bwah hah haha, vagina litmus test. God I love this site. Thanks for the info.

Count Erica Jong in the Hillary column -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/03/AR2008020303194.html?referrer=emailarticle

Dianne Feinstein is in the Hillary column, while Barbara Boxer will endorse whoever wins the CA democratic primary today.

Um: Go Hillary!

That is all.

Great post -- if I didn't live in Michigan, I would still probably be making up my mind.

If I could vote, I would Ba-rock it. (I've been wanting to say that for ages).

More for Hill-

Maya Angelou, Janet Reno, Billie Jean King, Geraldine Ferraro, National Women's Political Caucus, Dolores Huerta, Hilda L. Solis

Aw, you didn't list my candidate-- the best candidate! The only candidate who will end the wars in Iraq in Afghanistan! The candidate who will stand up to corporate greed and destruction-- the candidate who can erode institutional racism/sexism/queerphobia/ablism: Nobody. I vote for Nobody because Nobody represents my interests.

Thanks for the updates. Keep 'em coming, and I'll keep adding to the lists above.

You forgot Barbara Lee of Emily's List for Clinton.

Also: Rep. Maxine Waters has also endorsed Clinton, as has Barney Frank (does feminist = female?). MA Sen. President Terese Murray has also endorsed Clinton, as has Boston City Council President Maureen Feeney. Please note that despite our oh-so-liberal reputation, Feeney is the only woman on the Boston City Council, and Sen. Murray is our first female Senate President.

Uh, I don't get it, where are the other candidates in your little poll? McCain, Huckabee, Paul, Romney?

Count Liza Donnelly in the column for Clinton.

dingleberry -- because McCain, Huckabee, Paul, and Romney have decidedly un-feminist positions on a whole slew of issues. If any feminists want to make the case here in comments for voting for any of those candidates, I'm definitely curious to hear it.

I have been waiting 55 years to pull the lever for a woman president. I became a feminist in 1952, at age 7. I asked the nun preparing us for First Communion why the boys went up first. (With 5 younger brothers, I was always sensitive to differential treatment.) She serenely answered, "because they can be priests; they are closer to God."

I just have to say: go Hillary!!! Dr. Maya Angelou enough said. How can anyone want to vote for another theocracy I do not know? I do know lip service and action are two different things. Obviously Obama does not feel like he has to reach out to gays and Hispanics, while Hillary has made the effort. No neo-progs or Neo-cons, I have to vote my conscience.

I'm completely undecided and P.O.'d at John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson. :(

I'm really curious as to how many people polled here were originally for Edwards. I know I was, and now I'm for Obama, which seems to be the general consensus among the other Edwards supporters I've spoken to. I'm from an extremely lower-class home and community, so I have trouble trusting anyone who sat on the board of Wal-Mart. I do have some problems with Obama, I just have many more and much bigger problems with Clinton. Anyway, despite all of that, I am ECSTATIC that the first primary I ever get to vote in gives me the options of an African American or a woman! Yay!

I've never experienced frustration before with this site, its views or any particular blogger; but for some reason, today being Super-Fat-Giant Tuesday, I guess I'm a little riled up.
It's commendable that you are not (yet) endorsing a candidate. You are, however, endorsing only one party. I am a woman, I am a feminist, and I am voting Ron Paul (Who happens to be running on the Republican ticket, unfortunate or not). I love your site, I love your bloggers, Jess is my hero- but ignoring a substantial proportion of your readers really infuriated me today in particular.
What’s important is that voters are informed, are doing their research and voting for the things that are most aligned with their belief systems and their legislative concerns. I just wish that on such an important day I could feel more connected and not excluded.

Ann, this is a great post! Thanks for doing all this research for us!!!

I'm having a hard time today... i gotta make my decision in a few hours and i'm still pseudo-undecided... though leaning Obama.

I think Clinton's health care plan is strong but her foreign policy scares the bajeeeeezus out of me. Whereas Obama has less of a voting record but will be the candidate that gets under-represented voters to the polls and take the presidency (i don't know if they will turn out as much for Clinton.)

Either way, whoever is elected will be a strong democratic candidate and i am very very excited about that! :)

Oh Caroline, didn't you hear?? Ron Paul isn't a feminist in the sense that he doesn't think Big Government can legislate away people's prejudices, so therefore his opinions are invalid.

Crazy, I know.

I'm really torn. But instead of distressing and complaining, I'm so excited that there are two candidates that I could totally get behind in the general election (depending on the VP choice). And the nomination of either Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama will be a historic moment we can be proud of.

I'm leaning toward Clinton at the moment even though I'm not happy about her stance on the Iraq vote. But it seems to me that a lot of discussions of her record have been misleading. An example: I was under the impression that she voted for the bill against flag desecration but I'm looking at her reacord, and she voted against it.

She's also voted for some bills that were very good for women and reproductive health.

Not to say her voting record is perfect. But I think it's better than a lot of people have suggested.

Mike Gravel has not dropped out of the Democratic race. My ex-girlfriend voted for him today as the candidate she truly believes in, and he's definitely projecting feminist values.

Caroline is right, disturbed as I am by Ron Paul.

Uh, maybe Ron Paul isn't listed because he is can't decide if he's really libertarian or not, but either way he doesn't support a woman's right to choose (I guess Big Government is perfectly ok as long as it is reaching into the Obgyn office and not his wallet). Not to mention his issues with race. Bwarf.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/paul.newsletters/
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=ron_pauls_abortion_rhetoric
http://www.ontheissues.org/Ron_Paul.htm

Caroline, I'm not sure if you are familiar with some of Ron Paul's positions. The following is directly from his campaign website:

"Life"
"The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideals of liberty. My professional and legislative record demonstrates my strong commitment to this pro-life principle."
AND "I am also the prime sponsor of HR 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn."

Border Security:
"The talk must stop. We must secure our borders now. A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked."
AND "No welfare for illegal aliens. Americans have welcomed immigrants who seek opportunity, work hard, and play by the rules. But taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, and social services.
End birthright citizenship. As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. illegally will remain strong.

Environment:
"The key to sound environmental policy is respect for private property rights. The strict enforcement of property rights corrects environmental wrongs while increasing the cost of polluting." (HUH!?)

Anyway, i think that's enough for now. You think Ron Paul is progressive? I think he is just as big a threat to our nation as McCain.

I highly doubt a huge portion of feminists who read Feministing are Ron Paul supporters since he's racist, he opposes public education, doesn't believe in the separation of Church and State in the Constitution, and wants to define human life as begining at conception.

Hillary's list is waaaay more impressive.

Of course, as a Hillary supporter I am biased, but seriously, I don't know half the names in the Obama camp. And I work in progressive politics.

Thank you galina and dingleberry for informing me about your views. I will repeat; what's important is that you're informed, researched and can stand behind the candidate you plan on voting for and how they align with your values. Ron Paul is the candidate who most closely aligns with mine. Believe it or not dingle darling, he's a constitutionalist, and I support that.

Go Figure.

I voted for Circuit City's great selection of flat panel television sets. I think it's outpolling Ron Paul in many states.

There is absolutely no reason feministing should be including candidates who are, by any meaningful definition of feminist, anti-feminists. Feminism does not have to be inclusive and accepting of every person calling themselves feminists. In fact, that's a problem. This site has never hesitated to point out people or organizations who pretend to be pro-woman, but actually hurt them. I wouldn't expect them to start doing any pretending now...

JustAGrrrlGeek, I am also a former Edwards supporter who is really sad that he dropped out and now has to decide what to do... luckily, I have until next week (the MD-VA-DC "Potomac Primary") to choose.
I guess if I had to choose right now, I'd probably go with Obama... I agree with Katha Pollit that their biggest difference may be foreign policy, and that Obama is on the right side on that issue. At the same time, Obama and his supporters have annoyed the crap out of me by talking constantly about abstract happy concepts like "hope" and "unity" rather than outlining their actual positions and proving they're willing to fight for them.

"Believe it or not dingle darling, he's a constitutionalist, and I support that."

many feminists aren't concerend with the traditional constitutionalist, nationalist, etc. views that people like ron paul hold. those views pretty much go against everything modern feminism is about. if you support him, that is fine, but putting him on this poll would be kind of absurd. and his list would be very small.

As a concerned Canadian who happens to have US citizenship as well, I have to agree heartily with the official feministing.com position that "sexism sucks and there's no vagina litmus test". I will vote for whoever the democratic candidate is next fall (Obama or Clinton).
I will also second the comments of Firedupandfancy, and I am laughing out loud (in a cafe no less) at Spikenard's 2cents worth. Thanks for brightening my day, y'all.

I officially endorsed Hillary late last night.
http://naysmusings.blogspot.com/2008/02/we-interrupt-this-broadcast.html

I'm currently undecided, but leaning Hillary.

She's stronger on healthcare, reproductive rights, LBQT...

As to the Walmart thing, her basic claim is that she never particularly agreed with their business practices, but she couldn't have done anything very radical without it getting her kicked off the board which would have been useless -frankly, I know we have no way to know how true that is, but it makes sense to me.

Same way with the fact that she says she never supported the Iraq war, she just supported forcing Iraq to allow US inspectors in. We have no way to know how true it is, but I don't find it terribly /unbelievable/

Frankly, as someone who was extremely anti-war before we ever invaded Iraq, I know have extremely mixed feelings about what action should be taken. Now that the central secular government no longer has much power in Iraq, women suffer the most in areas the US cannot keep stable. People will suffer if the US stays, people will suffer if the US leaves. I don't think withdrawing troops in and of itself at this point is a good thing. A friend of mine suggested that the US try to forge and international peacekeeping force and that that might have more success -that makes sense to me, but Obama doesn't seem to really have any sort of comprehensive plan in that direction...

bubblewrapgenie, I officially endorsed Hillary as well. But my blog has about 4 readers, so I didn't make the list either. ;)

Ninapendamaishi, have you read Clinton's plan for Iraq? It actually makes quite a lot of sense. And she intends to start it pretty much first thing (I believe it says her first 60 days in office she'll start phase 1).

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/iraq/

Also, I tend to be somewhat forgiving of a Senator's initial vote on Iraq and am more concerned with what they plan to do about it NOW. Mainly because Bush and his goons lied to everyone and it's completely feasible that a lot of the 'yes' votes would have been 'no' votes if they'd been told the truth. Basically, I believe a lot of people (government and civilian) were duped into being for the war. I wasn't, but I can understand how it would be possible.

Also, Hil favors economic sanctions on Iran, not war. I've had people try to tell me that she was pro-war in Iran, and it's just not true.

i don't feel either hill or obama on most issues, i vote economics all the way. i was originally pro-edwards, but pulling the lever for a woman today made me cry, have to admit. i picked hillary not just because she had a vag, but also, i feel obama seems kinda, i don't know, like a big empty smile. he's good-looking and he speaks big, but he has not inspired me in any way to believe he can lead the country. i like tough-gal hillary, even though i am FAAR to the left of her politics, she's got gumption.

I'm grudgingly for Obama. I feel like any politician that has managed to make it to the presidential race is INCAPABLE of representing the truly disenfranchised in this country.

Neither Obama nor Clinton can rock the boat... so if I have to choose between their policies, Obama has done anti-poverty work and will likely bring anti-racist goals into his legislative decisions, and Hillary is an old school hawk who happens to be a white woman.

Making up my mind was difficult, but eventually I chose Obama.

While I have a lot of respect for Clinton (and I am so excited I could wet my pants that there's a woman right now who actually has a shot at the presidency) her foreign policy scares me and I think it is -so- important right now that the next president be one who can do some damage control in that area.

I have to admit, though, my reasons are as much intuitive as rational. Obama gives me a feeling of hope, like significant change might actually happen. While Clinton is a competent, intelligent politician, I'm not sure she's different enough from the rest.

I will, however, support either of them -fiercely.-

I appreciate the work that went into this post.

But like Ann, I ask "Does Feminist = woman?" My answer is no, but the list of feminist endorsers you post suggests that "feminist endorsements" means endorsements from women who happen to be feminists. There's the vagina litmus test coming in through the back door, I guess.

This feminist who happens to be a woman is supporting Obama. If the Republicans had nominated a woman (unlikely, I know!) I wouldn't vote for her for that reason. I'm voting for Barack because his politics are closer to mine and he's right about the biggest crises facing us as a nation of both women and men -- the war and the erosion of civil liberties.

That said, I'm not naive about the extraordinary work and sacrifice that have brought us to a place where feminists can have this discussion. My opinion: we are blessed with the opportunity to live the values we espouse, that neither sex nor race should be how you choose who is qualified. So I'm grabbing it.

Why is there so much gung-ho Clinton/Obama adulation on all of these liberal feminist blogs?

Because the Democratic candidates are going to make a damn bit of difference? Because the two-party system is viable? Because the party cares about feminists and their concerns?

Bullshit! I call bullshit!

Caroline: It sounds like you didn't get that Dingle was agreeing with you. She was using very clear sarcasm.

Howerver, I have to stand with most of the people who have commented. There is no reason to list a candidate with unfeminist beliefs. I don't think it is an outright endorsement of the democratic party or the two party system, but of the candidates, they have the views which most closely match mainstream feminist ideals.

I'm supporting Obama, and proudly so. This will be one of the few times in my life so far that I will mark that ballot with real pride, because I'll be voting for someone I really believe in, not just the lesser of two evils.

I'm almost (almost) embarrassed at how optimistic and (dare I say it?) hopeful his candidacy makes me feel. Yes we can!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHEO_fG3mm4&eurl

Because the Democratic candidates are going to make a damn bit of difference? Because the two-party system is viable? Because the party cares about feminists and their concerns?

Yes. No. Maybe.

Obviously Obama does not feel like he has to reach out to gays and Hispanics(emphasis mine)

Wha?

I voted for Obama here in Georgia today, and proudly so. It was a very exciting day for me because of it. But now I'm feeling kind of discounted or ignored because the media is portraying Senator Obama's win in the Georgia primary as due to our state's large African-American population.

But I'm like - HEY - I am a white woman and I helped propel him to victory, too! Wtf?

Oh, and by the way:
"Obviously Obama does not feel like he has to reach out to gays and Hispanics"....

www.amigosdeobama.com

Why aren't Biden or Kucinich represented there? Have I just been out of it, and they dropped out? Because if Kucinich is gone, I am going to have to make a pretty hard choice between Clinton and Obama...

I'm pretty sure he is out of contention...(but I totally voted for him in the Georgia Primary today (was shocked to see that all the names were still on the ballot, Biden, Edwards, Richardson, etc.). I knew Obama was going to get Georgia, and that was my choice between Clinton and Obama, so I decided to vote for Kucinich, because he's who I really wanted to vote for!)

Some of us feminists are not "undecided" and yet want a third choice. This is an informal poll, I know, but it's very limited.

I voted for Mike Gravel. His policies are all feminist, supportive of civil rights and of global governance in pursuit of equity and justice.

So whoever said they voted for "Nobody" had it wrong -- Gravel is for all the things you mockingly said only were to be found in the candidate Nobody.

For example, did y'all know that Gravel supports gay marriage (not civil unions) and gay rights? That he wants to do away with 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'? He is not only adamantly pro-choice, he's pro comprehensive lifetime sexual education on all aspects of sexuality?

There's a lot to like about Gravel. I'm sure Obama and Clinton will be fine, if elected, but this blog is very focused on the mainstream press. Many flavors of feminism are not that mainstream (YET!).

Some of us feminists are not "undecided" and yet want a third choice. This is an informal poll, I know, but it's very limited.

I voted for Mike Gravel. His policies are all feminist, supportive of civil rights and of global governance in pursuit of equity and justice.

So whoever said they voted for "Nobody" had it wrong -- Gravel is for all the things you mockingly said only were to be found in the candidate Nobody.

For example, did y'all know that Gravel supports gay marriage (not civil unions) and gay rights? That he wants to do away with 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'? He is not only adamantly pro-choice, he's pro comprehensive lifetime sexual education on all aspects of sexuality?

There's a lot to like about Gravel. I'm sure Obama and Clinton will be fine, if elected. I'd support either. But this blog is very focused on the mainstream press and how it has determined our choices. Many flavors of feminism are not that mainstream (YET!)-could we get an option for those of us who want to change the mainstream?

Sorry for double-posting! I hit "stop" and then re-posted cause it was taking a long time and I noticed a few lines that could be edited. Please delete whichever one you like to remedy this! Kthxbai!

Why aren't Biden or Kucinich represented there?

Biden dropped out after Iowa, and Kucinich dropped out some time after Nevada since he's facing a potential primary challenge.

I really don't care that much between Obama and Clinton. I don't think, ultimately, it makes that much of a difference who wins between the two.

For me, the important differences are in the Republican primary. I'm not one of them, nor do I ever intend to be, but what's going on there has greater implications.

I don't want Mike Huccabee to win. I don't care that much about Romney (the most vanilla man) or McCain (McCain's politics are crap, but as a person, he seems respectable). What's important is to make sure Huccabee doesn't win.

MH, honestly, I don't think he realizes that women can still vote here. The level of open theocracy this guy advocates is even worse than a typical GOP weirdo.

And he's the worst kind of bigot, too. He says these bigotted things, and then smiles and pretends like it's inconsequential. And he's a charming little shit, too.

Gah. If he even gets as far as the nomination, I don't know if I can keep hope for my homeland.

I too am a Gravel fan.

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/07/26/mike-gravel-a-womans-right-to-life

I am undecided about his economic ideas, but I see him as a thoughtful, just, and honorable person.

Also, google Gravel and Pentagon Papers.

count me for clinton!

that is all

I'm for Obama.

And I live in CA, I have to say the Feinstein endorsement turns me off of Hillary in a big way.

obama has no experience. none. i am not sure how anyone can get behind that, despite the fact that he clearly has the "cool" factor and i think that is mostly what is propelling him. i can say without a doubt that his "advertising" is much better, as is his speaking style, and i truly think that is why he has captured the younger vote, bc its certainly not bc of his experience in doing anything really. nothing. i think he will be ready in 4-8 years, but there is no way in hell he will have any idea what hes doing now. i look forward to obama again in that amount of time, but cant trust him before then.

I wanted to say that I am all for strong women this day before Susan B. Anthony's birthday! And how lucky we are that we have a strong woman representing us as a Presidential candidate! Please see the URL and the Event for all WOMEN tomorrow in all US Cities to Celebrate Ms. Anthony and her accomplishments.
Spread the word and organize and bring your friends and other women to
the events around the US!
www.thirdwavewomen.org/

Under the better late than never rule: I'm a feminist blogger. My blog is No Blood for Hubris (http://nobloodforhubris.blogspot.com). And I'm blogging for Clinton.