NOW Hosts Presidential Candidates Forum on Women's Rights

Share/Save

Send

Print Shop Amazon

NOW Hosts Presidential Candidates' Forum on Women's Rights

July 14, 2003

by NOW Staff

Addressing a standing-room only crowd, four presidential candidates enthusiastically debated the full range of women's issues at a presidential candidates' forum at the 2003 National NOW Conference July 11 in Arlington, Va.

Democratic presidential candidates addressed a standing-room only crowd at the 2003 National NOW Conference in Arlington, Va. on July 11. Photo by Leonard Tengco

An audience of about 1,000 NOW activists and women's rights supporters heard Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, Gov. Howard Dean, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, and Rev. Al Sharpton make commitments to honor women's rights and to promote economic justice for women and their families. Candidates answered questions submitted by NOW members and also those posed by moderator Elayne Boosler along with veteran journalists Helen Thomas, Eleanor Clift, and Kathy Gambrell.

About 1,000 women's rights supporters attended NOW's presidential candidates' forum. Photo by Leonard Tengco

The candidates tried to outdo each other in their dedication to preserving reproductive rights, ensuring civil rights for all, combating violence against women, and achieving economic equity. All had harsh words for the present administration and its record in Iraq and on other important economic issues.

Political satirist Elayne Boosler moderated NOW's presidential candidates' forum. Photo by Leonard Tengco

Unable to attend the event in person, Sen. John Kerry sent greetings to the conference, saying he marched at his sister's side as an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment. Sen. John Edwards' wife, attorney Elizabeth Edwards, greeted attendees after the forum.

NOW leaders praised the four candidates who participated in the forum and chided those who didn't attend. "They missed a stunning opportunity to get their faces and platforms in front of feminists from across the nation," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "If they want the women's vote—which we know will provide the winning margin for the 2004 primaries—NOW's presidential candidates' forum should have been at the top of their lists."

Make plans now to come to next year's National NOW Conference in Las Vegas, July 14-16, 2004!

Share/Save Send Print