Hillary Clinton began her concession speech seeming to recognize that Democratic identity politics helped, at least in part, to lose her the presidency.
The focus on turning out one or another voting bloc, while ignoring or even demonizing the massive bloc that favored Trump — mostly less educated white voters — helped shatter her presidential dreams.
She seemed aware of this when she began her speech, leaving out the parts of her campaign stump speech that focused on specific groups of voters.
“And breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams,” Clinton said. “We spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone.”
“For people of all races, and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people and people with disabilities. For everyone,” she added.
A few moments later, she returned to her usual discussion of gender.
“And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion,” she said. “Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will — and hopefully sooner than we might think right now.”
“And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams,” she added.
I get it — it is significant that she had fallen short of the milestone of becoming America’s first female president. I still had to roll my eyes when she started talking about the glass ceiling. Part of the reason young women didn’t all support Clinton is that they already feel certain there will be a woman president in their lifetime. That means they cared a lot less about whether it was the former secretary of state.
America is ready for a woman president, just not Clinton.
Ashe Schow is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
