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You. Go. Girl.
22/12/2007 22:43 - (SA)
Manchester - Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday made her closing argument to female voters in a message that could be reduced to three words.
You. Go. Girl.
Clinton, standing in a lobby of a Young Women's Christian Association club building, told undecided mothers and their daughters that her agenda for families and children was the most aggressive to help them. She touted her family care and child care tax credits designed to lessen the burden on working women.
"We can do a better job in supporting families than we do right now," Clinton said. "We give a lot of lip service to family values, but we've never really valued families in a way that we can." Chelsea and mother in tow
Clinton, on the last of a two-day trip to the early voting state, tailored her message and appearances to female voters with whom she enjoys a sizable lead.
With daughter Chelsea and mother Dorothy Rodham in tow, Clinton's four-event schedule highlighted what could be a history-making nomination - the first time either major party has nominated a woman as their presidential candidate. As her campaign released a list of 3 500 female supporters, she said there were too many challenges facing working mothers.
"We put so many burdens on families trying to do the right thing, trying to take care of their families," Clinton said.
She cited her time as a young mother in Little Rock, Arkansas.
"When I was a young lawyer and also a mom, I learned how difficult it was for a lot of the other women who worked in the law firm - the secretaries, the paralegals. "At 15:00 every day, they'd all be on the phone, whispering to make sure their children were there safely. ... It was just such a time of tension and concern to make sure they got home." Families have to work together
Clinton highlighted her proposals to help working women with young children or who - like Clinton - take care of their parents.
"She's going to hit the ground running," said Barbara Marzelli, a mother whose son benefited from a children's health program Clinton supported. "She has the experience, the strength and the commitment - and above all, a heart - to lead the country."
Clinton also turned back to her book: It Takes a Village.
She said families have to work together to strengthen their relationships.
"It sounds incredibly old fashioned, but having a meal together really makes a difference. It stabilises your children during the day. "It gives them a chance to interact with the family. It is something that has become harder and harder because of work hours and expectations," Clinton said, noting she and her husband had made an effort to have at least one meal with Chelsea when she was younger.
"That kind of investment is every parent would like to be able to do, but so many parents can't."
- AP
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