Feminists On Sarah: "Extremely Negative"

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Registered: 09-08-2008
Feminists On Sarah: "Extremely Negative"
8
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 10:29pm

CNSNews.com
Palin 'Extremely Negative' on 'Women's Issues,' Feminist Leader Says
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=35811&print=on

Palin 'Extremely Negative' on 'Women's Issues,' Feminist Leader Says

Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority, joined other feminists in endorsing Barack Obama Tuesday at the National Press Club.

CNSNews.com

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer

(CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)

Washington (CNSNews.com) – Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin does not stand for women and women’s rights, said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, at a press conference Tuesday.

That’s largely why the foundation opposes the McCain-Palin ticket, said Smeal, and supports the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

“One thing I’ll say about role models is that women have true equality when conservative women, liberal women, progressive women, and women from all stripes have a chance at the top,” Smeal said.

“And so we are not against a woman being on a ticket for president. We wish it was a ticket that stood for women and women’s rights. Since it doesn’t, we’re opposing that ticket,” she said.

“And her personal positions on women’s issues have also been extremely negative, especially reproductive rights, and there are other issues now emerging,” Smeal added.

Smeal, along with representatives of other feminist groups, spoke at the press conference to endorse Obama and Biden. The bulk of the questions from reporters focused on Palin.

Although Palin, the governor of Alaska, has apparently balanced motherhood with a political career, Smeal told CNSNews.com that Palin was not a role model for feminists.

Deborah Frett, CEO of Business and Professional Women, also endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)
Deborah Frett, CEO of Business and Professional Women (BPW), said that Palin is in an elite group of working women and that other working women should have the resources necessary to be caregivers and “employees without penalty.”

“We want to see all women have that opportunity,” Frett said. “Not just one woman, but all women.”

Another reporter asked whether Palin had been the victim of sexism in the media’s coverage of the campaign after she joined the McCain ticket.

“As far as sexism, as you all know, women’s groups have protested the sexist handling of this presidential election,” Smeal said. “But we think it’s time to get off issues, such as lipstick, and honor the issues really that are challenging this nation, especially issues of pay, all of the issues we’ve talked about – the war and the economy.”

Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization of Women, said GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is out of touch with American women. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)
Another reporter’s question about Obama allegedly being sexist toward women on the campaign trail was met with a response from Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

“We’re glad to see there’s an anti-Obama representative here,” Gandy said.

Gandy also said that the McCain-Palin lead in recent polls would likely change as the presidential race goes forward.

“The polls, I think, also will shift the more women learn what Sarah Palin stands for,” Gandy said. “She opposes abortion even in the case of a child who has been raped or is a victim of incest. Her positions are so completely out of touch with the majority of American women that I think those polls ... will be slipping back very quickly.”

Smeal called the election “historic” for breaking barriers of race, gender, and age.

“This is a historic ticket with an African-American young man running. That’s very, very exciting, and inspiring African-Americans all over the country,” Smeal said. “We have a woman on the ticket, and now we have an elderly gentleman. We’re cracking the age barrier too.”

Gandy defended Obama for picking as his running mate Sen. Joe Biden, who is seven years younger than McCain.

“We’ve worked with him for literally decades. We know he’s passionate. We know he’s a supporter,” Gandy said. “Both people on this ticket stand up for women, support women, and we know they are going to keep their commitments when they’re elected.”

In addition to NOW, the Feminist Majority, and BPW, also endorsing Obama at the event held at the National Press Club were Faye Williams, national chairwoman of the National Congress of Black Women, and the National Association of Social Workers.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 11:13pm

I missed this one....

http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/world/world/general/feminists-roll-out-guns-against-palin/1263705.aspx

Feminists roll out guns against Palin

MIRANDA DEVINE
5/09/2008 12:23:57 AM

Which is why the largest American feminist group, the National Organisation for Women, wasted no time issuing a statement saying it did not endorse Palin because she was not the "right woman" and did not speak "for" women.

Palin is not "for" women because she is pro-life, the organisation said. Old-school feminists have long seen abortion on demand as an article of faith, even though half of all foetuses are female and the views on abortion among women are mixed, with opposition to late-term abortions growing.

Palin calls herself a feminist. As a member of the "Feminists for Life of America" pro-life group, she's just the wrong type. "I believe in the strength and the power of women, and the potential of every human life," she says.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2008
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 11:16pm

Although Palin, the governor of Alaska, has apparently balanced motherhood with a political career, Smeal told CNSNews.com that Palin was not a role model for feminists.


why

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2008
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 11:19pm

Palin is not "for" women because she is pro-life, the organisation said.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 11:22pm

(( i wish someone would tell her she's not speaking for all women.))

lol. The way John McCain said that "we are all Georgians?" lol. He sure as heck wasn't speaking for me. She is speaking for a lot of modern feminists at least. And do hockey moms really think that comparing themselves to pitbulls is "cute" or a step in the right direction for women? I guess. lol.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2008
Thu, 09-18-2008 - 1:33pm

She is speaking for a lot of modern feminists at least.


(*laughs and shakes head*).


what does a 'modern feminist' look like?

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Thu, 09-18-2008 - 1:52pm

(((what does a 'modern feminist' look like? what do they believe?

(i would have labeled her using the label in the article -- 'old-school').

And do hockey moms really think that comparing themselves to pitbulls is "cute" or a step in the right direction for women? I guess. lol.

who on earth said this was 'cute' or that she was trying to be 'cute'?))))

I think that "old school" feminist means even more liberal than the modern feminists which can also be pro-life. But that's just my take on it. The website is more specific.

What did Sarah's joke try to convey? That she's witty, cute? And that hockey moms are vicious? fighters? I thought that women want to be compared to...say women? Not dogs or cats or pigs, etc.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2005
Thu, 09-18-2008 - 2:08pm
I think that part of the disctinction is between women who rise to the top by pandering to the "old boys club"
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Thu, 09-18-2008 - 2:43pm

I find it difficult to put much credence in NOW or its associates anymore.


They have claimed for years to have 500,000 dues paying members.