Yeakel talks about the lessons she learned

A political victory can be achieved even in the face of defeat. So said former Senatorial candidate Lynn Yeakel yesterday afternoon during a speech on the role of women in American politics in Myerson B-1. Yeakel's talk, entitled "Lessons Learned in the Year of the Woman," featured her insight on why women -- and her candidacy in particular -- captured so much political limelight during the past election season. Yeakel emphasized that her candidacy was not just a movement to ameliorate the condition of women in America. Instead, it was part of a movement that swept millions of people into the American political process. "We have just begun to see what will be a real political revolution," Yeakel said. "It wasn't just Lynn Yeakel running for Senate. My campaign was not about women, it was about people, families and children." Yeakel, the former president of Women's Way, told the audience that the Thomas-Hill hearings of 1991 was the catalyst that sparked her decision to run for the Senate last year. "Hearing Anita Hill's testimony on the radio was a turning point in my political career and personal life," Yeakel said. She stressed, however, that the entire movement was the result of a convergence of many factors. "The national women's political organizations like EMILY's List, the National Women's Polical Caucus, and the Women's Campaign Fund helped many of us break in," she said. Yeakel noted that her campaign received over $600,000 in donations from EMILY's list, a Democratic fundraising body. "Women will give a lot of money to philanthropic organizations dedicated to supporting victims of rape or sexual discrimination," she said. "Last year women contributed to political organizations." Yeakel also cited general frustration with government and national leadership as another impetus for the movement. "[Americans] were frustrated with the lack of national leadership and their misplaced priorities," she said. "Politics and public service should be revered and considered the highest calling of duty. Instead, politics is a business, it is powered by money and greed." Yeakel had little praise for her opponent, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), and his service to the state, saying she "never thought his record was so fantastic." "He has been a fence sitter on so many issues," she said. "He hasn't exhibited the kind of leadership that we should expect from the Senate." Questioned about the impact of her loss to Specter, Yeakel said the electoral defeat was "tough." But she was quick to remind the audience of her campaign's "exhilarating" accomplishments. "To rise from one percent name recognition and end up with over two million votes was unbelievable," she said. "We showed that something could be accomplished. I'm extremely proud of what we did." Yeakel, noting that her defeat came at the hands of a career politician, stressed the need for political reform. She also cited media bias as an additional impediment to her candidacy. But she said she believes that she emerged from her race as a "better, stronger, and more committed" person. She closed her speech, sponsored by the University Association of Women Faculty, by promising victory in her next race and urged others to get involved in the process. "The best way to predict the future is to create it," Yeakel said.