Falling for Hillary

After yesterday's disastrous ruling by the RBC, this monring, I found a wonderful editorial from the Denver Post's editorial page editor, Dan Haley. This is for the many Clinton supporters out there on MyDD.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Democratic presidential nomination: I developed a bit of a crush on Hillary Clinton. Not a full-on, lovey-dovey crush, but an admiration for Clinton that I never thought was possible.

My conservative friends will want to wash my mouth out with whatever swill Hillary was tossing back at that working-class Pennsylvania bar a few weeks ago, but it's true. She's really grown on me. It's not the pantsuits. It certainly not her monotone speech pattern or her long, wonkish policy talks.

It's the spunk. It's the fact she actually campaigned, hard, in Puerto Rico of all places. It's the never- say-die attitude. I like that no one questions her toughness, the perennial knock on female candidates. And just when you think she's John Wayne incarnate, ready to take a poke at someone, she gets all emotional and sob-sister on us.

Maybe she planned it as strategy, or maybe it just emanated from the strain of a long campaign, but she finally let us see her softer, more human side. Heck, I even like the fact that I can't figure out why she's still running. Is it to weaken Barack Obama to the point he loses to John McCain and she can run in four years as the "I-told-you-so" candidate? Does she really think she has a chance? Or does she just have too much pride to pull out now after being dismissed by the punditry, her opponent and half of her party?

With all of this intrigue, the woman we thought we knew all too well is suddenly mysterious. Be still my heart. Of course, she frequently gives me reasons to end my silly crush, such as the Clintonesque way she counts votes, saying she's ahead in the popular vote. I suppose it depends on what your definition of "popular vote" is, eh, Hillary?

And then there's the whole Bobby Kennedy didn't get assassinated until June theory and the obligatory, almost forced looks of adoration she shoots at her husband on the stump. Ugh. Any reminder of the Clinton family megalomania of the 1990s is a real turn-off.

Yet, as the campaign wore on, I found myself drawn to Hillary if for no other reason than the fact she can't see anyone besides herself being president. There's a certain amount of comfort in that confidence, after nearly eight years of an administration seemingly adrift.

The duties of the Oval Office won't chew her up and spit her out like some Jimmy Carter retread.

Truth be told, I also think part of my newfound affection stems from the estrogen level in my household. I'm outnumbered by females, three to one. I often tell my 6-year-old how blessed she is to live in a country where she can be anything she wants to be. I truly want her to believe it, because most days I believe it, too. Not too long ago, she was singing along to a "Hannah Montana" song in the car: "Who says? Who says I can't be president?" I turned to my wife and, only half-jokingly, said, "Well, she can run for president anyway . . . ."

Assuming Hillary's campaign will come to an end soon -- and yes, I realize that's quite an assumption -- I hope history remembers it for how she obliterated the traditional barriers that have stood in the way of other women becoming president. No one should question whether a woman is tough enough or competent enough to be president.

Hillary weathered enough sexism on the campaign trail that it should empower an entire generation of young women to someday sing with some certainty, "Who says I can't be president?" Even if Hillary Clinton never makes it to the White House, I'll tell my daughters about how she blazed the trail.



Display:


The Obama campaign has also been so rude. (2.00 / 5)

that many people feel as if she has no choice. They can't live with either McCain nor Obama, so they absolutely NEED Hillary to overturn this decision and go to victory. Obama's healthcare plan wont help them. People like me are so invested in Hillary because we are being drained to death, by medical bills. In my case, its because of an ugly situation that was driven by greed and was completely out of my control that made me sick. Obama is a slick lawyer and a liar. That may be business as usual for his corporate backers but it won't work this time.


Universal healthcare IS a core Democratic value
Comprehensively cover 100%, not only the healthiest 80%
by architek on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 08:29:33 AM EST

Stability.. (2.00 / 1)

I think that whoever decides such things for the Democrats needs to overrule this committee in the interests of national security.


Universal healthcare IS a core Democratic value
Comprehensively cover 100%, not only the healthiest 80%
by architek on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 08:31:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Falling for Hillary (2.00 / 2)

Yes.  She does grow on you, doesn't she?  I love her tanacity.  Obama quits his church after Pfleger.  Just quits it.  Hillary would have stayed and fought for her right to worship wherever she damn well wants to!  

Obama caves on all of his positions.  Hillary won't back down from the nomination even when the entire media demands that she do it.  

When people said Hillary has balls, I found it sexist.  Now I find it encouraging!  


by searchforsolidarity on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 08:34:50 AM EST

Re: Falling for Hillary (2.00 / 4)

I would say that Obama had no choice but to quit the church. That being said, I listen to Obama's reasons for quiting and IMO, they were inadequate. He did not denounce and reject them. It actually sounded like he was trying to distance himself only for political reasons. He truly is just another politician.

by soyousay on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 09:33:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Didn't "denounce and reject"? (none / 0)

Seriously, denouncing and rejecting TUCC would have looked much more politically craven than his emotionally-mixed separation from the church on display at the press conference. He was clearly saddened at the whole episode because he genuinely believes that TUCC has been unfairly caricatured.

Maybe you believe TUCC really is a hate cult. I don't. I think TUCC is, for the most part, a wonderful and loving church community. It's one of the few large black churches to openly welcome gay and lesbian members. It's one of the few to challenge black upper-middle class professionals to remember their obligations to the poor. It's picked up the slack in providing social services to people completely neglected by the government.

No doubt Rev. Wright had a demagogic tendency - sometimes into the world of paranoia. But Wright - and TUCC - is a lot more complicated of a place than Wright's rants. Obama clearly understands that having been a member there for so long.

Is he separating for political reasons? Of course. Were he not running for President those crazy Wright rants would never have seen the light of day and Obama would have felt no pressure to quit. I wished that he stayed put at TUCC but I recognize the politics of this country and the racial anxieties felt by many people not used to seeing an angry black man ranting from the pulpit.   Obama should never have been forced to answer for everything that comes out of that church; we don't expect that from Catholic politicians anymore. We didn't ask Bill Clinton to answer for the rampant sexism in the Southern Baptist church.


by elrod on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 10:22:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Didn't "denounce and reject"? (2.00 / 3)

Is he separating for political reasons? Of course.
That's why Obama is a flawed candidate. Rural America has a real problem with Trinity church; they see the church as a divisive forum. Obama personally, only has a problem with Trinity because it gets in his way of becoming the president. The Republican party is aware of this, I'm aware of this, Americans in general will become aware of this if they aren't already aware of this now. IMO, not being a member will not change anything. In otherwords, he did not change his ways, he just made a typical political move. Obama comes off insincere because he is insincere.


by soyousay on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 10:40:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Falling for Hillary (none / 0)

Don't mean to let facts get in the way of your rant, but Hillary clearly said she would have left the church.


by jadegirl on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 09:49:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It would not have been her church (2.00 / 2)

and when a guest pastor preaches hate, you get up and walk out, to show you do not condone hate speech.

He still does not get that. Nor do a lot of his supporters.


by catfish2 on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 11:50:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Falling for Hillary (none / 0)

I think that there is a story in the making - wouldn't it be useful to track down all the "hate" language that has been (and will continue to be) used against this legitimate Democratic candidate particularly since about November of last year. Let's also be sure that we don't confuse "inconvenient truth" with negativity. Neither candidate is without human flaws and frailty. I see it in the comments of the Obama supporters on this blog, let alone the implicit complicity of most of the talking heads who are more interested in ratings than in speaking truth.
The article captured in this diary, along with the piece written in late March-early April by Richard Mellon Scaife, and so many many others chronicles the experiences of many who had been Hillary skeptics throughout this campaign. Those who kept an open mind and took the time to watch and listen for themselves rather than simply repeat others' talking points can identify themselves with this writer's words. Unfortunately, many, many voters and poll responders hear the words of hate and mockery and think they are true.
Thanks for this moving testimonial to a solid, experienced and compassionate public servant.
by pan230oh on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 09:14:16 AM EST

I believe a sexism study is being (2.00 / 1)

planned, or conducted. Ferraro and another hirgh-profile woman offered to pay for it, if necessary.


by catfish2 on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 12:22:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Falling for Hillary (none / 0)

Very nice.


by annita on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 10:12:05 AM EST

She gets better with time. (1.00 / 0)

Doesn't she?


by catfish2 on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 11:50:53 AM EST

Comfort and Confidence (2.00 / 1)

Yet, as the campaign wore on, I found myself drawn to Hillary if for no other reason than the fact she can't see anyone besides herself being president. There's a certain amount of comfort in that confidence, after nearly eight years of an administration seemingly adrift.

The duties of the Oval Office won't chew her up and spit her out like some Jimmy Carter retread.

Good presidents project comfort and confidence.


by catfish2 on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 11:55:51 AM EST

Re: Falling for Hillary (none / 0)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

for the crying love of JESUS, please stop with the juvenile antics!!    

I am surprised you are not banned yet, as you have not posted one damn thing that bears any merit to any discussion


by colebiancardi on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 01:23:39 PM EST


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