Hillary Clinton gave a moving concession speech today..Read below as published by Vox Below,
Thank you. Thank you all.
Thank you. Thank you all have much.
[Applause]
Thank you. Thank you all very much. Thank you so much. A very rowdy group. Thank you, my friends. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you so very much for being here. I love you all, too. Last night I
congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of
our country.
I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans. This is
not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I'm sorry we
did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold
for our country.
But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built
together. This vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You
represent the best of America, and being your candidate has been one of
the greatest honors of my life.
I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens
of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this
effort. This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you
to remember this.
Our campaign was never about one person, or even one election. It was
about the country we love and building an America that is hopeful,
inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply
divided than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always
will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to
the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an
open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines
the peaceful transfer of power.
We don't just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of
law; the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of
worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we
must defend them.
[Applause]
Let me add: Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not
just every four years, but all the time. So let's do all we can to keep
advancing the causes and values we all hold dear. Making our economy
work for everyone, not just those at the top, protecting our country and
protecting our planet.
And breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from
achieving their dreams. 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.
I am so grateful to stand with all of you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and
Anne Holton for being our partners on this journey. [Cheers and
applause]
It has been a joy get to go know them better and gives me great hope and
comfort to know that Tim will remain on the front lines of our
democracy representing Virginia in the Senate. [Cheers and applause]
To Barack and Michelle Obama, our country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.
We thank you for your graceful, determined leadership that has meant so
much to so many Americans and people across the world. And to Bill and
Chelsea, Mark, Charlotte, Aidan, our brothers and our entire family, my
love for you means more than I can ever express.
You crisscrossed this country, even 4-month-old Aidan, who traveled with
his mom. I will always be grateful to the talented, dedicated men and
women at our headquarters in Brooklyn and across our country.
You poured your hearts into this campaign. To some of you who are
veterans, it was a campaign after you had done other campaigns. Some of
you, it was your first campaign. I want each of you to know that you
were the best campaign anybody could have ever expected or wanted.
And to the millions of volunteers, community leaders, activists and
union organizers who knocked on doors, talked to their neighbors, posted
on Facebook — even in secret private Facebook sites.
I want everybody coming out from behind that and make sure your voices are heard going forward. [Cheers and applause]
To anyone that sent contributions, even as small as $5, that kept us
going, thank you. To all of us, and to the young people in particular, I
hope you will hear this — I have, as Tim said, I have spent my entire
life fighting for what I believe in.
I've had successes and setbacks and sometimes painful ones. Many of you
are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers
— you will have successes and setbacks too.
This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it.
It is, it is worth it. [Cheers and applause]
And so we need — we need you to keep up these fights now and for the
rest of your lives. 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.
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. [Cheers and applause]
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. [Cheers
and applause]
Finally, finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me.
I count my blessings every single day that I am an American, and I still
believe, as deeply as I ever have, that if we stand together and work
together with respect for our differences, strengthen our convictions,
and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.
Because, you know, I believe we are stronger together and we will go
forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that.
You know, scripture tells us, let us not grow weary of doing good, for
in good season we shall reap. My friends, let us have faith in each
other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons
to come and there is more work to do.
I am incredibly honored and grateful to have had this chance to
represent all of you in this consequential election. May God bless you
and may God bless the United States of America