“Madam President,” chanted supporters, as Hillary Clinton sealed the Democratic Party nomination for the President of the U.S. on Tuesday night. The 68-year-old former First Lady and former Secretary of State will be the first woman to run for the most powerful office in the world on the ticket of either of the two major parties in the country.
“She is the best change-maker I have known in my whole life,” her husband and former President Bill Clinton said, in a speech in which he narrated the story of his arduous efforts to woo Hillary — she rejected his marriage proposal twice – in the early 1970s as she pursued her passion for social change.
‘Best friend’“The third time was the charm,” Mr. Clinton recalled. “You remember that house you like?” I said, “While you were gone, I bought it, and you have to marry me now.” We were married in that little house on October 11, 1975. I married my best friend,” Mr. Clinton said.
Charm, he does best, and Mr. Clinton hardly had to strain to electrify the crowd. Still popular 15 years after he left office, Mr. Clinton recalled his days in office as an era of prosperity and hope for all Americans and credited his wife for a lot of it. The former President also praised his wife for her work as the Secretary of State.
“She flew all night long from Cambodia to the Middle East to get a ceasefire that would avoid a full-out shooting war between Hamas and Israel, to protect the peace of the region. She backed President Obama’s decision to go after Osama Bin Laden.”
The camaraderie at the Democratic convention was unmistakable and the array of speakers by itself was a show of the Democratic Party’s vision of America. A former black attorney general, a serving white police chief, disability and women activists, black mothers who lost their children to violence — all told the same story in different ways: Electing Ms. Clinton was the only option for them.
Support pours inA group of black kids — born in crime-prone neighbourhoods of New York but educated through a special effort supported by Ms. Clinton — recited William Henley’s poem Invictus. “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”
“Black Lives matter” slogans boomed in the arena as Pittsburgh police chief Cam McLay spoke about the need for better relations between the police and different communities. Ms. Clinton’s vision for national security was emphasised as much as her idea of an inclusive America, by several survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The unity stage was set by Mr. Sanders who called for a suspension of the voting process as it was under way and suggested that the convention elect Ms. Clinton unanimously. From then on, there was no ‘Bernie Bernie’ calls. It was only ‘Hillary, Hillary’. When Larry Sanders, a delegate representing overseas Americans, rose in support of his brother Bernie Sanders, it was a poignant moment.
“I want to bring before this convention the names of our parents Eli Sanders and Dorothy Sanders. They did not have easy lives and they died young. They would be immensely proud of their son’s accomplishments. They loved him.”
