Standing ovation?

One of the memes coming out of last night's debate that is really bugging me today is that Hillary got a standing ovation for her last statement.

Now, I think her wrap-up was lovely, and worthy of the warm round of applause it received.  I also agree with many who have said it felt a lot like a concession speech, or at the very least, a suggestion that she will be willing to bow down gracefully should she not win in Ohio or Texas.

But it did NOT receive a standing ovation!

More below...

The standing ovation was for both candidates, and the debate as a whole.  The crowd was very clap-happy throughout and stood up after commercial breaks as well.

I just saw a replay of the debate's finish and after Hillary's final lines, Campbell Brown says "Thank you" and indicates that the debate is over, Barack Obama says thanks and starts to stand up, and it's at that point that the crowd stands.

Of course Hillary's team and her supporters, and many in the media, are characterizing this ovation as being for Hillary.  That's bull!  I don't think it amounts to much in the scheme of things, and the debate has been largely off the radar today anyway, but this is the sort of "New Hampshire moment" that stung Obama in the past and I'd hate to see it happen again.

Ironically, I think the "concession" angle has really picked up steam, and the standing ovation that wasn't could help reinforce that.  Hell, I'd stand up for Hillary if she bowed out in such a graceful manner.

Update: PsiFighter37 provides this link to an account suggesting the stage manager asked the crowd to stand.

•  I don't think

  it was a concession speech, but then people will read into it what they will. It seems to me that that was the opinion of some talking heads, but I didn't read anything like concession in those few words...especially not when one considers the totality of the debate...

  I think the applause were for both candidates at the debate close.

  by valadon on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:23:12 AM PDT

•  Yep. She brought Obama in, did the

  warm handshake thing. People were applauding her, the gesture, and Obama.

  by insects8mybrain on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:25:41 AM PDT

•  I absolutely oppose a HRC concession before April

  I have not idea why those of us who support a "pro-democracy" Obama campaign are clamoring to circumvent the established democratic process for picking a nominee.  Let's let this play out, and give all due credit to an opponent who has ten times more character and class than anyone on the other side of the aisle.  Let's let this play out, and take the time to build organizations, fundraising roots, and support, in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and more.

  It is poor form to ask you opponent to back out when the race is up for grabs, and it speaks very poorly of the campaign you are trying to represent.

  by 4democracy on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:26:02 AM PDT

  •  Obama didn't ask her to bow out

    Why are you talking as though that's the case?

    On the other hand, what we now have is Democrats spending Democrats money to run against each other.  Where did this idea come from that it's undemocratic for a political party to settle on a nominee once one of them has taken a commanding lead?  

    If Hillary knows it's over, why is she still asking working people for their money so she can run negative ads on the Democratic nominee?  

    Maybe she actually sees a path to the nomination and that's fine if she thinks she does.  But it's hardly undemocratic for the people who are primarily concerned about OUR political party to ask a contender to step aside when we know she's beat.  

    It's not an election exactly.  It's a series of contests to determine who our stronger candidate is for the election.  If we don't have to run every contest to find out, that's actually ok.  

    by Sun dog on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:51:15 AM PDT

    •  From the diary

      Ironically, I think the "concession" angle has really picked up steam, and the standing ovation that wasn't could help reinforce that.  Hell, I'd stand up for Hillary if she bowed out in such a graceful manner.

      From my comment

      those of us who support a "pro-democracy" Obama campaign

      I hope it's clear that I'm not talking about the obama campaign.  I'm talking about a cross-section of the campaign supporters who are taking the campaign in what I feel is an untenable direction.  The Obama campaign itself has neither asked Clinton to step aside, not has it said the Hillary's already beat, and I think that this approach is infinitely intelligent.  I also think that more Obama supporters should follow this lead.

      by 4democracy on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:25:49 PM PDT

      •  also think that my proofreading's awful today n/t

        by 4democracy on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:27:28 PM PDT

        •  I gotcha

          We just disagree here on part of this.  

          I think the Obama campaign has acted appropriately in not publicly calling for her to drop out, on that we agree.  But I think it is significant that a logical, reasonable case can and should be made that she is already at that point.

          Her campaign has been allowed to appear more viable than it is for a long time.  She has never actually had a delegate lead in the race.  She lost Iowa and never caught up.  And yet she was portrayed as ahead until very recently because of the gaming of the superdelegates.  

          The effect of this is important.  In order to maintain a nomination bid she needs donors and supporters in her corner.  It's about momentum and that's a very real thing.  Who wants to throw money onto a sinking ship?  The fact that her odds of winning are incredibly slim is somewhat self-perpetuating if people are aware of it.

          It also puts her negative attacks on Obama in perspective.  I wouldn't be joining the 'drop out!' chorus so much myself is she wasn't currently spending Democrat's money to smear the Democratic nominee.  

          by Sun dog on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:54:03 PM PDT

•  It wasn't an ovation for her

  From a first-hand report, the stage manager was gesturing for people to stand up.

  by PsiFighter37 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:27:39 AM PDT

  •  Thanks.

    I added your link to the diary... thanks.

    by Melquiades on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:38:40 AM PDT

•  Both candidates

  I posted the same thing in a comment earlier today.

  Here

  by egarratt on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:30:10 AM PDT