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A young, black, professional, Spelman College and UNC Law grad, and new mommy who practices law in the Chicago suburbs.

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Do they get it? (How a Democrat ends up voting Republican)

June 6th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

By Raqiyyah Pippins, a DC Attorney and past NBLSA Chair (reprinted with permission)

I want to start off by saying, CONGRATULATIONS to all of the Obama supporters. It has been a long campaign and I am elated to watch so many people I care about have the opportunity to see someone they were passionate about become the Democratic nominee.

As we “prepare,” however, to “unify” the party in an effort to “take back” the white house in January 2009, something has called on me to write this note.

How a Democrat ends up voting Republican

I remember sitting in a living room full of African American women Hillary supporters this past Tuesday as the results came in. We sat in anticipation of the speeches, waiting to hear the words of McCain, Obama, and our beloved HRC. I remember us sitting there in awe of Hillary while she gave her speech: poised, confident, and sincere. I remember the glee we felt when McCain, early on in his speech, acknowledged HRC’s mistreatment in the media, and commented on her passion for people and the honor he feels to have her as a friend. And I remember how disappointed we were in Obama’s decision to lightly address her toward the middle of his address.

But what I really remember is coming home that night turning on MSNBC and CNN, and watching them talk about how horrible McCain’s speech was, praise Obama and crucify Hillary…. for not being gracious enough, for not “fully” conceding, for not letting Obama have his night, and for not knowing when to “roll over and die.” I watched this alternate universe discuss the same events I thought I had seen… and I was confused.

I kept asking myself, “were we all watching the same thing?” I liked McCain’s speech (despite the ugly green background and his horrific smile (he’s really going to have to work on that, lol)). I loved Hillary’s speech. I heard her be gracious during her remarks, and congratulate Obama and his supporters almost immediately on a wonderful campaign. And I heard Obama fail to even acknowledge her until 15 minutes into his.

And yet I was sitting there watching CNN and MSNBC recount a night that was completely different than ANYTHING I had experienced… with not ONE of their commentators expressing anything close to how the night’s events had made me feel.

And so I turned to FOX.

It was at that moment… after having several of my friends and colleagues vent to me about how “offended” they were by Hillary’s speech… It was at that moment, after digesting an hour of what were supposed to be “my” news stations say absolutely nothing that sounded like or validated me… It was at that moment, when I flipped to Fox for the umpthundreth time during this primary season and realized this was the only station that sounded half way objective to me, that I realized how Democrats end up voting Republican…

they start saying to themselves: this “new” Democratic party doesn’t speak for, to, or care to understand me.

I ran across an op-ed piece today, written by Geraldine Ferraro, and for the first time in weeks I found someone who understood me. In her piece she wrote:

Here we are at the end of the primary season, and the effects of racism and sexism on the campaign have resulted in a split within the Democratic Party that will not be easy to heal before election day. Perhaps it’s because neither the Barack Obama campaign nor the media seem to understand what is at the heart of the anger on the part of women who feel that Hillary Clinton was treated unfairly because she is a woman or what is fueling the concern of Reagan Democrats for whom sexism isn’t an issue, but reverse racism is.

The reaction to the questions being raised has been not to listen to the message and try to find out how to deal with the problem, but rather to denigrate the messenger. Sore loser, petty, silly, vengeful are words that have dominated the headlines. But scolding and name calling don’t resolve disputes. The truth is that tens of thousands of women have watched how Clinton has been treated and are not happy. We feel that if society can allow sexism to impact a woman’s candidacy to deny her the presidency, it sends a direct signal that sexism is OK in all of society.

I’m black… but I’m also one of those women that feels Hillary was treated unfairly because she was a woman. I’m young, but I am one of those people who got tired of hearing anyone who raised that point called vengeful, silly, petty, or a sore loser. I am one of those thousands of Democrats who are not happy. And what scares me is that I’m not sure I think the “new” leaders of the party, or the spokesmen, posing as journalists, chosen to voice the views of the party in the media, “get it,” or me.

Lately, I’ve heard a lot of talk about what “Hillary” needs to do to “unify,” the party. Everywhere I turn I see articles talking about how much Hillary needs to stump for Obama, be gracious to Obama, and bring her people to Obama. But what I want to say is that “unity,” at least for me, is going to take more than that. It’s going to take me hearing Obama and his campaign “concede” that their was sexism in this campaign. It’s going to take me hearing him say that Hillary was “mistreated” throughout this primary season. And it’s going to take his supporters referring to her as something other than b%tch, c*unt, or devil lacking human decency.

Because when I was watching McCain speak last Tuesday, funny smile, and ugly green background or not, he caught my ear… and he caught it because he knew enough to at least pretend like he “gets it…”

Lucky for Obama, I a) could never “disgrace” my family by not voting for the “first black presidential nominee” and b) live in dc where he’s going to win anyway.

But given the millions of HRC supporters who aren’t black and/or don’t live in dc, I just hope “my” party “gets it” too before its too late….

Viewing 17 Comments

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    I'm sorry you feel so hurt. But before you start down that pathway alone, let's look at the mass public conditioning that we've been subjected to.

    First, we watched the political bent in the Democratic party rally around her husband as he wanted us all to understand that the Monica affair was truly between just he and his wife. This was the final taste of disrespect in my mind that turned a lot of preceptions toward her into concrete.

    Let's face it, she's opportunistic and calculating. And that posture has been a hallmark for her for Bill's whole career. We watched as she held his hand and walked off for a healing helicopter ride, duaghter in tow. We watched Jesse come in and console Bill (bringing his lady-on-the-side along). Lately, we've watched the deer-in-headlights stares of the political wives (both parties) recently as they stood by their man in a time of nothing less than utter disrespect. Yet they stand, to save his ass.

    The backlash is the ease at which men can now piss on the woman in open display and truly be thought of as just doing what comes natural. And Hilary has helped make it ok to do. I can't tell you how disgusting it is to hear Bill claim, "She's the best woman out there!" Knowing his history, and oh yes the continuing behavior (I say this from personal first hand experience with a couple of ladies in the past six months). And while I have a bit of sympathy for Hilary, that's where it ends. Just a bit of sympathy! These women seem to not understand their diminished stature when they smile and accept this crap. Early on in this political season I did my best to console and prepare as many women as I could for the impending letdown. I endured the cries of sexist, chauvinist, and the many other terms that were thrown at me. And even now, as I hold out the dry port for the storm of tears, they still dream about her getting the second spot.

    Reality is sometimes a hard, bitter and cold meal. And not voting for Obama should not be viewed as a disgrace. I'm sorry you are fearing that monikur. But should it befall you, I somehow feel that you will probably keep breathing, the bills will still come due, and you will still function in society.

    I tell most of my friends and associates to grow their universe around the complete picture of the landscape. Both sides will win and lose battles. YOU, must position yourself to prosper no matter who is in office. And to do so takes a well rounded universe of people(s) in your life. Take control of your outcome! :)
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    I understand where Ms.Pippins is coming from. I too am frustrated and torn. I respect Hillary for her audacity, her accomplishments, and yes, to a degree, for her refusal to act like a woman on the campaign trail. She played the game with the best of the good ole' boys. And I am also rejuvanated and beyond ecstatic to have a Black man in the most powerful position in the world, and a Black family at the centerpiece of Americana.
    Yet we as women feel we must lobby for women's issues, and we as African-Americans feel we must lobby for African-American issues. Why the dicotomy? Why aren't the issues of Black American women at the forefront of any campaign? I think we know the answer.
    But here's the rub; as inspiring as Hillary may be, would she really have been able to change things for Black women? It is one thing to aim to change the realities of all American women, but Black women have specific cultural and historic issues (jobs, healthcare, HIV/AIDS, abuse, addiction, single motherhood, education, financial literacy) which need to be addressed. Would she really have been willing to do that?
    Here's where my hope for the First Lady comes in. She's been Obama's rock, now maybe she can be the bug in his ear.
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    While all those issues are really important, it's not a first family that will make a difference there. Sure they can attempt to call attention to them, but those troubles don't need to be shouldered there. Especially the HIV/AIDS and financial literacy. Actually, all of those issues start with self (responsibility). Government can, and should, only be looked to for the last tenth of that mile journey at best. :)
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    Maybe I missed something. Was this an ad for Fox News? More on that later...

    So in summary... Hillary lost because of sexism. Barack won because he and the media used sexism. You're supporting Barack because your mom and cousin might get mad at you if you don't, and your vote doesn't even matter anyway because of where you live. John McCain gets cool points (dang, haven't heard that one in a while) because he said he was cool with Hillary and acknowledged sexism that worked against her. Fox News is awesome, and Geraldine Ferraro comes with that real talk. Is that everything?

    How about the racism Barack encountered? How did he get past that in order to win? Let me guess... Was that negligible in comparison to what Hillary went through? Ok, fine...

    If Barack weren't the FIRST black candidate, you wouldn't vote for him? If you lived in Michigan, you wouldn't vote for him? Oh, pointless hypotheticals? Ok, fine...

    The "Hillary or bust" voters are easy pickings for the Republican party. Doesn't it seem obvious that McCain would play up his connection with and sympathy for Clinton in order to gather support for himself? Isn't that just the political machine talking?

    Fox News, eh? Really? The conservative media hub speaks to you and gets you? Seems fair and balanced? I think a fair number of Republicans may feel that way. (gasp) Are you a closet Republican? I mean, no judgment, obviously. If that's where you stand, that's where you stand.

    Doesn't Geraldine Geraldine Ferraro think being black in america helps you along the way, and that being a woman holds you back? I guess you didn't find it freakishly ironic that she made a racially insensitive and misguided remark while trying to point out gender-based disrcimination... It makes one wonder how conflicted she must feel about Condi Rice's ascension in the ranks. At the core, Ferraro understands about half of you.

    Had Barack lost, cats would've claimed racism. That, too, would have been a weak argument simply because the sexism Hillary encountered was on the same level. Bottom line is, Barack overcame the racism, and Hillary didn't overcome the sexism. That is based on the assumption that racism and sexism were the most challenging factors facing the candidates.

    It's ok, you can vote for whomever you want. If big mama won't pass you the potato salad because you didn't vote for Barack, that's HER problem. Well, unless you really like potato salad, but I digress. Just because you're in DC doesn't mean your vote is meaningless. If everyone followed that line of thinking, nothing would ever change. But every four years there's an opportunity to speak and and let your vo-... ok you get the point.

    No one cares which channel you watch (that reads a bit more rude than intended) but you can care about the message you send. Hillary worked very hard for your support. It might be good to see which candidate will work hard for your support now. McCain seemingly agrees with you that Hillary rocks. Is really that enough to vote for him? Oh, it is? ummm...

    McCain-Rice in '08, b*tches!

    (how come there isn't a spell check function for comments? Fred, make it happen already!)
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    I'm very confused by this peice in more ways than one. First and foremost I find it offensive. As an African American woman, I find it extremely ironic that we as a nation are smoothered by this "either-or" complex. How can a woman-of any minority position(class or race) ASSUME the utmost aduacious offenses of the Obama campaign when he can't mention nearly as much that he is a minority as much as Hillary is a woman. Women are a MAJORITY in this country in terms of population, and WHITE women are a majority. That is a HUGE difference and contrast against racial minorities.

    There are men who know women, see women, interact with women and sleep with women EVERY single day of their lives. Their are people in the United States, primarily those with lack of historical references, who have only seen Black people on tv. There are those whom are white, and poor who would rather value their skin color as a trump card than their class standing and unite with their fellow Black brothers and sisters in the fight for socioeconomic standing.

    LISTEN: I am a damn woman, in and out. Have I been discriminated against, because of it-hell yes. But moreso because I am an African American woman and until people like Hillary can speak out as equally and forcefully against racism, I can not vouch for her in any way. Mr. Obama-to me, has spoken of Clinton and given her accolades in the feminist movement. But these racist feminist and Black Susan B. Anthonys are killing me! How dare you? How dare you fix your mind to believe that sexism trumps racism or racism trumps sexism or in any way the two are same. They are similiar but their fights are very different but share the same stage and whenever one is denounced, so should the other.

    Hillary made a fatal flaw with me: She injected race in this election when it was convienent because she knows that that is very much a race baiting strategy that works. I am disappointed in the lack of attention to minority women in the news media and in this election cycle. No minority woman should be ignored or forced to choose, and when they do they look and sound either racist or sexist.

    Let's call this mess what it is.
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    "Prepare to "unify" the party" is the operative phrase used in this article. Hilliary, in my opinion missed a definitive moment to "unify" the party, when she opted not to concede to Obama in her speech after Tuesday's election. In a moment reminiscent of Joe Lieberman after he lost the Democratic nomination for Senate, she gave the "impression" to her supporters that it was less about unifying the party, but rather, her supporters seeing her as the nominee, by any means necessary.

    Was anyone surprised at the media's comments about their dissatisfaction with Hilliary's speech? Even one of HRC's staunch supporters, Congressman Charles Rangel-NY commented that "I really think we ought to get on with endorsements (of Obama) and dealing with what we have to deal with… so we can move forward,” Basically, it was supposed to be over, when it was over".The media's comments clearly only shined light on the concern that many people watching felt: Hilliary Clinton, if really interested in pulling the party together could have used that definitive media moment after Tuesday's election to do just that. Instead, in true Hillary form, she came across as only being out for self.

    Did I care on the following Saturday that she conceded.. not at all. What else could she do? She's given her supporters a voice under the current Democratic nomination policies. She came up short. Now its time to focus on November. Period.

    What Hilliary fails to realize and what I feel she underestimated was the fact that her name can only take her so far, but her recent legacy (voting for the Iraq war, bitter campaign tactics, etc) are what people remember. I used to be behind Hilliary 100%, and was still conflicted between her and Obama because their ideas improving America are so similar. For me, it comes down to integrity and who i feel can truly bring the country together and move the country forward. There's no doubt in my mind that Obama would have taken that same moment to graciously conceded to her if tables had been turned... but I guess we will never know.
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    See now, this completely baffles me.

    I watched HRC give her concession yesterday and while it was delivered rather late in the game, I thought it was uplifting. It made me reflect on my status in America not only as an African American but as a female. It made me proud to see how far we have come as a country and how far we have to go as a society. Most of all, it made me jump to the blogs to see other people's reaction to the speech.

    Needless to say, there was a ton of support and admiration for her. Pages full of "I heart Hillary", men and women, old and young forever changed by the woman who forever changed the landscape of politics. But I was disturbed by the amount of people who claimed they would rather vote McCain than Obama. Disturbed and confused. Why the Hillary or bust mentality? Why go to the other side of the spectrum when it seemed that you were so clearly a believer of the democratic ideology? One blogger suggested that these people were either republican trolls, Hillary-personality supporters or people speaking out of hurt form seeing their candidate concede. The first two groups do not have the party's well being at hand. The last group should be more careful.

    I read Ms. Pippins article twice before deciding to comment and as I write, a few things are running through my mind. I think about the failing predominantly black high school that I graduated from a few years ago. About the third period physics class that I struggled in junior year but stuck with because the teacher was one of the few left who genuinely cared about the students. I think about how the class was interrupted one day so that a sergeant can talk to us about the benefits of the US Army. I think about how the sergeant (on a first name basis with students) came in with someone from the Navy and used the students that were recruited months before to lure new students into the armed forces. I think about my ex-boyfriend, serving his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq, waiting for December when he will be free to continue his geeky tech education. I think about all the "For Sale" signs I passed while seeking an afterwork hang out spot in Harlem last week. I think about the woman's right to choose and the women I know who have done so. Finally, I think back to Fat Tuesday when I voted in the NY primary for the candidate who I felt would best address the concerns these thoughts brought forth.

    Racism and sexism are inevitably intertwined. Just as HRC faced obstacles, mockery and prejudice, so too did Obama. However, one form of injustice does not trump another - sexism does not trump racism. I refuse to believe that because of the influence of the media and McCain's "funny smile" that he is suddenly the better candidate.

    Hillary supporters need to remember that she is not the end-all-be-all of the democratic party. They need to remember that vote for McCain is a vote for an extended war. It's a vote for corporate irresponsibility, a step backwards for progressive healthcare reform and women's rights. Also, they need to remember that in the beginning of the Obama/Clinton face-off, there was a chatter that their platforms were too similar.

    Hillary supporters, if it is time you need to get over the fact that she will not be president in 2008, take some - but bounce back quickly. The change you sought in Hillary did not suddenly transfer over to McCain. He is not the right choice because he complimented HRC on a job well done and he will not alter his and his party's platform to appease the potential Hillary crossover vote. She gets that. You need to get that.

    Obama '08

    Tia, ybp, 22
    Brooklyn, NYC
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    I kind of understand where you're coming from. As an African American female, I feel left out - like I'm being forced to choose between my race and my gender. During this historic campaign - when a woman and an African American were the front runners to be a presidential candidate for a major political party - shouldn't I have felt as if The Door was opening for me? Instead, I have felt that I am being forced to choose - choose to be Black or to be a woman. Frankly, I'm miffed about it.

    The sexism and racism that have been displayed by the candidates, their staff, the media, and ordinary Joes and Janes and Rays and Uniquas has been eye opening. This primary season has shown that the more things change, the more things stay the same. Consider the things Sen. Clinton, President Clinton, and even Ms. Feraro said about Sen. Obama and Black voters - race baiting and taking the vote for granted. But, also look at how Sen. Obama's staff , the media, and Black voters (male and female) have discussed and disected Sen. Clinton in ways they would never talk about or refer to a male candidate - her hair, her laugh, her clothes, her body parts, calling her the most derrogatory version of body parts.

    For all of the great things that occurred for Black men and White women during this campaign - what really did the Black woman get out of this? Forced to choose between sexism and racism? If I defend Sen. Clinton, I'm not Black enough. If I defend Sen. Obama, I'm not woman enough. Is The Door open or shut?
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    A woman is never asked if she is woman enough? White women deal with sexism in the forefront because they don't have to deal with racism. Rich white women are the matryrs of feminism. But their fatal flaw, much like Hillary's, was their lack of revelation of classism amongst their poorer white sisters and racism amongst their minority sisters. Hillary does not speak for me because she is a woman. We have NOTHING in common. Barack does not speak for me, but we have much more in common. I have never walked into a room of white people and was viewed or refered to as a woman-not ever. I was seen and refered to as a "black" and maybe then a woman. Have you noticed that when the media refers to women, they are refering to white womenn, as if they are the only women. And when they refer to Blacks-they speak in masculine, un-gendered terms, just as offensive.


    Barack, I love. I love what he stands for, his message of unity, his educationalpolicies, his healthcare stance, and also his career in the Illinois senate to push for a pause in the death penalty that executed innocent people, his laws against racial profiling. And not to mention he was a community organizer just as I am. I love his life story, his truimph. I love his wife-her beautiful story, her personality, and her grit.

    Hillary never had anything for me. She pandered too much. I tried to respect her but she continously marginalized me into 'black'. She tried to race bait with blacks and latinos. Her husband pulled the same mess in South Carolina. And when I volunteered for Obama's campaign in SC, that's when I really realized I would NEVER vote for Hillary. Her staffers were so mean to those elderly Black people-it was sick. Her policies are fine, but her surrogates like Ferraro just put ice on her to me. The poor white vs. ALL Blacks arguement. The countless "i'm a woman, so i am change" arguement. The fact that she was riding her husband's coatails, to me, but feminism back. When Katie Couric asked her if she thought about losing, she said no-the envitableness, the disrespect to Obama, the oh he's a nice candidiate but America will never vote for a Black man-I mean please.

    and McCain-he's voted with Bush 95% of the time. He voted against an end to the South African aparethid, he wants the rebel flag hanging over SC, he's against a woman's right to choose, he is a fear monger, he supports the war, AND he looks like he's as fake as a hairweave.

    Hillary lost me at hello. I am poud of her but I am not proud of how she behaved. And Obama, Black, white biracial-he's my man. I'm proud of him, his campaign and his message ofhope and unity. To all those who can't respect that-no one has to handle you with kid gloves, you will be on the wrong side of history with this one.

    To the Black women, I do feel you. BUT Obama is the only way.

    ALL THE WOMEN ARE NOT WHITE AND ALL THE BLACKS ARE NOT MEN!
    -some of us are just brave.
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    I think this article is intellectually dishonest. I didn't read a similar post when Hillary mentioned RFK's assasination in late June as a reason she was staying in the race. I didn't read a post when Hillary said she was under sniper fire and then said she misspoke. I have been sleep deprived before and may have forgotten that I have a meeting or phone call that day, but I would not forget or misspeak about whether I was being shot at and had to duck sniper fire for my life. I didn't hear outrage when President Clinton said "Obama ran a good campaign here in South Carolina and Jesse Jackson won here in South Carolina in 1988 and he ran a good campaign here." And the list goes on to Geraldine Ferraro, the same lady that is quoted in the article above somehow suggesting that Obama is in a position to win the presidency because he is a black man. Absurd!! Where was your outrage and helpful commentary at that time.

    The truth is that there was sexism in this campaign. Pundits saying ridiculous things like all I hear when Hillary talks is my nagging wife saying take out the trash. Or Chris Mathews suggesting that Hillary only has a shot because of Bill Clinton as if first ladies running for President was a common occurrence. But your article is intellectually dishonest, and reaks of a biased supporter not viewing the coverage impartially. I understand I have been guilty of that too. In Obama's speech he did more than acknolwedge Hillary 15 minutes into the speech as you declare. He said our country was better off because of her service. He said that we should be proud, not just because she was a woman who had done what no other woman had done in the history of our country. He praised her ideas, heroism, and tenacity, and was one of the only ones who said she should continue when people were asking her to drop out of the race and concede beginning a couple of months ago. She said I want to congratulate Senator Obama and his supporters for the campaign they have run. She mentioned nothing about his service, never offered an apology for the RFK comments to Obama or acknowledged the obvious racism that often crept into the campaign - sometimes aided by her most ardent supporters. She didn't talk about his service to this country or acknowledge that a poor black man born the son of an immigrant had worked his way from community organizing on the South Side of Chicago to have an opportunity to have the highest job in the land. She has now made such acknowledgements and we thank her for that. He spoke of her and all she had done for several minutes of that speech.
    If we are going to critique the coverage and write an article, let's not be guilty of the same biased we are angry against, and let's be Intellectually Honest about the truths that have been revealed in this campaign. Sexism and Racism are both alive. They were both at times exploited in this campaign. Obama made a mistake when he called a female reporter sweetie, which he later apologized for or when he called people bitter for clinging to guns or religion. Which he later acknowledged as bad remarks. Hillary made similar errors, sometimes she acknowledged it, sometimes she looked for an excuse. Neither of these candidates are perfect, just like us. I acknowledge the imperfections in all of them and will vote for the one whose policies and actions and governing style I believe will best move this country forward. Those are just my thoughts.
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    And you have touched on the third rail for me. It is not the political types tyhat move the country forward. We, the people, move the country forward! And for the past twenty years or so it has been in spite of the political posturing. We constantly allow ourselves to be battered about the head by both politicfal parties with the notion that we need to have government intervention to make things rool along smoothly. The more we allow and need government in our persona lives, the worse the situation becomes. And it is always at someone elses expense.

    And asd a native of Chicago, familiar with the community organizin' of which you speak, it was mostly fluff. It was merely a resume enhancer so as to run for office. Not to say some good didn't come from it somewhere. It could have been the after hours basketball thing. It could have been the political action committee piece. It might have been the election team part, but I'm sure someone found benefit.

    I look at both candidates and now more than ever I besech you, find a person who has made their life better without government intervention and inquire how you too might follow that model. Your life will become more economically resilient and politically independent for it! :)
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    Yuck, that'll teach me to try to do six things at once (giggle). Please excuse the typos. :)
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    hummm...mccain "gets you"? interesting...

    hillary lost the demo nomo because she is a liar, not genuine, and embodies the same 'ol school/good ole boy politics. (besides, no one wants bill's ass back in the white house!). obama supporters want something fresh and different that is why we voted for him in our primaries.

    to blame hillary's loss on sexism is as short-sighted as crediting obama's win to reverse-racism (whatever that is supposed to be!). obama won because he is the BETTER CANDIDATE.

    if you are mad and decide to vote for mccain simply to get some 'payback' at the demo party, you are an idiot...you'll be just as ignorant as those who voted for bush in the 2004 election because the were afraid of gay marriage...
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    Reading your comments above, I tended to agree with the CNN and MSNBC coverage. So I decided to do what I think anyone who writes a public article should do. Be sure they are accurate. I researched Obama's speech and he mentioned all the democratic candidates 6 minutes into his speech, and then went on to talk about Hillary Clinton, saying the following:

    "Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign. Not just because she is a woman who has done what no other woman has done in the history of this country. But becasue she is a leader who inspires millions of Amercians with her strength, leadership, and her commitment to the causes that have brought us here tonight. I congratulate her on her victory in South Dakota and I congratulate her on the race she has run throughout the entire campaign. We certainly had our differences over the past 17 months, but as someone who has shared the stage with her many times, I can tell you that what gets Senator Clinton up in the morning even in the face of difficult odds is exactly what sent her and Bill Clinton to their first campaign in TX all those years ago. It is what sent her to work for the Children's Defense Fund, and made her fight for Health Care as first lady. It is what lead her to the United States Senate and has fueled her barrier breaking campaign for the Presidency. An unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans no matter how difficult the fight may be. And you can rest assure that when we finally win the batle for Universal Health Care in this country, and we will win that fight. She will be central to that victory. When we transform our energy policy and lift our children out of poverty it will be because she worked to make it happen. Our party and our country are better off because of her and I am a better candidate for having had to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton."

    I would hardly call that a "light address" as you described it.

    Senator Clinton said the following of Obama:

    "I want to start tonight by congratulating Senator Obama and his supporters on the extraordinary race they have run. Senator Obama has inspired so many Americans to care about politics and empowered so many more to get involved. And our party and our democracy is stronger and more vibrant as a result. So we are grateful. And it has been an honor to contest these primaries with him just as it is an honor to call him my friend. So tonight I would like all of us to take a moment and recognize him and his supporters for all they have accomplished."

    On a night that by all accounts was history making and that Senator Obama clinched the number of delegates needed to win the nomination, we can see that your article is obviously inaccurate and blatantly partial. You are seeing what you want to see. He did more than lightly address her. He noted that she broke barriers and described her remarkable feat as a woman and as a public servant. I thought those reading your article should have an opportunity to judge for themselves. Obama even decalred that he was better off because of her. But you say, "He lightly addressed her . . ."

    "Everybody in the band is marching the wrong way, except for my son."
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    Hmmm. I witnessed Obama's speech in-person on June 3rd at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. And his praise for Hillary came almost immediately after he acknowledged gaining the majority of Democratic delegates, 6 minutes after he started speaking. And he spent over two minutes singing her praises in a speech that was 28 minutes long.

    I also believe that sexism was one factor that kept her from winning the nomination, the sexism of the press and the general population. But I believe we have to come together, not because we're afraid of what our families would say or because we're afraid of being racist. As Hillary Clinton supporter Gloria Steinem said in 2007:

    But the greatest reason for progressives to refuse to be drawn into an irrelevant debate about Senators Clinton and Obama is that it is destructive. We can accomplish much more if we act as a coalition.

    We will only see change if we live the change we want to see.
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