NOW's political PAC says no to Sarah Palin (while avoiding broaching her name)

On the one hand, it is an endorsement that comes as no surprise.

On the other hand, the decision by NOW's political arm to officially embrace the Democratic presidential ticket is a step out of the ordinary -- traditionally, the group does not announce a pick in the fight for the White House.

Kim Gandy, the president of the 42-year-old National Organization for Women, in a statement released Tuesday, called it "very unusual" for the group's political action committee "to endorse in a presidential election." But referring to Barack Obama, she added, "this is an unprecedented candidate and an unprecedented time for our country."

The statement, after detailing specific policy areas in which Obama's record squares with NOW's agenda, offers this summary:

For more than a decade, Barack Obama has said "yes" to women's rights, while John McCain has consistently said "no" -– NO to pay equity, NO to contraceptive access and reproductive rights, NO to appointing Supreme Court judges who will uphold women's rights and civil rights, NO to funding shelters and other anti-violence programs, and NO to supporting working moms and dads with policies that support work/life balance.

In the statement that supports the ticket that does not include a women while turning its back on the one that does, no mention is made of Sarah Palin.

On a similar note, Obama running mate Joe Biden gets an approving nod in a lengthy New Republic article reviewing his record on women's issues.

Writer Fred Strebeigh notes that since Biden got tapped for the vice presidential slot, he "has been pitted against women, first taking the job that many Hillary Clinton supporters felt was her due, then facing off against another historic woman, Sarah Palin, who could become the first female vice president of the United States. ... But the irony of this assessment is that Biden has some of the best feminist bona fides around."

-- Don Frederick 

Comments

[Terri]

This woman is nothing but trouble. Who in their right mind would pick a candidate under investigation. That is only a sign of things to come if they are elected.

What a mess.

[merge divide]

People wondered whether the Clintons would feel snubbed because Hillary was not tagged as Obama's running mate. Conventional wisdom suggested that she was likely considered, before being rejected in favor of Joe Biden. The McCain campaign exploited the situation by picking an unknown female politician from a remote state as his Vice Presidential nominee. Since then Sarah Palin has energized the base and inspired an avalanche of charges and countercharges among the media, her fans and detractors. In the meantime she has been vocal in praising the Clinton candidacy, claiming to have been inspired by Hillary's example. She has also tried to claim the support of "disenchanted" Clinton voters.

That latest charge is, at its core, essentially irrational. How any reasonable supporter of a Clinton candidacy could transfer his/her loyalties to Palin simply because of gender boggles my mind, and makes me a bit contemptuous of their mental capabilities. Their positions on all of the major issues are virtually dichotomous. Still we are told by Right Wing pundits and the McCain/Palin campaign that women voters who had formerly backed Clinton are flocking to the other side. I suspect that many of these folks are the so-called "PUMAs" that only voted for Hillary at the behest of hack radio host Rush Limbaugh. His calculated attempt to stop the Obama candidacy by having Republicans register to vote in the Democratic primaries fell flat on its face (see Operation Chaos).

But the lip service that disingenuous "conservatives" paid Clinton only betrayed their fears of an Obama victory. The same thing holds true post-convention. The idea that Sarah Palin would represent the core values of women drawn to Hillary Clinton is patently ridiculous. This is a politician who believes that abortion should be illegal even in cases of rape and incest. This is a governor who knowingly replaced the fired public safety commissioner (who had refused to sack her ex-brother-in-law) with someone with an alleged history of sexual harassment*. Meanwhile the executive director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault reports that the high rates of domestic violence and rape in Palin's state "haven't been on her radar as a priority".

McCain's record on "women's issues" is even worse. He has been vocal in his opposition to the Equal Pay Bill for Women, and has suggested that what they need instead is more "education and training"**. In an attempt to kill existing legislation, he voted to suspend the Family and Medical Leave Act, "unless the federal government certified that compliance would not increase business expenses or provide financial assistance to businesses to cover any related costs." And like his running mate, McCain supports the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

*As a result of the public disclosure of these complaints, Chuck Kopp resigned two weeks after Sarah Palin appointed him. Palin admits having been aware of these reports when she offered him the position.

**Maybe the training he has in mind is the VP position?

[formidablyuselesspoet]

Women’s Rights Groups Support Obama

Today my womanhood demands
That I conform to their commands
That I uphold the public heist
To elevate Hawaii’s Christ.

My duty as a democrat
Requires that I should vote like that
To disobey would cause a schism
In the domain of feminism!

But there’s one thing I’d like to know
Before off to the polls I go:
Where were these admirable dames
When Hillary was called bad names?

When women’s rights were under test,
When she was smeared, did they protest?
When media sexism became obscene,
How come they didn’t intervene?

While Sarah is torn up to shreds
They lie calmly in their Obama beds
From which they seek to rule my mind -
Please tell me, are they deaf and blind?

http://formidablyuselesspoet.blogspot.com/

[gaypastor]

If Obama and Biden are truly just as good as any Democratic woman why do we bother trying to get women in politics at all? Why not just let the men continue to have dominance and greater numbers?

[VirginiaHarris]

Senator Clinton and Governor Palin are proof that women can and do diverge on important issues.

Even on the question of whether women should vote!

Most people are totally in the dark about HOW the suffragettes won votes for women, and what life was REALLY like for women before they did.

Suffragettes were opposed by many women who were what was known as 'anti.'

The most influential 'anti' lived in the White House -- First Lady Edith Wilson.

The First Lady's role in Wilson's decision to jail and torture Alice Paul and hundreds of other suffragettes will never be fully known, but she was outraged that these women picketed her husband's White House.

I'd like to share a women's history learning opportunity...

"The Privilege of Voting" is a new free e-mail series that follows eight great women from 1912 - 1920 to reveal ALL that happened to set the stage for women to win the vote.

It's a real-life soap opera about the suffragettes! And it's ALL true!

Powerful suffragettes Alice Paul and Emmeline Pankhurst are featured, along with TWO gorgeous presidential mistresses, First Lady Edith Wilson, Edith Wharton, Isadora Duncan and Alice Roosevelt.

There are tons of heartache on the rocky road to the ballot box, but in the end, women WIN!

Thanks to the success of the suffragettes, women have voices and choices!

Exciting, sequential episodes with lots of historical photos are great to read on coffeebreaks, or anytime.

Subscribe free at

www.CoffeebreakReaders.com/subscribe.html

[Pamela]

They should not endorse any candidate! And they do not speak for me. Sarah Palin is a beautiful do everything woman. She is to be admired. In America, women can do it all, and Todd Palin is a good man-helper to her. I applaud their marriage and their future. I resent women who talk about rights, and criticize those who use them. Hypocrites!

[keith]

NOW is a liberal Democrat front more so than ever. Sarah Palin's only shortcoming really is being a Republican.

[Gail]

NOW should update the organization's name to
N.O.L.W. National Organization of Liberal Women. NOW is right there with Emily's List: Neither group is for the advancement of women: only liberal women.

[mn]

MCCAIN PUT A WOMAN ON THE TICKET!!!!!
how more equal is that>>>>

actions speak louder than empty words.

hillraiser now voting for mccain
as well as all the PUMA's
noone wants to board the obama titanic

[Cathy]

Kim Gandy and her gangs are stupid.

We will probably see more women than ever particitating in this year's election, and most of them are supporting Palin. Endorsing Obama will certainly make NOW become irrelevant in the future.

[Cronos]

"They should not endorse any candidate! And they do not speak for me. Sarah Palin is a beautiful do everything woman. She is to be admired. In America, women can do it all, and Todd Palin is a good man-helper to her. I applaud their marriage and their future. I resent women who talk about rights, and criticize those who use them. Hypocrites!"

The problem is, Pamela, That Palin may be using those rights, McCain isn't for Women's rights, and votes against women's rights. Yay, you're excited there's a strong independent woman as a VP Candidate, But voting for her will only put McCain in office, making it harder for other Women to become Strong Independent Women...

[BEBE]

Let me get this straight. If I recall, NOW still stands for the National Organization of Women, is that correct. This is the same group that was woefully silent as Clinton was exposed as a philandering scum bag low life while attempting to slander Monica as both a stalker and unstable and didn't say a word. NOW they ENDORSE the most bigoted, misogynistic pig I have EVER seen in national politics.

Women are no longer just a stay at home mom OR a working Mom. Most of us do both. We have varying view points on many issues. If you are so naive to think abortion is the only issue (in reality - it affects such a small number of women, you are sadly mistaken) dream on honey.

Give me a party that will put their money and the opportunities where their mouths are. Over the last decade – that has been the Republicans.

I have defended you and your self serving (those serving NOW, not women in general), myopic positions for the LAST time.

Cancel my membership you pack of morons!!!!

[cal]

These anti Paylan folks are the ones that say onething and want something else. This woman is nothing but honest and wholesome. they are so not real.

[John]

Wow! The hypocracy of NOW is quite evident in coming out like this. You would have thought that they would have remained neutral. But, no, you had to make Palin your "Joan of Arc". Looks like NOW doesn't mind the Good ol' Boys network afterall. The organization should change its name to NRW - No Real Women.

[j1858]

Ummm, Since when do womans rights trump the woman herself? Doesn't a womans right extend to believe in what she wants to believe in? Why would you not protect a womans right to have her on political views besides your own? Can't a woman be free from the box you put women in? Democrat pro-choice ..... I think there are other women out there with no one to stand up for them and Palin does just that. And now they don't have to feel afraid to speak up and say what they feel. My wife was standing up and cheering when she heard her speaking. She found her political voice in Palin. Soccer mom, works, tries to balance everything, conservative, country girl. In our town woman have started forming groups to watch Palin. There is an untapped majority out there that doesn't have time for polls and blogs but will have time to vote this time.

[GEAH]

Time to change the name of your group, gals:

NOLW

National Organization for Liberal Women.

[dragonfly777]

It's so sad that the press and Dems dig so hard to find anything on SaraH Palin. NOW does not speak for me either. If they want to back this Reverend Wright, Reztko, Farrakhan, Phleger(I know Now loves this guy),Ayes, Islam friendly jerk, then they will never have my support again. I find this extremely more disturbing than anything. Obama =Islam and the countries plunge. Streisand was wrong..women are stupid!

[Larry Clifton]

There is a sense that liberal Obama women in California will betray their gender for their male Democrat bosses. Under Bill Clinton, so called feminists ran for cover when Clinton’s stain appeared on the dress of a low-level government workers dress. Then there was the media destruction of many women by Clinton and the gals on the left, while other women attempted to to explain to their young daughters what the Democrat president was doing to office workers with his little cigar.
Even when a long-handled woman resurfaced with a rape charge against Clinton, liberal women attcked the victim while Clinton smirked in that hillbilly way of his at all women…. Similarly, with Palin, liberal women are American women’s worst enemy. They are clawing and tearing at Palin like a pack of she-wolves, never questioning the talking points and orders given them by Obama and his operatives. Perhaps the womens’ movement is dead. That would explain how Obama was able to turn Hillary into his reluctant personal cheerleader so easily.
Whatcha think ladies?

http://americanpoliticalblog.wordpress.com/

[Paliban Mom]

As usual, the women's organization abandons the woman who wants to promote Real Christian Values, such as ending baby-killing and teaching Creationism, in favor of someone who promotes turning our backs on God.

Tired of it? So am I!

Check out www.paliban.org and join the grassroots movement to promote Palin's Christian values!

[2T3MzooK]

Those are not anti-woman positions at all--they're pro-individualism, pro-freedom positions. NOW we see the true nature of NOW.

[Paul Smith]

I love great reporting like this. It's about time that people educate themselves about the real Sarah Palin. I found a site that consolidates Palin stories from the LA Times and other credible sources in one easy to read place, www.ThanksButNoThanks.com

[Charles Spiegelman]

What else is there to say about NOW thanks for the memories. You have nothing for the American Women but old ideas. Move over you are done and ready to retire as an organization of importance. Thank you i just love organizations that are unimportant.

[Inkfingers]

Go NOW!

[Angela]

Well... NOW has finally come out of the closet and proven themselves to be just another fake. How dare you. Change your name. I have no intention of changing my gender. And you certainly don't represent WOMEN anymore... if ever. You could be National Organization of Left Wing Liberal Democrats Who Confine Themselves To Our Left Wing Liberal Agenda... although... I'd also be willing to debate your right to consider yourselves... National... by any stretch of the few states that conform to your LACK of standards.

[Jason Alva]

The 100% Full Scope on Palin. This is Palin in her own words, most thorough record on Palin available and it's not bias so if you support her you will want to read and if you don't you should read it also: http://dailysource.org/palin

What really kills me is all the ethics issues and scandals that McCain has been in that the dems and the media arn't bother to remind you about. So I will here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five

I just want everyone to be well informed.

[OVER IT]

There's a valid reason why NOW has pitched for their support for Obama. MCCain and Palin stands on platform that will push womens rights 50 years. Palin's views on women rights are harsher than that of MCCain. She would rather see back alley abortions, and children in trash cans than have teenagers seek the necessary education to proctect themselves. The facts are out there. Accept it or not. NOW made a great decision, deciding on the party that has always supported womens rights.

[bcblue84]

Sarah Palin is a symbol of empowerment to many women all over America. It's ironic that Sarah Palin keeps her own daughter barefoot & pregnant at home. Thank you NOW for seeing through the vapor thin femist rhetoric, resume Sarah Palin puts forth. Sarah Palin is no feminist. A true feminist empowers her daughters with the knowledge that a brilliant college career is everything, that a teen pregnancy can blight a college career, and blight future earning potential, and destroy female independence. What did Sarah Palin, aka "feminist", teach her daughter to empower or disempower her? Sarah Palin may become Vice President or even President, and what will be the fate of our daughters? Sarah Palin is not a feminist. She is a pro-life, creationalist, whose vice presidential agenda may take cue from her own family agenda which minimizes the worth of girls and dismisses teen pregancies rather than confronting them. Sarah Palin may have power & poise, but her values and her disregard for nuturing her own daughter's education and independence, speak volumes to her position on American women. She seems incapable of acknowledging the need to prepare our daughters for life in an increasingly competive world.

[OVER IT]

There's a valid reason why NOW has pitched for their support for Obama. MCCain and Palin stands on platform that will push womens rights 50 years. Palin's views on women rights are harsher than that of MCCain. She would rather see back alley abortions, and children in trash cans than have teenagers seek the necessary education to proctect themselves. The facts are out there. Accept it or not. NOW made a great decision, deciding on the party that has always supported womens rights.

[Roberto]

Sarah Palin and those of her ilk, are much more frightening than the Taliban!

[colette]

I am AMAZED to read all comments bashing NOW, and praising Palin. Women, wake up! Endorsing someone who has a record of supporting women is so much better than endorsing someone just because they are a 'token' woman. Palin was endorsed by the party 'only because' she was a woman and pro-life. I would like to add to what "merge divide" posted "How any reasonable supporter of a Clinton candidacy could transfer his/her loyalties to Palin simply because of gender boggles my mind, and makes me a bit contemptuous of their mental capabilities. "... it acutally makes me a bit contemptuous of what THEY think OUR mental capabilities are.. we would just switch over and vote for the woman regardless of how she would represent us?? That in my estimation is extremely condesending. The person with the track record of supporting women will get my vote. That Obama didn't choose Hillary does not upset me as a woman, I believe he chose Biden to balance out the party. Beyond that, Palin is an embarrassment. Her comments WRT foriegn policy experience "of being able to see Russia" made me cringe. I've already endured 8 years of embarrassment almost every time Bush opened his mouth - we need someone intelligent, sincere and willing to embrace change to lead us in these times.

[lindsay]

Thank you NOW, you did the right thing. Sarah isn't a woman. She said so herself. She's a pitbull who wears lipstick as a disguise so all you people fall for her tricks. If you vote for her, I guarantee it will come back to bite you HARD.

Sorry, but nobody has the right to inject Christian dogma into the United States Government. NOBODY. This is a nation of many differing religions, if you recall. The whole reason this country EXISTS is so that people can be free to practice the religion of their choice, and not have religion rammed down their throats by yay-hoos like Sarah Palin.

Sarah is a fraud. McCain is a sexist pig because he picked her for her gender and nothing else. She isn't a reformer, she's a crook. She's a liar, she's vicious and she exploits people so that she can gain power. The ultimate hypocrite. Smart people can see that.

Obama is up in the polls again. Sarah's little bounce is over. The truth is starting to come about this fraudulent woman. If she would wipe off that garish make-up she's got smeared all over her face, nobody would pay any attention to her.

[caj]

HaHa NOW.....Sarah has outshined you and now your upset. Waaaaaa Waaaaaaaaa...go back under the rock you crawled out from under.

[Native Texan]

Good for N.O.W. True gender equality is when a woman (or a women's organization for that matter) supports a man on the issues instead of a woman because of her gender. N.O.W., as an intelligent voter (who just happens to have the same plumbing as the idiot governor of Alaska) ... I salute you!

McCain has sold his soul to get the oval. No way no how does he get my vote. Obama/Biden 2008!!!!!!!!!

[Ann]

I'm not necessarily a dog lover, but I really HATE pit bulls!

[lindsay]

One thing I've noticed on all these discussion forums is that most people who support Sarah cannot spell or use proper grammar.

That tells us something, doesn't it??

She is pandering to the uneducated fools of America. Come on people, stop drinking the Kool-aid. You are being duped.

Note to "caj" above. You are using the word "your" to mean "you are". You didn't learn much in third grade, did you? The proper way to write it as a contraction is "you're" . Just a little English lesson.

[sally]

lindsay, you actually know how to write and spell? elitist!!!!

[Leslie]

My mother died four years ago. She was the President of Now in Lubbock, Texas, when I was young. I know that she would have been proud to vote for Obama because he represents all Americans - including all women. Sarah Palin does not represent all women - only the ones who have not realized that they are being manipulated and used by the wealthy interests who want to control our government. The persons who control the Republican Party are using a few hot button issues to rile up their base and herd them to the polls to do their will.

Folks will say I am a conspiracy theorist, but completely the opposite. I just know that the middle class would be served up on a platter if McCain and Palin were elected. We have waited many years for a candidate with the attributes that Obama displays - let's not lose this one.

[colette]

What Leslie said.. !!

[Elena Perez]

@formidablyuselesspoet

You obviously weren't paying attention earlier in the primaries, or you'd know that the same group that is supporting Obama now (NOW PAC) endorsed HIllary, and NOW was very strong in opposing the sexism that was leveled at her during the campaign. What you really need to be asking is why the Republicans only discovered sexism once they had a woman on the ticket.

She may be female, but Sarah Palin is bad for American women: http://www.canow.org/canoworg/2008/09/why-sarah-palin.html

[erik]

Pamela...?
Your term "man-helper", in stating what Palins husband was had me laughing out load... Somebody sounds like they need to take a deep breath... Or should I go ask my woman-helper for advice?.. but come to think of it I could use a man-helper too... Can I have both?

[GoodReason]

Sorry, NOW, you are old and passe. Three-quarters of American women refuse to call themselves feminists, because of how you have tied feminism to a political agenda that most women in America do not support.

Now there is a new brand of feminism--Red State Feminism. We're the no-whining, get-it-done, love-being-a-mother, worship-God, smart, no-nonsense, don't-even-try-to-step-on-me women who are the backbone of America. And NOW does not speak for us!

Are you a Red State Feminist? Take the quiz at
http://redstatefeminists.org/createquiz3.htm

[Ever Ready]

Governor Palin rocks! I agree with the sentiment expressed earlier that NOW should just simply change their name. They're for the advancement of women -- as long as they're liberal or wacky.

Despite how she's depicted in the press, Governor Palin enjoys the highest approval rating of ANY governor in the US, fluctuating between 75% and 85%. Yes, that includes *your* state too, wherever your state is.

NOW should be asking her advice, seeing how she won three elections including against an incumbent governor of her own party in the primary, and a former governor in her general election. She continued to excel, which is the cause of the high approval ratings. NOW should be seeking how to get other accomplished women in similar roles, and how to tear down barriers, not tearing down Palin's personality.

Otherwise, NOW should just close their doors. Alternatively, as others and I have previously suggested, they should stop the pretense, and simply change their name to correctly point out their liberal identity.

McCain/Palin (or Palin/McCain) for me!!!!