My whole life I have dreamed of the opportunity to vote for a woman for president. My father always told me that if I worked harder in school it could actually be me! (He didn't live to see the Bogus Potus, or he may still be rooting for me.) And while I have loved the Clintons since 1992, I am not supporting Hillary in the primaries. Why? Because Bill Richardson has the best record of achievement in so many areas, but in particular he has been a stronger advocate for women and feminist issues than I have ever seen in my many years as an active political life. Here is why women should support Bill Richardson...
The first point, obviously, must be with regard to a woman's right to choose. Now I know what many kossacks are thinking, "Oooh yeah, right, Richardson on abortion, Whizzer White...(blah blah blah)." The simple fact is that Richardson has said absolutely that under his presidency there would be a litmus test for judge appointments, and he would only consider judges who believed Roe v. Wade was settled law. Richardson's record is clear here, in January 2007, he received the "Champion of Choice" award from NARAL of New Mexico. "This is not a constituency issue. This is not an issue of women being a special interest. Women are the majority in this country," Richardson said. "What I'm doing here is addressing the interests of the majority."
As we all know too well, very often victims of sexual assault don't report it, or the evidence that could convict the perpetrator is gone or improperly collected. Having properly and sensitively collected forensic evidence is essential to removing violent offenders from the community. Richardson has called for increased funding for SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) programs. These RN's have been specifically trained to provide comprehensive care for sexual assault victims. They are especially qualified to take care of these victims, to make sure they get the medical attention they need, to connect the victims with appropriate outpatient care -- like therapy and STD testing --, to professionally collect evidence to find and convict the perpetrator, and to give testimony in criminal proceedings if necessary.
One of the more interesting Richardson plans is his call for a "caregiver credit" for women and men who leave the work force to raise kids or care for aging parents. While not everyone has kids (I have four small children) at home, we all have or have had parents and have or will faced the difficult issue of trying to balance the needs of family issues. This credit could go a long way toward helping families face these difficult choices.
I know the whole "women's issues" meme can be perceived as pandering or even condescending, after all, we have as much or more at stake with all matters, environmental, economic, educational, housing, etc, as men. We do make up over half the American population. And these "women's issues" matter as much to men. It is important, though, to clarify the debate, and really acknowledge who among our candidates has the best intentions and record with regard to all the issues that face us today. That candidate is my Governor, Bill Richardson.