National NOW Times >> Fall 2008  >> Article

Women Play Pivotal Role in '08 Elections

By Melody Drnach, NOW PAC Board Member

Photo by Liz Newbury NOW Political Action Committee Chair Kim Gandy announces NOW PAC's endorsement of the Obama-Biden ticket. Gandy was joined at the press conference by Eleanor Smeal (left), president of the Feminist Majority, and Dr. E. Faye Williams (right), chair of the National Congress of Black Women, as well as other groups representing millions of women in the U.S.

From the next U.S. president to the makeup of the 111th Congress, women will be a powerful voting force in this election. We have a chance to elect leaders who will undo some of the damage from the past eight years, restore our status in the world, and improve the lives of women and families.

"After surveying our leadership and thoughtful deliberation, NOW's Political Action Committee voted to endorse the ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden because of their record and their commitment to advancing women's rights and opportunities," said NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy. "We cannot face four more years of economic disaster, and the likelihood of more Supreme Court nominees in the right-wing mold of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito -- a promise offered by Senator John McCain."

We believe this team is the one that will lead the fight for women and girls at work and in our homes, schools, and communities across the country. In our mission to advance the rights of all women, we will not be deterred from our commitment to elect the candidates who are best and proven leaders on our issues.

As president, Senator Obama has promised leadership on issues ranging from wage equality to healthcare, from education to the economy. Key highlights include:

• Giving 8.4 million working women a raise of up to $4,700 per year, by increasing the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2011.
• Providing seven days of paid sick leave to 22 million working women.
• Fighting to close the gender wage gap that has women earning 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. This gap is even more pronounced for African American women and Latinas.
• Championing reproductive choice and preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade. Opposing any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.
• Preventing unintended pregnancy by expanding access to contraception, health information and preventive services. Increasing funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education.
• Continuing to fund the Violence Against Women Act to help communities, nonprofit organizations and law enforcement combat domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
• Enforcing the Equal Pay Act to fight job discrimination, and improving child care options and family and medical leave to give women equal footing in the workplace.
• Continuing the development of products that empower women in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
• Exploring the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases.
• Ending discrimination against gay and lesbian couples by extending over 1,000 federal benefits of marriage to same-sex relationships, and opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Advancing NOW's drive for equality also requires winning a progressive, feminist majority in Congress-leaders who are unified in passing legislation necessary to achieve the promises offered by the Obama/Biden team. NOW PAC has endorsed more than 85 candidates who have pro-women's rights platforms, including many incumbents who have demonstrated their commitment to leading and passing legislation on the issues we hope will be at the forefront of the agenda for the next Congress.

In our last issue you read about many of these candidates, but there are more! Recently, NOW PAC endorsed several terrific candidates who will bring new ideas and leadership on our issues. In the primary, Alice Kryzan (NY-26) defeated two challengers to move on to the general election, and Arizona's Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1) defeated a field of Democratic challengers to contend for an open U.S. House seat.

In Florida, two new endorsed candidates are running to unseat incumbents: Annette Taddeo (FL-18), who serves on the advisory board of the "Say No 2" campaign to defeat the gay marriage amendment to the Florida constitution, and Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), who will champion healthcare for all.

Colorado's Betsy Markey, former aid to Sen. Ken Salazar, is running hard in a toss-up race to unseat long-time incumbent and anti-woman legislator Marilyn Musgrave. Markey and all NOW PAC endorsed candidates are campaigning hard to get their progressive, feminist agendas before the voters and to secure a majority of pro-woman members for the next Congress.

NOW members are volunteering their time and talents to help elect feminists to Congress and a president who will be a champion on our issues. You can help us to send field staff to work on these races by donating to NOW PACs. Learn more about these races on the PAC website, and don't forget to get out and vote on Nov. 4.

NOW Pushes Back on Bad Ballot Initiatives

In several states, activists are striking back against ballot measures that would roll back women's rights and civil rights. While conservatives failed in many states to win enough signatures to put dangerous initiatives on the ballots, there are some important battles underway.

In Colorado, voters will decide on the definition of personhood and on an anti-affirmative action initiative. In California, voters will decide whether to force parental notification for abortion, and South Dakota's ballot includes another deceptive attempt to ban abortion.

California and Arizona initiatives would ban same-sex marriage. Arkansas voters will determine the fate of same-sex adoption, and in Florida voters will decide whether to bar legal recognition of all same-sex partnerships.

Read about the party platforms.