Madeleine Albright served as secretary of state under President Bill Clinton. (Photograph: Chip East/Reuters )
Feb 07, 2016
Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Hillary Clinton to invite Madeleine Albright to campaign for her in New Hampshire.
During a campaign event in Concord on Saturday, the former Secretary of State declared: "Young women have to support Hillary Clinton. The story is not over!"
"They're going to want to push us back," she continued. "It's not done and you have to help. Hillary Clinton will always be there for you. And just remember, there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other."
And while it was not the first time Albright muttered that phrase, the backlash was swift and severe.
Pointing to Albright's notorious defense of the 1990 sanctions on Iraq, during which she said that the death of 500,000 Iraqi children was "worth it," observers speculated about someone else who may end up in that "special place."
\u201cIt's stunning to see atrocity advocates moralize about gender representation. Is there a club #Sociopaths4Hillary club? There should be.\u201d— Rania Khalek (@Rania Khalek) 1454794006
\u201cMadeline Albright helped hundreds of thousands of Iraqi women to death in the 1990s. Special place in hell, indeed. https://t.co/V4U96NH2jz\u201d— Dave Zirin (@Dave Zirin) 1454790235
\u201cOverheard re Madame #Albright: "I guess none of those half-million Iraqi children killed by US sanctions were girls" https://t.co/Oo3kLsGGM8\u201d— Africa Is a Country (@Africa Is a Country) 1454797864
The comments came a day after feminist icon Gloria Steinem said in an interview that young women were supporting Bernie Sanders because "that's where the boys are."
Donna Smith, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America and Common Dreams contributor, said on Sunday that Steinem's argument was "really odd...coming from a woman who has lived her life lifting women up and demanding that as equals to men we have the right to our own minds and bodies. Presumably that includes the right to our own political decisions as well."
"When we get through this presidential primary season on the Democratic side, I want us to present the best possible platform for all people," Smith continued. "Right now as I observe this presidential race, Bernie's positions on critical issues for working class women like me offer the best hope that lives may be transformed in ways that give all of us the best chance to achieve our potential."
Kevin Gosztola, managing editor of Shadowproof, argued Sunday that comments such as those made by Albright and Steinem have "degraded debate about feminist issues and boorishly transformed characteristics of personalities into matters of equal rights."
Throughout the campaign, Clinton has taken heat for her association with corporate giants, including Goldman Sachs and Walmart. But, in recent days, the individuals vouching for her candidacy have also raised more than a few eyebrows.
During Thursday's Democratic debate, Clinton said that she "was very flattered when Henry Kissinger said I ran the State Department better--better than anybody had run it in a long time." This she said of a person who has been accused of war crimes.
Apparently, as the New Republic's Michael Tracey put it: "The significance of Kissinger's well-documented responsibility for atrocities in Cambodia, East Timor, Chile, and elsewhere is subordinate to his reputation as a statesman unbound by partisan loyalties."
Or as columnist Dave Zirin wrote:
\u201cIf you care about lives in the global south, touting support from Henry Kissinger and Madeline Albright isn't just tone-deaf. It's obscene.\u201d— Dave Zirin (@Dave Zirin) 1454790390
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
election 2016gloria steinemgoldman sachshillary clintonmadeline albrightmsnbcprogressive democrats of america
Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Hillary Clinton to invite Madeleine Albright to campaign for her in New Hampshire.
During a campaign event in Concord on Saturday, the former Secretary of State declared: "Young women have to support Hillary Clinton. The story is not over!"
"They're going to want to push us back," she continued. "It's not done and you have to help. Hillary Clinton will always be there for you. And just remember, there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other."
And while it was not the first time Albright muttered that phrase, the backlash was swift and severe.
Pointing to Albright's notorious defense of the 1990 sanctions on Iraq, during which she said that the death of 500,000 Iraqi children was "worth it," observers speculated about someone else who may end up in that "special place."
\u201cIt's stunning to see atrocity advocates moralize about gender representation. Is there a club #Sociopaths4Hillary club? There should be.\u201d— Rania Khalek (@Rania Khalek) 1454794006
\u201cMadeline Albright helped hundreds of thousands of Iraqi women to death in the 1990s. Special place in hell, indeed. https://t.co/V4U96NH2jz\u201d— Dave Zirin (@Dave Zirin) 1454790235
\u201cOverheard re Madame #Albright: "I guess none of those half-million Iraqi children killed by US sanctions were girls" https://t.co/Oo3kLsGGM8\u201d— Africa Is a Country (@Africa Is a Country) 1454797864
The comments came a day after feminist icon Gloria Steinem said in an interview that young women were supporting Bernie Sanders because "that's where the boys are."
Donna Smith, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America and Common Dreams contributor, said on Sunday that Steinem's argument was "really odd...coming from a woman who has lived her life lifting women up and demanding that as equals to men we have the right to our own minds and bodies. Presumably that includes the right to our own political decisions as well."
"When we get through this presidential primary season on the Democratic side, I want us to present the best possible platform for all people," Smith continued. "Right now as I observe this presidential race, Bernie's positions on critical issues for working class women like me offer the best hope that lives may be transformed in ways that give all of us the best chance to achieve our potential."
Kevin Gosztola, managing editor of Shadowproof, argued Sunday that comments such as those made by Albright and Steinem have "degraded debate about feminist issues and boorishly transformed characteristics of personalities into matters of equal rights."
Throughout the campaign, Clinton has taken heat for her association with corporate giants, including Goldman Sachs and Walmart. But, in recent days, the individuals vouching for her candidacy have also raised more than a few eyebrows.
During Thursday's Democratic debate, Clinton said that she "was very flattered when Henry Kissinger said I ran the State Department better--better than anybody had run it in a long time." This she said of a person who has been accused of war crimes.
Apparently, as the New Republic's Michael Tracey put it: "The significance of Kissinger's well-documented responsibility for atrocities in Cambodia, East Timor, Chile, and elsewhere is subordinate to his reputation as a statesman unbound by partisan loyalties."
Or as columnist Dave Zirin wrote:
\u201cIf you care about lives in the global south, touting support from Henry Kissinger and Madeline Albright isn't just tone-deaf. It's obscene.\u201d— Dave Zirin (@Dave Zirin) 1454790390
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Hillary Clinton to invite Madeleine Albright to campaign for her in New Hampshire.
During a campaign event in Concord on Saturday, the former Secretary of State declared: "Young women have to support Hillary Clinton. The story is not over!"
"They're going to want to push us back," she continued. "It's not done and you have to help. Hillary Clinton will always be there for you. And just remember, there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other."
And while it was not the first time Albright muttered that phrase, the backlash was swift and severe.
Pointing to Albright's notorious defense of the 1990 sanctions on Iraq, during which she said that the death of 500,000 Iraqi children was "worth it," observers speculated about someone else who may end up in that "special place."
\u201cIt's stunning to see atrocity advocates moralize about gender representation. Is there a club #Sociopaths4Hillary club? There should be.\u201d— Rania Khalek (@Rania Khalek) 1454794006
\u201cMadeline Albright helped hundreds of thousands of Iraqi women to death in the 1990s. Special place in hell, indeed. https://t.co/V4U96NH2jz\u201d— Dave Zirin (@Dave Zirin) 1454790235
\u201cOverheard re Madame #Albright: "I guess none of those half-million Iraqi children killed by US sanctions were girls" https://t.co/Oo3kLsGGM8\u201d— Africa Is a Country (@Africa Is a Country) 1454797864
The comments came a day after feminist icon Gloria Steinem said in an interview that young women were supporting Bernie Sanders because "that's where the boys are."
Donna Smith, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America and Common Dreams contributor, said on Sunday that Steinem's argument was "really odd...coming from a woman who has lived her life lifting women up and demanding that as equals to men we have the right to our own minds and bodies. Presumably that includes the right to our own political decisions as well."
"When we get through this presidential primary season on the Democratic side, I want us to present the best possible platform for all people," Smith continued. "Right now as I observe this presidential race, Bernie's positions on critical issues for working class women like me offer the best hope that lives may be transformed in ways that give all of us the best chance to achieve our potential."
Kevin Gosztola, managing editor of Shadowproof, argued Sunday that comments such as those made by Albright and Steinem have "degraded debate about feminist issues and boorishly transformed characteristics of personalities into matters of equal rights."
Throughout the campaign, Clinton has taken heat for her association with corporate giants, including Goldman Sachs and Walmart. But, in recent days, the individuals vouching for her candidacy have also raised more than a few eyebrows.
During Thursday's Democratic debate, Clinton said that she "was very flattered when Henry Kissinger said I ran the State Department better--better than anybody had run it in a long time." This she said of a person who has been accused of war crimes.
Apparently, as the New Republic's Michael Tracey put it: "The significance of Kissinger's well-documented responsibility for atrocities in Cambodia, East Timor, Chile, and elsewhere is subordinate to his reputation as a statesman unbound by partisan loyalties."
Or as columnist Dave Zirin wrote:
\u201cIf you care about lives in the global south, touting support from Henry Kissinger and Madeline Albright isn't just tone-deaf. It's obscene.\u201d— Dave Zirin (@Dave Zirin) 1454790390
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.