--- title: Hillary Clinton’s Speech Delivery Gets Panned on Twitter description: Everyone's a critic canonical: https://time.com/4430082/dnc-hillary-clinton-speech-2/ author: Jay Newton-Small article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-29T05:56:33.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-06T09:44:41.793Z article:section: Politics og:title: Hillary Clinton’s Speech Delivery Gets Panned on Twitter og:description: Everyone's a critic og:url: https://time.com/4430082/dnc-hillary-clinton-speech-2/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta6ab3be330d845f8/6988a0383c1639329145e495/hillary-clinton11.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3726 og:image:height: 2096 og:image:alt: DEM 2016 Convention og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Hillary Clinton’s Speech Delivery Gets Panned on Twitter twitter:description: Everyone's a critic twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta6ab3be330d845f8/6988a0383c1639329145e495/hillary-clinton11.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Hillary Clinton’s Acceptance Speech Delivery Gets Panned on Twitter > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=43a0fc8d-f5a8-4550-84c8-f83741db0bc6&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Hillary Clinton Accepts the Democratic Nomination at the DNC [Watch (HLS stream): Hillary Clinton Accepts the Democratic Nomination at the DNC](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Cd03sFfv.m3u8) (4:03)  _Published 2016-07-29. Hillary Clinton formally accepted the party’s nomination for President, speaking at the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia._  by [Jay Newton-Small](https://time.com/author/jay-newton-small/)  ## Jay Newton-Small Jul 29, 2016 5:56 AM UTC  by [Jay Newton-Small](https://time.com/author/jay-newton-small/)  ## Jay Newton-Small Jul 29, 2016 5:56 AM UTC Name a female leader who has soared rhetorically. Movie characters don’t count — though there are not too many of those either. When Americans want gravitas, baritone Morgan Freeman is the go to actor to play the President or, as he did tonight, narrate Clinton’s biographical video. Germany’s Angela Merkel, the U.K.’s Theresa May, Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff, all are much better known for their pragmatism than [their stirring oratory](http://time.com/4397507/can-female-leaders-like-hillary-clinton-dream-big/). Barack Obama talked every day in 2008 about the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice, while Clinton talked about “[the America I see](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/clinton-unveils-new-stump-speech/?%5Fr=1)” and detailed it with 19 policy points. Eight years later, she’s still spouting policy points, much to the outrage of many political pundits hoping for an acceptance speech less heavy on the monotone. Here’s a sampling of some of the political Twitteratis’ response to Clinton’s speech: From the New York _Times_’ John Harwood: > [](https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/758855905244909570) From the _Atlantic_’s Steve Clemons: > [](https://twitter.com/SCClemons/status/758855329488642049) From the _Financial Times_‘ Ed Luce: > [](https://twitter.com/EdwardGLuce/status/758854577277906945) From the New York _Post_’s John Podhoretz: > [](https://twitter.com/jpodhoretz/status/758856274515595264) > [](https://twitter.com/jpodhoretz/status/758857168850300929) > [](https://twitter.com/jpodhoretz/status/758857982243328000) > [](https://twitter.com/jpodhoretz/status/758854987816415232) From writer Rob Long: > [](https://twitter.com/rcbl/status/758854911945609216) Some other pundits took notice. From Yahoo’s Amy Sullivan: > [](https://twitter.com/sullivanamy/status/758862317199110144) Clinton had the burden of following many other great speakers at her own convention, including, notably, Michelle Obama — [who did achieve unusual lift for a woman](http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-democratic-convention-2016-live-potus-v-flotus-friendly-rivalry-1469648874-htmlstory.html). She has also never claimed public oratory as a particular strength. Fairly early on in her acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night in Philadelphia, she straight up admitted she wasn’t a great campaigner. “The truth is, through all these years of public service, the ‘service’ part has always come easier to me than the ‘public’ part,” she said. “I get it that some people just don’t know what to make of me.” This echoed her past comments that she not a “natural politician” like her husband is. But that didn’t deter her from seeking the Democratic nomination. And, yes, there have been women who’ve given great speeches at conventions. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, was widely lauded for her speech — [though not so much for subsequent remarks](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/03/7-years-ago-today-sarah-palin-gave-the-best-speech-of-her-career/). “Other female convention speakers have been quite persuasive including [Barbara Jordan in 1976](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg7gLIx%5F%5F-k), [Geraldine Ferraro in 1984](http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/conventions/chicago/facts/famous.speeches/ferraro.84.shtml) and \[Texas Governor\] [Ann Richards in 1988](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIFhiqS%5FTY),” says Michele Swers, a Georgetown University political-science professor who has written two books on women in politics. “She will likely perform better in a debate setting than a campaign speech. She was clearly more comfortable talking about policy details then sharing her personal story.” But surely even then there will be pundits to tell her what to do better, to [smile, to look at the camera or not to yell](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-sexist-double-standards-hurting-hillary-clinton/2016/02/12/fb551e38-d195-11e5-abc9-ea152f0b9561%5Fstory.html). That has pretty much become [the norm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2wBpYT6Zlo) for Clinton. Though she has broken one barrier Thursday, it is unlikely to change anytime soon. ## Transcript Now America is once again, at the moment of reckoning. We will not build a wall instead we will build an economy where everyone who wants a good job can get one. We will not band a religion that's why stronger together It's not just a lesson from our history, it's a guiding principal and so my friends it is with humility, determination, and boundless confidence in America's promise that I accept your nomination for President of the [ APPLAUSE ] United States. Well I will be a President for Democrats, Republicans, Independents, for the struggling, the striving, the successful. For all those who vote for me, and for those who don't. For all Americans together. Tonight we've reached a milestone in our nation's march toward a more perfect union. The first time that a major party has nominated a woman for President. I'm so happy this day has come. I'm happy for grandmothers and little girls and everyone in between. I'm happy for boys and men, because when any barrier falls in America, it clears the way for everyone. After all, when there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit. We need to appoint Supreme Court justices who will get money out of politics and expand And voting rights, not restrict them. I believe in science. I believe that when we have millions of hardworking immigrants contributing to our economy, it would be self- defeating and inhumane to try to kick them out. If you believe that your working mother, wife, sister or daughter deserves equal pay join us . >> [ APPLAUSE ] In my first 100 days we will work with both parties to pass the biggest investment in new good paying jobs since World War 2 Bernie Sanders and I will work together to make college tuition free for the middle class and debt free for all. [ APPLAUSE ] If fighting for affordable child care and paid family leave is playing the woman card then deal me The end. Donald Trump says he wants to make America great again, we'll he could start by actually making things in America again. Donald Trump says and this is a quote, I know more about ISIS than the generals do No Donald, you don't. I'm not here to take away your guns. I just don't want you to be shot by someone who shouldn't have a gun in the first place. We will defend all our rights Civil rights, human rights, and voting rights, women's rights, and workers' rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of people with disabilities. [ APPLAUSE ] Progress is possible. I know. I know because I've seen it in the lives of people across America, who get knocked down and get right back up. More than a few times I've had to pick myself up and get back in the game. Let's build a better tomorrow for our beloved children and our beloved country and when we do, America will be greater than ever. Thank you and may God bless you and the United States of America. 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