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Some D.C. politicians say they're miffed by what they perceive as a snub against the District of Columbia by Sen. Hillary Clinton during her marquee speech at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night.
"I will always be grateful to everyone from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the territories, who joined our campaign on behalf of all those people left out and left behind by the Bush Administration," Clinton said during her nationally televised address. The District of Columbia, of course, is neither a state nor a territory, meaning Clinton failed to include the city in her list of thank yous.
"You can't tell me that she prepared that speech, practiced it 16 times, and didn't notice that the District wasn't there," said Shadow Senator Michael Brown, who also brought up the issue via bullhorn during today's voting rights rally at the U.S. Mint. The prepared text of Clinton's speech made available to the press shows that the senator never planned to include D.C. in that sentence. Brown said that while he's confident Clinton is on the District's side when it comes to voting rights, he thinks she ought to apologize to the residents of D.C. for forgetting about them in her speech.
D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty agreed that being left out by Clinton bugs him, but that he didn't "know if it was a conscious slight."
Not everyone was bothered by this small part of a historic speech that was generally well received.
"I'm not offended," said D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, adding that she guessed Clinton was just trying to thank the states and territories that voted for her, thus the singling out of Puerto Rico. The District of Columbia voted for Sen. Barack Obama by a large margin.
"The last thing I imagine she meant to do is exclude the District of Columbia," Norton said. "Perhaps there was no reason to pick us out, given that we're Obama territory."
Brown said he planned to ask Clinton's staff about the issue, though he doesn't imagine they'll get back to him very quickly.
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Holmes Norton gets to the point. Clinton got her a$$ handed to her in the District and its metropolitan areas (yet won Puerto Rico, hmmm). Not that she would ever be bitter.
By making a stink about it, it only gives Congress more ammo to use when making fun of Norton. They consider her the geeky fat kid that no one wants to sit with at the lunch table as it is.
DC will never get the recognition it deserves.
Also, the only reason Hillary is Senator of NY is because it was the only big state that had a seat open. If it was California or Florida, I guarantee, she would have bought a house and claimed she loved the state and will work hard for them. Right now, she is trying to kiss Obama's butt to get a Cabinet position.
Why is this a shocker? WHat did the Clintons do for DC and voting rights in the 8 years they were in the White House? Oh yeah, Bill put the DC Taxation Without Representation plates on the White House limo the day before he left office. Big deal.
it is no surprise to me--she could not even win ONE of the District's 142 precincts, so she is bitter toward it...
"Brown said he planned to ask Clinton's staff about the issue, though he doesn't imagine they'll get back to him very quickly."
Probably because you're not an ACTUAL Senator. You just play one on DCist and French television.
Yes, I want an apology from Senator Clinton. I also want to be 5'4" but that ain't gonna' happen either.
Cabinet position my ass. It's Supreme Court Justice Clinton as soon as one of the ancient current justices kicks the bucket.
WHat did the Clintons do for DC and voting rights in the 8 years they were in the White House?
Well, be fair. Bill Clinton was kinda busy during those 8 years, particularly with that super absorbent intern and parttime humidor. And Hillary put DC on the map, what with having Vince Foster murdered in Rock Creek Park when she could easily have had him shot in Virginia.
yeah, they're not going to get back to him quickly....they're not going to get back to him ever, i believe.
and she's going to push for senate maj. leader...look out harry reid.
Oh Dear God people, GET OVER IT!!
Oh, Christ.
I'm as pro-DC as anyone, but this "snub" is a nonstarter and only makes complainants look thin-skinned.
" thin-skinned" aka "LAME"
Hillman: I highly doubt McCain would nominate Clinton when given the opportunity.
What did the Clintons do for DC and voting rights in the 8 years they were in the White House?
Didn’t Bill Clinton sign the bill that gave us the control board? Seems to me that was a great thing for DC – WAY better than voting rights. DC residents f**ked up big time exercising their home rule voting rights and electing a crack head and a lackey council that brought this city to the verge of bankruptcy.
It may be hard to imagine, but at that time, many in DC were VERY HAPPY we were not a state and could be bailed out by the feds.
I miss Bill :-)
i actually thought it was more significant that she called herself "a proud mother" among other things, but not "a proud wife."
that was great.
See, now I find both of those omissions -- DC and wife -- insignificant. Is that the point we're at? Parsing speeches not for what they contained but what they left out? This could go on forever. Ya gotta draw the line somewhere, and that's with what you know for sure, and what you know for sure is what she actually said. Analyzing intent is a lesson in futility.
"...I also want to be 5'4" but that ain't gonna' happen either."
I think Hillarity would like to be 54' tall.
True enough, the control board was during the Clinton era. Back when we had no money and couldn't perform basic gov't functions. I love hearing when Barry and others still on the Council from that era complain about the control board, since it was their own fault the city was in such dire financial condition. Were it not for the control board, there would have been no Gandhi and Tony Williams and no financial solvency. So, I guess Bubba did do something useful for DC after all.
@ the new
Co-sign! All this gnashing of teeth and rending of garments at the most minuscule slight only serves to make DC look petty and small-minded. We need to keep our eye on the ball (voting rights) and stop worrying so much about whether or not we get specific mentions from politicians in speeches.
I say we handle this snub like the Founding Fathers handled tax collectors during the Revolution: tar and feather. Goes perfectly with idea of "No Taxation Without Representation," doesn't it?
:)
She also failed to include in that sentence all of the Indian Nations, which are recognized by the US Constitution. Obviously Hillary snubbed Indians.
I wouldn't be too hard on Hillary, from February 12th DCist post:
"Sen. Hillary Clinton even made her first personal campaign appearance in the District earlier today, and pledged her support for granting the District voting rights in Congress."
I've heard the Clintons can hold a grudge, but don't doubt she'd have looked out for DC's interests had she been elected.
DCster - she would not have. Her husband made that promise too. He also came out and walked Georgia Ave. Never saw him again once he got out vote.
We need to hold these peoples' feet to the fire. They never remember us once they are elected.