Hillary's gracious speech this Saturday in which she unequivocally endorsed Barack Obama (despite occasional boos from her most hardcore supporters) should be praised. This was the most gracious she has been in a while despite the fact that she did it because she was facing a political suicide otherwise. Her speech was also important because it emphasized what her campaign has meant for women. I think that many Obama supporters (including myself) have at times overlooked the inspirational thrust of her campaign for millions of women in this country.
In reflecting on the remarkable change this country has gone through in the years since Bob Kennedy's assassination 1968 Bob Herbert usefully reminded us in his op-ed piece of June 7: "Women in 1968 were mired in depths of misogyny that were as soul destroying as racism. Discrimination on the basis of gender was so pervasive as to barely attract notice. Many retail stores refused to issue credit cards to married women in their own names. Employers could fire women with virtual impunity if they got married or pregnant or weren't attractive enough or turned 30. According to the National Organization for Women, in a statement of purpose issued in 1966, fewer than 1 percent of all federal judges were women, fewer than 4 percent of all lawyers, and fewer than 7 percent doctors."
We have to keep in mind this atmosphere as we try to understand the depth of inspiration and commitment many pre-baby boomer women feel towards Hillary Clinton (regardless of what you may think of her). And while it is possible that another woman might come by soon and claim another strong campaign for the White House, we have to acknowledge that Hillary and Bill are both generational leaders whose power and political prowess may come just once per generation.
Having said this, it is also important that Clinton does more than just pay lip service to helping make Barack our president. Hillary has to be dispatched to Florida and many other battleground areas where pre-baby boomer women make up the most important electorate and has to remind them what a third Bush term would mean for women's right to choose (it is possible that the next President will appoint two or even three Supreme Court justices); what it would mean for their pocketbook and for their sons (who have their sons serving in the military which would stay in Iraq for 100 more years if McCbush had his way). On the other hand, Bill Clinton can be very useful being dispatched into the rural areas of the country where his presence among rural white people can inspire them to back his choice for president, Barack Obama. Obama can even dispatch him to Arkansas and at least make McCain spend money and time in this previously safely Republican state.
It is important that the feminist movement realizes, soon, that Barack Obama is their best shot at continuing to push this country in the right direction. There are disturbing signs that this might take a long time. Just today many of Hillary's supporters were supposedly outraged when they realized that the website was still boasting that Barack has not taken a single dime from lobbyists "unlike Hillary Clinton." Upon realizing they had not updated the website since Hillary's concession, Obama's camp moved quickly and deleted the remark but some pundits have said "it might have been too late." I mean come on! Are we going to argue over a stupid sentence (written at the height of the bloody primary battle), or are we going to expose the utter lack of any message or unifying vision from the McBush camp. People have to reminded that this country cannot afford 4 more years of Bush, meaning: 1) continuing attempts to crush Roe v. Wade and re-insert government control over woman's body; 2) continuing attempts to derail further progress on Civil Rights; 3) continuing abuse of government powers, including the expansion of NSA's warantless wiretapping of communications within the country (something that McBush supports); 4) the cementing of status-quo within the abhorrent labor laws; 5) continuing lack of a unified, universal healthcare; 5) and a continuing imperalistic foreign policy that will send more of our young men and women to die and to kill others and that will further diminish America's image.
Finally, Hillary's supporters have to be reminded that if Barack is the president, Hillary will almost definitely play a prominent role (there are rumors that Barack has already promised to nominate her to the Supreme Court, which in my mind would be a great idea).
I still think that they will unequivocally rally around him, but they have to do it now!
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2 comments:
Hillary made a deal. The speech was done to pay down her campaign debt. She's 30 million in the hole and if not paid by end of summer she is responsible for all of it - personally. Obama is good at getting people to donate and 44 minutes into the speech (or after) the word went out...get help for Hillary...and so the $ flow to the multi millionaire.
I think the Obama campaign was waiting to see if she would come through. She did.....in between how great she is and without a smile when she said the "gracious" words. Oh women...stop falling for this...she's not gracious. She's a wealthy pol getting poor people to pay for a losing campaign. OUTRAGEOUS!
I don't think that Roe v Wade will ever be overturned. The zeitgeist isn't in line with that position anymore.
Of course a McCain presidency will be terrible for women in America, as it will be difficult for America, human beings, mammals in general. But after dissing Hill's followers for weeks, perhaps deservedly, you realize how your appeal sounds to them?
This is my biggest concern, the Achilles heels Barack faces against an opponent, McCain, that he should slaughter.
See ya in the battleground, brother.
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