Clinton supporters wowed with warm reception at Obama rally

[n2doc]

By Doug Grow
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The crowd kept pouring into the Xcel Energy Center. All ages. All races. All backgrounds. Young Somalis chanting "O-bama!" And older, white women, bedecked in sparkling red, white and blue and holding up a sign, "Women for Obama!''

But most noticeable was the arrival of such people as Buck Humphrey, who once had headed Hillary Rodham Clinton's Minnesota campaign. And Jackie Stevenson, a DFL activist, a feminist and a Clinton-supporting superdelegate, who at the last minute had changed her mind about attending the event. And St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who was a Clinton supporter until sometime Monday. And Rick Stafford, another Clinton superdelegate.

Former Secretary of State Joan Growe was there. And Minneapolis City Council President Barbara Johnson. And a couple of dozen other people who had invested so much energy into Clinton's campaign.
Political healing process beginning
Their presence at the event where Barack Obama declared victory shows that, at least in Minnesota, the political healing process already is beginning.

No one is making that healing easier than Obama. Last night, after he had finished the sort of speech that leaves his followers exhilarated and exhausted, Obama did not just leave the arena. Nor did he head to the nearest television camera or the nearest fat cat.

much more:

http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/06/04/2100/clinton_supporters_wowed_with_warm_reception_at_obama_rally

[Kitty Herder]

1. I've always been very impressed with Obama's graciousness.

Even when the Hillary camp has been anything but, he remains gracious.

[blm]

14. Some in our party think it's cool to be vicious and petty like Bushes to show strength, but

I always saw more REAL strength in those few who could fight fairly and show grace and elegance no matter what, because THAT is what any world leading country should seek in its president and representatives.

It appears Obama agrees.

[Kitty Herder]

27. I agree. He shows more strenght by remaining gracious than he could

by being vicious in return. It shows a more important kind of strength and an ability to remain calm and controlled in difficult circumstances.

[southern_belle]

2. Awesome! Please read the whole article. K & R

It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for this. :grouphug:

[Tinksrival]

20. I second your post! Please read all of it!

:grouphug:

[Greyskye]

40. Thirded. ;) Excellent article - go to the link and read the entirety.

:thumbsup:

[Aloha Spirit]

3. There needs to be a whole lot more of this news coverage! Thanks for the link.

[Bake]

4. Sadly, his followers here (many of them anyway) don't share Obama's graciousness.

Take a look around here today.

Bake

[n2doc]

5. Well, I guess that is why he is where he is and they are wherever they are

I wish the baiting and fighting would stop, but that seems too much to ask.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. Yep.

[Left coast liberal]

7. You know, I am not going to reward "those" kinds of posts by reading them.

It is time to stop all this baiting.

Take a page from the Obamas people!

[NatBurner]

16. basically

we're in GE mode

at least I am

[iamthebandfanman]

8. the same could be said of her supporters

i dont know why everyone has to have such a self righteous attitude as if both sides supporters havent been vicious at some point.... stop acting like someones to blame or one sides holier than thou

[Terran]

15. What is your point?

Seriously. You're not being asked to vote for his supporters. Vote for him. Read the article...please.

[Bake]

24. It was simply an observation.

I'll support the Democratic candidate, now that we have one! This was more an observation about GD/P, and if I'm mistaken, please show me exactly where.

And yes, there has been nastiness on both sides. But the Obama supporters so outnumbered the Hillary supporters here, that it just SEEMED a little lopsided.

Frankly, I wish more Obama supporters were like Obama himself. I can vote for him; I can't work with some of his supporters however.

Bake

[Terran]

29. OK thanks--and I'll agree with you.

I just get concerned when I see people post statements that seem to imply they'll base their vote on the decorum of perfect strangers in internet forums, that's all. But that isn't what you were doing. Thanks!

[TTUBatfan2008]

33. dbaker...

I guarantee you they are more civil in real life than they seem on the Internet. Everyone thinks they're big and bad when they're anonymous on the web. But in real life most of them are probably decent people. I remember when I caucused in Texas and we all got along very well with Hillary supporters. Everyone was mostly just wanting to get it over with because it was on a college campus so all of us were students and had homework to do that night. Some even had tests. The caucus was in the same room as the regular election. We were supposed to start at 7:15 PM and didn't start until 8:45 PM so by that point everyone just wanted to get it over with and it was a pretty laid back environment. Most of the Obama people, including myself, didn't have any kind of merchandise labeling us. I thought Hillary was going to win big because around 90% of the people that actually had buttons and signs, etc. were her supporters. But it turned out that the Obama supporters were the silent majority and he won 69% to 31%.

[Bake]

35. No doubt you are correct!

:hi:

Bake

[loyalsister]

23. People behave differently when they feel protected

They say what they really think.
Actually, the most shocking thing about what is happening with Hillary's campaign may be her lack of self censorship.
Public campaigns usually do not reveal so much public grief. I am speaking specifically to Hillary Clinton's legitimate grief following the loss of a long held dream.
People only wish she would restrain herself and use some political gravitas.

The internet gives people cover to react to the fact that her display last night stole the limelight from her competitor's glory.
What is ungracious about reacting to that fact?

[Bake]

25. I don't think she stole the show by any stretch of the imagination.

The headlines all night were "OBAMA CLINCHES NOMINATION."

Frankly, as a Hillary supporter, I wish she had congratulated Obama on clinching the nom last night and been gracious about it.

I don't think if she had fallen on her sword LITERALLY, it would have been enough for some people here.

Bake

[Crunchy Frog]

26. That's because they want us to kiss their ass so they can shit in our face.

Not going to happen.

[billyoc]

9. It was ultimately a Democratic Party rally, after all.

:hi:

[Barack_America]

10. "You don't spend your life fighting for women's rights and then vote for Sen. McCain."

Best quote from a great article.

Thank you so much for posting this. Now THIS is the type of thing I'd like to read more of on DU.

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

17. That was a great quote.

And I hope the majority of Clinton's supporters who are angry right now will take that to heart in November.

[sundancekid]

38. BINGO! Thanks for the putting the emphasis where it belongs

[Mezzo]

11. too bad their counterparts on DU are doing way more harm than good, and y'all know it.

[Terran]

13. Did you even read the article?

Are you voting for his supporters or him?

[Terran]

12. CLINTON PEOPLE: please read this. =]

No matter what you think of some Obama supporters here, THIS is the man you'd be voting for.

[jgraz]

32. Almost all Obama supporters like almost all Clinton supporters

The rest -- on both sides -- are simply assholes. Lucky for us, there are very few of them.

[mopinko]

39. hey, are you up to 100% yet?

c'mon, now.

[alteredstate]

18. k & r

[JerseygirlCT]

19. He has a real grace in this situations. And being generous costs him

absolutely nothing - I'm not sure why other politicians don't always see this. Being gracious only reflects well on him, and leaves doors open for unifying the party.

And he's a smart guy - he knows all that.

[NotThisTime]

21. What a great article, and what great sentiments

[Abacus]

22. Stevenson, a feminist and Clinton supporter, had to admit this: "He's very impressive."

"He shook my hand and said, 'Thank you for being here; I'm sure it's not easy,' '' said Stevenson of her meeting with Obama. "I thanked him and said that everyone involved in his campaign had been so gracious. I didn't know what to say, so I mentioned that my daughter works for a federal health clinic. And he knew right away which program I was talking about. He said, 'Oh that's wonderful.' ''

Stevenson, a feminist and Clinton supporter, had to admit this: "He's very impressive."

[flpoljunkie]

28. Terrific read! Thanks so much for posting this!

[n2doc]

30. kick n/t

[me b zola]

31. K&R

:kick:

[Cha]

34. That's our Obamas!

Graciousness to a fine art.

[cui bono]

36. Very impressive. He's got such class and compassion.

I'm so looking forward to his presidency, just wish he were more progressive, but I think he will get there if the people guide him.

[BrklynLib at work]

37. One can only hope.....

But I've spoken with a number of women like that in the last day. I think they'll come around. You don't spend your life fighting for women's rights and then vote for Sen. McCain.''