Democratic women cheer their own, and Obama too

[babylonsister]

Democratic women cheer their own, and Obama too
By JOCELYN NOVECK Associated Press Writer


Jan 18th, 2009 | WASHINGTON -- It may not have been quite the star power assembled over at the Lincoln Memorial, but it was still an impressive array of Democratic Party luminaries who gathered Sunday at a joyous luncheon to celebrate women's gains in 2008.

For some 2,000 people crowded into the Washington Hilton ballroom to hear Hillary Rodham Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and many others, it was also an occasion to enthusiastically cheer on Barack Obama, less than 48 hours before he takes office.

And given the mood, it was hard to remember that only seven months ago, there was talk that he might have trouble winning over large numbers of female voters who'd supported Clinton.

"George W. Bush is going back to Texas, and Barack Obama is president of the United States of America!" exulted Ellen Malcolm, founder of EMILY's List, to huge cheers. The group, which hosted Sunday's event, promotes women candidates who support abortion rights, and is one of the largest political action committees in the nation.

Clinton, expected to be confirmed next week as Obama's secretary of state, was the marquee speaker, and she almost didn't make it, due to traffic problems on the busy inaugural weekend. But no one in the packed ballroom was planning to leave until she spoke.

"Isn't it great to be in Washington with a Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House?" she asked the crowd when she finally did arrive. She called Obama's upcoming inauguration "a historic and glorious event," and asked supporters to continue helping her in her new role, toward goals like universal basic education, better access to health care for women and children, and eradicating poverty.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2009/01/18/D95PR1C80_inauguration_women/index.html