What Do Hillary Women Want?
You've no doubt heard the media reiterating talking points about how the way to win the votes of women is to hit hard on economic issues since those are the issues that impact families with painful immediacy. There's some validity to that point. After all, many of the women who were and who remain most strongly identified with Hillary are mothers. We care about our loved ones. We carry the burden of trying to make it work when the ends don't meet the middle. We worry about the future. A lot.
However, if you listen closely, you'll also hear the unwritten assumption that appears to constitute the Obama campaign's strategy toward this large, critical and, usually, faithfully Democratic demographic: "Well, who else are they going to vote for anyway? Let's focus our energies on the Independents" I think of this as the "we've got them by their Roe v. Wade" presumption. The thought also has some validity since the stakes are certainly very high. However, especially with McCain's campaign aggressively courting Hillary supporters, Obama cannot afford to presume anyone's automatic support.
This was no ordinary primary season for Democrats. Women and people of color have been disenfranchised and taken for granted by the Democratic Party for years. This time, however, we were able to back candidates (candidates who actually had a chance to win) with whom we could personally identify. Whether you are a woman, a person of color, some other kind of "other" or some combination of the prior groups, the experience of witnessing a biracial man and a woman as the two final potential Democratic presidential candidates was powerful.
What continues to make it hard for many of us to commit to the Obama cause is his very lack of overt commitment to us. He and his campaign have focused too much on Hillary Clinton herself and missed countless opportunities to reach out directly to those of us who supported her. He seems to feel it is sufficient to lump us into his idealistically inclusive "we," and, in doing so, he fails both to respect and to witness the enormity of our loss. For it was our loss as women, not just Hillary Clinton's. The reality is that we are not bitter. We are grieving.
For all of us, not just Obama supporters, this Democratic primary season evoked intense emotions. We were called upon to be hopeful and we were. We dared to set free longings and desires so deep and personal that they have been contained historically in the secret places within our individual and collective psyches. And, now, some of those longings have been at least partially fulfilled. And some have not. The grief of those of us whose longings were once again thwarted accounts for much of the continuing resistance of Hillary supporters.
So what do we grieving women want from Obama? We want him to acknowledge that our hope was as valid as the hope of his supporters and that our longing will not go unrecognized. We want him to claim our loss as his own on behalf of his daughters and to speak to women's issues directly. In a very real sense, Hillary's loss is a loss for all of us. I celebrate the fact that countless children of all races and skin color will now see a world with new possibilities. But I mourn to my core that my daughter, like Obama's daughters, will most likely not see a woman president within my lifetime.
So, with all due respect to Michelle Obama (and I do mean real respect: she's strong without apology and we love her for it) and even Hillary herself, we do not want only to hear campaign surrogates giving us lip service. No, we want to hear from the man himself that he will represent and defend our interests and the interests of all of our daughters with ferocity. We want him to commit to us overtly and specifically, because the unfortunate reality is that we do not yet live in a society that transcends gender.
Barack Obama has the opportunity in both his acceptance speech and the campaign ahead to do what he has not yet done: to recognize and respect the intensity our grief by speaking directly to us and our issues and then to challenge us to partner with him to mobilize that intensity to bring about change for all of our daughters. The onus is on you, Senator Obama. Speak to us. We'll be listening.
Leah McElrath Renna is a mother, a professional psychotherapist and a Managing Partner of the communications-consulting firm, Renna Communications.
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Nice try...
Acknowledgement? What is this?
"She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere"
He has put her name in nomination.
What more do you want him to do? He has continously done everything you asked, but nothing is good enough. Why?
What you want is Obama to kiss you a**. Contrary to your article, it's not about Clilnton or her supporters. It's about America, but of course, you and some of ther other supporters will stand on the sideline sucking your teeth and pointing your finger and blaming the world. The DNC and Obama have gone out of their way to acknowledge HRC, the LOSER of the race, by allowing her and her husband two days in the spotlight.
While you and other HRC supports bemoan the fact that HRC is not going to President, you top it off by blaming Obama. HRC lost because she was a terrible candidate with HIGH negatives.
It's time that the women act like adults and get over it. This is why a woman will never be president. We are way too emotional to vote and a think like adults instead of whiny babies.
No Obama is NOT betting on the HRC supporters. It's evident that they are every bit as selfish an self-absorbed as the Clintons and cannot and will not look out for anything that does not benefit them personally.
The tragedy of it all is if Obama loses in 2008, HRC will surely lose in 2012, whether its a Senate or Presidential race. So don't Obama, vote McCain, or don't vote at all. HRC and her supporters need Obama supporters just a much. Obama will survive a loss. The Clintons WILL NOT.
Awesome post. I feel the same way. Although, and I could be wrong, but I bet there are just as many hold outs who are men as women. Remember..
They of course will be the same people sitting around complaining about their noticeably worse situation in 4 years if McCain is elected.
You're right - it isn't bitterness - it is grief - it is dismay. Not just because Hillary did not win the nomination - but partially because she was beaten by the same old unctuous political machine masquerading as a fresh new face. I knew it was a lie then as well as I know it now. This country has missed a golden opportunity that will not come around again for a long, long time.
So Hillary did not enter the contest as a presumptive nominee? She didn't start with the resources of an ex-president, the highest name recognition and the most money? Her loss was NOT due to her mismanagement of her campaign, but solely because of an "unctuous political machine"?
Please. If you want to be treated with respect, how about an honest assessment of her campaign.
Yes, we missed a golden opportunity. To choose the person supported by "hard-working white people". Darn. I really wanted my next president to use words like that.
MAYBE. Just maybe...sh
But of course not. She lost because Obama is a sexist or something.
?
In case you forgot it, your candidate was running as the "same old unctuous political" establishment candidate. That's what beat her. She offered nothing new and plenty of Clinton baggage and drama to go with it. Even as the loser, the Clintons continue to bring drama to whatever situation they are in. They simply cannot help themselves but don't worry.
After Nov. 4, the Clintons will receive their proper due.
Um, the Clintons are (were) the political machine, not Obama.
You clearly didn't watch MSNBC.
Acknowledgement? This coming from supporters of a campaign that vowed to "fight on" when it was apparent in most circles (even as early as April) that there was no mathematical way the Clinton campaign could win the Democratic primary - but I digress...
As long as we are asking for acknowledgement, I would like the Bill Clinton to acknowledge that, for better or worse, the Democratic party is moving on without him. I voted for him twice, but I still lay a huge chunk of the blame for 2000 at his feet (Let's face it by fall 2000, people had enough of Monica Lewinsky & Whitewater). That is one of the main reasons I could not get behind Hillary last year - the baggage that comes with Bill.
LEAH RENNA - BUY A CLUE!
disennfranchised? taken for granted? if not for the democrat party, then 1) it would be illegal for married people to buy condoms, let alone a woman get an abortion & 2) rich, white people would have their own public schools fully funded by taxpayers and everybody else would have a "separate, but equal school".
I think we've seen a great commitment to women's rights in general and in the platform, made even more so with the choice of Biden as VP. However, if you need to hear the words "to all you Hillary supporters, I feel your pain" at the beginning of the speech, then by all means, he should say it.
no. he shouldn't.
NO...I understand your wanting to compromise
They really need to grow up. As bad as that sounds...i
Clinton's loss is already acknowledged in the Democratic Party Convention Platform. That is more than mere "lip service" After Clinton's late & reluctant concession, Obama did graciously acknowledge Clinton's historic achievement & what it meant for his daughter's (& yours) and all the daughters of the nation. Obama has even run the risk of a roll call vote to appease the Clinton's supporters. He has given in to virtually every single demand of the Clintons; so much so that this is now some sort of HYBRID CO-CONVENTION!
And of course this is still not enough for Clinton supporters. The only thing that will satisfy them now is to just hand over the nomination to Hillary. That the country is at grave risk is not enough. That Roe v. Wade is jeopardized is not enough. That anyone, anyone, would consider voting for John McCain at this juncture in history is absolutely incredible to me. But I keep getting distracted from the big picture which is still: The Clintons, The Clintons, The Clintons!!! "What does Hillary want?" "Why is Bill still angry?"
I really, really, don't give a sh*** anymore.
God Bless You Barack Obama!
Have a great convention & go out & win in November!
As a woman, I take great offense at your column. Not all women backed Hillary - many of us feel that Obama has, and will continue to, support women's issues. As the son of a single mother, husband of a strong woman, and father of two great daughters, he has spoken on what Hillary's campaign did and I feel he appropriately acknowledged her and her campaign.
You may still be grieving but there is also a time to finally let Obama have his moment in the sun, Lord knows she couldn't give it to him when he clinched the nomination. Many of us have grown tired of the repeated demands.
I've resolved myself to the fact that, in some of her supporters eyes, he will never be able to do enough to please them. So be it.
She isn't writing the post to all women. If you read a post and it's not about you then leave. Go on to another post. Or are you just looking for spots where you can dish out your hatred?
hello kettle...
Danigirl65 - 100% on point.
NO...she's dishing out her FRUSTRATION as we ALL are...beca
"Well, that's not all, of course"
Truer words were never spoke. Nothing Obama could do could EVER be enough, because Hillary's die-hards are trying to make him responsible for a lifetime of chauvinism, glass ceilings, and Hillary's husband's philanderi
"But I mourn to my core that my daughter, like Obama's daughters, will most likely not see a woman president within my lifetime."
How can you lay that at Obama's feet? She had every advantage and still lost.
I would agree with the assessment if HRC had been summarily dismissed as a candidate, if the press played a "well, let's wait for a real candidate to emerge" and treated her campaign as some sort of novelty. But the did the opposite. They declared her the hands down favorite and said nobody (except maybe Gore) could even compete.
"What continues to make it hard for many of us to commit to the Obama cause is his very lack of overt commitment to us."
Why should he? Being POTUS is not about sparing the feelings of some group that feels slighted. It is about making critical decisions about how this country should be lead after years of neglect.
He doesn't OWE you (or me, or anyone else) any "overt commitments". He's laid out his policies, and you can decide if you think they are best or if you favor McCain's. But this need to have Obama pat you on the head and say "good job!" is ridiculous and undercuts the idea that a woman can run (and ultimately fail) EXACTLY as any man could.
Maybe he'll give the Hillary women the acknowledgment they need in his speech but please give him a chance. As you said this thing is big; let's not do anything to ruin it. Feelings were hurt on all sides. There were those like me who loved Hillary until she went on attack against Obama and then stayed in the race long enough to cause the party problems but it's over so I'm moving on and looking at her afresh.
I bet the Republicans would just move on but you know how we Dems are...eat our own. Let's move on with our without acknowledgment!
I'm sorry... but how much more acknowledgement do you need. Every day on the news... people are acknowledging you.
This has to be the most sexist thing I've ever heard. Our woman candidate lost... but because she and we are women we need special treatment to deal w/ our loss. I'm sorry... if we women want to play w/ the big dogs (men) we need to learn to pick ourselves up... brush ourselves off and keep it moving. If it does take another generation for a woman to win the nomination
and there you have it.
hillary for secretary of labor!!
as a obama supporter from the beginning of his campaign, i am very happy with where we are in this election and i support his choice for vp.
on the other hand, i am also a fan of the clintons. i think bill did an amazing job as president and i was honored and proud of him as a leader.
because of this amazing, unprecedented presidential race and the accomplishments of both clinton and obama, i have enjoyed the past 10 months.
i am not one of these obama supporters that bash hillary for playing tough politics. and i am disappointed at hillary supporters that threaten to vote for mccain.
nonetheless, i think i am in the camp that would like to see hillary rewarded for her campaign and her work and also i believe i am in the majority of folks that would like the clintons involved.
therefore, i propose obama announce hillary as part of his cabinet. hillary, alongside al gore, and others. never has this been done before, but it would unify the party and invigorate the campaign to really drive it home.
i'm interested to hear from the rest of you on huffpo. let me know your thoughts.
thanks for reading.
What a wonderful post. You recognize that both candidates were remarkable and that they can still work together to help pull this country back from the brink. Now , if we can only get them and their camps to see this, we'll all be much better off.
Hillary was my candidate, but I will never vote for McCain.
Obama/Biden '08
I can't imagine Hillary trading a senate seat for a cabinet post. Cabinet positions are usually quite transitory. I do think, however, that she would accept a seat on the Supreme Court and I think that she would make an excellent Supreme Court justice...
"i think i am in the camp that would like to see hillary rewarded for her campaign and her work "
So how do you propose Obama "reward" the remaining democratic candidates? Why Hillary and not the other men?
I am getting very tired of this. Really. Senator Obama has been a tireless advocate for women's rights his entire life. So I don't know what more you want him to do.
If you, and th other "aggrieved and angered middle-aged white women Clintonistas" want to vote for McCain, then do it. Enough of Obama pandering to a group that knows what's at stake, and, that frankly knows better.
Senator Obama has brought millions and millions and millions of new voters and disaffected voters into this process - way more than Hillary Clinton. The tens of millions of blacks, latinos, asian-americans, arab-americans, and young/edcated whites he has registered is unprecedented in the annals of politics. So let's be clear: the Hillary holdouts are outnumbered by the thongs of new voters Obama has brought into this process.
This election won't be won on the aggrieved middle-aged vote. So if you want to vote for John McCain, or write Hillary's name in, act like a NIKE shoe and "just do it."
Obama will be president (with or without your vote), and this country will be great for electing him.
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