http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/04/hillary-clinton-to-democrats-dont-you-want-to-see-a-woman-presidentControversy over use of private email as secretary of state is brushed aside in night of solidarity with progressive movement Emily’s List
At her first public event since voters learned that she used personal email to handle sensitive government business for four years, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton avoided any suggestion or shadow of the scandal, instead delivering a dress rehearsal campaign speech to an audience of pro-choice advocates.
As for her long-deferred announcement about the 2016 presidential race, Clinton did no more than repeat old quips about the difficult question of whether to run for president, at one point asking: “I suppose it’s fair to say: don’t you someday want to see a woman president?”
Speaking before a gala to celebrate 30 years of work by Emily’s List, an organization that supports Democratic, pro-choice women candidates, Clinton did not broach revelations that she may have broken rules regarding state secrets under the Federal Records Act.
She instead tested some likely themes for a 2016 presidential campaign, such as middle-class jobs, stagnant wages and labor rights. She also tried to frame herself – to a crowd that included prominent politicians and celebrities being served seared halibut and chocolate soufflé – as a leader who is intimately familiar with the struggles and preoccupations of everyday Americans. The populist rhetoric, proclaimed at an expensive Washington DC hotel and in light of Clinton’s own tangled relationship with Wall Street and political elites, landed somewhat flat with the otherwise receptive, voluble audience.
The occasional dissonance in Clinton’s speech extended to her attempts at humor. Within 10 minutes Clinton made two jokes about her signature pantsuits and also mentioned the internet meme of an illusive photo of a dress, known simply as “the dress”. “I want to answer one question right at the start before it stirs up too much on Twitter,” she said. “Despite what you might think this outfit is not actually white and gold.
“You know I believe in freedom of thought and expression.”
Clinton’s proto-campaign speech hammered concerns of middle-class Americans, including “outrageous” unequal pay for women, an issue that she said “shortchanged” the economy; labor rights that she said in part created the middle class; college debt and the lack of social mobility for young people; and wage stagnation in contrast to how “CEO pay goes up and up no matter what” and how the “biggest corporations can exploit tax havens overseas but small businesses are held back by outdated red tape”.
“The gains we have made are real but fragile,” she said, implying that a Clinton presidency would continue the economic recovery begun under the Obama administration “to build [a] 21st century economy”.
Noting that Republicans, including likely presidential rival Jeb Bush, have also taken up issues of inequality, Clinton said: “It’s like watching the end of Casablanca.
“In fact we do not want to discourage their newfound interests” she said, “but we’re not buying that trickle-down economics that didn’t work before can ever work again.
“Across our country Americans feel the ground shifting beneath our feet,” Clinton said. “Certainly many of the old rules don’t seem to apply any more.”
Some attendees were disappointed by Clinton’s speech. A Capitol staffer who did not wish to be named said the speech “wasn’t what I’d hoped for” and wished it had been “something more energetic”.
“It was a good speech,” an attendee named Sara told the Guardian, adding: “She had to get into her groove though.” No one who spoke to the Guardian would go on record with their views about Clinton’s use of personal email while in office.
Largely though, the audience welcomed Clinton as a conquering hero who had only formally to announce that she would set forth and conquer. With many congressional colleagues seated together and surrounded by hundreds of activists and friends, the gala had the atmosphere of a reunion celebrating the successes of its many notable alumni.
The California attorney general and Senate candidate Kamala Harris spoke about persistence in the face of prejudice and called for victory in 2016; outgoing senator Barbara Mikulski made a joyous, ferocious call for women to organize politically; Emily’s List founder Ellen Malcolm spoke fondly of the group’s humble origins to the “18 million cracks in the ceiling” created by Clinton’s 2007 primary campaign; Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and former representative Gabby Giffords spoke proudly of the newest figures of the group; and Senator Al Franken spoke fondly of the lot and cracked jokes whenever able: “First of all, I apologize for being a guy.”
Nearly all called for Clinton to run, and Mikulski, Pelosi and others declared her victory certain. The former secretary laughed at the winking exclamations, nodded seriously at the sober points of speeches, and returned grateful praise to the women who preceded her onstage. Although the many speakers egged her on and injected no small amount of passion, Clinton gave a measured, practised performance, resisting the pull of a crowd eager to fight for her if only she would give the word.
