What. A. Night.
When Hillary Clinton took the stage last night at The Abbey, it was like being at a rock concert and she was our rock star. I hope she never forgets this incredible night and the raucous reception she got because I don't think any of us ever will. I was near the stage, probably about 10 feet away, and made a lot of friends because we were crammed in tight!
She greeted a giddy crowd that was just beyond itself with excitement.
"I think I just might have found one of the answers to the energy crisis," Sen. Clinton joked after one too many persons called out and interrupted her flow. "I am excited to see this level of intensity and involvement. But, it's a long way to the election."
The front-runner for the Democratic nomination had come straight to The Abbey in West Hollywood after participating in a presidential forum on LGBT issues - the first of its kind - sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign and Logo.
"I thought it was so significant and historic that such an event was held tonight," she said. "Part of the job of the next president - namely, me - will be to bring our country back from the disastrous policies of the last six years...I know America can do better. I want us to believe we can make progress together....If we don't change course, we will not recognize our country."
She had the room in the palm of her hand pretty much before she even got there but what was so impressive was how well she did with the crowd, reacting and being in the moment.
Here is a YouTube video of her remarks last night:

I don't think it's overstating things to say that it felt like we were part of history, being there on that night where our issues were front-and-center and being with the candidate who could very well be the first female president of the United States.
We had watched the televised presidential forum on LGBT issues earlier in the evening on screens The Abbey had installed for the occasion. It was only during Clinton's portion that the room was really quiet and people were 100 percent paying attention. Barack Obama was first on but we were being let into the venue then and missed part of it. Not sure why they did not begin letting people in until 6 p.m. since the forum started right then. John Edwards was impressive, according to most of the people I was standing with but Bill Richardson did not seem to go over too well and commited the major gaffe of the night when he said he thought homosexuality was a choice.
Not. A. Good. Answer.
People liked what Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel had to say but I must say, it only seemed to matter what the big three - Clinton, Edwards and Obama - had to say.
And, as expected, none came out in favor of gay marriage. Some came close but they were so careful. So careful that it seemed less clear after they answered why they opposed it except for the unstated obvious: too politically risky. Still, some of us thought it would have been a great opportunity to make that leap but it was not to be, not last night.
I chatted up former California Gov. Gray Davis later on (Sen. Clinton acknowledged him from the stage) and he told me this: "I thought she was terrific tonight. She was very human, very real, very connected to the audience." Then I asked the 60-something Davis how he manages to look so young and he joked: "Because Arnold's got all the problems!"
I'll share my photos of the event later today...gotta get some sleep now!