Yes She Can! Why I'm Endorsing Hillary

Late yesterday afternoon I received an email from the Clinton campaign about attending an event here with Hillary Clinton in the San Fernando Valley (Northridge). Having missed the last event here in SoCal, I welcomed the opportunity to attend, because as I have said here many times, I am particularly interested in the issue of the economy as a small business owner and only parent.

I arrived at the event about 30 minutes before the scheduled start time and was surprised to see a long winding line of people that seemed to be endless, as I walked the considerable distance from the parking to the small auditorium where the event was to be held. I had called the local campaign office about getting a press pass a couple of hours earlier and was told people were already lining up as seats were limited. They weren't kidding.

The hall was full when I went in, and there was press already on the media riser. I spent time talking to some local media and knew we'd all be settling in for a wait, because the candidates are never on time. At some point Congressman Brad Sherman announced that Clinton was indeed running behind schedule and that she would first be talking to the 2000 or more supporters who were outside because the small auditorium was filled to capacity.

At some point the traveling press came straggling in, and seasoned campaign blogger that I am, I knew that Clinton would be along soon. But still we waited inside, as Clinton grabbed a microphone outside and spoke to the crowd:

I went to the Clinton event, with a different feeling than I had 4 years ago when I was involved with the Kerry campaign. Today I was an observer, rather than a blogger for a campaign.

Admittedly I have been very interested in what Clinton has been saying on the campaign trail, because I have felt, as I have said here in the past that she resonates with me, as woman.

Since the New Hampshire Primary, I have talked to many women who have told me they are supporting Clinton. Women from all walks of life. Women around the country. The theme among the women I have spoken with is that they believe she is the most qualified, they believe she has the most experience and they feel at this point in time our country needs that experience.

So I listened to Hillary Clinton today with an open mind and an open heart. She started her speech by recalling the '92 Northridge earthquake that devastated the Valley. She reflected back on how the Clinton administration handled that disaster compared to Hurricane Katrina and there was a shift in her voice, she softened and was that woman who learned to listen in New Hampshire.

Clinton spoke clearly and never seemed to skip a beat. She knew her stump speech inside and out and she knew the policy she was talking about. The economy here in Southern California has been rocky at best for some time. She was, I thought ahead of the curve weeks ago when she got that is was only going to worsen and she began to call for action. That was the first real hook on the issues for me, outside of her health plan, which I feel is the best of the 3 front-runners.

And I watched. I watched her radiating on the stage. Truly confident with herself and the issues she was discussing. She told the crowd in the room, and those listening outside via the loudspeakers that she is running because she knows "America can do better," and she wants us "to enter into the future with Confidence and Hope."

The economy, Clinton told the audience, "has to be the number one issue, because it is where we live." We live in our homes, we live in our pocketbooks, we live in our day to day existence struggling to put food on the table. She spoke few words but said a mouthful that was loud and clear. Yes, it's still the economy.

"This election," Clinton said is "about the people. Your hopes, your dreams." Which translates into, I get you all have needs and I care. It's another version of Clinton's "I am listening" mantra, which resonates with women and people who are struggling to be heard.

And then it hit me. I knew that she could lead this nation in a better direction. I knew that she had the experience, the knowledge, the innate sense and the vision to start fixing the wrong that have been wrought on the American people by the Bush administration. Yes, she can, I told myself. Yes she can.

I believe Hillary Clinton is the right choice for President. I had been leaning in that direction for some time now, but it hit me standing there in the crowd today, that my mind was clear. When the event was over I struggled through the crowd to try to meet her. Thankfully I learned the tricks to working my way through 4 years ago, but unlike my time following John Kerry on the trail and knowing his staff that traveled with him, I was heading up there on a wing and a prayer that I would be able to get her attention and speak with her. Someone was listening.

I reached out to her and she responded. And in those first moments talking to her I blurted out that I had been a blogger for Kerry in '04 and had been undecided, but I was clear today -- You have my support Senator Clinton. I felt as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I had the opportunity to tell Hillary Clinton my story, as others have on the campaign trail. She listened as I told her I was an only parent who raised my daughter alone for nearly 18 years, ran a business and a blog, my daughter was now in college. She cared when I told her that economy had hurt my business and I had no healthcare. I told her that I believed in her, and that like so many women I looked at her as role model that women can break the barriers.

After 7 years of Bush, America needs to know we have a leader that listens and cares and a leader who has the experience to do what needs to be done. I believe that leader is Hillary Clinton. I believe she can lead us. Yes, she can!

Originally posted at The Democratic Daily.

Comments

[Sneaky]

Are you serious? You support her because of her gender, and what others of her gender feel about her? What in the hell is wrong with people that they care more about physical traits than leadership qualities and proposed plans?

As a small business owner and only parent, you should be ashamed with yourself. Your small businesses and the workers for all businesses are the ones who will feel the vice grip of increased taxation the hardest if a candidate proposing such widespread health care plans succeeds. Other countries have succeeded because they were economically stable when they enacted such programs, and we are far, far from it. Hillary Clinton has no understanding of economic matters and certainly no understanding with the Constitution.

If you really like her policies, fine. Just say so. But allowing yourself to be drawn to someone because of a shared gender is as stupid as the American people permitting our current president to remain in office.

[batguano]

The sure winning Dem ticket is Edwards/Obama and all of Billary's ego and ambition or millions in campaign donations from her corporate masters will not change that; nor will insipid vacuous and evasive mumbles of why she should be supported because "she is a woman" or other vague feel good fluff. The polls show that Edwards beats ANY Repub/Con candidate by double digits! Look, I don't dislike Hillary, she is "likeable".....I do despise many of her policies and actions. Can she win? Will she be the best to eliminate special interest corporate power and lobbyist abuse? Will she commit to end the nightmare war many Dems gave Dubya authority for? The answer for all is NO.
America is not ready for the stark truth of Dennis Kucinich, but an Edwards/Obama '08 ticket (and a varied competent progressive cabinet) is a damn good start!
And then it hit me! THIS is the time to get behind a WINNING Dem ticket and begin to repair the many disasters and crimes that the Bush/Neocon regime has brought us, NOT more Repub/Con lite!
Edwards/Obama '08!

Check the Issues pages for all three candidates to see for yourself who is tellin it like it is and who is blowing smoke and keeping answers as vague as possible. Contrast these Edwards proposals... http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/global-poverty/
http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/govt-reform/ with Hillary!

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/

http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

[ZinZen]

Yes she can! As long as Bill is at her side. Hill is not winning because of her merits because she has few. She is winning because a majority of people are nostalgic for Bill.

I will not vote for Billary in the GE. Too tired of political dynasties.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

I wonder how many of Hillary's liberal women supporters are aware of a speech she gave a few years ago that was decidedly anti-abortion?

http://www.slate.com/id/2112712

One quote:

"There is no reason why government cannot do more to educate and inform and provide assistance so that the choice guaranteed under our constitution either does not ever have to be exercised or only in very rare circumstances."

*

The Clintons' support of the death penalty should trouble anyone who cares about the black community (whether you're white or black, male of female), because statistics have shown over and over that more blacks are put to death for the same crimes as committed by whites, and that in too many instances those blacks executed were actually innocent.

* *

Iraq War. A vote for that war means mothers are grieving over daughters and sons lost in Iraq, or are permanently injured, or if nothing else are missed everyday they are over there. And as progressives who care about the poor, we know that the wealthy are far less likely to be serving in Iraq or have daughters and sons serving in Iraq.

* * *

Come on, Ms. Leavey-- this has to count for something. Why has the Democratic Party lost its way?

[Bocababs]

I also am thinking of a "write in" vote in FLORIDA if Hillary is the Nominee....I was supporting her and attending meetings for Hillary here in FL up until 8 weeks ago. Ask me what happened? I realized she will still divide the country and we will 4 to 8 more years of divisive politics. I voted for change. I voted for Obama.

[Yappa]

Great post. Thanks.

As a woman, my support for Hillary is not so much because she's a woman. It's my feminist sensitivity that helps me see that many of the attacks on her have a basis in misogyny.

[RobHoff]

I am taking the position of the late, GREAT Molly Ivins http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/20/ivins.hillary/

I simply cannot understand how Clinton #2 is leading? are We the People really such dopes? apparently - Looks like I will be doing a write in - vote your hearts folks - if that is Clinton well so be it but don't hold your breath for anything other than business as usual. The mid-terms cannot come fast enough now - sweepers, sweepers - man your brooms

[speakeasy]

Even if you buy into HRC's BS, she will never be president, period. She will never get enough of the independents/progressives (who will stay home in lieu of voting for her) and the Repubs will have the largest turnout ever to make sure she doesn't make it to the WH. The only way she has a chance is if Romney or the Huckster gets the nod and even then it will be close.
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton, this is an American Democracy, not a succession. No more Clintons, no more Bushes, EVER!!!!!!!!!

[LeeFromVA]

Hillary has reinvented herself too many times. Now she is trying to be Obama himself with the "yes we can" and the "Dreams and Hopes." Why should we bother with her, we have the real deal, and he doesn't come with all her baggage.

[MyThought]

Observation this morning - ABC and others marking the anniversary of the Lewinsky affair - UNFAIR. Martin Luther King had affairs, JFK had affairs, Ike had an affair and we could go on, Guiliani had affairs, McCain had an affair (current wife), again we could go on.

Hillary DIDN'T have an affair - it's her husband's baggage - after the hurt, pain and public humiliation over it - they still make her the victim - because she is a woman. Double-standard or what and why are women putting up with this.

Are we going to have an anniversary celebration of JFK's affairs, MLK's affairs, Ike's affair - that were of "their own doing"?

You don't think the media are after her? Give you heads a shake and SHAME ON THE MSM.

[voiceone]

Hillary has taken 18 million from the health insurance industries, 14 million from lobbyist, 18 million from real estate, big oil, and I could go on and on. This woman has sold her sole. In the 90's she promised us health care for all, we got NAFTA. Do you think we should believe her this time. One more chance to screw the american people, while sucking every dime she can from the special interest that run our government. Give me a break. John Edwards is not for sale!!!

Edwards/Obama in 08 It's time to clean up washington

[Independent voter]

Great - another sucker mom who wants to vote for Hillary because she doesn't have a penis. Lots of good that did Pelosi.

[MoNut]

What affect will Citigroup's donations to Hillary's campaign have on her plan for the subprime mortgage crisis, do you suppose?

The vagueness of her stimulus plan reeks of a corporate bailout and a finger to the people they continue to screw over.

Less vague than her plan for exiting Iraq, but still.

[Zack416]

The litmus test of any candidate in this election is whether they genuinely and publicly support impeachment of Bush and Cheney. If they don't support impeachment, they should have no credibility with the American people and should not be trusted. Impeachment is more important right now than these primaries which are distracting the nation from what it needs to do - impeach. I'm sure Bush and Cheney love the lack of media attention on their crimes. While the media rehashes the same crap about the primaries over and over again Congress passed a Bill which even some Republicans say "criminalizes thought". Now they also want to regulate the Internet. Wake up America, you are still being played!! Why can't you see it??

Zack
Toronto, Canada

[gubbypix]

My Question as always, get Hilarious to comment on when will the troops get out of Iraq? Once you have a time line, you can deal with the devastating condition that Bubba Bush boy has left the economy. The money is tied up in our lovely defense budget and in our oil occupation. I would support her only if she was the last woman on earth. Edwards and Kucinich can't get a word in edge wise because of Media corporations & they are the only worthy candidates

g