Below the Belt: A Biweekly Column by NOW President Kim Gandy

August 20, 2004

You have got to hand it to George W. Bush and his handlers—they've mastered the art of campaigning by manipulation. While most campaign rallies and town meetings are a bit "staged" for the media, the Bush machine brings that to a new level with the "Heart and Soul Moving America Forward" tour. The New York Times reported two weeks ago that the Bush campaign has gone so far as to strictly limit the audiences to avowed Bush supporters. Not only are tickets to seemingly public events limited to campaign volunteers or registered Republicans-but now anyone who wishes to attend an event where President Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney will be present must sign an oath of loyalty to the Bush administration. Otherwise they will be turned away at the door and asked to leave the premises!

And now the Bush campaign is yanking people from the audience—even if they are not being disruptive. Two weeks ago, a family of three in Michigan was kicked out of a rally for the Bush, not because they were being loud or a threat to security but because they were simply wearing T-shirts with the slogan "This is what a feminist looks like." Not only did campaign staffers ask the family to leave, but the staffers also tried to confiscate their T-shirts as well! While we all know Bush is no feminist, there are absolutely no legitimate reasons to keep feminists out of a public campaign rally—unless of course Bush was scared of his weak record on women's issues and has something to hide!

Believe it or not, I think this is a good sign. If anything, these over-the-top maneuvers prove just how vulnerable the Bush-Cheney campaign thinks it is. Resorting to such tactics indicates how tough this election really is for the President—and how tough we are making it for him! He can try to keep out of his campaign events as many feminists, liberals, Democrats, or undecided voters as he wants but he can't keep us out of the voting booths!

And we will make sure our message is loud and clear when we travel to New York City during the Republican National Convention. Join us as we protest the Bush administration's efforts to dismantle and undermine women's rights.

Join me in New York City on Sept. 1 at the CODE RED: Stop the Bush Agenda demonstration, organized by the NOW-NYC chapter in Central Park's East Meadow from 7-9 p.m. (Enter the park at 90th Street and Fifth Avenue) and also earlier that day at the health care conference where I will join Medea Benjamin and Ethel Long Scott on a women's health care panel from 3:30-4:30 p.m. FREE: Register at CUNY 212-817-8215.

See you there!

Here are some of the many events taking place in connection with the Republican National Convention in New York City:

Friday, Aug. 27
9:30 a.m. - Mothers and Others Opposing Bush March across the Brooklyn Bridge in protest of President Bush and his policies. Cadman Plaza and Middagh St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For more information: www.mob.org.

Saturday, Aug. 28
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. - NYC Reproductive Rights Coalition March across the Brooklyn Bridge for Women's Lives! For more information: www.ppnyc.org.
7 p.m. - Women Against War, an evening of music and spoken word at the Riverside Church. $10 tickets. Get inspired the night before you protest the RNC! For more information: www.codepinkalert.org. Buy tickets online!

Sunday, Aug. 29
10 a.m. - Women's Peace Rally and March: Join us for a vibrant women's peace rally and a loud and colorful march. Bring signs and other creative gear, and wear pink! Go to www.codepinkalert.org for more information.

Monday, Aug. 30
4 p.m. - March for Our Lives! Stop the War at Home! Poor People's March on the first day of the RNC. Go to www.marchforourlives.org for more information.

Tuesday, Aug. 31
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. - "The Health Care Crisis and Election 2004" - A two-day conference. Events include speakers and training on how to make your own contribution to a universal health care system. Go to www.cnhpnow.org for more information.

Wednesday, Sept. 1
9 a.m. - 9 p.m. - "The Health Care Crisis and Election 2004" conference continues. Don't miss the Women's Health Care panel at 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. with Kim Gandy, Medea Benjamin and Ethel Long Scott.
7 - 9 p.m. - CODE RED: Stop the Bush Agenda protest demonstration during the Republican National Convention. Tell the truth to the country about the Bush administration and its agenda. Go to www.now-nyc.org for details!