The Feminist Majority Political Action Committee endorses and strongly supports the election of Barack Obama and Joseph Biden. Obama and Biden are strong supporters of women’s rights including the right to equal pay for equal work, programs to reduce violence against women, a woman’s right to choose legal and safe abortion as well as have access to affordable birth control, work/family balance issues, and end to the Iraq war.
“Obama/Biden are running on the strongest platform for women’s rights of any major party in USA history,” said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority. “But it’s not just platforms. Voting records show the stark difference between the Obama and McCain tickets.”
Feminist Majority is proud to stand with our allied organizations the National Organization for Women, Business and Professional Women, National Association of Social Workers, National Congress of Black Women, and the Women’s Information Network as well as those who have endorsed separately including the National Association of Nurses, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARAL, and literally hundreds of women leaders from many different sectors who have broken down barriers for women.
“It’s no wonder teachers, nurses, social workers, businesswomen and women business owners, and feminists stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden,” said Smeal. “Whether it is work and family issues, combating wage discrimination or violence against women, or keeping abortion safe and legal or birth control accessible and affordable, the Obama ticket is 100% on record supporting women’s rights while the McCain ticket often rates a zero on issues impacting millions of women and girls’ opportunities, prosperity, health, education, and very lives.”
The Feminist Majority PAC is releasing today an issue by issue comparison of the Obama/Biden versus McCain/Palin records, platforms, and policy positions. The comparison is stark and in some cases down right shocking.
For example, Senator Biden authored and championed the Violence Against Women Act; Senator Obama co-sponsored its reauthorization. Yet, even on this bipartisan bill to reduce violence against women, Senator McCain voted against VAWA funding. What’s even more astounding is Senator McCain even voted against $214 million funding for Breast Cancer Research. We passed it anyway no thanks to Senator McCain. Senator McCain was not a leader for breaking barriers for women in the 20th century, much less the 21st century. He has consistently helped to maintain those barriers.
“Women simply cannot afford a President McCain,” Smeal concluded. “He would stack the Supreme Court and federal judiciary against women’s reproductive and economic rights for future generations; stubbornly pursue a policy of endless war no matter the cost in human lives and dollars; and continue Bush failed economics and political policies.”
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