Clinton’s eloquent endorsement
Full transcript of Clinton’s endorsement speech, courtesy of the NY Times.
It should remind everyone that two glass ceilings were really broken here, though only one passes through to test the next. The next woman to run the gauntlet will likely be called a bitch, too, but only by men who abuse women.
The abuser Obama will face in November will be forgotten soon enough while the primary challenge between two pioneers that ended this week will be memorized for decades by American students of every gender and race. That’s the most important thing for all supporters of either Democratic candidate to remember. I know my daughters have been inspired; I’ll do my best to teach my grandsons the real, broad importance of this contentious primary.
But if the abuser wins, I fear they will also have to learn that our country had some greatness to it, before its irreversible decline.
Jon Perr adds more of the background of the abuser.
I believe that Barbara O’Brien provides the best perspective of all I’ve read in the blogosphere today, and throughout this primary about achieving a progressive agenda that incorporates and advances everyone. Were we all to shelve our biased ears and listen to her objectively, I think we’d find greater successes and advances for everyone aggrieved by the divisive and repressive status quo, more quickly and more unified than any other way.
But really, folks, go read Clinton’s speech. It is possibly the best of her life so far. It jerked a few tears from this stoic lunkhead, so that must mean something.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Kudos to Senator Clinton for her most eloquent endorsement, but I think there’s a certain degree of the metaphorical Emperor’s New Clothes going on.
There are any number of female Senators, Representative, Governors, and elected representatives who I would gladly vote for that no one except for a few misguided chauvinists would ever dare denote as a bitch. And they would easily get my vote.
There is some disconnect in this society which assumes that any strong woman will be called a bitch, so in turn she has a crutch to behave in a manner that is neither endearing nor classy. The strongest women are those who need never have their regrettable behavior and conduct excused as “being strong”.
I can think of many talented men with regrettable personal conduct, Bill being one, who many people excuse as some kind of charming rogue. I have never forgiven Bill for being ethically sleazy either and his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky, while not anything I would consider to be an impeachable offense, did nonetheless denote him as a person of at best dubious ethical standard.
The Clintons’ ego and hubris did them in at the end, and no matter how gracious and conciliatory a speech she gave today, it was given on her terms. Only the Clinton ego would transform a rather routine matter into the press spectacle it was today. When Gore conceded, I didn’t see him bothering to go to the trouble to corral the press, make some lasting statement about the historical impact of his run, and getting a few thousand of his supporters together to cheer and boo as the situation demanded.
Yes, this has gone far to revive her image but what I was struck with mostly is the complete arrogance of Team Clinton, which shouldn’t be forgiven just by a good apology/concession.
June 8th, 2008 at 2:54 am
kevin said it well above
i thought it was a terrific speech and well delivered — she has grown as a public speaker.
but while there is a lot of redemption going on — she didnt lose because she was a woman — and as the campaign wore on she was (or her surrogates) were using that excuse more and more….
it will help her in the end, but but next week it will be the clinton soap opera all over again