Hillary Clinton's speech is about to begin. Gov. Schweitzer of Montana was fantastic -- should have been the keynote. The intro video for Sen. Clinton is really high energy -- I'm thinking the speech is going to be revved up as well. Hold onto your hats -- will blog as much as I can.
Chelsea Clinton is narrating the intro video for Hillary Clinton. She's now taking the stage.
"Ladies and gentleman, I'm very proud to introduce my hero. And my mother. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton."
Nice melon colored suit -- pops against the blue background. She's waving to the crowd -- great background tune for her entry. Anyone know what it is?
She's beginning to speak:
Thank you all. I am so honored to be here tonight. I'm here tonight as a proud mother, as a proud Democrat. As a proud Senator from New York. A proud American.
And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.
My friends, it is time to take back the country we love. And whether you voted for me or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose.
We are on the same team. And none of us can afford tosit on the sidelines. This is a fight for the future and it is a fight we must win together.
I haven't spent the past thirty-five years in the trenches, advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care., helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women's rights here at home and around the world to see another Republican in the White House squander our promise that fulfills the hope of the American people. And you haven't suffered through the last eight years to have four more years of more failed leadership.
No way. No how. No McCain.
Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our President.
Tonight, I ask you to remember what a presidential election really is all about. When the polls are closed, and the ads are finally off the air, it comes down to you, you children and your future.
Every day America's greatnessis bound up in the lives of the American people. Your determination to keep going, often int he face of enormous obstacles. You taught me so much. You made me laugh and, yes, you even made me cry.
...
I will always remember the single mom who adopted two kids with autism. She didn't have any health insurance, and she discovered that she had cancer. But she greeted me with her bald head with my name on it, and she asked me to fight for health care for her and her children.
I remember a man in a Corps t-shirt, and he said "Please take care of my buddies and, then, please take care of me."
...
I will always be grateful to everyone from all fifty states, Puerto Rico and all the territories who joined the campaign to stand up to the Bush Administration.
...To my sisterhood of the travelling panstsuits. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Because you never gave in and we never gave up. Because, along the way, we lost two Democratic champions...tribute to Bill Blotney and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones...
After 4 years of Bush, the Supreme COurt in a right=-wing head lock, money borrowed fromt he Chinese to buy oil from the Saudis...
(She's speaking really quickly here -- sorry am missing things.)
To promote a clean energy economy that will create millions of green collar jobs. To p[romote a health care system so that parents know that their children will be taken care of. We want to create a world class educatiuon system to make college affordable again.
Talking about civil rights, women's rights, labor rights, gay rights...
To help every child live up to his or her god given potential. To make America once again a nation of immigrants and of the rule of law....end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home with honor, and give our veterans the care they deserve.
Confront our shared challenges from terrorism to global warming....
Those are the reasons I ran for President. And those are the reasons I support Barack Obama for President.
I want you to ask yourselves, "Were you in this campaign just for me?" Or were you in this campaign for that mom with cancer? That mom surviving on minumum wage? That young soldier?
We need leaders who can help us show ourselves and the world that with our ingenuity, there are no limits to what is possible in America.
Now, this will not be easy. Progress never is. But it will be impossible if we don't fight to put a Democrat back int he WH. We need to elect Barack Obama, because we need a president who understand that we can't pad the pockets of energy speculators while ignoring the problems of those whose jobs hae been shipped overseas...
We need a president who understands that the genius of America has always depended on the strength of the middle class.
Obama built his campaign on the belief that change in this country must start from the ground up not the top down....When Obama is in the WH, he'll...meet the global challenges of our time. As I recall, we did it before with President Clinton and the Democrats. And if we do our part, we'll do it again with President Obama and the Democrats.
Just think of what America will be as we transform our economy, build our base for middle class jobs.
Obama built his campaign on the belief that change in this country must start from the ground up not the top down....When Obama is in the WH, he'll...meet the global challenges of our time. As I recall, we did it before with President Clinton and the Democrats. And if we do our part, we'll do it again with President Obama and the Democrats.
Just think of what America will be as we transform our economy, build our base for middle class jobs.
And I can't wait to watch Barack Obama sign into law a health care plan that covers every single American.
And we know that President Obama will end the war in Iraq responsibly, bring our troops home and begin to repair our alliance around the world.
Barack will have a terrific partner in Michelle Obama. Anyone who saw her speech last night knows that she will be a terrific first lady.
Compliment to Joe Biden -- he's pragmatic, he's tough, and he's wise. They will be a great team for our country.
Now, John McCainis my colleague and my friend. But we don't need four more years of the last eight years. More economic stagnation and less More high gas prices and less energy work. More foreclosures and higher prices and less help for the middle class. More wars and less diplomacy.
John McCain wants to privatize social security. And in 2008, he still thinks its okay that women don't earn equal pay for equal work. With an agenda like that, it makes sense that John McCain and George Bush will appear together in the Twin Cities -- because these days they are awfully hard to tell apart.
Equal opportunity for all and the common good. I'm a US Senator because in 1848 some brave women and a few brave men travelled to NY for the first convention to work for women's sufferage. These women and men looked into their daughters' eyes and saw the need for a better future, and risked ridicule and so many other things to give women the vote.
My daughter was born before women had the right to vote. My daughter got to vote for her mother for President.
...Follow the example of a brave New Yorker, Harriet Tubman said "If they have torches inthe woods, keep going....If you want a taste of freedom, keep going." We have found the faith to keep going. I have seen it in the facesof our firefighters, our police officers, our teachers, our workers, our military...
Before we can get going, we have to elect Barack Obama the next president of the US. We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare. Nothingless than the fate of our nation and our children's future hangs int he balance. Think about the choices that your parents and grandparents made -- we have to ensure that teh choice we make in this election honors the sacrifices made in generations before us. That gives us hope for a better future.
There is no chasm too great, no ceiling too high. That is our mission Democrats. Let's elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden!
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this one is sooo important….
Anybody think Chelsea has a future in politics?
Let Us Pray!
Heck yes. Short intro, though, huh?
I really hope Hillary gets some shots in on McCain in this speech. It’s time, and it needs to be done in prime time. Kucinich was great, but other than political junkies, who saw it?
Come on Hill, do a good one. Your best. We all need it.
She might not have won the nomination but at least Hillary knows a tailor. $520 loafers can’t make up for McCain wearing $100 JC Penny suits.
She will
Since democracy has fallen to aristocracy, absolutely!
High expectations…
Kucinich was great, but other than political junkies, who saw it?
You mean there are people who *aren’t* political junkies?
she’s starting off real strong. excellent!
Come on Hillary!
Bare some teeth!
Rip the thugs a new one!
We know you can do it, we’ve seen it,
let’s kick off this thing with the total pit bull of women’s politics.
GO FOR IT!
Hillary will deliver.
I’ve only watched CSpan, all day.
drinking water = divisiveness?
shocking, eh??
i’m glad she is starting off with unity.
no way.
no how.
no mccain.
She always gives a good speech. She will be the best. Chelsea is like her mother..she will make a great senator if she wants to.
good GREAT start, now go for the blood!
No way, no how, no McCain!
No way, no how, no McCain!
there it is - the code words to her followers to give it up, back Obama, and beat McCain.
“You haven’t worked this hard for the last eighteen months…”, etc.
“No way No how No McCain” Love it!!
sumimasen
…but watching her walk across the stage I am SO GLAD she is not the nominee. I can vote democrat without suppressing every reason why I love this nation,
Yes, she is off to a good start.
I’ll be surprised if she goes there.
Bumper sticker.
suzanne! you posted that before she said it!! or did it take awhile to get to the east coast?
am watching on cable - cspan
it occurs to me that i bet the speeches sound much better in the midst of the crowd and all that energy.
No she started off with Chelsea
Digg IT is NOW OPEN!
This sounds like a HRC campaign speech. It doesn’t sound like a “Fuck John McCain, Elect Obama” speech, and THAT is the speech she needs to give. DAMMIT!
It’s her biggest move ever. I’d support her in anything, if she would do THIS.
Kick off the official fight,
with THE TRUTH. unpolished, unvarnished,
travelling pantsuits.
LOL!
PUHLEEEZE.
DO IT!
Give her time.
Sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits - liked that
Who is the woman from California who was talking to Joe Scarborough this morning about her withholding her Obama endorsement b/c
A. she wants Obama to call her and ask her for her endorsement.
B. She wants Obama Campaign to “help” pay Hillary’s campaign debt?
DUGG!
do it your OWN selves?????!
Poor Brian Williams was so sure Mrs. Clinton wouldn’t be direct and committed enough in favor of Mr. Obama, he was sure she would take the podium and be a spoiler, if only by not being as energized as she should be (as defined by that great Democratic consultant, Karl Rove). I wonder how much gas for his Porsche Mr. Williams makes the GOP pay for.
So what role will the Obama administration negotiate with Hillary? A seat on the S.Ct.? Whatever it is, she has and will earn it.
patience….
Finally, a top speaker is blaming our perilous circumstances on George Bush. About frigging time.
yep.
Whoa, she’s winding up. You go Hillary!
Wow, you’re both so, like, hard core.
now, rev it up
and deliver that first, best, coveted BLOW!
gloves off, please?
Yeah, like her concession speech in June, this one will be extremely well crafted. Have to give it time to build.
good speech so far - but at some point she has to turn it away from her…
Well, there ya go - she just did.
From civil rights to Gay rights…to make America once again a nation of immigrants and of laws…not one of private plunder. She’s hitting dozens of hot buttons that all should be punched between now and the election, and the same after the Dems win.
Here it is.
Nice. “Were you in it just for me?”
One of the best speeches so far
were you in this campaign just for me or were you in it for (list of americans who feel invisible)?
Were you in it? Good lines.
If we are to win, we must be a lot more hard-core than we have been to date. I say again, after we win, we can raise the level of discourse. Until the enemy (and make no mistake, republicans are our enemies) is vanquished, we must not take a single prisoner.
It’s really that simple.
“were you in it for me? or were you in it for (all those other people in need)?”
That was good.
Were you in it? Good lines.
Excellent. Really.
we need red meat, not kinder and gentler.
Have you forgotten the RNC in 04? What they did was ugly but it worked. We can’t afford to just fight back, the dems need to lead the charge.
yes, I’m hard core. I’m as pissed as I can be at Obama for his FISA sell out. And I’m tired of seeing the dems commit suicide.
The Rethuglicans can’t hope to match the emotional and intellectual appeal of this convention. The Dems must still turn that into electoral victory.
My fondest hope is Obama has her at the top of his list for the next vacancy on the Supreme Court.
Oh ye of little faith…that was ballsy.
She is doing a good job.
Bill is pleased with his call-out
EXCEEDINGLY well said ThatGuy!
Arianna said it too on Maher one night.
“F*(k bipartanship! Win this election and go for that then. Now, NO BIP.
It will NEVER work with these thugs.
As long as you can keep your ears open, I think.
The first half was designed to bring over as many of the holdouts among her supporters as possible. The second half will make the case for Obama.
she is.
needs to be stronger, meaner, just more truthful without the niceties!
She’s killing.
Best of luck with your path. I think we can all work together. I sure hope we can. I believe in hope and faith.
McCain, honor & courage — my ass
Why do they keep calling Mcliar Honorable…he’s a liar and dumb.
hehehehehe
she’s going after mccain now - and nailing him and his agenda.
Political speech-making that isn’t afraid to address reality, something Bush has never managed to do and which Cheney disdains. Our job, our job, is to vote ’em in and then MAKE ’em do the right thing, even if they already want to do it.
Twin Cities comment, BRILLIANT!
Twin cities……….lol
Setting him up for the smack down.
twin cities. kaPOW !
OMG. She’s taking McCain to the woodshed. w00t!
That part bothered me.
hahahaha they are going to be in the twin cities - hard to tell them apart (mccain and bush)
McSame & Bush - twins in the twin cities
McCane and Bush will be together in the Twin Cities. These days it’s awfully hard to tell them apart. !!!
She’s channeling Ann Richards….fantastic
Kick ass.
I hope so
Superb pun on the GOP Twin Cities convention for Bush and McBush.
ok - now turn it one last time back to Obama, and this speech is Mission Accomplished.
She is a helluva speaker.
Wow! Not a minute to waste or a vote to spare.
i’m very, very pleased with her speech. good for her.
Bill’s actually cute. Looks like a kid. at a winning ball game or something.
THIS is what we need from the Clintons!!!!
she’s knocking it outa the park.
i still wanna see her fangs.
ok, her speech jut achieved transcendence
hell of a speech
eli is upstairs with late nite wrap up
Excellent, Hillary.
Good stuff.
Short, sweet, powerful. In total command. About bloody time. Well done.
wooooooooooooooooooott!!!!!!!
KO calls it a Grand Slam.
If she had more speechs like that on her trail she might be speeking thursday
She is a helluva speaker.
yep.
And Obama is even better.
More of this please.
Thank you Senator Clinton - God bless YOU! whew - am so glad she settled this and in such great style. What a dame!
Just her best….she looked and sounded great.
Done. Mission Accomplished.
Aren’t you proud of her?
She shattered the backboard.
Really proud of her….Brooks and Shields both liked it alot, did everything she needed to do.
Okay kids, my fingers are about to fall off after all that liveblogging. And I need to catch my bus back to the hotel. Hope you enjoyed it — that was one kick ass speech!
Thank you so much, Christy!
I always hate comments about what they should have said…go write your own speech, IMHO
Thanks, Christy.
Did you notice how Michelle’s expression changed from the start? She looked guarded, like she didn’t know what Clinton would say. Once it got going, she realized that Hillary was going to do everything needed to get Barack elected.
I was still downstairs. Just added that Hillary had a great speech and nailed it. After that speech, any of her supporters that still refuse to get behind Obama now must harbor some other motive besides the welfare of this nation.
Fantastic speech—-A plus
Thanks Christy, terrific job liveblogging. Fingers on fire!
Thanks, Christy!!!
I was thinking as she was delivering her magnificent speech “How presidential and tragic that she lost her opportunity to be President first by the flandering of her husband and then the flandering of John Edwards”. Of course my personal thoughts did not use such high English.
One was a hardship she had to overcome and the other was someone who should not have been in the primaries. That being said, I am a devoted Obama supporter - just a thought
Marvelous speech And to the first commenter on this thread. Yes, she’s tough enough to take anything and come up fighting for women all around the world.
What a terrific, heart-felt, smart, passionate speech.
Somewhat sheepish to admit it, but I found myself misty-eyed in parts.
Class act on Hilary’s part, and her family as well.
Shorter Hilary: “It’s not about me.”
That was classy and tough.
I believe it will be in the curriculum of under grad com studies analysis of political rhetoric for decades.
I really, really thought she set it up, point by point, met all her objectives, and took it to the opponents.
Her close from 1848 thru Harriet Tubman was a marvel . . .
Her greatest ever. Her biggest spotlight, too.
And she nailed it, start to finish.
Her delivery was near flawless . . . she worked the crowd, her opponents, the MSM and just took it to the mat.
And I thought (I am NOT a fashion cop) she looked TERRIFIC in that outfit.
Strong, very, very strong.
What a delightfully HUGE bright spot in an otherwise boring and fractured (presentation wise) convention to date . . . outside of Kuch . . . and yes, Schweitzer closed HARD and solid, too. GET UP!!!! STAND UP!!!
But HRC . . . crowning glory for her . . . I’m proud she stood up, and yes, I was REAL worried. *G*
Um, to ’splain why I think it’s great fodder for rhetorical analysis . .
All great speeches are part of two key things.
One, is the clime of the times they take place in.
Two, is the ability of the orator to USE those climes, for a purpose that transcends personal gain.
Her speech meets both of those specs, in a mighty, mighty way.
These ARE the climes that allow for great oratory.
And she was a great orator. IMHO.
Not a poly rhetorical scholar by any means . . . wonder what others who ARE think?
Christie,thanks for all your efforts. Best speech of this cycle IMHO.