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Like millions of us, I just watched Hillary Clinton's speech, and as a voter who has been torn between two extremely impressive candidates, I was reminded of Clinton's poise and dignity (despite hiccups along the way), and couldn't help but get a bit misty eyed.
Throughout most of the debates, Hillary shied away from harping too much on the elephant in the room: the fact that she is the first woman to have made it this far as a presidential candidate. And in her, I thought, rousing and passionate concession speech today, she acknowledged this fact in a very emotionally stirring way with the following nod to the women who lived through suffrage:
"I've told you before about Florence Stein of South Dakota who was 88 years old and insisted that her daughter bring an absentee ballot to her hospice bedside. Her daughter and a friend put an American flag behind her bed and helped her fill out the ballot. She passed away soon after and, under state law, her ballot didn't count, but her daughter later told a reporter, "My dad's an ornery, old cowboy, and he didn't like it when he heard Mom's vote wouldn't be counted. I don't think he had voted in 20 years, but he voted in place of my mom."
She went on to deliver an empowering message to women everywhere:
“I was proud to be a woman but I was running because I thought I’d be the best president. But, but, but I am a woman and like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious, and I want to build an America that respects and embraces every last one of us.”
“We must make sure that women and men alike understand the struggles of their grandmothers and mothers and that women enjoy equal opportunities, equal pay and equal respect.”
“Let us resolve and work toward achieving some very simple propositions: there are no acceptable limits and there are no acceptable prejudices in the 21st century in our country.”
“It would break my heart if in falling short of my goal, I in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours. Always aim high. When you stumble, keep faith. And when you’re knocked down, get right back up. And never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on….. The path will be easier next time.”
“As we gather here today in this historic magnificent building, the 50th woman to leave earth is orbiting overhead. If we can blast 50 women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House.”--New York Times transcript
Well done Hillary. I also like that she acknowledged all of her supporters, "women and men, young and old, Latino and Asian, African- American and Caucasian, rich, poor, and middle-class, gay and straight."
What did you think?
SEE ALSO: "Did gender inequality play into the fall of Hillary?"
