Hillary Supports Obama and So Do I - A Young Feminist Reacts to Clinton's Exit
Posted by Shelby Knox at 2:42 PM
Certainly not as enthusiastic, eloquent, or inspiring as Hillary's speech, this is my reaction to the suspension of her campaign. As many of you know, I have been a fervent Hillary supporter from the very start and have maintained from the beginning that I would support her until she told us to do otherwise, which today she did. Therefore, I will say for the first time that I want Barack Obama to win the presidency in November and I believe that come November YES WE CAN defeat the Republicans and move toward change and a bright future for our country.
As a woman and one of the young feminists who everyone said already did or should support Obama, I want to say thank you to Hillary Clinton for reminding us that anything is possible and that we must never stop redefining what leadership and leaders look like. When I first decided as a pre-teen in Lubbock, Texas that I wanted to be the first female president, the consciousness and language to support or even react positively to such an idea didn't really exist. Now it does, and there is a real life person to look to and admire, emulate and learn from her mistakes. I am so grateful that my two baby girl cousins will grow up in this post-Hillary America.
As young women, it's up to us to prepare to take the baton and be ready when the time comes for us to run and this time, win. The most powerful moment of the campaign was when the audience of mostly good ol' Texan gals started up a chant of "Yes SHE Can" after HRC won that crucial primary. I think that spontaneous cry still applies, if not to Hillary, then to one of us. Which one of us will it be?
I grew up in California, and maybe that's why we didn't scoff at our friends who were planning to be the first Madam President. I think you're right to imply that Hillary helped to make a female nominee easier to contemplate.
I applaud you and your journey and am heartened to know there are women like you in America fightinbg against bias and hatred.
And as for your personal story (I read some at feministing.com) .... you go girl! Best in everything!