Clinton Supporters Form Rift at DNC

Sen. Clinton called for her supporters to get behind Obama at the Democratic National Convention.
Clinton Supporters Form Rift at DNC
New York Senator and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton acknowledges a 3-minute ovation from the Democratic National Convention 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on August 26, 2008. Hillary Clinton took stage vowing to unite Democra (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
8/27/2008
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/clinton.JPG" alt="New York Senator and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton acknowledges a 3-minute ovation from the Democratic National Convention 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on August 26, 2008. Hillary Clinton took stage vowing to unite Democra (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)" title="New York Senator and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton acknowledges a 3-minute ovation from the Democratic National Convention 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on August 26, 2008. Hillary Clinton took stage vowing to unite Democra (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1833917"/></a>
New York Senator and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton acknowledges a 3-minute ovation from the Democratic National Convention 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on August 26, 2008. Hillary Clinton took stage vowing to unite Democra (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

DENVER—Sen. Hillary Clinton called for party unity and for her supporters to get behind Obama on Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention.

While the speech will likely galvanize support for Barack Obama among Clinton’s supports, it also highlights the fact that there is still a rift that the Democrats need desperately to heal. 

Indeed, in Denver tonight there are almost as many pins bearing Hillary Clinton’s name as those with Obama’s. Nearly half the delegates at the convention were Clinton supporters. And while the majority have committed to supporting Obama, some are doing so begrudgingly, and a few have gone so far as saying they will vote for McCain.

The disappointment—and sometimes resentment—is not so much about issues. Clinton supporters I talked to at the convention noted that on policy matters, the differences between Clinton and Obama were not terribly significant. Personality, and more importantly gender, seem to be the reason why some Clinton supporters still feel the sting of her defeat.

One Massachusetts delegate I spoke to was a strong supporter for Clinton. While she made clear that she’s behind Obama now, she said she was disappointed that Clinton is not on the ticket, believing Clinton was the best hope of seeing a woman in the White House in her lifetime.

In the wake of Clinton’s loss in the primaries and her absence from Obama’s ticket as a vice-presidential candidate, allegations of sexism have surfaced. And, without a doubt, portrayals of Clinton’s campaign in the American news media sometimes rang of sexism, with pundits criticizing her as too harsh, strong or opinionated.

Obama’s wife Michelle, a fiercely intellectual Harvard-trained lawyer, known early in her husband’s campaign as sardonic and straight-talking, has faced similar criticism. In her speech Monday night at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama sought to soften her image—and that of her husband—considerably.  Stressing her role as a wife and mother, she painted her family as down-to-earth people sharing the concerns of average Americans. 

Whether it is indicative of persistent sexism or not is up for debate. One Washington Post columnist stated on Tuesday, “The transformation of Michelle Obama from a bracingly proud contemporary woman—mother, wife, career woman—into a prime time Betty Crocker was sad to see.” Others have simply noted that Obama’s campaign needed to highlight the private life of the Obamas to make them more accessible and familiar.  

When asked whether she thought Michelle Obama was dumbing herself down in her public image Diane Wood, a Kentucky delegate and president of Kentucky Women Democrats said, “Probably, most women do.”

“I think she [Michelle Obama] was exactly herself last night. Her speech was down-to-earth. I was so pleased to see her up there. I think she will make a great first lady,” said Karen Coria, a female delegate from West Virginia.