To many women attending The New Agenda benefit last night in New York, it was still summer 2008, when presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton was subjected to much sexist ridicule. Video loops of Tucker Carlson,  Chris Matthews and others making frat boy references to Clinton played throughout cocktails at the Thomson Reuters headquarters in Times Square.

For these women, the wounds still burn. And their anger goes beyond cable personalities to include Democratic Party officials and feminist organizations that accepted this sexism as collateral damage in the battle to get Barack Obama elected.

It was then that former Wall Streeter Amy Siskind and other powerful Clinton backers organized The New Agenda. Their unique brand of feminism is shorn of liberal litmus. They have defended Sarah Palin and now back Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln as she faces a Democratic primary challenge from the left.

The evening's honoree was Lynn Forester de Rothschild. The former Democratic fundraiser shocked many friends when she publicly endorsed the candidacy of John McCain, after Clinton left the race.

Clinton enjoys a near cult status in these circles, where she is both martyr and source of inspiration. Her picture frequently appeared on a giant screen behind the speakers.

“It's almost as if she's challenging us to take the next step to gender equality,” Siskind said with reverence, “and the beauty of Hillary's words is this: They're both revolutionary and indisputable at the same time.”

Now Obama's secretary of state, Clinton may have moved on, but these supporters haven't quite. They take solace in a few perceived victories against her foes.

When group chose its first target from a list of offenders, all hands went up for Chris Matthews. The MSNBC host had expressed interest in running for the Senate from Pennsylvania.

“We said this guy will never be senator in our country. Never!” Siskind said to laughter.

She recounted how the group publicized its displeasure and lobbied Democrats in the state. “Here's the end result: He didn't run,” Siskind said as applause rang through the room.

Also posted, with photos, on www.fromaharrop.com.

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