I have never voted for Hillary Clinton. Technically I have voted against her twice.

[democrattotheend]

Last edited Thu Sep 15, 2016, 11:01 PM - Edit history (2)

I say "technically" because in both 2008 and 2016, I felt that I was voting for her primary opponent, not against her.

But I am proud to vote for her now. I was mostly at peace with it since the end of the primary, but the past 48 hours have made me more excited to vote for her than I have been until now. I am proud of the courage she showed in calling a spade a spade by calling out Trump's racist supporters as "deplorable." I admire the fact that she pushed through despite her illness and feel sorry for her that she had to do so without disclosing the pneumonia due to Trump's ridiculous conspiracy theories about her health. The fact that she was willing to keep going until she (almost) collapsed is a sign of strength, not weakness, IMO.

I live in a very safe blue state. I don't have to vote for Hillary if I don't want to. I decided several months ago that I wanted to, but now, for the first time, I am really fired up to do so. As Bernie put it so eloquently at the Convention, I am "proud to stand with her tonight."

#ImWithHerNowMoreThanEver

On edit: I posted an expanded version of this post on DailyKos if anyone wants to read the longer version: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/15/1570708/-I-ve-never-voted-for-Hillary-Technically-I-ve-voted-against-her-twice

[still_one]

1. wow

[democrattotheend]

2. Wow what?

Wow that I never voted for her before or that I am proud to support her now?

If you are wondering why I never voted for her before, it's because I moved to New York after she had resigned from the Senate to become SOS. I would have voted for her for Senate in 2000 and 2006 had I been a New York voter then.

[still_one]

4. Wow that you made a very strong statement.

[calimary]

9. Another WOW!

What a wonderful declaration! THANK YOU! Eloquent and carefully considered. This is not the first such testimony I've heard today. Even a close friend of mine, one of those "sure I want a woman President. Just not that woman" and "I don't hate her, I just don't trust her." All day long, this friend has continued to repeat - "leave her alone!" "Why don't they leave her alone?" "She was SICK! For Heaven's sake! I've had pneumonia myself!"

I said earlier that I can't help but wonder if this is a critical mass moment we may have reached. That there's a change in the public perception. That she starts turning into a sympathetic figure. Either because so many women identify with that "work til you drop" ethic, or because they've been there/done that with heavy schedules and responsibilities and hot stuffy weather, or because so many people of either gender can relate to being picked on all the time. I've seen a surprising amount of admiration for how she soldiered on, even not feeling great. It's quite pleasing to see. Might even humanize her more - "she's fallible and vulnerable, just like me".

[still_one]

10. The OP made a strong impression to me

[pnwmom]

13. I saw a guy tweet today that this makes her "relatable."

I think it does, to millions of people who have to go to work every day whether they're healthy or not.

[grossproffit]

3. Awesome post! You rock!

[PatrickforO]

5. I'm proud too.

She'll do fine in spite of constant right wing attacks every minute of every day. We've had that with Obama and he'll go down as a GREAT president.

[fun n serious]

6. We're stronger together.

I'm fired up with you.

[Demsrule86]

7. That is great. What is the saying Republicans fall in line , but Democrats fall in love.

I am very proud of Hillary.

[radius777]

8. That's great, I think that is what H's provocative comment

was supposed to do, was to draw a line in the sand and show boldness as a leader, draw out the deplorables (who have been trying to play like they're moderate), and excite the Dem base at the same time, who may've become bored since the convention.

And the end of the day all Americans, whether progressive or moderate (or even conservative), have to stand together to make sure this neo-nazi thug doesn't get elected, because if he does, it would fundamentally change the essence of America, emboldening the alt right element of society to act out, thus endangering many groups (women, PoC, immigrants, gays, non-Christians, etc).

"We must all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin.

[Maru Kitteh]

11. I think DT's camp sensed she would come out of this stronger than before.

This is who she is - never gives up, always fighting for the vulnerable while the media, Republicans, the male orthodoxy and various church-lady types tsk-tsk at her for everything from her hair to her name to the temerity to be a human being with a temporary infection.

Now that you are really on board and excited - sign up and volunteer! We need you!

But, for the record, she didn't literally collapse. Close call? Yes, but not a collapse. But I get you! And YES - her courage and her work ethic is absolutely EPIC.

Thanks for this post!

[democrattotheend]

16. I already signed up to volunteer

I cut short my vacation a few weeks ago so I would have extra days to volunteer as a voter protection lawyer in Pennsylvania.

Good point about the collapse thing. I changed it to (almost) collapsed.

[Maru Kitteh]

20. Oh I remember that now, that you are going to do voter protection! That's AWESOME!

Sorry I forgot.

That's so AWESOME! Truly.

[democrattotheend]

24. No worries

There are thousands of posters on here. I wouldn't expect you to remember what each person is doing to volunteer.

[bettyellen]

22. Thanks for volunteering! I noticed her site had a link for voter protection volunteers!

Glad to know you're one of them!

[democrattotheend]

25. I am still waiting for instructions

I got a call about a week after signing up asking if I could go to one of three swing states. I chose one of the three and they said someone from that state would contact me, but that has not happened yet. The person who called me originally was doing so from a phone bank in Brooklyn (presumably the campaign HQ), so I don't have a number to call. If you know who to get in touch with that would be great.

[bettyellen]

26. I don't know, but I would contact Brooklyn and get an estimate on the timing and when to expect them

To contact you. I'm sure they'll get back to you soon, but yeah don't fall through the cracks!

[democrattotheend]

32. I got an e-mail yesterday

There was a form I filled out saying where in Pennsylvania I wanted to go, whether I have a car, etc.

I will keep you posted as I get more details.

[bettyellen]

33. Awesome! It's great to hear of volunteers with seriously useful skills!

This can be so important. I worked a local
Election and they tossed many hundred regristrations at the county level. Luckily I was working with seasoned locals who knew this might happen. We had shuttles ready for people to get court orders in the next town and become voters. We won that one. Was awesome

[pnwmom]

12. Thanks, democrattotheend! Always happy to welcome a convert

who can now see what I've seen in Hillary for a long time.

[democrattotheend]

17. I am not sure I would call myself a convert

Because I never really disliked her (although I am sure if you were really motivated to search every post I have made here in the last 10 years, you could probably find a few where I said nasty shit about her). I've just never "fallen in love" with her. I am not sure I ever will completely, at least not as much as I did with Obama. But I am a lot more excited to vote for her now than I was before. I have always thought that there were a lot of things to admire about her and the past few days have really showcased those qualities.

[pnwmom]

18. Well, it sounds like you've moved from being a Democrat-to-the-end

to a voter with positive reasons for supporting her. And that's great.

[drmeow]

14. Me, too

I'm getting more and more excited about voting for her - not voting against Trump but voting for her. I'm in AZ and I'd love to see it go blue!

[MarkEzra]

15. The More I Know

The More I Know about HRC the more I admire, respect...ah hell, adore this beautiful, tough woman!

[pnwmom]

19. Me, too. And welcome to DU, MarkEzra!

[ffr]

21. The more votes Hillary gets, the more effective Bernie will be in the Senate

He has clout he earned. He will have more if the Senate and the House flip blue as well.

[democrattotheend]

29. Maybe

Bernie has always been mostly a movement politician. He needs to figure out how to become more of a coalition builder if he wants to gain more legislative clout.

[Third Doctor]

23. She won my respect too.

She showed true grit. Pneumonia is no joke.

[CajunBlazer]

27. Well said!

[lonestarnot]

28. Me too!

[lostnfound]

31. The tvmedia yesterday was like watching the Romans send in the lions

Revolting
Ridiculous

[democrattotheend]

35. I posted an expanded version of this on Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/09/16/1570708/-I-ve-never-voted-for-Hillary-Technically-I-ve-voted-against-her-twice

Would love recs if anyone posts there.

[R B Garr]

36. K&R! Great news.