Hillary does Denver
By Lisa Fabrizio
web posted August 18, 2008
Dateline - Denver: Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 8:00 PM:
Thank you, thank you. Oh, hi there, how are you? Why, thanks so much! Nice to see you again Michelle. Call me for that cookie recipe, okay? Just kidding! Thank you, thank you, thank you all so very much!
Hellooooooo Denver! Thanks for that wonderful welcome. It’s great to be here with so many of my fellow Democrats! Makes me feel a mile high!
Wasn’t that a lovely rendition of our National Anthem by my good friend Barbra Streisand? It makes you proud to be an American! As you all know, the two of us go way back. Many were the nights we stayed up late over coffee in the White House in case that phone should ring at 3:00 AM. Ha, ha, ha. Thanks Barbra, call me later.
Four years ago, a very young man took this podium and made his mark on the world by delivering the keynote address at the convention which nominated true patriots and great Americans, John Kerry and John Edwards. And although they were swift-boated by an ultra right-wing cadre and lost the election, a spark was lit that night by that young man, whose name was Barack Obama! Yes it was!
He was a fresh face, a clean slate so to speak, utterly devoid of the worldly ways of politics. Yet, despite his extreme youth and seeming lack of experience, he went on to defeat a political carpetbagger and win the Illinois Senate seat. From this remarkable beginning, he made a name for himself in that august body in a remarkably short time and decided that it was his duty to take his message of hope and change beyond a mere handful of jaded lawmakers and deliver it to the entire world!
This, as you know, my fellow Democrats, has earned him the ire of those on the right. John McCain and his thugs have likened Barack to Paris Hilton. Now, I and my husband know Paris Hilton; we’ve entertained Paris Hilton; and believe me, Barack Obama is no Paris Hilton!
Speaking of my husband, tomorrow night you will hear from my partner in life, love and legislation. A man with whom I shared everything and he with me; including our faith, our dedication, our views on the direction we wanted for this country and of course, its vital national security secrets. He will reiterate his ringing endorsements of Barry and put to rest Republican claims that race has any place in this campaign.
But make no mistake about it. These Republican operatives will continue to harass good men like John Edwards using the same weapons of political mass destruction that they employed against my husband. They will use their influence over the mainstream media to constantly bring up subjects like the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko and Barry’s middle name; as if Hussein would have been his own choice! Believe me, Barack’s enemies are ruthless!
Barack and I have worked and will work side by side to ensure that America will be safe and secure. Why, just a few weeks ago as the Russian tanks rolled toward Tsblisi--which as you know, is the capital of Georgia--Barack called me from Hawaii for news of the invasion. I assured him that, as a longtime member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who has years and years of experience dealing with critical national security issues, the situation was well in hand.
And when Barack was criticized for not visiting our valiant troops on his overseas tour last month, luckily I was able to stand in for him at Fort Drum, New York where I greeted our wounded soldiers and promised them that I would continue my efforts to see to it that they received the best care possible. It is they who defend our cherished way of life and safeguard our treasured democracy.
And so, in the interests of preserving our party’s glorious history of celebrating our country’s democratic tradition of counting every vote--a tradition to which both Barack and I are deeply committed--I propose that we demonstrate our faith in that tradition by honoring the requests of those who desire a floor vote.
Of course this will all be just a formality. As I said a few weeks ago, it’s the best way for my delegates to feel like they've had a role and that their legitimacy has been validated. It's as old as Greek drama. There's a catharsis. Everybody comes, and they want to yell and scream and have their opportunity, and I think that's all to the good.
And after it’s over and Barack has legally and morally secured the nomination, we will go forward together to the citizens of all 50 states; the contiguous 48 and Alaska and Hawaii. We will especially concentrate on those most important to our party like New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Michigan that were so good to me in giving me the majority of their votes. And I have complete confidence that these millions and millions of Democratic voters will transfer their blind allegiance from me to Barack.
Together, we will end the stranglehold that the Republican minority wields over the Congress, restore our reputation with the rest of the world and without a doubt, ensure that the best candidate will win in November!
Thank you and good night! 
Lisa Fabrizio is a columnist who hails from Connecticut. You may write her at mailbox@lisafab.com.