This is Good: An Open Letter to Older Women Voting for Hillary, From a Younger Woman voting Bernie

[Nanjeanne]

Letter is short - read the whole thing here:http://www.salon.com/2016/02/08/an_open_letter_to_older_woman_voting_for_hillary_from_a_younger_woman_voting_for_bernie/

ALLISON GLENNON

Dear Older Women Insisting All Women Vote For Hillary,

Thank you for everything you’ve given us in your fight for women’s rights and civil rights through the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, your whole lives. As your female children, the younger generations of feminists, following in your footsteps, we do not take your efforts lightly. We know how much blood, sweat, and tears went into the long fight to ensure we have the rights we have now. We know many lost their lives fighting for equality. We will never forget. And, we will devote our lives similarly, by your example.

<snip>

Our experience following in your footsteps has taught us what real equality means and we will not be distracted by sexist attacks, even from you. With the strength you gave us, we will refuse to be guilted or shamed into voting for Hillary based on gender alone. Because of you, we will vote for policy, for mind and heart, not genitals because we know that to do anything less would undermine everything you’ve fought for, everything your mothers and your mothers’ mothers fought for and won.

Thank you for everything you’ve taught us and know that we won’t let you down. We’ve got your back, even if you don’t have ours.

Love,

A Millennial Woman Feeling the Bern.

[Faux pas]

1. Kickin'

[cyberswede]

2. ...

http://contact.georgetown.edu/view/albright/#

http://jennifergranholm.com/contact/

[Avalux]

3. I am so proud of our young women!

They are so smart, and this is a truly wonderful perspective on how at least one of them feels.

[roguevalley]

69. this is an older woman who was lucky to have feminists

for parents and grandparents. Go, girls! I am livid with the sexism that has come your way lately from people who SHOULD KNOW BETTER!

[unapatriciated]

4. I'm an older woman (63) who has suffered and fought for my rights

and will continue to fight for women's rights and the rights for all...POC, LGBT, Disabled and the Poor.


That is why I'm voting for Bernie and will not be playing that shame game.

[artislife]

18. Really! What is with the shaming tactic.

We will build equality, but you must take it like we want to present it.

huh?

That actually takes away equality.

What is the sense of building an old girls club to fight the old boys club? We are at the point of the people's club. The 99%!

[jwirr]

41. You have made a very important point. Men have a huge

stake in women's rights as well. And there were a few who openly joined us in the earlier fight - including Bernie.

Thank all of you for what you are doing - this old lady is proud of you all.

[Uncle Joe]

61. As the oldest of three boys raised since the age of five by my mother; on her own, I agree.

"Men have a huge stake in women's rights as well."

Peace to you, jwirr.

[roguevalley]

71. hug your mama for me. My best friend's mom raised

7 kids alone. Its heroic how hard that can be.

[ghostsinthemachine]

5. kick (NT)

[SamKnause]

6. n/t

FEEL THE BERN

[jillan]

7. I wish I could contact her directly rather than leave a comment on Salon.

I want to tell her how proud she makes me feel.

My generation fought for women to turn out as she did.
To understand that we are equal. And that being a woman does not make us better or worse than a man. Separate but equal.
To be recognized for our minds, not our bodies.

I am proud to pass the torch down to women like her.

Allison Glennon - I salute you!

[Bubzer]

34. +1

[democrank]

8. Perfect

~PEACE~
~LOVE~
~BERNIE~

[frazzled]

9. Dear Younger Woman

I am an older woman who has always seen the feminist movement in broad terms ... that is to say, encompassing not only the so-called women's issues such as equal pay and abortion rights but a wide range of concerns in the country and world: racial justice, economic issues, working conditions, environmental issues, foreign relations. Women are invested in all these concerns.

I am not supporting Hillary Clinton because she is a woman, nor are any other women or men I know. Just as I did not support Barack Obama because he was black. That he was the first black president or that she would be the first woman are merely good side benefits--exposure has meaning (and also backlash, as we have seen). I am supporting Clinton this time around because she is extremely hard working, smart, and has a huge grasp of policy across a wide range of areas. Because I followed her career in the Senate and as Secretary of State and was impressed. I didn't support her in 2004, but I never disliked her; indeed always thought she was smart and tough. I am supporting her because, although I appreciate ideals and cling fast to them, my experiences over the years have taught me that the best way to achieve them is with patient tenacity. I am no longer susceptible to prophetic promises that fall far short not only of accomplishment but of detail and consideration of consequences.

Please don't vote for Bernie Sanders just because it is popular among your age group. Or simply because he is not Hillary, whom you've seen on social media painted as an evil, corrupt, and worse. As a young, bright woman, use your brains to ignore gender and investigate issues and the political landscape in depth. Know your history and realize that Sanders is less a promise of the future than an echo of a distant past (one that harks back to the 1910s and 20s with the movements of Eugene Debs). I don't dislike Bernie either, but I believe his promises are too overblown and his vision too limited. That, in short, he is simplistic. And don't insult us by repeating the untrue slogan that we are only voting for Hillary because she is a woman, or because we are women. We are citizens, and she is a candidate. We are not deluded, and we are not stupid.

Lastly, I know I won't convince you, as you will not convince me. I'm glad you got your feelings off your chest, as did I. You know, my generation had a saying: don't trust anyone over 30. Now that I am far beyond 30 (indeed, have children who are at or beyond that age now) I realize how ridiculous such a view was. I used to wear a little red-star Mao button on my jacket. I took it off when I was about thirty, and later, when I met people whose lives and families had been decimated in the Cultural Revolution, regretted ever even having borne such a zealotry. Embrace your ideals now, and vote as you see fit. But please don't see us as relics who are making unreflective choices. We are all products of our own experiences.

[Nanjeanne]

10. Wow

Please don't vote for Bernie Sanders just because it is popular among your age group. Or simply because he is not Hillary, whom you've seen on social media painted as an evil, corrupt, and worse. As a young, bright woman, use your brains to ignore gender and investigate issues and the political landscape in depth.

You might want to rethink those sentences. I'm offended and I'm not even the young, bright woman you are talking to.

Just a hint . . . she might be using her brains already.

[frazzled]

12. So, you're saying

it's okay for her to insult me and others by suggesting--without any basis in fact--that we are supporting Clinton because she is a woman. But it's not okay for her to think about things in other ways than this gender reduction.

I don't think you read my post very closely. I wasn't trying to get her to change her vote, and I said so. I was basically just responding to correct her view that those of us not supporting Bernie are not thinking correctly.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[Nanjeanne]

13. No I don't think its ok for someone to insult you. I just can't figure out how she did.

She didn't say you were supporting her only because she was a woman. She was saying she won't be guilted into voting just because she's a woman. She's replying to the meme by people like Albright and Gloria Steinem. I heard this morning on Democracy America, the ex-Gov of NH saying one of the reasons that people should vote for Hillary is because it would be such an incredible moment in history to have a woman president. The Clinton campaign are pushing it and she is responded to it.

You have your own reasons for voting for Hillary and that's great. So in that case, this letter isn't to you.

[dragonfly301]

26. sorry - i posted pretty much the same below - didn't see yours

takes me a long time to compose (both words and my anger

[artislife]

28. ^^^This.

Both sides are accusing people of not thinking their support through.

I know people support h for legitimate reasons plus she's a woman.

I know people support Bernie for legitimate reasons plus he is a salt of the earth type of man.


I do have issues with what some think is legitimate and I suppose that can be said for people looking at my support.

But I wouldn't waste my time trying to shame someone into voting differently.

I am a woman and PoC and I have "failed" my two tribes by supporting Bernie. And this isn't a small emotion, I am fully on board with his candidacy and the impact I believe it will have globally.

I also try to call out every time I see someone trying to shame others on this board. This is not Catholic School.

[djean111]

19. You know what is insulting? The Hillary campaign rollout that assumed that women were in the bag

for Hillary. That Albright can introduce Hillary and say there is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. And anyone who does not think that was not said in the context of voting for Hillary is not too bright. I have read right here at DU that if I, as a woman, do not support Hillary I have mommy issues or am afraid of strong women. Utter tripe.

Bottom line - all women are not created equal, just as all men are not created equal. I would have been thrilled to vote for Liz Warren, but am thrilled to be able to vote for Bernie. Because of issues and deeds.

And it is HILLARY who started her campaign with the directive that we should vote for her because she is a woman, because "first woman president", etc. Hillary OWNS that meme - that a woman should support her just because of gender. And that is insulting, and also leaves open the question of why women support Hillary. She opened that door.

[Myrina]

42. +1

Well stated.

[Jarqui]

113. +1

[dragonfly301]

22. I think this letter was a response

to Hillary's surrogates, in particular Gloria Steinem and Madeline Albright. They are out on the campaign trail using guilt and insults to marginalize young women who are supporting Bernie. The young letter writer was just going tit for tat. To paraphrase Steinem, I will apologize on the letter writer's behalf for the way her words have been misinterpreted by Hillary supporters who are indeed supporting her not because of gender but because they like the sound of $12 per hour and never, ever getting universal healthcare.

[malthaussen]

30. I think not.

Although making it an "open letter to older women" might tend to suggest that, she is clearly responding to insults that have already been proffered by persons in the Clinton camp. She may well be making the typical error of tarring all persons in that camp with the same brush, but that's something one might let roll off her back instead of returning insult for insult and compounding the original objection. At some point, the cycle of insult and condescension has to be stopped. I suggest it is the part of wisdom to be the one who stops it.

-- Mal

[Cassiopeia]

53. The OP (salon OP that is)

is speaking towards the women that insist young women vote for Hillary based on gender. She is not addressing people that say they should support Clinton for policy issues.

[stevenleser]

109. Well said. I thought the same things throughout this exchange. nt

[SunSeeker]

32. "use your brains to ignore gender"

Would you tell an African American to "use your brains to ignore color"?

[Ned_Devine]

79. That line was lifted from the post Nanjeanne was responding to

[SunSeeker]

95. I know that. Care to answer my question? nt

[Ned_Devine]

98. Sure

I try not to tell ANYONE what to do or think. That's just my personal thing

[SunSeeker]

99. Nice deflection. nt

[Ned_Devine]

101. I answered your question

I would not tell a person of color to ignore color. I might suggest that they look at the issues and stances and see if they match up

[SunSeeker]

105. If you wouldn't tell a person of color to ignore color, why tell women to ignore gender? nt

[Ned_Devine]

106. Yay! You won!

Although I didn't have a dog in this fight

[farleftlib]

16. You ask not to be insulted

but your entire third paragraph is pedantic and condescending in the extreme. If being offensive was your aim, you hit a bullseye.

[Gene Debs]

20. Just...wow. I'm not even a woman, and I feel vicariously insulted. Did it ever occur to you that

maybe she actually "used [her] brains to ignore gender and investigate issues and the political landscape in depth" and decided Sanders was the better choice? Could you be more insulting?

[Bubzer]

38. Right? I mean, any woman who calls herself a feminist should know better.

[beam me up scottie]

23. Wow. You just insulted the intelligence of this brilliant young woman because she spoke her mind?

How low will Hillary's supporters go to vilify and dismiss women who don't support her?

[beaglelover]

25. Awesome response!

[Bubzer]

37. "As a young, bright woman, use your brains..." Implying young women dont?

I'm certainly offended by your comment, and I'm not a young woman.

[unapatriciated]

45. I agree with nanjeanne

This is very insulting not only to young women but to all of us who support Sanders. To say we are unable to make an educated choice on who we support is insulting.


"Please don't vote for Bernie Sanders just because it is popular among your age group. Or simply because he is not Hillary, whom you've seen on social media painted as an evil, corrupt, and worse. As a young, bright woman, use your brains to ignore gender and investigate issues and the political landscape in depth. Know your history and realize that Sanders is less a promise of the future than an echo of a distant past (one that harks back to the 1910s and 20s with the movements of Eugene Debs)."

You have chosen your candidate just as I and many others have chosen ours. I didn't do it out of hatred for Clinton but out of disagreement with some of her policies past and present.

btw I'm 63 and old enough to understand that last sly little caparison and insult in your ending paragraph.

[LiberalLovinLug]

60. "I believe (Sanders) promises are too overblown and his vision too limited."

I don't have a problem with you for feeling as you do. And backing who you want. But that is such a oxymoron statement don't you think?

The first part of that statement shows a lack of confidence in convincing the public to embrace policies that are commonplace in many western nations. And the second part is even more puzzling when comparing Hillary's solution to Wall Street criminal abuse...telling them sternly to "Cut it out!". Rejecting a $15 minimum wage. Rejecting single payer on the behest of her large insurance donors. And more willing to send other mothers sons and daughters into harms way to enrich the corporate donors in the MIC and energy sector she has latched onto.

[Odin2005]

125. The condescension reeks in your post.

[passiveporcupine]

128. You are wrong

Know your history and realize that Sanders is less a promise of the future than an echo of a distant past (one that harks back to the 1910s and 20s with the movements of Eugene Debs).

You are basically saying that Sanders harks back to Marxism, and he does not. His long-term goal is not to establish a socioeconomic system based on social ownership of the means of production. He has never said that, and anyone who claims he is harking back to Eugene Debs, is not telling the truth. I do believe he would be and is in favor of employee owned companies, but that is not socially owned...it is still employee owned, so there are private owners. I myself would like to see a marriage between privately owned business and employee owned business once a business reaches a certain size and worth. But I'm probably more socialist than Bernie is.

Sanders wants capitalism to be controlled to minimize it's negative effects on society, but he does not want to take away all private ownership of business. He does want workers to have more rights so they cannot be exploited by private business owners, which is the nature of unfettered capitalism. And there are some businesses/services that just should not be "for profit" but instead owned and controlled by society (government) for the good of all.

And don't insult us by repeating the untrue slogan that we are only voting for Hillary because she is a woman

Hillary supporters have often pushed that mantra and it has been picked up and exposed for what it is. Sexism. And right now, with her female cadre, she is doing it again. So please don't insult us that we are the ones who are pushing that as a slogan.

[Blue_Adept]

11. Heaven forbid people with different life experiences have different expectations

or different values all while falling under the liberal umbrella.

We're all so busy educating each other these days. Or pontificating in some cases. Lecturing in others. Or just smiting as the case may be.

[djean111]

14. I will soon be 70 - an older woman, indeed.

That letter is so very very right and correct and explains exactly how I feel about voting for Bernie.
Thank you.

[Nanjeanne]

15. I'm almost 66 and she speaks to me and for me as well.

[Harriety]

21. I am over 65 and voting for...

Bernie Sanders. This country really needs him.

[malthaussen]

24. A lot politer than I would be.

I am, however, not a young millennial woman. Hell, I'm not even a woman.

-- Mal

[beam me up scottie]

27. Good for her, I'm not a millenial but she speaks for me!

[SunSeeker]

29. What an idiotic insult of a letter. No one is voting for Hillary "based on gender alone."

No one is voting for "genitals." Otherwise, Carly Fiorina would be on top of the national polls instead of Hillary.

We are voting for Hillary because of her lifelong fight for women's rights, and because she is the most qualified candidate out there, and because she actually has viable plans to improve our lives. As Hillary said at the recent CNN Town Hall, she will fight for you, even if you don't support her. Pretty obnoxious of you, Allison, to steal her line in attacking her supporters.

Allison, your letter is itself a sexist attack, along the lines of Susan Sarandon's "voting with their vaginas" epithet. You are only playing to your fellow Bernie followers.

[beam me up scottie]

33. Actually I have heard women say they're supporting Hillary because of her gender.

They openly admit that Bernie's policies and positions are better but they want a woman to win.

Glennon and Sarandon are right and they didn't broad brush all women like Steinem, Albright and Granholm did when they used sexist rhetoric against women who support Bernie.

[SunSeeker]

36. No woman has said she is voting for Hillary just because of gender. nt

[beam me up scottie]

40. That's your strawman. And you can't prove it even so.

They are choosing the inferior candidate based on gender.

That's their right but let's not pretend it isn't happening.

[SunSeeker]

50. No, it is Allison who has created a strawman.

She is the one accusing Hillary supporters of voting for her "based on gender alone."

[beam me up scottie]

51. Women have admitted that they are basing their vote on gender alone.

Denying that fact won't make it untrue.

[SunSeeker]

55. You have not presented evidence of any such "facts." nt

[beam me up scottie]

56. The posts are everywhere and pinebox cited some in this thread.

Sorry the truth isn't to your liking.

[SunSeeker]

64. As usual, you have nothing. nt

[beam me up scottie]

65. Again the posts are everywhere, I won't link to them because it'll get alerted.

But if it makes you happy to believe it's not true go for it.

[SunSeeker]

72. I have not seen a single post where a woman says she is voting for Hillary solely based on gender.

Invariably, the woman is choosing Hillary, as opposed to Fiorina, because she is a pro-woman Democrat.

[farleftlib]

73. Well you're not looking then

there are some on this very thread.

[SunSeeker]

76. No, there are no such statements on this thread. nt

[beam me up scottie]

74. They are choosing a candidate who is worse on issues BASED SOLELY on gender.

This isn't about a choice between Carly and Hillary, stop deflecting.

[SunSeeker]

75. No, they are not picking the candidate who is "worse on issues."

Hillary supporters believe Hillary has the better, more workable, more attainable plans.

If it is based "soley" on gender, Carly would not be in the single digits.

[beam me up scottie]

77. They ADMITTED IT. Many took a survey which closely matched them to Bernie but chose Hillary.

Because glass ceiling, time for a woman president, want to see a woman in the white house before they die, role model for girls, etc etc etc.

Apparentlyyou missed hundreds of posts but the rest of us saw them.

[SunSeeker]

96. No, they haven't "admitted it." Hillary supporters think her plans are more viable.

Did these "surveys" you speak up ask that?

And if is was just gender, why is Carly Fiorina in the single digits?

[beam me up scottie]

97. Yes, they did. There have been many threads about that survey.

They sided with Bernie on the majority of issues and still support Hillary because they want a woman president.

[SunSeeker]

102. I haven't seen any where that is the sole reason for supporting Hillary.

Invariably it is also because she is a liberal, fights for women, etc. Otherwise, Fiorina would have just as many supporters.

If there are so many threads on surveys showing gender is the sole reason, why are you having such a tough time citing one?

[beam me up scottie]

104. Carly has nothing to do with this, stop using red herrings.

They agree that Bernie's policies and positions are superior but still support Hillary because she's a woman - that's voting on gender.

[SunSeeker]

108. Carly absolutely is relevant to the discussion. She shows that gender alone will not get you votes.

And no, Hillary supporters do not think Bernie's positions are "superior." You just love that word, don't you?

[beam me up scottie]

111. It's irrelevant when we're discussing Democrats.

They answered the survey and admitted they sided with Bernie on the majority of issues, so why do you think they're voting for Hillary?

[SunSeeker]

116. Then you just admitted they are voting for her in part because she is a Democrat.

So you just admitted they are not voting for her "soley" for her gender.

I already told you why I think they're voting for Hillary. She has the more viable plans, is more likely to be elected, and hence the voters feel she is more likely to actually improve their lives, and yes, as anyone liberal would agree, it is way past time we had a female president. But Hillary's gender is not the only reason to vote for her, and is certainly not the only reason her supporters are voting for her.

[beam me up scottie]

117. Try again, when they admit they prefer Bernie's policies but still support Hillary: why?

What is causing them to vote for someone they admit isn't the better candidate?

[SunSeeker]

121. Because Hillary's plan's are more likely to get enacted and help their lives.

It is hard to address these phantom surveys you speak of without seeing them, by I assume if someone is voting for Hillary, they think she is the "better candidate" in their mind--that is why they are voting for her.

You have now wasted enough of my time. It is clear you have nothing and are just repeating yourself.

Buh bye.

[beam me up scottie]

122. More deflection, you refuse to admit the obvious.

We're done here.

[Myrina]

43. My Baby-boomer Sister and 2 female cousins.

Would you like their email addresses for confirmation?

[SunSeeker]

46. Why aren't they voting for Fiorina? nt

[Myrina]

48. You'd have to ask them that.

I don't engage them anymore.

[SunSeeker]

54. Their support of Hillary instead of Fiorina shows their vote is not "based on gender alone."

Allison's letter is obviously wrong to insult them in saying their vote is based on gender alone.

It is really unbelievable that you would cut off family just because they support Hillary, a progressive Democrat.

[beam me up scottie]

80. Offs. Their support for Hillary over Carly means they're liberals.

Their support of Hillary over Bernie when they admit his policies and positions are superior means they're voting on gender.

[SunSeeker]

94. They support Hillary because she is a liberal and a woman.

So on the face of it, they are not voting for her solely because of her gender.

Her supporters prefer her plans because they are more likely to actually be enacted and thus benefit their lives.

[beam me up scottie]

103. The ones who prefer Bernie's policies and admit they're still supporting her are voting on gender.

[SunSeeker]

112. You're just repeating the same incorrect line with no links.

You have just wasted my time.

[beam me up scottie]

114. And you refuse to admit some women are voting based on gender.

That's as absurd as claiming men don't vote based on gender.

[SunSeeker]

119. I have yet to see any evidence of women who are voting for a women solely based on gender.

They always have additional reason(s): that she's a Democrat, that she's liberal, that she's more electable, etc.

But I do agree there are men and women who would refuse to vote for a women simply because she was a woman. However that is not what the OP is about. The OP's author claims women support Hillary solely because she is a woman. That is not true.

[beam me up scottie]

120. Again, when they side with Bernie on the issues but say they want a woman they're voting on gender.

Even if all things were equal and they supported the woman they're basing their vote on gender.

Not that I'm judging them, that's their right but let's not pretend it's not happening.

[whopis01]

87. That is simply false

It may not be a large number of women, but to say that no woman has said is ridiculous. Here is a newsflash - you don't know what every woman has or has not said.

And so what if a woman is voting for Hillary because of gender? That is her right to do so and it isn't up to you or anyone else to tell her she is wrong for doing so.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/im-voting-for-hillary-clinton-because-shes-a-woman_b_8684910.html

http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/04/17/22064461/yes-you-should-vote-for-hillary-just-because-shes-a-woman

http://www.bustle.com/articles/77961-voting-for-hillary-clinton-because-shes-a-woman-is-a-perfectly-valid-not-to-mention-smart

[SunSeeker]

93. None of the writers you cite say they are voting for Hillary solely based on her gender.

The one who uses your line in the title of her piece puts "just" in quotes and is actually addressing why it is wrong to not vote for Clinton because she is a women. She then proceeds to offer lots of other reasons for voting for Clinton.

[totodeinhere]

124. But if you don't vote for Hillary there will be a special place in hell reserved for you.

n/t

[SunSeeker]

126. Is that what you believe? nt

[totodeinhere]

129. Aren't you aware that Madeleine Albright said that?

If not you need to keep up more.

[SunSeeker]

130. Yes, I am aware. And she didn't say that. nt

[totodeinhere]

131. Here she is saying that word for word.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/08/us/politics/gloria-steinem-madeleine-albright-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders.html

If you are going to make comments at DU you really do need to keep up.

[SunSeeker]

132. Your link proves she did not say that.

"...Ms. Albright said of the broader fight for women’s equality. “It’s not done. There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other!”

Albright did not say women will burn in hell if you don't vote for Hillary. She merely repeated the catch phrase she has been saying forever, "And remember, there is a special place in hell for women who don't help each other." She in no way meant women who vote for Bernie will burn in hell. Indeed, the type of women she is referring to are the Fiorinas of the world, and the women who support the positions Fiorina espouses, since they are not helping women, they are hurting women.

I do keep up, your repeated condescending insults notwithstanding.

[AllTooEasy]

82. I've heard Male Democrats say they're NOT supporting Hillary because of her gender

Don't act like these assholes don't exist either. To assume that every Bernie supporter is embracing Bernie solely on policy is extremely naïve. There were Whites who unbelievably switched from Clinton to McCain after Barack won the nomination. Bigots exist inside the Democrat ranks as well, just not as much in the Repuke ranks, which is solely based on bigotry.

Muhammad Ali famously said "No Viet Cong even called me nigger". I wish I could say the same for all Democrats/liberals/progressives.

[beam me up scottie]

84. Nice strawman, did you make it yourself or borrow it from your associates?

How about you address what I actually posted instead of making shit up and pretending I said it?

[AllTooEasy]

90. This response makes no sense

What associates are you talking about? Blacks don't have to make up claims about being called nigger by Democrats. Are you dismissing such claims as "making shit up"? I hope not.

You posted "I have heard women say they're supporting Hillary because of her gender". I responded that I've heard men, specifically Democrat men, say that they are voting against Hillary because she's a woman. How is that not addressing what you actually posted?

[beam me up scottie]

100. Your reply to me makes no sense because I never said any of the things you attributed to me.

Blacks don't have to make up claims about being called nigger by Democrats. Are you dismissing such claims as "making shit up"? I hope not.

You posted "I have heard women say they're supporting Hillary because of her gender". I responded that I've heard men, specifically Democrat men, say that they are voting against Hillary because she's a woman.

Where did I claim otherwise? Your repeated attempt to put words in my mouth is an old tactic and it won't work.

Your first response to me was:

Don't act like these assholes don't exist either.

[pinebox]

47. No one is voting for Hillary "based on gender alone."---Fact check time!

Would you like more? I can find this shit all day long.

[SunSeeker]

58. None of these women are voting for Hillary just because she is a women.

Neither of these women support Fiorina. They wouldn't be supporting Hillary if she was not a pro-choice Democrat.

[shawn703]

67. Who is more likely to win their respective nomination?

Also, if they are already registered Democrats, why would you expect them to switch party-affiliation to vote for a woman? Couldn't they just as easily vote for someone because of gender without doing so?

[kath]

57. have you not been paying attention?

Many, many women have said that they are voting for HRC because they wnat to see a woman president, giving no other reason.

[SunSeeker]

63. Have you not been paying attention? None of those women support Fiorina.

So obviously more goes into the decisions than just "genitals." Many women, indeed all progressives, want to see a woman president. Just because they do not list all their other reasons at every given moment does not mean they have no other reasons for voting for Hillary. Certainly the women voting for Hillary would not support her if she was not also a good Democrat.

[Blue_Adept]

35. And where's Gen X in the middle of all this?

So much focus on boomers and millennials. My Gen X group just continues to go out and just get shit done. Doubly amusing since we were constantly called slackers.

[Nanjeanne]

39. From what I've read in most polls Gen X is favoring Sanders (people under 45)

[Matariki]

44. What this woman in her 50s has been fighting for

is for gender to NOT matter on iota in regards to opportunities, positions of power, achievement.

I am voting (for Sanders) based on his policy, since his positions and values align the closest with my own values. To do otherwise would be to betray those things I've fought for as a feminist.

[hamsterjill]

49. Thank you for your acknowledgement of our hard work, Ms. Glennon.

I appreciate the fact that you do realize that it WAS us (i.e., the now older ladies) who actually DID fight for those rights. I am happy to have that hard work acknowledged. Thank you for doing that. Because it was no easy task. We (and our ancestors) fought by the skin of our teeth to get equality - to first even have the right to vote, then to keep that right, and now to have the right to vote for who WE feel is appropriate.

Yes, you may vote for whomever you choose and you are absolutely correct in that you should vote for the candidate that you deem most qualified - regardless of gender, etc. Bravo to you for realizing that you enjoy that right. Please take advantage of it come voting day and make your voice heard at the polls. Don't let anyone tell you that you should do otherwise.

I'll be voting for Hillary because in my view, she is the best choice. I respect your right to disagree.

Now, Ms. Glennon, can you (and your generation) please answer one question for an old-timer like me? Because I really honestly WORRY that your generation doesn't get it, and I'd like to have my worries put to rest.

Roe v. Wade is very much in jeopardy right now. Especially in this election. The next President will appoint 2 to 3 Supreme Court justices. The right to control our bodies cannot be taken back from us.

Does your generation, Ms. Glennon, fully understand the ramifications of this? Are you and your peers ready to take up arms and FIGHT for this? Are you ready to put in the hard work, take the mudslinging, fight with friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. who may disagree with a woman's right to choose? Is YOUR generation cognizant of what is at stake?

I hope you are. But I sometimes wonder. I'd love to hear some comments from some young women of DU who can help me understand their perspective on this subject, and reaffirm to me that they ARE aware of just what it IS that is at stake here.

Roe v. Wade will be safe whether it's Hillary or Bernie in the White House. But it will NOT be safe if we allow a Republican to appoint the next Supreme Court Justices.

Please, I'm begging you, the torch is being passed to the next generation. Tell me you won't let US down!!!!

[Cassiopeia]

52. Excellent OP

[Uncle Joe]

59. That was an excellent letter.

Thanks for the thread, Nanjeanne.

[TryLogic]

62. Check out this important article

http://benjaminstudebaker.com/2016/02/05/why-bernie-vs-hillary-matters-more-than-people-think/

[Nanjeanne]

66. +1

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[zentrum]

68. She speaks for me and

…all the older women in my family!

It's not about electing "any" woman. Could end up with a Palin or a Fiorina if that was the sole criteria!

It's about electing the right woman.

And this time around, that's not Hillary.

Her values are corporate, and self serving, and that's not what feminism is fighting for.

We'll get a female in the Presidency. I suspect to will be Warren in 2020 and it will move the whole world ahead.

[HockeyMom]

70. My daughters (32 and 37) "turned me on" to Bernie

Granny Hockey Mom. All of us voted for Hillary for Senator. The more I listened, and read, the less I was for Hillary, and the more for Bernie.

Who says you cannot learn a thing or two from your Adult Daughters?

[d_legendary1]

78. My question here is why are HRC supporters painting themselves as victims?

Its obvious she's calling out the HRC campaign's surrogates who insist on insulting her generation with baseless attacks for not supporting their campaign. Why the personal insults over someone they've never met?

[farleftlib]

85. Because that's what Hillary does when she's been busted

or bested. She cries that she's the actual victim.

[d_legendary1]

92. Of circumstance? Absolutely!

Of her own doing? Most definitely!

[blondie58]

81. This is good and so agree!

I am a Boomer and I have Been waiting for Bernie my entire life!
He truly is once in a lifetime candidate.
We will have a woman President eventually.
I don't Feel That Hillary is the One. She is One of the 1%, with her $33.1 million net worth. She can find something besides being President to Occupy her time . How does a politician amass so much Wealth?

[AtomicKitten]

83. k/r

[Akicita]

86. Excellent!!!

[libodem]

88. Scorched baby

I'm burning for Bernie.....or was it a hot flash? Fans self rapidly.

[misterhighwasted]

89. Haahaa..Jane Sanders is that You!

[lark]

91. Hmm, feel conflicted about the larger message of millenials not supporting women's rights.

Too many millenials don't give a damn about abortion because they never were without this option. Since they have it now, they aren't concerned that it could be taken away. I really strongly disagree with them about this and bemoan their short sightedness.

I am a Bernie supporter, however. I am a policy oriented person and he's got the more progressive policies, so I'm 100% voting for him in the primary. I do think she'd be an OK - good president for the most part, a whole lot like Obama in most ways. I do, however, still consider myself a feminist and would be happy to have a woman as president if Bernie doesn't win the D nomination.

[farleftlib]

110. Bernie is 100% pro-choice

So voting for him is not jeopardizing abortion rights. He will appoint pro-choice judges for SCOTUS. As a matter of fact, his picks for the Supremes would be far superior to HRC's because they already have too many corporatists and don't need any more.

[Stellar]

107. As an 'older' woman, I would vote for a woman for President in a heartbeat...

if she was the right woman, and not just any woman. What the hell sense would that make just to say you voted for a woman. Now if it was Senator Warren, I'd vote for her quick, fast, and in a hurry!

[treestar]

115. Stupid divisiveness, who is falling for it.

This is one person who is being manipulated.

[beam me up scottie]

118. So now this woman is too stupid to know she's being manipulated?

[elana i am]

123. i don't understand how there evolved a controversy over female sanders supporters

the reason for a feminist supporting sanders over clinton seems very straight forward.

sanders:
ANTI - fracking, keystone, TPP, death penalty, war, no-fly zone, citizens united, big banks, private prisons, legal weed, voted no on iraq, etc.,

clinton:
PRO - fracking, keystone, TPP, death penalty, war, no-fly zone, citizens united, big banks, private prisons, legal weed, voted yes on iraq, etc.

who is the feminist here? who is PRO woman? who is on the right side of these issues so that women, along with their children and families will benefit? 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count.

[McKim]

127. Womens Values and Womens Lives

Dear Sisters, Have you considered the fact that Hillary voted for a war on Iraq and has supported conflicts in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan that has cost around 500,000 lives? Are these Womens Values? Now she calls Iran our enemy and would quite possibly, if elected, continue all these wars and maybe start more? Are these Womens Values? As the women in the Middle East how they are doing under Hillary's foreign policies! When an American votes they should consider not just what is going on in the US, but what will happen abroad if you vote for a candidate. My brother in law died in Vietnam for a lie and I spent the last 14 years in The Peace Movement.
Think carefully before you vote and think hard about what you uphold as Womens Values, Feminist Values.