More on the National Security Team

From our friends at The White House Project:

As President-elect Obama announced key members of his national security and foreign policy team yesterday, accompanying his words was a stunning visual: Of the six appointees joining Obama on stage, three were women. All of us at The White House Project were thrilled to finally see, as Al Kamen called it in his Washington Post column, "a national security team that looks like the nation."

The White House Project congratulates these women--Senator Hillary Clinton, Obama's choice for Secretary of State, longtime White House Project advocate Governor Janet Napolitano for Secretary of Homeland Security, and Susan Rice for US Ambassador to the United Nations--on their remarkable achievement, particularly as it comes in a field overwhelmingly dominated by men.

We are happy not only for this group of women as individuals, but also for what their selections signify: the public's growing acceptance of women in non traditional roles, and a long overdue shift in the understanding of what makes for a secure world.

In this age of globalization and nontraditional international threats, it is increasingly apparent that the conventional approaches of military and national defense are not enough to ensure the safety of the people and the state.

Women have traditionally accepted that security is all-encompassing, involving economic, diplomatic and social solutions, and although a recent Pew Survey shows that foreign policy is one of only two issues that the public still feels are better held by males, the same study reveals that Americans put much greater stock in women leaders when it comes to working out compromises, employing honesty and creativity, representing the public's interest, and standing up for what they believe. These skills, essential for effective policy making and relationship building, need only be coupled with the right tools to ensure that women can be more effective participants in the security dialogue.

The White House Project is an excellent organization. With your help, they can continue to fill the leadership pipeline with more knowledgeable women who will add new and important perspectives to the conversation about security.

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It's Official, Clinton Nominated for Secretary of State

Sen. Hillary Clinton Secretary of State

We should hear more about this later today.

New York Weighs Options to Fill Clinton's Senate Seat

The New York Times reports:

Nine months ago, when he was the lieutenant governor, David A. Paterson dreamed that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton would head to the White House and he would be tapped to fill her Senate seat. [...]

On Friday night, just before delivering a speech to the N.A.A.C.P. in San Francisco, Mr. Paterson told reporters that 10 to 20 people had already contacted him about their interest in taking Mrs. Clinton’s place. “I would say it’s not a shy and retiring group of people who would like to serve in the Senate,” he said, declining to name them.

I have one suggestion for the Governor -- fill the seat with another woman.

Women are just 17% of Congress, and we simply cannot afford to lose ground.

And there are excellent candidates in NY that have more than paid their dues for the opportunity to move up. My first choice would be Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, a 10-term member of Congress. Lowey had intended to run for the seat currently head by Sen. Clinton, until Clinton threw her hat in the ring. Recognizing that Hillary Clinton would have a better chance of winning, Lowey stepped aside and support her.

My second choice would be Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, who is currently serving her eighth term as Representative for New York’s 12th Congressional District. Both women are strong women's rights supporters.

It's looking more and more like Sen. Clinton will be our next Secretary of State. Once that is announced, let's urge Gov. Patterson to do the right thing and fill Hillary's Senate seat with another woman!

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Days of Our Transition

Hillary Clinton Update:

Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State

Is Hillary Clinton heading for Secretary of State? Maybe, at least that's what NBC News and the Washington Post are reporting.

The Washington Post reports:

There's increasing chatter in political circles that the Obama camp is not overly happy with the usual suspects for Secretary of State these days and that the field may be expanding somewhat beyond Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and maybe former Democratic senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.

There's talk, indeed, that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) may now be under consideration for the post. Her office referred any questions to the Obama transition; Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to comment.

The pick of the former presidential contender and Senate Armed Services Committee member would go a long way toward healing any remaining divisions within the Democratic Party after the divisive primaries. Also, Clinton has long been known for her work on international women's issues and human rights. The former first lady could also enhance Obama's efforts to restore U.S. standing amongst allies worldwide.

Laura Rozen at Mother Jones has this to say.

Taylor Marsh talks about the strong message it would send to world leaders.

As a "Hill grrl" I think the Senator would be great as Secretary of State. And for all the reasons mentioned by Rozen and Marsh, I think it would be a wonderful selection. As we watch the Republican party implode, it would be nice to see two of the strongest Democrats coming together.

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Hillary's Halloween Message

Love it!

SNL ... Palin-Clinton

You had to know this was coming ...

Sen. Hillary Clinton Knocks it Out of the Stratosphere

"No way. No how. No McCain." ~ Sen. Hillary Clinton

Sen. Hillary Clinton gave an excellent speech tonight that should dispel all the pundits who have been saying she is only in this for herself.

She really nailed why John McCain must be defeated: "Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance."

On a night when we celebrate women gaining the right to vote, Sen. Clinton spelled out in no uncertain terms what is at stake for women in this election.

Chris Matthews asked Brian Williams if Obama must now take up the feminist cause of equality of opportunity for women. Williams responded:

"I don't think there's any way that he can avoid it. I think he must. Too many people came to the polls armed with hammers to break that glass ceiling ... [Clinton's] candidacy meant too much to too many people, especially American woman to let that go ... it's too important a subtext. A question I posed to Tom [Brokaw], Chuck [Todd], and Peggy Noonan, if not Hillary Clinton then who? If not now, when? It's been a generation since Geraldine Ferraro ... when you look at the percentage of the population, and look at the year we're having here, I think that is the part of the Barack Obama speech that had better be very, very well crafted for a mass audience."

Women are 60% of the Democratic party, and the party platform is much more woman-friendly than it's been in years -- even adding back in the platform support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

The bar has now been set for Sen. Joe Biden tomorrow, and Sen. Barack Obama on Thursday and beyond.

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Insulting Hillary Clinton Continues

First let's take a look at what Sen. Hillary Clinton recently said:


Now let's take a look at what CNN contributor Alex Castellanos has to say:


Sen. Clinton has forcefully said she supports Obama. She has campaigned with him, and for him. She has stepped up to the plate more quickly than have other presidential candidates in past elections, in support of her opponent. So when is the Hillary bashing going to end?

Taylor Marsh has an excellent post on this:

While Soledad O'Brien smiles sweetly and vacuously, but does absolutely nothing about the slur. Howard Wolfson posted on it earlier today.

At what point do cable anchors have a responsibility to, at the very least, call people like Alex Castellanos on this stuff instead of look on in silence?

CNN really should be better than this and we should demand it.

This is exhibit A for why Clinton supporters remain furious with the media over treatment of Clinton during the primaries. Obviously, we need to keep working, because on the first day of the convention we're still getting insulted with this stuff.

CNN should give Castellanos the hook.

Amen, sister!

Ayes, Spies & Lies

Ayes

It looks like Hillary Clinton's delegates are going to have an opportunity to cast their aye vote for the New York Senator. Clinton's name will be placed in nomination at the Democratic National Convention. The New York Times reports:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s name will be placed into nomination at the Democratic National Convention, a symbolic move approved by the Obama campaign in an effort to soothe a lingering rift with Clinton supporters.

“I am convinced that honoring Senator Clinton’s historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion,” Senator Barack Obama said in a statement.

The decision was announced on Thursday afternoon in a joint statement from the senators.

It comes after long negotiations on both sides, with many backers of Mrs. Clinton vigorously pushing for her candidacy to be validated by giving her delegates the chance to support her through a roll call vote.

“With every voice heard and the Party strongly united, we will elect Senator Obama President of the United States and put our nation on the path to peace and prosperity once again,” Mrs. Clinton said in a statement.

Hopefully this will give closure for the Clinton supporters who believe the Senator has not received the respect due such a formidable candidate.

Spies

A good friend of mine began writing a book about self defense more than two decades ago. I keep hoping she will complete it, since the stories she shared so many years ago about woman OSS agents were fascinating! That is when I first learned that Julia Child was once an OSS agent. The New York Times reports: "She was hired in the summer of 1942 for clerical work with the intelligence agency and later worked directly for OSS Director William Donovan, the personnel records show."

Women were recruited as spies, because they could maneuver nearly undetected by the enemy. Unlike today, who would have suspected then that women were spies?

My friends research and book are part of her desire to change how women are perceived in our culture. That women are not creatures in need of protection by men, but strong and fully capable of defending themselves.

She thinks, and I agree, that by telling our history -- information missing from most school books -- women (and men) will begin to see just how powerful we truly are.

Women OSS agents could get next to some of the most powerful leaders in the Nazi Party. Close enough, sometimes, to kill them. Did you know that it only takes 35 lbs of pressure to break someones neck? That a swift palm to the chin can do the trick?

It's been a long time since we had this discussion, but my friend's research revealed that Hitler did capture two of the women agents and tortured them for more than two years trying to get key information from them. The women would only reveal their names. Hitler was so frustrated at not being able to break them that even though he knew the war was ending, out of spite he ordered them killed.

Lies

It never ceases to amaze me when I hear about a minister engaging in some nefarious act. I know what you're thinking ... Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Ted "I'm-not-gay" Haggard, why are you so surprized BAC. Still, I find it shocking.

The latest man of the cloth to fall from the pulpit is Raymond Clayton, Sr., a Baptist minister in Penssylvania. The NYTimes reports:

A Baptist minister in central Pennsylvania has been sentenced to one year in jail for stealing the identities of his church members.

Raymond Clayton Sr., 44, was also ordered to pay more than $28,000 in restitution at his sentencing Wednesday. Clayton is the former pastor of Grace Fellowship Church near Mount Carmel.

Federal prosecutors said Clayton used parishioners' personal information to obtain credit cards between November 2006 and April 2007. He pleaded guilty in March to access device fraud.

The church has since disbanded.

No shit.

Hillary Praised at Feminist Gathering

Tennessee Guerilla Women has an excellent post about Rep. Carolyn Maloney's a book signing event in Washington, DC last week. Her new book is titled "Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated."

I was at the event and had an opportunity to briefly speak with Rep. Maloney, former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Unfortunately I had to leave before Hillary arrived, so I was pleased to come across this video on TGW's site. It's a nice tribute to a woman who is certainly deserving of our praise and respect.

And while we are on the subject, if you have not maxed out on your contributions to Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign please take a moment and make a contribution, or mail a check, to help retire her debt.

Hillary Clinton Stands Up for Reproductive Rights

Sen. Hillary Clinton takes on President Bush's attempt to limit women's access to birth control at a Planned Parenthood press conference.

Read her post at RH Reality Check, which is cross-posted at Huffington Post.

"The Bush administration is up to its old tricks again, quietly putting ideology before science and women's health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is poised to put in place new barriers to accessing common forms of contraception like birth control pills, emergency contraception and IUDs by labeling them "abortion." These proposed regulations set to be released next week will allow healthcare providers to refuse to provide contraception to women who need it. We can't let them get away with this underhanded move to undermine women's health and that's why I am sounding the alarm."

TAKE ACTION

Tell Bush's HHS Secretary to protect women's health!

Dear Secretary Leavitt,

I am appalled at the proposal now under consideration at HHS which will endanger family planning services and undermine the health of women across the country. I strongly urge you to refute this outrageous policy that threatens to affect Medicaid and Title X programs that are important to millions of families.

I stand with Hillary Clinton and women and men across America in speaking out against this proposal. We've had enough of putting ideology over science and failed policies harming healthy families.

Signed,

In her email message Sen. Clinton says: "We've worked hard to guarantee women have access to a full range of health and family planning services, and we can't let the right wing undermine those efforts. This issue is far too important not to act, so I hope you'll join me today in speaking out to protect women's health." I hope you do, too!

Woman of Courage Lilly Ledbetter

One of the things I've always enjoyed about being involved with NOW is the opportunity to meet courageous women who are working to make a difference for all of us. One of those women is Lilly Ledbetter.

For 19 years Lilly worked at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber production plant in Alabama. She was hired as a supervisor in 1979, received excellent employment evaluations over the years and was even selected to take on a special task for the company.

When she discovered that men doing her same job were earning much more, some as much as 40% more, she took her employer to court. A jury agreed that she was paid unfairly, and awarded her $223,776 in back pay, and more than $3 million in punitive damages, but a judge cut that to only $300,000 because of a 1991 law that limits a company's liability for damages.

Goodyear took the case to the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 against her, taking away every cent of the damages and back pay. In a decision written by Bush nominee Justice Samuel Alito, the Court told Ledbetter that she should have filed a complaint of pay discrimination within 180 days of her first unfair paycheck, even though she had no knowledge of the disparity.

Lilly Ledbetter may never recover the pay she rightly earned. But federal legislation has been introduced in her name in an effort to restore the true intention of Title VII of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, and protect other women from wage discrimination.

The House has passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, but the bill fell four votes short in the Senate. Republicans, who have used the filibuster at an alarming rate (up more than 150%) blocked the bill from even coming to the floor for consideration.

Ledbetter said she was surprised to receive a personal call from Sen. Hillary Clinton when the Supreme Court decision was announced. Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama interrupted their campaigning last April to fly back to Washington for the Senate vote.

NOW presented Ledbetter a Woman of Courage award today, and she truly deserves it. She not only stood up to Goodyear, but to family and friends who thought she should just leave well enough alone.

But the question remains: Why should women settle for less than what men are paid? And as I have said before, when women are paid less than men EVERYONE suffers. The additional $223,776 in back pay Lilly EARNED could have paid off a mortgage, paid college tuition, or could have been invested to insure her retirement.

When women are discriminated against, everyone in the family suffers.

Lilly Ledbetter will probably never recover the pay she rightly earned, but the federal legislation in her name could restore the true intention of Title VII of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- and protect other women from wage discrimination.

We must make this a priority of our new Congress ... and president.

160 Years of Women's Suffrage

Senator Hillary Clinton's letter.

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to send greetings to each of you attending the 160th Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention. I am especially honored to be part of this special recognition of Women's Rights. I thank the Seneca Falls Project, The National Women's Hall of Fame and Seneca 160 for their support and recognition of this historic year for women along with our issues, struggles and triumphs.

This year has been significant for all of us as women. After traveling and meeting people from across America, I am more confident than ever about the future of our place and role in society. As someone who has had the privilege to benefit from many freedoms that are rooted here at Seneca Falls 160 years ago, I am encouraged and thankful for the continued effort and commitment to women's causes that is evident here today. As women continue to distinguish themselves in aspects of society across America, we must renew our efforts to empower all women with the rights and opportunities promised by our founders and fought for by the heroic women and men who left an indelible mark in Seneca Falls 160 years ago.

I wish all the best for this special occasion and thank you once again for your continued support. I am proud of how far we have come and what we have accomplished. As I said last month, although we were not able to shatter that highest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it has got about 18 million cracks in it.

With all best wishes, I am,

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

July 19th and 20th, 1848 to 2008, 160 years.

We've come a long way ... but there is still much to be done before women have equality and justice in this country. We simply need to reflect back on the primary, or watch the current treatment of Katie Couric, to know this. Women, and the men who support us, need to stand up ... and speak out for women's equality and justice.

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Senate Caves on FISA

The Senate passed H.R. 6304 amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, granting telecom immunity. You can view the roll call vote here.

The New York Times reports:

More than two and a half years after the disclosure of President’s Bush’s domestic eavesdropping program set off a furious national debate, the Senate gave final approval on Wednesday afternoon to broadening the government’s spy powers and providing legal immunity for the phone companies that took part in the wiretapping program. [...]

The plan, approved by a vote of 69 to 28, marked one of Mr. Bush’s most hard-won legislative victories in a Democratic-led Congress where he has had little success of late. Both houses, controlled by Democrats, approved what amounted to the biggest restructuring of federal surveillance law in 30 years, giving the government more latitude to eavesdrop on targets abroad and at home who are suspected of links to terrorism.

The issue put Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the presumptive Democratic nominee, in a particularly precarious spot. After long opposing the idea of immunity for the phone companies in the wiretapping operation, he voted for the plan on Wednesday. His reversal last month angered many of his most ardent supporters, who organized an unsuccessful drive to get him to reverse his position once again. And it came to symbolize what civil liberties advocates saw as “capitulation” by Democratic leaders to political pressure from the White House in an election year.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who was Mr. Obama’s rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, voted against the bill.

Hummmmmmmm ...

Unity: Not Just a Town in New Hampshire

Clinton and Obama Unity Campaign

Following a Thursday night meeting in DC where Sen. Clinton urged her major donors to support Sen. Obama (and where he contributed the maximum amount allowable to help pay her campaign debt), the two were off to New Hampshire for a unity rally.

In what will most likely be the first of many such events the two took to the stage to remind Democrats why we need to defeat John McSame in November.

Rivals turned allies, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton made a display of unity Friday in a hamlet named for it, their first joint public appearance since the divisive Democratic primary race ended.

"Unity is not only a beautiful place as we can see, it's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? And I know when we start here in this field in Unity, we'll end on the steps of the Capitol when Barack Obama takes the oath of office as our next president," Clinton said just after she and Obama took the stage together.

In turn, Obama praised both Clinton and her husband, President Clinton, as allies and pillars of the Democratic Party, saying: "We need them. We need them badly. Not just my campaign, but the American people need their service and their vision and their wisdom in the months and years to come because that's how we're going to bring about unity in the Democratic Party. And that's how we're going to bring about unity in America."

The location for the event seemed fitting for a number of reasons:

Moments earlier, the two snaked their way through some 6,000 people who gathered in a wide-open field and overflowed some bleacher seats in this town of 1,700. It was a carefully chosen venue in a key general election battleground state: Unity awarded exactly 107 votes to each candidate in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary in January.

Which, in hindsight, set the tone for the next six months.

Clinton encouraged her supporters to join with his "to create an unstoppable force for change we can all believe in." She addressed any of her backers who are considering not voting or voting for McCain instead of Obama: "I strongly urge you to reconsider."

"I know that he'll work for you. He'll fight for you, and he'll stand up for you every single day in the White House," Clinton said, calling Obama "a leader who invests in our future." [...]

"For 16 months, Senator Clinton and I have shared the stage as rivals for the nomination, but today I could not be happier and more honored and more moved that we're sharing this stage as allies to bring about the fundamental changes that this country so desperately needs," Obama said. "Hillary and I may have started with separate goals in this campaign, but we made history together."

"I've admired her as a leader, I've learned from her as a candidate. She rocks. She rocks. That's the point I'm trying to make," Obama said in response to cheers from the crowd.

Okay, I simply can't let this moment pass without making one final observation. Did Obama call Clinton to coordinate their wardrobe before the event? Just asking ...

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Thank You Sen. Clinton

It was so disappointing to not be able to be at this event in DC. I would like to thank Sen. Clinton for the courageous campaign she waged. I urge all Clinton supporters to do the same by sending her a postcard:

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Senate
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-3202

The highest glass ceiling has not yet been broken, but as Sen. Clinton noted it now has 18 million cracks! It's not unusual for the person who opens the door to not be the one who gets to walk through it. Sen. Clinton has now opened the door for future women presidential candidates and for that I say: Thank you Senator Clinton!

Respect

What do you give the leader of an 18 million strong movement? A little respect.

If Obama supporters want the votes of Clinton supporters, they had better not take them for granted. A Clinton voter and an Obama voter team up to try to help Obama supporters understand Clinton supporters, why they feel so insulted, and how the Obama camp can offer them the real respect they deserve. [...]

The "I told you so-s" of Obama supporters are no more focused on winning in November than the take-my-ball-and-go-home threats of Clinton supporters. Both are symptoms of aggrieved feelings that cannot just be willed away by references to party loyalty or the challenge ahead. [...]

Obama may have won the nomination but it will mean nothing if he does not win the General Election in November, and to do that he needs the votes and even the enthusiastic support of Hillary and her supporters. Clinton's supporters cannot be insulted, bullied, or guilted into enthusiastic support in the fall. [...]

Leaving the question of Hillary's support among blue-collar workers, Hispanics, and Jews for a future discussion, we are talking about Clinton's base among mostly white, mostly college educated, mostly over-40 women, or to put it another way, the women who grew up in the women's movement, and then turned much of that energy toward electing Democrats. In a lot of communities across America, if you call a meeting of the top Democratic officials and reliable campaign workers, that's who will show up. But they will not show up to be insulted, and consciously or unconsciously, Obama supporters have been relentless in insulting this group throughout this extended campaign. [...]

If Clinton's success in battling back in the later primaries is to have any lasting meaning, it should be this - the principles of gender equality that underlie the feminism of both mothers and daughters (and fathers and brothers) must be honored. There are a lot of ways to define feminism, but the core issue is respect for women, and the Democratic Party diminishes itself if it does not stand for the principle that sexism, as much as racism and other forms of prejudice are neither politically correct nor acceptable.

The party must stand together against the current cultural backlash against feminism in a way that lays the groundwork for women (and men) to support the next woman who runs for the presidency without continuing fear of ridicule. In victory or defeat, Clinton and her supporters deserve to be heard regarding their views about the sexist climate of this campaign. The sexism that just as much as racism persists in our culture, and consciously or unconsciously in our political campaigns must be "denounced and rejected." The Chinese proverb, "women hold up half the sky" does not even fully describe the Democratic Party where numerically, women account for substantially more than half of the votes we will need to win in November and this core group of Democrats deserves real respect from the Democratic Party and its new [presumptive] presidential nominee.