Women's Issues

A woman voting for McCain-Palin is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders. It's a funny metaphor about a very serious subject. During the past eight years, women have struggled under the failed leadership of the Bush administration. Barack Obama and Joe Biden understand the problems women and their families face, and they have the right plan for positive change.

What are the positions of Obama and Biden on the issues that most matter to Amerian women and their families? Both candidates acknowledge that today in America, a large percentage of women in the workforce provide crucial support to their households. Often, women and single mothers provide soul support to both their children and aging grandparents. They know that healthcare coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, age factors, or pregnancy is difficult to afford or impossible to come by. More and more, married women's salaries are necessary to families' meeting their monthly bills, rising food and gasoline, mortgage payments, insurance, healthcare, and childcare costs.

Both Obama and Biden know that women are often hired for lower-paying jobs. Women earn 77 cents of each dollar earned by a man. The gap widens sharply for minority women. In companies undergoing reorganization or downsizing, women are usually the first workers to be laid off and the last rehired. A large number of women and children lack adequate healthcare. Sadly, statistics show that up to 77% of women who visit emergency rooms are victims of domestic abuse and violence.

Through their efforts in both the Illinois Senate and the U.S. Senate, Obama and Biden fought for legislation to level the playing field for women in the workplace. Obama and Biden support equal pay for equal work and a woman's right to sue employers to gain equal pay. They support requiring employers to provide company savings plans for workers. Both support legislation to protect middle class homeowners, those who own a single, modest home, rather than existing laws that provide tax benefits to investors who own serveral homes. Their plan includes changes in bankrupcy law to allow families to renegotiate their mortgages and remain in their homes. The Obama-Biden ticket supports raising the minimum wage and providing $1,000 tax cuts to all households earning less than $250,000 per year.

The Obama-Biden social policies favor increased family and medical leave, paid sick leave, flex time, and healthcare coverage. They support middle class tax breaks for daycare. The two Democrats support laws for birth control insurance coverage in states with prescription drug insurance. Obama and Biden support women's reproductive rights as outlined in Roe v. Wade. They believe that abortion should be rare and that it is a decision guided by faith, made between a woman and her doctor.

A larger percentage of senior citizens are women. Obama-Biden support policies to protect retirees' economic security by opposing the privatization of social security. People earning $50,000 or less per year will pay no federal income taxes. Their plan would change corporate laws that wipe out workers' pensions while "reorganization" allows executives to keep theirs.

Facts prove that one in three women in America are victims of physical or emotional abuse. Obama and Biden believe that domestic abuse is a crime, not just a family or cultural problem. They support the Violence Against Women Act. The act supports the funding of women's abuse hot lines and shelters where battered women can seek immediate safety. The act supports efforts to move abused women from shelters to more permanent housing. Both candidates support education for young women about domestic violence and favor corporate support for employees who are victims of abuse. To prevent revictimization by the courts, law enforcement training, arrest on information policy, and volunteer competent legal counsel are provided in the Obama-Biden plan.

Where does John McCain stand on women's issues?

Opposed increasing the minimum wage 19 times, claiming that it will hurt business owners.

Opposed the Lily Ledbetter law, equal work for equal pay, claiming that women lack the training and education needed for better paying jobs.

Opposed the Violence Against Women Act, claiming that domestic abuse is a family or cultural problem with a personal responsibility solution.

Opposes measures to assist Amercan families in danger of mortgage foreclosure, claiming that victims of predatory loan practices were reckless and should assume personal responsibility.

Opposes prescription coverage for birth control, but supports insurance coverage for Viagra, a medical condition.

Opposes abortion, even in cases of rape or incest.

Opposes embryonic stem cell research.

And McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin:

Favors abstinence-only sex education, overturn of Roe v. Wade, and supports creationist teachings in public schools.

Killed funds for Alaskan services for counseling and adoption, daycare, people with disabilities, pregnant teens, and the homeless, substance abuse facilities, and food banks.

Did not support funds for children's healthcare in Alaska.

As I see it, John McCain and Sarah Palin intend to continue the regressive policies on women's issues. The choice for American women is clear-- Obama-Biden '08!