Lawrence Journal-World opinion section

To the editor:

The headline on the editor’s Saturday Column April 16 should be rewritten to say, “The GOP needs more quality candidates for public office,” not “the U.S.” needs them. The Democrats had no problem finding three. I also take issue with the editor’s negativity on Hillary Clinton, using five pejorative descriptors for her while just listing biographical items about the three less-experienced men.

Hillary Clinton was already well-qualified and experienced to run for president in 2008, and many who voted for Obama assumed she would run again in 2016, especially with her four years as secretary of state solidifying her credentials in international service.

However, the editor seemed to dismiss everything that Hillary has ever done in politics and government, including her work on the Children’s Defense Fund, voter registration in the South, developing a health care initiative as first lady, speaking for women’s rights around the world, serving eight years as a senator from New York, and campaigning for down-ballot Democrats everywhere.

Many women like me have been waiting to vote for a woman president for over 50 years, and we now have our candidate! I can only conclude that most of the males in this country are so afraid of losing control to a strong, intelligent, and powerful woman that they simply trivialize her accomplishments, minimize her abilities, and call her names. “When misogynists resort to name-calling, they’re labeling themselves more than they ever could disprove us.” — Jessica Valenti, The Guardian (4-28-14)