Kerry rally boosts support for Clinton

The democratic rally Friday was as much for Sen. Hillary Clinton as it was for Sen. John F. Kerry and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards. The rally focused on voter turnout and the power of women activists for the Nov. 2 election, but one thing stuck out — these women are working diligently to elect a male president. Perhaps the important point is not women in power, but the power of women to stop President George W. Bush from having a second term.

Shouts of "No more Bush!" abounded before the speakers entered. Audience members toted their Kerry/Edwards signs and sported buttons and t-shirts supporting their team. The 3,000 fans packed into the Pyramid sure did make some noise for these women. Stomps, claps and boos showed Long Beach's support for Kerry. The only male speaker, Morgan Wheeler, president of the Long Beach State Democrats, was the man behind this event.

Women make up 53 percent of the electorate. That number is certainly enough to make a dent in the polls, but not every woman is voting for the Democrats. They must rely on the votes of men as well, especially since many single women neglected to go to the polls in the last presidential election.

Alice Germond, who opened the event, asked women to vote and "show we count" by ousting men like Attorney General John Ashcroft and Vice President Dick Cheney and by "taking back the White House" by electing Kerry as president. The speakers adamantly charged women to vote and said women are better leaders than men. But when giving credentials to explain why women are better leaders, the typical "women's work" was mentioned. Only education, families and community were listed as qualifications. Jane Harmon said "Security is a women's issue," but if women only have practice with the security of their homes, children and communities they need to break out of the domestic sphere before charging into the White House.

Women have done much more than raise families in the last century and the fact that women are now in leadership positions — dealing with serious national and worldwide issues — was not even mentioned by the strong women who are actually doing that serious work. In trying to appeal to the common women and their familial woes, the speakers neglected to mention businesswomen and those in government who fight for women's issues.

The subject of women's rights will be an important point in voters choices this year, because of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. Many women are worried about their reproductive rights and having Roe v. Wade overturned. Bush has already shown his position on the issue. Kerry will likely follow the democratic precedent by appointing judges who will uphold Roe v. Wade.

Clinton likened Bush to a hopeful dictator by saying that at end of his next term, if he is allowed one, there will be no more voting system. She mused that Bush will not be held accountable for his actions, and democracy will be dead.

It seems that the strong sentiment is not so much for Kerry as a diligent effort to oust Bush. If a lumbering elephant were running for the democrats it would have as much support as Kerry, the current anti-Bush, does. Twice the speakers compared Bush to Hoover, bringing to mind shantytowns and desperate economic depression. Honestly, the economy is not as bad as the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Sen. Linda Sanchez of Los Angeles asked all the men to stand. "It's our day," she said to the women, "to take back the White House." Then she promised men a place when the women took control. Let's remind ourselves that our choices for president are still between two men. Much of what was said at this rally would make more sense in a pre-2008 campaign for Clinton for president. Maybe she is biding her time, but the fan base in Long Beach alone shows Clinton has enough support to take the Oval Office by storm.

If this rally is enough to get women involved in the political process, voting and otherwise helping democracy, then all their rhetoric is worth the effort. One thing is certain though; the power of women voting their conscience will be strong this year.