A Bright Future for Our Daughters

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.