Why Hillary Is The Right Choice For Women

by Martha Burk, Gloria Feldt, Cecelia Fire Thunder, Lulu Flores, Kim Gandy, Ellen Malcolm, Irene Natividad, Ellie Smeal, Gloria Steinem, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones

As women who have spent our careers fighting to protect a woman's right to choose, we recognize that the next president will face serious challenges to safeguard the reproductive health of women. In our opinion, there is one candidate whose leadership on this issue is unparalleled: Hillary Clinton.

Hillary has been an uncompromising leader and loyal ally for each of us in our battles to ensure and protect a woman's right to choose in America and around the world. We know she will lead the fight for women's health and justice because we have worked with her on these issues for so many years.

· We know Hillary will appoint Supreme Court justices who honor a woman's right to privacy because she not only voted against John Roberts and Sam Alito but also spoke on the Senate floor about the threat they pose to privacy rights and Roe v. Wade in opposing their confirmations.

· We know Hillary will expand contraceptive options because she waged a successful three-year battle with Senator Patty Murray against the Bush administration to make Plan B emergency contraception available over the counter.

· We know Hillary will expand fair work-family policies because we worked with her to pass the original Family and Medical Leave Act and then to expand it to cover military families, to provide paid leave, and to improve childcare.

· We know Hillary will fight for access to family planning services for low-income women because she has fought to increase funding for contraception and family planning through Medicaid and Title X.

· We know Hillary will work to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies because as First Lady, Hillary helped found the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancies and as Senator she spearheaded the Prevention First Act.

· We know Hillary will be mindful of the challenges that our sisters face abroad and at home because in 1995 she bravely stood before a global audience at the 1995 Women's Conference in Beijing and declared that "women's rights are human rights."

We trust Hillary Clinton because every time we needed her by our side, she has been there.

Let us be clear -- the stakes are high in this election. We firmly believe that no one is better situated to confront the challenges awaiting the next president. As a pro-choice president, Hillary Clinton will make Supreme Court appointments and decisions ensuring women's reproductive rights in this country.

We believe that Hillary Clinton is the best choice for president of the United States.

Comments

[ModMs]

Now these are "Feminist Leaders"! Please see comments at John Weiner's Off the Bus post on 2/3 and his misleading headline. 'Nuf said.

[LeoMarvin]

Thank you for showing how an endorsement of one candidate doesn't have to come at the expense of another. I happen to support the other candidate, but I think you've given us an excellent demonstration of how to have our disagreements without poisoning any wells we're all going to have to drink from very soon. I'll enthusiastically support either candidate we nominate, and it should be our highest priority that that be the attitude next fall of everyone who now supports either Barrack or Hillary.

[HillRaiser2008]

I am a woman. I am a Veteran of the Armed Forces. I was injured during the pre-build up to the Gulf War. I had a bone replacement surgery. I had to fight for medical benefits that only cover that area of my body. I live with chronic pain and yet I was asked to serve in Navy - a position for Satellite Weapons Targetting (being a disabled veteran). I turned that down.

Why would I turn down a National Security Clearance with benefits? I am a woman!!!

A woman has to work harder, be stronger, preservere longer just to be reminded that she is not a man. Interesting? Familiar? When I was the top of my military classes, I was harrassed. When I was injured, in their glee, I was harrassed. Sen. Barbara Boxer helped me through that period.

As a woman, I know that we need women like Senator Hillary Clinton who can stand for everyone. Until we have women in leadership to prevent war, I will not serve this country - Never Again will I subject my person to the harm of the sexual harrassment and double standards.

Hillary Clinton is not only electable but even Sen. John McCain knows that she is the only other candidate capable of being Commander and Chief. Frankly, he is scared, very scared because he secretly knows: Hillary is the ONE.

[HillRaiser2008]

I am a woman. I am also an Veteran. I was injured during the pre-Gulf build up. I had to fight for medical benefits after a bone replacement surgery. I have never recovered. However, the Navy offered me a position in Satellite Weapons Targetting in 1997 (being a Veteran on Disabilty). I had the opportunity to re-join and get benefits and etc.

Why did I refuse to join the Navy under a National Security Clearance, getting benefits etc? I am a woman!!!

Too many women in the military get the Double Standard. When I was top of my class, doing better than the men, I was constantly harrassed. When I was injured, in their glee, I was constantly harrassed. You cannot beat them because they will gang up on you and beat you. Until women are respected in this country, I will not server it.

Hillary is more qualified to become Commander and Cheif than any other male in the race. McCain is even aware of that himself. He knows that she is the ONE.

[moderationsmuse]

If there were a woman's right to choose, it would be an overturning of Roe v Wade and turning that decision over to voters (there are rather MORE women voters than Supreme Courts Justices).
But since one doesn't have THAT right to choose, I'll be using my woman's right to CHOOSE somebody who is not Hilliary.
Cheers!

[larry278]

Too late ladies. The establishment has abandoned HRC. BHO is the newly designated POTUS #44, for this week anyway.

[Absintheforall]

Ladies, I wish you could make your endorsement more widespread to the American public!

That would most certainly drive more coffin nails into Hillary's campaign ;^)

[Unsui]

According to David Rees "... in the autumn of 2006, there was a chance to take a step in the right direction: Senate Amendment No. 4882, an amendment to a Pentagon appropriations bill that would have banned the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas.

Senator Obama of Illinois voted IN FAVOR of the ban.

Senator Clinton of New York voted AGAINST the ban".

But I guess, as long as YOUR issue has been addressed, no one should care about this unelectable candidates positions on other crucial issues? Thanks but NO THANKS!

Besides, are you of the opinion that Obama would lose ground on any human rights issue, especially womens right to own their own body?

[GrandmaSue]

If I had a choice to spend an afternoon with some influential, accomplished women it would be with Michelle, Oprah, Caroline, Maria

rather than

Martha Burk, Gloria Feldt, Cecelia Fire Thunder, Lulu Flores, Kim Gandy, Ellen Malcolm, Irene Natividad, Ellie Smeal, Gloria Steinem, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones

just my personal private choice!

[sawbuck]

If it wasnt for Bill, it would be 'HIllary Who???'. She is anti feminist because she hitched herself to the coattails of a man instead of forging her own path. She is a poor example of a woman making it on her own merits, and reinforces to young women that they really do need a man to get by in the world. A man who made a fool out of her as well, in front of the whole world. Some role model.

Bottom line is that she had voted for every major Bush legislation, and opposes in lip service only. Voted for the war, the funding, the Iran resolution, the first bankruptcy bill, and defends all of them. Her husband is an embarrassment who helped get us into this outsourcing mess and telecom fiasco. I vote for some new blood.

[grlpatriot]

I think what is also important to remember is that Obama does not stand a chance in the general election. Don't think for a minute that the Republicans aren't trying to spin this. Republicans raving about Obama and saying that they like him doesn't mean they will vote for him because they won't. Honestly, McCain will have a much easier time against Obama. Obama is wrong to think that Hillary supporters will back him. Some might. However, Hillary's supporter that support her on the experience issue, will vote for the moderate McCain. Our best chance is a Clinton-Obama ticket. Hillary has to put Obama on the ticket and if Obama is truly a man of the people he will except VP; however, if he is power hungry and out for himself he won't.

[lgillooly]

Clinton/Obama 08' is the winning ticket!

[bbln]

Excuse Obamabots - but Hillary has a HISTORY (or a HERSTORY) of actual change and legislation for women's reproductive rights and overall rights - BEIJING, Ireland, Afghanistan, the creation of the Violence Against Women department at the Justice Department, to name a miniscule amount. the problem with Obamabots is they have no sense of history - no sense of perspective - the difference is CAN DO and HAS DONE instead of a very thing record of positions taken by Obama (you do know that Illinois NOW will NOT endorse Obama because of his Present votes on women's reproduction issues, and that the SHILL Obama has on his site claiming that Obama is pro-women's reproduction rights wasn't EVEN a part of Illinois NOW when she taped her testimonial for him).

[vegasobserver]

How did it take ten (10) women to come up with such a bland, policy-wonkish letter that simply spouts the party line of mainstream feminist organizations?

Are they implying that Barack Obama wouldn't do anything for family planning, or expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act?

They say, "We know Hillary will do this or that", but do they know for sure Obama won't do any of those things?

Or do they just want the symbolism of having a woman in the Oval Office?

This symbolist B.S. is getting kinda old. It's like when the Clinton's decided they had to have a female attorney general to "represent" women's accomplishments in the legal profession.

Their first two picks for that job, Zoe Baird and Kimba Woods, were ethically-challenged attorneys who were exposed in various scandals. (Only after these two nominations were shot down was Janet Reno found, to the benefit of the US.)

The point is that elevating a person to any position for symbolic reasons, above all other reasons -- including competence and character -- is not the way to run a government or a society. It smacks of a smarmy form of political correctness, and we are too grown up for that.

[DeeperTruth]

Hillary is the most qualified, competent candidate. All leaders and Presidents make mistakes. Barack would make mistakes. McCain would make mistakes.

There is a sickness where people unfairly demonize her. It is one of the greatest injustices I have ever seen. Everyone makes her their scapegoat.

When she was a teenager, she was organizing to try and help the children of migrant farm workers.

What have you done like that?

She has dedicated and devoted most of her life to helping better the lives of people in our country.

But no matter what she does, she is criticized. She is misunderstood, she is demonized.

One of the best places all those who want "Hope" and "Change" to begin, is to see the reality of this woman and all the good she has done.

Obama supporters are the worst towards Hillary - the ugliest - the meanest - the grossest in distortion and misunderstanding.

REAL "Change" and "Hope" should begin in you.

You want "Unity"? Try not demonizing anyone.

You shouldn't need someone else to tell you about it.

I have plenty of inspiration in my daily life, plenty of hope and change. It begins with you.

I don't need speeches about it.

What impresses and inspires me? A woman who had devoted her life to helping others. Even while people have demonized her all the way. That's hope.

Real hope for an America that can get it's priorities straight.

p.s.

A Hillary Administration would never have gone to war in Iraq.