MyDD :: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip. I'm a Democrat."

Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip. I'm a Democrat."

by Travis Stark, Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 02:34:39 PM EST

Hillary Rosen, a Clinton supporter of the highest level, is saddened by Hillary Clinton's performance last night. You know Ms. Rosen. She's often seen on TV supporting the point of view of the Clinton campaign. Today, in an article in the Huffington Post Ms. Rosen expresses her profound disappointment in Hillary's speech last night.

I know she is exhausted and she had pledged to finish the primaries and let every state vote before any final action. But by the time she got on that podium last night, she knew it was over and that she had lost. I am sure I was not alone in privately urging the campaign over the last two weeks to use the moment to take her due, pass the torch and cement her grace. She had an opportunity to soar and unite. She had a chance to surprise her party and the nation after the day-long denials about expecting any concession and send Obama off on the campaign trail of the general election with the best possible platform. I wrote before how she had a chance for her "Al Gore moment." And if she had done so, the whole country ALL would be talking today about how great she is and give her her due.

Instead she left her supporters empty, Obama's angry, and party leaders trashing her.

She goes on to talk about how Hillary is taking time to determine how to use her political capital as a bargaining chip. It's Ms. Rosen's closing that struck me.

But not my vote. I will enthusiastically support Barack Obama's campaign. Because I am not a bargaining chip. I am a Democrat.

Hillary missed an opening last night, an opening to cement her legacy in this campaign. Let's hope she finds another opening in the next few days, and that she takes it.

I'd encourage you to read the whole article for the details.

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary (all tags)

Permalink :: 29 Comments :: Post a Comment

"I'm not a bargaining chip." (none / 0)

Last night, was not one of Clinton's finer moments.

This administration is not sinking. This administration is soaring! If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg!

by venavena on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 02:40:14 PM EST

Re: "I'm not a bargaining chip." (none / 0)

Yep, She could have shown a little class.

by parahammer on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 02:45:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "I'm not a bargaining chip." (2.00 / 1)

Obviously she didn't concede, but beyond that I thought she was pretty gracious, and that's been echoed in her AIPAC speech today, as well.

I don't mind giving her a little time.

No way. No how. No McCain.

by freedom78 on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:19:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: (none / 0)

Cant read the HP.---

wow. if the other Hilary is disappointed.

by alyssa chaos on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 02:41:39 PM EST

Re: Hillary Rosen: (2.00 / 1)

The great news is there are way more Hillary Rosens than there are "Denver or Death!!!!" types who voted for Hillary. These are people who care about this country, our issues, and our party (in that order).

And we welcome you all to the united effort to defeat John McCain. All of this other nonsense will have to be dealt with when there's not so much important stuff going on.

by Reeves on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 02:52:41 PM EST

The ball is in her court. (none / 0)

I hope she does what's best for America.

We want to see Ivana [Trump] because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture. - Sarah Palin

by spacemanspiff on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 02:54:02 PM EST

"I'm not a bargaining chip. (none / 0)

Nice to hear a Clinton supporter state what the media seems to be ignoring.

Clinton supporters are not mindless robots that will follow their leader regardless nor are they baseball cards to be traded to someone else.

Voting for John McCain is not God bless America.

by SFValues on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 02:59:44 PM EST

I'm a Democrat (2.00 / 1)

Well said, Hillary Rosen.

So at long last, can we finally get past it? I don't care if Hillary still has "issues". It's no longer about Hillary or her disappointment. I no longer want to discuss Hillary or her ongoing anger.

We need to focus on ending 2 wars, preventing a 3rd war, health care, the baby boomer retirements, energy and global climate change, a looming recession/depression, and a corporatization & de-Constitutionalization of the USA.

McCain or Obama.

Step up, decide, and discuss what matters.
I'm sorry people got their feelings hurt by losing the primary election, but I'm moving on.

by xdem on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:04:05 PM EST

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (2.00 / 4)

Hillary Rosen missed the point. If I see more diaries like this I am going to withdraw mine and my truce. I don't think some people get the fact that if Hillary conceded last night we would be dealing with a HUGE backlash today. She's down. There's no reason for the pundits or the bloggers to step on her throat on their way to victory. Be gracious in winning because if you do not it only reinforces the media narrative.

by Iceblinkjm on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:17:03 PM EST

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (2.00 / 4)

yep, they've been bashing hillary for so long that it's now beyond conscious control. they just can't stop, even if it means losing sight of the goal of winning in november. i think you miscalculated the rationaity of the anti-hillary contingent here.

by campskunk on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:21:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (none / 0)

Rationality is he has the number. Its over. An adult congratulates and concedes. Theres nothing for her to decide. The process has decided Obama is the nominee.

A vote for John McCain is a vote against Hillary Clinton

by realistdem on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 05:10:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (none / 0)

Good Points.
But its upsetting watching the media circus that resulted over the CP thing. SHe could have said nothing about VP and let Obama have his day.

by parahammer on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:21:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (2.00 / 2)

And again you try to make it about Obama and judge what she did as a slight to Obama. It was not. It was appeasement of her supporters. If she had said or done anything less the crowd would have gone mad. I saw lots of red eyes there. You just expected her to throw all those people away and their WORK for the party. You should have listened to Harry Reid when he spoke yesterday to the effect of giving her and her supporters space. Does anyone actually listen to out leadership? Barack does not seem upset about it.

by Iceblinkjm on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:26:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (2.00 / 1)

Jesus...get over yourselves.

If any of us are involved in any sort of battle - since we're talking truces and all - it's a battle for the direction of the country.

I could give two bowel movements of Barack vs. Hillary. I care with everything I have about the next four years because I'm a husband and a father of a very young and beautiful son.

So in that battle - really the only one that matters - I'm not interested in truces. I'm interested in f---ing winning because I know what losing this battle looks like, and it's not pretty for any of us.

We shouldn't need a "healing period" or a "truce" or a "sitdown" or "olive branches" to get together and fight for the progressive issues we supposedly all care about.

So whoever you support, if the letdown of your candidate not winning a goddamn nomination is equivalent to or greater than your letdown over the problems this country faces going unsolved, let me make this suggestion:

Screw off. Then, get over yourself, and get back in the fight.

You know...the one that actually makes a difference?

by Reeves on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:29:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (2.00 / 1)

You obviously do not understand the contribution women have made and continue to make to this party. Nor their history with this party. your lack of empathy is appalling. I suggest you refrain if you want unity.

by Iceblinkjm on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:58:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (none / 0)

Dude, my mother (a remarkable woman) would be the first to tell me to get over myself and to get back in the fight.

She was also appalled at Hillary's speech, and she's a REAL lifelong Dem, not like the phony ones who say they've supported the party their whole lives, but are now leaving because Hillary didn't win.

by Reeves on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 04:02:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (none / 0)

Spot on Reeves.

A vote for John McCain is a vote against Hillary Clinton

by realistdem on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 05:08:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Rosen: "I'm not a bargaining chip (none / 0)

What backlash? Hell the whitehouse called and congratulated Obama on the nominee but his fellow democrat cant? I remember the SNL skit a few weeks backs of Hillarys 3 qualities. Hillary supporters on here actually tried to argue is was a parody of how people see her. No it wasnt. Number quality in that skit was Im a sore loser. Shes living down to her caricature. Do we have to ease Senator Clinton into reality? There is no fight in Denver to be had. She missed a great opportunity to unite the party and show some class and dignity.

A vote for John McCain is a vote against Hillary Clinton

by realistdem on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:58:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Your truce is a ruse. Go ahead and withdraw it. (none / 0)

It's designed to get Obama supporters to admit the possibility that he's not the nominee. That's not reality.

No one is stepping on her throat "on their way" to victory. No one is abusing her in any way, and it is not "on the way" to anything. Not "on the way" to winning. Not down the road. Not in process. She lost. He won. We are looking for her to say those words so that her supporters will understand. We are looking for her to stop trying to be the story.

John McCain supports privatizing Social Security.

by Travis Stark on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:26:00 PM EST

Chips on the table (2.00 / 1)

Thank you for posting this. Rosen has every right to express her opinion. I'm sorry that she feel that way. I certainly don't and there are many of Hillary's supporters of "the highest level" and at every other level that fully support Hillary taking some time to decide, talk to Obama, make a decision, and move forward. I support Hillary in whatever decision she makes.

by grlpatriot on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:28:10 PM EST

Re: Chips on the table (none / 0)

Perhaps you're not aware but a decision has been made for her. Whether she endorses him or not, and whether she acknowledges him or not, he is the nominee.

The party is already uniting behind him, and true democrats like Feinstein, Rendell, Waters, Mondale, and Hillary Rosen are making the switch and uniting as well. I'm hearing it anecdotally. I'm hearing it on liberal talk radio shows like Bill Press' and Thom Hartmann's.

It's no disrespect to Hillary, but we can't sit idly by as she orchestrates a protracted exit for her own benefit.

The world's already moving on, and her only decision to make is how she wants to move with it. It's done.

by Reeves on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:39:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Chips on the table (none / 0)

The MSM is just a mouth piece, shilling for the highest bidder. They have been trying to push Hillary out of this race since Iowa. Didn't work then, won't work now. Technically, there is no nominee until the convention. Some of the party will get behind Obama and some won't. August is a long way off.

by grlpatriot on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 05:16:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Chips on the table (none / 0)

For weeks we heard nobody has the number, then Obama gets the number and she still doesnt acknowledge it. Shameful IMO.

A vote for John McCain is a vote against Hillary Clinton

by realistdem on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 05:05:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Too bad for Ms Rosen: (2.00 / 1)

It is unfortunate that the only way that she could see Hillary's actions was as cynical and self- serving. I am in the camp with thousands of others who are willing to stand with Hillary in her sincere concern for the future of the Democratic Party and her commitment to remain the Loyal Opposition until the "invisible" people she described last night are acknowledged and heard.

by pan230oh on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 03:59:11 PM EST

Re: Too bad for Ms Rosen: (none / 0)

Ah, so now she's the opposition of the Democrats?

I applaud your truthfulness.

by Reeves on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 04:05:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

She has sold out (2.00 / 1)

Hillary Rosen has sold out to the Obama apologist, Arianna Huffington, and her pro-Obama and anti-Clinton army. Medias bias has no limit to its reach, even when it is cloaked in sheep's clothing.

by bluestatedude on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 04:05:15 PM EST

Re: She has sold out (none / 0)

Yes, there's a new, vast-er conspiracy out ta get Hillary. Our paychecks arrive on the 1st and 15th of each month, and they're all paid from Teresa Kerry's personal bank account.

by Reeves on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 04:07:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

her conduct (none / 0)

last night was an embarassment. Instead of placating and pacifying her followers, she should have been urging them to unify around Barack and help prepare them for what her goals might be. But no. All her speech did was make some of her supporters more loathesome of Obama and some Barack supporters seething with anger at the thought of her anywhere near the Oval office.

It speaks volumes about who she is as a person to deliberately undermine one of the most historic days in history...and alot about her loyalty to deliberately undermine the nominee and head of the party. And she wonders why her negatives are thru the roof.

"Beauty, more than bitterness, makes the heart break." Sara Teasdale

by april34fff on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 04:35:46 PM EST

Chill out (2.00 / 1)

You know, people are getting way too hysterical about this. Geez, give it some distance and try to look at it objectively for a moment. If anyone here has lived through presidential elections before and payed attention, we have had many many unusual situations play out. For crying out loud the untouchable Kennedy even took it to the convention, and he wasn't even close to getting it. This election is extremely close, and some extra days of not everyone falling in line exactly as you wish will not hurt you or end the world or even change your life.

by Scotch on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 05:53:08 PM EST

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