There is no doubt we are a nation that, in many ways, is hurting. Recent tension over police brutality, as well as mass shootings, both here and on foreign soil, have left us reeling. We need a president who will address those issues and foster solace through actionable change. Which is precisely why Chelsea Clinton‘s speech tonight at the DNC was one of the most compelling cases in Hillary Clinton‘s favor — it was an important reminder that Hillary is, first and foremost, a mother.
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Chelsea cited many examples that reinforced the fact Hillary is the ultimate working mom, recalling the way she used to fall asleep at night to the steady cadence of her mother’s voice reading the childhood classic, Goodnight Moon.
“From that night to this one, every single memory I have of my mom is that regardless of what was happening in her life, she was always there for me,” Chelsea said, rattling off the many ways Hillary showed up for her daughter — never missing a single soccer match, softball game or piano recital. Chelsea recounted how Hillary used to carve out time on busy Saturday mornings to lay in the grass and find shapes in the clouds.
Beyond spending quality time with her daughter, Hillary impressed upon Chelsea how important it was to find and use her voice, as Chelsea proudly stated, “I loved that my parents expected me to have opinions… they taught me to care about what happens in this world, and to do whatever I can to change what frustrates me in this world. They taught me that’s the responsibility that comes with being smiled on by fate.”
What does this have to do with Hillary’s ability to lead our nation? Well, kind of everything.
When you consider the alternative — a man who has openly referred to women by pejoratives such as “fat pig” and “piece of ass” — it becomes exceedingly clear that there is only one choice to make if we hope to have a POTUS who will tirelessly fight for equality for every single one of us.
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This country is in need of some serious mothering right now. We need someone who can simultaneously nurture us and provide the kind of stern guidance required to get back on track. We also need someone who understands the salience of the old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
In Chelsea’s speech, she underscored the fact that her mother had spent her entire life fighting for families and, more to the point, that she had spent her life fighting with families for their rights. Despite a devastating defeat on the universal healthcare front in 1994, Hillary never lost sight of the women and children propagating this great nation. Today, eight million kids in our country benefit from a children’s health insurance program Hillary was instrumental in pioneering.
Listening to Chelsea talk about how proud she is of her mother and how much her own daughter, 2-year-old Charlotte, loves to FaceTime with Grandma, leaves little doubt about the fact Hillary will continue her proven history as a staunch advocate for women’s rights.
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In doing so, she will quite literally be fighting for her future — the daughter and granddaughter she will one day leave behind to carry on her legacy. As Chelsea so poignantly said, “She never forgets who she is fighting for.”
According to Chelsea, her mom is a listener and a doer. She has a heart full of love. She is devoted to her family and public service in nearly equal measure. And, as Chelsea’s speech highlighted, Hillary raised a smart, bold daughter who isn’t afraid to use her own voice to affect change.
America could use a mom like that.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
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