Hillary Clinton officially gets nomination, makes history
She’s first woman to lead major ticket
PHILADELPHIA — On a night where Hillary Clinton made history, her friends, family and old political allies took turns extolling the Democratic presidential nominee Tuesday as a leader with the experience to keep the country safe and the heart to help those who have been forgotten.
“I give you a leader who can unite us as a nation, a leader who can break down barriers and build a better future for every American,” said Democratic Rep. John Lewis, of Georgia, a civil-rights hero, as he helped formally place Clinton’s name in nomination for the White House. “She will fight for us all with her heart, soul and mind.”
The longest and most lavish testimonial was delivered by Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, who offered a tribute that began, “In the spring of 1971, I met a girl.”
“We’ve been walking and talking
together ever since,” he said. “Hillary opened my eyes to a whole new world of public service by private citizens.”
While Hillary Clinton has been pioneering, she has also been controversial, her achievements coupled with scandal.
Polling over the years has found the former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state to be one of the most admired women in the country — but more recently, one of the most disliked and mistrusted.
History was given its due with a roll call vote in which Clinton was officially installed as the first woman to lead a major party ticket into the fall campaign.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, joined onstage by a number of women in Congress, placed Clinton’s victory in the arc that began in Philadelphia in 1776 and continued nearly a century ago when women were given the right to vote.
“We are preparing to shatter the highest, strongest marble ceiling in our country,” the California lawmaker said.
But most of the night was devoted to remedial repair work on Clinton’s image.
One speaker after another from the assorted worlds Clinton has inhabited — politics, women’s advocacy, child welfare, education reform — sought to offer a more human portrayal than that of a striving politician, embattled lately over her use of a private email server to conduct government business.
There was talk of playing make believe on family vacations. Comforting women whose children had died violently.
Fighting for health benefits for police and firefighters after Sept. 11, 2001. Hiring a foster child, who used a trash bag as his suitcase, to work as an intern in her Senate office.
“I felt seen and heard for the first time in my life,” said
the young man, Jelanie Freeman.
The protest and anger that suffused the convention’s first day seemed to fade, at least inside the hall.
Cheered instead of booed, as she was Monday, Clinton officially secured the nomination after the 90-minute roll call.
The result was preordained when Clinton’s chief rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, abandoned his candidacy and gave an enthusiastic endorsement, then followed up Tuesday by urging his backers to end their rowdy resistance.
“It is easy to boo, but it’s harder to look your kids in the face who would be living under Donald Trump,” Sanders said of the GOP nominee at a breakfast with California delegates. “Trump is the
worst candidate for president in the modern history of this country.”
It was a harsh view widely shared inside the convention hall — where speakers repeatedly characterized the Manhattan business tycoon as a heartless bigot who refused to rent apartments to minorities and a sexist who has incessantly demeaned women.
South Dakota’s votes delivered the prize that eluded Clinton eight years ago when she first ran for president.
The state-by-state balloting, traditionally a chance for good-natured bragging, briefly turned emotional when Sanders’ brother, Larry, cast his ballot as a delegate for Democrats living abroad.
A politician in Britain, Larry Sanders’ voice grew thick as he discussed his parents, their hard life and how proud they would be of “Bernard,” the candidate for president.
Bernie Sanders teared up as he watched.
In a bit of stagecraft to promote harmony, an announcement of the tally was delayed until Vermont, which passed on its turn in order, concluded the roll call by casting 22 of its 26 votes for Sanders.
He rose to his feet, took the delegation microphone and moved that the vote be made unanimous for Clinton. As his wife, Jane, embraced him, a sea of blue and gold Clinton signs blossomed on the convention floor and delegates, on a voice vote, roared their approval.
“Finally, finally it’s happening,” said Ruth Musser-Lopez, 63, a Clinton delegate from Needles, Calif.
But the choreography — and the joy many felt — did not ease the disappointment of a relatively small but stubborn band of Sanders supporters.
Several dozen delegates marched out of the hall.
“It is easy to boo, but it’s harder to look your kids in the face who would be living under Donald Trump.”
Bernie Sanders