Resource/Guest/Interview
Ron Nief
[email protected]
608-363-2137
A Dozen-Plus Questions A Political Scientist Should Ask about Hillary Rodham Clinton's (Potential) run for the U.S. Senate
Beloit, Wis. -- Georgia Duerst-Lahti, Beloit College professor of political science and incoming president of the national Women's Caucus for Political Science (American Political Science Association), has been fielding a lot of questions lately from reporters and talk show listeners regarding the U.S. Senate race looming in New York. Many of the questions miss the point in her view, so she has put together her own list of the critical questions she feels should be asked about Hillary Rodham Clinton's (potential) run for office.
Prof. Duerst-Lahti is a contributor to and co-editor of Gender Power, Leadership, and Governance (University of Michigan Press), author of articles on the roles of women in formulating policy and politics and the women's movement, and an astute observer of political races throughout the country involving women. She has been a frequent guest and commentator on Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois public radio, and on CNN. She is a former president of the the National Women's Political Caucus of Wisconsin and the Midwest Women's Caucus for Political Science.
Here is her set of questions:
What does her viability as a candidate for the U.S. Senate reveal about the powers inherent in the Office of the First Lady?
How has the First Lady--First Spouse--role evolved over time? Why?
How much of HRC's viability derives from the "post" of First Lady and how much from her individual characteristics and capacities?
What does her potential candidacy reveal about changing societal expectations for husbands, wives, and demanding careers; (i.e., two-person one career, wife as unpaid helpmate)?
What larger changes in gender and gender power are reflected in HRC's capacity to have reached even the preliminary stage of a possible Senate candidacy?
If ethical concerns exist, what are they? Which among them warrant close scrutiny and which are partisan ploys?
In what ways does her potential candidacy indicate yet more progress for women? In what ways and to what extent is her potential run now ordinary?
How does HRC's life chronicle opportunities and constraints for U.S. women?
Do charges of her being a carpetbagger in New York have any constitutional grounds for concern?
How should we sort out national from state-level issues of importance? For example, should we care what national polls indicate or only polls conducted with New Yorkers?
(How) Will the Democratic Party and its candidates suffer in the 2000 election if HRC runs for Senate?
Should we even ponder a HRC run for President in 2008? Why or why not?
In what ways is Elizabeth Dole's presidential bid related to HRC's run for the Senate?
Should Kenneth Starr continue to pursue his investigation of the First Lady? Is it inappropriate to use federal resources to investigate a First Lady whose husband has been cleared of charges?
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Easiest way to reach Georgia is to call Ron Nief at Beloit College Public Affairs--we will track her down (608/363-2137).
Georgia's office -- 608/363-2333 ([email protected])
Georgia's home -- 608/882-6058
(Beloit College is equipped with ISDN broadcast facilities.)
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