Hillary Clinton Fundraiser in Los Altos Hills, California

My husband, 8 year-old son and I went to a fundraiser on Thursday night for Hillary Clinton.  It was billed as a "unity event" where Obama and Clinton Silicon Valley supporters got together to help pay Clinton's debt, munch appetizers and red, white & blue Hillary cookies, and hear Senator Clinton speak about party unity.  It was co-hosted by two of Silicon Valley's powerhouse fundraisers, who combined their considerable donor lists to get people out to help Hillary (and the party) pay off some of her $20 million campaign debt.

My husband and I supported Edwards and Obama in the primary.  Our son, however, is a die-hard Hillary fan.  When we got the invitation, we asked him if he wanted to have the chance to meet Hillary, and he said, "Yes!"  I asked what he would say to her if he got to meet her, and he said, "I want to tell her she did a good job in the election."

I thought that would be something she might like to hear, coming from a little boy.  During the primary season, he pointedly told me, pointing out his placemat with all the President's portraits on it, "I want Hillary to win because, do you see any girls here?  NO. It's a girl's turn."

The notion that "it's a girl's turn" resonated with many more people than just my son, and when we arrived at the crowded event, that much was clear.  We arrived about 15 minutes late, and I figured we would probably be waiting about an hour for her to arrive.  I was wrong.  By the time we got there, she had already begun to speak, and the crowd was packed tightly around her.  I could only see the top of her head, but could hear her words loud and clear.

She spoke about the need for party unity and the need for everyone to get behind Senator Obama's candidacy.  She said that she was proud to go back and serve in the US Senate, and continue her work there.   She said she could not stand the idea of going back to work for another four years under another Republican President.  She encouraged everyone to use all the zeal and heart they had put into her campaign into getting a Democrat elected.

McCain is an honorable person, she knows him well from their work together in the Senate.  But, she said, "He just can't be President, because it would just be more of the same failed policies of the last eight years."

She started taking questions from the crowd at this point, and someone asked her how close she thought we were realistically to having a "filibuster-proof" Senate.  She thought the Democrats would pick up 5-6 seats this time, but it would be a hard battle to get to "filibuster-proof."

A couple of people confessed to having a great deal of difficulty switching over to supporting Senator Obama and asked what they could do, or what Senator Obama's supporters could do to help them make the transition.  One asked specifically about the Democratic Convention and whether or not her name would be placed in nomination.

Senator Clinton acknowledged how hard it was for people to change gears, and that it would take time.  She thought that the Clinton delegates wanted to be heard, and that having a roll call where people could declare their support might alleviate some of the animosity by having them fulfill the job they were sent to do.  She didn't think it would change the outcome, but would make people feel better about the process.  The goal at the convention is a unified party at the end, and moving forward to elect a Democrat.

She also said that Obama supporters need to respect how her supporters feel.  They should put themselves in her supporters' shoes and imagine how they would have felt if the tables had been turned.  Many people have told her that they had never been involved in the process before, and had thrown themselves in full-force and become invested in the outcome.  For the first time ever, they invested, time, money, energy, sleepless nights, and logged thousands of miles.  It was hard to let go of something they believed in so passionately.  It's hard to turn that switch off over night, and for some it will just take time.  She noted that many of the people in the crowd were Obama supporters, and they needed to be acknowledged for trying to bridge the gap and helping out financially. 

Senator Clinton noted that she has done more than prior primary candidates to reach out and show her support of Senator Obama.  She hopes her supporters will take her lead and do the same.  She reiterated that if people supported her because of her positions on the issues, they would not think of supporting Senator McCain. 

Another person asked if somehow the roll call vote at the convention ended up in her favor, would she accept the nomination?

She laughed and said, "That's not going to happen, and I'm not going to speculate on that."

When asked whether she was being considered for Vice President, she said that was "Barack's decision and his decision alone." 

She noted that essentially, it the first decision he has to make as President.  He has to be confident that the person he chooses could be the next President, not just someone who could help him win.  She thinks he should make that his primary objective in selecting a VP.

She said she's told Obama that "the real test is not what happens in the campaign, but what happens in the White House.  If you think the campaign is hard, just wait until you get to the White House."

I heard Hillary speak at a fundraiser early on in the primary season last year.  This was a very different experience.  She spoke naturally and fluidly, and really shone when answering questions.  She had a calm grace that was not apparent on television.  This was the Hillary I had longed to see in the primary, the one I could have thrown my support behind.  It's the one that her handlers and advisors had masked, to present the Robot Woman of Steel image they felt necessary to compete with the men.  I think it's a mistake to equate "feminine" with "weak", because any woman could tell you that is the furthest thing from the truth.

At the end, my son and I inched our way up to meet her.  She looked genuinely pleased to see him and the other children at the event.  She shook his hand and and posed for pictures with him.  He took her hand, looked her in the eye, and told her, "I really wanted you to be President.  You did a good job in the election.  Thank you." 

Her eyes softened, and she said, "Thank you."

He handed her a MOMocrats button and said, "My mom would like you to have this." 

She looked at it, and with broad grin, exclaimed, "MOMocrats?  I LOVE That!"

We love you, too, Hillary.  Maybe in our lifetime, my son will get his wish and it will be a "girl's turn."  Thank you for showing us that it's not just possible, but probable.

Glennia writes at The Silent I, Kimchi Mamas, and Silicon Valley Moms Blog, when not passing out MOMocrats swag to famous Democrats. 

Photos by Glennia; copyright 2008, all rights reserved.  To view more photos of the event, click here.

Comments

[Daisy]

This is beautiful. Hillary has class, through and through.

[Celeste W]

That's a really lovely story.

[veep veep]

awww. how nice was that!?
how do i get some momocrats swag?

[lildb]

damn. your son totally choked me up.

also? watch out. ya got a (future!, not now! not yet!) looker on yr hands, G.

[Jody]

I Voted for Hillary Clinton, I will not ever in my life vote for Barack Obama,, I do think America ready for a Black president, Just not Barack Obama,, thru this whole campaign he lied flip flopped back and fouth,, went from Left to right to middle,,, He is going to screw this country so bad,, once he becomes president, I will say I will not be part of it, but I will not throw my vote away!!!!, I always voted Democrat, this will be the first time I vote republican, I will vote for McCain like alot of other Democratic are doing,, I will not blind VOte For Obama because CNN or MSnbc told me to,, with there unfair bias, not only that,,Now all barack Obama doing now he is the one starting with the Race Card,,,,,,Barack Obama don't even care about his own people that is why they protested him at his last appearance,,,,,,

[Gunfighter]

Oh look, the trolls are out.

There is a name for people who voted say for Hillary Clinton in the primaries but plan to vote for McCain in the general election. They are called Republicans.

[Jo-Ann]

Supporting Hillary then jumping to McCain? That's quite a leap. Maybe you should try out for the Olympic long jump team; I think you have a chance.

[cat/bad kitty]

Thanks for sharing this Glennia! I'm so glad to hear that Hillary is taking the high road and working so hard to get a democrat elected. She's very bright, and can help the party immensely.

Also, you're raising a great kid!

[Research Mom]

I loved this story, Glennia. Still brings a tear to my eye. Hope A appreciates later what you guys have done for him, open doors so that he could participate in a historical campaign.

[Chris Stampolis]

Glennia,

As a local superdelegate who endorsed Senator Clinton, thank you for a wonderful summary of the recent event in Los Altos Hills. Providing your son an opportunity for "up-close" interaction with a wonderful elected official gives him memories to last a lifetime.

On to Denver,
Chris Stampolis
Member, Democratic National Committee