My Last Article About Hillary Clinton for Now

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

08 Jun 2008 06:12 AM

It seems fitting to me that since Hillary gave a concession speech on Saturday, we should talk about it. However, have you noticed that all the news is about Hillary and Barack Obama, for now, has slipped somewhere into the shadows? No doubt McCain is gearing up for a close campaign as is Obama--but right now, all eyes seem to be on Hillary.

So this is my last blog about her. Newsworthy was her election campaign and her concession speech and so we'll cover it. After this though, we need to look forward to the elections in November.

Unless you're living under a rock you now know that Hillary conceded to Barack Obama on Saturday, in a speech focusing mostly on civil rights platforms. She waited until Saturday to concede that Obama was the Democrat to put into the White House.

The Question Everyone Is Asking

Everywhere splashed in the news is commentary on the sexism that resulted in Hillary losing. The implication is that if Hillary were exactly as she is, but male. . .she would've won. I have to respectfully disagree. I think she lost exactly because of whom she is and more importantly, I think Obama won because of who he isn't.

The United States and the Political Machine

Let's face it: the Clinton family comes with baggage. They are a known entity in the political arena and while some would argue that this should've been to her advantage, I think it was her disadvantage. While Obama mastered online fundraising, she simply hadn't until well over a year in her campaign. Instead, she dipped into her personal funds to keep her campaign going. While Obama went with the grass roots approach--and quite successfully, Clinton relied on long time political allies. While both candidates got unprecedented amounts of eligible voters out to vote, Clinton to many represents politics as usual.

When Obama gave his speech on change it was inspiring. When Clinton gave her speeches on change. . .we all sat around pondering if voting Clinton was really a change. Sure she's a woman. . .and that's different. But having her in office would mean that in the last few decades, we've had the same two families in office. To many, Clinton doesn't truly represent change.

So that's it. My last commentary on Clinton. With that said, let the races begin!

Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, and also writes about politics and the occassional movie review. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.

Are you subscribed to the Families.com Politics Blog? With the click of a button, you can receive an email notification anytime a new blog is posted in the Families.com Politics Blog! Just look to the right of this blog and find the subscription center (it looks just like this picture). Click on "Subscribe via Email". You'll be instantly subscribed and the email address that you registered at Families.com with will receive an instant notification whenever we post a new Politics Blog! Don't miss a thing - subscribe now!

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Pattie Hughes (7652) 08 Jun 2008 10:20 AM

"She waited until Saturday to note that putting a Democrat in the White House was a key goal in November of 2008."

Great blog, Val, but that line isn't entirely accurate. She has been saying that since the very first debate on CNN. During that debate, she noted that the (10 at that time) candidates were much more similar than they were different and in the end a Democrat needed to be in the White House to turn things around from the decline of the past several years. Until this point, it was about who would be more electable in November and I think that was a very valid point, since every poll I've seen showed that she was the stronger candidate against McCain. I agree that sexism wasn't the problem. It was more the media giving Barack a free ride for so long, which I suspect was out of fear of being called racist. The next few months should be interesting and the outcome will have a huge impact on the future direction of our country, whether it is real change or more of the same.

Valorie Delp (49340) 08 Jun 2008 05:44 PM

You know Pattie. . .you're right. When I have time I will re-word it bc she has been saying that all along. I meant that she conceded but that's not what I wrote. (I plead not enough coffee. ;-))

Truthfully, I'm a little shocked she didn't win. It kind of seemed like for a little while, she was a media darling. Then all of the sudden we all love Obama. I will say this though as a New Yorker. . .when the primary was here the campaign that was on the ground just talking to Joe Schmoe--and she was somewhere else. What's interesting is she won NY anyways. . .but it certainly made an impact on my perceptions.