In the diary, Morning Joe EXPLICITLY plays the race card, I was struck by this comment about how the Morning Joe show criticized the Hillary Clinton speech as halfhearted:
The first hour plus were devoted to how Hillary's speech last night was a deliberately lukewarm "endorsement" of Barack Obama the Democrat, but conspicuosly failed to endorse him as a person.
I've this type of comment numerous times since she made her speech last night, and all I can say is that it goes to the heart of the whole PUMA mentality.
There is such a thing as willful ignorance.
Anyone who was watching Hillary Clinton speak took at least one key theme from it: she said she hoped people were supporting her Presidential bid because of what and who she stood for, not just because of who she is. She pointed out some of the people and stories that had affected her on the campaign trail and said:
I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?
Her point is unmistakable: electing a President is about who will do great things for America and her citizens. It's bigger than the person.
With that central point, it wouldn't make the slightest bit of sense for Clinton to have detoured into more praise on Barack Obama the individual, and what makes him so unique and special. I'm actually very glad she didn't do so, because it would have diluted the entire point, and contributed even more to the perception that Obama is some celebrity who's admired for personal charisma alone.
Barack Obama has taken great pains to make this campaign about more than him, personally, by adopting a true 50-state strategy and helping local races whenever he can. He's made it about more than him, personally, by elevating the Democratic Party as a whole and inspiring people to get involved.
Hillary Clinton reinforced that message and said exactly what needed to be said: it isn't about Barack Obama, it's about all of us. And "yes, we can."