I turned on the convention tonight convinced that we need to get behind Clinton

[PatrickforO]

not because we're excited about her, but because we cannot allow Trump in the WH.

Uh...clearly not allowing Trump near the WH is still a really good idea.

But something else happened.

I listened to those speeches - the first responder from New York, the politician from New York that grew up in Queens who asked 'Where was Trump?' Then there was the sandy haired guy from Nebraska who had a rare form of dwarfism, America Ferrara and Lena Dunham, and finally Bill.

Honestly, I had no idea Hillary Clinton had done so much over her lifetime. So many accomplishments. And I had no idea she cares so deeply about people. Sure, a lot of the convention is for show and this one is real slick and well choreographed. But tonight's speeches showed me a Hillary Clinton I frankly did not know existed. One who calls before a surgery or to offer support before an important event. Someone human who cares maybe more about getting stuff done than about getting elected.

So, I am supporting Clinton now. My vote will not be 'against Trump' but FOR Clinton.

That's new. I'm feeling pretty good after learning what I did tonight.

One other thing: My wife commented that our convention is SO much better because we're talking about love and helping people and positive change and all the Republicans are doing is sowing hatred, racism and divisiveness.

Am I drinking the Kool Aid? I don't think so. This election presents a starker choice than we have ever had in history, and now that I've learned a little more about the humanness of Clinton I'm going to finally say it -

I'm with her.

[leftofcool]

1. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am personally glad to have you on Team Hillary.

[griffi94]

2. A lot of people tend to miss that

Because for 25 years RW media has kept up a constant steady
smear campaign against the Clintons.

[world wide wally]

25. On the bright side of that... They are running out of slime

Kind of like "rope-a-dope"

[stopbush]

3. I'm happy you've seen the light on Hillary.

Seriously.

I will say that it's been a difficult year at DU for those of us who have been supporting Hillary all along for EXACTLY those things that we knew about her, only to hear from our fellow DUers that she was a cold, calculating, war hawking corporate shill.

As Bill said, there's the real Hillary, and then there's the cartoon version. I'm with the real Hillary.

[Lucinda]

14. + eleventy billion

[NBachers]

17. You're right- there were a few places and people here where I could freely support Hillary.

If I wasn't in the "Hillary Safe Zones," I had to weigh whether I wanted to expose myself to attacks, condemnation, and ridicule.

It felt like my home was not safe any more.

I'm glad to see the Hillary support growing and out front here now.

[Sheepshank]

4. Very well said. Thank you for your open honesty.

[C_U_L8R]

5. We've all been fed the same cartoon

And it certainly is refreshing and inspiring
when someone helps us see the real Hillary.

[DemonGoddess]

6. K&R!

Thank you for this! The Hillary you heard about is the Hillary so many of us have believed in for years!

[sarae]

7. Good to read...

The more stories like this I hear, the more confident I feel about winning in November. Thank you.

[Koinos]

8. Bill provided truckloads of factual information from a unique perspective.

But the whole day has been very enlightening, to say the least. I am very enthusiastic at this point.

It is sad that naysayers close their eyes and ears to Hillary's actual accomplishments. I guess they have too much emotional energy invested in the "made up" version of Hillary.

[frazzled]

9. I'm so glad you took the time to listen

It's bewildered me all season how and why Hillary Clinton is seen as "unlikeable" or "untrustworthy" by so many. I had taken the time early on in the primary to learn about her life and work across the years, from her college activism and various efforts with the Children's Defense Fund, her work in legal aid and then as First Lady in Arkansas, etc. I had been very impressed. I'd even read some of the personal testimonies from friends and colleagues about her very warm and caring relationships.

But even I was surprised tonight at the stories from regular people she not only helped but whom she continued to contact and follow over the years, impacting their lives in deep ways.

I was also impressed by the broad scope of issues she has taken on, and the depth and rigor with which she has given them, always pushing for change. She truly is a progressive who gets things done. Real things for real people.

These were issues we so very rarely see pushed to the foreground in conventions--bread and butter, human issues. Of course, it was selective and meant to convince, but there was a lot to select from!

Tonight was an attempt to humanize Hillary Clinton. And from the sound of your post, it seems like the evening succeeded. So glad you have such an open mind that you were able to look beyond past misconceptions and get on board!

[KT2000]

10. Good post!

I feel that way too.
For far too long the media has defined her for us through the bogus investigations. When they can't get her on anything they call her a liar. The republicans destroy good people.

[63splitwindow]

11. K & R

[Firebrand Gary]

12. K&R

[SunSeeker]

13. Yay!!

[Maru Kitteh]

15. THANK YOU, for keeping an open heart and open mind.

Those of us who have been watching her for years know some of this story, but it is so new to many. She doesn't brag about her accomplishments or spend a bunch of time defining herself. It's kind of frustrating sometimes because it opens her up to being defined by others. She's a very warm person who loves deeply.

But I digress. Thank you. Deeply.

[ffr]

16. You and I can make it a landslide and give BS a lot of clout too

With democratic majorities in both houses and HRC at the helm, Bernie Sanders will definitely have more pull. You vote, I vote, and we get others convinced of the change we need and to get with a democratic winning team, the next four years could be truly great.

Just need to get repukes out of the way.

[unitedwethrive]

18. It was a great night!

[lillypaddle]

19. Yay!

[BooScout]

20. Great post!

[JSup]

21. Thank you...

...for seeing a bit of the Hillary that I know and not that straw-woman that gets paraded around on a stick by the media and Republicans.

You just made my day.

[auntpurl]

22. Lovely post!

Thank you.

[sheshe2]

23. Great post, Patrick.

We are stronger together.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. Obama proved that tough pragmatic positivity wins elections. Hillary took notes. . . nt

[workinclasszero]

26. Nice!

[Angry Dragon]

27. kick

[blueseas]

29. Thanks for this!

[DinahMoeHum]

30. I've said numerous times here. . .whoever wins the Dem nomination. . .

. . .will have my support.

[LAS14]

32. So GLAD to hear this! Thanks. nt

[Laser102]

33. Yay!!! I love Bernie and what he did for our party. We need all his people to come on board and

fight the orange menace with us. This blob can not be our president.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

35. aww!! heart this post!

[Skidmore]

36. You don't get the respect and support she has by

not being able to work with others. I've had bones to pick with her at times in the past. However, I have always respected her integrity. We all make mistakes at times and there's not a one of us on earth who hasn't changed our minds or behavior because we've learned new information or had new experiences. I'd rather support a well rounded person who is informed. Hillary has been very poorly treated by the right and the left over the years, even as she has stood by people who probably didn't deserve it. I'm happy that people are getting to know her.

[glennward]

37. It has been there all the time. Sure she makes mistakes, sure she "seems" calculating but I call that

"cautious" She does a bad job of tooting her own horn and if she did she would be criticized for it.

The GOP and other detractors have done a really good job of defining her for us and a lot of people have bought into their nastiness...and some just want to believe their crap.

Thanks for your post. You had real courage in posting that.

[BlueMTexpat]

39. She's literally caught between a rock and

a hard place. No matter what she does or doesn't do, she gets more criticism than just about anyone else. Then she also gets criticism for things she had nothing to do with but little to nothing of the credit for good things that people take for granted because they have no idea that she was in part responsible for that particular benefit.

She's not only twice damned; she's at least thrice damned.

[BlueMTexpat]

38. Thanks so much

for coming into the light and leaving the smears and slurs behind.

[PatSeg]

40. I had the same reaction

I was really impressed with everything I heard. I often felt that Hillary is probably very good at whatever job she has at the time, but she often lacked the political skills to persuade people. In 2008 I thought she was over managed and seriously mismanaged by her advisers. I am seeing a much different politician this time, more self-assured and relaxed.

Now to hear so many stories that I hadn't heard before, I feel comfortable supporting her. I think I am becoming a little bit excited even.

[fleabiscuit]

41. She's pretty amazing. nt

[mercuryblues]

42. You are seeing the things

that her supporters have known. Why they were rightfully upset when her experience was ignored. Why we were upset when people said she was cold hearted. Why people insist on saying Bill is the only reason she is where she is. She is her own woman. Not perfect, human. Sure she has taken jobs that seem calculating, like on the board of Wal-mart. What everyone excoriates her on is that she didn't push for unions.

What is not mentioned is that she pushed WM to hire and advance more women, and they did while she was a board member. They reverted back to their old ways when she left.

She also used her position on the board for access to the big wigs. She convinced Walton and others to support a tax program needed to overhaul the edu system.

she also worked on environmental issues. She convinced the board to make some changes. Like recycling motor oil, skylights to cut down on electricity and a few more.

Did she do this all by herself, no. She worked with others to get it done. You also have to remember that this was the early 80's to the 90's. She was the 1st and only female board member for WM at that time. (another was hired around the time she left.) WM has always been anti-union.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/us/politics/20walmart.html?_r=0

A special team at Wal-Mart handled those activities, but Mr. Walton was vocal in his opposition to unions. Indeed, he appointed the lawyer who oversaw the company’s union monitoring, Mr. Tate, to the board, where he served with Mrs. Clinton.

During their meetings and private conversations, Mrs. Clinton never voiced objections to Wal-Mart’s stance on unions, said Mr. Tate and John A. Cooper, another board member.

“She was not an outspoken person on labor, because I think she was smart enough to know that if she favored labor, she was the only one,” Mr. Tate said. “It would only lessen her own position on the board if she took that position.”

She used her position to do a lot of good. Yet is raked over the coals for not getting WM unionized. Know what I do about Clinton, I am reasonably sure she learned a lot on how corporations fight off unions and use it.

[athena]

43. There are lots of lies floating around about HRC.

Sadly, most people tend to repeat what they hear, rather than check to make sure that what they're hearing is true. It's human nature. We just don't have the time to fact-check every statement, so if someone we trust says something, we assume it's true.

I think that many people will see that Hillary is in fact the very opposite the evil caricature she's been made out by the right-wing to be.

[Blue Idaho]

44. Very classy and well said.

I'm with you.

[Worktodo]

45. She's the right person for the job

I watched a few hours of her Secretary of State confirmation hearings years ago. I was very impressed with how she handled herself and her level of knowledge. When people describe her as "highly intelligent" I believe that. It matches up with what I saw.

I've also learned a lot during the convention. I don't think it's kool-aid, I think she'll do a great job.

The fact that Trump has any footing at all (especially after the disasterous comments about NATO and now Russia not to mention a thousand other things) really has been shocking to me.

[BigBearJohn]

46. Funny you should say this, the SAME thing happened to me. Mea culpa, Hillary

[Pluvious]

47. Thanks for sharing that

My experience is similar to your's, only driven by my ire towards the ruthless banking cartels. The fact Hilary is working closely with both Bernie ("he's dangerous&quot and Elizabeth ("she must be neutered&quot , gives me hope and earns my support.

[ismnotwasm]

48. With arms wide open

Welcome

[niyad]

49. k and r

[LisaM]

50. Nice!

Love this post.

[bagimin]

51. k&r

[billhicks76]

52. No Trump = Yes Clinton

People may not like the choice or lack thereof but they really have no alternative and must vote for Hillary to avoid chaos.