I've waited my whole life for a woman President of the United States. Wait. Let me rephrase that. I've known my whole life there would be a woman President of the United States. Not based on supposition. Or desire. But on the clear reality that women are proven leaders. Arbiters of wise council, comfort, logic, humanity, humility, character, insight and calm. They are worldly, educated, observant and physically and emotionally strong. Yet for 200 plus years, American women have lacked equality.
In a 2005 article for "Development Journal," I attempted to explain why women pioneers in America needed to immediately fight for their rights. I wrote, "Contrary to the enduring misogynist portrayal of heroic males and submissive females, women were often more cunning and able than their strongest male counterparts. And for good reason. Their own government deemed them inconsequential. The Declaration of Independence never mentioned them. [It stated] 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men...'1
There is no mention of women, nor their rights, their equality or their liberty [in the 'Declaration of Independence']. From the instant the nation was founded, women fought for their independence and made their own declaration to fight." http://www.palgrave-journals.com/development/journal/v48/n2/full/1100130a.html
Gratefully for me, coming of age two centuries later in the 1970's, women leaders were no longer an anomaly. In fact, three women in particular caught my eye.
The first was trail-blazing Manhattan Congresswoman, Bella Abzug, who took center stage in my political life. It was Bella Abzug, not Nancy Pelosi, who coined the phrase "this woman's place is in the House -- the House of Representatives," in her 1970 Congressional campaign. An unflinching opponent of the Vietnam War, Bella was a constant presence in New York media, featured almost daily on TV. My fellow New Yorkers saw her as fearless and outspoken. Some saw her as quirky and shrill. I just saw her as Bella, a woman leading the way.
Around the same time, another media darling ruled the airwaves in New York. Madame Golda Meir, the Iron Maiden Prime Minister of the nation state of Israel from 1969 through 1974. Golda's tenure was so replete with historical milestones, including the 1972 Israeli Olympic Team massacres and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, that she was a constant headliner in print and on TV. In 1970's pro-Israel New York, Golda was a major player on our stage.
Also at this time, the feminist movement enjoyed a meteoric rise, lead by dynamic Gloria Steinem. Buoyed by the 1972 launch of Ms. Magazine, the photogenic Ms. Steinem frequently dominated the news.
Needless to say, my formative years as a young woman activist filled me with expectations for a lifetime of equality, which as we now know, never came to fruition. The disparity in numbers between men and women in governing and leadership positions is evident, forcing the battle for equality to rage on. I'm thrilled Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House, but dismayed we have yet to have a woman President. Proud though I am of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and Senator Carol Moseley Braun for valiantly daring to try.
Today, according to political watchers and pundits, money-men and mainstream media, the United States has its first formidable female contender for the Presidency of the United States. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton! As a politically active woman who desires equality in office, Mrs. Clinton's candidacy should rally my support. But sadly, it does not!
What rails me instead are Mrs. Clinton's frequent statements over the past four years in support of the War on Iraq. What ails me is her inconsistency. What angers me is her continued funding of the war. What infuriates me is the ease with which she sends young Americans to fight a war that can force them to kill or be killed. What saddens me is that Mrs. Clinton as a woman offers no more hope for peace than the supporters of this war who are men.
I've been against this war from the beginning. I can't imagine supporting a woman to lead this nation who knows less than I do about peace vs. war, and candor vs. pander.
Give me instead, direct-speaking, newly progressive John Edwards, who takes full responsibility for his mistake in supporting the war, desires open discussion with Bush's proclaimed enemies, admits to a potential tax raise to provide universal health care, supports unions, and vows to work for the working class.
And along with John, give America a truly great woman for the White House. Give us his wonderful wife, Elizabeth Edwards, who will instill in the White House the humanity and warmth it has lacked for so long. The Edwards are a masterful couple. They've weathered unfathomable personal tragedy with dignity, humanity and grace. Characteristics America sorely needs to restore its image at home and abroad.
Give me Barack and Michelle Obama. This past Tuesday evening I had the good fortune to see and hear Barack and Michelle Obama at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Yes, I was impressed with Senator Obama. He's charming, poised, thoughtful and highly intelligent. He'd be a popular, soothing leader, working hard to reset Bush's tainted world stage. Give me Barack. A child of the world who directed himself into an adulthood to be proud of.
Give me the Barack Obama described by Michelle Obama as a regular guy, "who can harness the energy in all of us and take us to greater places.... the Harvard Law Review, Constitutional law professor, best selling author, and Grammy winner..."
Compare that to the pre-Presidency accomplishments of the current President who was raised in one of the wealthiest families in America, only to drink away the first 40 years of his life. How dare people question Obama's experience? What I'd give for just five minutes of a Barack Obama/George W. Bush debate even after six years of Bush's "experience" in the highest office in the world.
Linda Milazzo is a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. Since 1974, she has divided her time between the entertainment industry, government organizations & community development projects and educational programs.
Linda began her writing career over 30 years ago, starting out in advertising and promotions. From 1976 to 1989, she operated an independent public relations service providing specialty writing for individual and corporate clients. For the past six years, Linda has focused on political writing. Her essays, letters and commentaries have appeared in domestic and international journals, newspapers and magazines. She's an educator and creator of a writers' program she's taught privately and in public schools. She currently facilitates an advocacy writing workshop and is developing an advocacy writing program to be implemented in public and private educational institutions and in community based organizations.
Linda is a senior editor at OEN, a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, and to other respected news and opinion websites. A political and social activist since the Vietnam War, Linda attributes her revitalized-fully-engaged-intense-head-on-non-stop-political activism to the UNFORTUNATE EXISTENCE OF GEORGE W. BUSH and her disgust with greed-ridden American imperialism, environmental atrocities, egregious war, nuclear proliferation, lying leaders, and global tyranny!
is very honest and compelling. I would say that per my criteria that we define people not by the actual results but by the level of the honest effort, this article beats all the odds. It is truly inspiring. I would even say that after reading it I can forget my doubts about Obama, so sincere the wording is.
Thanks, Mrs. Milazzo, we need more of the voices of hope like yours.
by
Mark Sashine (54 articles, 19 quicklinks, 250 diaries, 3594 comments)
on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 7:55:01 AM
in that I found the article quite well done and professional, and the flaws of Mrs. Clinton stated with clarity. I would disagree with the readiness or even fitness of Barak Obama to lead our nation, though I concede his charm, wit and personality.
I have problems with anyone who has been on the national stage for five minutes being a serious candidate for the Presidency. I further have serious reservations about his statements regariding the Iraq war. Edwards is a Democrat who intriques me, frankly, and Dennis Kucinich has always had my admiration for his stances and his willingness to discuss the most sensitive of subjects with openness and honesty. I wonder at this omission of his name from the above...
As to the maturation of our nation with regards to women and minorities, well, sadly, this takes so much more time than most feel comfortable with, though the inevitability of such equality is obvious. It takes persons with great character to effect changes in society, persons from Soujernor Truth to Elisabeth Cady Stanton to Martin Luther King and many in between and yet to come. In our impatience we sometimes seek to make heroes of those not actually so, human nature I guess.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 9:03:52 AM
Your words in this story speak loud about the truth, I fill we need a leader that can please both the males and females someone with honesty and integrity. But in reality the problem begins when we only have a choice between the lesser of two evils to lead this country come election time. This would be the only reason I'd see myself voting for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama is not a choice for me either. I'd like to see Al Gore run because I believe he will do a fine job, all though I somehow don't think he will make a perfect president. I watched a movie called Idiocracy that I somehow compare to the Bushites followers. All I can say is its a good thing the Bush family doesn't own the Gatorade Drink Company. You would need to see the movie to understand why.
by
Fred F (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 361 comments)
on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 1:11:24 PM
We didn't really elect Bush! Let's not elect next President.
I don't want to wait another year and ten months with these rapacious, violent, world oppresssing villains in the White House.
Let's have a female President in place before the 2008 elections.
Work to impeach or force the resignation of Bush and Cheney right now.
Even though Nancy Pelosi made some kind of deal with the devil, agreeing to abandon impeachment, Speaker Pelosi could directly benefit from impeachment, resignation, or untimely demise of both Bush and Cheney,... say by dove hunting accident. President Pelosi would gain another "First" for women in power and all humanity would benefit.
Ultimately it is less important which woman or African American gets to be the "First" to ascend to the Presidency. I have hope and faith that our society will slowly evolve and grow more progressive as people become more educated. It is magnitudes more important that our President respects, upholds, and protects Constitutional government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Nancy Pelosi may not be the first choice on every pundit's list of women for the office of the presidency, but she would be 20 baz'illion times better than Bush and Cheney!
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or some better candidate like Dennic Kucinich can claim their own personal victories after we regain our priorities and throw these traitorous LIARS out on their ears.
Women, all humankind, and the world will benefit by the removal of these fear-mongering, violent, and destructive LIARS.
I don't even want to talk about the 2008 election until these traitors are removed from power. Let's empower all of humanity by creating peaceful conditions that foster progressive-minded leadership from every demographic. Impeach the primary irritants tearing down our Constitutional rule of law and then it will be easier to work for equity and fairness in all things.
by
Tim Riley (7 articles, 5 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 132 comments)
on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 1:12:24 PM
I've been saying Pelosi will be the first Female Prez
but the way it will happen is the Republicans will finally see that Bush and Cheney have been total criminals, out of control and doing more damage to the US than any previous enemy ever managed.
by
Rob Kall (867 articles, 3998 quicklinks, 344 diaries, 1839 comments)
on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 3:37:52 PM
Like Nixon, the republican machine will discard Bush when...
A increasingly large majority will see Bush and Cheney for what they are: repugnant, disgusting, lying thugs. When the impeachment hearings start bringing more and more common visibility into the many ugly Bush/Cheney lies, even the most unconscious Fox viewing bone heads will start to smell the rancid, traitorous deceit that led us into the grave perils of neo-imperialism.
The new republican front candidates will forego appearances with Bush/Cheney, but the old money will still flow freely. The old republican powers in the shadows will only ask for resignation once the political liability is too great to bear and the damage has already been done.
The GOP machine will publicly shed their old Bush/Cheney skin and adopt a fresh, seemingly trustworthy face like John McCain, Mitt Romney, or some other hollow, callous yet warmly sincere Liar to act as front-man to spread the fabrications sold through Fox, ABC-Disney, NBC-GE, and other MSM outlets.
The Beast we dare to fight has countless heads, fangs, and an unlimited supply of money.
President Pelosi may get to hold the reigns of power for a few months at most, but nobody should expect her to reverse 7+ years of corporate friendly legislation and executive political appointments. If and when she gets there, the impeachment proceeding brakes will have just slowed the speeding train wreck. We must not let them blame us for the instability, chaos, mayhem, and monstrous DEBTS incurred by Bush/Cheney and the Republican money machine.
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Tim Riley (7 articles, 5 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 132 comments)
on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 4:37:20 PM
All of those mentioned for president, including Pelosi, have been bought and paid for by the Zionist lobby. All sing the praises of Israel. And Clinton is ready to support an attack on Iran, whether by the US or Israel.
I don't think we should vote for any candidate who supported the Iraq war, whether they changed their mind or not. Any candidate that didn't know that the push to war with Iraq was a con job isn't smart enough to get my vote. If they knew it was a con job and went along with it for political reasons, they don't get my vote.
We need a candidate who has strongly opposed this war from the beginning. We need a candidate who does not work for the Israeli lobby.
by
Bob Trowbridge (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 53 comments)
on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 7:57:33 PM
I agree with most of this excellent writer's comments. I can think of many women who were my heroes down through history. In my life time, Eleanor Roosevelt and Gold Meir would be my favorites followed closely by Bella Abzug.
I think we must be very careful about allowing one single issue to dominate our thinking. I, too, have been against this war from the very start; however, there are a number of issues that are just as important to me as Iraq; such as a single pay health insurance policy or guaranteed health care for every American, a graduated Federal Income Tax, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, a pro-active environmental policy, pro-public schools, a strong and wise military and a rigid separation of religion and state.
I find most remarks about Senator Clinton on robopednews grossly unfair and terribly unkind; THIS ARITICLE IS NOT ONE OF THEM, but many comments and articles verge on verbal rape. She is one of the great liberal Senators in the Senate. She would make a great president. I would say the real test is in the tasting of the pudding. Google up her history from the time she was at Harvard, the things she attempted to do as First Lady in the Arkansas Governor's mansion, what she attempted as First Lady in the White House, and her eight year voting record as a US Senator from New York. The reactionary right and the religious right are more afraid of Hillary Clinton than anyone in America. Sometime the best way to know who a person is is to know who their enemies are. Senator Clinton has fine enemies for us progressive Democrats.
So far, I will not vote for her in the Primary for the same reason I will not vote for Barak Obama. Because of the vileness and narrow mindedness of the American public and the right wing's deep hatred of both Senator Clinton and Barak Obama, I do no believe they can be elected in the General Election. So far I am leaning to J. Edwards and would vote for Al Gore even though I feel Senator Clinton would make a better President than either of them.
One other thing Clinton's bring to the table that no one I know of brings to the table and that is an uncanny ability to bring greater people than they are themselves into government leadership. Many of the great progressive voices we are hearing from time and again came into prominence during Clinton's eight years in office. You have to give the devil his due, the Clinton's are not parochial nor provincial.
by
pratliff94 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 969 comments)
on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 11:07:10 AM
11 comments
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