The Night I Understood Hillary

It's the late '90s. I'm in high school. It's nighttime and I'm in my parents' room. The news is in the background. For weeks the news was dominated by Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. As Bill Clinton gave a speech from the podium Hillary Clinton was in the background. The good wife. Supportive in spite of being cheated on quite embarrassingly by her husband. Yet there she stood, with dignity and grace. In her eyes were wisdom and kindness.

"Mom, why didn't Hillary divorce Bill?" (me)

"It's a personal choice. We'll never really know why. But, marriage isn't black and white." (my Mom)

"What happened? What made him cheat?" (me)

"Being President is a really hard job. Hillary is really into politics. Most likely, she wants to talk about politics a lot. It's something they have in common. He probably was just looking for a break from that. It doesn't make it right, but everyone needs a break from their job sometimes. Maybe she understands that and that's why she forgave him" (my Mom)

That was long before Hillary became Senator Clinton and later Secretary Clinton. My mom is a wise woman. I think back to that conversation all of the time. Bill has been a very supportive husband. Staying married has been good for both of their careers. I don't know about the marriage in general. Their situation could be more like The Good Wife the CBS show that ended in May. Publically married because it's good for their careers, but living separate lives privately. Does it really matter? If it does, then you are nitpicking. The state of a marriage doesn't dictate the ability of a person to lead.

Hillary has been in the situation room. She has been part of tough decisions. Blaming her for Banghazi? Then you aren't aware that defense cuts from the Republican congress are really to blame for that situation. Emails? Ummmmm Condi Rice, Colin Powel and David Petraeus. No one is perfect. But, she was singled out because of her party. Investigate them just as thoroughly as she was investigated.

Strong and ambitious women scare some people. She's been working hard for a long time for this. When a man is intimidated by a powerful women, he tries to hold her back. But, I've come to learn it's not the job or wealth that makes someone powerful. It's not a lack of fear or the ability to fight through suffering either.

It's dignity, grace, wisdom, and kindness. Like it or not, Hillary is all of those things. When faced with everything Republicans have put her through for years, she shows dignity, grace, wisdom, and kindness.

The New York Times looked it up. Hillary and Bernie agreed in the senate 93% of the time. Link below. They want the same things. Hillary knows what she can realistically negotiate with Congress to pass. We won't get everything either candidate promises. But, realistically, she can push through some very helpful legislature.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/upshot/the-senate-votes-that-divided-hillary-clinton-and-bernie-sanders.html

Hillary is respected by many because of her dignity, grace, wisdom, and kindness. That includes Republican politicians as well as Democratic politicians. It's those qualities that make her powerful. It's those qualities that have earned her both respect and hate. Those spouses who didn't stay when cheated on think she is a fool for staying. Those with dignity, grace, wisdom and kindness understand.

That was the night I understood Hillary Clinton. It was the night I wanted her to be our first woman president. I voted for Obama. We can't accept a woman until we accept a black man for President. After all, first black men were granted the right to vote and later women were granted that right. But, I knew Hillary would have her chance.

That was the night I understood Hillary Clinton. I had never had a boyfriend at that point. But, I always wanted to know what to do to make marriages last. When faced with that level of embarrassment how can you stand there in support with dignity, grace, wisdom, and kindness? She was never hateful to Monica. Bill was never serious about Monica so Hillary never took their dalliances seriously.

Dignity, grace, wisdom, and kindness. No matter their political party all of our best Presidents have those four qualities. Diplomacy is one of Hillary's strengths. Diplomacy is more productive then aggression. Because leaders only negotiate with people they respect. You don't respect someone who doesn't respect you. When negotiating with other countries you need to understand, respect, and appreciate their culture. You have to have dignity, grace, wisdom and kindness.

Hillary never had to say anything for me to finally understand her that night. She just needed to stand there with dignity, grace, wisdom, and kindness. This was a woman in emotional pain. But, her power was in her dignity, grace, wisdom and kindness.