In a speech to Girls, Inc. delivered Tuesday afternoon, Hillary Clinton painted a bleak picture of life for America’s young women.
Calling women’s equality the “unfinished business of the 20th century,” Clinton claimed that “too many girls are afraid of someone or something.”
Then, pivoting towards a more optimistic message for the future, Clinton remarked, “Let us hope there is a wave of young women running for office in America.”
“Let’s be sure we support them in every way we can,” she continued, “Let’s help them shatter stereotypes and lift each other up.”
“We need to send a message to every girl that she is valuable, powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity to pursue and achieve her own dreams,” Clinton declared.
Bookmark that.
The next time Democrats hurl sexist attacks on Republican women, from Betsy DeVos to Kellyanne Conway, remind them of the words they cheered from the lips of Clinton.
Hold them accountable for applauding Clinton’s charge to “support” and help girls “lift each other up,” when push comes to shove and one of their own fails to apply this standard of decency to conservative women.
Inevitably, they will.
What “message” did Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond “send” to young women just last week after smearing Kellyanne Conway with a sexually-charged joke simply for sitting on a couch the wrong way?
How about the message sent by the Women’s March after it refused to include pro-life women in its demonstration last January?
In her speech today, Clinton praised that very march, saying it “galvanized the world.”
If we’re to “send a message to every girl,” that should apply literally to every girl, regardless of her political beliefs.
But will it?
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
