Senator Mikulski Promoted Involvement of Women
in Politics As She Took Prime Time Slot on Podium
By MARY ELLEN SLAYTER
Capital News Service
BOSTON -- Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski used her prime-time slot Monday
night at the Democratic National Convention to say it is important for
women to be involved in politics because they govern differently from
men.
"When we seek power, it's not about power for ourselves. It's about
power to help people's lives," she said.
Mikulski, the first Democratic woman elected to the Senate in her own
right, said she "couldn't be more proud" of her colleagues, the other
eight Democratic women in the Senate. "Though I was first, I didn't want
to be the first and only."
The three-term senator, who is up for re-election in November,
delivered the address following a video presentation honoring the
Democratic women senators. As the longest serving of all 14 women
senators, including nine Democrats, she is often called their dean.
Mikulski, 67, is one of four Maryland politicians giving prominent
speeches at this year's convention. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, and
Reps. Elijah Cummings, of Baltimore, and Steny Hoyer, of Mechanicsville,
are also making notable appearances.
Mikulski was elected to the Senate in 1986, just two years after Sen.
John F. Kerry, D-Mass., the party's presumed nominee for president. She
is considered the more liberal of the two by Americans for Democratic
Action, a liberal lobbying group that evaluates congressmen and senators
annually on how well their voting record matches the group's positions.
The group gave Mikulski a 94 percent lifetime rating and Kerry an 85
percent.
She shares membership on the Health, Education, Labor and Pension
Committee with North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, the party's presumed
vice presidential candidate. Both also serve on the Select Committee on
Intelligence.
Reaction among Maryland's delegates after the speech was positive.
"I thought it was wonderful. She always delivers. It's an extraordinary
thing that she was the first . . . and there are nine now," said Dan
Rupli, a Kerry delegate for the 6th Congressional District. "She was the
pioneer and we love her."
Donna Callejon, an Edwards delegate for the 8th District, called the
speech solid. "It underscored what she's stood for her whole career."
Rejoining her delegation after the speech, Mikulski said, "I felt that
people were not only cheering for me, but they were cheering for the
fact that there are nine Democratic women in the Senate."
Mikulski's appearance is part of a campaign by the party to reach out
to women voters. Kerry "has a band of brothers, but we have a band of
sisters," she said earlier in the day.

Capital News Service writer Kevin McCullough contributed to this
report.