Hillary Clinton: Setting up her future
"Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."
Hillary Clinton, in her concession speech Saturday, said the right things, did the right thing, and did more. She set up the proposed future of the name Hillary Clinton.
She could have ended up a pariah, an unspeakable name that would have sent shivers and shocks down the spine of many Americans for generations to come. By using division and combativeness in the 2008 primary, she brought the Democratic party to the brink of collapse, by tearing it in two. In her concession speech, she brought it back together, by rallying the great majority of her supporters to Barack Obama's side. As if there were sides to be taken. For years to come, she will be remembered as the person who tore Democrats apart, only to put them back together again. And the wound still needs time to heal.
But Hillary Clinton did something else in her speech Saturday. She set up her own future. She let the crowd, and America, know what she would be up to for the rest of her life. She wants to be a historical figure in the fight for women's rights.
A great majority of her speech was dedicated to what she has accomplished by fighting in the primary for so long – that it would no longer be remarkable for a woman to run for president in a serious way. That there is no room for prejudice of any kind in the United States anymore. That staying in the fight is a noble, and essential act.
We shall see, over the years that will come, if her future deeds in the fight for civil rights, against discrimination, and as a model for women's power will reform her name, and how she is remembered in the annals of history. One thing is certain, she's set her game with this speech, and now she intends to play it.
Like so many women of her generation, she has shown the talent for deep, strong, and visible transformation. In twenty minutes, she went from a symbol of unyielding, divisive ambition, to one of compassion, patriotism, and women's rights.
In order to be depicted on money at some point in the distant future, she needs now to make that transformation stick. Without real action, demonstrated will in this new fight for equality and civil rights, for universal health care, and leadership in our country's own deep, visible transformation, the current impression of her will not fade.
Indeed, in order for it to be unremarkable for a woman to run for president again, she needs to act now in this new role, to do as much for equality as Al Gore has done for global warming. She needs to show she can be cherished by history without the presidency. And, knowing many people of her generation who were faced with the necessity of their own personal transformation, I know she can perform that magic now.
Hillary Clinton, in her concession speech Saturday, said the right things, did the right thing, and did more. She set up the proposed future of the name Hillary Clinton.
She could have ended up a pariah, an unspeakable name that would have sent shivers and shocks down the spine of many Americans for generations to come. By using division and combativeness in the 2008 primary, she brought the Democratic party to the brink of collapse, by tearing it in two. In her concession speech, she brought it back together, by rallying the great majority of her supporters to Barack Obama's side. As if there were sides to be taken. For years to come, she will be remembered as the person who tore Democrats apart, only to put them back together again. And the wound still needs time to heal.
But Hillary Clinton did something else in her speech Saturday. She set up her own future. She let the crowd, and America, know what she would be up to for the rest of her life. She wants to be a historical figure in the fight for women's rights.
A great majority of her speech was dedicated to what she has accomplished by fighting in the primary for so long – that it would no longer be remarkable for a woman to run for president in a serious way. That there is no room for prejudice of any kind in the United States anymore. That staying in the fight is a noble, and essential act.
We shall see, over the years that will come, if her future deeds in the fight for civil rights, against discrimination, and as a model for women's power will reform her name, and how she is remembered in the annals of history. One thing is certain, she's set her game with this speech, and now she intends to play it.
Like so many women of her generation, she has shown the talent for deep, strong, and visible transformation. In twenty minutes, she went from a symbol of unyielding, divisive ambition, to one of compassion, patriotism, and women's rights.
In order to be depicted on money at some point in the distant future, she needs now to make that transformation stick. Without real action, demonstrated will in this new fight for equality and civil rights, for universal health care, and leadership in our country's own deep, visible transformation, the current impression of her will not fade.
Indeed, in order for it to be unremarkable for a woman to run for president again, she needs to act now in this new role, to do as much for equality as Al Gore has done for global warming. She needs to show she can be cherished by history without the presidency. And, knowing many people of her generation who were faced with the necessity of their own personal transformation, I know she can perform that magic now.
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I'm a cynic. She gave a good speech; one that should have been given in Feb. or at the latest in March. Actions speak louder than words, so I wait.
June 7, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know. I just can't get past where she quoted her own stump speech about why she was running and her quote ended with, "Because I'm the best candidate for President." Even today after repeating this, she did not defer to Obama or even make clear he was in no way responsible for perceived sexism, etc. And she made no mention of releasing her delegates as John Edwards did.
I've heard two different rationalizations - a.) That she wouldn't release until after all states at large delegates, et al. were appointed and b.) She's not going to because they earned the right to be able to go to the convention. The last isn't valid, as they would still be able to go..
I'm just not convinced yet .... I truly want to be but nope, not there yet.
June 7, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actions do speak louder than words:
a) she didn't concede, consistent with her only suspending her campaign
b) it remains to be seen what she does to help the Dems clean up this mess:
http://www.gop.com/clintonvsobama/
As they always say "trust, but verify".
Of course, this I assume this means we are all divisive naysayers who will be responsible for a Dem defeat in the fall should the unfortunate happen.
The next 5 months will be interesting to say the least!
June 8, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I, too, noticed the heavy emphasis on running as a woman, but I had a different take:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/hillary-clinton-inner-thoughts.php
June 7, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really good post.
The Great and Growing Divide
Many of us watched today as Hillary Clinton said something that physically hurt to hear. She asked us to support Barack Obama. Loyal Democrat that she is, and true to her word, Hillary did the unimaginable. She asked the rest of us to support someone that many of us actually loathe. And that is putting it mildly.
But Hillary did something else today that is already having ramifications throughout the country. Hillary supporters are taking sides. And there are basically two camps. One camp that is sticking with the party and one camp that isn’t
Reforming the party from within is wishful thinking. The only way a party reforms is by humiliating defeat, running off the rails, or egregious abuse in the opposition party.
If BO is elected, they will be in charge of the party…in fact are in charge of the party as we speak. Try to go talk to them about reform. Go talk to them about counting every vote…about changing the caucus system to transparent primaries. Tell them how you feel about it. I think we all know what the attitude will be.
For me…my only recourse is to withhold my support from the current party leadership and the BO party leadership. It’s a drop in the bucket but I don’t feel like I will be complicit in Republican style tactics…even if they worked.
Ronmaven echoed the sentiment and clarified it:
The defeat of Obama would be the best kick in the pants for the DNC we could possibly deliver. You want to CHANGE the party? Vote for McCain. You want the party to only get worse? Vote for O.
To some, NOT supporting Obama is the moral thing to do.
Ccwarrior perhaps says it best:
easy decision for me I will sellout the party that SOLD me out. and I can live with that. I would never dis-respect my daughters, and vote for Obama after the treatment they witnessed from him doing this election …NEVER
But I have saved the best for last. Before I put it out there I want to make one thing very clear. I have nothing but the deepest respect for linfar. She has been a staunch Hillary supporter and she is such an excellent writer. I just happen to totally disagree with her about Obama and unfortunately may have to write things in the future that criticize her positions. It isn’t something I look forward to.
But having said that I think that unfortunately linfar grabbed a mug full of the Cult-Aide today because low and behold, she quotes from none other than the Prince of Darkness himself (Jonathan Singer) to make her point.
from mydd
Singer: Can you speak to the online supporters, the people online who are so strong for Hillary, who don’t want to see her leave, as a strong
Hillary supporter yourself?
Sen. Chuck Schumer: As a strong Hillary support I say, look, I was for Hillary all the way. I was sort of the first Senator to endorse her and I guess I’ll be the last off the bandwagon, which I guess will be tomorrow. But, having said that, I would say to all of the people online, there’s too much at stake to sit this out, to be angry, to be bitter. There is too much at stake. A Supreme Court with more Alitos and Roberts. A continuation of the war in Iraq.
A failure to have a healthcare policy that helps people. A failure to have an energy policy that frees us from foreign oil. All these are such huge things that we have to do what Hillary said there, which is overcome, not look back, even though there are lot’s of disappointments, but look forward.
I expected these bugaboos coming from Schumer. But a little reality never hurt anyone. Except Cultists I’m told. We hear the same nonsense you would expect from otherwise seemingly reasonable people. The trouble is that they think they will be able to bamboozle and scare us with their line of bullshit.
Everything Schumer mentions is something that the Congress controls, not the President. Supreme Court… confirmed by the Senate. Iraq War funding…. controlled by Congress. Health Care policy…. written by Congress. Energy policy… written by Congress.
SO WAKE UP! And stop letting these people get away with lying to you.
The reason Bush has got away with so much and has done as much damage as he has these past 7 years is because of a weak, feckless and complicit Congress. A Congress that has allowed him to do everything he has done. Because a strong Congress acting in the best interests of the American people would never have allowed Bush to do many of the things they are so fond of complaining about.
Where were the Articles of Impeachment? The Speaker of the House said that they would never be introduced.
Why has the Congress continued to fund the war? The Senate Majority leader doesn’t know how to throw a knock out punch.
Why are Americans still being spied upon? WHY?!?
In fact, the Supreme Court that Schumer and others are warning us about has done more to stop Bush than all of the Democrats in Congress combined. So enough of these silly myths. I half expect Obama to come out next and state: “You are either for us or against us.” Wanna guess what my answer will be?
These spats. This falling apart is expected. And it will likely become more vicious and personal as the days wear on. I fully understand those that are toeing the party line. I used to be one of them. Until this year. Until the Democratic party proved to me that it didn’t really stand for anything any more.
June 7, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have two questions:
1. What reason do you have for, as you say, "loathing" Barack Obama?
Note I didn't ask what Barack has done to make that happen, I am asking why you have decided to loathe someone who simply ran against your preferred nominee. Loathing is a rather emotional reaction, but if you could present a fact or two, it would possibly be enlightening.
2. In criticizing Congress for letting Bush get away with so much, do you not hold Hillary Clinton responsible for her very own votes?
June 7, 2008 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
June 8, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink