This past Tuesday morning Hillary and Bill voted at the Grafflin school in nearby Chappaqua. As usual, they schmoozed with the locals and hung around. He’s become a kind of squire of this suburban town, and likes to just slide next to people sitting at a diner booth. Most of us have met them (I’ve posted about this --http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=13031)
My friend Marji, who was at my election/celebration party, voted at the same the Clintons did. She said that Hillary looked great (Marji thinks she’s had some work done in the interim --claws).
In a recent interview in a local magazine, Inside Chappaqua, Hill the neighbor waxed about her run for the presidency: “I am really proud of the way we mobilized millions of people who participated in the front lines of a political campaign and made the phone calls and walked the streets, to those who showed up and voted for a better future … Really, it was touching and meaningful to me because I felt that it was not only me running for the nomination to be our President, but it was a lot of people feeling empowered and excited about their own potential.”
Which made us wonder on election night as we proudly watched our new president-elect. What did Hillary feel as she watched down the road? How many times did she think: That could have been me? Was she bitter or sad? Or had she moved on, and just sat in front of the TV eating pizza like the rest of us, moved by the historic moment?
Anyway, before I move on to holiday plans I’d like to thank Hillary just one more time, for among other things:
Those millions of cracks in the glass ceiling
Speaking up early for universal health care, and sticking with it
Caring about working women and children and the forgotten
Toughening up Obama during the primary and making him a better candidate
Showing that a woman can be strong and smart and a fighter, and a credible presidential candidate
Helping us to realize even more that Armani can’t hide a moose-lovin’, gun totin’ gal who’s an empty suit
Her rousing convention speech endorsing Obama
The unprecedented 70 plus appearances she made on behalf of Obama
Her gracious acceptance of defeat
And, proving the irrational haters wrong by giving her all –- smiles, belly laughs, a few tears, endless pants suits, great haircuts, thoughtful solutions -- and loads and loads of heart.
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Comments
Hey, though - I take umbrage at the "moose-lovin'" comment. Nothing wrong with lovin' a moose. They're lovable.
Here's to every line of thanks.
Hillary proved herself to be a remarkable woman. She would have made a terrific president. My hope is that she will become a legendary senator--and that she will offer sound advice when asked --and maybe (privately) even when she is not asked--to President Obama.
Her best days are still ahead!
Thank you not only for defending Hillary, but for honoring and humanizing her.