Blue-collar women see hope in Clinton

[kurth]

Blue-collar women see hope in Clinton
Many cite a focus on health, children
By Marcella Bombardieri, Globe Staff

Hillary Clinton's campaign is capitalizing on an overlooked strain of feminism in blue-collar women - nurse's aides, factory workers, farmers, and single mothers - to help fuel her strength among the Democratic candidates for president. Even many working-class women who have spent their lives in traditional roles at home and work have been animated by Clinton's effort to shatter what she has called "the highest, hardest glass ceiling."

In recent interviews, some of these Clinton supporters say that they have been impressed enough by her advocacy for healthcare and children to jettison their previous views of her as a brash, ambitious lawyer and politician. Some said a female president would do things not just differently, but better. "We need to have a woman president," said Honey Davis, 64, of Onawa, Iowa, a longtime nurse's aide who has diabetes. "A woman would be a little more tender-hearted toward the people, and knowledgeable about family issues."

In addition, Davis said, because of Clinton's experience watching the wheels of power grind while she was first lady, the New York senator "will have some ways of getting around the old-boy type of thing." Clinton is viewed more favorably in general by women than men. Increased support among college-educated and professional women - her peers - helped fuel a late summer surge that nearly doubled her lead in the national polls.

But the backbone of her support, going back to her first US Senate race seven years ago, remains among those who resemble her the least - blue-collar and working-class women, as well as black women. Analysts say she connects with working-class women emotionally by presenting an image as a fighter who has overcome obstacles in her life...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/24/blue_collar_women_see_hope_in_clinton/

[sniffa]

1. i just picked up the paper, and saw this beneath the fold

i'm glad these blue collar women think being told to buy their own insurance is a good thing.

people are fucking idiots.

[acmavm]

2. I don't swallow that shit for a minute. Any 'blue collar' woman I know

understands that Hils is the corporate choice and nothing that she says or does has will do anything to alleviate their economic situation.

This is just fake journalistic hype.

[sniffa]

4. yep

but people are idiots too.... and they'll read this and believe it. :eyes:

[DemBones DemBones]

3. Waitresses are blue collar women and she's failed to

tip waitresses on two occasions. That's not going to help her IMO.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Dupe Thread - A 20 comment discussion is also underway here:

Blue-collar women see hope in Clinton

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3752204&mesg_id=3752204

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. I don't know any women that support Sen. Clinton.....

... not that they don't like her as a human being. She's charming and nice. But women are expressing similar ideas: 1) They don't believe a woman can be elected president. Gov? MAYBE. President? Nope. This country isn't *there* yet. 2) Women are scared of her background and past as a scapegoat for the right wing. She's too easy to trash. The insults are ready-made and have been used for years. Democrats need someone who doesn't have any of that kind of baggage.

Where are these women that want Sen. Clinton?