Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | by nathan

“No Way, No How, No McCain”

As if there was any doubt, let me reiterate: I didn’t vote for Hillary Clinton, but it made me a little sad not to, because I really think she’s brilliant and that she’d have made an excellent President. I just happened to think the moment, now, in 2008, called for the particular brand of leadership, thought, and inspiration that Barack Obama offers, and I stand by that choice.

I’ve never understood the intense hatred that’s been leveled at Hillary Clinton since the early 1990’s. On many more occasions than I can count or remember, I’ve listened to someone rant about her, and when I asked, "Why do you hate this woman so much?" I received a blank stare, the person unable to tell me why, exactly, Hillary Clinton filled him or her with such revulsion. A few of those people at least respect, if not support, Hillary now; at the very least I think it’s unwise to underestimate her.

The people for whom I have little respect are the PUMAs, and I think that Hillary’s speech at the Democratic National Convention last night helped to rebut most, if not all, of their gripes and to make Hillary’s support of Obama - pragmatic though it may be - very clear. As far as I’m concerned, she knocked it out of the park, and, like when she gave her famous concession speech in June, I was a little sad that this wasn’t her moment, that 2008 wasn’t her year, no matter how much better a candidate I think Obama is. Here’s the speech; well worth watching. And in case you’re wondering, yeah, it’s likely I’ll be doing this all week.