Obama v. McCain on the Issues: Standing Up for Women and Families

After all the lies we heard coming out of the RNC, and since the Republicans had their chance yet choose not to talk about REAL ISSUES for an entire week, let's take a closer look at the differences between Obama and McCain's policies that affect working families most.

ISSUE: STANDING UP FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES

Note: John McCain has NO WOMEN/FAMILIES ISSUES section on his official website. Barack Obama has both.

BARACK OBAMA

• Obama: “It’s Never Been More Important To Protect A Woman’s Right To Choose.” On the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Obama said “it’s never been more important to protect a woman’s right to choose.” [Obama Press Release, 1/22/08]

• Obama Cosponsored The Federal Fair Pay Restoration Act And Describes Equal Pay For Equal Work As “Fundamental.” Obama co-sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which sought to overturn the recent Supreme Court decision making it harder for women to challenge pay discrimination. Obama said, “We’ve got to use all the power at our disposal to make sure that women are treated equally. The idea of equal pay for equal work is something that I think is fundamental to the American ideal.”

• Obama Cosponsored Legislation To Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act. Obama co-sponsored the legislation reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, which provides funds to help communities, nonprofit organizations and police combat domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. VAWA also establishes a sexual assault services program and provides education grants to prevent domestic violence. As president, Obama will fully fund and implement VAWA.

• Obama Will Expand The Child And Dependent Care Tax Credit. Obama will expand the Child and Dependent Care tax credit to 7.5 million more working women, double funding for afterschool programs to serve 1 million more children, and provide summer learning opportunities to an additional 1 million young people.

JOHN MCCAIN

• McCain Brags About His Anti-Choice Record And Wants To Overturn Roe v. Wade. McCain has a long anti-choice record and he even bragged about the consistent “zero” score he had received from NARAL Pro-Choice America. His campaign website says he “believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned.” [Vote 110, 4/23/08; McCain Website, “Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life,” 8/11/08; NARAL, 8/11/08]

• McCain Opposed Legislation That Would Help Women Achieve Pay Equity. McCain opposed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which sought to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision making it harder for women to challenge pay discrimination. McCain even suggested that women get paid less because they need more education and training. In addition, McCain voted against a proposal that would have provided more effective remedies to victims of sex discrimination in the payment of wages. [AP, 4/24/08; S.Amdt. 3847 to H.R. 4810, Vote #203, 7/17/00]

• McCain Repeatedly Voted Against Funding To Fight And Prevent Domestic Violence. McCain has repeatedly voted against funding to fight and prevent domestic violence, including a $9 million increase for the Office of Violence Against Women. McCain even opposed authorizing grants to aid children who have witnessed domestic violence. [2005 Senate Vote 226, 9/13/2005; 1995 Senate Vote 205, 5/25/1995; 1994 Senate Vote #295, 8/25/1994; Los Angeles Times, 8/26/1994; S 254, Vote #125, 5/18/99]

• McCain Has Repeatedly Voted Against Increased Funding For Child Care. McCain repeatedly voted against providing billions in additional funding for child care services. McCain even voted against a proposal to expand tax credits for businesses that provide quality child care centers. [Vote 226, 9/13/05; 205, 5/25/95; Vote 295, 8/25/94]

That's not change, that's just more of the same.

Comments

[Scheherazade Khan]

Fantastic series on O vs. Mac on the issues. So important to ALWAYS point out that this is what the election is about, not the nasty trailer-trash sniping that is going on. Women, moms, wives, whoever thinks that Sarah Palin represents their interests needs to know that this is a complete falsehood...Simply having the same chromosomal make-up as me doesn't make her my "sista" in outlook or philosophy. She is reactionary, uninformed and woefully narrow-minded. Please do not vote against our interests, and the interests of women in America, by choosing this pale, shallow person.