This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Noted feminist Gloria Steinem said Friday that Democratic presidential nominee Hilary Clinton faces hurdles in her bid for the White House because strong women are met with resistance in America, but Republican Donald Trump is so awful that Clinton will be the first woman in the White House.
"I've been to Utah many times, but never before has it been on the verge of becoming a two-party state," Steinem told a crowd of about 150 supporters, mostly women, who came out for a get-out-the-vote rally supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Weinholtz.
Some recent polls have showed a three-way dead heat with Clinton, Trump and independent candidate Evan McMullin in Utah, a state that has not voted for a Democratic president since 1964. Others show either Trump or McMullin ahead by a few percentage points.
Steinem said Clinton and women in general face a "who does she think she is? factor" when they aspire for a higher job.
"Disobeying authority, for men, is often viewed as a good thing, but disobedient women is a bad thing," said Steinem, who was in town to keynote Equality Utah's annual Allies Dinner on Friday night.
Clinton also faces a "false equivalency" in the media, where Trump and Clinton have to be put on the same level to show journalistic fairness, even though, Steinem said, Trump is far worse.
"Because I come from New York and Trump comes from New York, I feel a little guilty," Steinem said. "The first reason people give in opinion polls for supporting Trump is he's a successful businessman, and it's just not true. He's a con man. … It's hard to describe how much of a fraud he really is."
The Republican nominating process has become so controlled by the right wing, Steinem said, that Republicans can no longer choose any candidate who can actually win a general election. This election, she said, offers a chance to restore a semblance of rationality to the process.
"If we really defeat Trump big, big, big, we'll also enable people to take the Republican Party back, real Republicans," she said. "It is way too dangerous to have one of our two big parties controlled by extremists."
Utah Republican Party Chairman James Evans jabbed at Steinem's support of Clinton, who he said hasn't done enough for women around the world.
"What is awful is that Gloria Steinem refuses to address the fact that Hillary Clinton won't stand up to Middle Eastern countries that subjugate women," he said. "Here in Utah, we call that hypocrisy."
Martha Ellis attended Friday's rally with her 14-year-old daughter, Rosemary, because she wanted the girl to be moved by Steinem like she had been.
"I feel like this is such a remarkable time for all of us, and just incredible having Hillary at the top of the ticket and looking like she's going to win, and I just think it's important to start grooming our youth to recognize how important it is," said Martha Ellis. "It doesn't end here. This is just a beginning. She's going to have to carry the torch."
Rosemary Ellis said she was inspired by what she heard.
"I wanted to be here because I want to support my mom and I want anyone to have equal rights in every layer of government and in every office," she said.
If Clinton wins Utah, Ellis said, it will help bring some balance to the state. She said she thanks Trump for indirectly bringing attention to women's issues.
"I know it wasn't planned, but he's done a remarkable things for us, as far as bringing incredible light to this subject that many have tried hard to brush under the carpet for decades, so I'm actually thrilled for where we are right now," Martha Ellis said.
Salt Lake County Council candidate Catherine Kanter praised Steinem for being a "beacon of hope" to her when she was younger.
"Her leadership inspired so many of us," Kanter said. "She blazed a trail for all of us. I'm a candidate for office today because of strong women like Gloria Steinem and Hillary Clinton. They taught us to speak up."
Weinholtz said he is running for governor "because I love Utah and I hate inequality," and he noted that women in Utah still make 70 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make, well-below the national average.
U.S. Senate candidate Misty Snow said she wants the Senate to look more like the country, and she would like to be the first millenial, first transgender senator and first woman from Utah in the body.
"The most important thing is you get out and vote," she said. "Your ballots will not mail themselves."
Twitter: @RobertGehrke