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Hillary Clinton Speech Live Blog

Hillary Clinton will be arriving momentarily to deliver her speech celebrating her campaign for President and to endorse Barack Obama. The live blog will be below the fold.

By Big Tent Democrat

Just a note, unlike Jeralyn, I am not a good transcriber. What I do in a live blog is comment upon what is said in the speech. If you are looking to follow the speech from my comments, you'll be missing out. My comments assume you are watching the speech.

The Clintons arrive to a tumultuous welcome.

She begins . . . the crowd won't let her. It is a moving moment.

Starts by thanking her supporters.

I wonder if people are yet realizing that yes, there are Hillary Clinton Democrats.

"18 million of you from all walks of life . . . "

She speaks to her issues and her folks.

"You'll find me on the front lines of the fight . . ."

Endorses Obama. Sez that is the next step in the fight. Some boos are audible.

Throws her full support behind him and asks all of her supporters to join her in the fight for Obama.

She ties electing Obama to her won fights. She speaks well of him of course but she ties it to the issues she cares about.

"The Democratic Party is a family. It is time to come together around the values we share."

Especially stresses the issue of universal health care.

Reminds that Democrats have won only 3 of the last 10 elections. And that the man who won 2 of those elections is there today.

Stresses how important it is that a Democrat be in the White House. This is an excellent line of argument.

This is a great way of talking about Obama to Clinton supporters, imo. She lays out the issues vision and ties it to the phrase "and that's why we have to elect Barack Obama President."

Shifts to the historic nature of this race. Discusses the barriers and biases she faced in an understated way.

Let me say that I find this a wonderfully crafted speech. I think she is delivering it with force and logic. But with feeling and emotion. This is a great speech imo.

Let me tell you why I think it is a great speech. She talked about the issues she cared about. She acknowledged the great support she had. She explained in terms that were tied to her own campaign why Barack Obama deserved their support.

She discussed the historic nature of her race and celebrated what she has done.

Wonderful, wonderful speech.

For those who have read for the past 2 years, you will know that I liked Senator Clinton, but did not support her and wished she was not running. But Senator Clinton's performance, particularly in the last 5 months has totally changed my view. She is perhaps the finest working politician today. that does not mean I agree with everything she has done or will do, I am speaking of her skills as a politician.

If the Democratic Party plans to sideline this political skill, along with Bill Clinton, then we deserve to lose.

< Pre-Clinton Speech Media Thread | A Great Speech >
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  • Display: Sort:
    This apparently (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by vigkat on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:46:26 AM EST
    will be a short speech.  Hillary is looking good, amid a crowd of supporters.  She takes the stage and basks in the applause.  How sad it all is, really.

    It was AN EXCELLENT SPEECH! (5.00 / 2) (#200)
    by NO2WONDERBOY on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:42:53 PM EST
    Now no one can deny her contribution to his success in November (if that happens).
    Now no one can or should make her responsible for his demise.
    Now it is all up to him to do his bidding, let's see how he fares.

    Parent
    I just heard Keith Olberman say that (5.00 / 0) (#213)
    by hairspray on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:47:42 PM EST
    Hillary had "reinvented herself again".  Nice guy!!

    Parent
    Anyone identify the music? n/t (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by BoGardiner on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:46:48 AM EST


    The crowd refuses to be hushed (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by vigkat on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:47:35 AM EST
    She's loving it.

    A lot of men in the crowd. (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:47:56 AM EST


    Many young people (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by oldpro on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:52:04 AM EST
    around the podium...just behind her...

    Parent
    This sucks...just started and I am already (5.00 / 12) (#5)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:48:20 AM EST
    crying...

    ditto :( (5.00 / 6) (#7)
    by nycstray on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:48:57 AM EST
    me three! (5.00 / 0) (#203)
    by NO2WONDERBOY on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:44:30 PM EST
    From the appearance (5.00 / 4) (#17)
    by standingup on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:51:25 AM EST
    of Bill's puffy eyes, I think he may have been shedding some tears too.  

    Parent
    I suspect he may be (5.00 / 3) (#37)
    by vigkat on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:55:43 AM EST
    the more emotional of the two.  Don't know why, but that's what I think.  I can imagine how he's feeling, watching her taut Obama's sterling qualities.

    Parent
    He's never been afraid (5.00 / 7) (#94)
    by Y Knot on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:08:47 PM EST
    to show his emotions.  I've always found that admirable.

    Parent
    Same here (5.00 / 2) (#204)
    by vigkat on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:44:33 PM EST
    It is the sign of security and maturity to be able to show emotion.  But then, I love Bill and always have. The Clintons deserved so much more than this, in my view.

    Parent
    My thoughts, exactly (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by JavaCityPal on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:59:07 AM EST
    Maybe he was the hold up in getting there on time.

    At least their great friends Mary Steenbergen and Ted Danson are there with him. Some non-politicians would be able to change the subject for them now and then.


    Parent

    argued with friends and neighbors (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by bjorn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:48:48 AM EST
    good line

    This is what KO and Tweety warned her not to do. (5.00 / 6) (#12)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:50:11 AM EST
    lol.

    Parent
    Too Bad (4.80 / 5) (#22)
    by vigkat on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:52:35 AM EST
    Let them carry on.  This is her moment and she's taking it.  Go Hillary!

    Parent
    I think I'm gonna cry (5.00 / 0) (#8)
    by stillife on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:49:00 AM EST


    Supposed to be a 20 minute speech, (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:49:08 AM EST
    carefully crafted according to Blitzer.

    I like Wolf (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by JavaCityPal on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:00:07 PM EST
    but, all her speeches are carefully crafted. He was pretty safe with that analysis :)

    Parent
    Someone just rang my doorbell. Screw em. (5.00 / 5) (#10)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:49:23 AM EST


    I am reminded of the day Bill Clinton (5.00 / 6) (#11)
    by andgarden on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:49:26 AM EST
    finally had to leave the White House. . .

    Expressing her gratitude (5.00 / 6) (#13)
    by vigkat on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:50:15 AM EST
    Looking cheerful and competent, as she always is. Highlighting some of the good things that have come out of her campaign.  What a class act she is.

    tears (5.00 / 7) (#14)
    by thinkingfella on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:50:31 AM EST
    tears are streaming down my face. My heart goes out to her, she ran an amazing race.

    i think she is crying on the inside (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by bjorn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:51:18 AM EST
    Oh dear. I'm getting teary already! (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by jawbone on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:51:18 AM EST
    Where there's life there's hope. Dr. Who. I just have to keep thinking about that.

    Ted Danson in the audience (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by andgarden on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:51:41 AM EST


    Ruh Roh, she said 18 million... (5.00 / 6) (#19)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:51:49 AM EST
    ...that's a trigger word!!!

    and a reminder... (5.00 / 4) (#24)
    by kredwyn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:52:42 AM EST
    Thanks Maria (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by suki on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:55:28 AM EST
    Needed the laugh today - love the Scooby!
    I just can't watch it yet, am going to have to try later.

    Parent
    shaggy? (none / 0) (#153)
    by Salo on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:17:24 PM EST
    rooby racks?

    Parent
    It's about US today... thank you, Hillary! n/t (5.00 / 5) (#23)
    by BoGardiner on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:52:40 AM EST


    she looks mighty presidential (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by bjorn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:54:08 AM EST


    You'll always find me on the (5.00 / 5) (#27)
    by kredwyn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:54:09 AM EST
    front lines of democracy...

    Good line.

    There were some boos (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by stillife on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:54:49 AM EST
    at the mention of Obama.

    <oops, you heard me, huh?> (5.00 / 7) (#82)
    by Cream City on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:06:01 PM EST
    Heck, in the privacy of my own home, I can be a grrl behaving badly.  I have closed the doors to my office, and my family has been forewarned to take cover for an hour. :-)

    Parent
    Endorsement of Obama to cheers (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by andgarden on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:55:00 AM EST


    She said suspend (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by MichaelGale on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:55:03 AM EST


    Ahhhhhhh! the S word! (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by nycstray on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:55:11 AM EST


    suspending the campaign... (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by Dawn Davenport on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:55:13 AM EST
    ...and "I throw my full support behind him."

    Public service is about helping people solve their (5.00 / 6) (#35)
    by jawbone on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:55:27 AM EST
    problems and live their dreams.

    She will stay on the front lines of democracy in order to fight for this.

    Way to fight now--unity to elect Barck Obama.

    Actually, quite well done! Not a supine prostration--a declaration from strength. Keeps her viable, in my opinion. Asks all to join her and work as hard for him as they worked for her.


    Stephanie Tubbs Jones in the audience (5.00 / 8) (#38)
    by andgarden on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:56:57 AM EST
    She rocks.

    If the media spin this... (5.00 / 5) (#39)
    by Dawn Davenport on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:57:11 AM EST
    ...as anything less than a full-throated endorsement, it will only prove their dishonesty.

    No excuses on universal health care (5.00 / 9) (#41)
    by BoGardiner on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:59:00 AM EST
    A direct message to Obama.

    Will he (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Emma on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:59:37 AM EST
    get it?

    Parent
    Yes, indeed. Now more than ever, it's needed. (5.00 / 3) (#53)
    by jawbone on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:00:40 PM EST
    Full, actual universal--not his magic hand of the market junk.

    Parent
    Hope so. (5.00 / 4) (#81)
    by Forkbeard on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:05:54 PM EST
    Because frankly, neither Clinton or Obama's solutions went far enough. We need REAL universal health care, not just "everyone's got some kind of insurance"

    Parent
    She has become such a great campaigner! (5.00 / 7) (#43)
    by jawbone on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:59:28 AM EST
    I haven't heard even the MessNBC Boyz make cracks about her voice lately, have you?

    She has learned to use her diaphragm more effectively. She sounds mature and actually easier to listen to than hem and hawer, three words. pause, three more words, pause Obama. Listening to a summary of the campaign, I had not been aware of how often he shouts when speaking. I'm not going to enjoy his speaking style....

    Catholic church "three word pause" (none / 0) (#175)
    by Salo on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:29:42 PM EST
    Romans, Corinthians, Galatians.

    Kinda biut for it

    Parent

    A shout out to Bill!!!! (5.00 / 6) (#46)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:59:41 AM EST


    Dawg! Bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yay! (3.66 / 3) (#109)
    by Ellie on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:10:51 PM EST
    Yeah, this is a story of a famous dog
    For the dog that chases its tail will be dizzy
    He's a clappin' dog!
    Rythmic dog
    Harmonic dog, house dog, street dog
    Dogs of the world unite
    Dancin' dog
    Yeah
    Countin' dog, funky dog
    NASTY dog (Dog!)

    Atomic Dog!

    Parent

    Aw, a troll rating. Got something against Clinton? (none / 0) (#187)
    by Ellie on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:36:22 PM EST
    I love them ALL today.

    Parent
    That was SOOO great!!! (none / 0) (#51)
    by Burned on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:00:29 PM EST
    Good for her giving Bill kudos (5.00 / 4) (#47)
    by bjorn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:59:45 AM EST


    He deserves it....and having a dem in the WH (4.20 / 5) (#73)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:04:03 PM EST
    doesn't mean things will be great...depends on who it is....should have been Hillary, because I don't think obama is up to the task...he is too weak.

    Parent
    I hope Obama is listening (5.00 / 5) (#52)
    by stillife on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:00:38 PM EST
    to her words on the progress in the 90's during Bill's Presidency.

    I disagree (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Emma on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:00:47 PM EST
    She really put a lot of oomph behind it.

    Also disagree. (1.00 / 1) (#64)
    by Forkbeard on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:03:11 PM EST
    I agree as well. She seemed... enthusiastic.

    Parent
    Brilliant Hillary...she is rebuffing Obama's.... (5.00 / 12) (#56)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:01:20 PM EST
    ....criticism of the Clinton years and his lumping them in with Bush years.

    She's doing a great job, imo. Well could have (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by jawbone on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:02:50 PM EST
    passed on the "yes, we can." But, hey, good reference I guess.

    Everyone with health insurance will mean a stronger America. Damn right.

    Now full throated campaign speech for Obama. With her issues!

    Note (5.00 / 3) (#70)
    by RalphB on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:03:47 PM EST
    I do not see a teleprompter!

    She keeps checking notes or speech itself. (5.00 / 9) (#110)
    by jawbone on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:11:03 PM EST
    I don't think she uses a teleprompter.

    Of course, Bill Clinton could speak seemingly directly to people using a teleprompter (which Obama doesn't seem to do). He could also remember his SOTU speech and look totally cool even when the wrong speech came up on the teleprompter.

    When you stumble, get right back up. And never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on.

    I do love this building!

    If we can get 50 women into space, we will someday get a woman into the WH! Glass ceiling has about 18M cracks in it. And the light is shining through like never before (a dig at "you will see the light" that Obama uses?). Talks about progress coming in small steps.

    She's fantastic today.

    I want her as my president, dammit.

    Parent

    Loved the reference to women (5.00 / 8) (#151)
    by Cream City on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:17:15 PM EST
    in space -- that's a reference to her childhood wish to grow up to be an astronaut, but she was told that girls couldn't do that.  

    And girls still can't grow up to fly as high as boys in politics.  We have to leave this earthly sphere to find equality.  Let's think about that.

    And I knew, I just knew, that she would reference the suffragists, too.  'Way back in ye olde '90s, when first I saw her in person, her speech showed how well she knows women's history -- and all American history.  (Obama, however, is repeatedly ahistorical.  Another mark against him with me.  We have an ahistorical president, already.)

    Parent

    "I want her as my President, damnit" (5.00 / 4) (#168)
    by ccpup on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:23:02 PM EST
    yes, and so did the millions of the Dems who voted in Primaries as opposed to the 1 million who voted in the caucuses which ran up Barack's delegate total.

    But evidently we, the Voters, don't matter to those at the DNC who decided early on that Obama was The One.

    So, with that in mind, this will be the first election I won't vote in -- including Primaries -- since casting my first vote for Clinton against Bush in 1992.  If the DNC believes they can do it without me, let them.

    Parent

    My first vote was (5.00 / 3) (#177)
    by LoisInCo on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:31:17 PM EST
    for Bill against Bush as well. It's ironic that my entry into the democratic party began because of Bill, and my repudiation of it comes because of the loss of Hillary.

    Parent
    She has definitely done (5.00 / 5) (#78)
    by JavaCityPal on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:05:05 PM EST
    what the pundits wouldn't dare criticize.

    If they don't believe she's done enough to endorse Obama, then they aren't listening.

    But she is not admitting that.... (5.00 / 7) (#83)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:06:06 PM EST
    ...Obama would be a better president than her, and they'll bash her for that.

    Parent
    Tuff!!!! She knows what she's doing. (5.00 / 4) (#92)
    by zfran on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:08:12 PM EST
    I am going to (5.00 / 5) (#178)
    by JavaCityPal on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:31:34 PM EST
    put One of 18 Million as the tagline on my email signature and keep it there forever.

    She is so inspirational.

    I loved her commitment to continue making her life's mission to make this a better country for everyone.

    Parent

    Would you rather listen to a speechmaker like this (5.00 / 10) (#84)
    by jawbone on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:06:06 PM EST
    for the campaign and the next 8 years--or Obama!?!

    I happen to like good explication of issues and proposals.

    Talking about sexism!! Bless you, Hillary.

    MSNBC just showed some Obama fans in... (5.00 / 3) (#88)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:07:16 PM EST
    ...the crowd, they didn't seem to like the references to women.

    Equality and respect for women (5.00 / 12) (#100)
    by marisol on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:09:43 PM EST
    Thank you, Hillary!

    Saying what needs to be said.

    I am proud and I am crying.

    18 million cracks (5.00 / 11) (#101)
    by Emma on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:09:54 PM EST
    I teared up at that.

    18 millions cracks (5.00 / 8) (#102)
    by stillife on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:09:55 PM EST
    in the glass ceiling.  Nice line!

    18 million cracks! (5.00 / 9) (#103)
    by bjorn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:09:58 PM EST
    Love her, love the speech.

    She is warmer more personal when she speaks than Obama

    Seeing a speech like this... (5.00 / 8) (#104)
    by Nick1977 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:10:00 PM EST
    makes me even more angry that she lost. If Obama were making one like this the MSM would be proclaiming that he's the greatest statesman in world history. This is a very bitter pill to swallow.

    Refers to the actual glass ceiling in the building (5.00 / 4) (#105)
    by andgarden on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:10:03 PM EST
    Clever.

    This is one sad day for this country (5.00 / 13) (#107)
    by JavaCityPal on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:10:12 PM EST
    We finally had a candidate for president who was qualified and capable of bringing this country back to its glory, and she's been thrown out of the race by a bunch of petty, jealous and prejudiced people simply because she's a woman.

    Her supporters know she won despite what the DNC did to sabotague the will of the people.


    Wonderful (5.00 / 17) (#112)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:11:13 PM EST
    Work hard, care deeply, if you stumble, keep faith, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on.

    Exactly what she has done this entire (5.00 / 7) (#120)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:01 PM EST
    campaign...talk about resilient.

    Parent
    Yes. I have been bookmarking (5.00 / 2) (#115)
    by Cream City on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:11:26 PM EST
    to use in class next year, when it will be safe (by teaching roolz) to do so.  But discussing this just yesterday with yet another who said there was more racism than sexism -- that's not the point, to privilege one over the other -- I was thinking that most useful might be to show the daily, daily damning record.  To organize it chronologically to show that it was not an intermittent campaign of sexism but, instead, an unrelenting verbal assault -- even invoking physical assault -- on Clinton and thus on women.

    There are many studies of media that show that such an unrelenting, daily assault by media and others has immeasurable impact.  Tieing the daily record to a summary of such studies could begin to suggest what has been done to alleged democracy as well as to Clinton and all of us, just to keep the White House a male preserve.

    The light is shining through...Hillar's certainly (5.00 / 9) (#116)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:11:28 PM EST
    is....she rocks!!

    This last (5.00 / 6) (#118)
    by Melchizedek on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:11:53 PM EST
    ten minutes is the real heart of her speech-- someday a woman President will come. Obama is the footnote of this speech

    rightly so....I would say. (5.00 / 7) (#125)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:43 PM EST
    I think (5.00 / 1) (#142)
    by Melchizedek on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:14:16 PM EST
    there's an argument it should have been, absolutely.

    "looking forward" is going to be really difficult, at least for a few weeks.

    Parent

    If the pundits don't realize that.... (5.00 / 11) (#121)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:15 PM EST
    ...Hillary is doing more to help Obama by honoring women and the historic nature of her candidacy than by giving a hopey changey rah rah Barack speech, it just shows how stupid they are.

    She is doing the right thing now. She did the right then Tuesday night. How frustrating that the party is too stupid to see it.

    That pundits are stupid is a well known and (5.00 / 2) (#222)
    by MO Blue on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:51:10 PM EST
    documented fact. If they pile on Hillary on this speech they will just be adding to the documentation.

    Parent
    a great speech (5.00 / 2) (#123)
    by badu on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:22 PM EST


    Not this time (5.00 / 12) (#124)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:39 PM EST
    didn't break the glass ceiling this time, but thanks to you there are 18 million cracks and the light is shining through... the path is made easier for the next time.

    Media'd better give her props on this one. (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by Forkbeard on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:52 PM EST
    If not, I'll be pretty surprised. This is one heck of a speech.

    great speech (5.00 / 12) (#131)
    by dws3665 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:13:09 PM EST
    but i must admit to being more than a little heartbroken.

    "No acceptable prejudices" (5.00 / 8) (#132)
    by BoGardiner on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:13:17 PM EST
    "There are no acceptable prejudices in 21st Century America."

    Yes.

    It will no longer be remarkable for a woman to be be a Presidential?  I disagree, Hillary.  It's at least a generation off now.

    The deniers will hate her suggestion she still hit the ultimate glass ceiling.  We all know... she did.

    Hell, they'll hate she talked about the advance of women at all.

    They'll just... hate.

    The glass ceiling line was good (5.00 / 7) (#173)
    by dianem on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:27:45 PM EST
    I think it will longer than a generation. The children growing up today will not live in a different world. This might have made a difference if the youth of today had noticed the sexism, but they were too tied up frantically trying to find examples of racism.  They won't try to change anything, they won't even notice it until they are in their 30's and notice that the man who was hired right after them, the one who takes long lunches and goes hunting with the boss, just got promoted to VP. By then there will a whole new generation of young women telling us that sexism is a thing of the past.

    Maybe that is why sexism is still not considered important, while racism is. Blacks of all ages face discrimination, while sexism falls mostly on older women. Young people worry more about "ageism", which they consider the reason that employers don't want to hire them for high paid jobs straight out of school (they think college is enough experience for any job). They don't even think about sexism until they've been around a while, watching men around them get promoted and counting the Y chromosomes on the executive steering committees. It's not like businesses refer to women as "b**ches". They just don't don't promote them or pay them as much.

    Parent

    18 million cracks in the glass ceiling (5.00 / 10) (#133)
    by chrisvee on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:13:19 PM EST
    Like dust, she rises.

    I don't know how she, Bill, and Chelsea stay so composed. I'm a wreck.

    My point is... (5.00 / 3) (#134)
    by kredwyn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:13:26 PM EST
    this isn't about you and the level of effusiveness you appear to think she should express.

    As someone feeling the sharp edge of the end of a very long campaign, she's doing fine...

    This is leadership (5.00 / 6) (#135)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:13:28 PM EST
    But still, if she is not VP I will not join in.  If these goobers cannot build a coalition, they deserve to lose.  

    Obama's supporters say she has to do it (5.00 / 1) (#195)
    by dianem on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:39:59 PM EST
    They want Clinton to "undo the damage" she has done to the party. It's odd that the "unity" candidate needs help from the "divisive" one to actually unite anything. I don't think Clinton is the best VP candidate, but I think that she is the only one who has a chance to actually fulfill his promise of unity and give us a chance at winning.

    Parent
    Groan (5.00 / 2) (#218)
    by LSophia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:48:57 PM EST
    It's called running a primary.  If anything, her candidacy will made Obama stronger.  He got a taste of what he's in for now.

    Personally, I think the media will give it a few days and fall on him like dogs.  I hope he's up to it - and I'm glad Hillary is suspending, not ending, her campaign, in case this Reszko thing or something else blows up in his face.

    Parent

    Every moment looking back keeps us from (5.00 / 6) (#138)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:13:42 PM EST
    going forward....I love her, but still won't back obama.

    The sheer brilliance of her speech... (5.00 / 5) (#148)
    by Nick1977 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:16:28 PM EST
    her class and leadership ability which neither of the other two candidates are even close to matching have made me even angrier than before.

    Hillary '12

    Parent

    Okay now I'm crying..... (5.00 / 9) (#145)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:16:04 PM EST
    ...She is an amazing person.

    She has to say what is expected of her, but (5.00 / 6) (#146)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:16:05 PM EST
    I think she will understand those of us who will not get behind obama.  I still believe she is going to get called up to the big leagues come convention time.

    Yes We Can! (5.00 / 5) (#147)
    by Spike on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:16:14 PM EST
    Virtuoso performance. The right words and just the right tone. Both strong and gracious. Bravo. Well done.

    There can never be no greater time (5.00 / 4) (#152)
    by Edgar08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:17:20 PM EST
    For everyone to be absolutely honest about what they're feeling at this point in time.

    To express their opinions.


    Gracious, gracious, gracious (5.00 / 4) (#155)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:17:41 PM EST


    More likely in 2012 (5.00 / 5) (#156)
    by RalphB on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:18:01 PM EST
    after McCain's term ends, she can run again.  

    okay...now I have totally lost it... (5.00 / 2) (#158)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:18:36 PM EST


    Authenticity (5.00 / 4) (#162)
    by joanneleon on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:19:55 PM EST
    That's what I saw in her today.

    I'm going to (5.00 / 2) (#163)
    by JavaCityPal on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:20:12 PM EST
    put One of 18 Million as the tagline on my email signature and keep it there forever.

    She is so inspirational.

    THAT's what my President looks acts'n sounds like (5.00 / 6) (#164)
    by Ellie on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:20:26 PM EST
    Big thumbs up that the words aren't cribbed and she doesn't have to yell down her nose at a teleprompter while waiting for the cheers to come.

    Gahh ... the pundits are coming out of the woodwork so it's back to toob silence for me.

    What an extraordinary speech (5.00 / 8) (#170)
    by kempis on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:23:17 PM EST
    and delivered with an aura of great leadership.

    I've turned the television off, however, because the commentators seem not to have heard the same speech I did and are scouring it for cynical appeals for the VP (John King on CNN) or other manipulative and conniving dogwhistles. I cannot believe how much the media hates this woman, who just delivered one of the finest speeches I've ever heard.

    I like it (5.00 / 3) (#171)
    by dmk47 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:23:45 PM EST
    She had two (related) arguments:

    (1) If you want to advance my issues, support Sen. Obama.

    (2) No matter what you think of the outcome of the primary, absolutely nothing justifies doing anything but supporting the Democratic nominee.

    Rhetorically, she did just what she had to to pivot from her own campaign, pride and indignation about how things went down, to the cause of electing Sen. Obama. There was mostly cheering but some boos at the repetition of "elect Barack Obama the next president"; you could see her not just speaking to the crowd, but really engaging with it deliberatively to make her case and hammer home her points. By placing herself among the "we" of "yes, we can", she identified voting for Obama as the way to support her.

    People here say that it's Obama's responsibility to bring the party together, but really, it would have been impossible without Sen. Clinton's help. Well, this was a brilliant, exactly what she needed to do.  

    Huzzah for Hillary, terrific stuff.

    But for Clinton supporters (5.00 / 7) (#184)
    by tree on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:34:32 PM EST
    it was never in doubt that she would do all she could to bring the party together and to support the Democratic nominee. In the end though it is up to the nominee to bring the party together and to convince her supporters that he deserves their votes.

    Parent
    Very good speech (5.00 / 1) (#198)
    by BarnBabe on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:41:24 PM EST
    But I was sadden and the picture of her on CNN waving to the crowd looks emotional too. I think she was sad and yet managed to deliver her message for Obama. As she was speaking I was thinking, she isn't herself today as when she was speaking during the primary. That might be the sadness, or it might be the holding back of the strength she still has in order to negotiate more. I wish her well. You know, I do not like brown suits. I hated when Kerry wore one to give his acceptance speech at the convention. I know it sounds off, but they were all dressed in dark colors as they stepped out of the limo and I thought, like going into a funeral home. Colors can portray a message. I was surprised she was not in red or blue or even burgundy. Is this how she felt today?

    Parent
    Given the context (5.00 / 2) (#176)
    by kredwyn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:30:48 PM EST
    of the speech, I think she was plenty enthusiastic.

    Wow! (5.00 / 4) (#180)
    by songster on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:33:02 PM EST
    I'm so impressed by this speech.

    On California primary day Brad DeLong posted that there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between the two of them on the issues, so he had voted for Obama "because he gives a great speech."  But I think that if Obama's people are serious about winning in November, they'd better make a very close study of her speeches.

    There is a very convincing mixture of rational and emotional appeal here that I've never experienced listening to a political speech before.

    Thanks, BTD, for the thread, and for the honest appreciation you've shown "our girl".


    Elsewhere (5.00 / 4) (#181)
    by dws3665 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:33:12 PM EST
    John McCain is breathing a sigh of relief.

    She is fabulous (5.00 / 1) (#183)
    by coigue on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:33:37 PM EST
    I am sending a mail to the Obama campaign requesting that she be on the ticket

    Excellent, excellent speech. (5.00 / 2) (#189)
    by gmo on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:37:15 PM EST
    What an impressive person she is.  

    This not only helped in the unity, but helped rebuild the Clinton brand.   She's not going anywhere...

    Yes, we can.

    Hillary closed her speech on this powerful song: (5.00 / 1) (#192)
    by BoGardiner on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:38:13 PM EST
    I'm 95% sure, would like confirmation:

    "Hear You Me," by the band Jimmy Eat World.  Lyrics below:

    There's no one in town I know
    You gave us some place to go.
    I never said thank you for that.
    I thought I might get one more chance.
    What would you think of me now,
    so lucky, so strong, so proud?
    I never said thank you for that,
    now I'll never have a chance.
    May angels lead you in.
    Hear you me my friends.
    On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
    May angels lead you in.
    So what would you think of me now,
    so lucky, so strong, so proud?
    I never said thank you for that,
    now I'll never have a chance.
    May angels lead you in.
    Hear you me my friends.
    On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
    May angels lead you in.
    May angels lead you in.
    May angels lead you in.
    And if you were with me tonight,
    I'd sing to you just one more time.
    A song for a heart so big,
    god couldn't let it live.
    May angels lead you in.
    Hear you me my friends.
    On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
    May angels lead you in.
    May angels lead you in.
    Hear you me my friends.
    On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
    May angels lead you in.

    Obama supporter (5.00 / 5) (#193)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:38:28 PM EST
    C-span call in from an Obama supporter....
    Best speech in a long time, she was very gracious, I want to see a dream ticket, they would make a wonderful team, it would be a firestorm.  Love the idea of a joint ticket, they could do so much for this country at this time.

    Clinton supporter (5.00 / 2) (#194)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:39:48 PM EST
    C-span call in:

    We need a bigger heart in the White House.  I would LOVE to see a joint ticket.

    Obama supporter (5.00 / 2) (#199)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:41:32 PM EST
    c-span call in:

    She was very authentic in her support of Obama, she brought me to tears a couple of times.  If she ran against anyone but Obama, she would have won.

    Still good (5.00 / 3) (#210)
    by dmk47 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:46:52 PM EST
    I've been reflecting on the speech for 10-15 minutes now...it keeps rising in my estimation.

    One other thing that made this great: It wasn't just a great speech to help Barack Obama, it was a great speech to help Hillary Clinton. There is no Democrat that won't find something to admire deeply about this; if she has the inclination and opportunity to run for president again, this will be the thing people remember about her last campaign, and they'll be very congenial to her for it.

    It's really hard for a defeated primary candidate to run again successfully, particularly as a Democrat (the only modern example I can think of is Al Gore, which was obviously an anomalous situation); Hillary just significantly boosted her odds of getting another good crack at it.

    Here's how she maximizes her odds: working her heart out for Obama in the fall campaign, as she promised to and I'm absolutely certain she will; not taking the VP slot; going back to the senate and dropping the cautious pragmatism of her first 1 1/3 terms in favor of unapologetic liberalism; and acting as a check on Pres. Obama's left flank.

    Obama supporter (5.00 / 2) (#212)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:47:17 PM EST
    Clinton was heart felt.  It was a very good speech.  Do I want her as VP?  Yes, it would be a dream team.

    Wonderful speech, but I did not (5.00 / 1) (#219)
    by FemB4dem on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:49:13 PM EST
    feel even the slightest "tingle" of wanting to vote for Obama.  Hillary did what she could, now it's up to Obama.  I doubt he's up to reaching out even to those no where near as invested as I have become. We'll see.  My feeling is he will fail precisely because he is not the fighter that Hillary is -- he will decide he doesn't need us, it's not worth the work.  And he will lose, IMO, precisely because of that failing in him.

    Clinton supporter (5.00 / 2) (#221)
    by waldenpond on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:50:40 PM EST
    on c-span:

    I am a black woman, and she gave me goosebumps.  She's a soldier.  I liked the part of the speech where she looked back on history when black people or women couldn't vote, she is a gracious, sweet woman, and she said to vote for Obama and she moved me.  I'm going to vote for Obama and a joint ticket would be wonderful.

    Smart linkage (5.00 / 1) (#225)
    by LSophia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:56:34 PM EST
    of women's rights with civil rights - reminding both women and minorities that we're supposedly on the same side.  Not sure if it will soothe the raging fury so many women (including me) are feeling right now, but it was a gracious and smart first start.  OTOH, I hope both Obama and the DNC realize that they have some SERIOUS fence-mending to do.

    Never really understood the demonizing or the Hillary hate.

    Bill looks devastated.  Chelsea also looked heartbroken, but so steely and so proud.  (CHELSEA IN '24!)  

    I've always thought that Hillary was motivated by a call to serve and today's speech only confirmed it.  She doesn't get to be president, maybe, but no one can stop her from putting her prodigious talents to work for the common good. And she know it.

    "There are still barriers and biases" (4.92 / 14) (#85)
    by akaEloise on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:06:23 PM EST
    Bring it, sisster.  Bring it.

    Her endorsement (4.91 / 12) (#49)
    by akaEloise on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:00:02 PM EST
    Is certainly not perfunctory.  She went into a lot of detail about Obama's good qualities.   It's telling, though, that we're hearing more specifics about policies and issues in her concession speech than we did in Obama's acceptance.  

    The coda to the South Dakota story (4.75 / 4) (#25)
    by akaEloise on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:52:57 AM EST
    The woman who died before the primary -- about who there was so much media chatter, how her vote wouldn't count -- her husband, who hadn't voted in years, cast his ballot for Hillary on her behalf.

    For all of us who mourn, she says (4.66 / 3) (#128)
    by akaEloise on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:55 PM EST
    Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward.


    Yeh, but looking back is what I do (5.00 / 7) (#172)
    by Cream City on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:26:33 PM EST
    as I'm a historian.  So I'm looking back today and will continue to do so -- putting the undeniable evidence within the context of a long, sad history for women in this country, which only continues.

    There have been so many moments of hope for real change for the majority of our population.  We just slid back again in this country into complacency.

    Parent

    Give it a rest... (4.57 / 7) (#68)
    by kredwyn on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:03:27 PM EST
    she looks pretty enthusiastic to me.

    Agreed- great speech and great emotion (none / 0) (#122)
    by samtaylor2 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:12:16 PM EST
    Great speech... (4.33 / 6) (#63)
    by rjarnold on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:02:55 PM EST
    I have so much respect for her. I doubt Obama would have given such a gracious concession speech.

    I hope we don't have occasion to find out (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by akaEloise on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:04:46 PM EST
    They're both politicians... (3.50 / 2) (#154)
    by pb on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:17:29 PM EST
    ...so they'll do what's necessary to maintain their standing in the party.  Clinton knows it's what she needs to do to avoid marginalization in the party, and Obama would have had to face the same thing if he'd lost.  (Maybe more so, since he's a relative new-comer.  If anything, he'd have been even more generous with his praise.)

    The problem with the politics of personalities is that it requires unreasonable elevation of the character of one candidate and unreasonable denigration of the characters of the others.

    Parent

    They are booing at my house too.... (3.00 / 2) (#87)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:06:41 PM EST
    Look, she is doing this for the party...less than enthusiastic response at the mention of can an AA be president....bah

    That seems a little cynical. (2.00 / 0) (#74)
    by Forkbeard on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:04:26 PM EST
    I hope no one in the media goes after her for that. I mean, dailyKos likes her speech, even.

    Speaking as a Clinton critic (1.00 / 4) (#59)
    by Rictor Rockets on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:02:24 PM EST
    She's shooting pretty straight and sharp in this speech. It's a very good sign that her supporters overwhelmingly cheered when she fully backed Obama.

    I've been very hard on Hillary Clinton in the past, specifically how I felt she conducted herself during the Primary, but I have to give her respect and props when they are honestly due. And this is one of those times. I think she is going to be a very powerful asset to the Obama Campagin.

    Maybe even a veep? (none / 0) (#95)
    by Forkbeard on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:08:48 PM EST
    Seems like it's worth considering.

    Parent
    There, she said it. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 11:54:39 AM EST


    I didn't like that she said that. (none / 0) (#57)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:01:46 PM EST
    ...but I guess she had to.

    Are people (none / 0) (#60)
    by Emma on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:02:28 PM EST
    booing when she says elect Obama?  I'm finding it hard to tell.

    I think a few are, sounds that way to me. (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:03:24 PM EST
    Unfortunately (5.00 / 5) (#71)
    by Burned on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:03:53 PM EST
    If she'd quit saying Barack Obama over and over there would be less of it. :)

    Parent
    Yeah (5.00 / 6) (#80)
    by Emma on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:05:51 PM EST
    it seems to increase every time she says it.  The crowd seems willing to be polite but some don't want to be pushed.

    Parent
    wow, even Keith O... (none / 0) (#159)
    by Dawn Davenport on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:18:50 PM EST
    called it a "strong and convincing endorsement."


    Chris Matthews praising her (none / 0) (#161)
    by Melchizedek on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 12:19:54 PM EST
    "She pulled the crowd to Obama" "a full endorsement"

    Too little, too late I know.