Democrats have spent a lot of years trying to be all things to all people. We're a party made up of a rainbow coalition, so to a certain degree, it's understandable. But Hillary's historic speech yesterday showed me something - something I was probably originally taught in kindergarten - in life, as well as in politics, the best way to make friends and influence people, is to just be yourself.
I watched Hillary's speech yesterday, as many of us did, praying that she would do the right thing and fully support and endorse Barack Obama for President. I had been let down by Hillary many times this election season, starting with her campaign's tactics in New Hampshire, where I first went to volunteer for the Obama campaign. I went to NH with idealism and a true belief that as Democrats, we were blessed with a bounty of riches, and that everyone would play fair. Imagine my surprise on primary day, showing up at houses with Obama yard-signs affixed in two feet of snow, hearing that the occupants had not indeed voted for Obama - despite a "1" next to their name - which meant definitely voting for Obama. Why?? They had gotten a mailer from Hillary's campaign stating that Obama was not fully supportive of the pro-choice position. A lie that changed a lot of votes at the last minute. That was the first disillusionment of many. By the time this past Tuesday came around, I had no doubt we would not be getting a gracious concession speech from Hillary. While I wasn't outraged, I was a little numbed. And, I was a little apprehensive as to what Hillary would say and do yesterday. I watched with anticipation as her motorcade left her home in DC, crossing my fingers and truly hoping that she would deliver - for the good of the party, and the good of the nation.
And BOY DID SHE. I'll admit. I'm a softie. I have been prepared to forgive and forget with Hillary numerous times over this primary season. I did not want to dislike the first woman with a legitimate chance at winning the Presidency. I wanted her to shake the horrible counsel she's received from all those men around her - Mark Penn, Harold Ickes, Howard Wolfson, Terry McAuliffe, even Bill. I saw her cry in NH. I saw her victory speech there. I saw a glimpse of her being authentic. And, I admired it. Begrudgingly. But then it went away. She returned to being inauthentic, pushed, angry, and floating trial balloons, and added shot swilling, and gun-toting. And it angered me. Angered me to the point of actually saying, only quietly to myself (and ok, maybe once or twice here on kos), "I'll stay home this election if she wins." I'm sure I justified that with claims of "We need to purge the party from the DLC," and "To save the party, we might have to sacrifice it," blah, blah, blah. Even as people on this site, bless them, warned me of the peril of the Supreme Court nominations and roll back of our precious freedoms that would continue under a McCain/3rd Bush term. But I was mad. And I was self-righteous. And, in my own defense, I felt that her brand of feminism was dated and unnecessary. As women, we don't need to imitate men of the John McCain, old boy network era to seek and gain power. In danger of sounding too Oprah-esque here, we need to be our authentic selves.
And yesterday, we saw authentic Hillary. And she rocked. What I saw was a woman freed. Freed from the expectations, speculation and ties that bound her. Free from the bad counsel she's received, free from a pre-determined future. A butterfly emerging from her chrysalis. A woman, who at 60, may have lost what she thought was the true culmination of her life's work, but who realized that she has a LOT of life and work left in front of her, and has a built a real power base with which to do it - one not tied to her husband's name or administration. She's free!! To be just Hillary. And based on the determination, grit and seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy she's shown this past 16 months - she is just hitting her stride. She's shown millions of women, and Americans, that age is just a number. That a beaming, powerful, energetic middle aged woman can find her true purpose and calling and become a major force for good in this country.
I feel like Hillary crossed a threshold - she left behind the feminism of old that made her think that a vote for the AUMF and showing no emotion and hiding her humanity and, well Hillary-arity made her stronger. Yesterday, she embraced the new feminism - she wasn't afraid of being herself, and acknowledging her womanity, and she seemed to realize that that is what makes her strongest. Just be yourself - that's a huge lesson she shared with all of us today. A lesson all of us, men and women, can take to heart.
I am so proud to be a Democrat. We know something and live something the Republicans just don't, with their obsession with "staying the course," and preserving the status quo, they cannot grow or learn, but we can because we can be self-aware. We can see the greater good, and we strive to better it. Sure, Hillary made some mistakes, but she wasn't afraid to face the consequences, she didn't limp across the finish line, and ultimately she wasn't a sore loser. She stood up, she staked her claim, and she did the right thing. And she did it by being her authentic self. And the irony is, I love her for that in a way I didn't before.
Thanks Hillary. Sincerely.