Womens' Groups, Once Friends, Now Foes Over Clinton
March 28, 2007— -- Two women's groups, traditionally friends and both advocates of ending U.S. military presence in Iraq, find themselves at odds over the endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president.
The National Organization for Women -- arguably the Goliath of women's groups at half a million members strong -- endorsed Clinton's White House run Wednesday, pitting them against the anti-war group Code Pink, which has long made Clinton a top target.
Powerful Women's Group Backs Clinton
Announcing NOW's endorsement, the former first lady said, "It's an honor to be supported by these accomplished women," adding, "No one has been more committed to equal rights and ending discrimination in our society."
Kim Gandy, chairwoman of NOW, echoed, "Senator Clinton has a long history of support for women's empowerment, and her public record is testimony to her leadership on issues important to women in the U.S. and around the globe."
Along with the endorsement, NOW will help raise funds for Clinton's campaign through a Web site called Make History with Hillary.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, who has endorsed Clinton, called the senator a "winner" and someone "who has the vision, the drive and the knowledge to lead this country."
Former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro also got in the action and called on women to help boost Clinton's fundraising as this quarter's filing deadline looms on the horizon.
Clinton Given 'Pink Slip' Over Iraq
But not all women's groups are falling in line to endorse Clinton's presidential aspirations.
Code Pink, an anti-war women's group that shares NOW's goal of withdrawing troops from Iraq, is determined to make Clinton pay for her initial vote in favor of authorizing the war in the Senate and what they view as a lack of anti-war leadership since.
"Our relationship with Senator Clinton goes back a while," said Code Pink spokeswoman Gael Murphy, who met with Clinton at the onset of the war in March 2003 to discuss President Bush's strategy.
"Hillary Clinton had bought into Bush's plan," said Murphy of that meeting, which prompted Code Pink to hand Clinton its signature token of dissatisfaction: a "pink slip."
Murphy admitted to evaluating Clinton differently.
"[We] push harder on her because she is a woman and [they] hold her to a higher standard," said Murphy. "[Clinton is] one of the most powerful politicians in the country and we have a responsibility."
On its Web site, Code Pink puts Clinton in the company of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Bush for her stance on the war.
Nancy Kricorian, head of the group's New York Chapter, said she is frustrated by Clinton's stance on Iraq -- a stance she views as supportive -- and sees the biggest part of her job as educating people on Clinton's stance.
Code Pink said it would cease and desist its anti-Hillary campaign if the senator would submit a spending bill allowing only funds to bring the troops home.
And, Murphy added, it would help if Clinton admitted the war was a mistake, a tactical move the senator has refused so far to make.
Kricorian, who leads a Bird Dog Hillary Campaign along with her chapter, described Clinton's recent announcement that she would leave troops in Iraq as "a continuing occupation."
At a recent gathering of Democratic presidential contenders at the Communications Workers of America legislative conference, Code Pink quietly protested both Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.
But when Clinton's turn to speak arrived, labor officials, fearful that Code Pink would interrupt her, asked security to speak with the protestors who broke into a peace chant of "Let them stay!" and "Go see Bush!"
Traditionally an ally of Code Pink, NOW refused to comment on Code Pink's outward disapproval of Clinton and instead issued a statement that read, "NOW has a 40 year history protesting against war and military actions. And we are going to continue to call for peace, diplomacy and political strategies to end this and to prevent all future wars."