How Dare You!

We need to talk. How dare the leadership of the Democratic Party turn on Hillary Clinton! How dare they betray Bill Clinton! How dare they not speak out when Hillary is disrespected by words like bitch, whore and the "c" word! How dare they allow them both to be smeared as racists, playing the race card! Where was Howard Dean ? Where was Nancy Pelosi ? Where were Hillary's colleagues in the Senate when the Clintons were being so unfairly accused and denigrated? The Democratic Party has a lot to answer for. If we had stood as a party with one voice and said, "no", we will not allow one of our own to be so disturbingly maligned, we would now have a unified democratic party electorate at the end of a virtually tied primary race. Instead we are deeply divided. Now, since the party's leaders have chosen again and again not to speak up, I will.

I am a Hillary supporter and along with millions of Democrats throughout our country , I have been outraged by how the media have treated her throughout this primary season. But what is most disturbing is how my Party has stood by and allowed the demeaning and dishonest attacks on Hillary to continue. This is not the party I thought I belonged to. This is not the party that espouses fairness, justice and equality for all. This is not the party that elected Bill Clinton President in 1992 and 1996 and Hillary Clinton as Senator in 2000 and 2006. That party knew that it had benefited enormously from the Clinton administration as well as the incredible accomplishments of one of the most activist, hardworking First Ladies in our history. That Party stood proudly by a president who many called the first black president because both he and his wife had demonstrated a lifelong commitment to civil rights and human rights.

Imagine if Democratic leaders had done what Hillary did when President Bush associated Barack Obama with terrorism in his much lauded speech in Israel. Remember, Hillary gave a heartfelt statement that Barack was one of our own and she would not stand by and allow him to be so denigrated ?

Women are outraged. We are still fighting for her, and we are ashamed of how our candidate, a woman who has devoted her adult life to serving others, a woman who has been a distinguished First Lady, a woman who has helped her colleagues pass legislation and win races in their own states, a woman who has stood up for all of our rights, has been treated not just by the media but by her own Democratic Party. Throughout all this, Hillary has maintained her focus, her message and her dignity. This is truly courage under fire. This is what it takes to be a great president. It is not over until the lady in the pant suit says it is and I and millions of others are with her.

Comments

[SethBullock]

Wow, do I have the honor of posting the first response to this?

Well let me start the fun then.

I have never been so proud of the party as now, having seen us reject the politics of lying, of saying anything to get ahead, of triangulation, that is represented by the Clintons.

Senator Clinton started this campaign as a prohibitive favorite. She had all the money, all the endorsements, and was adored by the media. What was the problem? She is a terrible candidate and a terrible politician. Most people I know--and I myself--started this campaign with the assumption that she would be our nominee. We know she (and Bill) are opportunists and don't share many of our liberal values. But she--like Bill--would be able to win the primaries and we'd hold our nose and vote for her, just like we did with him.

(continued)

[Charmed]

I am so sick of this entitlement attitude from the females and anyone who supporters hillary. Hillary lost fair and square. As her and bill love to say "if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen" or let's use "if you don't want to get hit, don't suite up".......the clintons are acting like something is owed to them. This is a up close look at what certain segments of America thinks....the clintons thought this would be over with on Feb. 5th because they made the fatal mistake of underestimating their opponent. I will be so glad when they seat the damn Fl and Mi delegates and this thing is over with......

[lynnn]

Jill works for the Clinton Campaign, she's on Hillary's finance committee. No doubt this since of entitlement comes straight from the top. This is just an attempt by the Hillary campaign t make more of Hillary's supporters not vote for Obama in November. They would rather our country go to hell in a hand-basket (Roe v. Wade overturned and endless war) then have Obama be elected.

Jill and Hillary only care about themselves. No doubt Jill will find it hard to work on any other Dem campaign in the near future. Jill's dumb enough to think HRC has a chance in 2012. Jill doesn't realize that HRC will be blamed for a Dem loss, and that many of HRC's older supporters won't be around to support her in 2012. Jill is to dump to realize that the younger people today will have more money (and more clout) and make sure Hillary is never elected. Jill thinks the electorate will forget how Hillary insulted 40 states. Jill must think Youtube will not exists. Jill thinks Hillary can change the primary schedule. Jill probably thinks HRC walks on water. Jill is dumb and makes me sad that she calls her self a feminist.

[parkjung]

Hillary Clinton is not the only Democrat running for the Presidency. What has Hillary done for Democrat in the important decisions facing the party today?? She was NOT an oppositional leader against Bush. She cast her vote allowing him to invade Iraq. Not all Dems voted for the war. Where was her leadership? I am outraged that the Clintons did NOT use any of their power and skills to oppose Bush in ANY WAY WHATSOEVER FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS ON IRAQ, OR ON ANYTHING ELSE.

You're outraged?? The rest of US are outraged. We need change, and she is a part of the old guard.

So go ahead, blame Obama and his campaign, you guys learned swiftboating pretty damn well over the years.

I'm done defending the Clintons. They always manage to somehow bring horrible, horrible political strife..they seem addicted to it.

[Didderbops]

"I'm done defending the Clintons. They always manage to somehow bring horrible, horrible political strife..they seem addicted to it."

Can you say "dysfunctional"?

[shrinqrap]

If this is supposed to be satire, it falls flat on its' flushed. hot-flash face.

If the author is serious, well, whatever the Democatic party may have "owed" the Clintons, has been flushed down the toilet by the destructive, take-no-prisoners campaigning done by her husband (who first compared her rival's campaign to that of Jesse Jackson) and by her ('not a muslim .......as far as I know'), and so on.

I could go on, but Mrs. Clinton's record is so clear and so well-documented, that if the author doesnt get it by now, she never will. I wonder if the author will help destroy the Democratic party and vote for George McCain the 3rd out of viscious spite?

[focus7]

Jill, I am very impressed with your missive. You are courageous to put it all out here...on the Huffington Post where most of the fans are for Barack. Gee- look at the number of comments!
I am so very proud of Hillary and what she has accomplished. I am proud of Bill and Chelsea for their hard, hard work to help this country. Hillary is, by FAR, the most qualified candidate; I am afraid there is so much sexism out there that subconsciously the men are voting for Obama to NOT vote for HIllary. It is that simple. Look at what is happening in the media as we speak? Where is Hillary? It is just NOT RIGHT. Too, Obama has charisma and his handsome and sweet ; my opinion is that America cares mostly about supporting the superficial popularity contest rather than tunderstanding the real deal. I am afraid we are in for quite a lot of trouble on down the road with Obama, as he is NOT READY, and his naivity will cost us dearly. Hillary deserves this presidency because she is brilliant, wise, saavy and EXPERIENCED. The bottom line is that men do not want a woman. Better still, men do not want a STRONG POWERFUL woman in office. I am so very depressed as I did not think the mysogyny was this deep. What a MESS.
You wrote an incredible article. I am going to save it forever and ever. Thank you.