“I Mean…What?!?” – Abe Gurko

I have two words for the Women’s Movement: Christine Quinn!

During the Golden Age of Hollywood women were heralded and revered but with that era long gone, women needed new roles models if they were to ever break from the confines of their traditional place in society. When Bella Abzug, Betty Freidan, Gloria Steinem and Helen Gurley-Brown entered the cultural landscape, there seemed to be hope for the role of women in politics and media that made the tireless work of the Suffragettes begin to finally pay off. Then Helen Reddy roared, Joan Baez claimed her place in the cosmic vernacular and the music industry featured exciting female groups like the Supremes and the Shirelles giving the Four Tops and the Beach Boys a run for their money.

From the onset of the Women’s Movement in the 1960’s, I have been a proud, staunch supporter. If I wore a bra–which in fact I needed being a chubby kid with moobs–it would have been thrown on the campfire alongside the marvelous women claiming their independence from undergarments, or the constrictions of society anyway. Being raised by extraordinary women, I noticed the imbalance of power within the structure of the traditional Jewish family dynamic because all the men were catered to, including my boring, annoying brothers-in-law, which proved something was really wrong with this picture. Something had to give.

Cut to Shirley Chisolm, Maxine Waters and Hillary Clinton the moment she said on 60 Minutes, “You know, I’m not sitting here like some little woman standing by my man, like Tammy Wynette” that honored Helen Reddy’s roar. We have finally scratched the surface of putting powerful women in key roles throughout society but sadly, the glass ceiling is only cracked and not nearly broken enough. We need more great women in positions of power. Particular positions like the Mayor of New York City and Christine Quinn can be to New York what Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer are to California. Strong, exciting and effective.

When more women came out to vote for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in 2008, it was confounding that so many women made that choice in the privacy of the ballot box. All that talk of roaring seemed to peter out to a meow. In the case of the current mayoral campaign, what is best for women the world over, is to have a woman in that particular role. No matter what. Is Chris Quinn perfect? No. Is anyone? Most assuredly not. So why on Earth would any woman not root for another woman to take the rightful place at the podium on the world stage to be seen, heard, honored and respected? We’re talking Democratic politics here, so don’t try throwing me examples like Sarah Palin or Jan Brewer.

What is this bizarre phenomenon where at the end of the day women deny their own sisterhood the magnificent opportunities that only happens once in a blue moon, if that. This is much less about the day-to-day politics of New York City, rather, this is about women being strategic by coming together and voting in mass for a wonderfully capable woman like Chris into one of the most important political roles in the United States. Imagine the residual effects of having a women in the job of America’s Mayor (what everyone called Rudy Giuliani) on your daughters and the generations of women and girls to follow.

I am sick and tired of hearing that Chris Quinn is the mirror image of Michael Bloomberg, who by the way successfully shepherded New York City through the most dire financial crisis in history. I am also over Chris’ detractors accusing her of supporting the third term for Michael Bloomberg when in fact so did Bill De Blasio in 2005, making this whole argument a moot point.

Lately, all I hear at dinner parties, especially from women is how important it is that Hillary Clinton become the next President of the United States. Well, if you believe that, then for those same reasons so should Christine Quinn be elected the next Mayor of New York City. Both are seasoned, tough as nails negotiators and have a track record to stand on and be proud of.