Hillary on Emily’s List

At last Wednesday’s US Presidential Election Watch Party held at Sofitel’s Sunset Pavilion (not in the US embassy as was the practice in past election watches), the air was ripe with excitement and expectations. We mingled with embassy officials and  government dignitaries, educators, military men, NGO reps, opinion pollsters and media persons, as we watched international networks’ coverage of the voting through giant video screens.

Most of the  watchers are not Americans, but we, including this columnist, felt part of  the  American democratic political exercise of electing the US president. Does it really matter who is voted the 45th  US president?  How, is a subject for another column.

Balloons and food galore (pasta, ice cream, doughnuts, spare ribs, fried chicken, bottled soft drinks – all donated by private enterprises), and  Uncle Sam hats perched on our heads added to the merriment. The first results of I believe five states’ voting  came out – with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump ahead of Democratic presidential candidate  Hillary Clinton. The crowd moaned. Trump winning? OMG. And then, when the California vote came out, Hillary had forged ahead. Happiness.

A further boost to Hillary supporters   was the announcement by  Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski that the mock election results at the Sofitel venue showed that 80 percent voted for Hillary, 13 percent for Trump, and 5 percent for others. The local voters congratulated Molly Koscina, press attache, and Emma Negy, deputy press attache. But Mike said, remember, that’s the result of the mock voting only. True, true. Then the euphoria quickly vanished.

Nearing 1 o’clock, Trump was the undisputed winner. His was a stunning upset victory. The crowd – most of it, anyway –moaned in disbelief  and made a dash for the door. What a loss. What a letdown for us women working for a woman president for the US.

The bad news went viral, jumped into email addresses and out of  cell phones; even taxi drivers were surprised that Trump had won. One said, “Akala ko si Hillary ang mananalo” (I thought Hillary would make it).

*        *        *

Hillary was cool and dignified as she conceded her opponent’s victory. She said, “I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you to remember this: Our campaign was never about one person or even one election. It was about the country we love – and about building an America that’s hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted.”

But she was genuinely supportive of Trump. “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”

“Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time. So let’s do all we can to keep advancing our causes and values we all hold dear: making our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top; protecting our country and protecting our planet; and breaking down all the barriers that hold anyone back from achieving their dreams.”

“Our responsibility as citizens is to keep doing our part to build that better, stronger, fairer America we seek. And I know you will.”

*       *        *

In the midst of the “heartbreaking presidential loss,” some “glimmers of hope” exist, Emily’s List declares. Emily’s List is an American political action committee (AC) that aims to help elect pro-choice Democratic female candidates to office.  

On Jan. 20, 2007,  the committee endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, but when Barack Obama was voted the Democratic presidential candidate, it moved its support to the first African American to run for (and eventually win) the US presidency.   In the Nov. 8, 2016 election, Emily List  gave its all-out support  to Hillary Clinton.

Emily’s List sees “glimmers of hope” in  the 95 women who won their races last week, “with many shattering their own glass ceilings.”

The women were voted  to senatorial, congressional and local posts in the same Nov. 8, 2016 election, but this fact  was drowned, nay, was hardly mentioned, in the media  coverages.?“At Emily’s List, we believe with all our hearts that the only way to make better policy is to make sure that leaders with diverse perspectives have a seat at the table,”  Emily’s List  founder Stephanie Schriock  addresses more than 3 million members. “Thanks to this community, come January we’ll be welcoming the most diverse incoming Congress in history.”

The new voices headed to Congress and state and local offices  are “passionate, hardworking, and inspiring.”

Headed to the Senate are four women, three of them women of color. Catherine Cortex Masto from Nevada, will be the first ever Latina in the Senate. Kamala Harris from California, will be the first Indian American to ever serve in the Senate. Tammy Duckworth from Illinois, will the first Thai American and Democratic woman combat veteran in the Senate. The fourth is Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire. The four will be joining returning Emily’s List Senator Patty Murray from Washington State.

Emily’s List supported the eight newly elected pro-choice Democratic women to Congress Six of them are women of color shattering glass ceilings this year.  Pramila Hayapal of (WA), who will be the first Indian American woman ever elected to the House; Stephanie Murphy (Florida) the first Vietnamese American woman elected to Congress, and Lisa Blunt Rockefeller, the first woman and person of color to represent Delaware in any capacity in Congress.

These women, wrote Stephanie Schriock, “will hold Republicans accountable at a time when we will need it the most.”

 Being welcomed to the state and local races are 75 women, 30 of them women of color. Susana Mendoza of Illinois will be the first-ever Latina to be elected comptroller in the nation, and Kate Brown, the first openly LGBT person elected governor of Oregon.

Says Schriock, “Every day we will work as an organization to bring more diverse and underrepresented voices to the governing table.”

“Our slate of winning women are breaking new ground. And I have no doubt that each and every one of  them is ready to fight against any attempt to attack women’s rights or make life harder for families.”

Emily List  is an acronym for “Early Money Is Like Yeast”, or, as founder Ellen Malcolm said in 1989, “it makes the dough rise.” The saying refers to a convention of political fundraising: that receiving lots of donations early in a race is helpful in attracting subsequent donors.

From 1985 through the 2008 election, Emily’s List had raised and spent $240 million for political candidates. It spent $27.4 million in 2010, $34 million in 2012, and $44.9 million in 2014. It raised $60 million for the 2016 election cycle, much of it earmarked for Hillary Clinton whose presidential bid it endorsed.

Email: [email protected]