Senator Clinton

by kid oakland [courtesy of k / o]

I've encountered so many barbed comments on the blogs that I want to address a couple ways in which I like and respect Senator Clinton.

First, a month ago I wrote two long pieces on Senator Clinton that describe my take on her career and my critical but respectful view of her campaign.

Senator Clinton, clearly, has been a powerful advocate for women, children and families for her entire life. She is and has been an agent of change as a woman and a political advocate. This is a consistent theme; it's real. Her work, after being appointed by President Carter to the board of the Legal Services Corporation, defending that organization from Reagan's budget cuts and mission change, was exemplary. Few knew who she was at that point; no one was looking. She took that stand because of her core values, period. It wasn't about glory because...well, because, even now Senator Clinton has never received proper credit for her role in preserving the organization in its true mission.

Further, Senator Clinton's work over long years with the Arkansas Education Association was, from what I've read, fruitful and had a profound impact. People who say that Senator Clinton left a mark on Arkansas...as she is now leaving a mark on New York State...are credible, in my view. Her speech at the Women's Conference in Beijing was powerful and bold; it deserves more attention than it has received this campaign season. Senator Clinton's advocacy for Senator Kennedy's S-CHIP bill and her recent amendment of the act to extend its benefits to wounded veterans were remarkable and signficant.

Senator Clinton is, in this regard, exactly what she says she is: a tireless advocate for women and children and basic issues that confront citizens who are not powerful and do not have a voice in our politics. It is no coincidence that her most solid bloc of voters are senior citizens and that her advertising can be seen to subtly skew towards them. Her campaign has done a good job conveying its concern for voters on a fixed income. That is relevant to her sucess.

I guess what I'm saying is that Senator Clinton's campaign, on one level, does not get credit from something that is apparent to someone who delves into her supporting material. Senator Clinton has a consistent track record of caring and advocating for those without much political power. Her line about the wounded veterans at the last debate was powerful because it was real. She, in my estimate, truly is that person, she was being sincere.

The overarching theme of caring is why Senator Clinton is involved in politics and it is consistent theme over her 35 year career in public service, law, as First Lady and as a United States Senator.