Díaz: A shout out to Hillary Clinton's grace and dignity

Though Hillary Clinton’s positions often differ from those of the azcentral editorial board, she is far more pragmatic – and practical – than Bernie Sanders. A quick breakdown of where she stands on key issues:

TRADE. Clinton isn’t wild about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but her opposition is not nearly as vehement as Sanders’. We’ve said the agreement isn’t perfect but still worth approving to help grow trade with lucrative Asian markets. Photo by Jerome Favre/EPA

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. Clinton supports same-sex marriage and has opposed religious-freedom laws, calling Indiana’s version “sad.” We’re on the same page: Society’s views are shifting, and it’s only practical for our laws to keep pace. Photo by David McNew/Getty Images

GUNS. Clinton has promised to fight the gun lobby to enact universal background checks, close loopholes and ban some types of assault weapons. We’d say that’s reasonable to combat the growing scourge of gun violence. Photo by David Wallace/The Republic

ENVIRONMENT. Clinton now opposes the Keystone XL pipeline (she was previously for it) and supports continued investment in clean energy. She would likely continue the Obama administration’s war on coal, which means well but is financially straining Arizona’s electrical plants. File photo

HEALTH CARE. Clinton likes the idea of a single-payer system but unlike Sanders, knows it’s politically unfeasible to push now. Instead, she’d expand Obamacare to limit prescription costs, among other ideas. Photo by Alejandra Armstrong/Cro

EDUCATION. Like Sanders, Clinton has put forth a plan to offer free community college and debt-free tuition at public universities; last year, we called a more limited Obama administration plan to offer free community-college “impractical.” Photo by Tom Tingle/The Republic

IMMIGRATION. Like us, Clinton supports comprehensive immigration reform – including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. She would continue President Obama’s deferred action programs to keep “dreamers” and others in the country. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Though Hillary Clinton’s positions often differ from those of the azcentral editorial board, she is far more pragmatic – and practical – than Bernie Sanders. A quick breakdown of where she stands on key issues: Photo by Ricardo Rolon/The News-Press

If Hillary Clinton is bitter against women, she sure isn’t showing it.

You’d think she would sit moping and pondering her inability to galvanize women as multitudes of them marched to protest the man who denied her the presidency.

It sure must be difficult for her but whatever Hillary Clinton’s political shortcomings, she has shown grace and dignity during the past few days.

First, she showed up at Republican Donald Trump’s inauguration despite the nasty campaign where he even pledged to lock her up upon his arrival at the White House.

“I'm here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values. I will never stop believing in our country & its future. #Inauguration,” she tweeted.

Then, she struck just the right tone praising the women's march Saturday in Washington and across the nation.

“Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch. Important as ever. I truly believe we're always Stronger Together,” she tweeted prior to the massive protests.

She subsequently followed up:

Scrolling through images of the #womensmarch is awe-inspiring. Hope it brought joy to others as it did to me.https://t.co/29oaMvk3hU — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 23, 2017

Can we follow her lead?

Thousands participate in a march at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. The rally was timed for the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration and on the same day of a women's march taking place in Washington, D.C. (Photo: David Wallace/The Republic)

The number of women – and men – who took to the streets was indeed inspiring. I’ve written that they were already too late for her, but is abundantly clear that Saturday’s march wasn’t about Hillary Clinton.

It was about civil, reproductive and immigration rights, among other issues -- ironically, everything she promised to protect as president.

The organizers, who by all accounts exceeded their own crowd expectations, have their work cut out for them to sustain the enthusiasm.

DIAZ: Women shaming is back with a vengeance

It’ll be arduous work to keep inspiring people to do the unglamorous tasks necessary for Democrats to take back Congress in midterm elections.

Leaders already have been contemplating what the next steps should be. At the top of their list should be massive voter-registration drives and a sustained civic education to galvanize people at the polls in local, state and federal elections.

All of us must speak up and remain vigilant about Trump’s presidency, which threatens our core democratic values. And as we do so, let’s not forget Hillary Clinton. After all, she has paved the road to the White House for somebody else to become the first Madam President.

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Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.

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