There was a time Sen. Hillary Clinton could take the support of women for granted. This critically important demographic was all sewn up should New York’s junior senator decide to run for president. But, thanks to her support for the Iraq war (among other issues), Clinton now sees savvy American women looking elsewhere in 2008.
Alternet reports:
A number of women’s rights groups who might be considered the natural foundation of a historic White House bid by a strong female candidate are holding back support for New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, considered the early front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 2008.
“I would be really disappointed if Hillary Clinton were the first woman president,” said Medea Benjamin, a self-described feminist and founder of Code Pink, a women-initiated antiwar group based in Venice, Calif.
Among issues of concern to some women are Clinton’s support of the war in Iraq, her rhetorical emphasis on preventing pregnancy rather than abortion rights and her reluctance to back universal health care.
Clinton has teamed up with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada who opposes abortion rights, to introduce legislation aimed at preventing pregnancy by enhancing access to contraception and reducing health care costs. Critics see the bill as an attempt to shift the debate away from the controversial issue of abortion rights.
“I would like Senator Clinton, as I would like all pro-choice representatives, to start any conversation about reproductive justice and reproductive health by saying, ‘I support access to safe, affordable, legal abortions,’ period,” said Melody Drnach, action vice president at the Washington-based National Organization for Women.