Stronger Together and a little girl being bullied

Being president must be a lonely job. But President Obama always seems energized by the crowds he meets, and I suspect it has been a powerful source of strength to him over the past eight years.

You have to be tough, and Hillary has that toughness "in spades". But through all those years of being under the microscope and the target of the right wing attack machine, what a challenge to retain any openness or trust to the outside world.

The former senator from New York reminisced that she went to her mom after getting bullied by the neighborhood kids.

“I ran back in crying and my mother met me at the door, and she said, ‘There is no room for cowards in this house. You go right back out there and stand up for yourself,’” Clinton said.

She was only around four years old at the time, and I think about how that moment shaped her. The message was "be strong, don't give up". But it was also "you're on your own." Or "don't count on me to be by your side."

Tradeoffs abound in life. Teaching a child to be tough and independent or teaching a child that they are sheltered, loved, and safe. Both lessons are worthwhile.

People say that the presidential campaign process is the longest interview for a job. A test of endurance, organization, vision, and inspiration. There she was flying to a gazillion cities in the waning hours. But I think the campaign may also be reinforcement and development of the very traits needed to be successful as president.

During the primaries, a candidate has to hear in great detail all the reasons why another candidate is preferred by some. Hear the pain of those who are different not just in race or sexual identity but in success or circumstance. Hear the ideas of the idealistic, after so many decades in the spoiled atmosphere of Washington, to look at policies with fresh eyes. No, maybe income inequality IS a gigantic social problem. Maybe prison policies NEED to be reconsidered.

In the primaries, there's time to consider: What's missing in my own worldview? How can I build a strong coalition? During the general, the questions become, how can I inspire? Why am I perceived a certain way? Learn to relax in a crowd. Draw strength from all those supporters.

I watch Hillary now, surrounded by tens of thousands of cheering people, supported by everyone from our President Barack Obama to Bruce Springsteen's poignant words, from millennials and progressives to even some establishment conservatives. And I think I see a little wall crumbling that was built about sixty years ago when she was chased outside and told to go face this on your own, we don't want cowards in this house.

Oh yes, Hillary, you ARE strong. But you are not alone.