I'm a male, and an Obama supporter, I used to be an Edwards supporter, and would have been a Jan Schakowsky supporter if she had run, simply because I felt that each of them represents the best candidate we could have chosen. That said, it's a time when a lot of women and men who fought one hell of a good, sometimes dirty, fight are nursing their wounds and it would do each Obama supporter well to offer them a gracious and respectful hand in acknowledgment for their cause and for the race well run.
Sure there will be a few self-interested sour grapes from folks like Geraldine Ferraro, but why should we expect the ranks of Hillary's female (and male) supporters not to include a few grumbling bigots and sore losers? On the whole, what the Democrats will get out of Hillary's undaunted race is a new model for warriorhood from the many sisters and brothers who will, for the very most part, wipe their bloodied noses, suck it up and stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the Fall as we all fight to remove the vestiges of the most malignant administration this country has ever known.
So, yeah, Hillary spent four months not playing the race card while playing the race card, but WE, the Democrats registered, what, two and a half million new voters?! And Hillary will also get up off the floor and will fight for the Obama presidency, too. And it is sure a hell of a lot better to have a major-league street fighter like Hillary Clinton on your side than fighting against you.
What people forget, except for Barack and Hillary, was that this was the fifty-five round Championship Fist Fight for the Democratic Nomination. Barack will be better and tougher for it, (Thank God, Reverend Wright didn't rear his pompous, self-important head in October), and Hillary has absolutely proven that a "girl" can go toe to toe and nose to nose in the hardest ring in American politics. That will never be in question again.
So, while I'm way glad that Barack won, I'm equally glad that Hillary fought the unbelievable fight that she did. Yes she lost, but, damn, does she have the heart of a warrior--and that will be a legacy that should ring through the hearts and souls of every Democrat, man and woman, young and old.
Hillary's battle will certainly be the model for many future Democratic women when they contend for office--which is all the better to ensure that we Democrats face future general elections with the best, and toughest, candidates in place. For Democratic males it may be a new era too, as we can expect much tougher fights with female opponents who were inspired and informed by Hillary's relentless charge. So we better get ready, boys, because the girls are going to keep bringing it on!