It is with out any doubt to me that Hillary Clinton saw the light by giving a barn burning speech that tied in the accomplishments that she and her supporters did into keeping the faith and fire going by supporting Barack Obama.
There were of course a few people angry that believe their icon was forced into making this speech and that they will refuse to vote for Barack Obama. This was to be expected, and even though Clinton gave a gracious and inspiring speech, it is just the beginning of a long road towards reconciliation and unification.
And of course being the pop culture whore that I am, I could not help but think of the song, "Where do we go From Here?" from the Buffy episode "Once More With Feeling."
Where do we go from here?
The battle's done and we kind of won
So we sound our victory cheer
Where do we go from here?
Why is the path unclear
When we know hope is near?
Understand we'll go hand in hand, but we'll walk alone in fear...
It is now the fear that she needs to address. The holdouts have fear and anger holding them back. And as you listened to her speech, there were indeed some vocal negative reactions at the beginning of her endorsement, but as her speech came to a close, many of those boos subsided. This is either because she was so compelling, the cheers became louder than the boos, or the angered supporters just plain left the room. But in the modern theater of politics where video is forever, the perception over the long run, is of a step towards unity.
To the Harriet Christians out there, the choices are either to follow the old ways of McCain and go backwards or to go forward with the party that represents them. There is still work to be done, and it will take time to heal the wounds of a long and bloody fight. Clinton as along with Obama have it in them to gradually bring those who were disenfranchised back into the fold.
Without a doubt, we are in a historic period in America, and she needs to start driving home the idea that not only her campaign, but Obama's was what this country is about, the idea that a person can become the President of the United States on the merit of working hard and bringing a message, not because they are insiders or power brokers.
Her speech was a first step, next of course will have to be hitting the campaign trail with Obama, and the obligatory hand raising like a champion boxer of 15 rounds of a long bloody fight where the warriors still hugged and ended with respect for each other.
And for all the talk about her gunning for the Vice Presidency, I was for it, then I was against it after the RFK gaffe. Then it occurred to me. The VP is like the XO of a ship. Adama has Saugh Tigh (more pop culture), and there is no one you want to be in the trenches with you more than Tigh. Obama just may have his Saul Tigh, the hard as nails XO that can lay down the hammer. Or, if you prefer, Michael Corleone now has his Luca Brasi.
I've probably rambled too long and incoherently in my first diary. Hopefully I'll get better at this.