Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to President Trump, shared how she explained to her daughters why their mother — a “strong, independent, empowered woman” — didn’t vote for Hillary, the potential first female President.
In a video produced by Time Magazine, Kellyanne Conway admitted that there was a possibility that she would have been “excited” for a Hillary Clinton Presidency because of the historic nature of Clinton’s run. However, she made it clear that voting for Clinton merely because she was a woman was never an option, and that maintaining her principles was the most highly valued purpose of her vote.
During the interview, Conway said that her over 20-year long career in politics was challenging, and that all she had achieved – especially as first woman to run a successful presidential campaign – was the result of years of back breaking hard work, and immense dedication.
Recalling her start as a research assistant at a Republican polling firm, she noted that, “There were few women consultants; there were few women candidates; there were certainly few women congressmen and officeholders.” And as she rose through the ranks, to become one of the most powerful advisors in the world, she likens the journey to, “walking into the men’s locker room at the Elks Club, holding a bachelor party.” In other words, Conway has found success by following the mantra, “think like a man and act like a lady,” in the cutthroat world of DC politics.
Kellyanne Conway is a mother to three daughters, and was asked how she would respond to them if asked why she didn’t vote for the female candidate for President. She replied, saying, “I would tell [my daughters] that I respect very much that Secretary Clinton was running for president, and it showed that in this country anybody can do anything if they set their mind to it … At the same time, I tried to explain to them that you could be excited for someone with whom you disagree and share in that moment in history as a proud American.” She further added, “We are making our own choices and really making history every day — but yet making history in the fact that we are increasingly in control.”
Controversially, Conway describes herself as a feminist, however, she doesn’t follow the traditional definition. Speaking at CPAC 2017, she detailed how, “It’s difficult for me to call myself a feminist in a classic sense because it seems to be very anti-male, and it certainly is very pro-abortion, and I’m neither anti-male or pro-abortion … So, there’s an individual feminism, if you will, that you make your own choices … I look at myself as a product of my choices, not a victim of my circumstances.”
Asked about the prospect of a female president, Conway suggested that, “I relish the idea of a female president in my lifetime.” However, she clarified, “True feminism means you’re strong and independent enough to stand on your own. It motivates me to say that I’m for a woman, but not that woman [Hillary Clinton].”
