Make HuffPost Your HomePage
Get Email Alerts
Clinton Showdown: After Hardball, What I Still Have to Say
"Unity is the great need of the hour- the great need of the hour. Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it's the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country. I'm not talking about a budget deficit. I'm not talking about a trade deficit. I'm not talking about a deficit of good ideas or new plans. I'm talking about a moral deficit. I'm talking about an empathy deficit. I'm talking about an inability to recognize ourselves in one another."
When Senator Obama said these words at Ebenezer Church he was referring to our collective inability to see the world in a perspective that vastly differs from our own. His speech was intended to elucidate this "empathy deficit" as it pertains to the most basic differences; race, class, gender, sexual preference, religion. He spoke of crumbling schools and genocide, homeless veterans and homophobia. He spoke of the need to overcome the categories that attempt to define us while recognizing that we are in fact our brother's keeper, our sister's keeper.
With all of the conjecture surrounding party unity and Clinton disaffection, I often find myself thinking about this particular passage in terms of our political differences, particularly the differences that we're attempting to overcome in the aftermath of the Democratic primary season. I had this passage in mind yesterday when I somehow found myself facing off against Clinton turned McCain supporter during a taping of Hardball in downtown Denver.
Here's the Video (My response begins at about the 3 minute mark)
During our brief exchange I tried to show empathy. I thought about some of the Clinton supporters I've encountered in my own travels. I thought of the elderly woman who left her apartment with only a coat thrown over her pajamas to cast her ballot on February 5th. As she pushed her walker past me she noted my Obama sign and cautioned "I've waited my whole life for this".
I truly believe that the majority of Clinton supporters who have defected to McCain or joined PUMA share the same sentiment. They have waited their whole lives for this. When Senator Obama clinched the nomination many were convinced that if they waited just a little bit longer then maybe a scandal or a change of mind might allow for a different outcome. After months of passionately supporting and following Senator Clinton, they hesitated to adhere to her final request, convinced that it couldn't be final. I say this to remind Obama supporters that the men and women who support Senator Clinton are human, give them time and don't engage in unproductive discussions. We are up against one candidate moving forward and that one candidate is John McCain.
With that said, I'm not quite done addressing those Clinton supporters from yesterday. For those reading this who are conflicted about supporting Senator Obama I ask you to show me a little empathy as I attempt to express where I'm coming from.
First and foremost, none of the allegations stated on the show yesterday were true. They were the same as those made in, the discredited and debunked, Obama Nation. The truth was stated in a rebuttal issued by the Obama campaign that you can access here.
With that cleared up, I need you to know that my generation is counting on you; we are counting on you to come through for us in a big way this November. We are pleading with you to put aside your disappointment and anger to, in the words of the candidate some of you are considering supporting, "Put Country First".
I can't imagine four years of a McCain presidency. I can't imagine having a President who has told young woman like myself that if we desire equal pay we just need more education and training. Or a President who voted against authorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program for five years while serving in the Senate. I worry when I hear a candidate state that he believes that the economy is currently "fundamentally sound" and insists on pursuing the same economic policies that have devastated American families for the last eight years. I lose sleep at night at the thought of a President who insists on victory in Iraq without ever explaining what that victory would entail. Only proceeding to assure the American public that he knows how to win wars...
I know what you're thinking. You can't imagine having a President with such little experience. You can't imagine anyone but Senator Clinton being sworn in as President this January. That's the state of the election through your eyes. I now ask that you take a moment to consider the vision that Senator Obama offers. I know even that is a lot, yet I ask because I truly believe that so much is at stake in this election.
Senator Obama's vision of America, best articulated in his 2004 Convention address, is consistent with a vision that has been articulated throughout our country's history. Although by different leaders, with different words, the underlying sentiment has never wavered. Whether a pledge to liberty and justice, a dream that calls on us to reevaluate our judgment, a promise of prosperity and opportunity or a request to ask what we can do for our country, this vision remains a constant that serves to remind us of what this country was intended to be.
We have forgotten the days when a band of colonies came together to overthrow the British Empire. We have forgotten the days when two years of experience in the Federal Government gave us President Lincoln. We have forgotten the days when women marched so that America's daughters might live in a nation that was more just and the days when Robert Kennedy called on us to acknowledge that the "answer is the world's hope, it is to rely on youth". Senator Obama calls on us to remember all of this, and perhaps more importantly, to remember that we must continue what they started. We must insure that the vision of this great nation doesn't fall victim to doubt or smears or "cards" of any nature.
I can only ask, with the utmost respect, that you realize that although this is your vote, this is our country. Your support of Senator Clinton suggests that you want the same things for this country as I do. The actions of every American on November 4th will determine where we all go from here. Do we dare to reach for something better or do we submit to a party that has lost sight of everything that it one stood for. A party that seems to have forgotten what Ronald Reagon once said,
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like when the United States where men were free."
Although Senator Obama claims a substantial amount of youth support, the fact remains that we cannot do this without you. He is calling on us all to invest in our country. This isn't an empty call for change or the cautious musings of a "celebrity". This is the foresight of a leader who recognizes that the last eight years have left our country calling for help and pleading for change. We cannot afford to wait to answer this call any longer. Yesterday morning at the NY Delegation breakfast Senator Clinton made it clear that she understands what is at stake in this election. There was nothing tepid about where she stood. She is standing with Senator Obama and with millions of others to say that we must fight for freedom within this generation. We must break the bondage of a broken political system that has stunted our progress and caused us to turn on one another. The women I encountered yesterday, although rather harsh, are my fellow Americans. I'm not angry with them- if anything I'm sad. I want so badly to get past the smears that they leveraged and the venom that has come to frame our political discourse.
If they, or you, can't bring yourself to cast a ballot for Senator Obama because you don't like him or you can't identify with him, cast a ballot for us, the youth of America who have been given a reason to believe again. We have been given an opportunity to make a difference, not only in this election but in determining where the future of this country lies. The unborn sons and daughters of our nation deserve a better future than the future promised by a McCain administration. They deserve a country where they aren't categorized by their attributes, but are rather recognized for their ambitions. As Senator Obama has often said "government can't solve all of our problems, but it should be able to help." The rest is up to us. We must rise to this historic occasion as one people and we must leave this convention as one party.
If we can prove the skeptics wrong, then history will retell the tale of the 2008 convention and recall how the Democratic party came together against all expectations. Breaking through the spin and the stereotypes, we will set an example of how Americans can rally together when America needs them the most.
For more Huffington Post coverage from the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
As an ardent LIBERAL I have watched my candidate of choice get passed over time and again but I don't whine about. I accept it as a unfortunate truth and support the chosen candidate who has a realistic chance of winning but still comes CLOSEST to my point of view. As a political active woman, I get tired of other women operating on emotions instead of logic when it comes to political involvement. Instead of getting upset that, say Dennis Kucinich, didn't win the nomination, I support Obama but, more importantly, I support other local, state, and national candidates that are closer to my political ideology in hopes that, in the future, these men and women can lead the charge for a progressive future.
These women are wasting energy pining for a dream that will not happen and, worst yet, playing right into the GOPs divide and conquer schemes. They could be focusing all of their energy on supporting other women candidates (if having a women elected is so important to them) at other levels of government that could become the future Hillary Clintons while, at the same time, voting for Obama. But their pride and lack of TRUE VISION won't let them. Thanks for being the one willing to stand up to these misguided foolish women and try to speak reason to them.
smart, hot and most importanly RIGHT
you rocked it. next time, talk over, you were mic'd up :)
Whoever the white-haired guy with the mic was was certainly on the wrong track. Instead of the ineffective and badgering "Who said that? What's his name? What's his name?" to the Ann Coulter clone, he could've said "Actually, that smear's been debunked, but if it were true, what would it mean?" In other words, "So what?".
By only attacking the legitimacy of her claim, I feel it's implied that if it WERE true, it would be an issue huge enough to warrant voting for a continuation of neo-con rule, even if you started out a Hillary supporter. The woman even said "I'm not saying Obama is a Muslim." No? Then what would be the big deal if an 8 yr old in a mixed population public school in a Muslim country got mistakenly marked as Muslim? I'd go further and point out there's no crime in having a truly Muslim president, either.
Sara, you're great. Next time you have the mic, KEEP TALKING! It's your turn.
The incredible pressure of Obama supporters, their lack of capacity to listen continues to convince me as it has since last fall that the election of another inexperienced over-marketed president with a NON-CRITICAL set of voters supporting him would only be a continuation od the last eight years.
Your analysis misses two essential differences between the Bush and Obama phenomena.
First, the majority of voters who support Obama are not blindly following an over-marketed candidate without questioning the vision behind their candidate. Rather, they have finally encountered a candidate who shares and articulates their vision.
Second, the differences between Bush and Obama are critical. Obama possesses a sense of vision, strength of character, a wider knowledge of the world at large, and judgment that is forged by both intelligence and pragmatic analysis. Bush, it could be argued, has a vision, but it is one that was articulated TO him by the neo-con cabal around him, rather than arising from his own thoughts and insight.
It could also be argued that Bush possesses a certain strength of character. Unfortunately, his steadfastness became a complete unwillingness to admit mistakes. Our nation has payed a dear price for choosing the guy that seemed more comfortable, a regular guy, the one they could sit down and have a beer with. Dubya was NEVER a regular guy, having spent his entire life in great wealth and the perquisites given to the rich and powerful. Now tell me, WHO was over-marketed?
Obama is wise enough to know that he doesn't know it all. But he is also smart enough to listen to his advisers and synthesize his own opinions.
Excellent and very insightful. You handled yourself like a very classy young woman.
Your written piece and Senator Clinton's speech were in accord. Consider a career in speechwriting.
Great blog. Hopefully people will be reached by your well written, well articlulated and passionate argument.
And yet, these people do these things in Clinton's name... sadness. The Clintons need to DO MORE. They created this beast. It's time for them to slay it.
You are close to a strong instinct I had, that these ladies never were Clinton supporters, but had used false Clinton affiliation to crash the line. In any case, their obsession with the Indonesian school bugaboo is no fault of Sen Clinton's. While profoundly grateful for Ms Haile-Mariam's response, I was amazed that Chris didn't have anyone ready to zap back a few facts, as I made sure to learn from CNN's debunking on Jan 23, 2007, including Senior International Correspondent John Vause's visit to the school.
Of course, I soon found that facts were meaningless to the people I learned them for, but Chris's audience could have used a sound-yip to the effect that Obama was between ages 8 and 10, the school was a mixed public school where his classmates included many little Christian kids along with Buddhist and Confucian, and if that's what they called a Madrassa they needed to go back to the Twighlight Zone, and don't forget to apologize to Sen Clinton on the way!
Hillary and Bill are NeoCon, Lieberman Democrats (i.e., right-wing Republicans). They have made their fortunes and all they have left is Hillary's dream of being President for the heck of it. Now that their political lives are over (can Hillary even win re-election to the Senate without any black votes?) it looks like they are trying to foist Chelsea on us. Yuk (or yak). One wonders how blacks can continue to vote Democratic after the "racist" behavior of the Demcoratic Party has been exposed by Barrack's candidacy.
You know, I've been a heavy, detailed critic of Sen Clinton, but the show these women put on for Matthews should not be attributed to the Senator. I think they were frauds, like that lady who worked for the NRA as a mole in gun-control groups.
The very fact that the Democratic candidates have inspired - I use the word inspired thoughtfully - a public turbulence around both racism and sexism, proves that it is the Democratic Party that is showing the potential to move forward with the best of this country. Don't give up on 'em now!
HuffPost's Pick
I completely agree. These women do not in any way shape or form represent Senator Clinton. They do not represent the sentiments shared by the Democratic party and by the parties, newly nominated, nominee. They do not reflect on the tremendous primary season we've been given the opportunity to take part in. For all the talk of racism or sexism it's often forgotten that the mere presence of our two front runners indicates that as a nation we're ready to get beyond judging an individual by the color of their skin, or their gender, as we move towards judging one another based on the conduct of ones character.
Months ago the pundits began to speculate: is America ready for a black President or a woman President. What they didn't seem to touch on is the fact that this very argument failed to account for the fact that America is comprised of Americans and it is us who will determine what we will or won't do. It is up to us to determine whether or not we intend on viewing one another through this accusatory lens. I'd rather not sit here and reflect on the more uncomfortable moments that comprised the primary season. I'd rather celebrate what we have accomplished and focus on what we have yet to accomplish. Tonight I stand with the Democratic party to insist that we can move forward- as one party, as one people. No, we're not perfect- but like America, we can be perfected.
Very well said, heartfelt, logical. I could not agree with you more.
I hope the ears you are trying to reach are open to your sentiments today.
Sara thank you so much for this beautiful article. You should have given the keynote speech at the convention.
Sister, sister, sister. Whew! My oldest son and I have been having this same conversation for many months. I was absolutely enthralled and spellbound by you excellent way with the word. My family are already O supporters, but if I wasn't, your words surely would have converted me. You see, O touched my heart and sensability a long time ago. I look forward to seeing you on one of these shows as a political/social analyst.
Much success in your professional endeavors.
Write On!
Both your video response and this post were beautifully articulated, intelligently constructed, empathetic, and comprehensive.
You've nailed the core of this election and the driving force behind Obama's supporters - the America he describes is the one we want to live in and grow up in.
Sara, Thank You.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
First of all, you got more airtime this morning than some "senior political correspondents"- way to go! You had way more reason and logic than some of them, too :)
But second, I'm totally in agreement with you. I was an Obama supporter from the beginning, but I understand the disappointment of Clinton supporters that are now having to decide who to vote for. And I'm hoping they'll vote for me as well (my generation, really)- I can't stand the idea of someone so averse to voting for Obama that they'd vote for four more years. During the primaries, I told a friend that I wouldn't mind a McCain presidency... and then he announced where he stands on the issues. Today, just in case the unspeakable happens in November, I researched colleges in Canada.
So vote Obama, Clinton supporters. Not only will you be giving my generation relief from student loan problems, national healthcare, and better prosperity once we move into the middle class, you'll keep me from moving away from the country I love so much. And you'll keep me warmer!
Nicely and passionately written!
(And how brave of you to stand up to those ladies--I would have been afraid for my life ;) )
Sara,
Just wanted to say I saw you on MSNBC and thought you were great. Unfortunately you were trying to reason with someone who isn't interested in reason, only revenge. But it's great that you cared to try.
This was great. This election is not about Obama or Hilary supporters ........this has to be about this country. If that's what it takes.........look at your children, your grandchildren and think of their future. We cannot go through four more years of this failed adminisitrations policies.
Loading comments…
Posted August 26, 2008 | 06:33 AM (EST)