LatinaLista — It looks like it’s finally the end of the road for Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidency. Though conflicting reports
have been posted all day — will she concede or won’t she — it looks like she doesn’t personally have to concede because it’s being done for her.
Sen. Hillary Clinton
There was probably no stronger indication of that than the statement released this week from Sen. Ted Kennedy, recuperating from brain surgery, who said, “After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president.”
And now, it’s being reported that Clinton is ready to accept a VP position with Obama.
For the time being, it’s the end of a dream for a woman who most probably entertained the idea of being the nation’s first woman president since she was a kid, and while she didn’t reach that goal, she set admirable milestones that should be acknowledged.
From the time Clinton started her campaign, she was dogged by bad press and every anti-Clinton blogger and Washington insider who saw her election as the continuation of a “Clinton Dynasty.”
It always seemed that there were those who professed knowing all the intimate motivations of her past deeds and were quick to label her as insincere or egotistical. Yet, that wasn’t how the average person saw her, especially Latinos in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Nevada or California.
In fact, it was a year ago this month when I saw Clinton make her first “unofficial” appearance as a presidential candidate in Washington, DC at the Take Back America conference. She appeared, along with, some of the other major candidates.
The audience was filled with women, of all ages. When she came on stage, the screams of “Hillary, Hillary, Hillary” was deafening. I asked one young woman who was from Arizona and working as an intern for some non-profit in DC for the summer why she liked Hillary.
“Because she’s been at the White House before,” the young girl said. Then quickly added, “It would be so cool to have the first woman president.”
A white-haired woman sitting behind me with her pink vest covered with Hillary buttons and holding a sign for the candidate also chimed in to answer, “I would love to see a woman president in my lifetime.”
It was that kind of feeling among women in the early stages of Clinton’s campaign that propelled a self-confidence within the candidate that any kind of campaign was only a formality because the nomination was her’s — and it was for a short time.
For her supporters, a Hillary Clinton presidency epitomized change, gender change, in the White House but then people started noticing Barack Obama and change took on a new look.
Historians will have their work cut out for them in deciding how gender or race took a role in impacting this presidential run but one thing is certain — Clinton’s participation in this election was a benefit to everyone.
Whatever is said of her, nobody can dispute that because of her, people finally felt that their vote mattered and they were excited to cast a vote for either her or Obama.
I don’t see that same level of eager participation happening if it were between Edwards and Obama. After all, two men, yes of different skin color, but two men running against one another is not unlike every other presidential race in history — but a woman? That upped the ante.
Clinton may be loathe to concede and who can blame her. This is a person who has achieved almost every one of her major goals and to concede her biggest goal in life is not just hard, but heartbreaking.
After all the times she came from behind, the amount of personal money she invested and the hard realization that super delegates count more than popular votes, it’s crazy to think she should quietly return to Congress.
Tonight should be her night because she worked hard to reach the finish line.
For doing it, she should be applauded.
For finishing, she should be remembered.
Gracias, Hillary.
Comment(23)
Daniel
Well she put up a hell of a fight, that’s for sure.
That I respect.
On Sunday I took the family to Felipe’s in Downtown L.A. for a French dip and on the way back we stopped in the old Varrio (barrio) in Boyle Heights and there were Hilaria -08 signs everywhere.
🙂
adriana
Marisa,
I can agree w/ a lot of what you wrote but not that superdelegates count more than popular votes. Hillary was claiming that she was ahead in popular vote when you count races where only her name was on the ballot (Michigan & Florida) or Puerto Rico, where the popular vote wouldn’t have mattered in the general election anyway. Maybe my math is wrong, but could you clarify that point?
You forgot that not too long ago, Hillary Clinton was praising superdelegates and saying that they were there for a reason. Now, this sudden change of opinion?
It is my hope that Hillary fights for women’s rights, immigrant rights, the rights of the poor with the same grit and determination that she threw towards Obama. If she does that, she will build a strong legacy. And there is no doubt that more women will be inspired to run because of her efforts.
Horace
Well, this does it for the Bill and Hillary show. Look for Hillbillary splitting up as recriminations abound in the Clinton household tonight. Let’s hope that the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wizard of Oz are through with politics.
Marisa Treviño
Adriana, I wrote that statement in observation of what Clinton had said in a press conference a while back insinuating that the popular vote should count more than the superdelegates’ votes because the popular vote was by the people. I don’t doubt that she praised superdelegates but I don’t think it was a wholehearted endorsement either.
Daniel
jaja
hijole que nervio.
she still didnt concede or endorse Obama.
Horace
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since the beginning of the primary process, and no doubt many of those who voted for Obama have now come to regret doing so. The Jeremiah Wright controversy and more recently the Pfleger rants at Obama’s church have no doubt hurt him with the popular vote. How could a man spend 20 years attending a racially intolerant church, listening to Anti-American hatred, without standing on principle and objecting or resigning. It is in this respect that Obama is hurting and that McCain is no doubt the beneficiary. Hillary was right, the Democrats have shot themselves in the foot by failing to consider Obama’s diminished electability.
veronica
Thank you for this post.
laura
No, no thanks for voting to go to war with Iraq, voting to attack Iran, working for NAFTA in 1994 and for “cracking down” on immigrants in 1996 during her husbands administration.
No thanks Hillary.
Now that she is going back to the Senate we will see what she works for and what she votes for.
I am not optimistic that she will start doing something for us, instead of talking about how she loves Latinos and “hardworking Americans, white Americans.”
Frank
Although I didn’t care for any of the three remaining contenders, IMO Hillary was the the most acceptable. She put up a good fight and I commend her for that. I thought she had the best healthcare plan of the three. The thought of Obama or McCain running this country makes me ill.
Evelyn
This post is dedicated to the racists who made fun of me when I stated I would be supporting Obama many months ago.
I was told he could never win. I was told if he did win the nomination some of you would leave the U.S. Well……GO!
O yeah, and I told you so.
Daniel
Laura: “No, no thanks for voting to go to war with Iraq, voting to attack Iran, working for NAFTA in 1994 and for “cracking down” on immigrants in 1996 during her husbands administration.
No thanks Hillary.
Now that she is going back to the Senate we will see what she works for and what she votes for.
I am not optimistic that she will start doing something for us, instead of talking about how she loves Latinos and “hardworking Americans, white Americans.””
well, some people (not us) think arming the troop better is supporting them.
i think bringing them home from a bogus cause of a war is supporting them.
also, la clintona has already stated we lower wages and cost Black people their jobs.
not so, we actually lure employers in and all people benefit.
Horace
“This post is dedicated to the racists who made fun of me when I stated I would be supporting Obama many months ago.”
They say that a bunch of monkeys could type out the Encyclopedia, given enough time and a broken clock is right twice a day. Which are you, Evelyn, a monkey or a broken clock?
Evelyn
Horace
Too bad you wont be here in November when Obama beats McCain. You say you will be leaving to Iraq. I wasnt aware the Armed Forces accepted people with an IQ of 30 or below. I mean judging by your posts…
PS I will be praying for you. I hope all goes well and you return safely. I also have family in Iraq.
Irma
The Clinton issue is mute now.
Obama or McCain are the game now. One of them will win.
One of them will lose.
If McCain wins – I think everyone knows how that will go. If Obama wins ,then
time will tell. Personally I think that he will be a disaster simply because the President cant tell the Congress what to do. This is especially true if Congress will be 2/3 Democrats. This will be especially sweet, because the Democrats will then have the power to FORCE
Obama to do it THEIR way.
Checks and balances- Dont you love it ?
Victoria
Thanks Marisa for a great post. You are so right about the media, day in and day out pretending they could read her mind, know her personal motivations, assigned all sorts of their own warped sense of values to her.
Also, I’m writing this after Hillary gave her gave her concession speech on Saturday and endorsed Obama. I noticed that he couldn’t be bothered to stick around to hear it. Had plans out on the golf course.
I heard the excuse that he was tired, only human, etc., needed to relax and so forth. Well, Hillary didn’t need to relax. She was doing what she needed to do for the sake of the party and Obama couldn’t be bothered to put off his golf date to show his own solidarity with and respect for the 18 million of us.
He’s no different. No different from all the rest.
Evelyn
Irma
Then it really doesent matter who wins cause congress can do the same to McCain or for that matter Clinton, had she won.
Marisa Treviño
Victoria,
Given your comment, does this mean that you’re not sold on voting for Obama? Just curious!
Daniel
Victoria: “[Obama] He’s no different. No different from all the rest.”
he is different. from the white establishment.
and more similar to us Meso American types.
when was the last time HC and BC were called the “N” word?”
i’m, not saying Obama has been called this to his face, BUT HIS PEOPLE SURE HAVE.
Frank
It pretty much comes down to what party is in control of congress, not who is elected president. I don’t support either McCain or Obama but it won’t matter anyway based on the above.
Evelyn
Then you have no say in politics. People who dont go along with one of the candidates voted for by the majority of the citizens of the U.S. are unpatriotic.
People who dont vote have no say.
Frank
I will be voting Independent this year. But it doesn’t change the fact that congress makes most of the decisions in our country. All we can do about that is vote out those congressmen who don’t share our views.
There is nothing unpatriotic about objecting to either of the candidates selected by the Republicans and the Democrats. One must not know much about our voting process and that we have had an Indepedent party for some time now. That doesn’t change the fact that the majority vote will still rule and I am fine with that because that is what democracy is all about.
Evelyn
Yeah, I thought so.
Frank
You are in incapable of rational thought, only racist, ethnocentric, anti-American thinking.
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