As superdelegates switched over to his side with lightening speed yesterday, networks were able to call the Democratic nomination for Barack Obama before the polls in South Dakota (an HRC win, 55 to 45) and Montana (Obama wins 57 to 41) even closed. And although we have known for quite a while that it was nearly impossible for Hillary Clinton to actually win this thing, her tenacity always gave me pause whenever I started to celebrate or get excited prematurely. While I was well aware of the historical nature of the campaign, the full weight of it didn't truly hit me until last night, because I didn't really allow myself to believe that in this country that I grew up in, this country that I know and love and hate and could not live without, that something like this was possible. We have a black, major-party nominee for president. And if he plays his cards right and voters step up to the plate, he could also become president. There are few black Americans, especially older black Americans, who were idealistic enough to fully believe (and not just hope) that this could happen in their lifetimes without seeing it first with their own eyes. Barack Obama was one of them.
Of course, there's a "dark cloud" over the whole thing, as everyone kept saying on CNN last night. The cloud? Hillary Clinton. The darkness? Her refusal in her speech last night to concede, despite the fact that Barack Obama has clearly and decisively surpassed the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination. He was extremely gracious to her in his rousing-as-usual speech, but instead of matching his grace, Hillary Clinton sent supporters to her web site to "tell her what they think." An online petition there takes visitors to her donation page. HRC was skewered by the pundits, who, their voices heaving with judgment and disappointment, said that she could have done the right thing last night, and instead acted in her own interest and not country's. The buzz, among her staff, her supporters, and the media, is that Barack Obama should choose her as vice president. Barack Obama should do whatever he has to do to win. If that means choosing Hillary Clinton as his running mate, then… so. be. it. But a ticket that would have sounded like a dream to me just last year is now more like a nightmare. Clinton's refusal to acknowledge her defeat last night might have been a dark cloud, but it didn't do much to mask the glow of Obama's victory.
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Beautifully written, Lauren. I have to say, though — as an Obama supporter, I would hate to hear all the loud calls for my candidate to concede without giving us one last hurrah. So, I can't say it's so terrible for Hillary to have held off on that. She'll concede; I just thinking she didn't want her supporters to see her go down like that. Plus, at this point, she's already proven dismissive of what everyone else has to say. I wish the media wouldn't treat it like such a "dark cloud," since there are so many other angles to take, especially given how momentous his candidacy is.
Excellent post. I wrote on both sides - Hillary and Barack today. Though I was disappointed with what Hillary didn't say last night (like concede), it didn't take away from the tears of joy for Barack's victory.
Exactly my sentiments! I didn't fill the full effect of what Obama's candidacy meant until last night. My fiance was in a restaurant/sports bar in Atlanta last night and said that people were cheering and hugging when the networks declared Obama the nominee. This is truly monumental in American history.
Thats a great photo! I have yet to see a bad photo of Obama. He has some sort of supernatural photogenic quality. He always looks presidential, like a saint, or like the coolest guy you will ever meet. He's just pretty all the time. I love Michelle with him too. They make me want to fall in love with a baracky-boo too!
Jesus
I just don't get it. This is a great day in the history of Blacks, African-Americans, Afro-Americans, Browns, whatever the hell you wanna call us. But you, Soli, have come into every Obama-related post and had something negative to say. What exactly is your beef with dude? If you were ridin with HRC, then you shouldn't be that mad b/c their policies aren't that much different and it is very much known that she will have a place in his cabinet. Dude has never said one negative word towards her and has gone out of his way to show love to her. It's the media, not him. Dude has proved that he is a viable candidate that can motivate the masses. Are you not happy in the least?
You have yet to explain your beef with dude. Is it because he doesn't have much experience? And the past 20 years of the Bush/Clinton experience has gotten us so far right? It's time for a change homie. Give somebody else a chance to make it happen.
blackmaleperspective
Solitaire call us Obamanuts.
I'm proud to be an Obamanut!!!!
It sounds like her problem with BHO is personal ……
@ blkmaleperspective
calm down, everyone is allowed to have an opinion. and everyone has the right like someone else over obama. i'd rather have intelligent, honest conversation about the race instead of one-sided perspectives. that's what makes free speech so great–everyone has the chance to talk, air ideas, grow, and learn from each other…even if that means, in the end, agreeing to disagree.