Hillary Clinton Says Barack Obama "Must Be Our President"

After a bitter primary season, Hillary Clinton gave a rousing and passionate speech in support of presidential candidate Barack Obama during the second night of the Democratic Convention. She said she was a "proud supporter of Barack Obama" and "Barack Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president."

Clinton, who remembered staunch surrogate Representative Stephanie Tubbs and thanked numerous people--especially her "sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits"-- articulated why Obama had her vote and asked her supporters, "I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me?...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 sit on the sidelines." She also got the crowd going with a call-and-response type questioning of whether they wanted "four more years of the last eight years" (the audience responded "No!").

That is our duty, to build that bright future, to teach our children that in America there is no chasm too deep, no barrier too great, no ceiling too high, for all who work hard, who keep going, have faith in God, in our country, and in each other. That’s our mission, Democrats. Let’s elect Barack Obama.”

The NY Times noted that former President Bill Clinton looked on "tenderly" and tears were in the eyes of her supporters. And perhaps more powerfully, when a Times reporter asked a Clinton fan if she would vote for Obama, she replied, “Absolutely–she just told us to, didn’t she?” Here is the full transcript of her speech; video is below.

Obama, who watched her speech from Billings, Montana, said he thought she was "outstanding." He loved the "No way, no how, no McCain" line. Obama will be heading to Denver tomorrow, when his VP pick Joe Biden speaks; he will speak on Thursday night.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 27, 2008 1:17 AM

Comments [rss]

JeffreyQ

As of now Pres. Obama still in his way of making the US economy back to its stability. But did you know that banks charges, for late fees, overdrafts, ATM fees, and the like, is going up? That’s why as early as now we should learn to balance our checkbooks. Because if you don't take steps in balancing your checkbook, it may results in bad shape, and if you do, it would require you from needing a cash advance. Also, be aware that bank these days is looking to sting people with overdraft fees, so they can make up for their shoddy investments. You want them to get more of your money? Gee, I don’t think so! It would be almost worth a cash advance to figure out how to properly balance your checkbook. Hence, be more aware and always keep on mind that whatever your decisions there is an opposite reaction it may be bad or good ones.

JeffreyQ

As of now Pres. Obama still in his way of making the US economy back to its stability. But did you know that banks charges, for late fees, overdrafts, ATM fees, and the like, is going up? That’s why as early as now we should learn to balance our checkbooks. Because if you don't take steps in balancing your checkbook, it may results in bad shape, and if you do, it would require you from needing a cash advance. Also, be aware that bank these days is looking to sting people with overdraft fees, so they can make up for their shoddy investments. You want them to get more of your money? Gee, I don’t think so! It would be almost worth a cash advance to figure out how to properly balance your checkbook. Hence, be more aware and always keep on mind that whatever your decisions there is an opposite reaction it may be bad or good ones.

ma bell

maxine waters? are we talking of a representative? and a commie nontheless? hardly as prominent as colin powell, condi, or clarence thomas. and charles rangel? come on gimme a break. these aren't prominent politicians

matthew gannon

ma bell...

Maxine Waters, Charles B. Rangel, Eleanor Holmes Norton, John Lewis, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (RIP) Sheila Jackson-Lee, John Conyers, Jr., James E. Clyburn.

babyhitler

#44- you sound pretty racist to me. Why can't you tolerate my intolerance?

Barbj8

#44 "I've never had a racist thought in my life"

Never ever? Not even in your deepest darkest thoughts? Not even when you were really pissed off at someone of another race? Not even after 9/11? Maybe you should be running for president.

Rocknrope

Since when did losers get to speak at the convention?

Since those dimwitted Hilary supporters said they would vote for McCain over Obama. Who the feck are these people? Oh yeah, bitter, waspy libs, I forgot.

ma bell

baby hitler your race dividing rhetoric is what is a thing of the past. i am white, yes. i have never had a rascist thought in my life. nor have any of the people i associate myself with. are there backwoods hicks in the south that still thrive on that bullshit? yeah sure but they are the fools. a black man is about to be elected president of the united states and all you can talk about is how rascist this country is.

mjg the topic was rascism. i didn't say the republicans nominated the first black justice, nor did i say condi's policies were good. simply noting that the republicans are the one's that have blacks involved in their politics. other than obama, there hasn't been a prominent black democrat in some time.

matthew gannon

I've seen and read critical comments re: Hillary's speech and it confounds me. She was brilliant and offered an emphatic endorsement of Obama. I must have watched a different speech.

I think it was no accident she discussed women's suffrage and seemlessly linked it to the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman, connecting a woman candidate to a black candidate in the process.

Clarification for ma bell:

1. A Democrat nominated the 1st black supreme court justice.

2. Condi Rice contributed to the worst foreign policy in US History. That's not a plus for the GOP.

takethecanoli

That is one hideous outfit she had on. Bright orange? Ugh.

You haven't heard? DWI....time to pick garbage up in the median.

Actually, she is kind of shaped like a traffic cone.

Billiamsburg

When did she vomit up acid, threaten the current President's life and invite Al Qeadea to open up shop in the US?

babyhitler

#36- "the racial tensions that existed 30 years ago are largely a thing of the past" Man, it must be nice to live on a rainbow while riding unicorns all day.

abcohen

is this news?

just kidding... she should have been the VP (then we might have had a shot at winning)

theevilone

That is one hideous outfit she had on. Bright orange? Ugh.

dooWOP

Obama will be "THAT GUY" to them.

haha True dat, true dat. Pimp daddy wannabees - take note!

ma bell

i am embarrassed for you baby hitler. your view on life is sad and disturbing to say the least. it was the republicans who nominated a black woman as secretary of state, it is the republicans that nominated a black supreme court justice. the racial tensions that existed 30 years ago are largely a thing of the past. this country has been strong enough to move on from those sad times and the few that still feel that way are outcasts.

america is ready for more then you people give it credit for. america is ready for a woman president, just not that woman.

Politburo

I think some people are making too much of one out-of-context quote from one single Hillary supporter..

cucarachita

I have to admit that I'm embarrassed for my "fellow" women, if they need Hillary to tell them who to vote for. They've simply replaced the Man with the Woman, as far as who they serve. Women need to let go of the need to adore a Signifier, and start signifying in their own lives. As long as women are acting like children, they're going to only make 77 cents on the dollar, and whine about it instead of progressing.

Hillary tried to pass herself off as some kind of ersatz man to get the nomination: voting for the war, trying to act tough. She couldn't even really explain herself.

So no, Hillary was not the electable candidate. America hates women more than America hates black people. Women's rights is still a big joke to most of America. Equal rights is for men, not women. If Barack was a woman AND black and had run against Hillary, what do you think would have happened? No, America is not ready for a woman president.

babyhitler

I don't give a flying fuck about any of the politics this election. Obama can say he's re-initiating Prima Noctes for all I care and McCain can say that ben-gay is a universal right it doesn't matter. I'm voting for Obama for REVENGE! When those repubs see a black prez it's gonna be a thousandfold worse feeling than when I was sick to my stomache when Bush got voted in twice. FUCK THEM! And average joe black people are gonna feel the shame of a lifetime when Obama wins. Obama will be "THAT GUY" to them. You know, the guy, that your mother always compared yourself too and said why can't you be more like him. the seething jealousy is gonna be painful. I hope they finally feel the burden of high expectations that everyone else has felt.