Hillary and Maya Angelouin Winston-Salem, NC April, 2008

Yesterday two friends and I traveled to Wake Forest University to see and hear Maya Angelou and Hillary Clinton. We arrived at WFU around 2:30 p.m. and easliy found the Wait Chapel. We then sat down on the grass in line to wait and wait and wait.

While we waited I noticed the other people waiting. The crowd which in fact was a mix had the overriding appearance of mostly white older women. The sea of grey hair was a clue. Women often came in groups with other women friends, young and older. Mothers were there with their young daughters who were running around and some women were there with older daughters, sitting and talking. There were daughters who brought their aging mothers, helping them find a place to sit and wait. There were older men and women who came together and then, there were a lot of single women who would sit and chat with people they met while waiting on line.

This was a woman's event. People sat in line chatting, laughing or reading a book and sharing information and food as the day wore on. There wasn't loud music or a lot of rah, rahs! A few college boys threw a frisbee in the middle of the lawn; they were well behaved. On both sides of our group were women who were undecided and one in our group was undecided. We had conversations about what their reservations about Hillary were: The Bosnia thing; the attacks on Obama; just not sure etc. Women volunteers came around and updated us on what was happening and when and what we could expect. It was during one of these update sessions that I began to see what the problem was with a least some of the women who weren't voting for Hillary.

We had several visits with volunteers who would tell us about what would or would not be allowed to be taken into the building. Most of the outlawed items were pretty clear issues, no chairs, no food, no water bottles etc. and everyone nodded in acquiescence. Then there was the "type of bag allowed in". This was not a "yes" or "no" issue and not a "multiple choice issue". This was an "interpretative issue" and each messenger delivered a slightly different message and each time we had to determine whether our "bag" fit their description of what was allowed. Some of the messages were "Nothing larger than an 8x10”; "Nothing larger than a piece of paper.” and there were others. Each message brought a barrage of discussion along the line as to whether certain bags would be allowed and each discussion left each of us with a lingering doubt about the "legality" of our bag. There was fear that after spending so much time in agonizing positions on the lawn, enduring the heat and discomforts we imagined and real, we just couldn't "risk" losing the prize of getting into the event. Gradually, bags disappeared or got smaller and still there was uncertainty. Would we be allowed in with our bag and what could happen if we were challenged? Could we pass through? Would someone challenge us and thus, we would have to "explain" or "justify" according to rules that we were uncertan about in regard to our bag?

Interestingly, our place in line was right across from the campus book store. On one of my breaks from the line to stretch my aging back, I noticed that they had set up a table and there was a stack of Hillary's books, "Living History". I had borrowed a copy from a friend of mine and had later tried to buy a copy of it locally. I had noticed them before at a store on display for $5.98. After I read part of the book, I knew I wanted my own copy but when I returned to the store, there were none. Now, here was my chance. I went to the woman at the table and asked "How much"? She replied, "$16.00". I thought for a bit about the bargain I had missed and then, I realized that I had this chance to buy it so "Why not?" I bought the book and went back to the long line to wait and chat.

Finally, we and our bags got in after passing through security similar to airport security and we got a great seats and we waited. Around 6:45 the pre-game warm up started and we had some fun yelling H I L L A R Y! There was a short game that got folks revved up by texting to the campaign headquarters 442008NC. The lead guy, Mike, later come back out and called the number of someone who had texted in. Everyone waited for their phones to ring hoping that they would win the prize of going back stage and meeting Hillary. The game was great fun for those who knew how to text message. For some of us, we learned to text message that day, in those fleeting moments, just for the chance of winning the prize; meeting Hillary personally. I had hoped to win, but no phone call from Mike. Three people did win the prize and they were ushered back stage to meet Hillary.

Finally, Maya Angelou and Hillary came out and the crowd erupted. This event was a conversation with Hillary and Maya and we got to listen in. It was fabulous and worth the wait to hear these two remarkable women chat. Hillary then took some questions from the crowd and Maya read a prose she had written about Hillary. I didn't know if Hillary would be meeting and working the crowd afterward, but I had already prepared my friends to either, wait for me, or put my stuff from their car in a place where I could find it after I got her to sign my book, 'cause I was staying.

The prospect of getting the book signed was faint because Hillary was well protected by serious secret service, who were by now not so secret and a ton of handlers, and of course a crush of mostly aggressive women who were now pressing forward much like the mad rush during a sale in a major women's store. (If we ever want to get past this energy crisis just harness the energy of these women attempting to get to Hillary.)

I hesitated for a nanosecond and then there I was camcorder in one hand and book in the other charging ahead into the sea of people mostly taller than me. I'm sure there are some women who thought a bit unkindly of me yesterday, but more women actually gave me a helping hand. Two well-dressed women stopped me in the crush to read my t-shirt. "Women who behave rarely make history". They loved it and left with a big smile.

As we "pressed forward" I struck up a conversation with a large African American women who had become my best friend as we then defined the term "embedded" in the sea of people moving in some way like shuffling or glacial ice migrating. We chatted as we were pushing and being pushed though a wall of people. I was trying to get video of Hillary and complaining and laughing that either I or Hillary was too short. (It turned out that we both are short.) At one point, my new friend got behind me, wrapped her arms around my waist and lifted me up so that I could get a better shot. Now, of course, we are very best friends, laughing at our attempts. In the next few minuets I would learn that the young woman with her was her daughter and they were both avid Hillary fans. She was pushing us/me forward. I heard this voice behind me say, "I'm going to get you through". Then there was the push behind me that sent me through the wall of people, closer to my target, Hillary.

Finally, I could see Hillary talking to people, still laughing, answering questions and signing stuff. I finally, thrust my book up high above my head and forward where it was suddenly lifted from my hand by a taller woman behind the ropes. She folded the cover back and handed it to Hillary, who in a flash signed it. Hillary handed it back to me with a big smile and I stammered something like "We love you in North Carolina! Thank you for being here!" I turned back to escape and give others a chance, when I saw my new friend waving and shouting "There's my daughter. Take her picture!"

I noticed the daughter had angled around and was coming up to the line close to Hillary. I stopped and turned and shot as much video as I could of them together and at least part of the hug she received from Hillary. We extracted ourselves from the still crushing mass of people who were attempting to get close to "Hillary". We stood together, chatting and laughing for a few minuets about our adventure, this young woman and her mother who had pushed us both forward through the crowds to get the prize, the things we each wanted; my autographed book; a daughters few words and a picture with the next president embracing her and a proud mother determined to see that her daughter got what she wanted. We exchanged names and e-mails. I learned that the young woman had recently returned from Iraq, where she had served with the Marines.

We didn't know much about each other at the beginning of our adventure. We really didn't need to dissect the similarities or the differences of who we/they were or why we were doing what we were doing. We didn't discuss the rules of how to get to Hillary or whether we ahould even try. We were just three strangers, three women who knew without discussion or analysis, that if we worked together we could each get what we most desired. We knew without discussion who would push from behind, who would take the pictures and who needed to speak to this woman who could be the next President of the United States. We simply kept our eyes on the prize. We worked together maximizing each others strengths and compensating for each others weaknesses, as we pushed through all obstacles. Each woman got what we set out to get and then we stood together laughing about our victory.

It required very little talking or planning; no evaluation of the others decisions or perceived past acts or transgressions. It was just the determined action of women pressing forward together, for as long as it took, to get what we each individually had decided to get. We didn’t quit or give up. We just trusted each other to do what we each could do to get done what we all needed to do. It was easier to do, than to describe what we did.

Can Hillary Play Hardball or Should She Play Nice?

Hillary’ new "3:00 A.M ad" has certainly stirred the Democrats. Oh, my, she may be providing material for McCain to attack Obama if Obama is the nominee as most male commentators seem to think. So, the question is can Hillary play hardball or should she play nice? Is winning everything? Should we do what “is best for the party”?

I’m for winning and playing and campaigning to win. Is this an unfair “attack ad”? I think it raises a good question that most are unwilling to even discuss because it appear that the Obama train has left the station and its’ all over, so, Hillary should fold, endorse and go back to wherever.

Obama's response to the ad is much of the same ... nothing substantive. He looks back at a vote he didn't make, because he wasn't there and says he would have made decisions, he didn't make because he wasn't there. Monday morning quarter backing is easy to do, because you aren’t there and everyone has 20/20 hindsight. This is like getting the “first question”.

The more telling response was his analysis of Pakistan in a previous debate when he quipped in his manly fashion that he would go after them regardless… That response became more refined after his handlers edited the version. Pakistan wasn’t amused.. “Tariq terms Obama statement as “Sheer ignorance”; Pakistan’s Ambassador in the United States Mehmood Ali Durrani has termed the White House hopeful Barack Obama’ statement as speculative and irresponsible. “… such an action along Pak-Afghan border tribal areas would lead to dire consequences.”

Also, think about his response to his endorsement of Farrakhan. Hillary was ridiculed for calling him on it, but it demonstrates his lack of depth of thought about a process. He initially stated that “He couldn’t help it if someone thought he was a good guy.” Chuckle, chuckle. It was Hillary who refined the point, insisting that, well you could do more, as I did in a similar circumstance. The boys thought her insistence that there be a more careful response was funny, “a tedious political trap”. He finally submitted and said well, ok, I’ll reject and denounce. Everyone chuckled and dismissed the woman as too picky. He and they still don’t see the difference.

So, it’s 3:00 am and the phone rings in the White House and there is a crisis because that does happen and we mostly don’t know about these times. Do you want the person making the decision to see fine differences and complexities in thinking about a problem? Do you want someone who will choose wise words and a wise course of action, or do you want a Monday morning quarterback who can tell you what he “might have done”? Do you want someone who blames an entire war on one woman’s vote while he embraces others as his endorsers like, Chris Dodd, who also voted for the use of force resolution and who, also, ridiculed Obama as naive on foreign policy after his Pakistan comments? It’s the details, tiny details that matter… to me.

Free Political Ads!

Free ads for Obama! Take a look at the misogynist remarks on any of the “discussion” boards. What a great way for insecure, frustrated women and men to vent their frustrations that a strong woman isn’t backing down, submitting to the Democrat machine of “play nice” for the party and giving in to the pressure from the media bias. What great free advertising for Obama!

ABC and the rest of the nasty boys really are perplexed that Hillary is still there working to win the nomination. Fluff pieces are much easier to run because these angry nasty men on the discussion boards do their job for them and the other “nasty boys club”. These so-called journalist keep the gender question stirred and raise the questions that bring out the vitriolic hatred toward women, i.e. misogyny, and lay it out for the entire world to see. I think it’s great. It’s done more to motivate Hillary’s base than any tactic she can come up with. I hope they keep it coming. It reminds all of us how much more there is to do and that every contribution to her campaign, no matter how small, will help to extinguish this hatred.

Hillary just released two new videos “One In A Million” that demonstrates that women from all races and walks of life in Texas are in fact pitching in to work for her campaign and “This One Is for Ann”, remembers Ann Richards. The male dominated press says little about Hillary that is positive. These videos tell a different story from a different perspective.

These nasty guys are the whiners and the losers and their hatred of women is soooo evident. These pieces do a lot to embolden these men to take that hatred out on women. If they write these nasty remarks, we should wonder what they are doing in their homes, dorms and on the streets. This “locker room” that the media provides allows these men to gather and “get it on” as they rant hateful remarks about women. The so-called press sits back in amusement and calls this journalism. For the women who demean Hillary, I hope they will stop and think about their lives and the lives of other women and how they are being co-opted into this hatred cycle. If they don’t like Hillary and don’t agree with her stands, then don’t vote for her, work against her, but for the sake of a younger generation of women, don’t get sucked into the game of misogyny that the boys are gaming.

If comparable pieces were run on Obama and similar remarks were made about him, these guys in the "press" would be shut down and they would be, with a lot of other Americans, on the unemployment line. Now there’s a thought.

Hillary - Powerful Visionary

Who will bring the change we need?

Obama paints Hillary with the “status quo” brush and everyone is happy to be on board his train fueled not by his powerful original rhetoric but the words that inspired a generation before him to take action that made it possible for him to run for President. Hillary has already been where Obama is. She has already been inspired to action and she has already taken brave decisive action and faced the consequences of those actions. Obama has yet to stand on new ground, to leave his footprints on any new battle ground, to suffer any wounds and recover and fight again. That's the insult so many feel when we hear those words spoken by a “wanna be warrior”.

Hillary has always been proud of her country and has taken on issues when they were not popular. It was Hillary, not Obama that as a lone woman Washington outsider marched into the halls of Congress and began the talks with both sides of the aisle about health care. She made a difference for all Americans. She made it possible for Obama to talk about universal health care as a result of her action that many paint as a failure. It's easy for Obama to be the Monday morning quarterback, he wasn’t there. Obama has done those “usual inspiring things” that many citizens of my generation see ordinary citizens doing everyday. It was Hillary who went to China, as First Lady and spoke out for the rights of ALL women and demanded in China that our rights are human rights.

Hillary is powerful and will take us to new frontiers that Obama has yet to glimpse, because she has already been where he is now. In fact he is the “status quo”. Hillary is the visionary, the fearless powerful leader and who will lead this country and the world to a better place.



It’s easy to stand tall and speak out when many surround you and chant your chant. It takes a powerful leader to take us to into the new frontiers, to break new ground, in new territories and to not be fearful but fearless. It takes a powerful leader to heal not just the wounds inflicted in the fabric of this country but to see and feel the pain suffered by citizens in many countries. It takes a powerful leader to stand alone and fight the fight and even in failure to rise again, to fight again. We’ve watched Hillary Clinton be fearless, fight and lose and continue the fight. We’ve watched Hillary Clinton, stand on the Senate floor, not at a peace rally, and vote and state her reasons for her vote. She, more that the other 76 Senators, has stood against repeated personal attacks for that vote, despite the fact that it was George Bush and not Hillary Clinton and the other 76 unnamed Senators who deceived the citizens of this country and lead us to where we are now. If there was a mistake, it lays at the feet of those who voted for George Bush.

Obama chants the Kennedy theme without understanding that negotiating out of fear, isn’t the issue, but rather negotiating from power is the winning position. He chants lines from Martin L. King that led a generation before him to take action. Obama fails to understand that it takes a powerful leader to not just inspire, with the words of others but to speak from your heart with clarity, with your words to inspire and call to action your fellow citizens to face a fierce battle with you to right wrongs. Obama is naive to think that we all just talk and reach an agreement. He is naive to think that talk with anyone without a plan will protect America. Can this powerful woman be stopped? Certainly the forces in this country are putting forth their best efforts. Multitudes of women share the hope that the next generation of women will be allowed to be even more powerful than this "girl".

This Is What Leadership Looks Like!

The last few moments in the debate were important for Democrats and for Americans when Hillary captivated the audience in Texas and nationwide with her courage and her strength. It takes a statesperson to stop the madness of the press and the interest groups that are gleeful when we argue about minor differences in policy or lifting parts of speeches for use. It takes a leader to not attack an opponent but to leave the question for the voter. It takes a leader to reach not just across to her opponent and shake hands but to understand that the goal of unifying the party is paramount to her personal goal.


It’s interesting that both candidates propose almost identical agendas for the future. The male press, with their misogynist filters, attempt to throw Hillary under the bus, driven by the Obamacans, not because she is a horrible candidate but because they just don’t get it that a woman, yes, this woman, could be president. The press feed our fears about who is “electable”. That “code” leads the public, as press intends, to the inevitable “Bill Clinton” phobia. The male press feed the fears of re-living those years, when the Republicans, not Bill Clinton, made life for all of us miserable. It was the Republicans, not Bill Clinton who led the very public hunt for wrong doing that resulted not in deposing the president, but as I recall, the departure of several Republican elected officials when it was discovered that they couldn’t muster the high moral bar they had set for Bill Clinton.

Both of these candidates stand for change. Both are good people. Both are strong candidates. The questions are: Who can in fact bring the change we need and want? How can we, not the press decide that issue? If the press were fair, or even appeared to be fair and balanced, in their treatment of the candidates and the issues, the choice would be ours to make on facts not hype or a misogynist slant. But then, if frogs had wings, they wouldn’t bump their behinds when they jumped.

Poll Tool:Reporting or Making the News?

I love watching the pollsters, journalists and pundits twist as they struggle to explain an unprecedented failure of their tool of persuasion, their polls. They don’t understand that the glass ceiling many older women have been bumping into for centuries is really a glass floor that all white men have been dancing on. Men have abused, suppressed and ignored women and have shaped public opinion by shouting down and dismissing women who disagree with them. (Watch Chris Matthews with women guests who disagree with his position.). Dan Abrams chuckled last night “The weather was warm and there were all of these old uh older women were coming to the polls”. Yep. Those old broads voted because it was warm enough for them to come out, otherwise the frail old women would have stayed at home.

I see this unprecedented poll failure as a great opportunity to reclaim the electoral process and force the media to report not make the news. Polling is the life blood of the pundits that gives them to power to speak for us and therefore, shape the outcome of elections. If we refuse to participate in the polls, they will have an opportunity to report not make the news. To begin to stop the spectacle of fabricating the news, hang up when a pollster calls; if pressed by a pollster lie, after all you’re not under oath; after you vote keep it private.

We shouldn't’t have been surprised by the results not being what we “expected” because we shouldn't’t have been expecting a result. Tom Brokaw was right when he said the press was trying to get in front of the news. We can insist that the press wait with the rest of us and do what they are supposed to do, report the news, not make the news.

Susan Herbst, the public policy professor from Georgia Tech., quoted in an ABC News article gave sage advice to the journalists, candidates and pundits; "I hope this is a wake up call for the journalists, candidates and pundits." I see the failure of the polls as a wake up call and an opportunity to take back the process of the voters electing our leadership; don’t participate in polls. Let’s see what the candidates, not the pundits really have to say about real issues.

We can vote for candidates based on what we see and hear from the candidates, not what the press thinks they see or hear about a candidate that they think we might want to see or hear. We don’t need more analogies and opinions from experts to explain what we see and hear. We know that “Father does not know best.”