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

[KarenM]

A deep and "dividing" love? Perhaps that should be "abiding?"

[Stillman]

I wondered when I read that if it wasn't a very telling Freudian slip on Ms. Rosen's part. On the whole, though, this is a very lovely post.

[tasukibeth1]

Yeesh, I didn't even notice that one. I hope that was Hilary's typo and not Hillary's words.

[sd4david]

I for one forgive Hillary for all her real and perceived "sins".

NOTHING is more important than having a Democratic President to lead our country and the world through the damage caused in large part by the Bush mis Administration.

[partyofone]

The most important thing Obama promises is to change the politics as war dynamic that has kept the nation divided and unable to act on major issues and challenges facing us. The Bush-Rove-Clinton style politics of division and destruction are what must be changed. You don't change it by ignoring what Hillary did, pretending she is a hero, simply to get the votes she controls. Poltics as usual. That is not change, improvement or progress. Embracing the Clintons will destroy Obama and all that is noble and promising and inspiring about him.

[HanFeiTzu]

Great, but will her followers agree to support Obama? I believe I heard some boo's during the speech. And that only means anything in a few key states...

[davenav]

There were some boos at the beginning, but she kept going and won those people over to her point -- that we have to come together. By the end, I think she swayed them. This could not have possibly happened on Tuesday, which is why Barack's supporters should be glad, not mad, that she waited until today to make her concession.

[HanFeiTzu]

Fair enough, but that's not the sentiment one hears from die-hard Hillary followers on the call-in programs including CSPAN. Nor is it consistent with senior Hillary women in my classes who are predominately Democratic..

[esperanza01]

That will be up to them. At the very least, I hope they will listen to message of his campagn...­.that too will be up to them

[CeciliaBertrand]

It is really about the country isn't it? Our country is in shambles, McCain hasn't a clue and Bushs presence is a lethal reminder that he "ain't out yet". He is still up to no good with Iran,and we need to stop the nonsense and get behind Obama - who is against all the criminal acts of the Bush brigade.

We really do not have time to work through our pathos about Hillary and Barack as if any of us actually knew them. Barack is the choice, the democrats are behind him, Hillary has conceded, now we all campaign for HIM to get into the WHITE HOUSE and stop the mess all over the world as well as in our own country. He has the answers and the capability to work with congress. They are stocking the house and senate so that filibusters and stupid pet tricks normally played by a impotent congress will be non-exista­nt..

[FogCityJohn]

I'm a strong supporter of Senator Obama, and I've been critical of much of what Senator Clinton has done during this campaign. But having watched her speech, I can only say, "Brava!" She dwelt on the issues that have mattered to her for so long and on what her candidacy has meant to so many.

She was exactly right when she said that one remarkable thing she has achieved is to have made a woman's campaign for president "unremarka­ble." Today, few remember how much uncertainty seemed to surround such an idea only a few years ago. It's a barrier she's certainly broken and one that I doubt will ever be erected again.

[fedupcitizen]

That is the voice Hillary should have used throughout the campaign. When she found her voice in New Hampshire it did spread that message. It is more evident today that Hillary was not served well by her advisers.

The Hillary I saw today actually made me realize just how poorly her campaign advisers underestimated her.

I support Barack Obama; however, the Hillary of today was the Hillary I expected when the campaign began and I was disappointed in the message of her campaign.

As an African American female I choose Barack Obama but I give props to Hillary today.

[CitizenKane16]

Ditto on every point. This is exactly what I was feeling but I could not have said it better myself.

[BigBen]

thank you .We always hurt the ones we love.

[erykah]

Yes she could have given this speech on Tuesay Hill, but she wouldn't. Remember, she was fighting for her political life today because she messed up so bad. She redeemed herself and now we can all move forward. Obama is in charge and we had better make sure he gets in the whitehouse or this country is in big trouble.

[windwalker1984]

I agree. However, it is not easy to forgive and forget all of the nasty, negative campaign tactics we've seen from her campaign since February. Things the Republicans will use against our candidate in the months ahead, i.e. "I have experience, M c C a i n has experience, he has a speech..."

To say one speech, given 4 days after the race was over, makes up for everything else that has been said and done over the course of this campaign and I don't think it alone qualifies her to be considered a national leader for years to come as stated in the story. Whether she is considered a leader depends on her actions over the next few months. After all, actions do speak louder than mere words.

[PhyllisBurke]

she could NOT have given this speech on tuesday. it would not have had today's impact. Listen: women like me are being contacted by a highly sophisticated campaign for mccain, even here in california. just now, i was on the phone with one of them for 20 minutes, Citizens for McCain, asking me to take part in a media event of former Hillary supporters. STOP ALL CRITICIZING OF HILLARY AND BILL IMMEDIATELY. i cannot emphasize enough, her speech has stopped many women in their tracks toward mccain, but obama's supporters must stop such cartoonish interpretations of the clintons. you'd think the clintons were charter members of the kkk, the way the media has behaved. i do not blame the people writing here. they are taking their cues from matthews and olbermann. after her speech, they were like two little old men, ripping at it... then russert said it was superb, and they tap danced right over. people forgot who she is, and projected every evil of racism upon her and bill. there is a very small window to move this group to obama. i'd say no more than a couple weeks. as talk of her as v.p. fades, these women will fade from the democrats. the window is open, but is already begininng to close. if you want a president obama, he should pick her immediately. we are not all as gracious and courageous as she is. in fact, not many of us could ever rise to that level.

[Jentutsy]

I think what Ms. Rosen is saying is that a few days of rest, reflection and perspective allowed Hillary to give the speech she gave today. Honestly, sincerely, and without resentment. It's TOUGH to lose. Everyone deserves the time to collect themselves, and assess. Sure, Hillary could have given a concession speech on Tuesday night - but it wouldn't have had the weight that today's speech did. And she deserved her day. Barack had Tuesday, and today was Hillary's day. That's fair. She ran a tough, close race. She's the first woman to legitimately make a run for the White House. She earned the right to suspend her campaign on her terms. And she did it beautifully.

[bison2]

After Tuesday night, supporters and others were surprised by her lack of graciousness and civility. As more time passes, we will begin to see her and her husband in a somewhat different light. They will be forgiven, but their behavior will not be forgotten. Admirers will respect them, but they will never be fooled by them again. The cat is out of the bag.

[elizaW]

We're in big trouble having Obama as the nominee.

[patmancando]

ditto

[lizr]

I too am very grateful for Hillary's gracious and wholehearted endorsement of Obama. So now we can move forward as a united party, with appreciation of what she did for all women, in the hopes that Obama will show his gratitude by placing women up front and center in the new administration, whether or not there is a woman VP.

I see many cabinet postiions and Obama finding a way to create a mechanism to encourage women leaders and women running for office.

That is my wish list.

Thank you HIllary!!!!

[despike]

Yes thanks to her, but with all that happened, it will be too risky to entrust the VP position to her.
My dream team is Barack Obama / Caroline Kennedy.
She and her husband can help, but, let them help from a distance.

[larry278]

Ms Rosen, your words today show that you are a lady of courage & grace. You gave Hillary Clinton the credit which is due to another lady of courage & grace. When American women entered politics-they strengthened America. No one may doubt the strength of American women unless they are prepared to be vanquished by American women.