Feminists sharply divided between Clinton, Obama

NEW YORK — No constituency is more eager to see a woman win the presidency than America’s feminists, yet _ despite Hillary Rodham Clinton’s historic candidacy _ the women’s movement finds itself wrenchingly divided over the Democratic race as it heads toward the finish. At breakfast forums, in op-ed columns, across the blogosphere, the debate has been heartfelt and sometimes bitter. Are the activist women supporting front-runner Barack Obama betraying their gender? Are Clinton’s feminist backers mired in an outdated, women’s-liberation mind-set? Ellen Bravo is a Milwaukee author and activist who advocates on behalf of working women _ and is an Obama supporter. She faults Clinton for her 2002 vote authorizing the Iraq war and believes the Illinois senator would be more supportive of grass-roots political action. At times, Bravo, 64, has been dismayed by the harsh criticism directed at women like herself from pro-Clinton feminists. "I felt it was ...