Eighteen Million Cracks in the Presidential Glass Ceiling

A few days ago, standing front row, right, in a strangely barren room at a Boston hotel, I watched Hillary Clinton walk onto a stage with a rather lonely American flag, and again capture the admiration and imagination of every person in the audience. But this group was 80 of her closest New England supporters. Before and after our ovation for her, our voices were hushed. We all felt like we had walked into a wake.

I thought back a few weeks, watching my friend end her campaign. I was among millions of women who literally cried. No, not millions. Tens of millions. I've been working abroad a lot. Colombia to China, Lebanon to Liberia, Moldova to Mongolia, women have pulled me aside and insisted, "She must win -- for us."

Among the 18 million Americans who supported her presidential bid, none will be more important to a November win than women. So what's with us?

I've known Hillary since her husband's 1992 campaign. She obviously had the right stuff to be president, but few of us imagined she would take the plunge into politics. That year, our "Serious Issues, Serious Women, Serious Money" symposium in Denver became a template for women's engagement that has been replicated over the years, most recently by Hillary herself. She has brought women into the political process with an intensity not seen since the early 20th century, when women campaigned passionately for suffrage. For many, the Hillary Clinton candidacy called forth a similar passion.

The hurt many of us supporters now feel is understandable. What happened to our candidate is what countless women have experienced. We in the "sandwich generation" finally position ourselves for The Big Job after years of taking care of others (including the families of our men) only to have it given to someone else (the next generation's man).

That pain is real, and it's deep. But what is Hillary asking us to do in the face of this political, and personal, loss?

Focus on our broadest goal. Mine wasn't to get Hillary elected. In fact, hers wasn't to get herself elected. It was to create a more just nation. A more secure world. We both believed she was the best to deliver on that goal. She didn't win first prize, but meanwhile, she's moved women light years ahead. At the end of the primary season, polling indicated widespread acceptance of a woman as commander-in-chief. As Hillary noted in her magnificent concession address, how remarkable that previous barriers to women's presidential leadership became "unremarkable."

She may not be commander in chief, but she's asking her troops, in no uncertain terms, to get behind the Obama candidacy. It's time for serious conversations with ourselves, and with others, about What Really Matters Now. There were precious few differences between the two Democratic contenders; they lined up on women's rights and a host of other issues. We women who supported Hillary know that Barack Obama is brilliant, talented, and visionary, and that he carries our brief.

That's at a rational level. But at a gut level, we were long past ready for a new era of women's leadership. So we need a personal rigor to return to the issues, to recognize the clear choice that faces us in November. To stay home, or to vote for John McCain, is a betrayal of all we, and Hillary, have stood for these long months.

If we can't heal from this loss, how long will we be suffering from the damage of more Republican policies? So to my Hillary sisters, I say: campaigns are highly imperfect animals. Maybe they haven't found you, but the Obama supporters are doing a lot to reach across the divide. As of this writing, they've contributed well over half a million dollars to retire Hillary's debt, and I've been in one meeting after another in which we've been not only invited but warmly welcomed. Sure, sexism played a role in her loss, but that was not an Obama strategy. In fact, Hillary pointed out to our group (as Geraldine Ferraro said about her own vice presidential run) that there were also advantages to being a woman. The underlying question is, can we women, known for loyalty and steadfastness, switch our support without feeling as if we've betrayed our hero - and ourselves?

For many of us most closely drawn to Hillary, these conversations are exquisitely difficult. Her success would have been vindication of gender-based power struggles throughout our lives -- with fathers, bosses, brothers, colleagues. So with her loss we're wounded all over again.

Recrimination is a strong temptation, but it will be deadly, literally, to give into it. Instead, let's follow Hillary's lead. Forget the admonitions that we "move past," or "move on," or (oh, please) "just get over it." We're women, and we know how to deal with loss: Take it in and carry it forward inside of us. Then -- paradoxically -- we'll have the power to unify our party and win an election critical to our children's, our grandchildren's, and, yes, our own future.

Comments

[OtayPanky]

Swanee Hunt: For many of us most closely drawn to Hillary, these conversations are exquisitely difficult. Her success would have been vindication of gender-based power struggles throughout our lives -- with fathers, bosses, brothers, colleagues. So with her loss we're wounded all over again.

===

That's the essential problem - and was the essential problem during the campaign.

Rather than look at Hillary through a clear lens, she was looked at through these emerald glasses. She became the embodiment of all these womens' hopes, dreams and fears.

And that's not good for this country - or any country.

No one - not a single person - should vote for Obama because he is the embodiment of ANYTHING. No one should vote for him because of the hopes, dreams and fears of the black community in this country.

Vote for him ONLY because, of the people actually running come November, you believe he is the best choice ON THE MERITS, and nothing else.

Women who remain so dispirited that they want to take their ball and go home, or hold their breath till they turn blue, need to take up some sort of mindfulness practice. They need to step OUT of themselves and LOOK at their thoughts, rather than be dragged through the mud by them through November.

That kind of inner work is just as important as the outer work of removing any remaining barriers to women in public life.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Otay - PLEASE get this message out to all those disbelievers.

This is NOT about women's issues, this is not about african american issues, this is not about gay issues or religious issues. This is about what is best for our COUNTRY - our beloved country that has fallen into the hands of some very EVIL people - and it would only get worse with a McCain administration.

We can't use the presidency as a tool for vindication - that is not what it's about - that's not what the founding fathers wanted.

Just because she lost the candidacy for president - doesn't mean she can't go on to bigger and better things - if anything hopefully this has given her some insight as to what she will really be able to do for the benefit of the greater good. Look at Al Gore - look at what he has gone on to do that he probably wouldn't have been able to do as president.
Please, do not despair people...s­he can become an even BIGGER part of history - but we have to work together.

[renatam]

Hillary perversely made it about "women's issues" and co-opted ALL women, inappropriately as HER CURRENCY w/in the Democratic Party -- at the end, when she was losing.

Bill Clinton tried to do this with African-Americans, who his PR SPINNERS (for millions) created a false narrative they somehow OWED Bill -- and by default, Hillary -- their votes.

I remember Hillary Clinton telling New Yorkers she didn't intend to run for the Presidency. I remember her telling New Yorkers she did NOT want to run "as a woman" -- but as a candidate for the Presidency based upon merit.

Clinton Inc. will do ANYTHING to win. Ditto, McCain and Bush Inc. (as we saw in 2000).

We chose a Presidential Nominee who will not put a FOR SALE sign on the Lincoln Bedroom -- again.

I resent Hillary Clinton's leveraging ALL women as her personal currency. Of all women I know -- she, the beneficiary of all the legacy/ass­ociation/i­nstitution­al/marriag­e largesse there is -- DOES NOT SPEAK FOR OR REPRESENT ME.

I am nobody's victim -- and, even when I am -- I don't leverage victimhood as currency to achieve my goals or get my way -- nor do the women I know. We pick ourselves up and, in a proactive and mature way, move on -- and up!

[gmgl]

The comment below suggests that women should always stand behind black males by some sort of "historical birthright". It is amazing how some people can have such a firm grasp of racism and be so willingly blind to such a blatantly sexist statement as that.

I appreciate the post about the 18 million cracks. I am tired of people trying to shove the whole thing under the rug here under the fig leaf of trashing all things Clinton. The silence over female achievements needs to be broken. We need to educate others and embrace our history. More males shouting "shut up" or stay in your place behind us simply isn't acceptable.

[RedKnuckles]

Thanks for an artful and beautiful post! Most importantly in what you write is the fact that this election is so vitally important that we can't harbor grievances too long and allow McCain to get in. While historic, it is somewhat tragic that the first major black and woman candidates for president happened to run at the same time for the same party. Neither one was my first choice initially, but one thing I never doubted was my full support to the Dem candidate no matter who it turned out to be.

[ShoshanaNY]

I think that this is a fantastic post that all Hillary supporters should read. It is generous in spirit and the writer truly sees the bigger picture, which is electing a leader who can continue to fight for the rights of women and all other Americans. And we all know that John McCain is no champion of women's rights; his voting record makes that abundantly clear. The choice is a no-brainer: Obama 08!

[MadOzbo]

What an eloquent, and beautiful explanation you give. No fancy stories, no "glorious outcome," just a quiet acceptance and inner strength with the knowledge that we promote our cause as women best by doing what we do best, which is be strong women of quiet acceptance. Doesn't dampen our determination or fortitude a bit. Every step forward IS a step forward.

Thank you for the lovely article.

[humanrace]

are you kidding me?
Women like me, well educated, long time democrats, are not following Obama because
he is "inexperienced".
He cannot run this country and I would rather vote for anyone else
than Obama.
What is his record exactly? What has he ever done but run for president?

[nomobull]

oh please speak only for yourself

[mairs]

If you don't know by now you have consciously not looked. That's fine. Vote for the other one. Go away and do that.

[annis]

You've got some other issue going on , honey.

Those statements of yours are way, way out of date.

[luvangelHussein330]

Willfull ignorace out of spite is never bliss. You can tell alot about a candidate by how they run thier campaign. To date Obama is the only one who has been able to do that. As far as he record and what he wants to do it's out there, weather or not you will get over it to see it is up to you. but for the record to date Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.S­enator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.Senat­or Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois. do the rest of the research for yourself..­...Obama has done more in his short years as senator them McCain in ten. And remeber Abraham Lincoln had less experiece before he becoma president.

[meme2]

amen!

[c1ee]

That's exactly the same question I've been asking Hillary supporters for months, and i have yet to hear a satisfactory answer. In every facet of leadership Obama is superior to Hillary. The only thing he hasn't got that Hillary has is experience living under the roof of the WH. Sorry, that's not good enough. Go cry me a river somewhere else.

[grendl]

Maybe the next time a woman running for president won't resort to Rovian tactics, ( or Tonya Harding for that matter ) to take a fellow Democrat out at the knees.

Blame Mark Penn, or Bill or the Gollem Carville, but really the onus is on the woman who ran for the nomination. The woman who knew full well Barack Obama wasn't a Muslim, and the woman who endorsed Senator McCain over a fellow democrat.

Being female doesn't give you a free pass to play dirty politics, and she did. Don't be overly proud of that.

[area504]

"The woman who knew full well Barack Obama wasn't a Muslim,"

She knows this? How? Because he said so? How many other things has he said that have changed over time? Too many to count.

She answered in the only way she could: that he wasn't as far as she knew. Any other answer would be asking her to put her integrity on the line for him. Something I wouldn't recommend for anyone to do.

[grendl]

If I knew Barack Obama wasn't a Muslim , Hillary Clinton should have known.

Or if she's less informed than me, maybe I should have run against him.

[HypeFreeZone]

The Bosnia integrity?

[Titonwan]

I would not be proud of that at all (dirty politics), but the general public is so stupid it seems. A lot of my wants and needs aren't going to be met, regardless, so what the heck. I sit at home come November.

[Pupadup4oBama]

If you are not proud of the dirty politics..­..(of which there have been MANY as of late) then why would you sit home???

[El]

Well said!

[NewHamster]

OK Swanee, but this whole conversation is premature when we don't yet know who Obama is picking for his running mate. Asking me to support Obama when I don't yet know this is like asking me to make an important decision when I don't yet have all the facts! Whether or not he chooses Hillary is a deal breaker for me and for many women I know. It will tell me a lot about his judgement and character. It will tell me whether or not he really wants to unify the party or is just on an ego trip. It will tell me if he really cares about people like me. But, you will say, John McCain doesn't care about people like me! But at least John McCain is saying what he believes and not thumbing his nose at me! At least he has some humility and has worked hard to serve his country. I don't agree with a lot of his stands, but I don't dislike him. If Obama passes over Hillary for VP, however, I will seriously dislike him. I won't trust him. You and Hillary can push the party line but we all know you have to. If you are so worried about people like me voting for McCain, then call Mr. Obama up and remind him that over half the party did not vote for him, and the superdelegates who are handing him this nomination will be just another single vote like everybody else's come November.

[nomobull]

the vice president will no longer be running the country

[mairs]

It will tell me about his judgment and character as well. Will he pander and cave? Or will he pick someone who will truly compliment and augment his abilities, someone not forced on him? I will vote depending on those results.

[NewHamster]

Oh come on Mairs you'll vote for him no matter who he picks. He's your guy and he got the top of the ticket. Be grateful not greedy.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Do you REALLY think JMc is saying what he believes? Can you HONESTLY sit there and write that and actually believe it.
How has he served his country - he voted against the GI Bill (before he was for it and then had the GALL to take credit for it).
He's voted 95% of the time WITH GWB.
He was pro-choice before he was against it.
The list goes on...and on...and on...and on.

You don't think he's thumbing his nose at you?? Ha-anyone who compares the Democratic presidential candidate to two blonde bimbos is thumbing his nose at you and everyone else.

[Fabienne]

The fact that Obama is leading with women, Latinos, and working class white voters in all the polls certainly gives proof to the fact that his detractors here are a very small but noisy number of people. I have no understanding of why these people feel they are entitled to any attention whatsoever; their candidate lost. My candidate usually loses in the primary and I don't ask the Party to suck my toes because I am not that narcissistic. The fact that Senator Clinton attracts the kind of supporters who seem unable to understand the issues gives proof to those who say she attracts the uninformed voter. I don't necessarily believe this is the case, but I have yet to see a Clinton supporter tell me why her policies are far superior to Obama's (do they want to go to war with Iran?), or why they are closer to McCain's than are Obama's. It is impossible to have a discussion about the issues with those who are members of a cult of personality (and to think Clintonites accused Obama supporters of that).

[hardlyhikin]

Remember the Constituti­on...
The Vice President has two official duties:
1. Inquiry daily as to the health of the President
2. Vote to break ties in the Senate.

Any other functions, duties or tasks are at the pleasure of the President.
YOU could perform the duties of VP

You didn't have all the facts when you voted for Hillary - you didn't know who she'd choose as VP.
And if you think John McCain is saying what he believes, you just aren't paying attention. The official footwear of his campaign is the flip-flop. He IS thumbing his nose at you!

[EGNAHC08]

Give us Hillary and the Democrat will win the general election. Give us a fraud playing president hand picked by DNC elitist and we will vote McCain. Guarantee!

PUMA Power!

[mairs]

Thank you PUMAs for disenfranchising my vote and millions of others because you choose to not face the truth.

[wheresthebeef]

You can have Hillary...­and welcome to her.

[PuppyDogMom]

You just don't get it. It's gone way past policy. It's integrity. Obama will not get my vote. Period.

[mairs]

Like you, for me it is integrity. She would not have gotten my vote.

[NewHamster]

Well clearly she didn't! But what does that have to do with anything? This is an article from one Hillary supporter directed to other Hillary supporters.

[Pupadup4oBama]

From one puppy mom to another - please, please, please rethink your position.
We promise we won't call you a flip flopper!

[Faith1101]

It's not about hurt, it's about fitness for office. PUMAs are not against Barack Obama for any other reason than that he is unqualified and unelectable. That is why his numbers are tanking faster than the Titanic. You can fool some of the people some of the time, and Barack banked on that. The DNC fell for his teleprompter charm, and so did I. But I am not in charge of vetting candidates - the DNC is. Did they know he went to an anti-American church for 20 years? If America had known that on January 1, 2008, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Barack Obama would never have made it this far. Did Howard Dean and Donna Brazile know Obama launched his state senate campaign from an unrepentant terrorist's (Bill Ayers) house? Again, he would have been toast. Did Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid realize Barack's legislative record is lackluster, at best and his voting record is full of empty "presents"? He's an empty suit - that's why PUMAs won't vote for him. Bring Hillary back - she is our only hope at this point!

[luvangelHussein330]

The Reverend Wright issue came out in the summer of 2007, and camp hillary was the one to break the news...

[Fabienne]

If he were unelectable, how did he win the primaries against the "electable" candidate? How did he manage to raise a great deal more money? And it is a fact that he uses the teleprompter less than the other candidates (and when he does, at least he can read). The DNC did NOT give him his nomination. He won more pledged delegates, very fairly according to party rules which were in place before the primary, than did Clinton, encouraging the superdelegates to follow the lead of the pledged delegates. As for the polls, they are up and down, but Obama has had the edge and still has the edge in most of them. The fact that he is African American and doing this well is a testament to his talent and ability. As for his legislative record, obviously you haven't checked it out, and 100 "Present" votes out of 4,000 mean nothing. We don't care if PUMAs vote for him. If their only interest is in one family then they are not productive members of the Democratic Party and should look elsewhere.

[GeekLove08]

Why not insist on a nomination vote for Hillary in Denver? It is so obvious that Obama can't seal the deal. This was plainly clear after March when he should have sailed to victory, but was rejected over and over again after true vetting took place. Most of Obama's victories were when no one knew much about him. Now, not even the biased media attention can save him. DEMOCRATS it is NOT TOO LATE FOR HILLARY. Demand a meaningful roll call vote in Denver.

Hillar '08- I'm not waiting for '12.

[mairs]

She had a huge head start in superdelegates, name support, wife of a past president, supporters. And she lost it bit by bit. She not only couldn't seal the deal, she lost her huge lead that she had right out of the gate. Since when does second place mean she should win? Since this election season?

[Pupadup4oBama]

Why can't McCain "seal the deal."?
Let's put the onus on HIM.

[Fabienne]

Why not the diehard Clinton supporters leave the Democratic Party, have a convention of their own, and declare the Clinton Party? Then they can elect Clintons every year for every office in the country. Bill and Hillary have brothers that can run for Congress.

[democrattotheend]

Hillary has declined to have her name placed in nomination. I think she has enough delegates petitioning to get a roll call, but she declined to sign the petition. So if you want to see a roll call, she's the one you need to lobby, not the DNC.

[Johnnn]

It's not just about women. It's a generational thing also, and a clash of personalities. Now, as if the youngness, inexperience and annoying self-confidence of the presumed nominee weren't enough, he is reinventing himself daily in some apparent attempt to mainstream himself.
Bottomline is: if you don't like the guy, you don't like him. You could point out issues and disasterous Bush policies of the last 8 years, but we're looking at the person we want for President.
I will not blame McCain for Bush, and I will not assume that Obama can give us the effective economic policies that a Clinton administration would bring us. My vote is not transferable. My second choice is still McCain.

[cannante]

if one views the election of barack obama to the democratic slot for president in an historical timeline, it seems appropriate for a black presidential candidate to achieve the office first.... they had the vote over half a century before women did.

when hillary would not throw in the towel i was ticked off. as a republican (a REAL republican registered at 18, in california, my grandfather ran against reagan for republican primary of governor in the 60s) i very excited about the obama candidacy, and know that there are many more like me.

i have followed him since before iowa: as a staunch opponent of the war (i marched in feb. in nyc freezing) as a candidate of change, as a beautiful rhetorician.

at the end of the campaign, when hillary stepped down, i admired her in the same way i admired her after the senate victory in '00. she put the whole culture on fast forward and that was a gift to generations of women AND men to live in a future of increased equality.

[cannante]

if one views the election of barack obama to the democratic slot for president in an historical timeline, it seems appropriate for a black presidential candidate to achieve the office first.... they had the vote over half a century before women did.

when hillary would not throw in the towel i was ticked off. as a republican (a REAL republican registered at 18, in california, my grandfather ran against reagan for republican primary of governor in the 60s) i very excited about the obama candidacy, and know that there are many more like me.

i have followed him since before iowa: as a staunch opponent of the war (i marched in feb. in nyc freezing) as a candidate of change, as a beautiful rhetorician.

at the end of the campaign, when hillary stepped down, i admired her in the same way i admired her after the senate victory in '00. she put the whole culture on fast forward and that was a gift to generations of women AND men to live in a future of increased equality.