March 28, 2018
Former Secretary Clinton:
We
are writing you to express our disappointment in your recent comments
regarding women voters that were most unhelpful and, frankly, insulting.
The
votes we women cast here in Maine are not determined by our husbands,
our fathers, or our sons. We determine them. We are Republicans because
we believe in strong Maine families, economics that lead to prosperity
instead of misery, and a strong national defense that will keep our
country safe.
Republican
values are not male or female—they are American. Further, Maine
Republicans have led the nation in electing women to high office. You
may recall that one of America’s early female Senators, Republican
Margaret Chase Smith, was from Maine. We also repeatedly elected past
Republican colleagues of yours to the U.S. Senate—former Senator Olympia
J. Snowe and current Senator Susan M. Collins. Do you believe these
great leaders were forced by men to be Republicans?
Sadly,
you have blamed one outside force or another for your loss in 2016. In
truth, there is nothing and no one to blame but your campaign and
yourself.
Suggesting
we women are dictated how to vote by men is deeply offensive. We are
strong, independent women in Maine, and your suggesting otherwise only
shows one of the many reasons so many women did not find you to be a
compelling candidate.
We sincerely hope you learn from your mistakes and learn to have more respect for our gender. It is sorely needed.
Sincerely,
Demi Kouzounas
Chair
Maine Republican Party
Patti Gagne
Chair
Androscoggin County Republican Committee
Cindy Nesbit
Chair
Sagadahoc County Republican Committee
Sarah Cognata
Chair
York County Republican Committee
Cindy Johansen
Chair
Aroostook County Republican Committee
Laura B. Parker
Chair
Kennebec County Republican Committee
Karen Lockwood
Vice Chair
Cumberland County Republican Committee
Brianna Tibbetts
York County State Committeewoman
Anne M. Page
Bangor
Sandra Dunham
Cape Elizabeth
Mary Palange
Belgrade
Kelly Weymouth
Buxton, Maine
May Bouchard
East Orland
Rhonda Prime
Freeport
Nancy Ganem-Bond
At-large State Republican Committee
Gail Lemont
Kittery
Judy Hurst
Ocean Park
Ardys Arlin
Belmont
Betsy Stevens
Wells
Debra Morin-Ouellette
Poland
Shelley Rudnicki
School Board Chair and Candidate for House Seat #108
Fairfield
Lona Gagnon
Millinocket
Kathleen McLaughlin
Otisfield
Sherry Perry
Vassalboro
Mary Kay Santoro
Parkman
Terry Morris
Maine
Sandra Seifert
Southport
Barbara West
South Paris
Joan Petersen
Swanville
Cathy Lynn Bryant
Maine
Irene Single
Lyman
Beverly Olean
Lebanon, Maine
Leslie T. Dubois
Candidate for Maine House District 60 and former Lewiston City Councilor
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If you are a Republican woman from Maine and would like to add your name to this letter, please email [email protected].