Hillarysworld

by Mary Beth Sheridan

Clinton's just concluded 11 day trip to Africa has sent the clearest signal yet that she intends to make women's rights one of her signature issues and a higher priority than ever before in American diplomacy.

It's great she's mentioning the issue, said Brett Schaefer, an Africa scholar at the Heritage Foundation "As to whether her bringing it up will substantially improve the situation or treatment of omwen in Africa, frankly I doubt it.

Lawrence Wilkerson, who was chief of staff to then Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, said that Clinton has to tread carefully in socially conservative regions.  Depsite Clinton's efforts to to spolight women's issues, it was her own ANGRY response to what she perceived as a sexist question at a town hall style meeting in Congo that dominated American televsision coverage of her Africa trip. 

In a sign of the priority she gives to the issue, Clinton has appointed her close friend Verveer as the State Department's first global ambassador for women's affairs.

Cliinton's efforts are being reinforced by a whie house women's council and a congress with a growing number of powerful female members.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/17/AR2009081702379.html

Be sure to comment at the washington post.  Do you think Hillary made a sexist remark when she said she was SOS and not her husband?

-- Edited by Building 4112 on Monday 17th of August 2009 09:34:04 PM

-- Edited by Building 4112 on Monday 17th of August 2009 10:11:53 PM