August 27, 2008 06:39 AM UTC

"Who were you in this for?"

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• by: Phoenix Rising

Tonight Hillary delivered what should be the death blow to the ideals of the PUMAs.

As the introductory video scrolled through, I wondered – is this really going to be the unifying speech we need to put the final nail in the coffin of party division?  Then Hillary stepped up to the podium…

She started off with a simple “vote” for Obama, then moved into a sort of reminiscence of her campaign – her ideals, her goals, her accomplishments.  “Oh, great,” I thought, “she got distracted by her ego.”  And she kept going, bringing all of her supporters along with her on that trip down a very happy memory lane.

Then, when everyone was on board the bus, she brought it ’round to the DNC and Obama HQ.  She recalled some of the people in need she met during the campaign who were in need – a marine, a mother, a son…  She asked “were you in it for me, or were you in it for them?”  She said “there’s not a vote to spare” if we want to get our country back on track.  And then she invoked the women (and men) of Seneca Falls, and Harriet Tubman of the Underground Railroad and called on everyone to “just keep goin’,” and to get going to elect Barack Obama.

While the rest of the red meat and hope shared by those supporters of all candidates was great, what everyone was looking for – and what Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered with mastery and finesse – was a call to unity and purpose.  Message received, with gusto and gratitude.

Thank you, Senator Clinton.