Women for Hillary

Jordan, a student at PSU, is a field organizer for Oregon for Hillary. Fourteen years ago, she met the then-First Lady in a meeting arranged by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. At just eight years old, Jordan had endured two heart operations, cancer and a kidney transplant. People like Jordan are the reason why Hillary is in this race.

On Friday I woke up at 4:30 in the morning -- I had jumped the gun by two hours. However it’s not every day you get to reunite with your life-long hero, hence my anxiousness. As an eight-year-old girl recovering from renal failure, I first met then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at the White House.

I am 22 now, and in less than four hours I would be meeting Hillary yet again. Only this time she was coming to my neck of the woods, Portland, Oregon, and not as First Lady, but as Senator Clinton, Democratic presidential hopeful. Our reunion would take place at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, a place that has given me a second chance at life on numerous occasions.

Upon seeing her at last, I met her half way as she greeted me with open arms. This was history coming full circle and I could barely contain my nerves. In an attempt to compose myself, I recalled the advice of my father who told me days prior, “Remember this isn’t about you. Just remember what you are there for.” I tried to keep in mind the bigger picture, and thus the larger-than-self meaning behind Hillary’s visit.

More important than me was the Senator’s effort to revisit the cause she so vigorously championed during the time of our first meeting. Universal health care is as she said -- “unfinished business.” I have the luxury of being relatively healthy now, and more so, have had the luxury of being insured, making my trials much easier for me and my family to deal with. The same can’t be said for 43 percent of the patients currently treated at Doernbecher.

As a former patient I now had the honor of guiding the Senator on a tour of the intermediate care ward. Her candor and grace immediately struck me, and her inquisitive nature made her effortlessly approachable. Watching the Senator reach out to one young man, clearly suffering from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation -- a distant memory in my mind -- prompted flashbacks, which further reinforced my sense of place and purpose.

At 9:30 the visit culminated in a roundtable discussion in the main courtyard where dozens of doctors, patients and their families braved the cold to hear the Senator make her case for why every American must have health care. We heard from two mothers of ill children treated at Doernbecher -- two separate stories as case in point for how the current health care system has failed its people, and in this particular instance, its children. “How can we expect to achieve Universal Health Care if the stated goal is something far less?” Hillary asked of the hospital’s onlookers.

This is why I support Senator Clinton. She was ahead of her time when she first worked to achieve universal health care fourteen years ago and she has refused to give up since. I am thoroughly convinced that, above all, Hillary has a personal interest in seeing this come to fruition, and we know she won’t shy away from the fight ahead. I’m for Hillary because she’s a fighter like me.

Tess is the Oregon Women's Outreach Director.

Yesterday our amazing women leaders congregated across the state and celebrated Mother's Day weekend with a rally for Hillary.

In Portland and Eugene, over 400 women and families gathered to hear from a panel of fantastic speakers including Ellen Malcolm, Ann Lewis and many more. Grammy nominated singer Sophie B. Hawkins pumped up the crowd.

Immediately following the event, mother's marched in unison with their families and children to the ballot box to cast their vote for the most qualified candidate in the race – Hillary Clinton.

As I have worked on this race, I have heard many stories from women all over the state about the significance of this opportunity and what watching Hillary's struggle and triumph has meant in their lives. Emotions ran high yesterday as women cheered, rallied, chanted, and cried while watching their young daughters and sons take turns running to the mailbox to drop their mother's ballots.

It was a special day, and one that will go down in my memory as one of the most moving experiences on this campaign.

Here's to paid family leave, reproductive rights, equal pay, health care for our children, care for the environment, and the historic phrase "women's rights are human rights." Here is to all of the women across this country who have had the courage to walk Hillary's walk with her – to those who continue to fight every single day – until every vote is cast and counted.

Click here to learn more about what's happening in the Beaver State.

I am a 27-year-old black female and I grew up, mostly, in Gary, Indiana.  My two brothers and I were raised by my mom who was a single mother for the vast majority of that time. Despite all of the challenges that came along with being a single, working mother, she always found time to rally around my brothers and me. I always remember her being there, somehow. She worked hard at jobs that didn't pay much, but she still chaperoned school trips, did homework with us, and we ate dinner together.

I remember my mom's struggle well, and admittedly, I wasn't always as proud of her as I am now because I didn't get it-I was very shortsighted and saw our plight as embarrassing. Ironically though, the things I was embarrassed about then are the things I'm most proud of her for now. I am an attorney in Washington, D.C. and have been blessed with amazing job opportunities since graduating from law school. Despite my own successes and blessings though, I have never forgotten my mom's fight and the sacrifices that she made for my brothers and me. If she hadn't worked hard for us or made a decision to be strong in the face of adversity, I wouldn't have accomplished half of what I have thus far.

For me, Hillary Clinton represents the kind of person my mom was for my brothers and me -- what I admire the most about Senator Clinton is her strength, resilience, intellect, pragmatism, and compassion for others. Hillary Clinton's message is a progressive one that is a direct appeal to regular people who work hard every single day and do all of the right things, but who still can't seem to ever get a break, and I believe her appeal is genuine. I have chosen to support Senator Clinton's candidacy because I have long admired her unwavering commitment to public service coupled with her results-driven outlook. I know she gets it. I write on this Mother's Day to thank my mom and moms like Hillary Clinton who have worked tirelessly for and given selflessly to their children and others. I've learned to appreciate and trust a mom's intuition, and that's why I'm supporting Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for President. 

Neera Tanden is the Policy Director on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign.

Campaigns, especially Presidential campaigns, are relentless -- long hours and late night phone calls are par for the course.  So parents of young children are often hesitant to join them. As a mother of two fabulous children -- a 5 year old girl and a 2 year old boy -- I had my own concerns when I first started my job on this campaign.  I knew that a presidential campaign would, to put it mildly, mean less family time.  But I took this job -- and have worked for Hillary for 10 years -- because I believe there is no public official in America more committed to our children's future.  Hillary has worked tirelessly for decades to make mothers' (and fathers') jobs easier.  During the course of this campaign, I've been lucky to work with her on her policies to help parents balance work and family -- from a national paid leave program, to expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act, to expanding child care.  And I have to say, those proposals really hit home for me.

So on Mothers' Day, I'm proud of what Hillary has already done in terms of changing the conversation about women's roles and mothers' roles.  I'm honored to be part of this fight, and feel lucky that I was able to do the job.  As a mom herself, Hillary has been tremendously understanding and flexible, moving meetings to accommodate my daughter's school plays.  While I may sleep a little less than I'd like, I actually have been able to tuck my kids into bed at night most nights on this campaign.

That is a tribute to Hillary's firsthand understanding of what it's like to be a working mom.  (But it's also a tribute to my loving, amazing husband who's taken on the role of super dad.)

I will celebrate Mothers Day with my children knowing that Hillary has already made history and that my daughter can dream a bit bigger because of the path Hillary has blazed for her and millions of girls in our country.  And I know that as President, Hillary will help ensure that we leave this country better off for both my children.

Meredith Cabe is Deputy Counsel on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign.

I am so proud to be working to elect Hillary as our country's first woman president.

I have looked up to her almost as long as I can remember - I grew up in Little Rock, and got to know Hillary when I was 9.  I knew her first as a mother and a neighbor, and am fortunate to know how warm and funny and fabulous she is.  (And she treated babysitters well, a true sign of good character and judgment.)

I grew up surrounded by strong women public servants - Hillary, fighting to improve things like education and health care; my mother, who served in the legislature; and many more I knew who taught in and fought for our public schools and in other arenas.  Now that I am working and raising a family of my own, I respect all of them even more - their challenge was no easy task.  Thanks and Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

My tremendous admiration and affection for Hillary are not what make this election personal for me, however --  my daughters are.  It is not just because they have become smitten with her and look for her picture in the paper every day or because  they will grow up always knowing a woman can be President of the United States.  I will save their "I Can Be President" t-shirts and tell them that when they were little, that statement was news.

But mostly, it is because of my daughters that I understand what is at stake in this election, and why it is urgent and necessary that we choose for our country the leadership that we deserve.

Watching Hillary on the campaign trail, and, for me, particularly in the debates, I know without a doubt she should be our president.  She is concerned about all the right things - how we're going to set our economy right, how we're going to have health insurance that covers everyone, how we're going to guarantee every child a good education, how we're going to restore our country's reputation abroad - and has thoughtful, innovative plans to address them.

When both my girls were born I was surprised to find I knew instantly that I would do anything I had to do to keep them safe.  That feeling is part of what motivates me.  We need to get our country back on track for all these children who are trying to grow up - who are depending on us to keep them healthy and safe and fed, with an economy that provides opportunities and an education that will allow them to take those opportunities and realize their potential.

It's a big responsibility.  But we are lucky this election - we have a chance to elect someone who has exactly what we need.  Extraordinary intelligence, wisdom, strength, compassion, and the heart of a lion.  An unwavering commitment to facing and solving tough problems, and 35 years of experience that inform her every step of the way.

As a mother, what I wish most for my daughters is a bright future.  For that, their country needs to get back on course.  So while I have said many times that I would do anything for Hillary, this one's for those girls - and everyone else's sons and daughters.