Hillary Receives Some Well Deserved Accolades
By Anita Finlay ("Ani") on March 26, 2009 at 6:25 PM in Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Sexism
Susan’s Note: Don’t miss our Hillary Supporters live chat tonight at 8:45 p.m. ET. “This is HILLARY DAY at NoQuarterUSA.net!” wrote Ani in an e-mail to me. And don’t miss Reverend Amy’s earlier story.
“No nation can be successful if it invests only in or listens to only half of the population. So for all of those women who aren’t here tonight, who are enduring unspeakable abuse, who are laboring under unbearable burdens, who are wondering whether there is a future for themselves and their children, we pledge that we will do all we can to ensure that America is not only an example of the best values that humanity has to offer, but that we pursue every chance we can to give every woman a vital voice on behalf of herself, her family, her community and her country.”
— That was the statement of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton upon accepting her award last Thursday at the 2009 Global Leadership Awards, held at the Kennedy Center, and honoring women leaders. Just one of several well deserved accolades this hard working and brilliant lady has received of late, mentioned in more detail below.
From Politico:
The ceremony was put on by Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international organization promoting women in leadership, and saw such notables on stage as Ben Affleck, Sally Fields, Maria Bello, Candice Bergen, Diane von Furstenberg, Nicholas Kristof and Maggie Grace.
Clinton was there to accept the organization’s “Global Trailblazer” award for “her passionate commitment to promoting women’s rights and securing justice for all people around the world.” The award was presented to her by a former political opponent during Clinton’s time in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.).
“Vital Voices is all about uniting women and working together for positive change,” said the Hutchinson. “[Hillary Clinton] has reached out to bring people around this common cause and has used her powerful voice to raise the voices of all women. … As presidential candidate last year, she made 18 million cracks in the ceiling and inspired women all over the world. As secretary of State, she is putting women’s rights at the top of her agenda.”
“I want to thank Kay for being such a wonderful colleague and friend,” said Clinton in return. “I will do what I can to champion these issues and to use my own voice in support of women who raise their voices.”…
She certainly did inspire women around the world and continues to do so everywhere she travels as Secretary of State. While you will not read any of this in the American press, international news organizations note her rock star status when visiting their countries, with citizens flocking to see her everywhere, but also that women from so many nations look to her as a role model and seek her counsel.
Despite the night’s star power—and although additional awards were presented to women leaders from Afghanistan, Nigeria, Cambodia and the Democratic Republic of Congo—it in every way belonged to Clinton, beginning with a touching video tribute and capped with a standing ovation that lasted nearly two minutes when she appeared on stage.
Yes, well they should stand and applaud loud and long. Um, is she “likeable enough” now?
From their website:
Vital Voices’ Global Leadership Awards honors courageous international women leaders who have expanded democracy at the grassroots level, promoted legal reforms and human rights, triumphed over tragedy and prejudice, and symbolized the progress that societies can achieve when women’s vital voices are allowed to be heard. This annual event attracts powerful women & men in government, media, and the diplomatic community.
Ben Affleck – yes, I know, I know, Ben was a big Obama supporter, but I appreciate his statement at this event nonetheless:
“As along as violence against women—sexual or otherwise—remains strictly and exclusively a ‘women’s issue’ it will always be an issue. We men must own this and we must recognize that it is vital to our own survival and we must help our brothers see it as such.”
Need I say it? It would have been lovely for Ben to mention this laudable ideal to President Obama at one of the fundraisers he held for him last year, and point out that Obama’s marching into a victory party to the song “99 Problems But A Bitch Ain’t One” is probably not sending an appropriate message.
After Secretary Clinton concludes her visit to Mexico…
(CNN) Planned Parenthood Federation of America will hold a gala honoring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday in Houston, Texas.
Clinton is set to receive PPFA’s highest honor, the Margaret Sanger award, for her advocacy of “women’s health and rights throughout her public service career.”
…to pay tribute to those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women’s reproductive health and rights and promotion of family planning and prevention efforts.
Ironic that NOW and NARAL wound up abandoning Hillary, the one who put them on the map. She has always had the needs of women and children writ large on her agenda. Nice to know there are some organizations out there smart enough and decent enough to give credit where it is due.
Lastly, a CNN opinion poll conducted yesterday likewise provided an interesting set of tidbits:
WASHINGTON, March 25 (UPI) — …Seventy-one percent of people surveyed in a CNN-Opinion research Corp. survey say they approve of her performance as the top diplomat for the United States. Less than one in four disapproved, the survey said.
“Nine in 10 Democrats approve of Clinton — that’s no surprise,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “But by a 50 percent to 43 percent margin, Republicans also think she is doing a good job at the State Department. That’s an interesting result for a polarizing figure like Clinton.”
Further, according to the referenced article in UPI, Hillary’s approval ratings are higher than Obama’s last polling results the prior week. See here —
Hillary-ious! “Polarizing” my foot. Try uber-competent and hard working. Time to drop that idiotic moniker, no? Especially in light of the fact that we are making an effort to honor women here and not kick them in the teeth. I think we had enough of that last year to last a lifetime.
Consider the coda to Secretary Clinton’s quote above, asking that…
“we ensure that America is not only an example of the best values that humanity has to offer, but that we pursue every chance we can to give every woman a vital voice on behalf of herself, her family, her community and her country.”
Wise words. And it might be a fine idea for any senseless detractors to come around and support this lady’s vital voice.
Congratulations, Madame Secretary. Well done.
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