Why I support Senator Hillary Clinton for Presidentguest column

By Josh Kardon of Portland, Oregon. Josh is the chair of the Oregon Steering Committee for Hillary Clinton for President. [Editor's note: Josh is also Senator Ron Wyden's chief-of-staff, though Senator Wyden has not endorsed any candidate for President.]

I was working as a Legislative Director on the Hill when I first met Hillary Clinton in 1993. She was making the rounds with members of Congress to discuss health care reform and stopped in to visit with Rep. Ron Wyden, then a young, health care hot-shot on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. I sat in on the meeting despite my utter lack of knowledge on the subject. What struck me immediately about her was her near-constant eye contact and the barely-perceptible nodding of her head. It took me awhile to put my finger on it, but eventually it came to me -- she was listening! It was the last thing I had expected from a First Lady, particularly given most of my experiences up to that time, and since then, with those at the top rungs of power in Washington, D.C.

The Clinton health reform effort obviously fell short, but she sure fought like hell for it. As a result of her experience on that campaign, I would wager that no candidate for President before or since knows more about what it takes to actually deliver on fundamental change than Hillary Clinton. The challenges faced by our next President are obviously daunting. More people face financial and health insecurity today than at any time since the end of the second world war, opportunities to attain middle class status have declined alarmingly under President Bush, and remaining in the middle class has never been more challenging due to ever-shrinking wages and the risk of catastrophic illness (the number one cause of bankruptcy in America). And, of course, our standing in the world is an unfathomable nightmare to such a degree that many Americans wonder if the damage will be repaired in our lifetimes. Each of these challenges will require someone with an extraordinary capacity to listen, someone intellectually top-shelf, someone who understands the multiple layers of government, policy, politics, media and how they interact. Someone who is progressive and inherently empathetic. That person is Senator Hillary Clinton.

I believe very strongly that if we have learned anything from the wreckage of the past seven years, it ought to be this: no matter whom we elect President, whether it is a Democrat or a Republican, that person ought to be the best prepared for this unbelievably demanding and complex job. The nation knew George W. Bush was intellectually lazy and painfully inarticulate, but took a flier on the guy. Didn’t work out so good. That, by far, the best prepared person for the job this time happens to be a brilliant, progressive woman -- and a great listener -- cinched the deal for me.

For decades I had sat with friends, usually over beers, and played the “which woman is ready to run for President?” game. Diane Feinstein, Pat Schroeder, my former boss Barbara Boxer, Geraldine Ferraro, Ann Richards: there was always an allegedly disqualifying objection that kept them from even approaching the starting gate. Now, for the first time in my life, I could say, without qualification, that a phenomenal woman was by far the best prepared person for the job. As a father of two daughters, I couldn’t in good conscience turn away from this great woman and this historic opportunity.

I don’t know Senator Obama and regret that I didn’t get to work around him before I moved to Oregon. He is a phenomenal talent. One old friend of mine is his Chief of Staff and another is his media consultant, and if Senator Obama wins the nomination, I will bust my hump to get him elected (and salvage my friendships).

I did get the opportunity to observe Senator Clinton up close in D.C., however. She was quietly and powerfully effective, and charmed friends and Republicans alike with her surprisingly modest ego, as evidenced by her still-extraordinary listening skills. There is typically very little listening to one another on the floor of the House or the Senate, but plenty of talking at each other. Hillary could have played that game, and it would have put her on front pages across the country from Day 1. But instead she put her head down and went to work. She listened, fought for good, progressive economic and environmental policy, and became an exceptionally popular figure in New York and the Senate, even among her former detractors. I know she will do the same as our next President.

I want to strongly encourage all who want to help Hillary become our next President to e-mail us at OR4Hillary@gmail.com or join the “Oregon Stands with Hillary” group on Facebook.

March 5, 2008 | guest column | Comments (219 so far) Permalink: Why I support Senator Hillary Clinton for President

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