Feminist Majority--Gandy Blasts New York Times

[gottaB]

Last Sunday the Times ran a truly stupid editorial that ridiculed NOW and Carol Moseley Braun.

Is Kim Gandy going to take this lying down? Hell no. (Excuse my French, I'm hopping mad.)

Check it out, and if your outraged too, pop one off to the Times. Let them know what's what.


I'm going to kick this for a few days.

:grr:

[gottaB]

1. Update: Roselyn O'Connell responds for NWPC

Roselyn O'Connell rips into the Times:

The National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) has advanced political equality for women for 32 years by recruiting, training and supporting qualified pro-choice women for elective office regardless of political affiliation.

NWPC believes Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun's record and long-time commitment to the principles of equality for all Americans make her uniquely worthy of our endorsement.

We know through research that women voters want candidates that speak directly to their concerns. NWPC is committed to building a true political power base for women--one that heeds women¹s voices.

The editors, while disparaging two veteran women's organizations and the legitimate political aspirations of women to seek the presidency, seem to believe that they are in a better position to decide which candidates are worthy of women's support. In doing so they are the ones guilty of trivializing and demeaning women voters.

Link to NWPC site, with an email addy to reply to the Times.

[Cheswick2.0]

3. It disturbs me that even here on DU

regardless of what other candidates people are supporting, they can't seem to get behind the idea of keeping this woman in the race.

You know someone will come along and post "Nigeria eom" and think that covers the whole topic.

[Iverson]

4. sic semper pragmatism

If you are a bizarrely far left Greenie like me who just can't seem to understand right-wing "realism," then of course you don't ridicule Carolyn Mosely-Braun's candidacy or make snarky references to "women's problems" as the NYTimes did. All genuinely liberal voices are welcome.

But hey, maybe it's just a matter of that pragmatism that has so many cheerleaders in these parts. Everyone knows that she can't win, so we'd all better hush and vote for someone who will take the country in exactly its current direction, only slower.

[Iris]

5. ouch!

That stings!


But you are right on the "money".

[Cheswick2.0]

8. I am all in favor of Pragmatism

being a pragmatic person myself. However I think it is perfectly pragmatic to support Carol and still keep your mind on what other candidate you might vote for if need be.

[gottaB]

12. Sic transit gloria mundi

Can't decide which applies: Ut stuppae flamma, sic transit gloria mundi; or, Ut flatus venti, sic transit gloria mundi.

Of course it would help if I knew Latin. I'm inclined towards the latter if we're talking about the Times.

[Iverson]

17. That's OK.

With today's mass media and disastrous administration, all the Latin you really need is "panem et circem."

[gottaB]

19. To be coupled with "pick em a smirker"

Your sic semper pragmatism post was really sharp. Was that a play on sic semper tyrannis?

[Iverson]

20. you bet your boots

:bounce:

[Cheswick2.0]

2. I love this reply by Kim Gandy

"......With over 500,000 contributing members, NOW's goal is to take action to advance women's equality. Carol Moseley Braun, a forceful ally with a strong record, is getting women's issues onto the table and into the political debate—and she deserves our support. We've never made endorsements to impress the media or the pundits, and we're not going to start now. That would be silly.

—Kim Gandy
President, National Organization for Women
Washington, DC

Sept. 14, 2003 ......."

Good for her.

[spooky3]

6. Thanks for posting this.

It's good to see that I am not the only one who gets very frustrated when "liberals" (whether media or individuals) somehow have a blind spot when it comes to sexism. Many articles in the NYT smack of it--not as obviously as freeper stuff, of course, but in my view, more damaging and difficult to deal with, because of the subtlety and denial on the part of those engaging in it.

[gottaB]

9. You are most welcome

:hi:

[Larkspur]

7. One of the oldest members of Connecticut NOW agrees with me and the NYT

My Sunday Sep 7, 2003 Op Ed in the Hartford Courant was more diplomatic than NYT's, but one of CT NOW's oldest memebers emailed me about my op ed and said that NOW is wasting their energy and money on a candidate who has no hope to win the nomination.

Supporting Braun for President will not help women's causes. Braun's campaign is not a top tier Prez candidacy and shows no sign of growning into one.

Braun does not have what it takes to be President. She lost her senate seat and has yet to prove that she can win another election. Bill Clinton lost his governorship but retook it later BEFORE he ran for president. He proved that he could win after losing. Braun has not proved that ability.

Also Andrea Pringle, Braun's campaign manager, resiged from Braun's campaign a month ago and joined Howard Dean's campaign as a deputy campaign manager. That should have been a big hint for NOW that Braun's campaign is going nowhere.

[gottaB]

10. You too are most welcome, Larkspur

For your reading pleasure: the NOW faq on the Braun endorsement. It might actualy be of interest to you. It mentions Dean by name (#10, scroll down).

[Larkspur]

21. It doesn't say anything about Dean per se

just that NOW members can support anyone but Braun but not use our NOW membership.

B.S. NOW's endorsement of Braun is a waste of time, energey, and money. Braun does not have what it takes to be President of the United States. And at our general membership meeting next month, I will be wearing my Howard Dean buttons and shirt.

If women want to be serious candidates for President of the United States, then they must prepare themselves for the toughest Executive Office position in the world. Governorships are the best way to prepare for this. It worked for the men because that office gave them a chance to prove their executive competency prior to running for President. When female governors prove that they can manage the affairs of their state well and command confidently and competently during crises, the the tide will turn in favor of a woman being elected President. Until female candidates do this, they will not be respected as serious candidates for the Presidency.

NOW should have endorsed Dean because his record on women's rights is superb and he has the best campaign to retake the White House and possibly some seats in the Senate and House. Winning is important in 2004, not only for the White House but for Congress. Unlike Braun, Dean is creating enthusiasm that could translate into coat tails for others.

[Cheswick2.0]

11. kick

kick

[gottaB]

13. Update: AP Story

As reported by the Guardian. Quote:

"Are they going to call a civil rights group silly, or a veterans group, or a labor union, for making an endorsement they don't agree with?" Gandy asked in an interview. "We know they wouldn't use that language with any group of men."

[eridani]

14. Guess I'm just too old

I certainly don't approve of the NYT snottiness about Braun's candidacy, but I'm old enough to remember the first black woman to run for the presidency, Shirley Chisholm. Braun doesn't come close to her achievements.

http://nh.essortment.com/shirleychisholm_ruol.htm


And Sharpton fails badly compared to Jesse Jackson, who made a very concerted and successful effort to get outside his base with the Rainbow Coalition. He read up on farm issues and successfully courted Iowa Dems. It's just too bad he left the Rainbow Coalition hanging when he gave up on going for elected office.

Don't think they should drop out or anything--their issues need to be raised. Maybe I'm getting to be too much of a sourball in old age.

And ditto comparing Hillary Clinton to Eleanor Roosevelt. Hillary doesn't come anywhere close.

Ah, but there were giants in those days! :-)

[gottaB]

15. Chisholm had achievements to be sure

But I believe Braun's are more impressive. You've seen her resume no doubt.

Have a look at this speech by Bill Clinton from Braun's 1988 Senate race. I do believe the accomplishments he presented are impressive. Off the top of my head I could add a dozen more, but to name just one, funding for high speed rail. She got funds for necessary safety grade-crossing improvements tacked on to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. (http://www.elpc.org/trans/rail/Press%20Releases/Mosley-Braun.htm">Link.) Now that may sound like pork, or be trivial to you, but the development of highspeed rail has the potential to do a lot of good for our country. When Carol talks about new technologies improving our lives, and government having a crucial role to play in fostering economic growth, that's the kind of thing she's talking about. And she has definitely walked the talk.

Since you raised the issue, allow me to show you a resolution that was passed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1999. It reads:

WHEREAS, Carol Moseley Braun, a third generation Illinoisan, was educated in the Chicago public schools, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Law School. She served the state as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1973-1977; and

WHEREAS, Carol Moseley Braun was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1978 and immediately earned a reputation as a dynamic legislator and advocate for a more efficient and accountable government. After just 2 terms in the House, she was selected to become the First African-American in Illinois history to serve as Assistant Majority Leader; and

WHEREAS, Carol Moseley Braun was voted ten years as best legislator in the House and received the "Best Legislator" award by the Independent Voters of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Carol Moseley Braun was nominated for the Office of Record of Deeds in 1987 and made history when she became the First Woman and the First African-American ever to hold Executive Office in Cook County Government; and

WHEREAS, Carol Moseley Braun was elected to the United States Senate in November, 1992 and became the Nation's First African-American Woman ever to be elected as United States Senator.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Members of the Board of Commissioners on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, does hereby take this opportunity to congratulate Carol Moseley Braun's appointment as Ambassador to New Zealand. Her legislative success along with her continued commitment to bring people together have defined her as an outstanding leader in serving the people of Illinois and the United States of America; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a copy of same be tendered to Carol Moseley Braun in recognition of her good work and public service.

Link.

The link you provided talked about Chisholm's work in day care, education, political organization and civil rights. Carol has an outstanding record in all of those areas and more. I know it can be a bummer searching for info online (argh thomas @#$%@). If there's any specific problem or issue that you think Carol should have tackled, I'd be happy to share with you the fruits of my lucubrations.

[Cheswick2.0]

18. thank you for posting this

What a great read. I have book marked it.

[Iverson]

16. Remember Barbara Jordan?

She was great, and such clear thinker. There's a President, if only.