Why do the DU Hillary supporters feel so strongly about her?

[senseandsensibility]

I think I know why Obama supporters feel the way they do, and they get made fun of often for "being in a cult", etc. I just never felt that I had a handle on exactly what the Hillary supporters were so energized about.

I'm sure there are some here who aren't boycotting who could weigh in, or others are welcome, too. But let's keep it civil if we can.

[TML]

1. Three theories

1.) They get their marching orders from the likes of Taylor Marsh and Larry Johnson.
2.) They're bought and paid for by HRC.
3.) They're two cans shy of a four-pack.

[JVS]

5. Some of these people are 7 cans short of a 6 pack. How they became crazy enough to have -1 cans...

is unbelievable.

[jgraz]

2. I think there are a lot of people blinded by their desire to see a woman president

It explains the fervor, the random, unsupported charges of sexism and the outright hatred of the interloping male who is stealing "her" turn.

[housewolf]

7. I agree with you

Many women, particulary those over 50 who came of age during the 70's feminist era, have spent decades dreaming of the day when there would be a woman president. They believe it will change "everything", that there will be some major transformation that will suddenly elevate "womens issues" (for lack of a better word) into a status with a higher value within the culture.

Their dream is within reach, and they're not letting go.

[jgraz]

8. It's really not in reach. At least not for 2008.

Most of the over-50 women I know are sickened by Hillary's tactics. The friends I have who are supporting her tend to be 35-45, married w/children and not particularly informed about politics.

[leftynyc]

13. That ties into an interview I saw

with Billy Jean King. She said what was going on now was just another instance where a younger, less experienced man was being picked over a woman. That's been the experience for many women of that generation. My mom feels the same way.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. I've always liked her a great deal

ever since I first saw her on 60 Minutes in '92. I thought she was strong, smart, funny. In the intervening years, she's just proved it to me again and again.

I think she's taken more shit than anybody should have to take in one lifetime, and she keeps on ticking. I respect the hell out of that.

[senseandsensibility]

4. No one can deny her strength

or her intelligence.

[Skittles]

6. you can if you're a stupid piece of shit

and there are plenty of them here

[boppers]

9. FIRST WOMAN EVAR.

Oh, and name recognition.

Sadly, I'm not seeing much more.

[senseandsensibility]

10. The woman thing is understandable to a point

but there has to be more to it.

[crispini]

11. Well, I'll let the DU Hillary supporters speak to themselves.

I'm a precinct chair, and I had a chat with a neighboring precinct chair who I like and who's a Hillary supporter. She's a nice person. She'll vote for Obama in the fall if Hillary doesn't get it. 100% of her reason is that Hillary is a woman, and she feels now is the time to have a woman president.
And yes, she is in that 50ish female demographic that is her core supporters. :D

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. You can read this thread from my Journal:

"I honestly think I would really like Hillary Clinton if I knew her personally"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4360963

I've been open about this before; there are at least three Democrats who I hoped would run instead who I would have supported over Hillary Clinton; Clark, Gore, or Feingold. And I toyed with supporting Biden if he had seemed viable and I would have toyed with supporting Dodd if it wasn't immediately clear that he wasn't viable.

Hillray isn't my ideal candidate but in many ways I respect her. I respect her life's work, I respect her strength and determination, I respect how hard she works, I respect her intelligence. I respect the fact that upon looking into her more I could see both a real toughness but also true caring in Hillary. There are many people who know her personally who can speak eloquently about her softer side. And yes, I do respect Hillary for rising so far in a world that still gave significant advantages to men in her age group, and I respect her for being a pioneer helping break a final glass barrier for women, suffering some real slings and arrows herself on account of that effort.

I also respect Hillary's stands on universal health care and against any encroachment of vouchers etc into our public education system. She has been a little firmer on both fronts than Obama has.

People can differ with me and many do but I don't see much difference in general either on policies or on process between how these two politicians have pursued coalition building and nuancing their ways around wedge issues that could split the coalitions they have built behind them. They both know how to dance away from firmly being pinned down. That is both good and bad of course.

[democrattotheend]

15. Cool, thanks

It's nice to see a positive thread once in a while.

[backscatter712]

14. Go to Redstate and Free Republic and find out.

Or listen to Rush Limbaugh.

It's the right wing that's been propping her corpse up for this primary, sort of like Weekend at Bernies.

[Arkansas Granny]

16. Although Senator Clinton was not my first choice, I feel that she is the best

qualified of the two candidates still running. Being from Arkansas I have probably been aware of her for longer than many on this board and I have long admired her for her strength and intelligence. As a 60+ year old woman I will admit to being excited about the prospect of having a woman president, but I don't think I would characterize myself as "energized" in my support.

That being said, I have no animosity toward Senator Obama and I will vote for him in the GE if he is the Democratic nominee. My main reservation about him is his lack of time on the national political scene and the fact that I think Senator Clinton has a better chance of defeating John McCain in the GE.

[senseandsensibility]

18. Great post!

Thanks for the insight.

[rinsd]

17. Her work in support of the rescue workers from 9/11.

[Milo_Bloom]

19. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Blue_In_AK]

20. I'm not specifically a Hillary supporter

but I sometimes feel the need to defend her against some of the more vicious attacks here.