Tag Archives: Barack Obama

Who Will Our Country Support With The Economic Stimulus Package?

A little less than a month ago, I wrote a blog post, How About A Stimulus Package For Women’s “Human Capital” Jobs?

I was inspired by a NYTimes.com piece, Where Are the New Jobs for Women? , in which Linda R. Hirshman examines the Obama administration’s proposed stimulus package and women’s place in it, saying :

“BARACK OBAMA has announced a plan to stimulate the economy by creating 2.5 million jobs over the next two years…but there are almost no women on this road to recovery.

The bulk of the stimulus program will provide jobs for men, because building projects generate jobs in construction, where women make up only 9 percent of the work force.

It turns out that green jobs are almost entirely male as well, especially in the alternative energy area.”

She goes on to suggest that the stimulus package include infusions of funds for workers, like teachers, who build our human capital.

Now, about an hour ago, Katherine Franke, has come along with an article,  Stimulating Gender Equality, posted on the Feminist Law Professors ,cross-posted from Columbia Law School’s Gender & Sexuality Law Blog, which takes Linda Hirshman to task for her position, stating that “the solution to gender-bias in the federal bailout isn’t to reinforce other gender asymmetries in the wage labor market. Sure, schools and hospitals should get ample amounts of funding in the stimulus package, but not because women work there, rather because our schools and hospitals are crumbling.”

She adds:

“The hard work we need to do RIGHT NOW is make it clear to the Obama Administration that a serious commitment to gender equality requires that they tie the funding of road construction, school rebuilding, development of green technologies – and even the financial services industry – to non-discrimination on the basis of sex and race, but also to data collection and reporting on who is getting the money. Who owns the companies that get stimulus funding, who gets hired by those companies, and what work they’re doing. Affirmative action has become a dirty word, but there are plenty of other means by which the work traditionally done by white men can be transformed into work that does not have a proper gender and racial identity. New apprenticeship programs for women and people of color who have been closed out of certain industries will be needed – particularly for those who are retooling themselves after having been laid off.”

Look, I agree with that, too. I say, why can’t we do both?  Fund the workplaces where women are now….because they are vital to our future…..and move more women into the construction trades…. because there are good jobs there which will accomplish vital goals, as well.

Starting years ago, as part of the mission of AdvancingWomen.com to level the playing field,  I was comparing wages and how fast you could rise in some of the non-traditional jobs compared to many types of low to mid-level white collar jobs.  I used to travel to colleges, particularly community colleges, presenting on the relative ease of entry, better pay scales and opportunity to rise rapidly, in jobs like fork lift operator and helicopter pilot.  I brought with me real women holding these jobs as living, breathing examples that this was a viable alternative to dead-end or low paying work.

Part of the change we need, at this moment, may be the stimulus package.  But another part of it is that women must educate themselves and understand the opportunities out there.  I guarantee that a master carpenter or a helicopter pilot will make more than most teachers. Not that they should, but they do. And this is reality we’re dealing with.

Let’s put Victorian, yesteryear thinking behind us, pull on those overalls, strap on our tool belt or our goggles and helmet and start making more money.  Having more resources can be an integral part of having a greater say over our future, which is what, I think, most of us want.

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Clinton Nominated Secretary Of State: Obama’s “Team Of Centrists”

Many have characterized Obama’s cabinet picks as “A Team of Rivals,” borrowing from historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s description of Lincoln’s cabinet.

But, in fact, Julian Zelizer in CNN.Politics.com maintains Obama’s team is shaping up as a group of Clinton-era centrists and that Bill Clinton must be smiling.

“The most striking characteristic of the current lineup ( including Senator Clinton) is how the personalities reflect the centrist vision of the Democratic Party promoted by Bill Clinton and his colleagues at the Democratic Leadership Council in the 1990s.

President-elect Barack Obama and his likely Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Obama has called on experts who aggressively promoted globalization and deregulation on economic matters, pushed for welfare reform, and accepted the necessity of military force and a strong defense. There are exceptions, but overall thus far, it appears Obama will be advised from the center.

Some of Obama’s core supporters are surprised and upset with his choices while others say his choices are a logical reaction to the crises facing his administration.

A close look at Obama’s development since 2004 suggests centrism should have been expected. There is little evidence beyond his history as a community organizer to indicate Obama is left of center.

That’s part of the irony of the attacks made by Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin against Obama for his association with 1960s radicals and statements about progressive taxation.

When Obama was introduced to the national scene at the 2004 Democratic Convention, his keynote speech focused on the need to overcome political polarization and long-standing divisions. In the most famous part of the speech, Obama said, “there’s not a liberal America and a conservative America — there’s the United States of America.”

This is far from the rallying cries of Sen. Ted Kennedy who has enthusiastically defended the liberal tradition of his party.

During his presidential campaign in 2008, Obama’s policy proposals were not at all radical. Indeed many of his key positions looked much more like those of Bill Clinton than Franklin Roosevelt or Lyndon Johnson.”

So Hillary Clinton may be a perfect match, after all.

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Three Candidates for Vice President : NO QUARTER

Three Candidates for Vice President : NO QUARTER.

Blogger, Bud White contrasts JFK’s choice of Lyndon Johnson to unite the party and give it geographical balance with Obama’s refusal to choose his closest contender Hillary Clinton, defining it as a poor political decision, reinforcing his worst traits.  He also goes on to cast it as a sexist decision which has infuriated and energized some women and as turning the tide of some women against him.

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(Cartoon by Pat Racimora)

Although I ignore Dick Morris when he speaks about the Clintons, his Machiavellian view of politics is often worth listening to closely. Here’s Morris on Palin and women:

Anecdotal evidence already suggests that women may have a gut reaction to the establishment’s sexist assault on a woman candidate – and flock to McCain. They’ve seen him stake everything on this one big move of turning toward a woman – in direct contrast to Obama’s deliberate decision not to name a woman.

They’ve seen the media and Democrats gang up on her and do their worst. And they’ve seen Palin stand up and stuff the challenge right back down the establishment’s throat. All this may have created an entirely new dynamic in the race.

Recent polling data is confirming Morris’ prediction:

An ABC News-Washington Post survey showed white women have moved from backing Obama by 8 points to supporting McCain by 12 points, with majorities viewing Palin favorably and saying she boosts their faith in McCain’s decisions.

For many women, I believe, Obama-Biden represents the worst of the boys club and McCain-Palin have become the agents of change…

Instead of making a peace offering to women by picking Hillary, Obama is now in the position of attacking another woman candidate. It’s starting to look like a pattern. The headline today from the Associated Press, written by Nedra Pickler, is “Obama puts heat on Palin as she boosts GOP ticket.” She writes:

Obama said last week’s Republican National Convention did a good job of highlighting Palin’s biography — “Mother, governor, moose shooter. That’s cool,” he said. But he said Palin really is just another Republican politician, one who is stretching the truth about her record.

“When John McCain gets up there with Sarah Palin and says, `We’re for change,’ … what are they talking about?” Obama said Monday. (emphasis added)

Obama’s use of the pedestrian “cool” is meant to assure us that he is unfazed by Palin, but his need to sound unconcerned makes the desperation almost palpable. Obama is now running against Palin. He doesn’t have a choice. Obama is hemorrhaging women voters. He must stop the bleeding, but his attacks on her only serve to diminish him. Palin has become Obama’s opponent, and his attacks on her inexperience only remind voters of his own inexperience and, even worse, they remind women of what he and his supporters did to Hillary. The attacks on Palin, a woman friend told me today, are beginning to feel like personal attacks on all women.

Instead of having two political giants like Kennedy and Johnson, we have three candidates for vice president, of which Palin is the best, and McCain is reaping the benefit.

Palin Does What Hillary Couldn’t — Scares Obama Silly (Wizbang)

Palin Does What Hillary Couldn’t — Scares Obama Silly (Wizbang).

Posted by Lorie Byrd
Published: September 6, 2008 – 2:49 AM

Hillary in her smart pantsuit, with her 18 million voters and whatever is left of the Clinton machine behind her, didn’t scare Barack Obama. It took a small town former beauty queen in heels, skirt and chignon with a baby on her hip to do that. And there is no doubt that he is afraid of her considering how his supporters have thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, at her over the past week. Considering that in less than a week Sarah Palin achieved a higher approval rating than either McCain or Obama, drew an audience 10 million larger than that of Joe Biden (just 1 million less than Obama) and united and energized the Republican party like no one has since Ronald Reagan, Obama has reason to fear.

He announced yesterday though, that he is not going to be bullied.

“We’re not going to be bullied, we’re not going to be smeared, we’re not going to be lied about,” Obama said. “I don’t believe in coming in second.”

If anyone needs to worry about being smeared and lied about, it is not Barack Obama. The coming in second part though — he should worry

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The Difference Between Democrats and Republicans Handling of Sexism

The Difference : NO QUARTER.

Between how the Republicans deal with sexism in this election, and how the Democrats have dealt with sexism is mighty telling. The latter were mum, until after Hillary conceded the race then they made some noise about how things weren’t so great on the whole woman thing. The one exception was Geraldine Ferraro standing up for Hillary. She got labeled a racist for her trouble. I should add, not only did the DNC not speak up, they actually got in a few digs, too.

Not so the Republicans. I take NO credit for these next two pieces at all – they came from alert readers at No Quarter. The first one is from “Hope Floats,” who posted the following article:

“Gov. Palin’s experience is in running a state,” added Swift. “Barack Obama’s experience, as he himself has said, is in running a campaign.”

Joining Swift in her denunciations were senior McCain aide Carly Fiorina, Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin and Renee Amore, Deputy Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.

“The Republican Party will not stand by while Gov. Palin is subjected to sexist attacks,” said Fiorina, who explained that all the women on stage had experienced sexism in their careers. “I don’t believe American women are going to stand for it either.”

“It is quite interesting that Gov. Palin has managed the state of Alaska with 24,000 employees and a $10 billion budget,” said Blackburn. “How many men have done that?”

Amore was more direct. Referring to the media, she said, “You never talk about that Barack Obama hasn’t run anything.”

“These smears are meant to distract from the fact that Gov. Palin has more experience than Barack Obama,” said Amore. She then issued a humorous, if also serious, challenge: “Let me use some ebonics … We will get with you, if you keep messing with us.”

There wasn’t a link to the post, but here is a VIDEO you can watch.

And then, frequent commenter Paul Villareal has several YouTube videos up, particularly this one in which Newt Gingrich (I know – I am as surprised by this as anybody) lays into a MSNBC reporter on the differences between Governor Palin and Barack Obama (again, she’s second on the ticket, Obama is first – and HE STILL COMES UP SHORT IN THE COMPARISON!!!). Anyway, take a look The end is a hoot:

Clinton’s Supporters Talk Back – washingtonpost.com

Clinton’s Supporters Talk Back – washingtonpost.com.

As one writer says, ” I am amazed that I, as an independent voter, do not seem allowed to have a mind of my own…no one, not even Ms. Clinton, can or should be able to dictate to me how to vote. I will not vote for Mr. Obama, not because I am bitter but because I do not believe that he is at all qualified for this job.

His lack of experience in every area of importance was of great concern to me during the primaries and still is.

I am a Democrat, but I am an American first and I will vote for the candidate who, I believe, will be the best leader for our country, especially in these dangerous times. Whoever loses the election, it will be because the majority of voters have concluded that he was not the best candidate for the job and not because Ms. Clinton’s supporters did not fall into line.”

Maureen Dowd And The Crisis Of The “Sore Winners”

By: Amy Siskind, 8/5/08

I coach young children in team sports. I teach them that there are two important life lessons which you will learn playing sports. One is the notion of “teamwork” – working with and depending on others. The second lesson is that in each game there is a winning team and a losing team. When you walk off the field or the court, act with grace and dignity whatever the outcome.

Maureen Dowd’s coach missed the second lesson. Apparently, many of Senator Obama’s other surrogates seem to have missed out on this life lesson as well.
We all have our struggles in life. We have good times and bad. We do things that we later regret. We make mistakes.

But there is one thing that cannot be forgiven – the hubris that comes along with being a sore winner.

I have been at a loss since Senator Clinton suspended her campaign. I could not understand how Senator Obama and his surrogates could think that by belittling , degrading and bullying millions of Democratic men and women, that this would somehow unite the party? I just could not grasp where they were coming from.

And the polls bore out the same. When Senator Clinton first suspended her campaign, a CNN poll showed that 60% of her 18 million voters would move to Senator Obama. A month later, in early July, that number had actually dropped to 54% – meaning that 46% of Senator Clinton’s voters were not planning to vote for Senator Obama – shocking? Well, no.
Instead of reaching out and unifying the party, Senator Obama told us: “get over it.” He acted aloof towards Senator Clinton’s donors in meetings. At a house party in New York in late June, one of Senator Obama’s top female aides told a group of women: “We’re not used to this drama.” He selected Patty Solis Doyle to be chief of staff to his yet to be named vice president. Salt and more salt in open wounds.

But the degradation did not stop there. There was the letter from Don Fowler and Alice Germond in mid July about their “fatigue and irritation.” There were the daily diatribes by Obama surrogates calling us: “childish,” “move on already,” “angry bunch of women.”
Hmmm. I find myself still puzzled by this Obama Campaign strategy; but I continued to read the polls.

Senator Obama is the first Democratic candidate for president in 20 years that is actually BEHIND the Republican nominee with women over 40. Typically, a Democratic candidate can count on a 10-15 point lead with this demographic; but Senator Obama is BEHIND Senator McCain by 4 points in a recent Fox Poll. And in a Zogby Poll done in early August, among all women, Senator McCain closed 10 points on Senator Obama since early July.
But, okay. Clearly the Obama Campaign knows something that I don’t. They must have a strategy here. Surely degrading, belittling and bullying voters will make them want to come aboard. Right?

And now back to our gal Maureen Dowd, who this past Sunday came out with yet another of her blistering attacks on women. This time rather than vilify Senator Clinton herself, we Clinton supporters got a turn to be the target. The first sentence of her editorial reads: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that Barack Obama must continue to grovel to Hillary Clinton’s dead-enders, some of whom mutter darkly that they will not only not vote for him, they will never vote for a man again.” First off, I would like to point out that Maureen copied the words “Clinton dead-enders” from a much younger and more talented writer, Michelle Goldberg of The New Republic who wrote an article in early June titled 3 A.M For Feminism: Clinton dead-enders and the crisis of the women’s movement. Michelle’s piece is thoughtful and insightful – not a sling full of mud. Second, Barack Obama does not have to continue anything – he and his surrogates need to START acting with dignity and grace – not act like sore winners. And lastly, we are hardly muttering that we will never vote for a man again. We are ready, willing and able to vote for a qualified man. We voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry to name a few. And, if Maureen et al continue to degrade us, belittle us, bully us, and act as sore winners, we will once again be voting for a man – Senator McCain!

The Confluence – Obama’s Gesture Too Little, Too Late

The Confluence.

Over at Riverdaughter, in response to the news – Barack Obama, who battled with Hillary Clinton over delegates from Florida and Michigan during the Democratic presidential primary campaign, today urged that delegates from both states be allowed “to cast a full vote” during the party’s convention this month:

Follow Up X 3 – Obama’s Gesture – Too much, too little, and waaay too late

Posted on August 4, 2008 by sm77

Riverdaughter & MadamaB said what I wanted to say in a more eloquent fashion than I would at this point (*$%^$(*$#&#^!!!), so I’ll let the following speak for me:

All this brings to mind the Will Rogers quote, “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.”