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

[mystic]

In many ways Hillary displayed some of the ways Bush has handled his presidency: Petty and vindictive, used to getting his way, spiteful if he doesn't. Also stubborn and absolutely refusing to admit he was wrong; To this day she has refused to apologise for the most important decision of her life: the Iraq invasion. A terrible attribute for any leader. Another similarity with Bush was terrible judgement in policy and in choosing the right advisors. Also his deference to corporate profit.

[cheshirecat831]

Her speech was simply OK. It took her 4 days to get around to it and she kept everyone waiting 45 minutes which causes me to be skeptical of her enthusiasm for Obama. I do not think the Clintons will be as useful as some think. Now that Obama does not have to respond to the attacks of the Clintons I think he will do extremely well as he turns his full attention to beating McCain. Hillary as VP? Fuggedaboudit!

[mystic]

You raise a good point in reminding how she kept the country--and the world--waiting for 45 minutes. That shows such lack of respect. There is NO excuse, such as she "was always late". Pullease!! Everything, every nuance, every eyeblink was prepared. She had no respect for Obama right unto the last. And that goes for Bill Clinton also. Perhaps more so. Compare his disgraceful manner with the graciousness and rectitude Carter has employed ever since he left office.

[CTtransplant]

Does anyone remember her condescendingly offered him the VP spot when HE was WINNING???
Her using 17mil of voters as ransom for getting the VP spot is deplorable - that's exactly what she did with her speech Tuesday - no mistake about it!
He needs someone who has the same ideals he does - that is not her. Integrity matters, she does not have any. Her on the ticket is more liability than asset. Look at the way she ran her campaign, Family baggage, her lack of ethical behavior throughout the campaign-can’t see it. Think of all the ammunition THAT would give the opposition!
And her RFK "A" comment, which contrary to popular opinion will NOT be forgotten by November, totally rules her out as VP. I know how her supporters must feel that she lost - but facts do not change.
Those who are pushing the VP decision need to keep silent …they are showing blatant disrespect for our nominee. They are also showing major disrespect for his supporters by ignoring us. Guess what? WE need to be respected, too! There are too 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 is not something that will be forgotten just because she gave a good speech…and will certainly not be forgotten by November.
Neither one of them would be willing to take a back seat to

[nolabels]

Tuesday through Saturday were her nights. In fact, most of this primary season has been about feeding her ego. I am glad that speech is over so we can cheer without reservations for the better candidate.
I hope Clinton does push to get Obama elected and for him to make national healthcare a top priority but I won't give her credit for either. It is true that she has a place in history for demonstrating that a woman can compete for any job and that is a good thing. What is also a good thing is that most people will probably forget how she competed for that position. Those details describe someone that was less than honorable and should not be emulated. If I had daughters I would say to them, "See, Hillary Clinton almost became President of the United States. Millions of people supported her. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to. Don't forget though that there is a respectable way to do something and a cheap way. Don't let yourself stoop to any level to get what you want. It perverts the accomplish­ment."

[MyGuyO]

It's always been about Hillary Clinton. Senator Obama is the nominee and one would never know it by all the "hoopla" HRC has been given. Her actions the evening Senator Obama was the Dem nominee were outragous. Her narcissist ic behavour was so out of line. Now the big spin for this week is... the pundits are saying "It's all about sexism."
HRC seems to bring out the irrational side of woman...If you don't give me what I want, I won't give you what you want idea. She has thrown tantrums, summoned tears, thrown out insults, has been untrustworthy, manipulated stories all to achieve her goals.
This woman is an unbelievable liar. She is souless.

[Susanfrom29]

Isn't her day over yet?

Can we please move on?

Like how about a big round of applause for how gentlemanly Sen O has behaved in the midst of all of this? Not one whimper about how unfair the media or the opposition has been, just a constant belief in the power of the people of this country to change the world.

Time to board the Change Train!

[mellene]

I agree that Hillary gave a very good speech today. My trouble with the whole thing still is that she wants to make it all about herself--the me, me, me, I, I, I thing. She had to have known on Tuesday that she'd cause a fire-storm by her comments. Instead of Barack Obama getting the celebratory time for his win, it became all about Hillary and what did she want. She may work her heart out for Barack and the dems, but once you've let that genie out of the bottle, it'll be extraordinarily difficult for those 18 million to ever believe anything other than she lost because of sexism. She could have said that he ran a better campaign. She could've not referred to the 18 million breaks in the glass ceiling. I, for one, don't believe that this was a woman's issue, especially considering that we're talking about the ex-first lady of the USA. If anything, it was a retaliation against what she stood for, especially her vote on the war. People say why are Obama supporters attacking the Clinton? I don't think they are, but because she's so right of center, in my mind she's still a Goldwater Girl.

[rzan]

Hillary's place in history is still questionable as far as I am concerned. My hope is that she is not re-elected to the Senate. She has done nothing for the people of New York State and has damaged the Democratic party. She lied to her supporters, so that they somehow believe it is Obama's fault that she did not win the nomination. Her speech may be too little too late.

[mystic]

I agree. She did NOT have the interests of the party at stake, only herself. That's not what we want in a leader; Moreover her interest in the Senate was only as a stepping stone to the presidency. One cannot accuse of her of lacking ambition, but her behaviour in implementing it was a disgrace and she sure wasn't helped by her husband either.

[jrterrier]

please stop this garbage. i am one of Hillary's supporters. she didn't lie to me. my opinions about the bias in the media are my own. there a multiple examples that i observed with my own eyes, many right here on huffpo and many others are all over the web and which you can find with a simple search. if you need a link, just let me know. hillary nutcrackers were on sale at CNBC stores in airports around the country. do you think they would have marketed racist toys depicting Obama or that the DEM leadership would have stood by without objecting if that happened?

i am disaffected and disgusted with the DEM leadership for handing him the election; the more she won and the bigger her margins of victory, the more they declared for him.

i am disgusted with obama and his campaign and surrogates for his slanderous claims that hillary's mention of LBJ in NH meant she was using the race card; his gamesmanship in taking his name off the ballot in MI and then obstructing a revote in MI and FL; his campaign's claim in SC that Bill Clinton was comparable to Lee Atwater; and the fact that Obama stood by on a stage while the admiral who introduced him likened Bill to Joe McCarthy.

[dawlishgal]

What do those nutcrackers have to do with Obama...he did not invent them, did not market them and had no power to stop the sale of them. Hillary, however, did say "hardworking Americans, WHITE Americans.­" What other interpretation of that remark is there other than that she, like Bush, was going for the racist-vote.

[jrterrier]

i am disgusted with Obama and his supporters and DEM leaders, who after months of unjustly maligning Hillary and Bill Clinton, now demand that she and Bill campaign their hearts out for Obama and get him the presidency. she's not good enough to be his VP but she has to go around and campaign for him. let richardson, kerry, daschle, casey, napolitano, rockefeller, byrd and all the other ineffectual DEMS whose endorsements couldn't get him their own states go around and campaign for him.

"give me a break" (i hope bill tells him exactly that). you have spent a season maligning the best DEM president of our lifetime for what -- for someone who has yet to prove a thing. he may be able to read a teleprompter and may well become a great leader but he's yet to deliver a thing. reminds me of that old saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. wake me up when Obama can point to any thing he's actually delivered for the people of America.

and what's worst, the idea that someone's legacy can depend on one speech or whether they campaign for someone else is ridiculous.

i don't recall anyone telling ted kennedy that his legacy depended on his campaigning his heart out for jimmy carter and getting him elected.

[jteschke]

She did the minimum required several weeks after she should have done it. After fomenting the discord, an air of cynicism still emanates from her person. Which is the real Hillary, the one who says McCain is the better "commander in chief" or this one?

[campgranata]

I was raised by my grandmother who was a lovely women who praised me when I accomplished something but not when I did the right thing: you are supposed to do the right thing she said.

[granamica]

Hillary did finally endorse Obama and said enough to help many of her supporters to let go of their dream and think at least about supporting him. I did tear up at her stories of women born before any woman was allowed to vote. I am the first woman in my family on either side to actually have purchase my own property. Still, I feel she did little to honor the fact that the hurdles race has overcome in the same primary process has been great. I am not black and I know that I have had a different version of being American than they have. It has been far easier for me. I am half Native American and Native Mexican but half Irish, too. People see me through their own filter and if they are white they see white. This has been an immearsurable advantage for me over my one brother who looks very Mexican. He was stopped in Texas on a traffic violation and spent a week without being able to call a lawyer. Racism exists and I have a hard time with the dog whistling Hillary and her people did. She did just enough but I will not forget what transpired.

[dawlishgal]

I can respect her supporters and their dream of having supported the first female president and how it was shattered by the realities of political campaigns. . Then I have a flashback to Ms. Christian and her race contorted with rage and the way she called Obama "an inadequate black man." And I read the bloggers on Hillary's own website talking about how the election was stolen. The scariest part is that these supporters think that they are doing what Hillary wants them to do. Is this what she does want? If not, why doesn't she tell them to knock it off?

[Osito]

Is there some point at which we stop paying attention to Hillary Clinton and start paying attention to the actual nominee? It's been almost a week since Obama wrapped it up and his victory has been made ot feel insignificant compared to here defeat.

[browndoe]

Obama will have his convention. He did stagger across the finish line while Hillary finished with momentum. Racism is something that is hard and cold and visible, I believe. Sexism is insidious, unconscious and hard to identify when it happens. A room of black women interviewed townhall style spoke of racism being much more unacceptable than sexism. Neither is good, or in competition for the worst burden. But I think many came to feel the sexism in Hillary's campaign late in the game and perhaps some of us regret not being more supportive of her earlier.

[Osito]

What happened in the last few days has nothing to do with either racism or sexism. It has to do with wasting the opportunity of celebrating the crowning of an apparent nominee. McCain has been out there competing for the general election for months while the Democrats have been beating the hell out of each other. It's time for the Democrats to join the fray and a great opportunity was wasted. If they don't start celebrating their nominee until the convention in August, then I suspect you'll be hearing the words "President McCain" in January.

[kristin]

Yes--about time she acted like a normal candidate who lost.

[tnhouse]

I can't agree more. I was as critical and skeptical as anyone regarding the Clinton's tactics and motives. But Hillary did the right thing by so forcefully backing Obama. I applaud her for that. I take her at her word that she will indeed do what is needed to get Obama elected in the fall. I believe it is time to end the bitterness, the pettiness and any rancor toward Hillary. She did all that was needed
of her. The Obama camp must accept, welcome and move on toward November. I am suspending
all of my negative comments regarding the Clinton's and asking all Democrats to do the same. Let's get this party together for the work that needs to be done in the fall.

I am also in agreement regarding Ms. Rosen's writings. I read her piece on Wednesday and was impressed that a woman supporter of Hillary came out as strongly against her as she did. Ms. Rosen did not bow to any " peer pressure " from woman to stand in unity behind Hillary. She said the things that needed to be said. that should have been said no matter what the gender of the candidate. Hillary will benefit from doing the right thing. Perhaps its the Vp, the Supreme Court or maybe she just won back all the political capital she burned in the primaries and can focus on being an effective voice for change in this country.

[kristin]

Excellent. Thank you.

[Patri]

Dear Ms. Rosen,

I have watched you throughout this primary each time you were on Hardball and noted that you had a great regard for Hillary Clinton. It was apparent that you supported her candidacy and you were quite fair in all your opinions and interpretations of the issues involved. When you published your blog earlier this past week, I applauded your conclusion, "I am not a bargaining chip, I am a Democrat." That speaks so much to a feeling I have had for many years when local and national pols "spoke for me". Yesterday, I read your article, "Gratitude for Hillary" and, although I did not totally agree, I bowed to your salute to Hillary Clinton. However, I must say that the line I agree with most in your article is one that obviously contains a typo, "'I will do it with a heart filled with gratitude, with a deep and DIVIDING love for our country...­." My difficulty with Hillary Clinton throughout the primaries has been her very clear willingness to divide this country to achieve her ambition--racially, with women's issues, and with class issues. Like you, I look forward to Hillary's honoring and fulfilling her stated commitment to doing everything possible to get Barack Obama elected President.

[ched]

Thanks again, Ms. Rosen, for perfectly capturing the tone of the moment. As one who has frequently been aghast at the actions of Hillary's campaign, I too am ready to let the past pass, and look forward to the thorogh throttling of John McCain by Obama, Hillary, and the rest of the sane universe.