2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Electing Hillary in ’16 Is More Important Than Electing Obama in ’08
Former Obama 08 speechwriter explains how and why Secretary Clinton is a lot more compelling than you might think.I hear youre still not Ready for Hillary.
I get it. I didnt start off as her biggest fan either. During the 2008 campaign, I wrote plenty of less-than-complimentary words about Hillary Clinton in my role as Barack Obamas speechwriter. Then, a few weeks after the election, I had a well-documented run-in with a piece of cardboard that bore a striking resemblance to the incoming Secretary of State.
It was one of the stupider, more disrespectful mistakes Ive made, and one that could have cost me a job if Hillary hadnt accepted my apology, which she did with grace and humor. As a result, I had the chance to serve in the Obama Administration with someone who was far different than the caricature I had helped perpetuate.
The most famous woman in the world would walk through the White House with no entourage, casually chatting up junior staffers along the way. She was by far the most prepared, impressive person at every Cabinet meeting. She worked harder and logged more miles than anyone in the administration, including the president. And shed spend large amounts of time and energy on things that offered no discernible benefit to her political futuresaving elephants from ivory poachers, listening to the plight of female coffee farmers in Timor-Leste, defending LGBT rights in places like Uganda.
Most of alland you hear this all the time from people whove worked for herHillary Clinton is uncommonly warm and thoughtful. She surprises with birthday cakes. She calls when a grandparent passes away. She once rearranged her entire campaign schedule so a staffer could attend her daughters preschool graduation. Her husband charms by talking to you; Hillary does it by listening to younot in a head-nodding, politician way; in a real person way.
This same story has repeated itself throughout Clintons career: those who initially view her as distrustful and divisive from afar find her genuine and cooperative in person. It was the case with voters in New York, Republicans in the Senate, Obama people in the White House, and heads of state all over the world. Theres a reason being Americas chief diplomat was the specific job Obama asked Hillary to doshe has the perfect personality for it.
Your eyes are rolling. You dont often see or read about this side of Hillary. You dont doubt her fierce brilliance when shes debating policy with Bernie Sanders. You dont doubt her stamina or tenacity when shes sitting through hour eleven of the Benghazi Kangaroo Court. But when it comes to nearly everything else, Clinton can seem a little too cautious and forcedlike shes trying too hard or not at all, preferring to retreat behind the safety of boilerplate rhetoric and cheesy soundbites. Its a tendency that cant just be blamed on her opponents or the media, though I wonder how many of us would be so brave and open in our public personas after being subjected to twenty-five years of unrelenting and downright nasty criticism of what we say, what we do, and how we look.
Recently, though, there are signs that Hillary is finding this courage. About a month ago, Buzzfeeds Ruby Cramer asked Clinton a simple question that, for some strange reason, no reporter or staffer ever thought to press her on: Why are you doing this? What truly motivates you?
Her response was not to talk about fighting for this constituency or that issue. There is no pablum about real solutions for real people with real problems, or the poll-tested garbage about coming from the middle of America with the middle class at the middle of her priorities (I can no longer remember if thats a joke we used to make as speechwriters or an actual line).
There is only this, from Hillary: love and kindness. She mentioned it for the first time after the shooting in Charleston, and then expanded on the theme a few weeks later: I want this campaign, and eventually my administration, to be more about inspiring young people, and older ones as well, to find that niche where kindness matters, whether its to a friend, a neighbor, a colleague, a fellow studentwhether its in a classroom, or in a doctors office, or in a businesswe need to do more to help each other.
You think it might be another cynical ploy. But this turns out to be a theme that shes repeated throughout her life. In her announcement speech, Hillary talked about being raised to believe Methodist founder John Wesleys admonition to do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, for as long as you can. In her 1969 Wellesley Commencement, she called for a mutuality of respect. After working at the Childrens Defense Fund, she would often cite Marian Wright Edelmans quote that Service the rent we pay for living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.
As First Lady, Hillary spoke about the need for a new ethos of individual responsibility, a great renaissance of caring in this country, and going back and actually living by the Golden Rule. In the State Department, shed talk about Alexis de Tocquevilles habits of the heart, and says in Hard Chocies that Ive also returned again and again to this question of universalityhow much we all have in common even if the circumstances of our lives may be different.
If nothing else, youll notice that Hillary Clintons words are the very antithesis of the mean-spirited, xenophobic bile that spits from the mouth of Donald Trump.
And thats my point.
Every election is a competition between two stories about America. And Trump already knows his by heart: he is a celebrity strongman who will single-handedly save the country from an establishment that is too weak, stupid, corrupt, and politically correct to let us blame the real source of our problemsMuslims and Mexicans and Black Lives Matter protestors; the media, business, and political elites from both parties.
Trumps eventual opponent will need to tell a story about America that offers a powerful rebuke to the demagogues dark vision for the future. I like Bernie Sanders. I like a lot of what he has to say, I love his idealism, and I believe deeply in his emphasis on grassroots change. My problem is not that his message is unrealisticits that a campaign which is largely about Main St. vs. Wall St. economics is too narrow and divisive for the story we need to tell right now.
In her campaign against Sanders, Hillary has begun to tell that broader, more inclusive story about the future. There she is, comforting a crying child in Nevada who worries that her parents might be deported. There she is in South Carolina, with five mothers of African American children who died of gun violence, who told Mother Jones, She listened and followed through for us. You cant fake that She cares. Not only does she care about victims of gun violence but she cares about women, she cares about African Americans. She cares!
She cares.
Hillary Clinton isnt perfect. She isnt flashy or entertaining. She isnt cool or hip, so please stop forcing the poor woman to learn the Dab on Ellen. As someone whos been in politics for a few decades, shes made plenty of mistakes, and will probably make many more.
But Hillary is also more than just a policy wonk who cant wait to start shuffling through white papers in the Oval. She cares. She tries. She perseveres. And now she has a chance to tell the story shes always wanted about America: the story about a country that found the courage to turn away from our darkest impulses; that chose to embrace our growing diversity as a strength, not a weakness; that pushed the boundaries of opportunity outward and upward, until there are no more barriers, and no more ceilings.
At stake in this election is control of a Tea Party-run Congress, at least one Supreme Court vacancy that could tip the balance for a generation, and the very real chance that a highly unstable demagogue could become the 45th President of the United States. So while I may not have imagined myself saying this a few years ago, I certainly believe it now: Its far more important to elect Hillary Clinton in 2016 than it was to elect Barack Obama in 2008.
read: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/26/why-electing-hillary-in-16-is-more-important-than-electing-obama-in-08.html?via=mobile&source=twitter
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Sadly, there appear to be some here in the USA who feel she is worse than the entire Republican Clown Car put together.
FreakinDJ
(17,644 posts)Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)If that is the case, thanks for proving my argument.
If not, then I'm not sure what you meant.
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)Sadly, there appear to be some here on DU who will not support her when/if she becomes the nominee. That, alone, may very well put the Republican Clown Car in the White House.
I do not understand that.
FreakinDJ
(17,644 posts)http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511344461
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)The Clinton years were some of the happiest times of my life. I felt safer, had more money, and I felt America had a better standing in the world.
I am NOT looking to regain the past. I simply happen to LIKE Hillary. If others cannot accept that, then why argue? I've already cast my vote.
If Bernie happens to get the nomination, then I will vote for him in the general. A Republican back in the White House is simply unthinkable.
FreakinDJ
(17,644 posts)The numbers don't lie
at least not as much as some candidates
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)Depends on who is producing the numbers. Data can be manipulated just like many other things.
Now, have a nice day. Enjoy your weekend.
FreakinDJ
(17,644 posts)Name calling and fictitious story telling is the Clinton Campaign's mantra
However that doesn't change the facts ...
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)I am allowed to disagree. If you can't handle that, it's too bad.
I've already voted for Hillary in my state primary. So what is there for me to argue about with you? I've already made my choice. This is America, remember? I get to make my own choice.
The Redheaded Guy
(90 posts)Why the fuck do we need to vote for a Third Wayer when we can vote for the real thing?
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)Proudly cast my vote for Hillary in early voting.
Have yourself a great day!
The Redheaded Guy
(90 posts)Have a nice day.
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)n/t
The Redheaded Guy
(90 posts)You voted for Clinton who has 0% chance of winning the mantle of the President of the United States. People often ignore this very fact: If Clinton is the nominee, and Trump is the Nominee, everyone loses.
Bernie is the only person of all the candidates right now that has held the most interest, is a true leader, and doesn't buy bullshit.
So you voted for the Corporate Candidate, so I have nothing else to say to you except goodbye.
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)N/t
Armstead
(47,803 posts)Dunno. But the DLC/Clinton/Centrsast cabal has been a Trojan Horse that has been undermining Liberalism on economic and power issues for too damn long.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)I don't wear tin foil hats because aluminum is bad for me and scratches my bald spot.
The closest I come is accepting that there is a big problem here due with Republican Dirty Tricks, and I suppose that is a type of Trojan Horse. They are masters at creating the kind of divisive arguments we see here.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)But if you look at the history of things like the DNC, New Democrats, calling them Trojan Horses is not far-fetched at all.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)And you here the whispers and echos everywhere.
artislife
(9,497 posts)bigtree
(86,005 posts)artislife
(9,497 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)I will be voting for Bernie. All of this noise designed to make it look like HRC already won is just off-putting at best.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Response to bigtree (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
fleur-de-lisa
(14,628 posts)No thanks. I'm voting for the real progressive.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)But this is not merely a beauty contest or a high school election to see who is the most Popular Kid in Class.
It's also about the nature of the Democratic Party, who it is beholden to and whose side it is on when it comes to fundamental issues regarding Money and Power, and why it has allowed the Rot of Reaganism and domination by a Corporate/Wall St. Oligarchy to continued unchecked for three decades.
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)http://iac.com/brand/daily-beast
EXPOSED: The Daily Beast's Anti-Bernie Sanders Slant Due to Conflict of Interest with Clintons
A very incestuous relationship don't you think????
bigtree
(86,005 posts)...I realize Bernie folks aren't so keen on our Democratic president, except when using the '08 campaign as a wedge against Hillary.
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)permission to post the whole article????
bigtree
(86,005 posts)...
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)and DU requires you to not post more than 4 paras. For god sakes, I own a paper and I COULD post the whole thing and I FOLLOW the rules. You might want to cut that down to DU RULES.
By the way I have alerted on the TOS violation
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)then their content? I think he works for the site that publishes him. I know the owners of this site have concerns about such things.
Perhaps he owns the site he writes on?
Logical
(22,457 posts)UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)to keep the status quo but some want real change. Please remember Obama campaigned on not charging people a fine if they don't buy insurance and even stated in an interview he would be considered a moderate Republican in the 80s. I would like to go back to liberals being represented by........liberals. Sorry if that bothers you......
bigtree
(86,005 posts)...with your choice in this election...if that bothers you.
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)sometimes endorsements are not done just for the good of the people they represent....... there are many factors in these endorsements and I'll just leave it at that.
bigtree
(86,005 posts)...ulterior motives for Hillary supporters, purity for Sanders support.
Got it.
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)and Hillary even made sure we all would know when she told us at the NV Town Hall that Sanders is not one of them.......it's true.....it's true!!!!!!
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)out Hillary's hypocrisy and I also feel he may of been worried to push for a more liberal approach. Bernie does not seem to be scared to do such a thing.....
Seems they have worked out their differences for the good of the people I don't know....
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)"Hillary Clinton's words...blah blah". Words are all fine and well, but I prefer to look at deeds as the measure of a person (maybe I'm odd). And about those words, well, let's look at them, shall we? "New ethos of personal responsibility" sounds like the sort of thing a Republican says while talking about cutting unemployment benefits and welfare. Hardly something that inspires confidence. And I'm pretty sure Tocqueville never said "let's bomb the shit out of Libya", either.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)and whose husband regards that as one of his greatest accomplishments in office.
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)The people who worked fr George W. Bush wrote similar pieces explaining how he was much smarter than his public image. I know some people who worked for the State Department and they all like Clinton, saying she took good care of the employees at all levels. They hated Condoleeza Rice, by the way.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)However in this case what matters most is the cold blooded way this candidate views people from a distance.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)person or thing which cannot be resisted. Compelling means 'evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.'
One can not explain that a person or thing actually is compelling when it is not irresistible, when it is not commanding attention anymore than one can explain to a person that their single cousin really is very very handsome when the potential date for the cousin finds the cousin unattractive. A thing is either compelling or it is not, the metric is in the response from others.
So it's a poor choice of words to open a rhetorical flash flood. 'He is too handsome you just can't see it, let me explain to you how attractive you find him'.
Compelling means attractive, irresistible, fascinating. That which is fascinating to you might bore me senseless. That which attracts me caused Straight Moderates like Hillary to favor DOMA and to rant about how her God does not care for people like me. I found that such verbiage was less than compelling, it was in fact off putting, making the speaker not compulsory but optional, not fascinating but objectionable.
If you want to be compelling, don't say you are better than me and your God thinks so too. That's not attractive. Not fascinating.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)This country is at a tipping point.. and we lose now we may never win it back.
The Redheaded Guy
(90 posts)You will never win it back with Trump and the Republicans in control.
That's the big problem right here. You love polls, and yet keep ignoring the very polls that tells you that Sanders is the better candidate in the GE.
Good luck.
Goodbye.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)Largely because the perpetual mantra of the Democratic party has become "Not yet. This isn't the time because the stakes are too high this time."
Maybe it's time to rethink priorities and strategies, if one really does care about steering the Titanic away from that iceburg.
Corey_Baker08
(2,157 posts)Madame President Clinton For America!
tk2kewl
(18,133 posts)BuelahWitch
(9,083 posts)George H W Bush: "Message: I care."
Dude who wrote this screed needs to read up on his electoral history.
Bread and Circus
(9,454 posts)Oh and why should I give a rats ass about anything now that I found out I am racist mysogynistic Berniebro?
Herman4747
(1,825 posts)...over someone who just wants to hold hands with someone who is sad. After all, there are so many sad people -- she can't possibly hold all their hands.
Except, of course, those hands working for the big banks.
The Redheaded Guy
(90 posts)She is NOTHING but a god-damn DLC/Third Wayer who has more interest in corporate interests than the people of America who are tired of voting for the same god-damn lesser of the two evil concepts.
We have a real Democrat running. Your anti-Bernie rhetoric disgusts me, and it disgusts me even more when it comes from a former O'Malley supporter who was never for Bernie anyway.
Goodbye.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
Orsino
(37,428 posts)The author comes across as an Establishment lightweight.
There's a real reason to support Clinton, and even more so than in '08, and this hack misses it: she's a woman, and we could help slay the machismo bugbear stalking our presidential politics.
Ignore this puff piece, and find substantial reasons to support the candidate of your choice.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)and is magnanimous enough to make it possible for one to attend a child's pre-school graduation. Meanwhile, she's liked about lots of stuff, is happy to bomb women and children else where, is okay with fracking, sees no need to break up big banks, isn't behind a $15/hour minimum wage. And so on and so forth. For me, those things matter a lot more than the gooey niceness she exhibits elsewhere.
Attorney in Texas
(3,373 posts)whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)VulgarPoet
(2,872 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)dmosh42
(2,217 posts)handling labor relations?
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Im holding my vote to a higher standard.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)UNLESS THE DEMOCRATS RUN SANDERS, A TRUMP NOMINATION MEANS A TRUMP PRESIDENCY
Unless the Democrats Run Sanders, A Trump Nomination Means a Trump Presidency
Democrats need to seriously and pragmatically assess their strategy for defeating Trump. A Clinton run would be disastrous; Bernie Sanders is their only hope.
by NATHAN J. ROBINSON
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2016/02/unless-the-democrats-nominate-sanders-a-trump-nomination-means-a-trump-presidency
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,711 posts)Electing both are and were moral imperatives.