Eight years ago, I was writing an elegy for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. It included a snarky and sad line about how women must learn to accept second place. I cried while writing it.
And last night I cried again while listening to her speech claiming the Democratic nomination and acknowledging a milestone in American history.
I don’t want to write some long think piece about HRC. I read an amazing article by Joan Walsh at The Nation last night, called “Why I’m supporting Hillary, with joy and without apologies,” that really lays bare what I’ve had trouble articulating–namely, that it’s felt difficult to “come out” as a Hillary supporter this time around, but that there are plenty of legitimate reasons not to feel that way.
All talking-point issues aside, she could win my vote purely on her indefatigable stamina in the face of the staggering sexism she’s encountered throughout her career.
But the only thing I really want to say is this: please don’t ignore, discount, or generalize about the voices of those who support Hillary Clinton. She is flawed. So is Sanders. So is Trump (#bucketsofduh). So are, ahem, all politicians, all humans. But many of us have been waiting waiting waiting for this history to be made–and it IS historical, don’t dismiss that fact in your disappointment or anger; many of us are grateful there’s a mainstream candidate who fights for, say, reproductive rights; many of us feel proud, hopeful, empowered today, and we deserve that feeling. There are intelligent, compassionate, liberal-minded people of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, economic classes, and abilities who support this woman as the strong, smart, and uber-qualified (albeit, again, flawed) candidate she is, whether you want to believe that or not. HRC might not be the “revolutionary” candidate you wanted, but she’s the one we’ve got.
That’s all. Peace out, go girl, yay democracy. ❤ #ImWithHer
another writing mom 
Love this and agree wholeheartedly! I’m with her too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person