Prior to her election to the House of Representatives in 1990, Congresswoman Waters had already attracted national attention for her no-nonsense, no-holds-barred style of politics. During 14 years in the California State Assembly, she rose to the powerful position of Democratic Caucus Chair. She was responsible for some of the boldest legislation California has ever seen: the largest divestment of state pension funds from South Africa; landmark affirmative action legislation; the nation's first statewide Child Abuse Prevention Training Program; the prohibition of police strip searches for nonviolent misdemeanors; and the introduction of the nation's first plant closure law.

Controversies

Waters was named in 2005[4] and 2006[5] as one of the "most corrupt" members of congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

They said, "Her ethics issues arise from her exercise of this power to financially benefit her daughter, husband and son."

They said that Waters' daughter Karen charges other politicians to appear on mailers sent to constituents in Los Angeles showing her mother's support for the politician.

Karen has received $450,000 in fees from this endeavor and Waters' son Edward has received $115,000.

Waters' husband Sidney benefited from his wife's connections with his hiring as a political consultant by a firm, Siebert, Brandford, & Shank, seeking government investment.

Sidney Williams earned $500,000 from this consulting, which consisted of introducing Siebert to politicians his wife had supported.

Sidney and Edward Williams also benefitted when they won a contract to run a Los Angeles golf course, with the decision made by a county supervisor who had won a close race after Waters' endorsement and from which they made financial gain of between $140,000 and $400,000.[6]

Citizens for Ethics says this violates House ethics rules for family members' financial gains.

Prior to the election of "superstar" Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois), Waters was considered the United States' most prominent African-American legislator.

Waters has long been considered one of the last great practitioners of urban "machine politics."

A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on patronage, the spoils system, "behind-the-scenes" control, and longstanding political ties within the structure of a representative democracy. [...]

The key to a political machine is patronage: holding public office implies the ability to do favors (and also the ability to profit from Political corruption).

I happen to be a fan of Hillary Clinton's personal style but don't appreciate Michelle Obama's edginess (though I respect her right to support her husband's candidacy vigorously.  But where's the scrutiny?).  When she said a few weeks ago, in what seemed like the height of arrogance, that they won't be available 4 or 8 years from now - meaning "vote for us now - this is your only chance."  Even when Obama tried to explain her remarks later as "well now, we can relate to the middle class experience, but in a few years we might be operating in the economic stratosphere (my quotation marks btw).

Returning to Hillary Clinton - This is a woman who has had to deal with so many unfair attacks and has been able to keep on going - experienced, talented, brilliant and thoughtful.  I can't wait to cast my vote for her in Massachusetts on Feb. 5th.