Hillary's right. Mississippi is the worst state for women in numerous studies.

[Maddy McCall]

In studies on the status of women, Mississippi ranks FIFTY-FIRST. At the bottom.

Mississippi only created a Status of Women commission in 2000, thanks to Democratic governor Ronnie Musgrove, who listened to a group of women activists in the state. However, the state still refuses to fund the commission. So you have a commission of women who desire to study the status of women in the state, but the legislature won't allocate money to the commission to study this. This state commission has not even been given office space.

We have no women in Congress. There is a huge wage gap between men and women in the state. Women in Mississippi are at the bottom of the four socioeconomic indicators--health insurance, college education, business ownership, and poverty. On the composite index for reproductive rights and women's health, Mississippi is at the bottom.

http://www.iwpr.org/states2002/pdfs/USRIB.pdf

Mississippi wasn't ranked lowest just once. Mississippi CONSISTENTLY ranks fifty-first in the status of women. The bottom. Imagine as a woman living in a society like this.

When you rip into Hillary Clinton for her remarks about Mississippi...please keep in mind that she's right...and when you take her comments and attempt to defend the state as being somehow victimized by Hillary's comments, PLEASE keep in mind the women of my state, who are SUFFERING for the very reasons that Hillary mentioned.

[TwilightGardener]

1. LOL! I can't believe Iowa is as shitty as Mississippi! That can't be!

[Maddy McCall]

2. Iowa isn't even in the bottom ten on the status of women, so you're right.

[surfin]

22. State Rankings

I mention this below but thought it fit here also. Hillary attacked Obama's school he went to as a child here in Hawaii and it really backfired. One thing I heard from mad dems was that Hawaii has always been 50th in education until Bill put Hillary in charge of Arkansas education and she drove it to 50th. Wonder how many young girls education was mess up by her and they did not get into college.

[Maddy McCall]

48. We're talking about Mississippi. Were you educated here?

Reading comprehension problems?

[surfin]

79. Your also talking about education and state rankings

It would be a better education than you would get under Hillary run Arkansas education system. You cannot stand the truth. I bet you support Hillary not sharing her tax return but know she attacked Rick Lazio as reported on here for not sharing his when she ran against him. She is a hypocrite and you cannot trust a thing she tells people.

[Maddy McCall]

81. I presented facts. You present warped opinions.

You want to discuss a factual, cited thread on Arkansas' education system, go dig up the info and start your own thread.

Right now, all you're doing is whining.

Bye!

[Arkansas Granny]

101. Historically, Arkansas has always ranked at or near the bottom

of the scale for education. I'm not sure that Hillary bears much responsibility for that. She tried to implement teacher testing in the state and faced stiff opposition to that and other measures she tried to insitute.

[surfin]

127. Just telling what dems in Hawaii said

Bill claimed she did a great job and used it as something she accomplished. Going to last place only made Hawaii happy.

No one can show me anything she accomplished.

[yardwork]

110. Your claim is that a Democratic governor's wife "drove" their state to 50th in education?

:rofl:

I think it probably had a little help.

[surfin]

128. Bill claim he put her in charge of Arkansas education

What did she accomplished besides getting them to 50th place?

It is a fair question after he raised it.

You see her answer to why she will not release her tax return but then we find out on here that she acted like Ken Starr against Rick Lazio demanding he release his tax records. Hypocrites.

Look into anything she was involved with. Rose Law firm turned into a disaster. Did nothing for the workers at wall mart. Mess up Health Insurance.

What has she done.

[ExFreeper4Obama]

3. These stats may be true

But that still doesn't give Clinton the right to shit on that state. Hillary simply should have kept her mouth shut. Instead, Hillary let fly because she didn't think she would need Mississippi. Now she does and she's screwed. Expect a landslide for Obama.

[Maddy McCall]

5. These stats ARE true, and I appreciate Hillary shining light on it.

[Alhena]

33. So does Obama

[Maddy McCall]

51. He's said nada about the status of women here.

He's not even visited the state. No mention of it at all.

[snappyturtle]

95. Here's an account of his visit to Mississippi on June 15, 2007.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/MagnoliaStateBlog/Ct9G

edit: and another: http://wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?s=6667255 which states it was his second visit. Also read he visited in January of 2007 to tour hurricane ravaged areas.

[roguevalley]

97. so what. they are or maybe be true. she STILL NEEDS TO WIN

EVERY STATE NOW AND IN NOVEMBER! Oh wait. she has a fifteen state strategy. sigh. I am so sick of this primary.

[MojoMojoMojo]

76. Hillary has always stood up for women ,Im proud she stands up to inequity

And Im a man

[surfin]

80. What about Monica, Paula, etc (always??)

I can say Obama always stood for women and you cannot bring up a Moncia, Paula or long list of women.

[rodeodance]

93. Can you read---poster said Hillary.

[DemBones DemBones]

106. They were adult women who could stand up for themselves

and both profited by making accusations against Bill Clinton.

I'd be careful saying that there are no extramarital affairs in Obama's life if I were you. Those kind of statements often come back to bite people in the ass.

You can be sure that the GOP has some dirt on Obama that they'll bring out eventually.

[surfin]

129. If it is out there Hillary "Ken Starr" Clinton would have used it

I guess she did not get his fbi file when they took them illegally.

I would say the same if Obama did it. How about asking Rick Lazio as quote on here how he was attacked by the clintons for not releasing his tax records. No clinton person has answer me on that. She first said she would release them for the repubs and her buddy McClain but not us dems to make a decision. We get them when it is too late.

[rodeodance]

132. The topic is about Mississippi--stay on topic please.

[Jamastiene]

134. Oh, but have you seen this about O-man?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU">The Dirty Truth About Obama

[yardwork]

112. Here's a hint. When you join DU with a poster name "ExFreeper4Obama"

and then let fly with foul language during your first couple weeks posting here, you might get less than a warm welcome. Maybe tone down the language.

[Barack_America]

4. So shouldn't she be campaigning there even MORE?

Shouldn't she be there encouraging women to fight to change those inequalities?

I just don't see how mocking their situation helps anything.

[Maddy McCall]

7. She'll certainly discuss these things tonight at the state Democratic dinner.

[printpolitico]

11. campaign finances

Decision have to be made on the most appropriate way to spend your war chest. Just because she isn't hitting the pavement hard in MS campaigning doesn't mean she isn't shining the
light on these Inequalities and working toward SOLUTIONS

[surfin]

43. Shining a light, how about doing something about it

Obama does something about thing about things he shines lights on.

[Maddy McCall]

47. The Clintons will be in the state for the remainder of the week.

And have events scheduled next week, too.

Haven't heard anything from Barack's campaign.

[printpolitico]

58. Spotlight those things please. I'm in the dark

[IndianaJones]

6. Obamatons know that. they know the condition of african americans there too. they don't care. nt.

[surfin]

45. African Americans will answer you at the ballot box and your

post will not be true.

[Maddy McCall]

62. Do what? My post is factual. And you seem to forget that half of the blacks in this state..

are WOMEN. The women's commission in Mississippi is 50% black women, too.

[BOSSHOG]

8. I wonder what the reaction would be from

her detractors if she said she was appalled at the number of Ku Klux Klansmen in the state. Would they "blast" her? It would be just horrible to point out that racism is alive and well in the Magnolia state. Politically stupid. Shouldn't have said it. No doubt Mabus would take offense.

[Maddy McCall]

10. Mabus is the only person I'm seeing reading her the riot act about what she said.

And this lowlife bastard had the audacity to record his wife's counseling session with her priest and use it against her in court....

which again demonstrates the plight of women in this state.

[Justitia]

9. So, what's your point? They don't get a say in politics because your candidate is likely to lose?

I know, I know, all those shitty little red states don't matter to Clinton, she'll win the states that

ANY DEM WOULD WIN ANYWAY

[Maddy McCall]

13. If you're too dense to "get the point," then I can't help you.

And if you think that Barack Obama has a snowball's chance of winning Mississippi in the GE, you know NOTHING about politics in this state.

[ExFreeper4Obama]

16. I know he probably wont win Mississippi in the GE

But he'll win the Democratic Primary!!!! Thats all that matters right now. Hillary took a shit on that state and she will pay the price BIG TIME.

[Maddy McCall]

26. You know, since you were once a Freeper...I really have no desire to hear your thoughts...

on this topic.

[Justitia]

17. Oh, I get your point entirely. Red State Dems hate women - it's a pre-emptive strike.

I'm a Democratic woman in a red state, I guess my vote doesn't count either.

[Maddy McCall]

21. Nope. I'm illuminating the status of women in my state.

Until you've lived here, you've no idea.

[Justitia]

27. Nope, you are ass-covering for her expected loss & throwing MS Dems under the bus to do it.

Great job advocating for your fellow fighting Democrats in Mississippi.

I see salvaging the Clinton Legacy is MORE important than growing and fostering the hard fighting Democrats of Mississippi.

Your actions are a disgrace to all hard-working Democratic red state fighters.

[Maddy McCall]

30. You are so full of Obama adoration that you can't even rationally discuss this topic.

Deny that women are at the lowest rank in the states and DC.

Let's have a discussion on the topic....on the OP.

You can't...you just want to rant and rave, do nothing more than feed your hatred of Hillary.

I can't help you with it...and if you were in Mississippi, you wouldn't get any help with your anger problems, either. Why? Because Mississippi ranks at the bottom on mental healthcare, too.

[Justitia]

32. I'm calling Clinton spin for the bullshit it is. I am a VERY hardworking Dem in a RED STATE

and I'm sick of her campaign machinery throwing us under the fucking bus every time she loses a contest.

She tries to minimize us and our involvement because she can't win somewhere.

She threatened to sue my fucking state party the night she saw she was losing the caucuses.

And it disgusts me how quickly some "Dems" will sacrifice other Dems to further their own ambitions.

:puke:

[Maddy McCall]

36. I'm a very hardworking Dem in my state, too. And I appreciate the light being shone...

on how women in my state lag behind those in all other states and DC.

That is, after all, what this thread is about.

[SeaLyons]

84. hahah...good one Maddy

[rodeodance]

89. you sure made an **a of yourself!

[WolverineDG]

25. At least he'll fight for it

Hillary is already on record with Texas Monthly about throwing Texas under the bus in the GE. Never mind our record turnout. But then, we're just losers hoping for a change from the Republican regime that's been forced down our throats since 1994, so no biggie for her.

dg

[BOSSHOG]

The plight of women in Mississippi

did not start with her statement. Your logic eludes me.

[JimGinPA]

12. How Very Clever Of Her To Bring That Up In The Run Up To Their Primary...

She probably didn't think they would count anyway.

[rodeodance]

117. It is the OBAMAFOLK who want her to drop so--so it is who do not want Miss to 'count"!!

[John Q. Citizen]

14. My god! How did she let that continue while her and Bill were in the White House?

Did the so called 'Welfare Reform' bill make things better or worse for women in Mississippi?

[Justitia]

20. Amen.

[Maddy McCall]

31. Actually, the DOL under Clinton allocated enough federal funding...

to the Mississippi Women's Commission to help it get established.

Then Bush years happened, and the Women's Commission received no more funding from the DOL.

[surfin]

40. She was busy messing up health care at the time

She can only mess up one thing at a time. Look at what Obama did in helping women and others. He accomplished many things and no mess up like Hillary. Look at Rose Law firm and how she destroyed it. Nothing like that on Obama's record.

[Maddy McCall]

44. She was the vanguard for American demands for universal health care.

Now people in conservative ol' Mississippi are discussing this as it should be something we all have.

You can thank her for that.

[surfin]

54. She shines lights but does not accomplished things

Key leaders in the dem party will tell you she really messed up health care. Let Obama without failure in this area get it done and she can go back to the senate and shine her light and not do a thing. What has she ever accomplished?

[Maddy McCall]

56. She had vision. Your candidate was a member of the Choomp Gang...

or whatever it was called, while Hillary was working for universal health care.

[surfin]

83. She messed it up, lost congress for us and accomplished

nothing.

[rodeodance]

94. She is a fighter. Immediately after she went right to work for the SCHIP program.

[snappyturtle]

96. Here's a link that refers to the money Obama went after in the

State of IL to aid in the healthcare of children plus other little diddies he accomplished.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/03/01/illinois_congresswoman_in_vermont_stumping_for_obama/

CHOOMP GANG????????

[John Q. Citizen]

100. Um, I wish i could but i can't. Jesse Jackson ran in 1988 on single payer. When

Bill was elected in large part because of the grass roots work across the country pushing for real reform.

Unfortunatly, Hillary shut out the grass roots and held secret meetings that came up with HMO's managed care. It was so large, so complex, and it was to be run by a few very large private insurance companies.

Hillary co-opted Jessie Jackson's slogan "Universal Health Care" and repackage it as managed care.

She wasn't in the vanguard. She was the firewall the insurance industry was looking for.

[lmbradford]

92. Yes....

and if she couldn't get her health care plan passed with her husband as president and entirely democratic congress I'd like to know how the hell she thinks she could pass it now???????

[OzarkDem]

105. Welfare Reform was implemented by governors

Recall, they ranted and raved about "unfunded mandates" etc. Federal funds were changed to TANF funds that governors and state legislatures could use (or in some cases not use) as they wished. Many right wing governors chose to not spend much of the money at all.

If welfare reform was implemented poorly in Mississippi, they needed to elect a new governor and legislature to make it work better.

Though I'm sure Obama supporters were still watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their pajamas when all that happened.

[surfin]

15. Sounds like the lost that state and now attack the people

who vote for Obama. Amazing.

Speaking of rankings.

Did you know that Hillary drove Arkansas to 50th in education when Bill let her run it. We in Hawaii loved it as it got us out of 50th and last place. What has she accomplished that is one thing. This all came up in Hawaii when Hillary tried to attack the school Obama went to as a child and it backfired. Love someone that knows how to look at how she destroyed education in Arkansas.

Did you see how she used Ken Starr ways to try and force Rick Lazio to show his tax returns. What a hypocrite.

[rodeodance]

91. She is raising the issue of Gender politics in the Deep South. Got it now?

[mculator]

18. A dream ticket bid would expose Hillary haters...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4927930

[mrreowwr_kittty]

28. She would dangle the prospect of a joint ticket to get votes

Then do a bait-and-switch. We'd be told that we need to have a safe, white male on the ticket because we just can't afford to have both a woman and an AA on it. One of her buddies would then be awarded the spot.

[CoffeeCat]

19. Here comes Hillary, the human lawn mower...

...tearing up and slicing apart anyone, anything and any state to put herself in
a more favorable light.

When Hillary started tanking in the polls--about two weeks before the Iowa caucuses, she
began disparaging our state on women's issues. She cherry picked certain bits of information and
insinuated because we've never elected a female governor or US Senator of Congresswoman--that
she would not do well here.

First, she had to characterize us as an assbackwards, misogynistic, provincial state from hell--so
when she lost--it would appear to be about Iowa and not Hillary and her lousy, discombobulated
campaign that she ran here.

Now she's doing the same thing to Mississippi! Does Hillary Clinton have any shame, at all?
She displays an unlimited capacity for shredding and disparaging anything and anyone--in order to
benefit herself.

Why should Hillary worry about disparaging 12 million people and two states--when casting them all in
a bad light might win her a vote or two?

Look out Wyoming! You're next!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

23. And the elevation of an affluent white woman to the Presidency through nepotism

Will magically reverse the situation. :sarcasm:

[Maddy McCall]

29. I didn't say that. Glad you can stay on topic in this thread.

Were you educated in Mississippi?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

34. I don't care what your topic was.

Any time that "women" and "Hillary Clinton" come up in the same subject, I brace myself for the phony sisterhood guilt-tripping that is bound to ensue.

[Maddy McCall]

37. I presented factual data. You want to go off on your woman hating tangent.

Can't help you with that.

[surfin]

41. How come she did not fix this in the senate?

She might have something she accomplished to share with us. Notice you would not answer on what she did with education in Arkansas and how it hurt young women.

[Maddy McCall]

42. Ever heard of the Violence Against Women Act?

You can thank her for that.

[surfin]

60. Tell me what she did with it

What has it accomplished? What did she do to get it passed?

[Maddy McCall]

63. So you're admitting, then, that you lack knowledge on this topic.

Educate yourself. Info is out there.

[surfin]

39. Obama does things for women, Hillary and Bill do things

for them. If it helps some blacks, women and others that is ok as long as it benefits them.

How many young girls did Hillary stop from getting a good education in Arkansas? Look at all the young people that Obama helps and really gets involved in politics (that is a real education).

I bet if the press asked Hillary's senior staff what she has done in education, they would have the long silence they had the other day in answering.

[LostinVA]

46. "I don't care what your topic was." -- At long last, you show honesty!

[surfin]

35. Would be better than being educated in Arkansas when

Hillary ran education. Look into it as you like rankings. She took them down to 50th. Hillary does not seem to be well educated sinced she attacked Rick Lazio for not sharing his tax returns and thinks we are to dumb to find out.

[Maddy McCall]

38. And we consistently have been 51st.

[Arkansas Granny]

102. I can't find the stats right now, but I lived in Arkansas and had

children in the school system before Bill was elected governor. Their teachers used to say "Thank God for Mississippi or Arkansas would be the lowest ranked".

[ProSense]

24. Mississipi doesn't count! n/t

[rodeodance]

49. Here comes another broken record comment from a Hillary basher. No creativity at all.

[ProSense]

98. Don't you have some spin to devised? n/t

[rodeodance]

126. I do not spin

[Zachstar]

50. You do realize that by continuing this crap on that state you are ruining any chance she had right?

[Maddy McCall]

52. Faulty logic. Were you educated in Mississippi's public school system?

[Zachstar]

66. No I was not.

If you want to continue to trash her chances there be my guest. Do not say I egged it on tho. I tried to point out the damage you are doing.

I want Clinton politically destroyed now yet I do not expect Cinton supporters to do it faster. If you support her so much why make the job easier?

[surfin]

67. They would be much better off under Miss education

system than under the educations system Hillary ran in Arkansas. People, look into what she did there. She hurt young women in education. Obama has nothing like that on his record.

[Maddy McCall]

70. Bullshit.

[Arkansas Granny]

103. You keep bringing up the "educations" system in Arkansas. Do

you have any first hand knowledge or are you just going on heresay?

[surfin]

130. I have asked many times this

I would like to know because I got this from dems here in Hawaii, not right wing sources that were angry when Hillary attacked the school Obama went to as a child. It really backfired on them. I had dems tell me after that and Bill bragging about her running education in Arkansas that she help Hawaii not Arkansas which she drove down to 50th. I have asked many times and no one has proved it wrong. We know how the clintons operate and will lie. Look at what was reported on here about releasing their taxes. Then we find out they attacked like Ken Starr Rick Lazio for not releasing his. Hypocrites and liars.

Let us see their tax records and where all their money comes from. They will release it for the repubs and her buddy McClain, but not us. Obama release his.

Prove the dems in Hawaii wrong by showing the evidence against this. Rememeber Hillary went to low to try and attack the school as a child in Hawaii he went to.

[Onlooker]

53. Excellent and enlightening post

One thing I'm really struck by is how acceptable sexism and anti-feminism seems to be in this forum. I'm surprised that DU tolerates it. It just goes to show the sad decline of feminism over the last 25 years. I support Obama, but I could just as easily support Clinton because I think feminism is important to all the liberal ideals.

[MadBadger]

55. The problem was the way she made her comments

She was surprised that Iowa was so low on the list, but Mississippi? Nah. She wasnt surprised at all. SHe wouldnt say that if she was speaking in MS.

[Maddy McCall]

57. I'm sure she'll address that tonight.

I don't like the WAY she said it, but WHAT she said was spot-on.

[MadBadger]

90. I agree with you. She may have been right, but the way she said it was increbily offensive to MS

[rodeodance]

59. Thanks for an informative thread. Hillary was right to raise this issue.

[Maddy McCall]

65. Thanks, rd.

When people DEFEND Mississippi against Hillary's comments, they are defending a system that HURTS WOMEN.

[rodeodance]

61. give it a REC

[workinclasszero]

64. Is "Mississippi is the worst state."

Going to be Hillary's campaign slogan in Mississippi??

Sweet!:popcorn:

[Maddy McCall]

69. Thanks for adding nada to this thread.

[surfin]

74. Hope they ask about how she messed up education for women

when she ran edcuation in Arkansas. Hit Hillary with facts. If they raise state rankings in Miss, show them that Hillary took Arkansas to 50th in education. How many young women in Arkansas were hurt by Hillary?

[Maddy McCall]

77. Take your one-trick-pony and start your own thread...

since this seems so important to you.

[surfin]

82. How come you will not answer her record in education

in Arkansas

[Maddy McCall]

87. Because this thread is about MIssissippi.

Damn, but you are a thick-skulled one.

You want to discuss education in Arkansas, create your own thread. It's not that complicated.

Since you only want to disrupt this thread, I'm adding you to my "buddy list." bye.

[rodeodance]

133. stay focused. this thread is about Miss.

[NorthernSpy]

68. Maybe we should invade.

:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:

[Maddy McCall]

71. I've got to go to work, where I earn a fraction of what my male colleagues earn...

but I'll be back later tonight to respond to any WELL-REASONED, ON-TOPIC comments and questions on this thread.

[Hippo_Tron]

72. Of course she's right, but idiotic to criticize a state when she needs their votes

[Maddy McCall]

73. Tomato, tomahto. Idiotic, brave.

We all see it differently.

[kwenu]

75. Maybe she should just pass it over then.

[Maddy McCall]

78. She's here today. Will be here tomorrow.

Obama--no one's seen heads or tails of him.

[snappyturtle]

99. He'll be there Monday:

http://www.sunherald.com/185/story/416183.html


edit: also see my reply #95 to yours #51

[kwenu]

108. Maybe Hillary thinks MS is worthwhile afterall. Can't wait to hear her fake southern drawl again.

[rodeodance]

115. Seems BO thinks it worthwhile also since he will show up also

[kwenu]

122. Obama never insulted Mississippi!!!!!!!!!!

But he will remind MS of Hillary's statements. Believe it!!!!

[rodeodance]

88. and Bill is there--will be tomorrow also. The Clintons do not run for issues.

[kwenu]

111. Yeah. We guess they are primarily motivated by power too.

[rodeodance]

113. by your logic: BO IS MOTIVATED BY POWER.

[kwenu]

121. Explain, please? Or risk looking really stupid.

[snappyturtle]

119. Maybe Bill is going to be there late tonight but he had three stops

in WY today and is supposed to criss cross the state of MS with Hillary tomorrow, well he's supposed to attend a fish fry in Tupelo anyway. Hillary is trying to pencil in WY. Obama visited MS twice last year. Hate to tell you but I think Jackson Hole beat out MS with Bill.

[theboss]

85. As a native West Virginian, I can tell you the right way to approach a poor state

And this ain't it.

Hillary lived in Arkansas for 20 years. How does she not understand politics at this level.

West Virginians - who I assume are much like people from Mississippi and Arkansas - know that their state has problems. We know were we ranked nationally in every category. It's a part of our daily life.

Come to us with an understanding of our problems and a solution.

Don't use as a fucking club to beat up another state.

I know Hillary knows this because I was at a rally in West Virginia with her husband and Al Gore in 1992. They spoke to us in sympathy and with a plan for our future.

They don't tell us we sucked.

[amborin]

86. why is Obama so stingy? is this how he really feels about the less fortunate?

The Frontrunner
April 25, 2007 Wednesday
Before 2005, Obama's Charitable Giving Lagged Behind National Average

The Chicago Tribune (4/25, Secter, 617K) reports, "Giving, service and compassion are
but the Democratic presidential contender has only recently dug deep into his own pockets to support charitable causes." Obama "has enjoyed a robust household income throughout his political career in the Illinois Senate and the U.S. Senate.

But for most of that time he has reported comparatively little by national standards in charitable contributions on his tax returns, records released by Obama show." Obama's household income "has been inflated the last two years from the proceeds of lucrative book deals he signed shortly before entering the Senate in 2005. He pledged to turn over $200,000 of the book money to charity." On their "just-filed 2006 tax return, Obama and his wife, a hospital administrator, reported taxable income of $983,626 and claimed deductions for $60,307 in charitable donations.

In 2005 they earned a combined $1.65 million and gave away about $77,300." The "national average for charitable giving has long hovered at 2.2 percent of household income, according to the Glenview-based Giving USA Foundation, which tracks trends in philanthropy. Obama tax returns dating to 1997 show he fell well below that benchmark until 2005, the year he arrived in Washington."

[OzarkDem]

104. Its a horrible state for women's health care

and just about every other measure you can think of.

I'm sure the women of Mississippi would love to see a woman leader in the who could help them bring positive change to their state.

Lord knows the men have made it a mess...

[kwenu]

109. And that's exactly the message Hillary should carry.

so she can get beat in the election like a dirty rug.

[southern_dem]

107. Ok, I understand the problems

but I've lived here for 10 years and I don't recall a female running for any of the state's congressional seats. So, you can't win if you don't run. Feel free to clue me in if that is a mistake.

[yardwork]

114. Maybe nobody will finance their campaigns.

It's impossible to run a viable campaign for state office without a lot of money. Unless a person is independently wealthy - and I suspect that the pool of independently wealthy women who are interested in running for statewide office in Mississippi is small - then there's no point in running.

If the political machine that runs your state won't support women candidates, it's fairly hopeless to run. A candidate has to have enormous support from other politicians, business people, and wealthy donors. Is there that kind of network supporting female candidates in Mississippi, or does the political structure keep women out?

[rodeodance]

116. Read the reports. they give the reasons.

[Onlooker]

118. kick

Even though I support Obama, I think the attack on Clinton for dissing Mississippi is terribly unfair, when what Clinton did was absolutely correct and even courageous.

[Exilednight]

120. So it shouldn't count?

[rodeodance]

125. Why do you say that? It would not count if Obamafolk got their way and she dropped out!!

[powergirl]

123. She had to apologize to the State of Mississippi last year

Is this how she plans on winning the southern democrats? I'm a Texan and get offended by the Northern Dem critiquing the level of sophistication of us Southern Dems.

This does not win the hearts and minds of voters.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20 ...

Lott Waits for Clinton's Apology and Gets One

By Mary Ann Akers And Paul Kane
Thursday, October 25, 2007; Page A23

It's a good thing she apologized, because Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) was fixin' to give Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) a piece of his mind.

Lott was on the cusp of issuing a serious condemnation of the Democratic presidential front-runner for insulting the Magnolia State this week when his phone rang.

"To her credit, she called me and apologized," Lott told On the Hill.

Clinton chose wisely to make the quick apology after insulting Mississippians with a comment she made in an interview with Iowa's most important political reporter, the Des Moines Register's David Yepsen. Clinton was quoted expressing complete "shock" at learning that Iowa and Mississippi were the only states that have never elected a female governor or a female member of either chamber of Congress.

"How can Iowa be ranked with Mississippi?" she asked, implying the Hawkeye State is above such distinction. "That's not the quality. That's not the communitarianism, that's not the openness I see in Iowa."

Lott was furious when aides notified him of the put-down. He said he wanted to sound off right away but instead paused and waited to read the entire context of her remarks, something he said he has learned to do the hard way because of his own various guffaw-inducing statements over the years. (Those include not just his praise of the 1948 Dixiecrat presidential candidate Strom Thurmond, but also his comments after Clinton won her Senate race in 2000 that "maybe lightning will strike" her and she would die before getting sworn into the chamber.) "I understand that we sometimes say what we don't always mean to say," Lott said.

Still, he is a little disturbed that Clinton views Mississippi as politically sexist. He noted that the last two lieutenant governors have been women and that the first female jurist was recently appointed to the state's U.S. District Court.

Plus, Lott added, who is Clinton to talk? "Having lived in Arkansas, which is something of a whipping boy, too, she knows better than that," Lott said.

[rodeodance]

124. Yes, she did ----this is what the OP is referring to.

[DrFunkenstein]

131. This is The Home State of Trent "Strom Thurmond Was Right" Lott

Yet somehow I'm sure that Obama will improve the quality of life for women in this hard-hit state.

[Neshanic]

135. Let's be honest. Mississippi is not first in many things.