A demonstrator wears campaign buttons for Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton during a rally in New York on March 31. (Mary Altaffer / AP)
From “Readers React” at the Los Angeles Times / 04.09.2016
Nancy Cohen puts forth the typical but defective argument about why women should vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton: It’s in our best interest, and women take the lead on women’s issues. (“Why women should vote for women,” Opinion, April 6)
As a 69-year-old woman, I wish I could agree with Cohen, but we know that sometimes female politicians are not good advocates for women.
Right now in Congress, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is leading a House select committee that is trying to put a stop to fetal tissue research. Her committee has issued subpoenas to hospitals and other medical facilities demanding the names of researchers. This can only intimidate those who are dedicated to finding cures for diseases such as ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. In several states, it is women legislators who are leading the charge to restrict abortion rights and women’s healthcare options. Female governors have signed bills further restricting healthcare, food stamps and other critical programs.
I am a woman who strongly supports Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. He has worked for civil rights, women’s healthcare and equal pay. If that doesn’t make him a feminist, what does?