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Report: Hillary Gets Major Speaking Slot At Convention
It looks like Hillary Clinton will get her own starring role at the convention, albeit not the one she'd hoped for at the beginning of this campaign.
CNN is reporting that Hillary will speak on the second night of the convention -- the traditional keynote slot that launched Barack Obama's national career last time around. "Tuesday night is Hillary night," a Hillary supporter told CNN.
Fun historical fact: That night of the convention will be the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which guarantees the right of women to vote. In honor of both that history and her own historic candidacy, Hillary will be joined on stage by all the other female Democratic Senators.
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That's cool - it should make Hillary and some of her deeply wounded followers feel better about life.
I got an email from Hillary today or yesterday, with a fund-raising plea for Obama.
I'm glad to see them working on the same side. She was giving me the whim whams during the primary.
;)
July 30, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Glad to see them on the same side, indeed. Wish the Holdouts would get the hint.
July 30, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
"them"
I'd say that Hillary's most informed, truest followers have been with "us" since we got a presumptive nominee.
July 31, 2008 3:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
How 'bout you? What makes you feel better about your deeply wounded life? I mean, besides the meds?
July 31, 2008 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice touch.
July 30, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
All is well in Hillaryland I presume. Will Bill Clinton speak before her on that night I wonder.
July 30, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Urg, this better not turn into a "let's make this all about Hillary" thing. I just want to put the primary behind us.....but hell, today a former Hillary advisor demanded Obama apologize for something Ludacris said, so I guess the nonsense will never end...
July 30, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
You just substantiate that the nonsense will not end by focusing on what "a former Hillary advisor said" about this rapper. Who cares? Folks like you deserve the dead-enders, really; their nonsense may even sustain you through the dog days of summer. Whatever.
Hat tip to demosaur, who hits the nail on the head by correctly noting that most of us who were Hillary supporters pledged allegiance to Obama at the time he became the Democratic nominee. It is, after all, our party, our country, our causes, our children, too. Nothing and everything profound about that.
July 31, 2008 8:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
What spot will Dennis Kucinich be accorded?
July 30, 2008 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ballboy for the Nuggets when they return to the Pepsi Center for training camp on October 1st.
July 31, 2008 4:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
A couple of things - this means she's not the VP right? I hope Hillary is willing to play ball and doesn't try and pull a coup or anything ridiculous like that.
Also I would have bet my house that Ted Kennedy would have delivered the keynote address. Maybe he isn't well enough to do so. I think it would have brought the house down.
July 30, 2008 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
In addition to Hillary not being VP, is there something to be read in the fact that Sen. Clinton will be joined by only Female senators on stage and not female Reps or Governors? With an emphasis on governors in this case? Could Kathleen Sebelius have another role?
Or is that fact Hillary is getting the star treatment for the anniversary mean Gov. Sebelius is likely not chosen either, otherwise she would be the face of the celebration?
Or is there nothing to be read?
July 30, 2008 11:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually the third night is generally the VP night. I would think this would be a nice prelude to it AND I would think such a high profile for Hillary might ease a potential Sebelius selection/
But that s because I really really want her
July 30, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually another advantage of seperating woman night to a potential Sebelius VP night is that one thing Obama would want to be especially sensitive to would be the notion Sebelius is an affirmative action pick. Reserving her a night to her as VP without reference to her gender as opposed to a night for women clearly separates the two issues as distinct from each other and I would think that's the message they are trying to send.
July 30, 2008 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
This pretty much seals that she's not the VP, according to what I've read.
July 30, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I dont think many people thought she was going to be anyway.
I am actually stunned by how little talk of Clinton as VP there is. Where is Lanny Davis ?
Me thinks someone still does not think Obama will win and just does not want to be on the ticket and instructed her followers as such
July 31, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's on Fox News, where I'm sure he fits in just fine.
July 31, 2008 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also the timing of this convention plays really well historically. As well as the Woman's Right to Vote ratification anniversary on the Tuesday, MLK's "I have a Dream" speech was delivered on August 28th 1963, so it will be the 45th anniversary of that speech the night Barack Obama accepts the nomination.
July 30, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed.
July 31, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
While I have been predicting this for a while and I certainly hope it makes the reconciliation even easier, I have to point out the keynote address is generally untrusted to a rising star of the Party, to launch their national profile. Barack is the obvious example but look back and that's always the case that a promising new politician is given the spot to highlight him or her (see Jindal, Bobby on the GOP side this year). It is a little unfortunate that the spot will be "wasted" on Hillary who certainly has a national profile already.
But if it calms some egoes, so be it. And the "women" night could be very powerful - especially if it helps ease a certain VP selection most of us are secretly rooting for.
July 30, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it's being wasted. I think Hillary deserves that spot if Ted Kennedy didn't get it. It doesn't have to be a rising star, GOP are desperate to have their Obama which is why Jindal is likely to get that spot for the GOP.
I just hope Sen. Clinton has accepted her loss and is willing to move on and completely back Sen. Obama while establishing herself as a national player out of the Senate. I don't believe she was at that point when she endorsed Sen. Obama, but was forced in when her Super Delegates wanted it.
She could do a lot of great things out of the senate if she really focuses her energy there. I think she has been planning her Presidential run for so long, she always had to consider her vote ramifications as they would be applied to her as a Presidential candidate. I'm very interested to see what Sen. Clinton can and will do without having to worry about getting elected again (assuming her NY seat is hers as long as she wants it).
July 30, 2008 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
You did not read me right.
Of course Clinton deserved a spot. I thought it would be the first night though.
I was half-heartedly objecting to the KEYNOTE speaker being her because this is a specific spot generally used to heighten the profile of rising stars in the party.
I was not objecting to her speaking at the convention or getting her own night. Of course not.
July 30, 2008 11:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ben
I agree with you, it is wasted. I feel that Hillary should not be giving any spot to speak and that the spot should have gone to a tradition rising star in the Dem party ala Harold Ford (Clinton 92) Obama (Kerry 2004)....if I look at it's historical use. On the other hand...when Jesse Jackson won the second highest delegates as the first AfricanAmerican to be competitive for nominee he was given the slot to speak as a concession for NOT selecting him as VP on the Dukais ticket.
Sooo, in that sense if Hillary is going to follow in Jesse Jackson's shoes and we are not going to see her back out running for President and she is going to quietly go away..GREAT!
That can be the best news for the party.
As far as HRC being giving a spot in her own right as the losing candidate, I think there is no such precedent, other than Jackson, as I mentioned above and it should not become one either.
I want her and Bill to simply GO AWAY..they had their day in the sun and former Presidents and First Ladies should NOT be giving keynote anything at Democratic Conventions...those slots should be used instead to highlight and spotlight rising stars in the party...as that is a FAR better use of the moment for the party as a whole.
What would have been far better for women would have been for a female rising politician in the party to have delivered the keynote. As it is, Hillary will add nothing to the long term prospect for female nominees in the party by hogging this golden moment from another woman who could actually go on and become President.
Hopefully, this will be the Clintons Sunset moment on the national stage.
July 31, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't recall Harold Ford ever being the keynote speaker, unless it was in 1996 when everyone knew Clinton was a shoo-in for re-election and no one cared about the convention. The 1992 keynote address was shared by 3 people: Barbara Jordon (reprising her role from 1976), Zell Miller (yeah, that one)...and a third person whom I can't recall. (Mario Cuomo?)
July 31, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Newsweek thinks McCain's ad strategy is "clever".
I ahd to click on it just to make sure they weren't being ironic.
They weren't.
You can call his strategy a lot of things, but i don't think "clever" is one of them.
July 31, 2008 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amazing historical moments.
Well done to the Dems for doing this right. This is going to be a special convention.
July 31, 2008 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
hope they all are happy now.................
July 31, 2008 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why doesn't Obama have someone he respects and is friends with like Rev Wright, William Ayers, Tony Rezco, Randi Rhodes, or Ludacris speak?
Hopefully Hillary can use this timeslot to launch a coup and take back the nomination.
July 31, 2008 1:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
"launch a coup and take back the nomination"?
i'm beginning to think you're not a real person.
July 31, 2008 2:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-YoB5mnZs
July 31, 2008 1:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Will the benedictions be given by Jeremiah Wright, Otis Moss III, Father Pfleger, and Louis Farrakhan?
Hillary should be on night one. The keynote speech is for a rising star like Mario Cuomo in 1984, Bill Clinton in 1988, and Obama in 2004.
July 31, 2008 3:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, so I took a few moments and choked my way through some of your recent posts. I think I feel pretty comfortable in calling you a racist pig (and I know pigs). You try and veil it (which means you know it's wrong), but you just can't help yourself. Hell, look at your damn avatar. Go peddle your crap over at free republic or somewhere else.
July 31, 2008 7:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, Dr. Zaius is not a racist. He hates all humans and what they represent equally. His fear is not of a particular race but of the humans rising again and taking the planet back from the (supposedly) civilized primates.
July 31, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Time to get your facts straight, Ape. Ann Richards gave the keynote in 1988. Bill Clinton was supposed to give a fifteen minute introduction to Dukakis for Dukakis's acceptance speech.
Ann Richards was no rising star, not after GW Bush destroyed her with his and Rove's filthy lesbian campaign. Just practicing for the big time.
And despite what your apologists may think, you come off as one big racist dude or dudette.
July 31, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
On the women's right to vote theme, why not invite the republican female senators, too? ;-)
July 31, 2008 7:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, now we know what's been keeping Hillary and Bill out of the Obama campaign for so long. They've been NEGOTIATING for this spot/day.
And here I thought Hillary SUPPORTED Obama for President (no strings attached). Guess I was wrong.
Well, if the only way Obama can get them on his side is by bribing them, I guess that's better than having them run 'against' him during this election cycle.
July 31, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
BINGO!!
There is so much behind the scenes going on with demands and conditions. Folks who backed the losing horse trying to leverage their little bit of 'control'
Sheila JacksonLee was out last night speakign on behalf of Obama..which was jolting given her staunch support of Hillary in the primaries..but she has a LOT of cleaning and sucking up to do becasue her district is ready to dump her ass when she comes up for election.
She better pray Obama campaigns for her or she will be toast in TX...and it will be well=earned as she put her own political interests ahead of her constiuents.
July 31, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
So far at the convention we have Hillary celebrating the 19th amendment and Barack making his speech on the anniversary of MLK's historic "I Have a Dream" speech. Man I hope this is going to be more than a nostalgia tour. We've got serious challenges ahead and the focus better be about them.
July 31, 2008 9:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure it will be on the future and current challenges. But one point that needs to be made. This year's election has been historic for two traditionally out of power groups....women and blacks. That fact is not insignificant.
From a pure electoral viewpoint this is a good thing. Democrats will need to win the black vote 90%+ and have a massive turnout. Democrats will also need to win the women's vote by a large margin perhaps 54% or more. The reason is simple....it will be tough winning the white male vote (which is traditionally GOP) with a black male candidate.
July 31, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mark, does that mean you're not going to ABBA night?
July 31, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I wouldn't doubt that he's a real person. Bush's 2004 victory (such as it was) showed once again that there are a lot of real idiots in this country.
July 31, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tuesday August 26 is the day of the Alaska primary where Republican Ted Stevens is expected to win over a divided field of lightweights in spite of his indictments. Although the results won't be known (I think) by the time of Hillary's speech, that Republican primary election provides a good contrast with the message she will deliver.
July 31, 2008 9:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm, this hadn't occurred to me at first:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/31/clinton-backing-vp-group_n_116023.html
July 31, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad to see Hillary is getting her recognition and welcome her speech at the convention. But, don't bring Geraldine with you!
July 31, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, how generous of Osama to allow Hillary to speak at the convention! I mean after all, what right does the candidate with the most votes in the primary even have to ATTEND such an event or breath the same air as the new Messiah!
Jeez!
July 31, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Geez Lorinmo
I would thinks someone as astute as you about the voting process would know that votes do not elect the nominee...DELEGATES do!! It's most DELEGATES not votes. Votes that garner the most DELEGATES.
Kinda like football..it isn't how many YARDS you gained during the game rather it is the POINTS on the scoreboard.
Please learn the rules in our democracy ...we do not have a Messiah..we are electing a President and the nominee for the Democratic party is determinded by the most DELEGATES not votes.
In other words, all those small states and caucus' that HRC claimed didn't count...DID!!!
July 31, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton's negotiations behind the scenes is proof positive that Hillary as well as Bill do not give a rat's ass about the American people as much as they care about having their campaign debt repaid, lining their pockets and positioning for 2012 and beyond. Hillary & Bill never truly accepted the will of the people and that HILLARY LOST TO OBAMA. What is truly disturbing is Hillary and her surrogates supportive comments of John McCain during the primary. Why? Because evidence abounds that John McCain is mentally unstable if not outright mentally ill and to do anything to further legitimize his candidacy places Hillary's personal agenda ahead of her party and the people of this country. GOOGLE: 'PTSD McCain'
July 31, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink