Hillary: Obama "Must Be Our President"
Hillary kicks off her speech immediately hitting the key point: She is a supporter of Barack Obama, and there will be no questioning this fact; Obama must win the presidency for the sake of the future.
I am honored to be here tonight. A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.My friends, it is time to take back the country we love.
Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines.
This is a fight for the future. And it's a fight we must win...
You haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership.
No way. No how. No McCain.
Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our President.
The somewhat corny introductory vid, starring Hillary as feminist Rocky, actually packed emotional power. I think this is a reminder that the months and months that Hillary spent continuing her campaign even when her loss was all but assured built up a tremendous amount of power around her persona.
Ironically, though much of that time was spent attacking Obama in ways that were seen as potentially destructive, the strength of her persona built up over that time will now be seen to be giving Obama a vital boost.
Late Update: Full text of her speech here.
She's nailing it. Let's see how the talking heads spin it.
Sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits - LOL
August 26, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits...ugh. There's a Mad Magazine writer filing a copyright lawsuit right now.
August 26, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alfred E. Newman has no standing in court.
August 26, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dammit I hate the dead-enders and PUMA's because they made me dislike Hillary.
August 26, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's fair enough. They say they hate Obama because of us.
August 26, 2008 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
So far it sounds like an acceptance speech and not so much an endorsement of Obama. Strange. How many times has she mentioned him?
August 26, 2008 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm getting the exact same impression, and I'm dying to give her the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully there's a kickass closer on the way.
August 26, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
hooray, here it comes. "Were you in it just for me? Or were you in it..."
wonderful
August 26, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give it a rest. She's doing great.
August 26, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
no need for ultra-sensitivity, I'm hardly trashing the speech. Just giving some realtime responses here.
August 26, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like the no way no how no mccain part. she is giving a stellar speech
Joe Scarborough Vs. David Shuster and Whats Up With Shovels
August 26, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's go Hillary! I'm so sick of her bleeping supporters. I hope this settles it all for good.
August 26, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
The vast majority of her supporters support Obama.
August 26, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Calm down. Her supporters are our supporters. This thing was difficult and unprecedented. We'll put this thing back together again, but stuff like this aren't helping.
Chill out.
August 26, 2008 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It went into a rut of me, me, me, but now it's Obama is the one now to change the mess...
August 26, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
This won't quell the chattering heads on the networks but she's doing a good job of conveying the necessity of electing a Dem president and the urgency of the situation.
August 26, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, all the pundits will talk about how much time she mentioned his name, etc.
August 26, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's a much better speaker now at this point than she was when she started. Her speech isn't as high energy as Schweitzer's was, but she's hitting all the spots that she needs to hit. She's got her people's attention, delivering the message that they need to hear at this point.
This is where reconciliation begins.
August 26, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
If she had been like this from the beginning...
August 26, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
we the people, not we the favored few. nice
August 26, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pointing out Michelle, classy.
August 26, 2008 11:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed.
August 26, 2008 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
At times it sounds like she's saying "I look forward to seeing Obama do the things I would have done". It's an interesting tactic.
August 26, 2008 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
She is doing the right thing. I am proud of her. She looks great in that orange suit against the blue background.
August 26, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like that color on her, too.
August 26, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
You missed the pre-show. Secret Service (or those looking like 'em) had like 6 exactly the same paint suits that they held up to pick the right color. She choose... wisely.
August 26, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
The PUMAs feel a disturbance in the force.
August 26, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The twin cities line was good.
August 26, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
She just destroyed McCain. Niiiiiice!
August 26, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any self-respecting woman's rationale for voting for Johnny.
August 26, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bush and McCain in the twin cities line was brillaint...
August 26, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome line about McCain and Bush together in the Twin Cities.
Cut it and run it. That's our ad for next week.
August 26, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Lioness of the Senate.
August 26, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hereby formally withdraw all previous skeptical statements.
August 26, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unity is a beautiful thing.
August 26, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
She is ON FIYAH!
August 26, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just gotta say it: Anyone still think Biden was the right VP choice?
August 26, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes....for a number of reasons.
August 26, 2008 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buyer's remorse.
August 26, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden is the right choice. But I don't want to take away from Hillary right now. That was a fantastic speech.
August 26, 2008 11:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes! You can't look at Bill out there with his big head and big personality and not realize that Obama needed someone he could work with and trust. Yes, she did well tonight and hopefully undid some of the damage that was done by the protracted primary but I still wouldn't trust the Clintons.
August 26, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fair enough, thanks everyone.
August 26, 2008 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh stop with the GOP talking points bitching. It actually IS possible to like and admire the Clintons (both) and still vote for Obama.
August 26, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, loved the speech!
August 26, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Biden is still my man.
He has a tough act to follow though...
August 26, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's doing it! The best speech I've seen her give.
August 26, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's hitting a homerun!
August 26, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn she's nailing it.
August 26, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, have to say... I'm very impressed with her speech. Have to say, IMHO - she completely nailed it.
Strong on her convictions and accomplishments, and strong in her support of Obama.
August 26, 2008 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed 100%
They will twist it, they will distort it. But she did all she could.
August 26, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary was FANTASTIC!
Powerful, forceful, and demanding of Democrats to do the right thing.
Absolutely excellent.
I am a fan again.
August 26, 2008 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now THAT was a HUMDINGER of a HOMERUN!
I think her stature has been hurt by those around her, and yet she really managed to take her story and her mojo back - It was a powerful sight!
"No way, no how, no McCain."
And it was perfectly calibrated to what a lot of women have been feeling about the primaries. I was an Obama supporter all along, but the kind of bullshit straight up misogyny aimed at her was appalling....from the bobbleheads of the traditional media. I was not a fan of hers myself until this speech in fact. I look forward to seeing her impact national politics going forward.
She really HAS grown immmensly in this process. It does feel like a whole new ballgame.
BRAVO!
August 27, 2008 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Harriet Tubman portion of her speech is the highlight.
August 26, 2008 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
She killed it. Send it to Florida & Ohio ASAP!
Debra & other PUMAs: Take that, bitches!
August 26, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
If it seemed important to tell us again what a good friend of hers McCain is, I wish she could at least imply some endangerment for that friendship if he didn't stop spreading vicious lies on the airwaves about the Party's candidate.
August 26, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
nice point. When she said that I cringed.
August 26, 2008 11:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kind of agree. My only disappointment in the speech was the lack of calling him out and shaming him for running those ads.
August 26, 2008 11:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kind of agree. However, that's really Obama's job to go after McCain on that front - not so much Hillary's.
We could all nitpick, but that speech was so much more than I was expecting.
August 26, 2008 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I was talking about the commercials that specifically star her. It would've been nice for her to scold him a little for it. Other than that, I think the speech exceeded my expectations.
August 26, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, I see you point - and yeah, that would've been really nice.
August 26, 2008 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now, what is CNN going to do? LOL?
August 26, 2008 11:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do not fret, they will make something up.
August 26, 2008 11:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the little factoid at the bottom says she'll be at Obama's speech. That's a needed gesture.
August 26, 2008 11:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was a very good speech. I would love to have heard her spend some time saying why she thinks Obama is "the man". That would've helped a bit more.
Instead it sounded like: "These are the things I believe in, so vote for Obama." Enough of an endorsement to get the job done, but not resounding.
August 26, 2008 11:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Her supporters are too entrenched against Obama, they don't like him. However her line about were you voting for me or were you voting for my ideals line was dead-on. If she went out and praised Obama to the hilt it may have come across as contrived and phony (as there is still healing going on between Barack and Hillary). I think what she did tonight was perfect.
Biden better nail it tomorrow, he has a tough act to follow.
August 26, 2008 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. And yet her message of how very important it is that we get a Democratic president was wonderfully charged, in and of itself. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. This speech made up for a LOT of my hard feelings toward HC... maybe not Bill, but *definitely* Hillary.
August 26, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm proud to be a Hillary supporter.
OK, assholes, here and on TV - now you can bitch and pick her speech apart.
August 26, 2008 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clearly you are having difficulty reading this thread.
August 26, 2008 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
She stripped it down to core values. What do you believe in? Are you willing to work for it? She beautifully framed the choice and called the hard question. Great!
August 26, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
She roped the dope then she hammered the old SOB
August 26, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whoa! Senator Clinton rocked!
Brilliant! Exhilarating! She far exceeded my best expectations. Yeehaw!
Thank you, Senator Clinton!!!
August 26, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bravo. I've been no fan of Hillary's the last year, but that was excellent. The best speech I've ever heard her give, and not just for the Obama endorsement. It was as honest and real as she's been in front of an audience, I think. Home run.
August 26, 2008 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
this was the speech she should have gave when she conceded. better late than never.
August 26, 2008 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
David Gregory is a complete jackass: "How many Democrats are having buyers remorse tonight?" If I was Bill Richardson I would've smacked him upside his head.
August 26, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rachel, take care of that sucker.
August 26, 2008 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gregory is a total tool.
It's almost like he regrets his days of going after McClellan during his White House press reporter, and is carrying right-wing talkingpoints now in an effort to make up for it.
August 26, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dudes, watch PBS coverage. I can't stand David Gregory. David Brooks is *so* much easier to take.
August 26, 2008 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was watching C-SPAN all night. I'm only watching MSNBC now to hear Olbermann's, Maddow's, and Eugene Robinson's take on the night.
August 27, 2008 12:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome speech. She's awesome. She has a long career ahead of her.
August 26, 2008 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Somewhere in one of his many houses, John McCain just shit his pants.
August 26, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for make me laugh so hard that I woke up the neighbors.
August 26, 2008 11:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that, given the vile behavior of his compaign recently, he got off very easy.
August 26, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're still going to push the Clinton vs Obama story. Now it's going to be either "Did the Dem's make the wrong choice" or "Clinton vs Biden - Did Obama make the right choice"
They always need their angle to exploit to fill the 24 hour news cycle.
August 26, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.
Great job Hillary. Now let's go kick some ass in November!
August 26, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great job by Hillary. She did just about everything she needed to do . . . And Schweitzer, man, he's the (western) future of the party!
August 26, 2008 11:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course CNN just had to highlight the crying woman who is unsure if she can bring herself to vote for Obama in November.
August 26, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am watching CNN and they honestly sound deflated. Blitzer, Susan Malveaux, and to some degree A Cooper sounds like they just got some bad news.
August 26, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been on the Obama bandwagon from the very start, but tonight, Hillary made me cry.
August 26, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh man I just saw one of those ads from McCain with Hillary in it talking about Obama and it just made me soooo mad. Freaking manipulative Bush sidekick trying to cheapen her truly fantastic speech. That man has no shame.
August 26, 2008 11:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tremendously powerful delivery by Hillary. You see why she and Barack were leading the field. They really are two of the strongest political talents in the party. They're leaving many of the bit players in the dust, rhetorically.
August 26, 2008 11:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Comments aren't functional in the upper thread.
That speech was just amazing - Hillary Clinton just gave the most incredible speech - Wow.
August 26, 2008 11:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain camp statement: the same old shit...
August 26, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best line of the night No way. No how. No McCain
August 26, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
What strikes me also is the drama of Chelsea with tears in her eyes, Bill doing his corny lip-biting routine -- all the tension and drama built up by the primary now turn into something cathartic that pumps up the emotional wattage of the whole evening.
Is anyone really going to watch the Republican convention?
And if they do, will they give a damn?
August 26, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guys, with that performance and such strong counter attack, it is possible that she would have withstand the high negatives that would have been stacked against her had she and obama paired up...we will never know ..besides, i am content with biden and especially ecstatic with hillary's performance....she did an outstanding job and left no stones unturned..most importantly she did it without coming across as phony and without belittling herself in anyway...she effectively neutralized mccain's soundbites from the primaries....she gave us so many 2 minute sound bites and i would be surprised if obama camp doesnt capitalize on this....
i forgive you hillary...hell, i even forgive bill clinton..that was the endorsement that should have came months ago, but it's never too late to join the party full-throttle..
thank you hillary thank you....work your heart out and mean it...no one of you have to be in lov with obama, but if you like clinton's policies, then voting for obama should be easy as pie...
on to a win in november...yeah!
August 26, 2008 11:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...it is possible that she would have withstand the high negatives that would have been stacked against her had she and obama paired up..."
Of course she would've withstood it. That's why Obama should've picked her for VP. She earned that much.
August 26, 2008 11:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off-topic, but I really hope people keep using the "sidekick" line. That's a great word, because it links McCain to Bush, while diminishing him. A smaller version of the same thing -- a would-be Bush.
August 26, 2008 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right...and McCain IS a short guy too, LOL.
August 26, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
agreed
August 26, 2008 11:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I totally forgive Hillary - but I already had forgiven her - now I just fucking admire the hell out of her more than I ever have before.
That was a stunning speech - she just burned down the house.
August 26, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
AMAZING. Flawless pacing, quote-able quotes, and a strong message. Yes, we can!
August 26, 2008 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry media. Hillary Clinton just threw your narrative out the window.
August 26, 2008 11:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
bill's gonna be awesome. not 'cause he gives a rat's ass about obama, but because there's no way he's going to allow himself to get upstaged by hillary and/or michelle. too much ego. the gauntlet's been thrown down, and bill can't resist picking it up.
tomorrow's gonna rock even harder than tonight.
August 26, 2008 11:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
excellent point
August 26, 2008 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
But the assignment, his duty, is not just to "rock." It's to help the ticket. Not to be a star but to be a supporter.
Very distinct roles. And he has never yet helped anyone else get elected, unless you say he got his wife elected by marrying her.
August 26, 2008 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
right, but the REASON that hillary and michelle have set off the party is because of their nuanced, perfect support of obama. i don't think it matters to bill what the contest is, he wants to be the best. and these two speeches have made the contest, "who can be more eloquent and effusive in their praise and support of obama?"
bill HATES to lose (or hates the prospect of it, since i don't know that he ever has). so he's in his hotel room right now, striking out paragraphs and reworking the most eloquentest and effusivest praise and support of obama. EVAR.
August 26, 2008 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The euphoria here is not universally shared. (But, hell. The New York Times is full of pieces about how terrible Mrs. Obama was last night ...)
Andrew Sullivan is saying that this is the most lifeless convention he's ever seen. That he on his blog (and that of a one-time Bush supporter) is saying much worse things, and much more often, about Bush and McCain than the convention is doing.
A different point of view. I don't quite share it, but I also don't get the huge deification of HRC for just endorsing her Party's candidate -- along with a large part of her stump speech about how much she has sacrificed for "for thirty-five years" (while that skinny guy has just ridden into town).
No, I'm glad it was no worse, but "my good friend John McCain" won't have much to fear from that one, in my opinion. Nor, I think will Barack Obama if he can get Bill Clinton off the stage tomorrow night without too much damage being done.
August 26, 2008 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not surprised the Times is trashing the Dems. The NYT is a Republican paper. Their Obama headlines usually (not always, but more often than not) raise some question or plant a seedling of doubt, however subtle. Their McCain headlines are far softer. It's blatant on the Sunday front page -- just as it was with Kerry (Adam Nagourney was vicious to him). Check out especially their Sunday front page headlines, which sit on coffee tables across the country all week long. And check out which stories are above and which are below the fold. The pattern is pretty enlightening.
August 27, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
*sigh* The new theme by the media is "buyers remorse?".
August 26, 2008 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think she is now looking forward to Healthcare for all Americans to be her signature piece.
August 26, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Full and complete kudos to Senator Clinton. She did all she could do to get her supporters on board. As a Obama supporter I am convinced she is a completely committed part of the team. The 'No way, no how, no McCain' and the 'Twin Cities' lines were utterly brilliant. I actually was expecting a great speech out of her tonight and she exceeded my expectations.
:)
August 26, 2008 11:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
111 comments and nobody mentioned she opened with My Friends...
Take that, POW-boy.
August 27, 2008 2:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some poliicians never find their true voice until the pressure's off. The funny, relaxed, and occasionally acerbic Gore of 2004 would have soundly beaten the uptight Gore of 2000, not to mention W. The Hillary Clinton of August 26, 2008 would probably be the nominee today, had she been around at the beginning of the primary season.
It's not too late this time, though. She can help Obama win in November. I believe she will help, and I believe he will win.
August 27, 2008 3:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a very good point, Mr. Ed. I was struck by her ease and confidence and, perhaps more relevant, her authenticity. The real Hillary is remarkable. I wish for her sake that Mark Penn had never darkened her door.
August 27, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
It wont be seen that way by me. (That's not at all to take away from her speech tonight.)
August 27, 2008 5:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
We live in a society where even the kids who lose get a trophy.
August 27, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thrilled that Senator Clinton honored the suffragettes, including Harriet Tubman, who was as ardently involved in the suffrage struggle as she was in the Underground Railroad.
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August 27, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good for her. MP3 highlights are up here.
August 27, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink