Hillary Clinton in Cincinnati Saturday 2/23

It is so rewarding talking with some people. Their enthusiasm for Hillary and the reasons they support her are just so touching. I would like to relate three stories from women I spoke with today to give you an idea how inspiring it is working for Hillary. And why it is so important that we elect her as our next President.

The first woman worked for 27 years as a Sheet Metal worker. She told me how she understood what it was like to be a woman in a man's world and how difficult it had been for her to be accepted and promoted. She said that although she didn't tell her children what to believe she raised them as Democrats because we are a party of inclusion and equal opportunity. And she was so proud that both her grown children are still Democrats. She was so distraught with the Congress that has bent over backwards to give George Bush nearly everything he wants. And she said that what we need more than anything else is a fighter to be our President. And that is why she supports Hillary. Because she is a fighter. Because no matter how many times people tried to knock her down she picked herself back up and put up the good fight.

The next woman I talked with said that she once met Shirley Chisholm several years ago. And the thing she remembers most was how Shirley related to her that she had been discriminated against more because of her gender than she was discriminated against because of her race. The woman said she can't stand to watch the news programs all tearing down Hillary because she is a woman. Because they wonder if she might tear up. Or that she might feel down and decide to show her claws. She understands how difficult this race is. And how important it is to finally show that women are equals in our society. And she reminded me that African American men received the right to vote 50 years before any women did.

The last woman I want to talk about touched me deeply. She is elderly and infirmed. She is also without transportation. She lamented to me that she would be unable to vote this year because she wasn't able to get around very well and didn't have anyone to take her to go vote. She was so distraught that she would not be able to vote for Hillary. She told me that she wished she had a sign to put in her front window so she could show the whole neighborhood that she was voting for Hillary Clinton. She was so proud to have a woman running for President. Someone she could trust to make things better.

She tugged at my heart strings. I told her that the Hillary Clinton campaign would find some way to get her out to vote and that we would get that sign for her so that she could display it for her neighbors to see. I could almost feel her smile through the receiver. I asked for her name and address. It took her a while to remember her address but she gave it to me. I then asked for her telephone number and she said she didn't know what it was. But she had it written down in the kitchen and if I was willing to wait for her to put on some shoes and grab a cane she would get it for me if I didn't mind holding on. Believe me. There was nothing I wanted to do at that moment more than hold on for her. After a few minutes she came back on the line and gave me her telephone number. I assured her that I would have someone contact her soon. I thanked her for her support and I immediately called the lead organizer around here to relate the story and to make arrangements for this lovely woman to be able to vote for Hillary and to get the sign she will cherish.

I know some will criticize this diary. I hope not but I know what to expect. I am sure that some will say I am playing the gender card. It doesn't matter to me. Because I actually spoke to these women and listened to their stories first hand. I didn't know who I would be talking with because a machine takes care of all of that. They were the luck of the draw. And indeed luck was with me today.