I am getting a kick out of calling for Hillary Clinton and talking to little old ladies in their 80's or even, 90's, (one was 94) who are voting for her and sound so enthused. It must be exciting for them to vote for a woman who may actually become the first woman president, and amazing to them that this is happening, in their lifetime!
One of my main concerns is that Obama is not electable against the Republican candidate, who is likely to be McCain. Of course, this is not my only reason for voting for Hillary Clinton, but it is certainly an important one.
I offer this emerging information about Obama that indicates there are still things many of us don't know, or are unaware of. And, let me add, that although his campaign has complained about treatment by the Clintons, this is nothing compared to what he will be up against if he becomes the nominee. The Republicans play hardball.
Hillary is the Democrat to beat McCain
Ok, I admit, I am also very excited to see a woman finally within striking distance of the Oval Office in the White House, but I am voting for her because I think she can get the job done, and has a record of doing good work in the New York Senate, and while she was First Lady. As First Lady her attempt at fixing health care then was brave, and although it failed, I think it proved she has vision and courage. She planted the idea on the national agenda, and worked internationally for the benefit of women:
A primary effort they shared was globally advocating gender equity in economics, employment, health care and education. During her trips to Africa (1997), Asia (1995), South America (1995, 1997) and the Central European former Soviet satellite nations (1997, 1998), Hillary Clinton emphasized "a civil society," of human rights as a road to democracy and capitalism. The First Lady was also one of the few international figures at the time who spoke out against the treatment of Afghani women by Islamist fundamentalist Taliban that had seized control of Afghanistan. One of the programs she helped create was Vital Voices, a U.S.-sponsored initiative to promote the participation of international women in their nation's political process. One result of the group's meetings, in Northern Ireland, was drawing together women leaders of various political factions that supported the Good Friday peace agreement that brought peace to that nation long at civil war. Hillary Clinton was also an active supporter of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), often awarding its micro-loans to small enterprises begun by women in developing nations that aided the economic growth in their impoverished communities. Certainly one of her more important speeches as First Lady addressing the need for equal rights for women was international in scope and created controversy in the nation where it was made: the September 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
This from:
Hillary Clinton as First Lady
I encourage everyone to check her site out, and the Town Hall Meeting tonight as well where she will answer questions:
Town Hall Meeting and Hillary Clinton's site
Her site goes into more detail about her positions and accomplishments, which are impressive.
And, yes, she is the * only * candidate now who has a comprehensive health care plan that will cover everyone, and includes mental health and -- no exclusions for pre-existing conditions!
In any event, watching the results will be exciting and pretty damn intense.
