Feminists are keeping a close eye on the Democratic National Convention and the Democratic contenders for the White House. The Gore-Lieberman ticket and the Democratic Platform offer hopeful positions on feminist issues, but we are watching to make sure they follow through.
It will take more than Convention glitter to woo women voters. Gore and Lieberman need to step forward as uncompromising advocates for women.
Women voters typically make their decision on candidates later than men do, and with our Bush Whacker campaign, NOW activists intend to make sure women know where Bush and Cheney stand on the issues we care about. The Bush-Cheney "sweet talk express" will not carry them far once women look beyond the campaign hype to their abysmal records.
However, Gore and Lieberman cannot take the women's vote for granted just because their Republican opponents are so bad. They must speak to the issues that drive women voters. If they expect to win in this time of decreasing voter turnout, the Democratic duo needs to mobilize their base and get out their vote.
On October 15, just three weeks out from the election, feminists from across the country and around the world will meet in Washington for the World March of Women 2000. This global action, demanding an end to poverty and violence against women and an era of equality between women and men, will echo all the way to the polls. Women elected the last president and we will elect his successor.