Malcolm, Albright Urge Female Voters To Get Behind Obama

Several of Hillary Clinton's most influential female supporters, urged members of the pro-choice, pro-female candidate group, EMILY'S List to overcome their grief over Clinton's loss and throw their support behind Barack Obama. There were tepid and then more sustained cheers.

Speaking at group's annual luncheon celebrating in Washington D.C., Ellen Malcolm, EMILY's List's founder and director, offered a highly personalized plea for Democratic unity, saying that the possibility of a John McCain presidency outweighed political grudges.

"I have been meandering my way through the various stages of grief: sadness, bargaining, anger, and my personal favorite dessert," she said to a crowd of approximately 900. "And so for the sake of my waistline as much less the sake of the party and country, I will follow Hillary Clinton and say it is time for the party to come together."

The crowd applauded. Later in the event, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, another Clinton supporter, declared that "we are all in one campaign now" and "the reality is that this year the Democratic Party produced not one but two candidates who are qualified to win in November." She was greeted with a more enthusiastic reception.

Throughout the primary, Malcolm had been one of the most outspoken supporters of Clinton's candidacy, often questioning whether female supporters could end up backing Obama. After Clinton bowed out of the primary race, she continued to express a sense of hesitation in supporting the Illinois Democrat before changing her tone in recent days.

"I spoke to Senator Obama on Friday and I told him I would do all I could to defeat John McCain," she told the crowd. "We are here today to begin the final stage of '08. This is the election we have been waiting for. The country is fed up with the policies set by George W. Bush and his allies in Congress. Voters want change. I want change. Do you want change?"

Outside the hall, many attendees said that they had come to grips with Clinton's loss and were willing to back Obama, a development that the Illinois Democrat is banking on to win the White House. But the process was long and difficult, they added, and it would take time for them to get over what they viewed as perceived slights, especially those that came at the hands of the media.

"The large majority of the mainstream media as well as on the blogs have been overwhelmingly sexist to the point of misogyny," said Sharon Gorseld, Executive Director of the DNC's Women's Leadership Forum. "There really needs to be an examination by the media, journalists, and owners of outlets. There needs to be a long term analysis and study of this problem and they can use Senator Clinton's campaign as a starting point."

To the disaffected crowd members, Malcolm commiserated. The event ended as it began, with efforts to rally the EMILY'S List crowd behind the Illinois Democrat.

"This was an extraordinary and somewhat astonishing nominating process," she said at the receptions onset. "I know that in this crowd there are Barack Obama supporters. I respect your choice and I understand the excitement you must feel by his historic victory. But for Emily's list and me personally, the choice was always clear. We wanted Hillary Clinton to be the next president. For those of us who supported Hillary this is a challenging time, one of many emotions. Hillary was a magnificent candidate."

Comments

[pad759]

To the Hilliary supporters:

Sometimes GOD knows what's best for us. GOD maybe telling Sen. Clinton, that it not her turn just yet. I believe she will be President, in the near future, but not this time. GOD knows what's in store for Ms. Clinton. She will one day look back and say, it was not my time. It will come ladies, just be patient. And when it does, it will be right. There's a saying that goes like this, " its not how you lose the battle, is' how you fought the fight. GOD knows things in the spirit, that we can't see in the natural. Be encouraged sisters.

[patmancando]

cont'd from part 1

Finally after the primaries were almost over and Obama had a almost insurmountable lead in delegates, the DNC decides to resolve the issue of Michigan and Florida. But do they do it fairly? No! They slant it to favor Obama. In Michigan where OBama took hid name off the ballot for political gain, they not only gave him all the uncommited, they took 4 of Sen Clinton's delegates. the GE, did not do their job. Sen. Obama is one of the least prepared candidates to be the leader of our country in this century. I will not be voting for Sen. OBama.

[JMBrodie]

Vote for McCain.

And keep making the same mistake a lot of white women make by thinking that Black men are somehow the same as white men. There was a time not that long ago that white mobs would kill Black men just for looking at white women. Emmet Till ring a bell? Rosewood? Tulsa?

We are not those men. We have fought battles that you were very much involved in. When I graduated high school back in 1975 I received a book called the Black Book. It was a pictoral history. One photo was of a Black man who had been thrown on a fire and burned alive. In the group photo of people standing about the man's corpse were white men, white women and white children.

Those images don't erase easily, and it is comical to think that you see Black men having something over you.

Sad.

[patmancando]

cont'd from part 2

The so called neutral Donna Brazille, issued a statement and/or on CNN after the decision saying that Sen. Obama had extended an olive branch to Sen. Clinton by accepting the decision instead of fighting for a 50-50 split, which he had the votes for passing. She went on to imply or say that Hillary was not gracious by refusing to accept the olive branch. How political does that demonstrate how the DNC made a political decision instead of a fair one based upon "fair reflexion"? In Florida where Sen. Clinton won by over 300,000 votes, they took away half of the delegates. Do you think that the passionate HIllary supporters, who still remember the corrupt 2000 and 2004 election process, which installed La Bush for 8 years, are going to blindly accept our own party, the DNC, doing basically the same manipulation of the primary process in favor of Sen. Obama? Do you think the DNC is superior to "we the people" I don't think so, and as much as I feel electing a Democrat in 2008, I cannot accept this corrupt process. It is a matter of principle! And BTW, the SDs, who were put in place to insure that we get the best candidate for

[cyndeewi]

Look, you are still living in the past. It is over, Hillary lost. Primarys are won by the delegate count and Hillary did not win. In addition, you should be happy that Obama agreed to give her what the states were asking for. He did nothing wrong. Hillary knows it and you dont. Get lost will ya!

[RadicalChick]

What about the times would make it not her turn??? She's 60 years old, for God's sake. I predict that she's lost her only chance. Or, I should say, been robbed of it. There's nothing to be encouraged about.

[blaqntelligence]

Your argument is so specious and stupid I doubt you are a Hillary supporter. More like a republican in drag. Trying to pass and failing miserably.
My God, don't you idiots ever stop?

[erykah]

I know this is a hard time for many who were hoping Hill would get the nomination. I am glad to see these women step to the plate and show leadership. I believe many of Hill's supporters will come around in time. Once they see what McCain has to offer they will jump on board. Certainly. Welcome.

[beverett]

We weren't born yesterday: we know what McCain has to offer.

By the same token, we weren't born yesterday: we know what happened during this primary season. Either correct it and make it right or be prepared not to have our support in November. It's that simple.

[sstansbe]

Well, it's your country, too. You and your children will also have to live with your decision. Good day.

[BeingFrank]

beveret you are a minority, A sad, gender extremist.
No better than those that kill the innocent with bombs, you do it with votes, yet the results are the same.

This country will no longer be the tool of fanatics that place the interests of one group over any other.
That is what this election is all about, in case you missed it.

You were never a Democrat, we understand that now, so your loss is for the better of us all and to the detriment of your own Karma because your self destructive efforts will fail.

[going2ireland]

And who should correct "it"? And how should it be corrected?

[blaqntelligence]

Stay home or vote mccain, it really is just that simple.

(I will post excerpts from Tim Wise whenever and wherever I can). He says it so much better than I.

"Your threats are not about standing up for women. They are only about standing up for the feelings of white women, and more to the point, the aspirations of one white woman. So don't kid yourself. If you wanted to make a statement about the importance of supporting a woman, you wouldn't need to vote for John McCain, or stay home, thereby producing the same likely result--a defeat for Obama. You could always have said you were going to go out and vote for Cynthia McKinney.'


"........ you have the audacity to insist that it is you who are the most loyal constituency of the Democratic Party, and the one before whom Party leaders should bow down, and whose feet must be kissed?"

"And you wonder why women of color have, for so long, thought (by and large) that white so-called feminists were phony as hell? Sister please..."

[truthynesslover]

MORE WAR AND FEWER JOBS!! VOTE MCCSAME!!

[xargaw]

Shame on Sharon Gerseld. If she is truly the leader of the women's DNC group, she should be aware that there are millions of women that did not support HRC and do not believe she was singled out any more than any other candidate. Clinton ran a campaign plagued by mistakes and debt. For the media to call attention to those mistakes is not sexist. It is politics. As an older women, I am offended by this special crtitical analysis of HRC. All coverage was political hardball, no more, no less. Obama dealt with racial attacks, some from camp Clinton. It's politics. It will continue and be worse in the GE. For the Clinton camp to decry this treatment is evidence they weren't ready for the GE campaign. I admire the candicacy of the fight in Clinton, but after the fact justification is not helpful to women's candicacy in the future. It makes us look weak as if we are asking for special treatment. It's time to bury all this stuff and work to ensure a DEM President in Nov.

[obamagal]

Well said. I'm an older woman as well and felt the same way you do.

[JR49]

I think most important now is to start reveal McCains real stands for women. Yesterday I heard that around 50% of women have no clue what McCain is standing for and why they would never ever vote for him if they want to fight for their rights and equality. I wish one day we are going to see woman in White House but now it is time to defeat old orders and old ideas of GOP and their nominee. Ideas where women are treated differently from men even if they do the same work and many times with better results.

[Jey]

The Emily List needs to send another mailing out to their supporters encouraging them to vote for Barack. If they can't vote for Barack personally just tell them to hit the "D".

[obamanation31]

Why would any woman in her right mind want to support McBush?

[Gary47]

Because women go with their heart, and their heart's got hurt. Give them a week a two and everything will be fine.

[KarateKid]

It's not Obama's fault; he doesn't control the media. If Hillary had not run the kitchen sink strategy and the media had turned on her, then I could understand the griping. But, the media, esp. the left leaning ones, went negative on her AFTER she went negative on a fellow Democrat.

[patriotic008]

if ticked off ex-HRC female voters start paying attention to McCains past and what he has stood for and what he stands for now they will come to their senses. the information about him will enlighten them in time to prevent a third term on Bush - McCain doesnt stand a chance against Obama when it comes to womens issues

[Speakchic]

I am truly impressed! Thank you ladies and welcome aboard. We have been waiting to hear from women regarding this matter and we want to take this country by storm TOGETHER!

This is a unique opportunity for Democrats to not only win but unite in a way that they're never done so before and send a strong powerful message to Washington that our time has come. And we are ready to take back our government and we want EVERYONE possible who wants to be apart of this on board for this movement.

[SharonAustinTX]

Each day more comes out about McCain that shows him to be a disaster on women's issues and the security of our nation. Initially, I was drawn to him because who wouldn't respect his military service. However, this week when I read the story about how he desserted his first wife, I was enraged about his lack if character and lack of integrity. I cannot give my vote to such a monster.

[TheRealMacDaddy]

Ladies go on the View, Oprah, Ellen all the morning shows and tell America's women just what John McCain's record towards women really is.

Tell them how he called his wife a C**t in mixed company, tell them how voted against health care for kids, tell them he will be the one picking 2 to 4 of the next Supreme Court Justices.

[bigironal25]

To all women who are voting for McCain remember this; if McCain is elected, there will be a militery draft. Do you want your loved ones to die for big oil?McCain will appoint pro life judges to the supreme court! Do you want to be forced to have a back alley abortion? McCain will privatize social security! Do you want Wall St. to gamble with your social security investments? Well, do you????

[rowzeer]

War is Racket...General Smedley Butler said back in the 30's and it still holds true today. Vote McCain and you will get the draft so we can make corporations richer with the blood of our sons and daughters.

[NorVaGal]

Two magnificent candidates always results in only one emerging victorious. It is so much tougher when the race is close. And, yet, Obama supporters would have had to go through exactly the same heartbreak if our candidate had lost the nomination.

Thanks for this article. Statements and actions such as those of Malcolm, Albright, and other Clinton supporters does so much more to promote healing than anything that Obama supporters could say or do. We respect their disappointment and admire their public struggle and success in uniting for the good of our country and the Dem Party. They are certainly to be commended.

[beverett]

No way! Not after the way the DNC, RBC, media, Obama and his campaign & supporters, Dean, & Brazile treated HRC.

All of it was based on "they'll come home". Many of us aim to take a stand and prove them wrong!

I might also add, it's funny that all the women keep coming out to try and talk us back 'into the fold' proving once more that Obama is a coward and not ready to be an effective political leader.

If not HRC, then McCain '08

[timm553]

Sounds more like "anyone white" than anything else. Of course, I could be mistaken.

[BeingFrank]

...or anyone with male genitalia.

[euchery]

Ahh Operation Chaos forgot to retrieve some of their operatives. I commend your commitment, but its over for you republicans in democrat clothing, you can stop throwing fake tantrums, you can go home now.

[InjunTrouble]

I think Hillary treated Obama far worse than he treated her.

And all that is nothing compared to how McCain will treat women if he gets elected.

Did you know McCain got rid of his first wife when she was crippled and disfigured and married someone 15 years younger? I guess that is OK with women like you?

[docpooh]

These kinds of posts used to really bother me until I realized that (if they are honest and not trolls) they represent a small, fanatical, boisterous, few. I believe that most women who supported Hillary are Democrats who wanted her to win. While they may be disappointed, they are NOT poor losers who'd rather put a Republican in the White House. Polls are bearing out this fact. There will always be the angry, contentious few but they are a minority. In a way, I sort of envy them. While everyone else is worried about the price of gas & food and the economy and where the U.S. is headed, these folks seem to have simplified and narrowed down their concerns to just "being against Obama". They could care less about McCain's policies- if they even know them! Fanaticism does tend to unclutter one's world.

[rowzeer]

Then you, Beverett get what you deserve...back alley abortions, endless war and a draft, tax cuts for the rich, corporate welfare, unequal pay, privatization of public resources and services at a higher costs, no SCHIP or health care, etc. etc. You deserve it, but the HRC supporters willing to support Obama (because yes they would have expected Obama supporters to get behind HRC) do not.

[Tropiholic]

This is a good thing!

[crossoverwriter]

It's about time these highly visible and respecte women speak out for Obama. If Hillary had not waited almkst a week to endorse Obama, we wouldn't have had that gap where soem defected to McCain.
Nevertheless, I think most women, and men who supported HRC will come to their senses.