MOMocrats™

Guest Post from Kristin Teigen of Poligots: North Carolina Road Trip

The MOMocrats are proud to welcome Oregon-based political blogger and honorary MOMocrat Kristin Teigen who just got back from volunteering for Obama in North Carolina. She files this report.

I spent the last week and a half traveling around rural North Carolina, gaining, in part, a very different perspective on this election. In my neighborhood of Southeast Portland, I’ve seen a grand total of one McCain/Palin sign (they are everywhere in North Carolina), I have a plethora of media outlets from which to choose, and I’ve never have to stand in line to vote.

First, the racism. Three days after we got there, a bunch of local idiots went into the woods, shot a black bear in the head, wrapped it in Obama signs and dumped it on the grounds of a nearby campus. A local realtor used his message board to broadcast not a great deal on a house, but a racial epithet about Obama. He took it down only after members of the local Unitarian church protested and picketed him. Where we were, there were a lot of lawn jockeys and even more Confederate flags – on cars, used as curtains in houses, and one, the largest I’ve ever seen, illuminated with spotlights outside a business.

I saw African American teenagers, who grow up with these realities as part of the fabric of their childhood, look at my Obama t-shirts and smile, sometimes slyly, not wanting to show it. They need to know, despite these images, that this country elected a man who looks like them, who can let them know how much power they can have.

PBS Series "WordGirl" Spoofs Presidential Election [Politics + Kids]

The 2008 Emmy Award-winning animated television series “WordGirl” offers a special Election Day episode Tuesday, Nov. 4 on PBS stations across the country.  Called “A Vote for Becky,” this episode, produced by Scholastic Media, introduces young viewers to the concept of voting, as well as using and defining the words “candidate” and “elect.”  The plot centers on a fifth-grade Class President race, with a slyly funny take on events from real-life presidential campaigns.  It’s a perfect addition to a story on teaching kids about elections, the ways kids can participate on Election Day, or a pop-culture take on current events.

Though my eldest is only a first grader she really enjoyed the review copy Scholastic Media sent to us, and so did her 4-year-old sister. (Probably because her mama lives and breathes politics!)

Take a peek the tune in next week to watch the entire episode!

Still undecided? A vote for John McCain is a vote against women. Let us count the ways.

The MOMocrats along with Feminists for Obama want to make sure everyone has the facts before they vote. If you know someone who is still undecided or are undecided yourself, we ask you to consider how the two candidates will address women's issues. John McCain doesn't even have a women and families section on his website. Why? Perhaps it's because the facts show that John McCain has consistently failed to protect women in myriad ways.

For example, McCain voted against funding breast cancer research if it meant taking away from military funds.  Breast cancer affects all women, even the 370,000 women currently serving in the US Armed Forces.  Since breast cancer attacks 1 in 8 women, that means 46,250 members of the US military will deal with breast cancer. And John McCain voted NO.  It is not a niche issue, it’s America’s issue.

If McCain and Palin win, Women Lose. 

Eleanor Smeal, President of Feminist Majority, says, “Obama/Biden are running on the strongest platform for women’s rights of any major party in U.S. history”. 

That’s why Feminist Majority launched www.FeministsForObama.org, a side-by-side comparison of the Democratic and Republican nominees on four major women’s issues: Violence Against Women, Abortion and Contraception, Women and Work, and Breast Cancer and Health Care.

That's why, as soon as McCain announced Sarah Palin as his VP pick, we examined her stance on women's issues and found that like her runningmate, Palin--a woman--has not been a strong advocate for women.

To reach as many people as possible, Feminist Majority created three striking PSAs that illuminate some of the grave truths about the McCain/Palin record on women’s issues. If you have a moment, these are worth watching and sharing. 

One in Six
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fChyeoMJc3U
“John McCain voted against funding to fight violence against women.”

Unholy Trinity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RFrEzQAOvM
“McCain voted against a program funding breast cancer research.”

Violation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w7ZZ5huKMk
“John McCain and Sarah Palin are running on a platform that seeks to outlaw a woman's right to an abortion even in cases of rape and incest.”

McCain on Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  You deserve to know where the candidates stand: http://www.feministsforobama.org/Issues_breastcancer.htm

McCain voted against funding breast cancer research if it meant taking away from military funds.  Breast cancer affects all women, even the 370,000 women currently serving in the US Armed Forces.  Since breast cancer attacks 1 in 8 women, that means 46,250 members of the US military will deal with breast cancer.  And John McCain voted NO.  It is not a niche issue, it’s America’s issue. 

He voted against a bill that changed the course of breast cancer research. 

Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RFrEzQAOvM

Californians Protect Teen Safety: Vote No on Prop 4 [The rest of the country take notice: Your state could be next]

In California, a well-funded anti-choice group has an initiative on the ballot that seems as if it's trying to protect the rights of pregnant teens but in actually, puts certain teens in a lot of danger. (Click link for more info.) If passed, this measure will not only be a serious threat to women's reproductive rights, it will be seen as a stepping stone to overturning Roe v. Wade. 

If you live outside of California and think this initiative won't affect you, think again. If this passes, your state could be next.

Californians: vote No on 4 and tell all your like-minded friends and family to do the same. Every single vote counts.

--Stefania Pomponi Butler

Conservatives for Obama

If you ask me, these voters are the true mavericks.

MOMocrats giveaway: "O baaa ma" onesie and "Baaa Rock!" hat from Chicks and Frogs!

The wonderful folks at Chicks and Frogs have kindly donated a darling onesie and hat from their Obama collection for a MOMocrats giveaway.  The onesie is a 6-12month size so it's perfect for babies born (or due) around the time our new president (that would be President Obama) is elected.

The onesie is a deliciously soft and stretchy and made by American Apparel. It features a cheerful, child-friendly design. The cap is sure to keep baby's head toasty all winter. It's a $38 value and one lucky MOMocrat winner will get it for free!

All you have to do to win is comment below and finish this sentence "When Barack Obama is president..." Hateration will not be tolerated, after all, this is a baby gift we're talking about. Make sure your email works so we can contact you. We will pick a winner at random on Monday, October 29.

Update from Chicks and Frogs and special offer for MOMocrats readers:

This is Eugene Chan from Chicks & Frogs, Thank you Stefania and Momocrats for the post! We love all the responses that are here.

This is an exciting and extraordinary election.   

We just launched a "Buy 1 Swing 1 for Obama!" campaign. Buy any Obama item and we will send a second one for free to someone of your choosing who lives in a swing state.

http://www.chicksandfrogs.com/pages/swing-1-for-obama

Special shoutout to Baby Clara for being our super-model.  We want her to have a President that we can be proud of!

And please use coupon code Momocrats10 on your order for 10% off!

UPDATE:  Congrats JZMom, lucky number 14!

Voter Fraud Update for 10/21/08

Here is a brief roundup of some of the voting rights news from across the country these past few days. These updates will be passed along as we get them.

H/T: Alan Boswell of Election Protection. Election Protection’s non-partisan 866-OUR-VOTE hotline is the voters’ place to go for any and all questions relating to voting as well as to report any voting problems. Go to 866ourvote.org to learn more.

PROBLEMS ABOUND IN OHIO.

The same-day registration window has come and gone in Ohio, but the legal battles keep chugging along.  Hamilton County prosecutor Joseph T. Deters subpoenaed the county elections board for the records of 266 new voters who cast absentee ballots during the week-long election-day registration period, claiming there were problems with addresses and identities. On top of that, there has been a web site breach, a state supreme court recusal, and gubernatorial accusations of “scare tactics.” Just another day in Ohio.

“FRAUD” FIGHT.

Both Democrats and Republicans are accusing one another of encouraging voter fraud. Now the House and Senate are getting in on the action as Judiciary Committee members – Republican and Democrat – in both chambers issued letters demanding investigations into alleged intimidation or fraud. An actual arrest for voter fraud has occurred in California, where a man fraudulently registered in his boyhood home to meet a law requiring that all the signature gatherers in his company were registered in the state.

EARLY VOTING, EARLY PROBLEMS.

Many West Virginians were outraged when they attempted to cast an early ballot but found that their choice “jumped” to the another candidate on the touch-screen, prompting officials to urge voters to re-check their selections before submitting their ballots.

With early voting open in the majority of states, problems and long lines have already begun to crop up. In Florida, many waited 30 minutes to an hour to cast a ballot, in part thanks to mechanical glitches. Poll workers in some spots went out of their way to make sure the waits were comfortable.

Muslim McCain Supporters Confront Intolerance at Rally

Sensible, rational people do attend McCain rallies! Watch how these fine folks force the bigots to take their ball and go home!

h/t: BarbaraKB via Twitter

"Did he love his country less because he was Muslim?"

The title of this post comes from the very astute Suebob who twittered it along with a link to the above photo.

Bronze star. Purple heart. For a soldier with a majestic name who lived 20 short years and who died in service to his country. He was Muslim. He was a hero. He was a patriot of the highest order.

Can we please get off of this Muslim=bad trip? Does Cpl. Khan not deserve our deepest thanks and gratitude? Imagine how his mother must feel hearing those racist whispers. Does smearing Muslims make it any easier for Cpl. Khan's mother to lift her head from his gravestone, stand up and return to her normal life? If I were her, I think I should like to stay there forever with my arms wrapped around his headstone, protecting his memory forever.

That hate reminds me of how Japanese-Americans were treated during World War II. I cannot imagine being stripped of my rights as an American, forced to live in a concentration camp far away from my home, then enlisting to just to prove one's patriotism. "Yes, Muslims, Blacks, Japanese, Any People Not Like Us—we will vilify you, smear you and lock you up, but we will happily accept you into our Armed Forces."

Patriotism doesn't have a race, religion, or color. Neither does bravery or heroism. There are people in this country who would do well to remember that, and if they can't, let's hope they do the next generation a favor and teach that lesson to their children and grandchildren. Enough is enough.

To more powerful photos from the New Yorker series, click here.

—Stefania Pomponi Butler

Proud member of the "liberal feminist agenda" here. How 'bout you?

Y'all catch this gem from Senator McCain this morning?

I just want to say one thing to you, Senator McCain, so listen in real close:

Sarah Palin is not the "best thing that could have happened to America." She is not "a role model for all women." She represents everything that I am against. I feel like holding up her photo to my two young daughters and saying, "See this, girls?  As a women, do not strive to be like this. Strive to be the opposite."

Her family values:

• Extreme, fundamentalist Christian
• Lack of importance placed on education (two kids so far are high school dropouts with no immediate plans to go to college)
• Lack of curiosity about the world
• Has no moral problem with spreading racist smears even though she is "Christian"
• Ignorance
• Anti-choice
• "Drill, baby, drill."
• Allows herself to be as a pawn in the GOP's political agenda (and yes, this includes her cringe-worthy appearance on SNL)

My family values liberal feminist agenda:

• Religious/spiritual acceptance
• High priority placed on education (my girls are being raised to go to college, no if's and's or but's about it)
• Love of travel, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures; we are citizens of the world
• Bigotry and racism is wrong
• Tolerance
• Pro-choice
• "Green, baby, green!"
• Critical thinking

With each passing day McCain is showing us how much he hates women. I mean, he just seems to harbor so much disdain for anyone with a uterus. From air quotes about "women's health" to his callous treatment of his first wife to calling Cindy a "cunt" in public to picking a complete douche to be his running mate he has shown how little he thinks of women. How Cindy can continue showering Gramps with her money after that is beyond me. Cindy seems like a sensible woman. Let's hope she comes to her senses and divorces his ass after this campaign is over. She certainly doesn't need him to support her.

The fact that McCain thinks she is a role model to all women again highlights the abject cynicism with which he views our gender. If that's the case, count me as a proud liberal feminist raising two more liberal feminists to follow my agenda. McCain, if I were your wife (shudder) and you called me a cunt in public your stumpy little ass would have been knocked out. I know I could take you, because I'm two inches taller than you, Short Stuff. Liberal feminists unite!

—Stefania Pomponi Butler