Obama officially nominated as Clinton urges unity
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff
DENVER -- With one dramatic and magnanimous gesture, Hillary Clinton today made her one-time opponent, Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, making a surprise appearance on the convention floor to ask the thousands assembled to abandon a state-by-state vote and declare Obama the winner by acclamation.
"On behalf of the great state of New York, with appreciation for the spirit and dedication of all who are gathered here, with eyes fixed firmly on the future, with the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory,'' Clinton said from the floor of the Pepsi Center, surrounded by a crush of supporters and nearly drowned out by cheers, "let's declare in one voice, right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and will be our president.''
With that, she made the motion to end the roll call vote -- as well as her own lengthy quest for the presidency.
An ebullient crowd answered "Yeah!'' when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked if someone would second the motion, and again to pass the motion. Then, a live band played "Love Train,'' the throngs of Democrats joined hands, swaying and singing.
The roll call vote was a formality, since Obama had already sewn up the nomination. But Clinton supporters -- some of them still smarting over what they saw as unfair treatment of the New York senator during the campaign -- wanted an opportunity to cast their first ballot votes for Clinton and give her the recognition they believe she deserves.
Today's choreography -- following Clinton's Tuesday night speech calling for party unity -- underscored Clinton's wish to move on.
"There are a lot of people who are still healing,'' said Nili Lange, a delegate from New Mexico who cast her individual vote for Clinton before the roll call. But most Clinton backers will rally around Obama as the election nears, she predicted.
The roll call, in which states are called in alphabetical order, appeared designed to have Clinton deliver the final votes making Obama the nominee. Even states that had voted heavily for Clinton during the primaries cast a majority for Obama, and Arkansas -- while proudly noting its place as Clintons' adopted home state -- cast all of its 47 votes for Obama.
New Hampshire, too, which rescued Clinton's presidential hopes by making her the first woman to win a major party presidential primary, also cast all 30 of its votes for Obama, with officials saying they were heeding Clinton's call for unity. Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray, a Clinton supporter, and Governor Deval Patrick, an early Obama backer, divided the Bay State's votes 65 for Obama and 52 for Clinton, although she won the state handily Feb. 5.
California passed, as did Illinois, Obama's home state, and New Mexico. That brought the vote to New York, and Clinton, accompanied by Senator Charles Schumer and Governor David Paterson, pushed through an excited crowd and took the microphone.
At that point, Obama had 1,549 votes of the 2,210 needed and Clinton had 341.
"I move that Senator Obama of Illinois be selected by this convention by acclamation as the nominee of the Democratic Party,'' she said.
The convention here has been clouded somewhat by divisions between Obama and Clinton supporters, and some party officials worry that the fissure could cost Obama votes in the fall. Both the candidates and the convention architects have sought to heal those wounds at the party's mass meeting this week.
Even the selection of speakers officially nominating Obama was made with an eye toward unity. They included an Iraq war veteran from Tennessee who is a registered Republican, a Florida congresswoman who had been one of Clinton's most dedicated supporters, an African-American congressman from Mississippi, and a senator from Colorado, a state central to the Democrats inroads into the Mountain West.
Hours before the roll call, Clinton told an emotional gathering of her delegates that she was releasing them so they could vote for Obama. Many in the crowded ballroom yelled back, "No!"
"I want you to know that this has been a joy," Clinton told them, according to the Associated Press. "Yes, we didn't make it. But, boy, did we have a good time."
Thats a very deceiving link title. I want to be able to look at the headlines and know whats in the news. Having a title of "clinton just formally nominated" that links to an article saying almost the opposite and No roll call yet is wrong.
special to hillary, just a few reports on mitt romney. he lives in town next to us and thanks barthe was governer and now the worst streets in new england are in his town but of course hes moving on. he droped the tax rate from 5.5 to 5 but he raised the fees on realtors hairdressers builders and all other blue colered workers to double and more so instead of paying $150.00 in taxes we pay thriple in fees. he said his sons were doing the same service helping get elected as if they were in irak.. hillary please read''''''''''''' thanks bart
READ HILLARY ''''''''''''
Of course she is going to say nice things He paid off her dept when she was running She owed him to be nice She is such a Phony like her Cheating Husband,
Just like when she faked cried in N.H to get votes. I can't believe people are that Gullable to believe her. and people Wonder why the world is like it is now Cause people that fall for her crap She puts on a act. and people fall for it every time,
Come on, give the Clinton's a break. Bill was the best president in the 20th century and he and Hillary, despite their faults, have given their life to making this country a better place. For all of you complaining, " Have you or would you give your life to the politics of this country?" Try living somewhere other than America. This is the greatest country in the world and the Clinton's are and have been part of keeping American the land of the free.
Victoria
This quote by a Clinton supporter says it all --
"Nancy Saboori, a delegate from Massachusetts, was visibly upset at the end of Clinton's speech, according to the AP account.
"She doesn't have the right to release us," Saboori argued. 'We're not little kids to be told what to do in a half-hour.' "
You fight the good fight, and if you lose, you lose. For some reason, Hillary's supporters seem to think she was "entitled" to the nomination, and that Obama did something fundamentally wrong by even running.
Now, can we move past the whiney pathos being exhibited by the last few vocal Clinton supporters? I'm no Hillary fan, but she has shown a whole lot of class and grace the past couple of days. Time for her followers to follow suit and GET OVER IT, and support Obama...unless, of course, they really DO want McCain to win.
I really felt like typing something intellectually here, but after giving it a moments thought, I'll just have to say "whatever". 58 years old and tired of whiners
It amazes me that the bitter Hillary supporters are more concerned with themselves than with the future of this company. If you supported Hillary fo the ideals she espoused than why can you not listen to her now.
I am grateful to Hillary and proud of how she has set aside her personal ambitions for the greater good of the party and the greater good of the country. She has been wonderful in what she has done at the convention.
Her crazy PUMA supporters and others I have listened to being interviewed on television are only in it for there own personal interests. Nancy Saboori and others, if they are true Hillary supporters, will listen to her and stop the BS they are putting out there. I heard the woman who started Clintons for McCain actually say on national television that she has proof that Obama was a muslim and attended a midrasa when he was a child. This crazy woman sounds like a Republican plant.
I have also heard, and maybe somebody else has more information, that Nancy Saboori donated to John McCain's in previous elections. If this is correct then we see her true colors.
These off-the-deep end supporters need to stop there whining and their destructive behavior. As stated in another post. They are acting like school children who don't know how to play with the other kids at school. Either we play by their rules and give them the attention they are seeking, or they will break the toys so the others can't use them
Just grow up!
I find it odd that while Obama received the nomination and made history, Hillary Clinton's picture is featured for this article. I understand this has been a historic battle for the nomination and she should celebrate a hard fought and very successful campaign, but the battle is over and Obama has been chosen. His picture should be front and center.
You may think I'm an Obama supporter but I voted for Hillary in the primary. Democrats must recognize that the goal of the party (electing a democratic president) outweighs having supported the losing candidate. I hope Hillary runs again, but I would rather move forward and focus on the ultimate party goal.
You must be living in an alternate reality Victoria. For the record, Bill Clinton was one of the most dishonest president's in this great country's history. One of only 2 presidents to get impeached... let's not forget "whitewater", Monica Lewinski, "don't ask, don't tell", reduction of the military, and oh, BTW - we trained Osama Bin Laden on Clinton's watch... yeah, the Clintons' have done a heck of a job making this country a better place. Wow... how delusional.
I believe that the country is feeling buyer's remorse because of the early media persuasion to buy into the rock star rhetoric of Barak Obama. I will vote for him, purely because of the importance of electing a more balanced, if not more liberal, Supreme Court.
Hillary's speech last night at the convention was one of the most masterful, generous, democratically supportive, and presidential I have heard in my lifetime. I am very sad that she will not be our next President.
And I thumb my nose at those who maintain an inexplicable hatred towards Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. I believe that this hatred is deep-rooted misogyny in the hearts of limited Americans who just can't stand the fact that Hillary is a powerful, confident, and capable woman, who has fought and will continue to fight for a fair deal for all Americans.
I have read comments by Obama's supporters that they would vote for him even if he murdered someone or even if he picked Mickey Mouse for his vice president. What will these same supporters do if Obama pushes an issue that won't be in the best interest of the United States? Will they support him no matter what issue he tries to push?
Sam hits it on the head - Obama won, they need to let go and move on. Kind of reminds me of those people who put crosses on the highway for family & friends lost - Get over it! Victoria needs an oxygen tank and a reality check - Contrary to what some think, the Clintons do *not* walk on water, nor are they the greatest thing since sliced bread. You did get one thing right - They are the consummate politicians and will do & say whatever it takes to stay in power. Paula gets a nod, too.... ;-)
All of that being said, is it me, or do *most* people out there wish we could just vote and get this over with? This whole process has gone on for WAY too long! Step up to the podium, tell us what you're gonna do and how you're gonna do it, don't say one PEEP about what the other guy did or didn't do (...I could care less when I'm listening to you try to convince me to vote for you), then step down and let us vote.
Nah.... That sounds WAY too simple...... ;-)
And this is news how? Seriously.... if there is a person on this planet that didn't know month's ago that this was going to happen especially after the only other candidate (Hillary Clinton) quit the race. It's like waiting til the final buzzer of game 6 before saying that the Celtics are the NBA Champions even though they were leading by 25 points for most of the 3rd and 4th quarters
"Best president of the 20th century"? Good lord, it seems that history education in Massachusetts has gone by the wayside. Let me throw a few names at you (none of whom philandered with interns)...Roosevelt (both Teddy and Franklin), JFK, Ronald Reagan, Harry S Truman... All much more successful
The guy said best president not best husband..what does being faithful to your wife have to do with successful economic and foreign policy? Just because I wouldn't want him to marry my daughter doesn't mean I wouldn't want him to make decisions that would affect my pocketbook or my safety. Einstein was unfaithful many times over..did that make him a crappy physicist? You moral police crack me up.
Historic? I think the Green Party bagged that cat when it nominated Cynthia McKinney as their Presidential candidate, and Rosa Clemente as her running mate. Green Party has also been the first political party to nominate a native-American as vice-presidential candidate in the past. That's what's called progressive - the Democrats come a far second. So why does the MSM ignore such historic moments and conducts a black-out of news that involves third-party candidates? Check out Democracy Now website (www.democracynow.org) that is much more comprehensive in its coverage and doesn't do blackout like Boston Globe does.
And all those whiny Clinton supporters at least have some choice if they still want to vote for a woman. ;)
Hillary is a manipulating,decieving woman... oh and by the way... and also the greatest hypocrit there is... Yesterday showed once more why I am right!
Obama.... he is the one and only!
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