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.
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.
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.
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