Hey McCain/Palin, Women Want Answers!

While watching the speech last night by VP Republican nominee Sarah Palin, all I could think was "What is your stance on the issues that relate to me -as a woman?". I did not get any answers, just lots of campaign rhetoric. I previously posted on MOMocrats questioning why the McCain/Palin website has no section on women's issues (but the Obama/Biden website does), and on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog I suggested to McCain that he not play the mom card.

Finally, Republicans For Obama Speak Up!

It took Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central for me to learn about something I have waiting for: Republicans For Obama.  Their about page describes their members as voting Republican their whole lives, but recognize the country needs a new leader - which is Barack Obama.

Susan Eisenhower, grandaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower, is a member of Republicans for Obama. She publically discusses why she backs Barack Obama, but so eloquently explained it on the Stephen Colbert show tonight. Here is a modified - hope I caught every word - liveblog of their discussion:

Palin in Comparison: Not Break A Ceiling, But Build a Wall

I remember the day I first publicly shared my support for Barack Obama, the San Jose Mercury News reporter had to chase me around the party that we were both attending to finally get me to speak up. I was torn between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic nominee for president. In the end, I chose Barack Obama because all of his issues hit home with me and I felt he would be able to bring about the change that is sorely needed in our government. I knew the change would not happen with McCain, who had changed his mind with Bush's. And regarding the gender card, I want a women in the White House, but it needs to be the right women.

Flash to McCain's announcement of Gov. Sarah Palin as his choice for VP running mate (and soul mate?). And better yet, Gov. Palin claimed she was finishing the job that Hillary started by smashing the glass ceiling that she put 18,000,000 cracks in.

When in reality, I agree with Bettina Duval of the Daily Kos who stated "If Governor Palin is elected she may ultimately smash that glass ceiling, but this will only serve to recycle those shards of glass by using them to build a high, thick wall between women and their rights."

Women's rights have already had a tough fight under the Bush administration and if any woman takes a look where Barack Obama stands on women's issues, they will see that he will be the force that will help women break their own glass ceilings. NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy made a statement on the topic, including "Sadly, she (Sarah Palin) is a woman who opposes women's rights, just like John McCain." Judith Warner of the New York Times blogged  "In other words, he (McCain) has time after time put up roadblocks to any legislative measures that could help make women’s abstract equality a reality."

So let's go over this again:

• Barack Obama/Joe Biden's stance on women's issues will HELP WOMEN break their own glass ceilings. His stance includes HEALTH CARE (Fixing the Nation’s Health Care System, Supporting Research into Women’s Health,Fighting Cancer, Reducing Health Risks Due to Mercury Pollution) REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE (Supports a Woman’s Right to Choose, Preventing Unwanted Pregnancy), PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
  Reducing Domestic Violence, Strengthening Domestic Violence Laws, Fighting Gender Violence Abroad) ECONOMIC ISSUES (Fighting for Pay Equity, Expanding Paid Medical Leave,  Investing in Women-Owned Small Businesses, Protecting Social Security, Encouraging Retirement Saving, Improving Child Support Collection), NATIONAL SECURITY (Ending the War in Iraq, Caring for Women Veterans), POVERTY
  including Helping Low-Income Workers and Improving Afterschool and Daycare Opportunities) EDUCATION (including Expanding Early Childhood Education, Promoting Women in Math and Science, Improving Our Schools, Making College More Affordable)

• John McCain/Sarah Palin will build a thick wall between women and their rights. I would link to McCain's stance on women's issues but I could not even find a section on women's issues on McCain's website! No section on womens' issues on their "official campaign website" must equal no interest in women's issues! So instead of listing all the areas of women's issues McCain/Palin support, I will just list NOTHING (                                              ).

Forget the gender card, I just want my rights! I want Barack Obama elected president!

End Of A Dry Spell, Beginning Of An Obama Mama

The first time I posted in public about my choice for President was after going to my first John Edwards fundraising event in September 2007. I chose to donate to his campaign (my dream President) the same amount that it would cost to buy my dream shoes, however hokey that may sound.  I gave lots of thought and research behind my support for John Edwards, and was hit very hard after the announcements of his leaving the race and the return of Elizabeth Edwards' Breast Cancer. Elizabeth Edwards has also become an inspiration to me in her own right.

That was the start of my political blogging dry spell.

Every time I tried to blog again, the passion was gone. Not because I did not believe in Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, the front runners at that time. It was because John Edwards to me was a clear choice, but comparing Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama felt like comparing Manolo Blahnik to Jimmy Choo (back to the hokey shoe comparison) - they were both best of class. Bob Herbert from the New York Times described what I was feeling in his article titled "Savor The Moment":

Meeting John Edwards

I recently had the opportunity to go to a fundraiser for John Edwards and meet him in person, along with fellow MOMocrat, Beth.  There were about 60 people in attendance, and we had the opportunity to chat with Senator Edwards briefly before listening to him give some impassioned remarks about the war in Iraq, global warming, health care, and politics in general.

I was fairly sold after hearing him speak at another event in July, but I decided only a few weeks ago that he is the candidate I'm going to support in the primary.  I had seen both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama speak and spoken to a number of their supporters before making my decision.  This particular event sealed the deal for me, along with his policy statements on education and combating terrorism.

He arrrived with little fanfare and just started talking with people. Beth and I introduced ourselves.  I told him we contribute to the Silicon Valley Moms Blog, and he winced.  Obviously, he was aware of the controversy that had gone on a few weeks before when another contributor harshly criticized the Edwards for taking their young children on the road with them.  She later reconsidered her position after a visit to the blog from Elizabeth, but this episode had just been rehashed in the San Jose Mercury News that morning.  Beth and I wanted him to know that not all of the SV moms felt the same way, and we were showing our support by being there and contributing to his campaign.

After the wince, he broke into a broad smile when we told him that we were supporters and how much we admired Elizabeth.  He said, "I'm so glad you're here.  We appreciate your support."   

Like Elizabeth, John Edwards has the unnerving habit of staring intently into your eyes when he speaks to you.  Despite the swarm of people around vying for his attention, you get the feeling that he is actually listening and taking in what you have to say, and is interested.  He has an easy smile, and seems to be equally comfortable with crowds and with individuals.