Hillary's Victory

[William769]

Senator Hillary Clinton's victory in New Hampshire was the first time in our history that a woman won a presidential primary*. Her win was a momentous achievement that the early suffragettes could only dream of. It was a triumph for all women – a giant step forward in the drive for equality.

The nation's political attention has wrongly focused on why Senator Clinton won New Hampshire. The most important fact, that she is the first woman ever to win a primary, has been lost. Does it matter that Hillary Clinton won the primary – YES. Senator Clinton's victory cannot be brushed aside with political positioning or media downplay. Make no mistake, it was an historic moment.


As the founder of the CALIFORNIA LIST, an organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to California state government, I have dedicated my life to building the pipe-line of future leaders and helping support Democratic women running for office. When a woman becomes a candidate she brings a different voice to the conversation and valuable diversity to the political process. She will inevitably face challenges because of her gender. After all, it took more than 40 years for California women to gain the right to vote. In 1911 when suffrage finally passed in California, it did so by fewer than 3,600 votes – an average of one vote per precinct!!! Women's rights have been born out of struggle not privilege.

In 1994, the year of the woman, the number of elected female Democratic officials in California was at an all time high. Twenty per cent, or 24 out of 120 elected officials, were women. Today we have only 16 elected Democratic women, over 30% less than ten years ago. In California we lose 2 or three elected women per election. It's the slow drip process. Elected women and candidates are in decline – a frightening trend that must be reversed.

http://www.seeingtheforest.com/archives/2008/01/hillarys_victor.htm

[Rock_Garden]

1. K&R, William!

[William769]

2. Thanks.

[sufrommich]

3. I still infuiates me that the media

hardly mentioned this after New Hampshire.First woman to win a primary and the headlines were "Hillary Human?" or "New Hampshire racist?". K & R and thank you.

[Diane R]

4. As on original feminist, I stronly disagree with this. I won't vote for a candidate based on gender.

[troubleinwinter]

6. I voted for Shirley Chisholm. I do not vote for Hillary Clinton.

[AGirl]

7. Did anyone ever say they will vote for Hillary simply

because she is a woman? I don't think anyone would.

[troubleinwinter]

8. Yes, there have been many posts.

Yesterday, a DUer stated in an original thread that she will vote for Clinton because her mother wanted to see a woman as president. I could hardly believe anyone would base a vote on such a stupid idea, but there ya go.

[Mushroom]

9. "her mother"

There have been good male presidents, there have been better male presidents, and there have been bad male presidents. But the traditional arena of male presidency has always been based on the hope for better and best. For people to throw away this opportunity to be able to finally usher in an obviously strong capable female presidency, for this time, for the eventual progression of better to best is what's INCREDIBLY STUPID, the ultimate in REMISS.

It doesn't get women anywhere by playing along to get along. There are women who are proud, who are bold, and they are proudly and boldly voting for a woman. Hillary is making history that blogs and msm simply cannot suppress.

[Kucinich4America]

10. So why would you want the first female president to be a bad one?

Because Hillary would be very bad. Exceedingly bad. Horribly bad. And if the country even survived at all, it would probably be another century before another woman could get elected.

I'm all in favor of a woman being President some day. But not simply because she's a woman, and not Hillary under ANY circumstances.

[troubleinwinter]

13. Because it would entertain her mommy. No matter whether HC is the worst. No responsibility at all.

Seems that a vote is just something to be used in any flippant manner, but not taken as a matter of LIFE AND DEATH FOR MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

[troubleinwinter]

11. Yer joking, right?!!! Hahahahahaaaaahaa!

I am left-handed. There have been good right-handed presidents. But _____________ is left-handed, so I will throw my vote at the lefty, for the entertainment of my father. "FUCK the country. FUCK my resposibility. FUCK making an intelligent decision. It's all just a fucking JOKE to entertain our family members in their elder years."

FUCK. IT. If this is the kind of stupid shit that DUers expect to be accepted on this board, I might as well check out. JEEZUZFUCKINGKRIST. "I'munna vote for a gender for my mommy." That DUer should get off this board. A vote is a responsibility. It effects us all. Some folks spend amazing hours and effort trying to guard and protect our votes (see Election Reform forum).

IT. IS. NOT. A. JOKE.

[Evergreen Emerald]

12. You "strongly disagree" with mentioning the monumental achievement?

What the hell?

[indimuse]

5. K&R!

Thanks William. I was wondering when this would be recognized.