Speak Up, Hillary!
In accepting her role as John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin made an unabashed appeal to Hillary Clinton supporters and, in one of the greatest displays of chutzpah in recent political memory, offered to carry the baton that final yard for her to smash the glass ceiling. Women, and people who care about women, should be afraid of this Republican ticket. They should be affronted by the Republican's appeal for support to the very people whom they seek to harm. And they should look to Hillary Clinton to make clear the distinctions between herself and the Sarah Palins of the world. John McCain and Sarah Palin are people who can be counted on to repair any cracks in the glass ceiling made by Hillary and countless others, and roll back progress made by and for women over the past half century. Hillary is in a unique position to point out that this Republican ticket proposes to pack the Supreme Court with radical conservative judges, take away a woman's right to chose, blur the line between Church and State, jeopardize Social Security, and cut social programs whose beneficiaries are primarily women and children.
Yet, following the announcement of Palin as the VP nominee, Hillary Clinton released the following tepid statement: "We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate."
During the debates against Barack Obama, a man with whom she voted approximately 90% of the time in Congress and with whom she shares a basic set of values, beliefs and core political principles, Clinton did not hold back her pointed criticisms of the man she hoped to defeat. It is now time for her to unleash her oratory power and, in this case, well-deserved indignation, against John McCain and his choice for vice president.
John McCain and Sarah Palin are the antithesis of everything that both Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton stand for, and everything that Hillary Clinton has fought for during her political career. I have been an Obama supporter from the start, but I always knew that, if Hillary turned out to be the nominee, the Supreme Court would be safe from justices who would seek to prevent women from maintaining control over their own bodies and reproductive decisions. I knew that the fight for healthcare, education, social security, and support for our nation's veterans would be in capable and concerned hands. And, I had the comfort of knowing that the unilateralism that has been the hallmark of the Bush foreign policy would come to an end and that we would once again reach out to our allies. These are the common causes that should spur Hillary on to step forward and make the difference she clearly can in shifting the tone and substance of the media coverage of this campaign. As a woman who has become a feminist icon with serious track record on issues relating to women and children, she is needed at the front lines, a place where she told us during the primaries she has always been.
Hillary was much praised for her speech at the democratic convention, but her relative silence now can only lead Democratic voters to wonder whether she is in this for the Democrats or for herself. If McCain's reckless ploy actually works and disaffected Clinton supporters vote to put oldest president and the least qualified vice president in American history in office, Hillary might have succeeded in proving that the Democratic party needed her more than it thought it did. And her legacy might very well end up being the first woman in the White House -- just not one who advances the cause of women. Hillary Clinton's silence could very well contribute to the election of John McCain, and to a President Palin who appoints a Supreme Court that overturns Roe v. Wade.
Hillary commands an audience when she speaks. And Sarah Palin has given her a veritable invitation to respond to and attack the McCain-Palin ticket for the devastating effect its policies would have on women and children. Hillary has it in her power to draw the cameras of CNN and FOX's. She has the opportunity to use her influence and unique position in this campaign to get the media to run and re-run speeches conveying her outrage over Republican lies and her exhortation to women voters to support the Democratic ticket. If Hillary Clinton was serious when she said that this election is not about her, but about the issues, then she needs to lend her voice, loud and clear, to help pop the Palin balloon with one of the shards of that glass ceiling that she can legitimately claim to have cracked. She needs to take the spotlight away from John McCain and Sarah Palin and focus it back on the issues that matter to her and to the American people.
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I disagree with this idea that Hillary has done more than others. It's not true. She's done her job as a democrat. She can be effective talking about her issues as it relates to the platform. Womens issues in comparison to the RNC platform. Health care issues. Send her to Appalachia and Florida where prejudice will decide some of these states. The Clintons have not been the best Democrats when they're not on a ticket. Stop comparing the old campaigns to this one. Each one is different and this one is totally different. Campaigns are changed forever. This is the grass roots campaign.
Hillary was not chosen because of her vote for the war and her refusal to say that the vote was a mistake. Clintons never admit they're wrong (repub like). Hillary could not convince the voters that her experience was not based on Bills and her negatives are too high (still are). White men (independents and repubs) have a dislike for her. I did not want her beacuse I didn't want to hear about , whitewater, travelgate, firings murders and monica. Too much ammo there...
Feel free to disagree all you want but it is still true that Hillary Clinton has done more then any other losing Democrat in the parties history. Disagreeing only shows your lack of knowledge on the subject. My point can be easily proved by looking at how past losing Democrats have preformed and what they have done to help the winner.
You are kidding right ??? Hillary Clinton has already done way more then any other losing (2nd place) candidate in the history of the Democratic party. She has already outdone Howard Deans effort of 2004 to help out Kerry. Compare her to Kennedy in 1980. Obama was suppose to be the next Kennedy but lets face it at least JFK had the brains to put LBJ on the ticket even though they didn't like each other. Look Obama didn't want her and neither did most of his supporters. It is Joe Bidens job to go after Palin he was chosen. Personally I hope to see I lot more of Clinton out there while it is true I wish she was running as President I still like seeing her out on the campaign trail so yes I hope she keeps it up but it is not her job to go after Palin. I am sick of hearing how Hillary has to win this for Obama. We had a chance to put her up there and the Democrats decide to go with Obama. its too late to change that. Obama and Biden could and should very well win this election but if they lose it is on them (Axelrod ect...) and not the fault of Hillary Clinton.
I completely disagree. The LAST thing we need is for Hillary Clinton to take on Palin directly. The only thing that would accomplish is for the media to get another trashy headline to fuel them for a week. And, everytime, we focus on anything but the issues, we do a favour to the Republicans.
The Republican ticket stands for what 80% of the country thinks is the wrong direction. They think the economy is fundamentally sound, when the entire country is hurting. They have no plan for health care, for social security, for the environment, for energy independence. And, I'm confident that if you keep pounding the issues, people will come to realize the differences between the two tickets. Palin is a distraction and we cannot be distracted at this crucial time.
And, finally, Hillary is not on the ticket. I welcome her help with fundraising and with stumping occasionally, but she cannot be expected to carry the race for Obama. I really wanted her to be on the ticket, but that didn't happen, and I moved on. Hillary needs to let go - and more importantly, we need to let go. Obama/Biden is the ticket now. And the spotlight needs to be on them.
Hillary's got her eyes on 2012. Her silence is defeaning.
President and Senator Clinton will never sit idly by and see the Republicans win in November. They experienced thesick wrath of the McCanites for over 8 years, yet left his Country prosperous and at Peace.
They, more than most, know the dangers which a Mccain/Palin Administration would bring.
Watch, you will see.
I saw that couple sit idly by before Gore lost. I saw them sit idly by as Kerry lost too.
Gore specifically demanded that they not participate. He rejected their support.
Hey al Gore didnt want Bill Clinton on the campign trail. it was not Bill that was sitting by it was Gore who didnt want him out there because of monica. Gore made the choice not to use Bill
Oh come on.....you know that as soon as she says anything, no matter how truthful, about Palin the RNC will jump all over it. Sour grapes will be the chant. Jealousy and etc and so on. They are just waiting.
Nope, she is doing just as she should...c
Kudos to Hillary for staying above the low class fray. I have always advised not to ever lower yourself to someone else's standards. High class will in the end trump low.
Obama should have chosen Hillary -- that is the truth. Why he didn't choose Hillary will always be a mystery to me. Now, Obama wants Hillary to bail him out. I don't think she should do it. This is Obama's mess -- let him bail himself out of it. One way, replace Biden with Hillary and he would win and win big.
It is not going to make any difference. We know her heart is not in it.
How do you know her heart's not in it? Or are you judging her by what you would have done?
I understand where you're coming from but we have to move on together. I'm not happy about some things either but I'm with Obama. McCain will do nothing but finish destroying what Bush started and at 49 that scares the hell out of me.
I agree. For all the people who insist he's brilliant and infallible, let's see him win his own darn election without the help of all the really qualified people he dissed.
I'm curious Lisa, what is it beyond what Hillary is doing for Obama do you want/expect her to do? You have a disingenuous quote of her initial reaction to Palin, she added that she needed to amend her convention speech to "No Way, No How, No McCain, No Palin". She was also almost immediate with her response.
She campaigned for him last week in Florida - this past weekend she was in Ohio, she is scheduled to be on GMA tomorrow morning. The Obama campaign has released info the they DO NOT want her to go after Palin, but McCain. On almost every talkie since Friday afternoon, the Democratic pundits have been screaming for Obama to take his attention off Palin and put it squarely back onto McCain.
I'll tell you what YOUR post, and all the Clinton haters responses do for me. It makes me rethink my decision to support Obama - I was seriously considering voting for Cynthia McKinney but because my state has become close and I WAS pretty much over it, I reconsidered. I've even sent Obama money.
This continuous rant against Hillary needs to stop. NOW.
I have always been an Obama supporter but I completely agree with you. Hillary has went above and beyond what any other competitor has ever done for another candidate. She has been graceful and delivered incredible speeches in support of Obama. I am sick and tired and quite frankly, embarrassed that Obama supporters keep telling Hillary that she needs to do more. Obama needs to do more not Hillary. Quit blaming Hillary --- I am starting to think I made the mistake supporting Obama. Please do not make me regret my long hard support for Obama.
Hunh? What? You're right. Hillary, the activist politician she is, should sit on her hands and see if Obama is worthy enough for this.
Simultaneously, she can watch Roe v. Wade disappear, watch big oil run the U.S. energy policy for four more years, watch health care become more of a money maker rather than a right, see a right wing supreme court, watch us start another war with Iran or Russia. Let the lobbyists write legislation and be the gatekeepers for U.S. legislation. Allow our country to fully divest itself from being the leaders of the free world.
Sure, she doesn't need to do anything else. She has already done enough, right?
I think the problem that a lot of people have is that Hilary is not SEEN to be doing anything. As you correctly point out she is campaigning hard and to my knowledge doing what the campaign wants her to do. Focus on MCain and the economy. The problem here is the media. Because she isn't trying for a catfight with Palin they just ignore her and to the general public it looks like she's not doing anything cause they just don't get to see it. My villian in this campaign has become the media. Until recently the were sycophanitc in their love for McCain and now the shiny new toy of Palin gets all the coverage.
I do wish Obama could find a way to get her on the ticket though.
Lisa,
This article is amazing. I just got through writing one to submit to the Hillary and Obama campaign offices. I'm a teacher, as well as my mother (a former teacher) who is editing it now....the astonishing thing is that I stated almost the exact same thing that you did, using identical words! Anyway, I have tons of women all around the country that want to sign my letter and send it off to Hillary to read, but since your article has been published, what would you recommend I do? It is so close to what I wrote, I don't want you to think it has been plagiarized! Thanks for your help and advice!
Juliana Weis
Send your letter to Obama. It's his campaign and he is telling HRC where to go and what to say. See Washington Post article I cited below.
A little research folks: http://voi
HRC campaigned yesterday in Ohio. According to the WashPo, she avoided direct attacks against Palin at the direction of the Obama campaign.
For all of you with your nasty, sad conspiracy theories, I wonder if the truth will make a difference or if you'll continue to lie about the Clintons.
It looks like Hillary figures standing up for women's rights is somehow beneath her.I believe she still owes women something for putting her name closer to nominee than any female before her. She has been used by McCain and stood silently while he badgered Obama with her words. She has been a no-show when we have been insulted as women again and again while being beaten by Palin and her lies. Palin has spoken over and over about how she would like to see the rights of women taken away without using those words but same meaning. Hillary has stood up in the past regarding roe vs wade and not is silent while we know more and more about Palin charging rape victims to get DNA tests done to catch a rapist. She has stood silent while Palin speaks of her desire to have females of all ages who have been raped to carry babies to term. She speaks of denying any rights women have she can get away with due to "God" words. You know the rest lies compounded by lies and yet Hillary feels the VP slot Palin is potentially in is either beneath her or she hasn't anything to say regarding the womens rights and the glass ceiling being fractured. Hillary do you really expect to abandon the women to Palin ad expect to get them back IF you run in 2012?
Palin's presence on the ticket has nothing to do with Hillary or the so-called Hillary voters. Palin was put on the ticket to shore up support from the Religious Right, and NOT to appeal to progressive feminists. Her presence on the ticket is a novelty and a distraction. I don't think it would be appropriate for Hillary to "take on" Palin. That's Biden's job. If Palin really is as unqualifed as the media are saying, he should be able to make short work of her. If she actually is qualified, then it's too bad for Obama and his ticket. The Hillary voters who still won't vote for Obama, don't really care about Palin one way or the other.
Hillary shouldn't demean herself further in order to propitiate Obama supporters who never liked her, and never will.
Sara Palin was added to the Republican ticket to solidify McCain's base, bringing in the Conservative Christian wing of the party. It worked! Now we're getting these incessant calls for Hillary to do something about it but it's not just her problem. It's a problem for all of us; the latest poll I've seen has McCain up by 2 points over Obama.
But this wrangling for a cat fight between Senator Clinton and Governor Palin is damaging to our cause. The same trolls are at it again pointing their fingers, accusing Senator Clinton of not doing enough and alienating, once more, her supporters who constitute nearly ONE-HALF of our party. We don't need this! Please, turn your attention to McSame and Palin and stop this divisive nonsense! We have to win in November and this in NOT helping!
SHE WOULD HAVE IF SHE WON THE NOMINATION :)
As a society lately we look for an excuse, scapegoat, fictious reason for what is wrong, well ALOT is wrong. And the media in general is so happy to fulfill the feeding frenzy for the day. God help the people, subjected to their wrath. Hillary and Bill have gotten most of it and are in the worst possible position. I have respect for them both, and feel that this truly is a "Damned if you, Damned if you don't" situation. They should not have to step in to do anything. These groups have their own spinmasters; let them figure it out before they the media ruins these campaigns.
I seem to remember President Clinton, bailing our country out of debt once before, a man who, I believe repaired a republican battered nation at the time and, HE DID IT. Senator Clinton has tackled issues for women and minorities, healthcare reform, public school choice, fuel/coal-oil alternatives, and getting the US out of Iraq, she has addressed these head on, her opinon and forethought has always been fought but SHE HAS BEEN PREPARED. I don't think the Clinton’s are responsible for getting us on track, I think we could benefit from their input.
Instead of bantering about who is to blame and letting the media fools push us into a different point of view, we should really start making sure that they actual candidates address our future, with respect to Finance, Fuel, and our Future.
I completely agree. Bashing and blaming the Clintons for all that has gone wrong with the Obama campaign makes me wonder if I have made a mistake being an Obama supporter. The Clinton's have done more than enough to show support for Obama --- Obama needs to take the lead and his supporters need to start supporting him, which should not include bashing the Clintons. This is getting ridiculous.
Her oratory power? shrill Hill? once again you got the Clinton confused; Bill is the orator and brilliant politico; Hillary is his wife.
Hillary is an excellent speaker, and far better than Bill, who was capable of droning on for tool long and boring the pants off everybody.
Hillary has become an excellent speaker. One of the things she learned during this campaign. Like Obama in the debates she has also become a better candidate because of the primaries. So Obama has gotten much better in debates Clinton has become a much better speaker. Her speeches during the beginning of the campaign season were dull compared to what she showed at the end of the campaign and the convention
I disagree any speech by MRS Clinton is too long and boring. She didn't get any better she just has different writers. Bill did not drone on at the democratic convention.
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