This One’s For All The Girls
By SusanUnPC on February 17, 2008 at 12:51 AM in Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Soldiers/Veterans, Women and Children
Jeralyn at TalkLeft blog writes: “A good way to end a blog day filled with debate over sexism.” This is so uplifting.
What an uplifting message for young women everywhere!
And Big Tent Democrat has this: “A very well written letter from a group of feminist intellectuals who support Hillary Clinton was e-mailed to me, also at HuffPo. I reprint it [here]:
We are women who support Hillary Clinton for the presidency of the United States. We do so because we believe that she will be the best president for the entire country. And as feminists, we also believe that Clinton is the best choice for attending to issues of special importance to women.
We write to you now because it’s time for feminists to say that Senator Obama has no monopoly on inspiration. We are among the millions of women and men who have been moved to action by her. Six months ago, some of us were committed to her candidacy, some of us weren’t, but by now we all find ourselves passionately supporting her. Brains, grace under pressure, ideas, and the skill to make them real: we call that inspiring. The restoration of good government after eight years of devastation, a decent foreign policy with ties to world leaders repaired, withdrawal from Iraq and universal health care: we call that exciting. And the record to prove that she can and will stand up to the swift-boating that will come any Democratic nominee’s way: we call that absolutely necessary.
Clinton’s enormous contributions as Senator, public servant, spokesperson for better family policies and the needs of hard-pressed women and children are widely known and recognized—even by her opponent. Her powerful, inspiring advocacy of the human rights of women at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 was heralded around the world as a stunning departure from the normal anodyne role of First Lady. Corporate special interests managed to defeat the health care program she advocated in 1994., and her own leadership opened the plan to attack. But she kept on fighting, acknowledging her mistakes, and in ensuing years she succeeded in winning expanded coverage for children. Now she has crafted the only sensible and truly universal health care proposal before the voters.
On the Iraq war, many of us believe she made a major mistake in voting for Joint Resolution 114 in 2002—along with the 28 other Democratic senators, including John Edwards and John Kerry. But we also note that her current opponent, when asked about that resolution in 2004, responded that he did not know how he would have voted had he been in Congress then. We do not know either. But we do know that at the time, his opposition to the war carried no risks and indeed, promised to pay big dividends in his liberal Democratic district.
Now, the two candidates have virtually the same plan for withdrawal from Iraq. And on the critical, broader issues of foreign policy, we believe that Senator Clinton is far more consistent, knowledgeable, modest, and realistic—stressing intense diplomacy on all questions and repairing our ties with world leaders.
We are keenly aware that much is at stake—not just on national and international security, but on the economy, universal health care, the environment, and more. Our country needs a president who knows the members and workings of Congress, and has a proven record on Capitol Hill of persuading sympathizers, bringing along fence-sitters, and disarming opponents. There is an irony in her opponent’s claim to be able to draw in Republicans, while dismissing her proven record of working with them as a legislator. We need a president who understands how to make changes real, from small things like the predatory student loan industry to large things like the Middle East. Hillary Clinton has the experience, knowledge and wisdom to deal with this wide range of issues.
Our country also needs a president who has a thorough mastery of “details”—yes, details – after eight years of Bush and Cheney. The job of restoring good government is overwhelming, and will require more than “inspiration” to accomplish it. We believe that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Justice Department, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency, and many more can be restored to full and effective functioning only by a president who understands their scope, regulations, personnel, problems and history. Knowing these “details” and acting on them are essential to begin the healing and recuperation of the country.
How many of us have heard brilliant and resourceful women in the workplace dismissed or devalued for “detail-orientation” in contrast to a man’s supposed “big picture” scope? How many of us have seen what, in a man, would be called “peerless mastery,” get called, in a woman’s case, “narrowness”? How many women have we known—truly gifted workers, professionals, and administrators—who have been criticized for their reserve and down-to-earth way of speaking? Whose commanding style, seriousness, and get-to-work style are criticized as “cold” and insufficiently “likable”? These prejudices have been scandalously present in this campaign.
With all this in mind, we believe that Hillary Clinton is the best candidate for president, because she is the surest to remove the wreckage and secure the future. Politics is not magic. Hillary Clinton as president promises what government at its best can truly offer: wise decision-making and lasting change.
Ellen Carol DuBois, Professor of History, University of California, Los Angeles
Christine Stansell, Distinguished Service Professor, History Department
University of ChicagoGloria Steinem, writer, New York City
Michele Wallace , Professor of English, Women’s Studies and Film Studies, City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center
[and many many many many more . . .
(small, medium and large sizes; for both dogs and cats)
+ 
From one 52 year old “girl,” thanks for the wonderful video.
Fantastic, Susan!
For all the girls, and everyone who stands behind them.
The video and the letter made my day!!
No, we won’t back down!
I saw my mother in that video. And my daughter. And my two granddaughters. And me. We’re all there, four generations connected to each other and to all the other women and girls counting on Hillary to lead our country out of the darkness of the Bush years.
I don’t know if it’s the pictures or the music or the combination but it ripped my heart. We must not give up.
Thanks Susan.
Go ahead and be all emotional and inspired and all that, and after that wake up and realize that Bush is not the disease he is only the most obvious symptom so far. The darkness did not begin with Bush and it will not end with Bush. The darkness is systemic and goes back decades.
Hillary Clinton is not going to lead you out of the darkness, Barak Obama is not going to lead you out of the darkness, and it is dangerous to think that either one will. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more from the American people to get out of the darkness than to elect Hillary, or Obama.
Since I don’t have a hammer, I’ll cry out “DANGER!” I’ll cry out a warning. Don’t expect anyone to lead you out of the darkness.
OT, but this afternoon I listened to excerpts from a new film about the life of Pete Seeger (I guess it will be released soon). I was in the USA off and on during that time of truly committed activism against the Viet Nam war, etc., and was reminded how far the people in this country have gone since then toward apathy and inaction.
When I heard the words of If I Had a Hammer “I’d hammer out DANGER!, I’d hammer out a WARNING” I wanted to cry because I, and so many others have “hammered out DANGER!”, and have hammered out so many warnings, and no one listens.
And everyone needs to listen to this song that he wrote during the Viet Nam war. How appropriate it is right now! Nothing’s changed except for the worse. The song could be named “Stay the Course”.
It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That’s how it all begun.
We were — knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, “Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?”
“Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
‘Bout a mile above this place.
It’ll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We’ll soon be on dry ground.”
We were — waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, “Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim.”
“Sergeant, don’t be a Nervous Nellie,”
The Captain said to him.
“All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I’ll lead on.”
We were — neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain’s helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, “Turn around men!
I’m in charge from now on.”
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.
We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn’t know that the water was deeper
Than the place he’d once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
‘Bout a half mile from where we’d gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.
Well, I’m not going to point any moral;
I’ll leave that for yourself
Maybe you’re still walking, you’re still talking
You’d like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We’re — waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man’ll be over his head, we’re
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!
shirin -
You don’t want to win one for the Decider?!
Nope!
Truly inspirational! I saw it over on TalkLeft just a little while ago.
I sent the video to everyone I could think of… perfect to email to your mother, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, grandmother…
It should get the widest distribution possible as an antidote to all the ugly things being thrown around of late!
Wow — nicely done video!!!
The photo of Hillary, Bill & Chelsea — Bill looks so damn proud.
The last photo of the rally in Seattle — Norm Rice & Gary Locke standing with Senator Clinton (noted absence of the WA state what’s her name Gov.)
Thanks!! for posting.
Yeah, what’s her name who the Seattle/King County liberals detested in ‘04 and refused to support because their preferred candidate didn’t win the gubern. primary. And I believe in good part that the King County people did NOT help her campaign, except silently vote for her, that she had such a very tough time winning (you know all about the weeks of counting every single absentee ballot statewide and the beliefs, of Republicans in Wash. state to this day, that they were cheated out of the governorship. (Her name is Christine Gregoire, and I was so pissed I took my name off her mailing list.)
Anyway, I hope to god she doesnt think supporting Obama will find her any friends among that crowd. They all HATE Sen. Maria Cantwell too, no matter all the great things she’s done in the Senate, because she voted for the authorization. We are so DAMN lucky to have Maria Cantwell, who just barely beat longtime Slade Gorton in 2000…. that was another ballot count that took weeks.
And, like my fantastic (and rather powerful Congressman Norm Dicks — he’s high on the Appropriations chain), they both have a large conservative and military constituency to serve. My district includes the Bremerton Naval Shipyards — and I’ve seen the nuclear subs swimming through Hood Canal on their way to the ocean for runs. My county is “pink” these days, but there are loads of retired miliary people here. Dicks serves ALL of these people… he’s also a huge environmentalist, and an even bigger wildlife protector (which I adore), but he also takes care of all those military active and retired!
THEN there is ALL of Eastern Washington, where I grew up, and where there’s a very strong Republican and Liberatarian streak. Our senators have to serve ALL of them too. (Eastern Washington always feels left out, compared to Seattle, and so our senators make a big effort to travel there a lot and help a lot of people and businesses, including — gasp — Republicans.)
Obama buys his friends, did you check to see how much he “donated” to her?
I’ve been disappointed in Gregoire and some of her stupid ideas like HUGE bridge tolls for 520. Talk about regressive tax. (other examples too).
Then she posts a “yes we can” mind control diary at Daily Kos, and I thought, I’ve had it with this woman.
If Obama’s the nom, I’ll abstain in the GE, because I think it’s better to wait for a decent Dem pres than to elect a horrible one. I’ll be abstaining in the Governor’s race too.
Tolls are the reality of the future. Better get used to it. The new Tacoma Narrows Bridge is also tolled.
If you want to throw a tantrum and sit this election out — possibly handing the presidency to McCain — just because the nominiee might not be Hillary, then get ready to see horrible replacements for John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Get ready to see more corporate domination. Get ready to see Roe overturned. Get ready to see more war, more corruption, more illegal spying on Amercans, and more torture.
If McCain wins because of you and people like you, I will hold you personally responsible for every crime committed by President John McCain and his willing Republican accomplices in the Congress, and his conservative friends on the Supreme Court.
Regarding the 2004 gubernatorial votes:
The Republican prosecutor in King County concluded there was no vote tampering by Democrats.
A Republican judge in Wenatchee dismissed the GOP lawsuit, concluding that Dale Forman and the WA State GOP failed to make their case for vote tampering by Democrats.
A Republican U.S. Attorney — remember John McKay? — was fired from his job precisely because his office, along with the FBI, conluded there was no evidence to support going after the Democrats.
Seems to me the Republicans in Eastern Washington will continue to whine and moan about Democrats, as they always do, and about 2004, no matter what. They’ll get their chance to go after Gregoire this November.
And who’s the loveable liberal that lost to Gregoire in the primary? Phil Talmadge, who had a great chance to beat her, had to pull out of the race because he had kidney disease.
Yeah. Old “What’s her name” just happens to be ten times the governor that Gary-the-bought-and-paid-for-corporate-hack-Locke ever was.
A little trip down memory lane:
Locke’s the one who made a highly controversial secret deal with Boeing (worth $45 million) to sweeten the already sweet $3.2 billion deal the legislature gave Boeing to build the 787 Dreamliner here. It stands as the most outrageous corporate subsidy in Washington State’s history, and then Locke went ahead and made his secret deal that even state legislators didn’t find out about until they read about it in the newspaper!
A few choice aspects of the secret deal:
* $4.2 million to extend HOV lanes on I-5 and widen lanes on Hwy 527 for 20 blocks — just for Boeing.
* $5 million to pay for a “Large Cargo Freighter” to fly in 747 components from all over the country and all over the world where the 747 parts are actually being manufactured. Nothing is being manufactured in either Everett or Seattle.
* State of Washington hires employees to expedite Boeing’s environmental permits and to advise about possible future tax breaks
* State of Washington agrees to withhold or blackout information from the public record “to the fullest extent of the law”.
* Future legislators may not revoke or change tax breaks.
The 787 project is way behind schedule, costing millions more, and some of the parts manufactured overseas have ben deemed either substandard or incompatible.
Gary Locke didn’t do shit for the citizens of this state. He’s now working as a corporate lobbyist with one of the biggest firms in the northwest (big surprise). Attack Gregoire for her Obama endorsement all you like. Since I’m not an Obama supporter I can see her endorsement for what it is — a polticial play for more votes in this November’s gubernatorial race against Dino Rossi.
So go ahead and slam the endorsement for what it is. But don’t start sputtering like a fool when it comes to comparisons between her and Locke as governors. She got more accomplished in her first two legislative sessions than Locke did in eight
Again, maybe it’s because I’m an Edwards supporter, but in my view, these candidate endorsements really don’t seem to mean much. Endorsements certainly didn’t help Obama any in Massachussetts, now did they?
Please give original youtube link.
I can’t seem to view it on your site here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9z-Aatd0wA
(Trick: If you right-click the page, and select “View Source,” you can look for the section with the YouTube — and in the midst of the code is the actual URL.) And it’s always at the end of the YouTube, but if you can’t watch it here, that doesn’t do you any good!
Hope you can see it. It’s very wonderful.
I am another feminist for Clinton and would be proud to sign my name this letter.
Here is the original YouTube link for the poster above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9z-Aatd0wA
Big Tent Dem has the link to the original HuffPo piece:
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/2/16/211012/842
Not sure if the letter is open to signatures. I’d love to sign it too. Heck, I personally can reach hundreds of women who’d love to sign it.
If you’re willing to find out how, and contact them, let me know via susanunpc at gmail dot com, and I’ll help you get things in motion.
The sexism in this race is WAY underreported, except by a few blogs. I’m so damn proud of Big Tent Democrat — who from his days at DKos I knew as a pretty tough customer, and he is a Chicagoan and said he’s leaning Obama — but he has the “necessary toughness” to see things like they are, call things what they are (sexist), and let the chips fall. As I said below, he had to shut down his comments section to his earlier post yesterday. The ‘droids may be rapturous in the presence of their Chosen One, but they’re vicious to everyone else who doesn’t march in lockstep.
Hallelujah - sing it sister!
Just a little snark and frivolity - Thanks Susan - very inspirational.
Excellent post Susanhu.
Very inspiring.
Nice Video!
When I look back over my life I realize that it was my Mom who bailed me out of most of my personal disasters and or predicaments(sic). That’s one of the things Moms are good at. Your country needs a Mom leading it at this crossroads in her history.
Great post. I am getting so tired of hearing how we need an “inspirational” leader, like Obama. He does not inspire me, because I think he is phony. I do not like preachers much, and he sounds like a preacher.
I am tired of hearing about how Obama will be able to “connect with Republicans”. I do not want to connect with Republicans. I detest everything Republicans stand for. They are the enemy and they have completely screwed up this country in the last eight years, and if we let them choose our candidate, they will screw it up again. Why on earth are we giving Republicans any say in the Democratic ticket? Same with Independents. If after eight years of Bush, you are still on the fence you are an idiot.
The main reason I voted for Hillary in my caucus, after Edwards dropped out, is because I heard both Barack and Michelle Obama hint that they would not support Hillary if she was the Democratic candidate. That is childish and we do not need another spoiled child in the White House.
Hillary has been a champion of the oppresed in this country for years, and high flying rhetoric is no substitute for hard work.
Yeah, what they said.
Thank you for the video, I personally agree with the Feminists who signed the letter for HRC. If anyone wants to challenge HRC on her abilities to face tough situations, live in her shoes for a day; through the hate and vitriol and see how you survive. She has the confidence and abilitiy to work in such an environment. She does inspire me. That seems to be an over used word as of late but in her case it is the right word.
Both my 10 year old daughter and I proudly support Hillary! I hope that she can make some gains in the up coming primaries. I hope that she is our next president. I hope that she beats expectations.
Mailed my absentee ballot two weeks ago in time for the Texas primary March 4. Marked it for Hillary Clinton!
Thank you, thank, thank you—
We woman are way overdo for a boost, about 15,000 years, I’d say.
Why is it that even seemingly backward countries elect women to high offices of governance , but, this, our United States Of America can’t even find it in their clutches to try to elect an extremely qualified candidate who just happens to be a woman?
I will show this video to my own thirteen year old daughter–and I know, it will help her feel good about the trials she will have to endure being a woman in this country and in this world–she will feel some support from others, besides just me—and she will send it on to all her girlfriends, too.
Thank You So Much! We need this.
Thank you for the link. I’ve watched it now and it’s a great video.
I clicked and right-clicked away on the original but my computer was having none of it !