Women speak out for Kerry

[Feanorcurufinwe]

A group of about 100 Kerry supporters - most of them women - and a few undecided voters gathered yesterday at the Kimball-Jenkins Estate for the kick-off of John Kerry's Women's Voices on the Trail campaign. Former governor Jeanne Shaheen, along with New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Kerry's daughter, Vanessa Kerry, led the discussion, which traveled from women's unequal place in the work force to health care, homeland security and free trade. The initiative, which will include forums, live events and online chats throughout the primary season, was designed to "recognize just how important women are in choosing the president next fall," said Shaheen, Kerry's national campaign chairwoman.

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At other times in her life, (Vanessa) Kerry said, she has been more likely to take her father's advice.

Kerry was one of his daughter's biggest fans when she joined the high school ice hockey team, she said. He bought her first pair of skates, then encouraged her to be just as tough as any of the male players she would encounter during games. He also defended her skills to strangers who assumed a female hockey player wouldn't play as hard as a boy, she said.

"My father has encouraged me to do a lot of things I probably wouldn't have done without his wisdom," she said. "He said, 'Girls, you have a voice. Use it, be heard and be proud.' "

Maloney and Shaheen - and a table full of campaign pamphlets - highlighted some of Kerry's more public accomplishments for women and families. Kerry is pro-choice. He helped pass the Violence Against Women Act in the Senate and supported the Women's Health Equity Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows people to take time off from work to care for a child or ailing relative. He is also against privatizing social security, and he wants to expand health care coverage for uninsured families. He wants to make the federal education law, No Child Left Behind, more flexible for teachers, schools and children. He wants to create new jobs, make the country safer and clean up the environment.

As president, Kerry would also help close the gap between what men and women earn on the job, Maloney said. Right now, she said, working women make about 73 cents for every dollar men make. Kerry would make businesses publicly accountable for their salary practices.
http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/news/local2004/010604_kerry_2004.shtml

[sallyseven]

1. There is a new book about Kerry

I saw it on NBC this am. This was a student project and he said some very interesting things. One thing is that Kerry hated the Viet War. Pay attention folks. You might learn something about him and what he stands for.

[sallyseven]

3. The authors's name is Brinkley.

[jadesfire]

2. Kerrys Women's initiative

Kerry is actually the only candidate who is doing serious outreach to women. He has a great page on his website: www.johnkerry.com/wvot