THE X FACTOR

by Lynette Long

Gloria Steinem, in her September 4th editorial in the Los Angeles Times, came out strongly against Governor Palin claiming the only thing women have in common with Palin is an X chromosome. I respectfully disagree. Governor Palin knows what it is like to be a woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister - things the two men on the Democratic ticket can never fully understand. She knows what it is like to grow up invisible in an incredibly sexist society, to be stared at, groped, and sexually harassed. She knows what it is like to be smaller in stature than men and physically vulnerable. She knows what it’s like to worry that you are pregnant when you don’t want to be or that you are not pregnant when you want to be. Sarah Palin knows what it is to experience the joys and sorrows of motherhood, to nurse a baby while holding down a job, to leave for work in the morning with a toddler tugging at your pant leg, or to have your children calling you at work to diffuse squabbles or ask for help with homework. She knows that once you get to work you have to speak twice as loud and twice as often to be heard and work twice a hard to go half as far. She knows what it is to be a member of the second sex.

Gender is the most fundamental human characteristic. The first comment made when a child is born is either, “It’s a girl” or “It’s a boy.” From that second on, boys and girls live in parallel universes in the same culture. From the nursery room to the board room, boys and girls are given different messages about their respective roles in the world. At the hospital they are given different types of names and wrapped in different colored blankets. Once home, baby girls and boys wear fundamentally different clothes and play with different toys. This differentiation extends through school where girls are given less attention, picked less frequently to answer questions and placed less often in advanced science and math classes. Once in the workforce, women are steered into lower-paying careers, paid less for the same work, and forced to juggle the responsibilities of work and home. You can’t learn what it is to be a woman, unless you are one. You can’t have a government essentially devoid of women that knows what’s best for women. You can’t legislate for women, without women.

After the last Democratic Primary was over and it was clear Senator Clinton was not going to get the Democratic nomination, myself, and a small group of Clinton supporters met with Senator McCain and Carly Fiorina. I personally explained to Senator McCain that women comprise well over half of the population, yet are underrepresented in every branch of government. I asked him loudly and clearly to choose a woman for the VP slot and to increase the number of women in the cabinet and on the Supreme Court. Senator McCain listened respectfully to my request. Representatives of The New Agenda also met with Carly Fiorina as well as members of the Obama campaign to make similar requests.

After the Democratic Primary, I was personally in contact with a member of Obama’s Finance Committee. He left several messages on my office phone, “urging” me to support Senator Obama. We had numerous contentious conversations and I finally told him I would be happy to vote for Senator Obama and rally other Hillary supporters to vote for Obama but in return I wanted Obama to pledge gender parity in the cabinet. I foolishly thought equal representation in government was a reasonable request. “What if there aren’t qualified women you still expect us to appoint half women to the cabinet?” he replied. I was confused. “There are 300 million people in this country; you’re telling me you can’t find ten qualified women?” He responded, “You can’t have that.” We had no further conversations. There was nothing more to say.

Weeks later I approached a training session for DNC canvassers at a park in my neighborhood. Eager to practice their new skills, they all ran up to me, “Do you support Senator Obama? Do you want to donate money to the DNC?” After explaining that I was a Hillary supporter, I again made my request. I will support Senator Obama if he will pick a woman as his running mate and promise gender parity in the cabinet. The men in the group openly laughed at me and found my request ridiculous. I looked at the horrified faces of the newly minted female canvassers. “They’re laughing at you too,” I muttered.

Not one to give up, I contacted a daughter of a  late-friend of mine who is a member of one of Obama's policy committees. She assured me Obama was a good guy, so I posed my request to her. She generously responded, “I’ll ask him.” When I did not hear back from her in a few days, I shot her another email. She told me how disappointed she was in me for making such a stupid request. Obama was on the “right” side of the issues. Why did it matter whether men or women legislated those issues? I guess the answer from Obama was No. What saddened me was her mother was one of this nation’s greatest champions of Title IX, educational equity and gender parity. Her mother and I counted the number of pictures of boys and girls in text books, male and female cartoon characters, and documented the underrepresentation of girls in math classes in our nation’s schools. Yes, policy is important but who decides and delivers that policy is even more important. As Marshall McLuhan profoundly noted, “The medium is the message.” Children incorporate many of their perceptions about gender by age five. Little girls won’t understand if Sarah Palin is pro-life or pro-choice, believes in gun control or is a member of the NRA, but they will know the Vice-President of the United States of America is a girl and that alone will alter their perceptions of themselves.

I have given my loyalty to the Democratic Party for decades. My party, which is comprised primarily of women, has not put a woman on a presidential ticket for 24 years. My party refused to nominate my candidate, Hillary Clinton, for president or vice president, even though she received more votes than any other candidate in history. My party stood silently by as Hillary Clinton was eviscerated by the mainstream media. My party was mute while the main stream media repeatedly called Clinton a bitch and symbolically called me and every other woman in this country a bitch. My party was disturbingly silent when the main stream media commented on Hillary’s body or the shrillness of her voice, reminding me and every other woman the fundamental disrespect we endure on a daily basis. My party’s candidate was mute when Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger openly mocked Senator Clinton from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ. My party’s candidate was silent when the rapper Ludicrous released a new song calling Hillary a bitch. My party and it’s candidate gave their tacit approval for the attacks on Senator Hillary Clinton and consequently women in general.

I have a choice. I can vote for my party and it’s candidates which have demonstrated a blatant disrespect for women and a fundamental lack of integrity or I can vote for the Republican ticket which has heard our concerns and put a woman on the ticket but with whom I fundamentally don’t agree on most issues. If Democratic women wait for the perfect woman to come along, we will never elect a woman. We have to seize opportunity where it presents itself. Besides, the Democratic Party is no longer my home. I have no home, but this election I will make my bed somewhere else.

I respect Gloria Steinem’s right to support the presidential ticket of her choice but she is openly trying to derail Sarah Palin’s historic candidacy. As Madeleine Albright said, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”  I will vote for McCain-Palin. I urge other women to do the same. I might not personally agree with Palin on every issue and I promise to the first person knocking on her door, if Roe v. Wade, or any other legislation that goes against the rights of women is threatened. But in Governor Palin I find a woman of integrity, who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. I can work with that. I will work with that. When I walk down the street, I don’t have Democrat printed on my forehead, but my gender is obvious to everyone and impacts every interaction in my life. Since my country is far from gender neutral, right now for me gender trumps everything else. I urge other women to join me in this fight for equality. Sometimes opportunities occur where you least expect them.

www.lynettelong.com is a proud partner of www.justsaynodeal.com

Comments

[Marc de Angelis]

Dr. Long, first off, thanks for coming to the Fairfax McCain-Palin rally. I do not agree with everything you represent, but I admire your courage for taking a brave stand in such a venue.

I will openly admit that if today Sen Clinton were the Democratic candidate, I would not rejoice at the thought of her gaining access to the Oval Office. Still, I would be able to console myself with the thought that she is someone I respect.

I'm afraid the same is not true for Sen. Obama, and the thought of an Obama presidency does not evoke merely disappointment, but rather deep concern. To those who are familiar with history, I'd like to draw a parallel between the rise of Obama and that of Mussolini.

Before anyone laughs, let me bring out a few sobering points.
They both espoused radical thoughts in their youth, which they later massaged to fit the political moment.
Neither had any substantial experience in government at the time of their rise to prominence, but they both shared a past as rabble rousers.
They were both gifted speakers and demagogues: they could gauge an audience and push the right emotional buttons.
Their message resonated mainly with the young and the less fortunate; in Obama's case, black and young voters are his natural audience, while Mussolini's was mainly comprised of the young and disgruntled WWI veterans.
Their detractors could easily be dismissed; in Mussolini's case as traitors and communists, in Obama's as racists and fascists.
Both were regarded by supporters as saviors, men whose words "transcended the flesh".
Last but not least, Mussolini used gangs of henchmen to intimidate the masses and quell any opposition; there is at least a strong suspicion that Obama did the same. (Thank you again, Dr. Long. Your web site is where I first obtained that information).

The fact that Obama is probably not going to be a dictator is secondary; the point is that he has the potential to cause great harm to this country and that those who apparently see through him are ridiculously few and frequently ridiculed. If the parallel holds to the bitter end, twenty years from now we may be hailed as patriots and left to pick up the pieces. That would be no consolation at all.

[MODI]

“Gender trumps qualifications”? Surely, we can easily request both. Olympia Snowe, Christie Todd Whitman, Elizabeth Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Linda Lingle would all fall in the undoubtedly qualified category — regardless of politics. The Palin pick represents the gender version of the “Clarence Thomas Trap”, a pick that so many non-conservative supporters who pulled for him are now ashamed to admit.

Secondly, let’s suppose that one supports this gender-trumps-all logic. There are currently 24 elected female Senators and Governors, yet only three African-American ones (only Obama and Deval Patrick were elected). In our most recent 2006 state-wide elections, 22 women ran as Senator/Governors, and a record 13 women were elected/re-elected. In head-to-head matchups with men women won 61% of those contests. In contrast, all 2006 black men beside D. Patrick lost whether R or D (Harold Ford, Michael Steele, Kweisi Mfume, Lynn Swann, Ken Blackwell)

So why doesn’t our “young children could dream big” logic apply to race? Race is far more statistically out-of-whack relative to population than gender – politically-speaking. Only 2% of our highest elected officials are African-American. Unlike Palin as VP, Hillary and Barack are both clearly intelligent, educated, and qualified. If “group advancement via political representation” is the theory, then it could only lead one to support Obama -- objectively speaking.

Obama’s daughters can now see their gender represented across the political spectrum, but could barely see their race. Do his daughters and those that look like them not matter? Is THAT the message?

This is the question that must be respectfully considered and reflected on by this author and those who may defect to the McCain camp.

[Rick]

Dear Dr. Long:
I applaud you for the work you've done exposing the caucus fraud in the Democratic party. I read the entire article -- with details since confirmed by many other sources -- and it convinced me that the party I've voted for since 1972 no longer deserves my support. The vicious tactics the Obama camp/cult used to destroy Hillary Clinton, and its current attempts to strangle Sarah Palin's candidacy in its cradle, are repulsive. The T-shirt worn by many Obama supporters -- "Bros Before Hoes" -- really sums it up. For the record, I'm a regular guy: married to the same woman for 30 years, proud father of two college-age daughters, and a lifelong Democrat. Since I don't have two XX chromosomes, I'm sure I can't fully understand the rage some women are feeling. But I fully support the PUMA movement. Considering the alternative, I'd feel much more comfortable with a McCain-Palin administration.

[tekebrad]

Truly a great article! I agree with so many of the things that you said and experience first hand the unethical way in which the caucus and county and state conventions were run, clearly in favor of Obama. I am obviously a Hillary supporter and always will be. I won't however vote for a ticket just because there is a woman on it. I didn't choose Hillary just because she was a woman, but because of what she stood for and believes in. I will keep an open mind about Palin but cannot support candidates that are not pro-choice or do not believe in the rights of all Americans, including gays and lesbians. To deny basic rights to all is just not acceptable policy for me. To threaten a woman's right to choose is not acceptable. Be the candidate a man or a woman, these issues are critical. Thanks again for a well thought out article.

[Elaine]

Thank you for such a powerful and well-written article. We are still fighting the battle the Suffragists fought over 88 years ago as they challenged the sexism in the Democratic Party.

http://unbrokencircles.com/blog4/

[mdelano]

Dr. Long, thank you for responding so well to Steinem's article. It would appear that she is capable only of seeing the short view in terms of feminism as it applies to the world outside of reproductive rights. I have begun to receive countless emails full of frantic alerts as to the fragility of reproductive rights, but few if any have addressed the bigger, and much more important picture that looms large for women, namely their ability to be taken seriously as viable leaders. It is only through the tireless work of people who realize what is at stake that we will one day triumph over the narrow, vagina-esqe view held by so many and emerge into true empowerment through leadership roles.

As Lizzy in CT so aptly stated, "The Democrat Party bosses SELECTED an inferior candidate. The Obama spin machine is working fast and furiously to discredit Governor Palin - just as they did to Senator Clinton. Contrary to the Obama spin, millions of voters will remember all who have participated in the misogyny and election fraud - by boycotting media outlets and their sponsors AND with our votes in November.

We teach others how to treat us. The DNC and corrupt Democrat Party elite will be learning a big lesson on November."

[Heidi]

Great article.. It is pathetic how the Obama campaign, the MSM(Katie Couric, Andrea Mitchell, etc.)are trying to get Gov Palin to quit. Michael Steele said after she was named, that he had correspondence from Democrats that they were trying to get her to quit within a week. Now that it's been over a week they are really gunning for her.

[Amy]

Excellent article. I just had a "discussion" with a woman I thought was like me, with a history of working in primarily a man's working world. She doesn't think Sarah Palin can be a mother and VP, even with a stay-at-home husband.

I asked her, "Don't you remember what it was like before section six of the Civil Rights Act? Don't you remember being asked at job interviews what your reproductive plans were? Don't you remember being asked how fast you could type even when the job wasn't secretarial?" I do remember. Very well. I also remember being told, after I'd trained TWO supervisors, that I couldn't get the top slot because the big boss wasn't comfortable working with a woman. He was old fashioned and couldn't swear in front of me. (and, ladies, I worked on the Hill)

Whodathunk 35 years ago that Gloria Steinam would one day start channeling Phyllis Shafley? Whodathunk we'd start using the phrase, "female chauvenist pig (with or without lipstick)".

[truthisgold]

Thank you Lynette and thank you ALL for lending your energy, brilliance and commitment to the real issues facing us in America. Reproductive organ issues pale in comparison to the broader scale of women's rights, human rights and voter rights, without which we HAVE no democracy. As a friend said recently in Denver, "...I'd rather have the baby..."

[Hillaryvoter]

I was deeply moved by your text, Dr Long, and even more so by one of the commentators, who said: "I would like to add that it is important for Palin to win. Putting a woman on the ticket is considered a risky move and if McCain/Palin loose it might take another 20-30 years before we see another woman even being considered."

That is very true, and unfortunate. Due to the circumstances of 1984, a woman on the ticket has been considered a liability for nearly three decades. The Democratic leadership, earlier in the year, and Obama himself, in August, clearly weighed this risk in their choice of Biden. Another defeat of another woman (and the simultaneous reward to Obama of his dismissal of his female rival) will "innoculate" both parties against female candidates in their tickets. How many decades will pass before this terrible ceiling is shattered?...

I am sorry for those who consider it a betrayal, but I simply cannot wait. I have no children of my own, but I want my dear and numerous nieces to see a woman in a winning presidential ticket before I die. I cannot wait. I cannot wait. I cannot wait.

[richasis]

"Remind me what it is that is "historic" about Sarah Palin's candidacy, please."

And BarkO's?

[sharonevolving]

Thank you so much for writing this. I am one of the Independent women who worked my fingers off for Hillary, only to watch the party who supposedly stands for us knee cap her in every direction. When that same group went after my interest in McCain with 'but what about Roe???' I had the same response you did. It's been safe, and continues to be safe. If Reagan, Bush I and Bush II couldn't take it apart over 20 years, I think McCain, who advocates for stem cell research and has never proposed any legislation in the pro-life direction, can hardly be a threat. BUT the real issues we face as women, as directly called out in front of us by the events of this election, are sexism and access to real power.

It's stunning to me that the Republicans would answer, quite compellingly, on both of those fronts. Fiorina is a great economic advisor to McCain. I had seen published reports that women in McCain's camp were serving in top spots, and being paid well. The opposite was true in Obama's camp, with women making less than their male counterparts. With the selection of Palin, the Republicans have proven that they are determined to put women in power. That got my attention. Real feminism is about ensuring all women have access to power, whether you agree with their personal views or not. How backwards is it (or patriarchal) to say 'you can maybe have a bone, sweetie, when you agree with my views'? Isn't that what the Obama camp did to HRC's supporters? Put them in subpar slots?

When the Republicans organized a press conference with high-ranking Republican women and officials in McCain's campaign to denounce any sexist smears directed at Palin...that was it for me. I was already interested in McCain as an Independent. As a woman, I am now sold. The Republicans, it appears, have the cojones to do what the liberal Dems do not: back women.

Frankly, I think the mistakes made by the Dems SHOULD cost them the election, and I think it should be women that send that message - ignore us at your peril. You cannot hold our ovaries hostage by threatening Roe, and consider that adequate compensation for loss of advancement and sexism.

[Marie]

Dr. Long, thank you. My sentiments exactly.

And to Proudtobeawoman who said: "It was not sexism that lost her the nomination. It was the unfortunate timing that put her up against one of the most inspiring, unifying figures in our recent history."

I say:
Wow! I'm amazed that you have the nerve to say this to Dr. Long who was so active in analyzing and documenting the Obama campaign's caucus fraud.

http://www.lynettelong.com/CAUCUSFRAUD/

You're right that sexism was not what lost her the nomination although I'm sure it didn't help. Sen. Clinton did NOT lose the primaries. They were stolen. If the Obama campaign hadn't committed widespread, organized fraud in the caucuses, Sen. Clinton would be the nominee today so the "inspiring, unifying figure" stuff sounds good but, as with so much about Barack Obama, it doesn't meet the reality check.

[cc]

Dr. Long, thank you for your moving, heartfelt and frank insight into the disappointing behavior of the "old guard" feminists such as Gloria Steinem. I agree wholeheartedly with your assessments and feel so sadly disappointed that these so called "fems" can not see the tremendous progress Sarah Palin represents for women.

while I also do not agree 100 percent with Palin's views, I am awe-struck with her accomplishments, her ability to raise a family and have a career, the fact that she's a former beauty queen AND a brainiac, an eloquent public speaker, a talented athlete and frontierswoman, and a gutsy, in your face, no-nonsense public official. Sarah Palin is a WONDERFUL role model for millions of women worldwide and having her in the white house, even if as vp, is a huge stride in the right direction.

everything Obama and DNC did to Hillary in the primary and at the convention is right out of the 1950's good ol' boy sexist pig playbook. the dems MUST lose in november in order for moderates to reclaim our party and for women to receive the respect they deserve. as you said, the last 24 years, the dems talked the talk...but in 2008, the repubs are walking the walk.

[ms mississippi]

Thanks, Lynette. Your article is right on point. Sadly, many from the women's movement will blindly cast a vote this year for the inexperienced Democratic candidate who has managed with his scorched-earth tactics to destroy the Democratic party that we have worked so hard over the years to build.

I remember in 1980 when my parents first voted for a Republican candidate, Reagan. They did so because they believed he was more qualified than Carter. Millions of Democrats that year agreed with them. No one called them racist for it.

Why in 2008, when millions of Democrats will again choose to vote for whom they believe is the more qualified candidate who happens to be a Republican, are we being called racist?

And why in 2008 have we witnessed the shameful assault of two accomplished women candidates (Sen. Clinton and Gov. Palin) by our own Democratic colleagues? In their zeal to get Obama elected, the Democratic party has imploded. It should be no surprise, then, to the partisan ruling class that smart women, who take choice very seriously, have chosen quality over hypocricy this year. McCain/Palin 2008

[Diana Croissant]

I am so grateful for your work on caucus fraud. And now I am also very grateful for this heartfelt, well-reasoned statement about the way our status as female has affected our lives and how it's time again to make it a point in our political decisions.

I will bookmark it to remind me.

[debra]

How can you Obama supporters be so incredibly blind and/or ignorant to not see the scams your racist messiah with the Kenyan and Indonesian citizenship is perpetrating on our country? He is using you! Wake up!
Go Philip Berg!

[SistaChristianLouboutin]

Thank you Dr. Long for this pragmatic, sane and well-observed piece. It resonates all the more with the insertion your personal experiences. I think too many of us have "been there" too.

[McCain/Palin]

Something hit me tonight. If the Democrats were really afraid of what McCain would do and that he would overturn Roe v Wade then why did John Kerry and Joe Biden want to be his running mate? In 2004 John McCain was on John Kerry's short list, just like Joe Lieberman was on McCain's this year! John Kerry now denies that I think. John Kerry didn't say it on film, but Joe Biden said he would be HONORED to run WITH or AGAINST John McCain and that is on film! The McCain campaign even made a political ad out of it! If you haven't seen it you must:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVUPqoowf8&feature=user

So Joe Biden would be HONORED to run WITH or AGAINST John McCain because he thinks the country would be better off? This is only more proof that they don't think McCain will hurt women. They just like to use abortion to keep their women silent and in line! Don't fall for these tactics! McCain is called a Democrat by his own Party, I guess they forgot that. They forgot how McCain said he didn't want to overturn Roe v Wade in 2000, but it sunk his campaign. Has he really changed position or is he pandering now? Either way, if McCain or Palin were to nominate judges they still have to be approved by the Senate! The Democratic controlled Senate! I doubt if conservative judges were approved they would touch such a politically sensitive issue! I guess you can never take a chance on it! The Democrats say they will give you abortion, but your vote won't count! What did women before die to give us,a vote or abortion? McCain supports stem cell research,comprehensive energy plan(he believes in global warming),and comprehensive immigration reform to name a few of his left positions. McCain may not like civil unions, but he thinks state's should decide. Obama thinks they're swell, but thinks state's should decide. Most importantly, McCain respects women, do you respect yourselves? After seeing how the DNC,liberal MSM,and other Democrats treat women I would feel awfully dirty voting for that Party this year! Lucky for me it's an easy choice--McCain's not a typical Republican, he's more like an Independent which is what I identify myself as!

[Mary]

I wonder if any of these "women" democrats who are so angry have ever thought that there issue with Obama is that he's black! It just seems that some white women can't get over the idea she lost to a black man who outworked her in the race.

I am ashamed of this article and of other white women. This hate and vitriol is all wrong and deeply racist. I am sorry but if you are willing to add 4 years of corrupt Republican Government a slew of conservative judges and how many more wars and environmental damage in order to have a woman in the white house, you are just idiotic.

[Pagar]

After watching the treatment of Hillary and now Palin by the Democratic Party, based only on the fact that they are women, one wonders if the gains that have been made are as secure as so many on the left seem to think.

Here's what's going on in a part of the world that some Americans seem to think we can just sit down and discuss with them:

"AHMADINEJAD'S NEW ENEMY: WOMEN"

"IN one of his last sermons before his death, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini warned of "three threats" to his vision of Islam: the US, the Jews and women.

Two decades later, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thinks he has the United States and the Jews in hand - and is moving on the third "enemy."

Women were the first to demonstrate against Khomeini's regime with a mass rally in Tehran on March 8, 1979 - less than a month after the mullahs had seized power. Over the next decade, the authorities imprisoned hundreds of thousands of women for varying lengths of time, and executed thousands."

""Free people everywhere should speak out in support of Iranian women," says Tehran feminist Haydeh Karimi. "The proposed law is the thin end of a wedge. Ahmadinejad wants women out of universities and public life. He thinks he can curb mass unemployment by forcing women out of work, giving their jobs to men."

I don't understand why so few seem concerned about this, apparently believing it can't happen here.

[CLEMENTINA GRECO]

the womens movement is about CHOICE...you choose to have children or you dont..you choose to work or you
don-t...you understand that some women have no choice and they have to work...you choose marriage or you choose divorce....TRUE FEMINISTS APPLAUD WOMEN ON THE RISE
EVEN IF THEIR CHOICES ARE NOT THEIR CHOICES...WOMEN
DISPARGING OTHER WOMEN TURNS THE WOMENS MOVEMENT INTO A
CAT FIGHT....AND MAKES ALL FEMINISTS LOOK LIKE
FEMINAZIS.....THE PRADA PUMA FROM PHILLY

[proudtobeawoman]

I am in shock by reading some of these responses. You are talking about this election being based on sexism...well you are leading that front because you are being sexist yourself. I absolutely respect your support for Hillary. She is fantastic, qualified, and would have been a wonderful candidate for President. It was not sexism that lost her the nomination. It was the unfortunate timing that put her up against one of the most inspiring, unifying figures in our recent history.

Hillary and Barack agree on issues more than 95% of the time. I'm sure Hillary would be/is devastated to learn that some of the people who supported her are turning on her and what she stands for. I have to say that I think we as a nation are smarter than to fall for cheap moves by the Republican party to buy votes. By supporting Sarah Palin, you are turning on Hillary and what she will be fighting for in her position in the Senate. How can you justify that?

Again, I am in shock after reading the responses from smart, educated women about the current matter at hand. I expect more from us as a country, and more from the women of the US to stand up for the issues that women have been fighting for for decades...to continue to protect ourselves and fight for equality. Equality has nothing to do with numbers right now. Having 50% men and 50% women in this campaign does not mean a victory for women. Having a concerned candidate who will protect our rights and fight for equality means a victory for women. Let me remind you that Barack Obama has a strong, smart, educated wife and two daughters that I'm sure he would give the world for. I'm sure I can say with confidence that he would and will do anything to ensure his daughter's futures, along with all of ours.

So again I ask, how can you justify your support for Sarah Palin if you so strongly supported Hillary? One does not equal the other. I do believe that Hillary has a strong chance of becoming President if she runs again. Very strong. All the talk about "now or never" with a woman candidate is a fear tactic that is similar to what the Republicans put out there to get people to vote for them.

If you throw all of your values and issues out the window, you're only voting for a pair of breasts and a vagina. Well guess what - I have those, too. So do you. So does Paris Hilton. Does this mean that if I were on ticket, you'd vote for me? I sure hope not. Please reconsider what you are putting out there. And please do not forget what we are fighting for.

[Sally Williams]

Your post frightens me. To support any woman just because she is a woman is as bad as those Republicans who re-elected George Bush just because he was a Republican. Don't you realize that Sarah Palin is a puppet of the far right? The people who are thrilled with her -- Dr. James Dobson, Phyllis Schlafly, etc. -- know that they can manipulate McCain and Palin. These people want to impose their beliefs on everyone else. They support continued force in Iraq, continued out-of-control Federal spending at the expense of the middle and lower classes, do not believe in freedom of religion, support the Patriot Act, hate gays/lesbians, etc., etc., etc. The next President will appoint at least 3 members to the Supreme Court. A conservative court (think "3 more Antonin Scalias") will drive legislation for the next 20-30 years. Overturning Rove V. Wade would be the LEAST of the damage they would do. Hillary Clinton would NEVER vote for the McCain ticket just because there is a woman on it. Ms. Long, I don't know you, but from your writing style and background you appear to be a very smart woman. However, if you believe that voting for McCain/Palin that you are helping women in this country to make progress, you are being very short-sighted. Please don't so focus on avenging Sen. Clinton's loss that you miss the bigger picture. Please reconsider your position and vote for Barrack Obama, so that our progress as an entire society does not revert to that of years ago.

[princess wears prada]

thank you dr. long -- i've shared your powerful post on my blog - hireheels.com (read by many women) and also featured it boldly on Justsaynodeal.com -- beautifully written!

thanks for countering steinem....she needed it!!