NOW - New York State

Hillary Clinton Sounds the Alarm for us on Issue of Economy!

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=303208&&

An Open Letter to Senator Hillary Clinton

An Open Letter to Senator Hillary Clinton

From: Marcia A. Pappas, President of NOW NYS

Dear Senator Clinton:

You gave a fabulous, eloquent, and dynamic speech at the Democratic Convention. It brought tears to the eyes of the millions of women who worked so hard for you. One phrase in your powerhouse delivery rings on in my ears. In your call for us to back Obama you asked: “Were you in this campaign just for me or were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?" 

For some people your question was a turning point. I was one of those people. And I need to answer you, not just because you are my wonderful Senator from New York, but because I want to give you the answer I know many are thinking, but lack the forum to express. You see, my dear Senator, I too sometimes have the occasion to speak for the invisible. In my capacity as President of New York State National Organization for Women, I often speak for the millions of women who are denied reproductive healthcare. I speak for the women who are beaten and abused by their partners, and whom no one believes. I speak for the women who lose their children when corrupt judges award custody to the abusers. I also sometimes speak for the millions of women who feel discrimination in the workplace, and for victims of rape and trafficking.

Then, on a micro scale, I even campaigned for and won a contentious race, backed by supporters who believe I'm a person who speaks truth without fear. I was the person they trusted would work for justice in the lives of women and all oppressed people.

So I know what you wanted to hear, Senator. You wanted to hear people in loud unison declare: “No, we were not just in it for you, Hillary; we were in it for the invisible.”But for me, the only answer can be: “Yes, Senator, I was in it for YOU, precisely because YOU were in it for those people who feel invisible, and because YOU were the candidate who saw clearly that over fifty percent of the population was being ignored."

Who are those people? Why they are the poor, the hungry, the underinsured, i.e. women and their children. YOU are the person who addressed the issues of that fifty-plus percent. YOU are the person who worked her entire life for that fifty-plus percent. YOU are the person who, in the face of rife opposition and ridicule, stood firm in favor of health care for the invisible. YOU are the person with a proven record on Emergency Contraception for all women, because YOU understand that without reproductive freedom, women are held hostage to unwanted pregnancies. And it is YOU who has proven, over and over, that you can deliver for the invisible.

YOU were the candidate whose followers felt they knew so well, they could call her by her first name. Little girls yelled "Hillary" because they knew their future was in your hands. Single mothers saw hope for the future, knowing that their struggle would lessen under your leadership. Older women came out in the wintry Iowa Caucuses to finally vote for the first truly possible woman president. They looked into your heart, into your eyes, into your soul, and saw something different. And those of us, who traveled around the country, working for your campaign, watched you emerge as a new kind of politician. We saw YOU.

Today, your popularity endures, bigger perhaps than even you imagined.  Why? Because YOU represent the invisible. YOU persist as our symbol of hope, justice and equality. Please don't be afraid of it. Please embrace it. YOU inspired us, brought us to tears, made us laugh, and made us finally feel that we were not voting for the lesser of two evils. There are eighteen million people out here who are, like me, not ashamed, like me, to say: “Yes Hillary I was in it for YOU.”

Marcia A. Pappas

President

NOW NYS

Binary is not Diversity

Last night I went to a meeting of smart, advanced, involved women.  The talk was Hillary.  All the talk was Hillary.  I love Hillary.  I wanted Hillary.  Hillary for President was my PLAN A.  I am still praying for Plan A.

The opposite of Plan A is not defeat.  The opposite of Plan A is not even a good question.  Opposite is 180 degrees and, if I can’t have Plan A, I will only concede ONE DEGREE – I want on degree less than Plan A.  My Plan B is one degree from Plan A.

My Plan B is for all 18 million who voted for Hillary and all the feminists who voted for Barack to join forces and insist that the new Democratic leadership~

1) Commit to gender and racial parity in all three branches of government.  That includes every contract, every appointment, every hire.  That includes the Cabinet, the Courts, all government agencies and contracts.  That includes all of the staff, interns, pages, people in service positions from the kitchen to the garden.  And how about insisting that the press corp also reflects diversity. 

2) In addition to gender and racial parity reflecting the population, every person in this changing of the guard is paid equally for each position. 

3) They support reproductive freedom including, but not limited to, choice.  That means the choice to end a pregnancy and the choice to prevent a pregnancy which does not present abstinence as a reliable vehicle for pregnancy prevention. 

My Plan B would change the landscape on all levels.  It would make seeing women and men of all colors common place in federal government.  Maybe then Rep. Pelosi won’t be asked if she has ever experienced sexism.  Isn’t there a word for the question that contains the answer?  Oh yeah, the person asking the question is an ASS.  Okay, a SEXIST ASS.   

If I can't have Plan A and Senator Obama commits to my PLAN B, I will consider that he is not sexist and consider taking his call.

The Popular Vote is for Hillary

BIZARRE MATH:  It takes 11,000 primary votes to select 1 delegate and 2,200 caucus votes to select 1 delegate.  What happened to "1 man 1 vote"?  When Obama wins the caucuses and Hillary wins the primaries, who really reflects the will of the people???

Talking Back

By Marilyn Fitterman -MarilynFitterman@aol.com

Past President NOW-NYS

In 1964 Shirley Chisholm won a seat in the New York State Legislature. In 1968 Chisholm became the first black woman to serve in the United States Congress; and in 1972 she was the first black woman to run for the United States Presidency.

It was in a speech shortly thereafter that Shirley Chisholm remarked “of my two “handicaps” being female put more obstacles in my path than being black.” On another occasion she said that she “always felt more discrimination being a woman than being black.”

The Path of Least Resistance No More

by
Marcia A. Pappas, President
National Organization for Women-New York State
February 14, 2008

Today we look to the future for women's rights. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be writing to you as the President of NOW New York State. It has been almost four years since you elected me and I continue to feel humbled and honored to be serving you.

As I look back on my eighteen years in NOW, I'm proud to see just how far we've come. Many of you know that prior to my becoming President of NOW-NYS, my life's work was conducted with an eye toward helping women to become economically independent. A woman should never have to depend on anyone for her survival. I know that, back in 2004, many of you voted for me precisely because of that business experience along with my dedication to fighting for all women.

Today, as your principal lobbyist, I find myself doubting the power of good laws, and questioning whether they are really doing what our movement intended. Indeed, during my four years as President, we have passed some great laws in New York. Chapters have worked hard, holding together sometimes by a thread, calling upon their leaders to do great things, giving of their time and more when necessary.

What Hillary has had to endure

It is unbelievable what Hillary has had to endure during this campaign.  The sexist comments, about her hair, her voice, her legs, her clothes and now saying that she is "pimping" Chelsea. Do people have no shame!!  We are seeing what women have to deal with every day, when we watch it played out on TV with Hillary as the scapegoat. I don't know about anyone else, but I am going to Ohio to help make it happen for Hillary.  What do you all say!