January 14, 2009
Governor David Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Paterson,
We applaud your determination to confront the complex issues facing NY in these difficult times. As you navigate the challenges presented by the budget and economy, and manage the political pressures that accompany them, we offer you our support. We are also confident that you will continue to act on your often-stated commitment to equal representation by women and minorities in public office. The unprecedented national excitement that greets the impending inauguration of President Obama demonstrates the importance we place on the principle of inclusion of all who are well qualified, and our nation’s joy at its validation.
It's a great honor that NY Senator Hillary Clinton has been nominated to be the next Secretary of State. Her anticipated confirmation presents you with the opportunity and responsibility to name her successor. Our next Senator should be of unquestioned qualifications, highest ethical standards, and one who embraces the ideals and commitments to social justice that Senator Clinton has embodied.
With Hillary Clinton, the US Senate currently includes only 17 women—17%. Only 37 women total have served in the Senate, of more than 1600 since our nation was founded—2%.
As you know, we have no shortage of qualified, successful women statewide, of all ethnicities and from many professional realms, who contribute much to our great state. Our energetic and diverse population is a great asset. With many working mothers, female heads of household and women business leaders it is vital that we are adequately represented in our government. Yet, according to Eleanor’s Legacy, the US ranks only 69 th world-wide in women office holders. Surprisingly, NY is only 23 rd in the nation, not the standard of leadership that Democratic women, the majority of our party, have a right to expect.
Women's voices must be heard during the deliberations of the powerful. Democratic women should be better represented at all levels of government. The Governors of Illinois, Delaware and Colorado did not take the opportunity to add to that number.
We do not write to press for a particular candidate--many are qualified, but to ask you not to go backwards by replacing the first woman elected by the people to serve as Senator from NY with another man.
Respectfully,
Ulster County Democratic Women
Julie McQuain, President
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Freeman City Editor Jeffrey Schiffres' 1.16.09 blog post entitled "Senatorial Sexism" here:
http://freemancityeditor.blogspot.com/
In this post Schiffres ignored the reality that New Yorkers finally voted to send a highly qualified woman to the US Senate for the very first time, then voted to reelect her. It certainly should give the Governor pause to complete that highly qualified woman's term by appointing a man to the office.
The idea that only one person is "best qualified" to be US Senator from a state with 20 million people, something more than half of whom are female, is just silly. He suggests that because UCDW did not recommend a specific candidate in our letter that any old Democratic woman would do, however unqualified or unsuitable by implication. The fact is there are a number of highly qualified women with support among our members so we declined to "endorse" one, as a group. Individual members certainly have made their preferences known to the Governor.
Half of the population, and more than half of Democrats, still are nothing close to equally represented in elected office. Does Schiffres mean that 16% in the US Senate is just fine? That the US should be satisfied at only 69th in the world in women office holders, or that New York State is just fine at 23rd in the nation?
Everyone must understand by now why African Americans (and many others) are rightly thrilled about President-elect Obama, yet some still don't understand how important it is for women, and for girls, also to see themselves represented appropriately.
One last thing, there's no comparison between asking our Governor to appoint a highly qualified woman to succeed Senator Clinton for the balance of her term and his reference to the cynical and insulting "any skirt'll do" selection of Governor Palin to be the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. Now THAT was sexist, and dismissive.
Julie McQuain
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