NOW in the News: And the Beat Goes On

By Jenny Thalheimer, Press Secretary

Spring in the Action Center quickly warmed up for the heated debates over Social Security privatization, judicial nominees and silicone breast implants. The NOW press office worked the phones and reached out to media coast-to-coast bringing women's lives and issues into these debates. Although much of our agenda involves fighting Congress and the Bush Administration, NOW remains the most visible and vocal organization for progressive commentary on all women's issues.

Social Security Steals the Spotlight

In order to leave no woman uninformed of privatization's impact, NOW used multiple media outlets, including an editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle, commentary on TomPaine.com and several high-profile actions and press conferences.

As co-chair of the Task Force on Women and Social Security of the National Council of Women's Organizations, NOW President Kim Gandy spoke at a National Press Club event focusing on the impact of privatization on women that several large media outlets carried.

Gandy's passionate speech at a Social Security rally in the shadow of the Capitol dome aired on NBC Nightly News in April. The Los Angeles Times ran an article quoting Gandy with Senate Finance Committee Minority Leader Max Baucus (D-Mont.), both strongly opposing private accounts.

On March 29, The Lizz Brown Show on WGNU-FM radio in St. Louis featured Gandy with Dean Baker from the Economic Policy Institute on a one-hour segment devoted to women and Social Security. Gandy's speech at June's Take Back America Conference in Washington, D.C. will focus on Social Security as well.

NOW Prepares for Nuclear Attack

Gandy debated former White House Counsel C. Boyden Gray on Public Radio, WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show. She defended NOW's opposition to extremist judicial nominee Priscilla Owen, and pressed Gray to admit that even Attorney General Alberto Gonzales characterized Owen's opinions as "unconscionable judicial activism." While awaiting the Senate decision on the "nuclear option," NOW was featured in a special press conference on the Hill to remind the country of the atrocious legal records of the two female nominees, Owen and Janice Rogers Brown, whose nominations are expected to provoke Republican efforts to ban the filibuster. Media follow-up included: The Austin American-Statesman, The Palm Beach Post, The American Prospect and the San Francisco Chronicle.

FDA Reviews Silicone Implants

During the Food and Drug Administration Advisory Panel hearings on silicone breast implants, Gandy's testimony warning the panel of the serious health risks appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, CBS Marketwatch, The Kansas City Star and Reuters News Service. Gandy appeared on AP Television to talk about the danger of silicone implants. All the while Action Vice President Olga Vives reached out to Spanish-speaking audiences giving interviews to Univision and the Spanish News Service.

Reproductive Rights Take Moral High Ground

As states continue to battle over women's reproductive rights, NOW continues to be the leading voice for privacy in medical issues. Membership Vice President Terry O'Neill debated Pharmacists for Life President Karen Brauer on the syndicated Alan Colmes Radio Show regarding new state laws allowing pharmacists to refuse filling birth control prescriptions based on alleged religious convictions.

As states continue to battle over women's reproductive rights, NOW continues to be the leading voice for privacy in medical issues. Membership Vice President Terry O'Neill debated Pharmacists for Life President Karen Brauer on the syndicated Alan Colmes Radio Show regarding new state laws allowing pharmacists to refuse filling birth control prescriptions based on alleged religious convictions.

Gandy questioned actions of the FDA and legislators, "What does it mean for the public trust when it becomes apparent that political considerations and political appointees are overriding medical decisions that are in the interest of the public health?"

The American Prospect April cover story featured Gandy in a piece exploring whether the "pro-choice movement has seen moral complexity as its enemy," but concluded that "moral complexity is exactly why choice must be saved."

Love Your Body All Year Long

The Love Your Body (LYB) Campaign promoting healthy living and positive body images for women took center stage in quite a few news venues. The CBS Early Show invited Gandy to comment on Kirstie Alley's new cable series "Fat Actress." Gandy said the show, set up to make fun of overweight people and portray their lives as miserable, adds to stereotypes and sends the wrong message to viewers.

An Ottawa Citizen story about new, curvier mannequins with more realistic proportions quoted LYB spokesperson Wendy Shanker, who also appeared on ABC News Now to discuss body image issues young girls face in junior high school. In another story with the AP, gave comments about the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant. She reminded people that there are better alternatives than beauty pageants to build self-esteem in teen girls.

Democrats Falter on Women's Rights

NOW PAC and Feminist Majority PAC attracted attention with tens of thousands of signatures on a petition protesting the Democrats' attempt to recruit anti-abortion candidates for the U.S. Senate, while pushing out pro-choice candidates. Gandy debated Phil Singer, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, on Democracy NOW television, where Gandy lambasted the Democratic leadership's betrayal of women by treating women's rights as a dispensable platform to be traded off when it was convenient. The National Journal, Congressional Quarterly, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Weekly Standard also picked up on this story of betrayal from inside the Beltway.