by Todd Bennett, Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 12:08:56 AM EST
There are times that I get so angry that I can only shake my head in utter disgust, count to ten, and calmly respond to idiocy with good old fashioned fact and class. It is late and I am exhausted, but the duty to rise and defend my candidate knows no schedule, and my desire to stand by a man who spends his life standing by me is not tempered by mere drowsiness. Another diary from a Clinton supporter on http://mydd.com/ has pushed me to this point, and I feel that these are assaults that require response. First the background:
There are times that I get so angry that I can only shake my head in utter disgust, count to ten, and calmly respond to idiocy with good old fashioned fact and class. It is late and I am exhausted, but the duty to rise and defend my candidate knows no schedule, and my desire to stand by a man who spends his life standing by me is not tempered by mere drowsiness. Another diary from a Clinton supporter on http://mydd.com/ has pushed me to this point, and I feel that these are assaults that require response. First the background:
Edwards has the 'right' sort of genitals to win? by areyouready, Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 07:13:12 PM EST
This is hilarious. No wonder Edwards is treated like a clown by mainstream voters...
Though you have to wonder just how strong the Democratic ticket would be there even without Hillary on the ticket.
As others have pointed out, pursuing this line of argument puts Edwards in an odd position, because the unspoken message behind "I'm more electable than her" is "I also have the right sort of genitals." Does the guy running the most lefty campaign of the top tier really want to, as the kids say, "go there"? Apparently so.
Putrid. Nauseating. Unworthy of a good man and a good woman because Hillary is unfortunately reflected upon by this. Still the best way to respond is with truth. And the truth is that a lot of prominent women do support John Edwards, and I do not believe they would if they thought he was sexist. See for yourself: http://www.johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20070717-women-leaders/
Edwards Gains Support From Prominent Women Leaders Jul 17, 2007 12:13 PM
Elizabeth Edwards speaks at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Washington, DC - As Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards spoke at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund today about Senator John Edwards' commitment to improving the lives of women and families, numerous women leaders endorsed Senator Edwards for president. These leaders believe Edwards is the best candidate to put a Democrat back in the White House and protect women's rights. In May, the campaign launched Women for Edwards, http://johnedwards.com/women/ to organize women around the country who support Edwards.
The following women endorsed Edwards for president:
Belinda Biafore, Vice Chair, West Virginia Democratic Party (WV) Cindy Burney, Assistant Prosecutor, City of Bay St. Louis (MS) Maureen Byrne, Community Activist (ME) Laura Edwards, Co-Founder, Lillian's List (NC) Lisbeth "Libba" Evans, Former Chair, NC Democratic Party; former Co-Chair, Women's Campaign Fund (NC) Adelaide Gomer, Park Foundation Trustee (NY) Susan Good, Co-Chair, California Democratic Party Rules Committee and Member of the California Democratic Party Executive Board (CA) Carolyn Honeycutt, Former President North Carolina Democratic Women (NC) Kate Jacobson, Community Activist (MS) Natalie Jayroe, New Orleans Community Activist (LA) Pam Johnson, Board Member of the MS Women's Coalition (MS) Kate Knox, Founder of EWomen and EMERGE Board Member, Attorney (ME) Nancy Larson, DNC Member (MN) Debbe Leftwich, State Senator; Co-Chair, Oklahoma Women's Legislative Caucus (OK) Christi McCoy, Community Activist (MS) Wendy R. Mullins, Community Activist (MS) Mary Jo Neville, DNC Member (MD) Muriel Offerman, DNC Member (NC) Mary Pallant, Chair, Ventura County Commission for Women (CA) Elisa Parker, Vice Chair, Tennessee Democratic Party (TN) Carol Peterson, DNC Member (NC) Nancy Quarles, Former State Representative (MI) Melanie Taylor, Community Activist (NC) Doris Vaccarella, Former Chair, MS Federation of Democratic Women (MS)
Additionally, the supporters below joined Women for Edwards.
Stella Adams, NC Fair Housing Center Executive Director (NC) Linda Bolon, State Representative (OH) Jennifer Brady, State Representative (OH) Kathleen Carney, 8th Congressional District Chair (MI) Liz Carpenter, Austin (TX) Kimberly Chiapetto, Floyd County Democratic Chair (VA) Pam Cooke, Board Member, National Stonewall Democrats June Deadrick, Community Activist (TX) Melissa Diaz, Former DNC Hispanic Media Director Marie Donigan, State Representative (MI) Trina Ellis Erwin, Michigan Women's Caucus Vice Chair (MI) Hope Evans, Chair, Northwestern University Students for Edwards Chair (IL) Joan Flynn, Macomb County Commissioner (MI) Sherry Freeman, Delta Township Trustee (MI) Shirley Frye, Community Activist (NC) Lois Hill, Mount Clemens City Commissioner (MI) Diana Keller, Wyandotte Democratic Club President (MI) Christine Koch, Clinton Township Democrats (MI) Kathleen Law, State Representative (MI) Elizabeth Lenhard, Vice President, Warren Woods Board of Education (MI) Maria Mannarino, Lathrup Village City Councilor (MI) Colleen McGlynn, Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Leader Fred Barry (MA) Laura Miller, Former Mayor of Dallas (TX) Paula Pierson, State Representative (TX) Lana Pollack, Former State Senator, Environmental Leader (MI) Melissa Price, Vice President, Young Democrats of North Carolina (NC) Sarah Roberts, Macomb County Commissioner (MI) Diane Saxe, DNC Member (MA) Valencia Seay, State Senator (GA) Ann Sheinwald, Rockport (MA) Karen Dulaney Smith, Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees (id purposes only) (TX) Trisha Stein, Former Executive Director, One Michigan (MI) Melanie Tate, President, Kentucky College Democrats (KY) Kathy Tocco, Macomb County Commissioner (MI) Theresa Trujeque, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, Clinton Interior Department (NM) Sylvia Trujillo, Community Leader (DC) Mayra Uribe, Community Leader (FL) Meredith Vivian, Vice President, University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
For more information, please contact Colleen Murray at 919-636-3203.
This is only a part of the tale. There must be a reason so many powerful women support him. Well here is his platform on women's issues from his site, along with quotes from female supporters: http://www.johnedwards.com/women/
An Agenda For American WomenBuilding One America means ensuring that women can make choices in their lives with dignity and can participate in our society fully, as equals. The reality of women's lives today is still something far less. They are expected to do more, and they receive less. That's not right." -- John Edwards
American women still face greater challenges in the workplace and greater responsibilities at home. They make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, and mothers--particularly single mothers--do even worse. Women are 48 percent more likely to live in poverty. More than 17 million adult women lack health insurance. Millions of working women struggle to balance their jobs with the needs of their families. John Edwards believes that--to build a larger, more secure middle class--we must do more to strengthen families, help women succeed at work and protect women's rights. [Census Bureau, 2007]
Economic SecurityHelping Women Balance Work and FamilyTwo-thirds of mothers are working, most of them full time. More and more families are caring for their aging parents. But our workplace and public policies have not kept up with this new reality. Edwards will:
Give women time off when they need it by requiring businesses to offer seven paid sick days a year. Edwards will expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover more workers and help states offer paid leave so parents will not have to choose between their families and their paychecks. Create a Great Promise early childhood education program for every four-year-old. For younger children, he will expand the child care tax credit and create a Smart Start initiative to improve child care quality and affordability. Help families caring for their parents by expanding access to home health care, creating more choices for long-term care and offering respite care to provide caregivers a break. [Gerson and Jacobs, 2004; New America Foundation, 2005; KFF, 2006]Securing Women's RetirementWomen are more likely to depend on Social Security for most of their retirement income, even though their annual benefits average only 70 percent of men's. Edwards will help women and other Americans increase their retirement savings by offering a new Get Ahead credit that will match families' retirement savings up to dollar for dollar. He will also examine ways to modernize Social Security to compensate women who pay less into Social Security because they are caring for children or other family members instead of working. [IWPR, 2003]
Ending Poverty within a GenerationFifty-six percent of the nearly 37 million Americans living in poverty are female. John Edwards has called for an end to poverty within 30 years, through policies rooted in the core American values of work, opportunity and responsibility. He has proposed an ambitious set of goals, including lower taxes for low-income working families, 1 million stepping stone jobs, new housing policies to promote economic integration and other initiatives to promote education, savings and strong families. To help the 100 million out-of-school children--the majority of whom are girls--around the world, he will lead a worldwide effort to educate every child. [Census Bureau, 2007; UNESCO, 2005]
Raising the Minimum WageWomen are nearly two-thirds of all minimum-wage workers. A woman with two children working full-time at the $5.85 federal minimum-wage lives nearly 30 percent below the poverty line. Because the recent increase to $7.25 by 2009 is too little, too late, Edwards will give 8 million women a raise by increasing the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2012 and indexing it to increase automatically. [BLS 2007, Lovell 2007]
Women's Equality and Civil RightsProtecting Women's Right to ChooseThe decision about whether to become a parent is one of the most important decisions that a woman can face. Edwards believes that she should make it with her family, her doctor and in the context of her religious and ethical values. He will protect and defend the right to choose and reverse the damage that has been done by President Bush's anti-choice agenda.
Fighting Workplace DiscriminationEdwards supports the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen the remedies for sex discrimination and deter wrongdoing. He will expand resources for female entrepreneurs through his new REACH Fund and by prioritizing the needs of women-owned businesses in existing programs. Edwards will also strengthen enforcement at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and will restore and expand women's right to fight workplace discrimination by overturning the Ledbetter decision that limited women's ability to challenge unfair pay.
Ending Violence Against WomenAchieving full equal rights for women includes the right to be free of violence everywhere. Edwards supports efforts to fully fund the Violence Against Women Act, which provides resources for crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and continuing education to law enforcement and the courts. Edwards will also aggressively support political and economic rights for women where they do not exist and supports efforts to reduce violence against women and children around the world.
Women's HealthGuaranteeing Health Care for Every Woman in AmericaTwo-thirds of uninsured women fail to get the care they need because of its cost. For example, while more than 40,000 women die from breast cancer every year, more than half of uninsured women have not had a mammogram for two years. Edwards will take on the big insurance and drug companies and guarantee true universal health care for every man, woman and child in America. His plan requires employers to cover their workers or help pay the cost; makes insurance affordable for middle-class families through new subsidies and purchasing pools; creates a choice of competing plans, including a public plan and--once insurance is affordable-- requires individuals to get insurance. [Census Bureau, 2007; KFF, 2005; ACS, 2007]
Strengthening America's Research AgendaMore research is needed into the diseases that affect women disproportionately, such as breast cancer, other types of cancer and HIV/AIDS. Edwards supports doubling funding for key priorities at the National Institutes of Health and supports the innovative Department of Defense breast cancer research initiative. Edwards will lift also restrictions and increase funding for embryonic stem cell research, while maintaining strict ethical guidelines to prevent human cloning.
American women still face greater challenges in the workplace and greater responsibilities at home. They make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, and mothers--particularly single mothers--do even worse. Women are 48 percent more likely to live in poverty. More than 17 million adult women lack health insurance. Millions of working women struggle to balance their jobs with the needs of their families. John Edwards believes that--to build a larger, more secure middle class--we must do more to strengthen families, help women succeed at work and protect women's rights. [Census Bureau, 2007]
Economic SecurityHelping Women Balance Work and FamilyTwo-thirds of mothers are working, most of them full time. More and more families are caring for their aging parents. But our workplace and public policies have not kept up with this new reality. Edwards will:
Give women time off when they need it by requiring businesses to offer seven paid sick days a year. Edwards will expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover more workers and help states offer paid leave so parents will not have to choose between their families and their paychecks. Create a Great Promise early childhood education program for every four-year-old. For younger children, he will expand the child care tax credit and create a Smart Start initiative to improve child care quality and affordability. Help families caring for their parents by expanding access to home health care, creating more choices for long-term care and offering respite care to provide caregivers a break. [Gerson and Jacobs, 2004; New America Foundation, 2005; KFF, 2006]Securing Women's RetirementWomen are more likely to depend on Social Security for most of their retirement income, even though their annual benefits average only 70 percent of men's. Edwards will help women and other Americans increase their retirement savings by offering a new Get Ahead credit that will match families' retirement savings up to dollar for dollar. He will also examine ways to modernize Social Security to compensate women who pay less into Social Security because they are caring for children or other family members instead of working. [IWPR, 2003]
Ending Poverty within a GenerationFifty-six percent of the nearly 37 million Americans living in poverty are female. John Edwards has called for an end to poverty within 30 years, through policies rooted in the core American values of work, opportunity and responsibility. He has proposed an ambitious set of goals, including lower taxes for low-income working families, 1 million stepping stone jobs, new housing policies to promote economic integration and other initiatives to promote education, savings and strong families. To help the 100 million out-of-school children--the majority of whom are girls--around the world, he will lead a worldwide effort to educate every child. [Census Bureau, 2007; UNESCO, 2005]
Raising the Minimum WageWomen are nearly two-thirds of all minimum-wage workers. A woman with two children working full-time at the $5.85 federal minimum-wage lives nearly 30 percent below the poverty line. Because the recent increase to $7.25 by 2009 is too little, too late, Edwards will give 8 million women a raise by increasing the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2012 and indexing it to increase automatically. [BLS 2007, Lovell 2007]
Women's Equality and Civil RightsProtecting Women's Right to ChooseThe decision about whether to become a parent is one of the most important decisions that a woman can face. Edwards believes that she should make it with her family, her doctor and in the context of her religious and ethical values. He will protect and defend the right to choose and reverse the damage that has been done by President Bush's anti-choice agenda.
Fighting Workplace DiscriminationEdwards supports the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen the remedies for sex discrimination and deter wrongdoing. He will expand resources for female entrepreneurs through his new REACH Fund and by prioritizing the needs of women-owned businesses in existing programs. Edwards will also strengthen enforcement at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and will restore and expand women's right to fight workplace discrimination by overturning the Ledbetter decision that limited women's ability to challenge unfair pay.
Ending Violence Against WomenAchieving full equal rights for women includes the right to be free of violence everywhere. Edwards supports efforts to fully fund the Violence Against Women Act, which provides resources for crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and continuing education to law enforcement and the courts. Edwards will also aggressively support political and economic rights for women where they do not exist and supports efforts to reduce violence against women and children around the world.
Women's HealthGuaranteeing Health Care for Every Woman in AmericaTwo-thirds of uninsured women fail to get the care they need because of its cost. For example, while more than 40,000 women die from breast cancer every year, more than half of uninsured women have not had a mammogram for two years. Edwards will take on the big insurance and drug companies and guarantee true universal health care for every man, woman and child in America. His plan requires employers to cover their workers or help pay the cost; makes insurance affordable for middle-class families through new subsidies and purchasing pools; creates a choice of competing plans, including a public plan and--once insurance is affordable-- requires individuals to get insurance. [Census Bureau, 2007; KFF, 2005; ACS, 2007]
Strengthening America's Research AgendaMore research is needed into the diseases that affect women disproportionately, such as breast cancer, other types of cancer and HIV/AIDS. Edwards supports doubling funding for key priorities at the National Institutes of Health and supports the innovative Department of Defense breast cancer research initiative. Edwards will lift also restrictions and increase funding for embryonic stem cell research, while maintaining strict ethical guidelines to prevent human cloning.
"I believe in John's deep and profound commitment to the issues that matter most in women's lives. From health care, to Iraq, to poverty, to our environment, I know John is the most effective national messenger for the values we share and I have complete confidence that--with our help--he will win the White House and improve the lives of women everywhere."
- NARAL Pro-Choice America President Emeritus Kate Michelman
"Too many women are not getting the health care they need. John Edwards is the only candidate to outline a specific plan to provide universal coverage and I'm proud to be part of a campaign--the only campaign--with a detailed plan to cover all Americans."
- Texas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
"I am proud to endorse my friend, Senator John Edwards. He has always stood to fight for real change in women's lives--working tirelessly to raise the minimum wage, end poverty and guarantee universal health care."
- Former New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid
"John Edwards has laid out detailed proposals to strengthen families and help working women. John understands the need to prioritize families through good public policy that recognizes the contributions of America's women."
- South Dakota Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
This is but a sampling of his wide ranging support among women, and an indication of the kind of "Pro-Woman" platform we can expect with an Edwards' Presidency. Folks, from this point forward I vow to fight the fire of lies with the water of truth. I do not know for sure John Edwards will win the Presidency, but I know I can sleep at night with him as my choice. My heart knows political joy because I did not compromise. After all these years, compromise has gotten old. If you feel as I do visit http://johnedwards.com/ and learn how supporting him means you do not have to compromise anymore. (Partially Cross-posted on http://mydd.com/ )
Find this and more at: http://waveofblue.blogspot.com/ Progressive blog in support of John Edwards!
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