and co-operation.
BECAUSE IT SELLS MORE NEWSPAPERS (quaint phrase.....that)

Anyone who supports the principles that Bill and Hillary Clinton have stood their whole lives for could NEVER in good conscience opt to ratify and even EXPAND the toxic policies of the current pack of crooks and liars!

And no one who saw Senator Clinton's speech two nights ago, and PRESIDENT Clinton's lat night, could EVER give credence to the idea that either ofthese two great leaders are somehow subterranean racists, charlatans, fearmongers ...or any of the many hurtful and UNTRUE charges leveled during the late primary campaign.

Like,Chris...I've been a political junkie for a long time....and I sometimes think I'm immune to political oratory.

I was reminded that I'm NOT by Mrs. Clinton's speech in particular......as Obama HIMSELF has several times.

Gratified to see that Chris is watching the same convention I am...and on the same channel!! (pbs....the only reason I still HAVE a television.)

Of course, in a properly ordered world,... Chris would be in Denver with a press credential around his neck ...... maybe live blogging from Mile High today......wouldn't THAT be a kick?

Regards
tm

[kristycu]

I watch the coverage on C-span because you get to see everything with no interuptio. God i want to be their it looks like on big O'l parting- the music etc

[RunningtheRace]

When I think about how there are soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan right now (and families who are heartsick in their worries over them) counting on people in this nation to put pettiness aside and care about this election and cast their vote for all the right reasons, threads like this make me sick. Hillary, Obama and McCain, make your choice, but make it carefully. There are serious consequences to this decision.

I personally don't care who has hurt feelings and who has dashed ambitions. I think before we send one more soldier into harms way, we make sure that the person making that decision has some sense this time. I'm sick of egos. I'm sick of vicarious egos. I'm sick of gender and race and celebrity and Rove and the joke of it all.

One more dead soldier, in a coffin we will not see buried in a funeral that will not be broadcast makes this talk awfully easy to keep on and on and on and on and on......................................................

[JNail]

I agree with you completely. I am a Reformed Republican who would have had a hard time w/ her on the but her performance was superb and I was thinking this morning what a breath of fresh air it would be to have her as Majority Leader instead of that idiot Reid.

I now have grudging repsect for her and may even help her retire her debt ....well that may be an overstatement.

Now who can we get to replace Pelosi? She is a total embarassment.

[Mildmannered]

"Any Hillary Clinton supporter who heard her speech tonight and still plans on voting for John McCain really should just start calling themselves a Republican and get it over with." I couldn't agree with you more, Chris. However, there are many who did not hear the speech and so I hope that Hillary will campaign with/for Obama, especially in the rural areas of Ohio and Michigan, and also in Florida.

[nypoet22]

Agreed completely, which is why i think it behooves the obama campaign to put the highlights of hillary's convention speech in a campaign ad and run it many, many, many, many times. nobody should go unchallenged with the hypocrisy of saying they would vote for her but won't vote with her.

either you support hillary and honor her decision to back obama, or you withdraw your support from her and disregard her wishes. hillary stated beautifully how the election is about more than just herself, and she respectfully requested that the rest of us do the same.

[MPeter]

Great article. The assessment of the speech is bang-on. I was worried about what she might say but she did it so well, I am sold. She did her part. Finally, she told her so-called hold-out supporters, were you in this just for me? I think she did well last night.

[ghenry]

Hillary 2012 is not going to happen if Obama does not win in November.

[lovetheworld]

I agree wholeheartedly. Because she would be blamed for a loss.

[kmac23va]

If she continues to push on the stump for Obama as she did in this speech, she'll mitigate any blame, I think. If she disappears and this is all she does for Obama, I'd tend to agree. But I can't blame Hillary for an Obama loss if she does work hard for him.

[Political Know How]

So true. I wouldn't vote for her and a whole cadre of others who think like me wouldn't vote for her either. She has to do her very best to get Barack elected. If not, she and the entire Clinton legacy with go down with Barack.

[Johnnn]

Hillary's speech will have a minimal effect on Hillary holdouts. My wife was listening to Hillary, became depressed, again, that Hillary was not the nominee, and went to bed. There is nothing Hillary or anyone, apparently, can say to convince people to support Obama if they just don't like the guy.
I love hearing Hillary speak. She shows intelligence and confidence when she's speaking. I cannot for the life of me understand why so many guys in my office cringe when I mention the name "Hillary" to them. A real mystery to me.

[lovetheworld]

"I have admittedly said a few rather pointed things about Hillary Clinton during the course of this campaign, but all is forgiven, as far as I'm concerned."

I too have made some pointed comments against Clinton on this site. However, I am not ready to say that "all is forgiven". But, must admit, I was overwhelmed by her speech tonight, for it reminded me why I used to really like and respect Hillary.

As great as Hillary's speech was, it was probably directed at the very narrow (and narrow-minded) PUMA group that is only a vehicle filled entirely with abrasive, bitter, and irrational middle-aged WHITE WOMEN. And frankly, these white women should know better.

Abortion rights, and reproductive rights in general, is under attack and in danger. Afrimative action programs (like TITLE IX) which have always mostly benefitted WHITE WOMEN, are in danger too. Why? Because McCain has pledged to appoint conservative judges who will have no problem underminging civil rights, environmental rights, women's rights, etc.

McCain doesn't support the move for equal pay for women. McCain made a hideous joke involving Chelsea Clinton when she was a teenager. And as HUFFPOST and other sources have reported, John McCain made a jaw-dropping joke before a group about a woman being raped by a gorilla. And these PUMAs want to support McCain over Obama? Wow.

It doesn't make sense.

[Mariel]

All here have fogotten one reason why some Dems may vote McCain, holding their noses as they cast their ballots.

This is the issue you call "reproductive rights". Some of us have, over the course of a lifetime of observation, become repulsed by what abortion is today: Late term abortion, especially, supported by the Obamas.

The question remains: can a Christian or Orthodox Jew vote for abortion? Can a Catholic, even who who really loves Joe Biden, vote for his abortion support?

Few here on Huffpo will understand where I am coming from, but I have to say your PUMA concept does not cover the waterfront of why some Dems will vote McCain, holding their noses of course.

[kmac23va]

I understand your point, and was actually talking to my parents about it, being Roman Catholics. Basically the church states that you aren't supposed to vote for a candidate that's for abortion. However, in talking to my parents, they mentioned a new book or whatever that at least their local church put out on this. As long as the candidate themselves, personally, is against abortion, it's okay to vote for them. And I believe Obama and Biden in their personal philosophy are pro-life, but position-wise they believe in individuals having a choice and leaving it to their conscience.

The other point for me would be that the church isn't going to tell me who to vote for based on one issue. That's being a mindless drone.

[ConstitutionFirst]

Joe Biden IS a Catholic who supports his view on abortion.
As for McCain, what is his view on abortion? He, or his spokespeople, have said that he is for a consitutional amendment banning all abortions, and opposed to such an amendment. That he feels that Roe v Wade must be overturned and that it shouldn't be overturned.
I don't know what his position on the unborn really is. I don't think he really knows. I do know that he wants to keep babies born 18-20 years ago where they will be shot at (and have to shoot others).
Protect life, vote Obama

[judi4obama]

Anyone, without exception, who would vote for McCain is no Democrat! We Democrats love our party and its ideals way too much to vote against them. A Democrat would not vote rather than advocate a Republican.

Anyone who would vote for McCain is a Republican. Bottom line. And we true Democrats know you when we see you.

[Hejira45]

Mariel,

as a Christian, I can vote for reproductive rights, access to health care and policies that support every child born as a child who is wanted...

It will be a great day when the choice a woman makes is not for abortion, but instead for contraception or absitence on her own terms and not on anyone else's.

And to vote for McCain on the single issue of reproductive rights slams into the face of all the children who are born into this nation. We have a responsibility to future generations that McCain seems incapable of perceiving.

[kareneliza]

Republicans oppose sex education and access to contraceptives, which would reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies; nor do they do anything to help women who want to have their babies, such as expanding access to health care and child care as well as economic opportunities for women so that they feel that they'll be able to care for their baby. So I'll continue to support women and children by voting for Democrats, who will reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions, and who will work towards a better future for every child.

[Political Know How]

The PUMAs come off as ultra sensitive, emotionally driven, irrational women. As a professional woman (lawyer) I'm embarrassed by these so-called PUMAs. And they're supposed to be feminists? They embody every stereotype about emotional, irrational women.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

[JonRaymond]

Any Hillary Clinton supporter who heard her speech tonight and still plans on voting for John McCain really should just start calling themselves a RepublicanSpeak for yourself. You really think Hillary supporters are stupid enough to buy into the media hype that people like you keep ramming down all our throats? You are you trying to convince and why? Obviously you have a few left over doubts on this. You can't simply turn off Hillary supporters just like that after they've held the hope of her in their hearts for so long. We know she's playing the political game. She does what she has to to stay in. Your insinuations are insulting. Get over it yourself.

[knighthowl]

If you are a Hillary supporter and still plan on voting for McCain, you not only should start calling yourself a Republican, you always were a Republican. You either did not listen to her, or you are still part of Operation Chaos. Admit it and get over yourself.

[kaygee]

I agree. Each voter has to vote with her or his conviction and no one can sanctimoniously DICTATE that vote.

This said, the present situation should assuage Hillary Clinton backers who worked so hard over such a long time. Why? Because REGARDLESS of what happens, she wins. If the polls go up, she will be seen as the reason. If the polls go down, it will be the bad choice of the Democratic Party which is to blame.

Via the McCain ad, Clinton gets to continue running in some oddly virtual way, but which may well prepare 2012.

[nypoet22]

nobody can force anybody to do anything, but how do you say you fully support hillary and then summarily refuse to do what she asks? If so, i'd have to question whether you ever really supported her in the first place.

[nypoet22]

so.... you support her, but you don't believe she's telling the truth?

"Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our President."

"No way. No how. No McCain."

--Hillary Clinton 8/26/08