Tag Archives: Hillary Clinton

A great moment for women – The Boston Globe


By Cathy Young September 12, 2008

WHATEVER THE OUTCOME of the presidential race, 2008 will be a memorable Year of the Woman. First, Hillary Clinton came close to capturing the Democratic nomination, a feminist dream that failed. Now, there is Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential pick: to some a new feminist dream, to others a feminist nightmare – a conservative female politician who embraces a right-wing social agenda, including opposition to abortion.

To the contrast between Clinton and Palin, add a contrast between Palin and Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joseph Biden, himself a player in gender politics as the champion of a major piece of feminist legislation – the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.

Is Palin – whose image as a tough woman has evoked comparisons to historical and fictional female fighters like Joan of Arc and Xena, Warrior Princess – a feminist hero?

To some feminists, the answer is a clear no. Novelist Jane Smiley brands her “a woman who reinforces patriarchal power rather than challenges it.”

But the charge is unfair. Unlike right-wing columnist Ann Coulter, to whom Smiley compares her, Palin is not known for attacking the women’s movement; she credits it with breaking down gender barriers and creating the opportunities she has enjoyed. While antiabortion, she belongs to a group called Feminists for Life.

As a social issues liberal with strong concerns about religion-based public policy, I have some serious disagreements with Palin, though it’s often hard to separate the reality of her views from the caricatures painting her as a zealot. But I also believe that her candidacy is a great moment for American women.

First, more representation for feminism across the spectrum of political beliefs is a good thing. Women, like men, should be able to disagree on gun ownership, environmental policies, taxes, even abortion while agreeing on gender equity.

Second, the biggest feminist issue in America today is the career-family balance. Despite remaining discrimination, motherhood is at the core of the “glass ceiling” holding back female achievement. How inspirational, then, to see that the “mommy track” can be a road to the White House. Palin is a mother of five who resumed an intensive work schedule days after giving birth, and whose husband seems to be a full partner.

Palin’s candidacy may also be a watershed moment in conservative politics. The right has long been ambivalent about working mothers; a number of conservative politicians and pundits have been given to chiding “selfish” women who pursue career ambitions after having children. Now, a mother with a high-powered career is a conservative hero, and full-time motherhood may be forever gone from the roster of “family values.” ….

Ultimately, women should vote on the basis of a candidate’s ideas and ability, not gender. But in the contest of the vice presidential candidates, Palin represents by far the better version of female empowerment. Regardless of how we vote or who wins, that empowering message is here to stay.

Cathy Young is a contributing editor at Reason magazine.

Why We Fight : The New Agenda

Why We Fight : The New Agenda.

This is a post that sums up the kind of media sexism women have had to grapple with and the long terms effects it may have on today’s youth:

Gary Kamiya’s article in Salon was graced by that picture of Palin. That picture of Hillary is from Spy Magazine, circa February 1993, just a month after she and Bill arrived in Washington.

The post concludes:

This is why we fight. We fight for my daughter and the millions of girls like her who are endangered by the sexist rhetoric that passes for media these days. We fight for the millions of boys who are looking at the Progressive Dude Nation right now, at their style, their pazzazz, their irreverence, and who are wanting to posture the same stance one day if they haven’t adopted it already. There is more at stake than just this year, this election, or the next four years. There are legions of young minds being shaped, and we must inform them, using rhetoric that is natural to their intellect, of what is going on right now and what is possible for the future.

Clash of the Titans – Dowd Predicts Clinton vs Palin in 2012

Clash of the Titans (Wizbang).

Posted by Bill Jempty
Published: September 7, 2008 – 3:42 PM

NY Times Columnist Maureen Dowd has an interesting view of the future.

If Barack Obama had chosen Hillary Clinton as his running mate, we would now be looking forward to the greatest night in the history of American politics: the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate between Ma Barker and Sarah Barracuda.Now, alas, we’ll have to wait until 2012 when the two fiercest competitors on the trail will no doubt face off in the presidential debate, with Palin still riding high from her 2008 field-dressing of Obama

Dowd goes on to predict President McCain will be too worn out to continue beyond 2012. (She characterizes Palin and Clinton as), as ideological opposites: the gun-toting hockey mom and the shot-swilling Warrior Queen of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits are opposites. The rest of Ms. Dowd’s column is her usual mix of balderash, but could she be right about the candidates four years from now?

The Difference Between Democrats and Republicans Handling of Sexism

The Difference : NO QUARTER.

Between how the Republicans deal with sexism in this election, and how the Democrats have dealt with sexism is mighty telling. The latter were mum, until after Hillary conceded the race then they made some noise about how things weren’t so great on the whole woman thing. The one exception was Geraldine Ferraro standing up for Hillary. She got labeled a racist for her trouble. I should add, not only did the DNC not speak up, they actually got in a few digs, too.

Not so the Republicans. I take NO credit for these next two pieces at all – they came from alert readers at No Quarter. The first one is from “Hope Floats,” who posted the following article:

“Gov. Palin’s experience is in running a state,” added Swift. “Barack Obama’s experience, as he himself has said, is in running a campaign.”

Joining Swift in her denunciations were senior McCain aide Carly Fiorina, Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin and Renee Amore, Deputy Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.

“The Republican Party will not stand by while Gov. Palin is subjected to sexist attacks,” said Fiorina, who explained that all the women on stage had experienced sexism in their careers. “I don’t believe American women are going to stand for it either.”

“It is quite interesting that Gov. Palin has managed the state of Alaska with 24,000 employees and a $10 billion budget,” said Blackburn. “How many men have done that?”

Amore was more direct. Referring to the media, she said, “You never talk about that Barack Obama hasn’t run anything.”

“These smears are meant to distract from the fact that Gov. Palin has more experience than Barack Obama,” said Amore. She then issued a humorous, if also serious, challenge: “Let me use some ebonics … We will get with you, if you keep messing with us.”

There wasn’t a link to the post, but here is a VIDEO you can watch.

And then, frequent commenter Paul Villareal has several YouTube videos up, particularly this one in which Newt Gingrich (I know – I am as surprised by this as anybody) lays into a MSNBC reporter on the differences between Governor Palin and Barack Obama (again, she’s second on the ticket, Obama is first – and HE STILL COMES UP SHORT IN THE COMPARISON!!!). Anyway, take a look The end is a hoot:

Clinton’s Supporters Talk Back – washingtonpost.com

Clinton’s Supporters Talk Back – washingtonpost.com.

As one writer says, ” I am amazed that I, as an independent voter, do not seem allowed to have a mind of my own…no one, not even Ms. Clinton, can or should be able to dictate to me how to vote. I will not vote for Mr. Obama, not because I am bitter but because I do not believe that he is at all qualified for this job.

His lack of experience in every area of importance was of great concern to me during the primaries and still is.

I am a Democrat, but I am an American first and I will vote for the candidate who, I believe, will be the best leader for our country, especially in these dangerous times. Whoever loses the election, it will be because the majority of voters have concluded that he was not the best candidate for the job and not because Ms. Clinton’s supporters did not fall into line.”

Unity Deferred – Can You Cross Out ‘Hillary’ and Write ‘Sarah’? – NYTimes.com

Unity Deferred – Can You Cross Out ‘Hillary’ and Write ‘Sarah’? – NYTimes.com.

“It turns out the women of America aren’t finished yet!” That was Sarah Palin, the Republican governor of Alaska, as Senator John McCain introduced her to the country as his vice-presidential nominee. “We can shatter that glass ceiling!” she proclaimed.

What’s a woman to do? Or at least, the woman who so badly wanted to see a woman in the White House?

Democrats, who make up the party that has long claimed the bigger pool of up-and-coming women, were quick to dismiss Ms. Palin as not experienced enough to be a heartbeat from the presidency. Mrs. Clinton’s supporters will never back her, they insisted, because she is against abortion rights.

Not. So. Fast.

That underestimated, or at least underappreciated, the raw feelings of many Clinton supporters, and particularly the women among them, despite the almost flawless display of harmony in Denver.

At the very least, Ms. Palin’s selection unleashes gender as a live issue again, just when Democrats thought they had it under control. (This might not be a bad time for Mr. Obama to reconsider that question of retiring Mrs. Clinton’s campaign debt.)

“This puts the issue back on center stage,” said Debbie Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. “There are going to be some really fascinating conversations that are going to come up around gender, in some ways that nobody expected.”

“It’s not about being bitter for Hillary,” she said. Still, “I think the Democratic Party took women for granted in the primary, they didn’t step on sexism when they should have, and I can’t support them.”

Yes, they said, they were troubled by Ms. Palin’s opposition to abortion rights. But Ms. Hoover said she felt betrayed by pro-choice groups, and in particular politicians like Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who were helped into office by pro-choice groups like Emily’s List but came out early to support Mr. Obama over Mrs. Clinton, despite her being the first viable pro-choice woman to run for president.

Ms. Hoover has stopped giving to Emily’s List as a result. “It doesn’t make sense to me that, frankly, Emily’s List didn’t hold them accountable for having been elected on that platform but then not supporting that platform,” she said. “The setback for the pro-choice movement is almost deserved.”

Curtain call for Clinton’s drama – Ellen Goodman on Women’s Reach For The Highest Office

Curtain call for Clinton’s drama – Ellen Goodman On Women’s Reach For the Highest Office.

Ellen Goodman traces the arc of conventions she’s attended, from “Shirley Chisholm’s run for the presidency turned into a sprint for the vice presidency to Geraldine Ferraro  saying, “American history is about doors being opened.” We were sure it was a beginning.

(She) was there in 1992, in the aftermath of the Clarence Thomas hearings when angry women energized the Year of the Woman, sending four new women to the Senate. The same year Hillary Clinton made her debut and her audition tape as the favorite target of the right wing.

This time, for the first time, the woman checked off the box of experience. And watched it reframed as “old politics.”

However many speakers talked about the 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, the ceiling is in place. While polls say that women now feel it’s more likely to have a woman president in the future, older women wonder, “In my lifetime?”

What we know about the “sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits” is that women need a farm team… Not enough women imagine themselves running for office and so do not run for office.”

AdvancingWomen thinks that is something we need to change.

Goodman says: “Near the end, the senator offered a long view. “My mother was born before women could vote,” she said. “My daughter got to vote for her mother for president.” That, for the moment, is history enough.”

We respectfully disagree.  That is not history enough.  That is just another step on a long and winding road that will eventually take us to the top… that will eventually take a woman crashing through that highest and hardest glass ceiling and into the seat of power in the Oval Office.  We will work together to do everything possible to make that day come sooner rather than later, starting with developing that farm team, with electing women dog catchers and sheriffs, city council women and mayors, governors, senators and ultimately….Madame President.

WomenCount Launches – Hillary Recognizes 88th Celebration of Women’s Suffrage

WomenCount || Blog

The following is an account written live at the WomenCount launch event at the Democratic National Convention by members of the MOMocrats :

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said: ( Hillary’s)

“Her candidacy was the best of times and the worst of times. I’m so proud of her. she gained. she earned 18 million votes. and she raised more money than any other candidate in history except Barack Obama. I am standing taller and I believe every woman is standing taller. Thank you Hillary Cliinton for being there and running and doing so well.”

“But it was also the worst of times for women because we saw the dark underbelly of sexism and misogyny, and like Ginger Rogers who did everything backwards and in high heels, women have more barriers to break. Someone should write a book, about women who have come so far yet still have obstacles.”

Jemu Greene: “As Madeline Albright says, ‘There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women’.”

Congresswoman from Florida, Debbie Washington Schultz:”

Congresswoman Schultz: Of the 240 women who have served in the House of Representatives, 70 are serving now. Take a look at the candidates at the WomenCount site – take a look at all of these candidates and support them. “Tonight will be a fantastic celebration of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.”

“We need you to join us in this movement… to get this organization launched… with some of the most amazing women I’ve worked with.”

Acknowledging the the founders of WomenCount: Rosemary Compasano, Susie Tompkins Buell, Amy Rao, Stacy Mason

“This team – with your help, if you join our team, we will not just get language on sexism and gender bias on the Democratic platform; we’ll get it on the Republican platform.” (Jehmu Greene)

Greene: “With your commitment… a woman will be president!”

Senator Clinton then recognized all of the congresswomen who are present, and she recognized today as the 88th celebration of women’s suffrage.

“We cannot be deterred. We cannot be divided.” “I have served in the Senate and I do not want to see progress subverted for four more years with a Republican in the White House… but what it so great about our country is we don’t sit around wiaiting for our government to do things… that’s where citizen activism has always made a difference. The march toward women’s suffrage that ended in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment started in 1848 with the Women’s Rights Convention in New York…” Women kept at it, she said, and WomenCount is one of the organizations that takes on that good work… “WomenCount will continue to stand up against the pervasive bias that we saw in the media. WomenCount will continue to stand up and be a voice for those who feel that they are left out and left behind. There is so much work to be done and this is exciting and energizing work.”

She thanked everyone for working so hard for her.

“I will be there with you, I will work with you.” “We have made a lot of progress… but we have a lot more to do. So join with us, be part of this ongoing effort to realize the promise of America and the lives of Americans.

Hillary Clinton speaks at Women Count Launch About Future of the Organization

Edwards Lie Cost Clinton Nomination — Political Wire

Edwards Lie Cost Clinton Nomination — Political Wire.

John Edwards affair and the way he chose to handle it….by lies and a cover-up… may be a tragedy for the Edwards family. But they are also a tragedy for the 18 million voters who supported her.

As reported in this piece: Sen. Hillary Clinton “would be the Democratic presidential nominee if John Edwards had been caught in his lie about an extramarital affair and forced out of the race last year,” insists Clinton aide Howard Wolfson, ABC News reports.

Said Wolfson: “I believe we would have won Iowa, and Clinton today would therefore have been the nominee.”