Never one to be timid with her political views, singer, actor, director, and activist Barbra Streisand, decided to chime in on one of the many alleged conspiracy theories (CT) against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. One of the latest CTs circulating charges that the former New York senator and U.S. Secretary of State is holding back some deep dark secrets contained within her Goldman Sachs speech transcripts, based on the fact that Clinton was paid well. Streisand, who is a proclaimed Hillary Clinton supporter, feminist, and Medal of Freedom recipient tweets:
Barbra Streisand also wrote a short essay for the Huffington Post asking, “Why is it that today even a woman as impressive as Hillary Clinton is judged not by her merits and extensive resume alone, but held to a pernicious double standard?”
“There is no one in this country who would deny the competence, intellect, stamina, warmth and courage of Hillary Rodham Clinton... But the criticism of Hillary Clinton has again demonstrated that the strong, competent woman is still a threatening figure in our culture. ...A man who graduated high in his class at Yale Law School and made partnership in a top law firm would be celebrated. But a woman who accomplishes this is treated with suspicion... Blanche Wiesen Cook, author of the acclaimed biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, said of Hillary Clinton, ‘I don’t think there is a First Lady who has been treated as rudely and meanly except for Eleanor Roosevelt.’” Both of these women boldly risked the scorn of “those threatened by the image of a woman carrying the fight for social justice into the public arena.”
In her essay, Streisand adds:
“Men and women are clearly measured by a different yardstick. And that makes me angry. Of course, I’m not supposed to be angry. A woman should be soft-spoken, agreeable, ladylike, understated. In other words, stifled. Language gives us an insight into the way women are viewed in a male-dominated society. A man is commanding, a woman is demanding. He’s assertive - she’s aggressive. He strategizes - she manipulates. A man is forceful - a woman is pushy. He shows leadership - she’s controlling...”
As a woman, Streisand has "broken the glass ceiling” with her work as a film director and producer. As a political activist, her list of achievements is long.
She has long been a defender of constitutional rights and a supporter of the fight against AIDS. Each year the Streisand Foundation contributes to a wide variety of causes and charities. Since its founding in 1986, the Streisand Foundation has made gifts totaling over $18 million to organizations working to support environmental issues, women’s issues, civil rights and race relations, AIDs research and children and youth-related issues.
Streisand, who’s not a fan of the Republican Party and will tell you so, and she has a strong record of helping Democratic candidates (as well as choosing winners).
Her passionate political activism continues. Convinced that 1998 national general election was one of the most crucial in recent history, she applied herself to the election of candidates and issues she felt essential. She was one of the first and most outspoken critics of the Republican Congress’ use of the impeachment issue as a means of blocking or undoing the social achievements of the Clinton administration. Ms. Streisand contributed financially to support the campaigns of 35 candidates in the general election, 27 of whom won.
Streisand’s tweet began going viral at the end of March and is still circulating and going strong today. It’s good to see a woman, who for decades has refused to be silenced, still being heard and applauded for her voice as an activist—as well as her remarkable singing voice. Whether you agree with “Babs” on this issue or not, there is no denying Barbra Streisand is a great liberal champion, and in doing, so the legendary talent has helped a countless number of people.
Yes, Hillary Clinton’s speaking fees are high—but only compared with other women
There aren’t many women who even make it into the tallies of America’s highest paid speakers, based on the smattering of media reports that have gathered this kind of intel. Granted, Hillary Clinton’s fees are at the high end of the spectrum even for men, especially for a speaking engagement at a public university, but that shouldn’t be surprising, considering that she has served as US secretary of state, first lady, and now as the country’s front-running democratic presidential candidate.
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