Black Obama in the White House

Hillary Clinton has a pulse over the problems that the 'Global Village' faces - an outstanding leader by any reckoning. However, in her defeat, she is as magnificent as she could be as the nominee to the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. She would have been the first American woman president and the harbinger of building a soft image of USA and evenly poised to integrate all nations in the global order, irrespective of race and ethnicity.

I vividly recall her brilliant extempore speech at Copenhagen in 1995 - World Social Summit, particularly her concern for the wretched of the earth. I wrote a few articles in her favour, which got published in the local as well as the foreign press. Her magnanimity impressed me overwhelmingly as she has acknowledged my little support by writing several letters of appreciation and updating me with all the developments in the Democratic Party, and what impresses me most that after losing the presidential race, she adhering to the implicit norm of democracy, gracefully accepted the defeat, without any wrinkles on her face, and smilingly came out all in favour of Obama to win the bout against John McCain.

In her letter of August 27, 2008, she wrote: "Standing on that stage tonight in front of 20,000 Democrats unified behind Senator Obama, I saw a bright future of America. I saw millions of people across the country working as one to elect the next Democratic president. I saw a new president and a new Congress giving a voice to the voiceless. I saw America, the land of endless potential, raging its role as a leader of the world. "I could not be proud of the party, of our nominee and of all the work you and I have done together over the course of this campaign and behalf of the American people. Thank you again for everything you've done. Now let us get to work helping elect Barak Obama, Joe Biden and all of our great Democratic candidates."

This quintessential value to rise above self and dedicate full efforts for the glory of the party and the supreme interest of the country is the hallmark of true democracy. Just going to the polls do not make democracy. It is the spirit of 'giving' for the greater good and relinquishing all personal rivalries, makes democratic culture so alluring and graceful. Conceding defeat is a great national trait that we must emulate and admire.

In all her letters subsequent to her losing the nomination, she spoke of the great qualities of Obama, and not a word of remorse that she got defeated even through very narrowly. What is intended to convey is that she showed political maturity in conforming to the implicit norms like remaining loyal to the party one belongs to, and showing full commitment to its ideology irrespective of who wins the nomination.

Horse Trading or changing party loyalties for material benefits is not heard of in the US electoral system. Bill Clinton was quite naturally an ardent supporter of his illustrious wife, but when Obama got the nomination, he was also fully committed to support him.