My Last Plea To Hillary Supporters

Normally, my political articles have had a bit of a snarky edge. But tonight, I want to get serious.

I read an article this morning on The Huffington Post about a group of Hillary supporters who were going on a bus trip to Scranton, Pennsylvania to pledge their support for John McCain.

While everybody is entitled to their opinion, the meat of this story disturbed me. Especially because this issue hits so close to home.

I live in New York State, where, like it or not, she is one of our two senators.

Over the last few months, informally and during my work with a local chapter of Obama for America, I've spoken with several women who had supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries, but vowed not to vote for Senator Obama because he hadn't chosen her to be his vice-presidential candidate. Some of these women have been quite ardent in their opinions. I understand why they might feel disappointed. But I don't understand why they are voting for John McCain.

I guess they don't know much about Senator Obama's strong record on supporting women's issues. Back when he was an Illinois State Senator, Obama helped pass legislation to expand insurance coverage for mammograms.  Probably because his mother's death from ovarian cancer effected him so profoundly, when he became a United States Senator, he was an original co-sponsor of Johanna's Law, which was designed to educate women and increase awareness of ovarian cancer.

Unlike his opponent, who has changed his position when it suited him politically, and very much unlike John McCain's running mate, Barack Obama  has always supported a woman's right to choose. If he is elected president, he will fight to preserve Roe vs. Wade and not allow any constitutional amendment banning abortion.

He was also an original co-sponsor of legislation that is intended to improve access to contraception, health information and preventative services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. This act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims. He has introduced legislation to combat domestic violence and has supported strengthening domestic violence laws. And, he and Joe Biden have worked hard to get women equal pay for equal work.

That's just a small taste of how Barack Obama's policies will benefit women.

So I urge all women who want to vote for John McCain as a protest to think again. Think about how dismissive McCain has been about "women's issues," putting little air quotes around them when he speaks of them. Think about the Supreme Court justices who may be retiring over the next four years, and, if John McCain were elected, the kind of justices he might be replacing them with. Maybe the kind who would repeal Roe vs. Wade. Think about his running mate, who would counsel a girl who had become pregnant through rape or incest to "choose life." I can't even imagine being in that young girl's shoes, how cruel it would be to force her to relive that horrid event every day for nine months.

Think again. Your vote could be the one that makes the difference. Maybe even for your own daughter.