Hillary - Why I Think She'll Be Best For Women

I have seen numerous diaries and comments on the significance of Hillary being a woman Presidential candidate. Comments have included that it doesn't matter that she's a woman, that just because she's a woman doesn't mean that she will be better on women's issues, or the ever popular..."I won't vote for Hillary just because she's a woman". Let me be crystal clear on one issue, I would never vote for a woman just because she's a woman and I don't know anyone who would. I wouldn't vote for Liddy Dole, Condi Rice, or even Democratic candidate Carol Moseley Braun, who I liked, but who was not experienced enough to be President or to run a competitive campaign. BUT- Hillary is the woman who I believe will make the BEST President AND will do the most for women.  Being a woman - this is EXTREMELY important to me. And in the Democratic Party which has always stood solidly for civil rights for everyone....this should matter to Democratic voters.

I don't have the time or "space" here to get into why I think she's the best overall Presidential candidate....but suffice it to say for now that I think she's the most dedicated, persistent, experienced, savvy, hard working candidate we've seen in a long while. In addition, her political skills are superior to the rest of the pack, her voting record matches her rhetoric, and she is progressive on the issues I care about. She is also knowledgeable and experienced on foreign policy and well respected throughout the world - And yes - she will be able to step into the job in January 2009 and start getting things accomplished right away. This is a hugely challenging time in our country, and Hillary is leveling with everyone on that fact PLUS she is also being optimistic about once again being that Shining Beacon for the world.  But I digress. Below are some reasons why in addition to all that ...I know in my heart she will be the best President for women at a time when women have been treated, at best, like an after thought during these devastating Bush years.

Here are some specifics on why I believe Hillary is the best candidate for women:

A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN - HILLARYHUB.COM

Hillary's historic statement at the United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 that "women's rights are human rights" still echoes worldwide. As a lawyer, advocate, First Lady, and senator, Hillary has fought for issues important to women here at home and around the world for decades.

Today, despite the progress women have made, they earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn -- and women of color earn even less. Hillary is leading the charge in the Senate to strengthen equal pay laws and end pay disparities between men and women. She introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen the penalties associated with wage discrimination, to ensure that the federal government sets a higher standard, and to increase oversight of employers. Hillary has also worked to increase access to capital and other support for women-owned businesses.

When it comes to each woman's ability to make the most personal of life decisions, Hillary has stood firm as an advocate for a woman's right to choose. She has expanded access to family planning services, including for low-income women. She spoke out forcefully against the Supreme Court's April 2007 decision that -- for the first time in decades -- failed to recognize the importance of women's health.

Hillary has worked to empower women throughout the world, especially low-income women. She has advocated for access to microfinance programs that enable women to start their own businesses and spoken out strongly against the tragic practice of sex trafficking.

As president, Hillary will continue her lifelong fight to ensure that all Americans are treated with respect and dignity.

National Organization for Women Endorses Hillary Clinton

The National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) has a proud history of endorsing candidates who are leaders in the struggle to achieve full equality for women and who have demonstrated through their actions strong support of women's rights across a broad range of issues.

In this tradition, NOW PAC is pleased to announce its endorsement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for president of the United States.

From her work as a national board member in the early years of the Children's Defense Fund to her leadership of the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, from her role as first lady of Arkansas to first lady of the United States, Clinton has been an outspoken promoter of empowerment and inclusion, fairness and equality.

The following is a brief review of Sen. Clinton's record and stands on issues that impact freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for women and girls.

http://www.nowpacs.org/...
And Who is hiring more women in top positions?

According to a Huffpost Article 10/24/07:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

CLINTON--Balanced, but favors women
Senior Staff: 8 of 14 (Campaign Manager, Chief Media Strategist, Traveling Chief of Staff, Policy Director, Director of Operations, 3 well-paid Senior Advisors)
Top 20 paid staff: 12 women, 8 men
All paid over $9K/3rd quarter: 85 of 161 (52%)

RICHARDSON--Balanced, but favors men
Senior Staff: 4 of 11 (Deputy Campaign Manager, Finance Director, Internet Director, one Senior Finance Advisor)
Top 20 paid staff: 8 women, 12 men
All paid over $9K/3rd quarter: 15 of 38 (39%)

OBAMA--Few women the top
Senior Staff: 3 of 12 (Research Director, COO, Finance Director)
Top 20 paid staff: 5 women, 15 men
All paid over $9K/3rd quarter: 67 out of 150 gender identified (45%)

EDWARDS--Few women at the top
Senior Staff: 2 of 15 (Research Director, Chief of Staff)
Top 20 paid staff: 7 women, 13 men
All paid over $9K/3rd quarter: 34 of 92 (37%)

Actions speak louder than words.

A just-released report by the management consulting firm McKinsey suggests that "companies where women are most strongly represented at board or top-management level are also the companies that perform best"--not only financially, but also in accountability, innovation, and work environment. The Harvard Business Review, in a separate study, found that to benefit from women's participation, a corporate board needs at least three female directors.

Arguably, female leadership on presidential campaigns is even more important than in the boardroom. After all, presidential campaigns must engage the American public--including an electorate that is majority female.

The bottomline for me is that Hillary has demonstrated her committment to women in her voting history, her hiring of women in top positions, and her work on women's issues including abortion and reproductive rights.  Plus she IS a woman, and a progressive woman at that....and she knows these issues more intimately than any man ever could. Plus having a female President will speak volumes about how we value women in this country, will do more to elevate women to first class citizenship than perhaps anything else. My confidence in Hillary in this important area is ONE major reason why I strongly support Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.