Gratitude for Hillary

Hillary Clinton gave the speech of her life today and as she endorsed her primary opponent, she cemented her place in history. As importantly, she also shone a path for herself as a national leader for years to come.

She said: "The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States."

I was tough on Hillary earlier in the week. I shared the disappointment of her losing a hard fought and terribly close campaign. I thought we needed her to provide us with a bridge to move past the primary and into the General Election by acknowledging Obama's victory. Instead on election night, she announced would take her time. It doesn't matter now whether that was the right decision.

What is clear, is that she couldn't have given the speech she gave today on Tuesday night. Today, her voice was strong, her mind was certain and her back was straight. She wanted us to know she would be an unequivocal supporter for Obama. But she also wanted to say something else.

Yes, it is true she not so silently admitted, in the beginning she was trying to avoid running as a "woman." She thought she needed to prove she was Commander in Chief material instead. But in the last five months, she changed her message because she realized that people accepted her a a national leader, what they wanted was to connect with someone who understood their daily lives. She is filled with the stories of women along the campaign trail. They saw in her a woman who understands the complexities of life as a mother, a daughter, a wife and a worker all at the same time. The glue in other people's lives. Whether it was about health care, education or knowing a soldier in the war, women needed to tell her their stories. She would nod knowingly because she understood them. And she also understood that all too often a woman's dreams take a back seat to someone else's or they are filtered through a thin film of sexism that men don't see.

Hillary found a bold new public voice during this campaign. For those of us who have know her a long time, it was the Hillary we knew. The compassion, the humor and the grit.

She said: "But I am a woman and, like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious, and I want to build an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us. I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my mother never dreamed of. I ran as a mother who worries about my daughter's future and a mother who wants to leave all children brighter tomorrows."

She didn't talk about being a wife. Yet as she spoke, I couldn't help but think that among the legacies of this campaign is the certain re-branding of the "Clinton" name. It is now Hillary Clinton who is the contemporary political leader. The one whose future in the Senate and place on the national stage is more important than ever. For instance, when Barack Obama's first presidential priority is universal healthcare, it will be because of Hillary that we will understand its possibilities. What was once dubbed derisively as "Hillarycare" will now carry that moniker as a brand of honor.

We have a lot of work to do in the next several months to win back the White House. But today was Hillary's day in the sun.

"So today I'm going to count my blessings and keep on going," she said. "I will do it with a heart filled with gratitude, with a deep and abiding love for our country, and with nothing but optimism and confidence for the days ahead."

Like so many today, my heart is filled with gratitude for Hillary Clinton.

Follow Hilary Rosen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hilaryr

Comments

[CTtransplant]

Anyone remember how she condescendingly offered him the VP spot on the ticket
when HE was WINNING???
How about her using 17mil voters as the ransom for her getting the VP spot? That is exactly what she did with her speech on Tuesday - make no mistake about it!
He needs someone who has the same ideals he does - and that’s not her. Integrity matters and she does not have any. She’s more liability than asset. Considering her campaign management, the Family baggage, her unethical behavior, I can’t see it working. And think of all the ammunition THAT would give the opposition!
Add to that, her RFK assassination comment, which will NOT be forgotten by November, these things totally rule her out as VP choice.
Her surrogates who are pushing her as the VP need to keep silent about it. They are showing blatant disrespect for our nominee. They are also showing a LOT of disrespect for his voters by inferring that we do not matter. But guess what? WE need to be respected, too! There are many of us who will not vote for a ticket with her name on it. Her speech did nothing to apologize for all the ammunition SHE gave the Republicans against him. That won’t be forgotten just because she gave a good speech.
In addition, her husband comes with the package - and neither one of them would be willing to take a back seat to the President.

[granamica]

Apache, this article isn't saying lets unite now, it is saying lets pour our gratitufe over Ms. Clinton because she finally said the campaign was over. Yes, it is over. We are democrats so idealogy is important , the person who represents us is important. We have the obligation to point out what works and what doesn't. I seriously do not want to see anymore dogwhistling from another democrat again. I don't want to see it from a republican either but I don't believe I can persuede them. I can make my case here and say it is not acceptable. Just like her supporters can be upset by the sexism dogwhistling they heard. We all can do better but we need to remind each other to be better.

[Apache6]

i understand G. I often say to my wife ' would you rather be right or would you rather win?

[granamica]

That's kind of strange because in most marriages it is the other way around. LOL. I think we are coming together but both sides need to say how we procede not only this time but in the following elections. I view these last 16 months as one heck of a test of our party and we are not the same as we were. Ignoring it won't be helpful but open listening will. Peace and I mean that.

[Diplomacy]

Quite frankly, I resent Hillary Rodham Clinton using 'Women'. She is NO Leader for Women. She is an 'OPPORTUNIST'.

I am a 58-year-old white woman. I have worked all my life for women's rights. I am a past coordinator for a Women's Resource Center, a past community orgnanizer for re-entry projects for women re-entering the workforce. I have been politically involved.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has hijacked the "Women's Movement".

SHAME on YOU, Hillary Rodham Clinton. You are the one who engaged in 'isms' in this campaign, along with your husband, Bill. You both engaged in RACISM & SEXISM. DEPLORABLE.

History/Herstory will JUDGE your tactics in this campaign.

And, it will take time! You are a DISGRACE to Women Around the WORLD.

[CarbonDate]

As an Obama supporter, I think it's time to turn the page on this primary and move forward. I'm glad to have Hillary Clinton on our side. She was a formidable primary opponent, and I think the hard-fought victory has made Barack Obama a stronger candidate. If he had just cruised to victo

[Apache6]

It's crystal clear to me now why republicans are so much better suited to winning national elections. They are idea driven rather than person driven, They are disciplined. They believe no matter who their guy was in the primary, the REPUBLICAN is now their guy even they hated him 14 minutes ago. They now LOVE their guy for a simple reason: THEY HATE OUR GUY. ( colloquical; not intended to be gender dismissive) They will work like dogs because their worst guy is better than our best guy.

Not to be melodramatic, but it reminds me of those films of the landing at Normandy. Boat after boat, guys getting off in American blood filled waters FOR AN IDEAL.

We can exchange slights and hurt feelings if you want. I'd rather get in the water.

[DRPike]

I'll try to be more careful with my spelling so you don't get distracted.

Winning at any cost is not winning. Obama understands this, Hillary does not. That, more than anything else, is why he won.

I believe he will win in November. If I am wrong I still have backed the right candidate for the right reasons. One measure of sanity is understanding "good enough."

[DRPike]

Better check that capitalization there Apache6, someone might feel the need to focus on your mechanics instead of your point.

[CarbonDate]

As an Obama supporter, I think it's time to turn the page on this primary and move forward. I'm glad to have Hillary Clinton on our side. She was a formidable primary opponent, and I think the hard-fought victory has made Barack Obama a stronger candidate. If he had just cruised to victory like John Kerry did in 2004, he probably would have cruised to November like John Kerry did in 2004.

Let's be glad that Barack Obama is battle-tested. What's John McCain going to throw at Barack Obama that Hillary Clinton hasn't already? We owe Hillary Clinton a debt of gratitude for making our candidate stronger. The ire will pass; let's go back to being family.

[Apache6]

Seconded.

[HopeGirl]

Gratitude?

After months of dividing the party, attempting to ruin the front runner through deceit and dirty politics-she is 3 months, four days and 45 minutes late doing the minimum.

The minimum. I did not hear any apology for what she did or said these last months,Not for the Muslim nonsense before Ohio, not for the NAFTA lies before Penn, not her despicable flame fanning during the Wright diversion, not for the FL and MI lies, the lies about disinfranchisement and the popular vote myth, the 3AM embarrassment, the not ready on day one betrayal and the endorsement of McCain.

I heard not a word from her about any of this. All I heard was me,me,me,I,I,I.

Before she gets her crown for doing the minimum, lets hold her accountable.

[DRPike]

I follow politics closely but for reasons of family I was forced to miss Hillary's last speech. I've seen all the others but I had to miss the last one. As I read the media posts I became at onece hopeful that she had rounded the corner to support her party and dissapointed that I had missed this moment, a moment that would live in politics. I was inspired to take time out to go read the speech. I say "inspired" as reading a speech is never the same, by far, as witnessing it but it was all I would have. The media will only replay soundbytes and this would be one to remember even if only from the text.

I am now ok. In fact I'm glad I missed it. After all that has transpired, after even her most strident supporters in the party cajoled her to be the statesman she purported herself to be and back the party's candidate, she re-ran the Hillary show. Two paragraphs and a sparse few other odd mentions of her party's candidate inserted carelessly in her stump speech turned self aggrandizing memoir.

Hillary is a very bright and determined woman. She seems to believe in the right ends but the right means escape her. For these reasons I hope she remains active in the party but forever out of the party's leadership.

[priusdriver]

you are wrong.

[DRPike]

About anything in particular?

[Apache6]

Out of respect for the author and content of this piece, maybe the monkeypoop fight that's dominating the conversation tonight , on both sides, should be held somewhere other than the article entitled "Gratitude For Hillary". I know it's a small point, but Hillary Rosen actually put herself on the line the other day by putting her career and livelihood on the line when she could have remained silent .

Post after post is consumed with misplaced anger largely about how Hillary or Barack's actions or inactions traumitized the POSTER. Silly me, I thought we were here to exchange thoughts and ideas about electing a democrat leader of the free world. I apologize for being insensitive to how this nomination process has hurt or angered any and all of you. After this process is over, I promise to watch you ride your bike or play with your Legos ALL DAY!!!!

[DRPike]

You get a gold star for both trying to make a point and exemplifying your criticism within your point in the same remarks.

Ms. Rosen posted in a public forum and the vast majority of the replies apply quite aptly to her point(s), whether one agrees with them or not.

Perhaps you should look to your inner deamons for your motivations.

[Apache6]

If you trot out some lame insult, you may want to spell it correctly.

[alldone]

"Hillary Rosen actually put herself on the line the other day by putting her career and livelihood on the line when she could have remained silent" ...Did she? Really? Of course she didn't.

"Post after post is consumed with misplaced anger largely about how Hillary or Barack's actions or inactions traumitized the POSTER."

What point of view are posters supposed to write from? Say it with me, the POSTERs...that's how this works...

[Rendon76]

All I ever hear is "the Hillary supporters" and all this concern for the Hillary supporters. What about the Obama supporters who had to endure her antics throughout the campaign? Just because she made one speech doesn't make everything all right for everyone. She is going to have to prove herself to the rest of us and convince us that she's 100% behind the Democratic Party.

[Apache6]

I would humbly suggest the correct, but unpopular, answer to that particular question is because you are not the nominee. I would have to defer to President Obama's position on whether to harbor these feelings or move on.

[Diplomacy]

Time will Tell. And, History is not written so quickly.

No one was rushing Hillary Rodham Clinton. On Tuesday, her speech was DEFIANT.

All Hillary had to do Tuesday, was to acknowledge BARACK OBAMA's VICTORY in garnering the required delegates to cross the finish line.

Nothing more, nothing less.

She missed that opportunity!

[Amomma]

The outright dislike for Hillary Clinton that is the tone for most bloggers could perhaps be viewed through a different lens and in doing so help UNITE the party.

I know she is grating and without charisma, I too winced at times.

But, if you can find it in your heart to look past the vitriol and respect what she has accomplished it could go along way in helping women who are over fifty get on board.

Please do give some respect for the transformation that did come over her during this primary.

[Osito]

I would probably be offering much more respect if she was not being featured now in an ad on the RNC website essentially endorsing McCain over Obama.

[CTtransplant]

And, for all we know, maybe that was a deal she made with mcsame when the campaign started.

[Amomma]

Osito, if the shoe were on the other foot I think we would see some pretty bad attacks on Clinton.

The only one who could destroy Obama is Obama himself. And Lets all hope that does not happen.

TURN OFF THE TV!!!!!!

[alldone]

I agree with most of the comments here: the speech fell short. Clinton would have resonated much more if she had assured her supporters that she lost 'fair and square' (which she did - the Michigan and Florida outrage was pure political posturing. The rules said that no delegates were to be seated.).

Note her body language when she would say Obama's name. And she, Bill and Chelsea were wearing all black. Of course conceding after 16 months is a hard thing to do, but she made it hard on herself by running a negative campaign when it was clear that the delegate math was not in her favor. And, to echo other comments made here, the speech was about HER. Shameful. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when she and Obama met one-on-one...

[Gmoney1]

Hillary is nothing but a national disgrace - as a woman, I am ashamed of her behavior thoughout her campaign - I will not patronize her because she is a woman - if you are wrong, you are just that - she and her campaign was pathetic - and used sexism as a tool to cloud the pitiful campaign she ran - then blamed the media - the media said as she did that she was the inevitable - she showed me that she was not smart and had no forethought - she let men tell her when and how to act - then she hired a black campaign person who told her all the wrong things to do - again, I am ashamed of her as a woman - she should go away - it's too late to apologize - it's just too late -

[priusdriver]

u are sad.

[DrToketee]

You want a rebranding of Hillary? How about "woefully unfit" to be President? Within the past two weeks, in one 10-minute commentary, Kieth Obermann listed EIGHTEEN hard-to-forgive public acts on her part that she has committed within the past 5 months. The NINETEENTH came Tuesday night - a outrageously selfess and insulting speech at her party's presumptive nominee. So I did not have to read the byline to know what gender had composed this article ...

[Apache6]

I may be baying at the moon, but I renew my thanks to Hillary and her supporters and ask that you join us. I further request my brothers and sisters who support Obama to follow his lead and be no more disrepectful or disharmoneous THAN HE IS. We're not running for President, he is. If i understand his message correctly, he would like to bring about change by respectful reconciliation, not rancor. Although that's directed at republicans, but it may be useful in this instance as well.

I still sense this desire for many to get their pound of flesh and exact a little revenge first. The Cherokee have a wonderful saying about that:

If it's revenge you seek, begin by digging 2 graves.

[granamica]

Nice quote but discourse and debate are different from revenge. I am not a citizen of New York state so I will never have the opportunity to revenge vote against her. And that is fine with me.

[Gmoney1]

Let her supporters go away also - let them pay her one dollar per person - she should get her 18 million back fast - her supporters were never going to vote for Obama - not because of the issues because Hillary's and Obama's issues were basically the same - they were not going to vote for Obama for obvious reasons - it was never a gender issue and they know it - Obama will have to find other voters, the young specifically and the intelligent - he can find them - let Hillary's supporters get mad, they will never be happy because they're not happy with themselves -