A Graceful Hillary

This wasn’t the night she wanted. It was not the speech she envisioned giving at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. However, in a full about-face from this year’s nasty primary campaign, Senator Hillary Clinton backed down and put Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic party, and the American people—first. Kudos to Hillary.

While Clinton delivered a great, energetic and compelling speech, many will focus on what she did not say—how she did not come out and say, “Barack Obama is qualified to lead and will be ready on day one.” No, she never spoke directly to Obama’s readiness, or overtly stated whether he had in fact passed her infamous “commander in chief threshold.” Many will focus on what she did not say, but what she did say--did it do the job?

I think so. The bottom line is that the Democratic voters have a choice to make in the fall. It’s a choice between a democratic candidate who holds traditional democratic values and positions, and a republican candidate who does not. Hopefully Democrats will do what is in their best interest.

In my opinion, Hillary really did do what she needed to. She bowed out gracefully and forcefully threw her support behind Barack Obama—all the while directing her supporters to do the same.

In Clinton’s words, “We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare.” She made it clear to her supporters this campaign has never been about her but about the American people.

She quickly cut to the chase at the start of her speech to state that Senator Barack Obama is her choice. Then she made her case when she stated, “I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that young boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?”

Hillary made it clear that those who have supported her should be committed to America’s families and our children’s future. Be in this “for them” was Clinton’s theme. “Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president.”

Enough said.