Hillary Clinton has worked to protect children all her adult life. The straw scarecrow Hillary, a fictional portrait put up by RWTR, FOX “news,” and the GOP, and sadly echoed around here, is just not the real woman. Finally! Here is the ad to remind us. Watch Hillary CLinton “Children”
Some younger voters understandably may not know any of this history, Hillary’s history. Instead, may be basing their opinions or impressions on dis-information, unflattering—and false—one dimensional portraits from people who oppose her and have opposed her work for decades.
Below are additional important things to know about Hillary Clinton—and her work on behalf of the marginalized, the vulnerable, the silenced. By no means is it comprehensive. Just some that have resonated with me (and that I could find easily). Please add more in the comments.
The important issues of the 2016 campaign from criminal justice reform to affordable college to energy and the environment, health care, national security, the economy, voting rights, gun violence, Wall St and corporations, Social Security, Veterans, etc., are discussed in detail here.
Update: I hid the link to BlankBeat’s great diary with transcript, about the Meryl Streep video below a little too well. And some commenters have asked for it. “You won’t see Hillary Clinton in the same light ever again” by Blankbeat is an inspiring read and was the first I had heard about this event and speech. Please check it out. www.dailykos.com/...
It’s fashionable around here to dismiss the aspirations of women. The natural, very human, all-American aspiration to—at long last—see someone in the White House “who looks like me.” It’s “unworthy.” It’s “voting with your vagina.” Nice. (F. U. Sarandon. You are vile.) If someone even mentions her gender as one positive attribute, or argues it would indeed be a transformational aspect in the general election, it’s immediately turned into a dismissive put down: “you support her only because she’s a woman.”
What other group’s normal, human aspiration would/could be so blithly dismissed? African Americans? Asian Americans? Catholic Americans? Only women are not allowed to consider this, among all other qualifications? After 240 years, women in particular have every right to want to see this highly qualified woman elected President, and to celebrate her gender as a plus.
Don’t let anyone, male or female, tell you that women’s normal, human, all-American aspiration is somehow less worthy than any others. And let’s lay to rest this idea that electing the first woman President would merely perpetuate the “status quo.” Trust me, having the reins of power — the power to appoint, to command, to execute the law — in the hands of our first female President will be transformational.
Want to help? VOLUNTEER! Hillary volunteers are going to Iowa and making GOTC calls (get out the Caucus) calls at campaign offices and from home. Easy peasy. Take a shift. If you have never taken a bus to work on a campaign—and you are close and can get away—treat yourself to exciting, hard work with other wonderful, committed people.
In 1995
Someone pointed out that all universally-known quotations from Americans in official positions were from prominent men, until 1995:
“Human rights are women's rights ... and women's rights are human rights, once and for all."
-- Hillary Clinton
First Lady Hillary Clinton addressed the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in September 1995, “Speaking more forcefully on human rights than any American dignitary has on Chinese soil...” in the words of the NYTimes.
This was not an easy speech to make. The White House didn’t want her to. The Chinese tried to block her from giving it, including physically, and blacked it out in China. But Hillary and the stalwart women in our delegation persevered, and Hillary delivered this groundbreaking speech to thunderous applause.
NY Times September 6, 1995 HILLARY CLINTON, IN CHINA, DETAILS ABUSE OF WOMEN by Patrick E. Tyler includes more quotes and comments by other women’s rights activists who heard it.
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If you’re wondering what impact Hillary Clinton has had on women, human rights, and women’s rights activists around the world, Meryl Streep explains. (This is downright inspiring)
Text here thanks to BlankBeat
But that night in the theater two years ago, the other six brave women came up on the stage. Anabella De Leon of Guatemala pointed to Hillary Clinton, who was sitting right in the front row, and said, “I met her and my life changed.” And all weekend long, women from all over the world said the same thing:
"I’m alive because she came to my village, put her arm around me, and had a photograph taken together."
"I’m alive because she went on our local TV and talked about my work, and now they’re afraid to kill me."
"I’m alive because she came to my country and she talked to our leaders, because I heard her speak, because I read about her."
snip
When Vera Stremkovskaya, a lawyer and human rights activist from Belarus met Hillary Clinton a few years ago, they took a photograph together. And she said to one of the Secretary’s colleagues, “I want that picture.” And the colleague said, “I will get you that picture as soon as possible.” And Stremkovskaya said, “I need that picture.” And the colleague said, “I promise you.” And Stremkovskaya said, “You don’t understand. That picture will be my bullet-proof vest.”
Never give up. Never, never, never, never, never give up. That is what Hillary Clinton embodies.
Dec 6, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Geneva, Switzerland, International Human Rights Day. The speech focused on the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people around the world.
So don’t let anyone dismiss Hillary, or her work, or our great organizations that have endorsed her: Planned Parenthood, NARAL, Fund for a Feminist Majority—nor disregard her efforts, successes and leadership over decades—nor disrespect her as a woman, and by extension other American women who have continued to work and succeed in the face of discrimination and misogyny. Don’t let false portraits and innuendo paint the picture. Look things up, read her detailed policy positions and plans, about her actual work and what people who have worked with her have to say.
Don’t fall for the straw woman faux portrait.
11:07 PM update Wow. Rec list. Thank you, I’m honored. Go Hillary!
