Why This "Hillary Holdout" Is Backing Barack
On June 7th, my heart was broken. The candidate of my lifetime and my dear friend Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton suspended her historic Presidential campaign.
Over the past two months I have become the poster-child, in the press, for the so-called Hillary holdouts; Hillary Clinton supporters who were angry and frustrated with the way she was treated in the primary and post-primary and weren't ready for unity. I was frustrated at the incredible amount of misogyny in our political process and in our media. And I was embarrassed that my party, and its leadership, never came to her defense when she faced a barrage of attacks based on her gender.
I still bear some wounds, but I've thought long and hard about the issues I support and that I believe in and Hillary has led me to understand that Senator McCain supports little of what I champion.
The turning point for me was the Democratic Convention in Denver this week. I saw how Hillary was treated by the Obama campaign and his supporters and I saw how President Clinton was greeted as a hero in our party and our country.
This was not an easy decision, not because I dislike Senator Obama or think he's not a good public servant, but because I so strongly believed that Hillary was the stronger candidate.
I will never forget about Hillary and will continue to honor and support her -- Hillary's grace and commitment will always guide me and my convictions. Her campaign was a turning point in my life and in my activism. And after working many months on her campaign, there was no doubt in my mind that Hillary would provide the leadership that we needed in these daunting times.
After eighteen months and 18 million voters, she is so much more defined, known and respected by voters across America and opinion leaders of the world. People have seen how brilliant, compassionate and dedicated she is to her country and I think we can all agree that she came into her own during this campaign. But part of losing is looking back and using your mistakes as lessons. We must never allow misogynistic attacks in the media or in our political process ever again. In May of 2008 I co-founded WomenCount (www.womencount.org), a political action committee dedicated at that time to encouraging Hillary to stay in the race and not bow out under pressure. Now we have turned WomenCount into a 527/PAC dedicated to battling the gender bias in our media and political process. I like to think of it as a Moveon.org for Women. And its most important work will serve to protect women like Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain, and Hillary Clinton from misogynistic attacks. I know that Hillary's most important work is yet to come and I know with a President Obama, her dream of Universal Health Care for all Americans will come true. Senator Obama has done the right thing; he has honored her and her policies in the way they deserve to be honored. Do I wish she were at least Vice-President? Absolutely, but that's water under the bridge. We live in dark times and we need the kind of leadership that can take on our problems head-on and I know Senators Obama and Biden will do just that. So I hope everyone will join me and Hillary in saying, NO WAY, NO HOW, NO MCCAIN.
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Let me add my thanks. I hope that your example will inspire others to remember that Senator Clinton both represents, and contributes to, the values of the Democratic Party, and that truly the greatest tribute any Democrat can pay her -- at the present time -- is to follow her lead and support the party and Senator Obama.
I doubt that I can fully share your emotions (being a 60-year-old white guy), but I also supported Senator Clinton and was disappointed by the outcome of the primaries. However, the silver lining is that Senator Obama is hardly chopped liver. And perhaps the "gold" lining is that Senator Clinton is not about to disappear from US politics -- I think we saw that Tuesday night.
BTW, let me also apologize on behalf of all the commenters who think they STILL have to tell you why you were wrong, or that you somehow ceased to be a Democrat while supporting Senator Clinton. It just means some folks have had a harder time letting go than you did.
Sadly, in the political discourse, we as humans loose our way. We forget this is not about heroes and so professed leaders, whether Obama or Hillary. It is about the ideas that many Ameridans of all color and backgrounds have lived and died for, long before Hillary, Barack, and millions of us were conceived. It's about the ideas that Swerner, Chaney, Goodman, and Viola Liuzzo died for. It's about hundreds of Black people walking, refusing to ride the segregated buses, and the Nazi concentration camps. Those who, though fearful rode the freedom buses throughout the south to register voters , knowing it could be their last ride. It's about the white guy, beaten and bloodied by southern whites, who said, "we'll keep fighting until every American has a right to vote".
If we the people don't work to make this country great, Obama nor Hillary will be of any consequence because it's about a woman's right to choose, to have equal pay especially when many are th sole support of the housewhole. It's about jobs, education, and all the issues we're now confronted with as a nation. For God's sake, it's not about Hillary or Obama. Their stay on this earth, like the rest of us is only temporary. It's the ideas that live on. This is about the American people and the future of their children, and what direction we'll travel in the future.
Thank you for acknowledging that John McCain does not and cannot ever possibly stand for the things that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and the Democratic Party stand for.
I am sorry, though, that you chose to direct your anger at the Obama campaign, which was never guilty of misogyny. How much more effective might your wealth, connections and considerable clout have been if they had been directed at the media conglomerates that so coarsely and obscenely drew and defined the parameters of the political struggle we all witnessed over the last year and a half.
THANK YOU!
we all know how it feels to believe in something so hard, so passionately....we were all right there Nov. 4, 2004, when I felt that I was mourning the very soul of my country when Bush won another term. So I think we know how you felt....or we should. So first, I'm sorry that some of my fellow Obama supporters were so hard on you for holding on to that dream, in their eyes, a little too long.
And secondly, Thank you for your eloquence, Susie, and for the depth of your passion both for Hillary and now for continuing the ideals she and Barack embody.
While i found myself in February so moved by the promise and vision of Obama, it was a hard choice...and I never for a moment lost my love and respect of the Clintons. And I continue to hope to see Hillary as perhaps Secy. of health & human services to win the fight for universal health care.
Your words and Hillary's already have me looking excitedly to 2016, but we have to win this one first.
I identify totally with your expressions for i, too, was in mourning for a very long time after Bush was elected for a second term. I couldnt believe Americans could be so uninformed as to elect someone who was taking our country down the drain politically, economically and morally.
I was upset when i first heard of Obama running against Hillary because from the moment President Clinton was elected it was obvious to me that in her we had another leader who was so compassionate. Her health care plan was the major difference i saw between she and Senator Obama but by the end of the primaries, I learned that he was the type of person who put this country first, so I knew there was still hope that her health care plan could be a part of the democratic platform. I now love Obama as much as i love the Clintons and i know that they are class acts and believe that the Clintons, the Obamas and the Bidens will become a strong team that will work hard for a long time to come for America.
I am still an ardent Hillary Clinton supporter. The convention has been quite a healing event - I so appreciate the respect shown to our President of 8 years. Hillary Clinton's accomplishments are historic and I hope to see her continue to work in concert with an Obama administration. BUT - she deserved the opportunity to go for what she wanted and I am sick of women being criticized for having ambitions and dreams!. I hope that, now, the Clinton's are not blamed for Obama's stumbling - he has quite a task ahead of him. He will have my vote and support - I want him appointing the next Supreme Court justices. I urge all Hillary supporters to support Obama. We must have universal health care and we must keep not have Roe v. Wade overturned.
I just don't see where the "misogynistic attacks in the media" & criticism of ambition were so endemic. I know of some instances of sexist remarks but they don't compare with the overt code-worded racism of Clinton's campaign. There was a bystander briefly interviewed by Chris Mathews who said she was a "Hillary for McCain" person who said she was disgusted with the caucus process. I really wonder if she would have that same criticism if Clinton had won them. Kind of like Mich & Fla which Clinton dissed on the air prior to those contests until she won them & changed her mind. There was a steady drumbeat from her camp that the only states & processes that matter were the ones in which she convenmiently had won. I am glad that both Clintons have come back to reality & have brought many of their supporters not just for the Obama campaign but because they have damaged & debased the reputations by their behavior & words last spring.
Thank you,
Ms. Buell. I will remember.
Yes, We Can!
As i read these posts, i can't help but cry to myself as to how badly brainwashed the American people are. The smoke screen that individuals choose to accept as their reality is blatantly cracked and shattered in their faces, but they refuse to see the obvious. Many see president Bush as a failure, when in truth and fact, he succeeded in his mission. Look at your responses and your psychological analysis of him and his policies. Look at the state of the country; bush was a complete success, he accomplished everything he was set out to do. Everything was perfectly executed, now America needs a savior, who will save them in such economic peril? no one but the "chosen" one Obama. If we take a flash back to the 1992 election and economy and pending war, we can replace all the cast of characters, and it would lead us to Obama replacing young inexperienced Bill Clinton and McCain replacing the older, more experienced war hero George Bush, after all, the issues how can we forget the economy in 1992 and the war in which we were fighting. So, to all Obama and McCain accomplices, you guys are being duped big time. But hey, the best way to control someone is to make them feel the control their lives and have freedom.
~Go Obama (SMH)
Jan_pumper .....
OK, I give up... I read your comments 3 complete times and still have not a clue as to what you said... Someone please enlighten me.... I don't think Jan and I speak the same language... Or, I know what you said, but not what you intended to convey maybe???
Someone? Anyone? Please.....
what the hell are you talking about? could you tighten up the rhetoric and coherency a bit and repost for us?
It is so sad to see Americans who are so out of touch with reality. You evidently don't have anyone close to you suffering in these economically trying times. But visit some local community agencies such as homeless shelters, clinics, employment agencies, public schools, military families, food stamp offices just to name a few. Open your eyes to see how the policies of the Bush administration have affected employment, healthcare, education, military families, and housing. If you still feel Bush has succeeded after learning facts about how those policies are impacting lives of Americans, then you are living in a state of denial.
My Dear Ms. Buell,
Thank you for sharing your feelings in an open and honest way with us. And thank you for deciding to take up arms with us for the very soul of our Nation.
This we promise: we will not allow you to have second thoughts about your commitment. We will earn your confidence and validate your choice every day.
Thank you Susie.
You thought Hillary was the stronger candidate. I thought Obama was the stronger candidate. But no matter the Democrat, we both know Obama needs to be the President, because I like you said, "Senator McCain supports little of what I champion".
You rock Susie.
Wonderful, STB. Wounds and disappointments do heal. But right will always trump wrong....hope and love will always trump fear. Positivity will always trump destructive negativity. And this year, the choice is clear. HRC's contributions and leadership are nowhere near done. In the unknowns of the future, she could even yet be president. But tonight I'm grateful for the way BHO has appealed to the best in me, not the worst....and reminded me of what it means to be an American.
Welcome! Thank you for seeing the light!
An intelligent post from an intelligent woman!
Welcome to the fight!!!
Obama/Biden '08
Welcome aboard the USS Yes We Can!
Susie Tompkins Buell...
I won't welcome you back, for I do NOT believe you ever left...
I've been very disgusted with the notion played out, that Unity meant one Candidate was the good guy winner, so the loser had to be the bad guy... (Guy as neutral gender... grinning here) Either Hero worship the leading Candidate prior to Nomination, or one's not a Democrat, not wanted/ not needed...
Hillary was my very early on choice, as I recognized her as a Woman of Power and a fighter, for that which she loves... Perfect for me, and I didn't care about any so called flaws, or mistakes (common in all of us)... Hillary, no longer having to "act" like a Candidate, gave a powerful talk from her heart, that reached and touched all but the closed minded... Powerful, as love always, ALL ways is, we experienced the true Hillary... I wasn't going to vote for President... Hillary's Love flowed appeal, brought me to reconsider and change my mind... I will vote the Democrat...
I was blessed, long ago, connecting as a friend, with a Woman of Power... A true Feminist who believed in EQUALITY of ALL... Different then the hostile to men"feminist"... My friend Ruth passed into the Light, but touched my heart and consciousness in many ways...
So, bless you too, Susie Tompkins Buell... Stand tall... Bend as needed, but don't surrender... The World's made better and Whole, with Women of Power...
Thank you Susie!
Yes WE can!
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