I'm With Hillary

I’ve been excited for Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the office of President of the United States since the early days of Ready for Hillary. I’ve been a fan of Hillary Clinton since 2008, when I was 7 years old. I have a book that contains speeches by historic Americans that I’ve had since I was a little girl and still use as inspiration when I write my own speeches. In that book is Hillary Clinton’s speech to the United Nations at the 4^th World Conference on Women back in 1995, where she said, “We need to understand there is no one formula for how women should lead our lives. That is why we must respect the choices that each woman makes for herself and her family.” You may notice that when I write and speak about feminism and about the issues that affect women in America today, this sentiment is reflected in my own attitudes.

Secretary Clinton’s leadership and inspiration has played, and continues to play, a large part in why I’m active in trying to shape a bright future for my country and why I feel empowered to do so. She is a role model for me, both politically and personally.

Hillary’s experience as a lawyer, campaign worker, committee and board member, First Lady both to a state Governor and a President, Senator, and Secretary of State, is exactly the kind of varied experience I consider valuable in a future President. I have confidence that she has the diplomacy skills, the broad spectrum of knowledge, and the track record necessary to continue to move America in a positive direction despite the many obstacles we will continue to face.

The majority of this country, despite what you might think if you engage in political discourse on the Internet, is not far left or far right. The majority of Americans, like myself, are more centrist in their positions. Hillary Clinton will represent my Progressive values with common sense in a manner that will appeal to voters and advocate policies to strengthen the middle class that can make it though Congress and onto her desk to sign. She’ll be able to compromise in order to get things done and she’ll be able to weather the storms and keep pushing for what’s right and beneficial to mainstream America despite having to make decisions that will not always be popular.

I won’t be able to vote in the primaries or in the 2016 Presidential election, but I am proud to give my endorsement to the candidate who has given so much to me over the years and who is the candidate I feel will give the most to all Americans.  It is my sincere hope that I get to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton’s re-election to the office of President of the United States in 2020.

Yesterday, with the greatest of thanks to my friend Susan Smith, President of the South Carolina Democratic Women’s Council, I had the opportunity to hear Hillary Clinton speak at the SCDW’s Day in Blue event and to meet and speak briefly with Secretary Clinton.

I asked her if she was elected, or even if she wasn’t, if she would support the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She told me she thought it was a long road of action, but she would definitely support it. This answer showed me she is familiar with the issue and understands the challenges we will have to meet to get the ERA ratified. She also talked in the speech she gave about issues impacting women’s equality like equal pay, pay transparency, and the fact many of the jobs that don’t pay a living wage are held by women. These are all issues that while we continue to fight for the big picture, full Constitutional equality, we have a chance to solve through legislation.

I also asked her what advice she would give to young people who want to get involved in politics. Her answer: Volunteer. She told me about how she got started was volunteering for campaigns and that seeking out internships would be a good idea for me in the future. I’ll also add here that all policy and pomp and circumstance aside, she is incredibly cool and we could totally hang at Chipotle and maybe go for a Starbucks after. Anything you hear about her having trouble connecting with average middle class voters or young voters is ridiculousness.

In her speech, Secretary Clinton talked about the 2008 primary and the way in which discourse can sometimes not reflect the best examples of citizenship during campaign season. She said, “We should show more respect toward each other, and we should remember why we’re doing this; because we love our country and we want it to be the country of hope and potential for our children and grandchildren.”

I hope that no matter which candidate you support for the office of President of the United States, you feel as passionate about your candidate as I do mine. No matter which candidate wins this primary season, we must, as Progressives, come together and help elect that candidate in order to preserve the progress we’ve made and protect our country against the policies and attitudes that will drive us backwards.

No matter which candidate you support, I hope you will both recognize and let your actions reflect the fact Hillary Clinton has dedicated her life to public service, has helped move our country forward throughout her career, and has inspired and empowered young women to walk the long road of action.

Volunteer. It’s an easy word to say, but can sometimes be hard for people to do, especially when they don’t see others like themselves getting involved. I’m thankful that Secretary Clinton has served as my role model over the course of my lifetime. Both her public remarks and personal remarks to me embody the values I want to see reflected in the highest office of our government.

If you would like to join me in volunteering to help elect Hillary Clinton to the office of President of the United States, you can sign up here:
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/volunteer/

Someone recently shared a song with me, and I would like to dedicate this song to Hillary. It’s because of her paving the way that I can, because of her example that I am, and because of her leadership and the policies she’s fighting for that I will. 

Too Many Rape Apologists and Counting

The Internet today is overflowing with the message "boys will be boys." I'm speaking, of course, about reactions to the recent news that Josh Duggar inappropriately fondled the breasts and genitalia of girls, at least one of whom was asleep, twelve years ago.

Some people, it seems, feel this poster boy for Conservative "family values" should be absolved of responsibility and excused for his actions because he was only 14 and had teenage boy hormones. In other words, this sexual assault wasn't "legitimate" enough for them.

Well, excuse me, but what the hell has to happen in order for a sexual assault to be legitimate enough for these people? If I was attacked in a dark alley between the church and the gun show by a black, gay, atheist Democrat who works at an abortion clinic, would that be legitimate enough for people not to defend my rapist?

Let me point out here that although we don't know a lot about the victims, as well we shouldn't to protect their privacy, it's likely that these girls were doing everything right according to the most patriarchal standards of society. They probably didn't dress provocatively like, you know, showing their shoulders, backs, stomachs, or other sex organs. There probably weren't any traces of uncle sugar in their systems. (Oh and speaking of uncle sugar, Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee came out in support of Josh Duggar getting off scott free, because nothing says leader of the free world like aligning your positions with a sex offender.) Still, despite the fact they most likely did everything they were told as not to appear to be asking for it, these girls were sexually assaulted.

Since Josh Duggar got a "stern talking to" from a friend of daddy Jim Bob who just happened to be a law enforcement officer and has apologized for his habitually assaulting the young girls, everybody needs to just suck it up now. I mean, how much more sincere can you get than this part of what Josh Duggar said in his issued statement published on Facebook: "I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life." Whew! I'm so glad that he took the time to think about himself and his life because that is absolutely what someone who seeks to gratify their sexual urges at the expense of a sleeping girl needs to do more of. 

TLC, the network that airs the Duggar's reality show, pulled upcoming episodes off the air. They are still trying to decide what their long term plans for the show are. That has to be a really tough decision, trying to figure out if you care enough to stop producing a show that features a sex offender and the people who conveniently arranged things so he wouldn't face any real consequences. 

The reactions to this incident reflect the fact that a large part of American culture is infected with misogyny. We have a sex education problem. We have a problem with abuses of power and lack of justice. But perhaps the most significant problem we have is people ultimately failing as functional human beings and resorting to a mentality that Steve Marmel so eloquently summed up on Twitter: "He hates who I hate so I don't care what he does."

Take Action to Help Give America's Youth a Voice

The Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council needs your help. House Joint Resolution 47 is currently in committee, which would establish a Presidential Youth Council to advise Congress and the President on matters and policies important to the youth of our nation and to its future. 

In order to move this bill to the floor and encourage our Representatives to pass it, as many people as possible need to contact their Representatives and voice their support for this bi-partisan, youth-led council made up of young people ages 16-24. Next week, starting on Monday, May 18th, the organization is hosting a national outreach initiative. You can join in this event by visiting the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1630084143873775/

You can follow this link to take just a moment of your time to send an email to your Representative:

http://www.presidentialyouthcouncil.org/tell_congress

You can easily find your Representative in the House to follow up your email with a phone call by following this link:

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Let me tell you why this initiative is important to me. 

The current state of partisan bickering in the political realm often steamrolls over our young people and makes increasing numbers of them less likely to get involved or even vote. When the future leaders of this country are not participating, or when they try to participate are treated as props or propaganda to fuel the divisiveness that impedes a political process that's beneficial to our country as a whole, this puts the foundation of this nation on shaky ground. 

It's important that our young people know our leaders value their research, input, and contributions. Our  current leaders should be modeling and encouraging our future leaders to work across party lines to meet the challenges we face. It's imperative that our young people have the opportunity to see others like themselves engaged and working across party lines to build the future in which we will lead. 

Those of us who are too young to vote or hold office deserve representation in the political process to ensure that the blessings of liberty are secured for ourselves and our posterity. We deserve to have our concerns, our hopes, and our dreams for this nation recognized as pertinent and valuable. 

I urge you to support this measure to create a Presidential Youth Council in order to help move this country forward. 

If you don't know what to say when you call or email, you can keep it simple and just say that you support House Joint Resolution 47 to create a Presidential Youth Council. The important thing is that you take just a moment of your time to help support America's youth and show us by your example that individual engagement is important to a government of, by, and for the people. 

Be sure to share information on The Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council and follow the campaign on both Facebook and Twitter.