Top 10 Words of Wisdom from “Coach Barb”

By Political Parity on March 4, 2015

We recently blogged about Senator Barbara Mikulski’s decision to step down in 2017, an announcement she delivered in her trademark style — poignant, purposeful, and putting others first. While small in stature, the 4′ 11” powerhouse has never failed to make a big impact with her words. Here are some of our favorite quotes by a woman who always spoke her mind and stood up for herself, for women, and all America.

  1.  “Listen to people. Treat them with respect. Help them out when you can. They’re your neighbors and we are all in this together. That’s what I learned delivering groceries in a little red wagon as a girl.
    It applies in the Senate.” Tweet
  2. “The women of the Senate are like the U.S. Olympic team: we come in different sizes, but we sure are united in our determination to do the best for our country!” Tweet
  3. “I might be short, but I won’t be overlooked.” Tweet
  4. “The gym was for guys only. Like having a cigar in the library, it was the last bastion for them, I guess. But that was okay; I spent the time getting worked up instead of working out.” Tweet
  5. “I became the first Democratic woman elected to the Senate in her own right. I was the first, but I made sure I wasn’t the only.” Tweet
  6. “Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change.” Tweet
  7. “I don’t want women and their families to be left out and left behind. We can fight for them. We will fight for them. They deserve better and I want to give them better.” Tweet
  8. “Before, we used to have lunch together — Democrats and Republicans… Now…we work at having each other for lunch.” Tweet
  9. “Now I’ll tell you what I’m tired of hearing, that somehow or another we’re too emotional when we talk. Well, I’m emotional. I’m so emotional; I’m going to press on. It brings tears to my eyes to know how women every single day are working so hard and are getting paid less. Then when I hear all of these phony reasons — some are mean and some are meaningless — I do get emotional. I get angry, I get outraged, I get volcanic.” Tweet
  10. “I have thought long and hard about the next two years, and I had to ask myself this question: ‘Who am I campaigning for? Am I campaigning for me? Or am I campaigning for my constituents?’ I had to decide how to spend my time: fighting for my job, or fighting for their job. Do I spend my time raising money, or do I spend my time raising hell? Do I focus on my election, or do I focus on the next generation?” Tweet

Have a favorite quote from a female political leader or other inspiring woman? Tweet or post it and join the conversation during Women’s History Month with the hashtag #MarchtoParity.