Clinton’s Embrace of Obama Truly Presidential

 

Brendan Smialowski/The New York Times

Note: This was written for and original published by Scoop08.com 

Last night, in front of an audience of colleagues and supporters, Senator Hilary Clinton delivered what was easily the most presidential speech she has given to date. Ironically enough, this very speech was intended to convince the over 18 million people who cast ballots for Clinton to support her former opponent Senator Barack Obama.

Using her trademark story-telling style, Clinton exhibited the the poise and command behind the microphone that propelled her presidential campaign deep into the spring, months after many had given her up for dead. And from introducing what is sure to be a new Obama campaign catch-phrase, “No way, no how, no McCain,” to aptly describing her large female following as the “sisterhood of the traveling pants suits,” Clinton threw aside any doubt of her support of the Obama candidacy.

Often cast as a bitter runner-up in the heavily contested 18-month Democratic Presidential primary and often rumored to foster ill-will towards the Obama campaign, Clinton rallied her troops while throwing her full support behind the candidate.

“ I’m here tonight as a proud mother, as a proud Democrat, as a proud Senator from New York, a proud American and a proud supporter of Barrack Obama,” said Clinton, who enlisted her supporters to join the effort to elect Obama.

Yet possible more moving than the speech itself, or the introductory video narrated by her daughter Chelsea, was the tearful look on the face of former President Bill Clinton as he mouthed the words “I love you” to his wife from a seat high above the convention floor.

While some supporters claim Clinton’s campaign was mistreated during the primaries and see the fact that Obama never seriously considered her as a Vice Presidential nominee as even more insulting, few can argue Clinton has been treated as anything less than Democratic royalty at the convention.

And in a effort to unite a party torn following such a contested Presidential primary, Clinton’s address focuses primarily on her supporters, pleading with them to vote for Obama.

“I want you to ask yourselves, were you in this campaign just for me?” challenged Clinton, who argued that a vote for John McCain would be vote against the advances in civil rights and health care she has fought for while in the Senate.

Clinton went on to describe McCain as a colleague and friend, however, added “but we don’t need four more years of the last eight years.”

Hilary set the bar high for upcoming convention speakers, including her husband, Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden and Obama. And though excluded from the current democratic ticket, Clinton showed tonight that she will be a presence in the Democratic party for years to come.

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