Women and Politics

This post was submitted by Rebecca Freedholm, WCF Communications Fellow

Although recent polls suggest that Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina is garnering support rivaling that of incumbent Barbara Boxer, Fiorina’s anti-woman beliefs may ultimately thwart her endeavors towards becoming a California representative.

Fiorina remains staunchly opposed to a woman’s right to choose, and threatens to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. This strong resistance to women’s reproductive health choices, however, does not sit well with the vast majority of the people she seeks to represent:

“A full 71 percent of Californians favor either keeping the state’s liberal abortion laws intact or making abortion easier to obtain, according to new data from the Field Poll. The same percentage said they support the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade.”

Although Fiorina’s spokeswoman Andrea Saul maintains that reproductive rights won’t be a significant issue for voters this year, she vastly underestimates the importance of choice to constituents. This issue is bound to be a huge hurdle for Fiorina “as she attempts to become the first anti-abortion candidate to win a California race at the top of the ticket since 1986.” California democrats are not the only ones who value reproductive health choices, a large percent of republican and independent voters do as well. Fiorina cannot adequately represent California when her beliefs are so intensely at odds with the majority of constituents.

If Fiorina continues to run an anti-woman campaign, she will likely end up isolating herself from California voters—especially female voters: “A Field Poll released in early July found that women prefer Boxer over Fiorina, 51 percent to 40 percent.” Strikingly this poll also indicates that among independent female voters, who offer a crucial pool of support for GOP candidates running for office in such a Democratic leaning state, “Boxer led Fiorina 49 percent to 35 percent.”

There’s no question as to why Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer is favored among California women; throughout her career, Boxer has remained deeply committed to women’s health care issues and has been unwavering in her mission to protect a woman’s right to choose. While Fiorina may be unwilling to stick up for the issues most important to Californians, Boxer has proven to be a representative who fights for the rights most valued by the California people. Boxer’s campaign manager, Rose Kapolczynski, put the situation into significant perspective when she begged the question,

“Are we going to have a senator who defends a woman’s right to choose when it’s under attack by the right wing, or a senator who will join forces with the most extreme anti-choice groups to try to make abortion a crime?”

Sen. Barbara Boxer understands the causes that her constituents care deeply about, and has valiantly fought to preserve the reproductive health care choices that many, including opponent Fiorina, seek to take away. At WCF, we commend Boxer’s efforts in upholding the values significant to Californians, and support her as she continues to be a wonderful representative of her state.

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communications Fellow

Krystal Ball, a candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 1st district, recently introduced an ad campaign targeting her opponent. The campaign, “On the Road with Rob,” follows Ball as she visits Congressman Rob Wittman’s offices and meets with constituents. More often than not, she finds his district office empty and that Virginians don’t relate to Wittman’s policies.

In response, the Wittman camp released the following statement:

“As cute as our opponent may think she is with a life size cut out of Rob…”

While Wittman’s spokesperson was ostensibly referring to Ball’s videos, and not her appearance, there was clearly an inference about Ball’s physical presence—which has already gained attention in the mainstream media. In essence, Wittman is relying on the stereotype that an attractive woman cannot be an effective leader—rather than addressing the substantive aspects of Ball’s criticisms.

Unfortunately, this behavior is far too common in the modern political world. Last week, a Colorado Senate candidate, Ken Buck, tried to argue that he deserved Coloradans votes over his female opponent:

“Because I do not wear high heels.”

This is not an acceptable reaction in a civilized political debate. The immediate decision for many male candidates when faced with an aggressive female candidate is to turn to a sexist and unfair attack in an attempt to discredit their opponent. If their rival was another man, they would be forced to respond to the actual criticisms—and be held accountable for their weaknesses as a candidate. Instead, female candidates are threatened based on their appearance, wardrobe, and personality, rather than their qualifications.

Indeed, this was also an issue in Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court. She was attacked time and again for her physical appearance and marital status, while her conservative opponents failed to acknowledge her outstanding legal credentials. It seems that Kagan’s inherent qualifications have overcome the sexist criticisms leveled at her, and I hope the same will be true for Ball, and all the other fantastic women running this year.

Krystal Ball, a certified public accountant, business owner, mother, and Virginia native, is committed to fiscal responsibility, building a secure nation for her children, and fighting for the interests of Virginia’s 1st district. These issues should be what this campaign is about—and not about Ball’s gender or appearance.

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communcations Fellow

This November, women in American politics have the opportunity to break yet another glass ceiling. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, eight states have the potential to elect their first female governor ever. 26 states have never had a female governor, and, currently, there are only six women serving as governors in the entire country. These statistics, in conjunction with women’s 17% representation in Congress, paint a dismal picture of women’s participation in the political system.

In many ways, women’s representation at the state level is actually more important than at the federal level. While Senators and Congresswomen tend to make more impressive role models, state legislators and governors often have more impact on women’s day-to-day lives. Indeed, Governor Charlie Crist’s brave decision last month to veto a bill that would require pre-abortion ultrasounds is just one example of governors providing the first line of defense for women’s rights. Here at WCF, we work to elect women up and down the ticket to ensure that state legislatures and governments are also filled with female candidates that are willing to fight for women.

But there’s another reason why we’re working to get more women into governors’ mansions. In fact, over half of the U.S. presidents elected in the 20th century were former governors. The executive and leadership experience that governors gain while serving in the highest state office is invaluable—and is seen as the path to the presidency. If we someday hope to elect a female president, we have to work today to secure female governors.

And it appears that 2011 could be a groundbreaking year for women governors. In addition to the eight states that may elect their first female governors, two of the sitting governors don’t face re-election this cycle, and another ten states have female candidates, many of which look to be likely winners in November. If elected, these women will beat the 2004 and 2006 record of nine sitting female governors.

Here at WCF, we’ve endorsed five of these outstanding women: Libby Mitchell (ME), Margaret Anderson Kelliher (MN), Diane Denish (NM), Deb Markowitz (VT), and sitting Governor Bev Purdue (NC). We’re also supporting Linda Chavez-Thompson and Yvette McGee Brown who are hoping to become Lieutenant Governors, a great stepping-stone to governor and beyond.

While we’re thrilled that so many women are taking a chance and choosing to run for office, it’s a shame that WCF cannot endorse every woman who chooses to run for governor. We’ve selected these candidates because they’ve shown their commitment to promoting women’s rights, through their political, professional, and personal lives.

It’s fantastic to see that progress is being made in state legislatures, governor’s offices and at the federal level. But perhaps we shouldn’t be so eager to celebrate the fact that women have the potential to make up—at most—24% of the nation’s governors in 2011. We’ll continue to do our best to elect our talented women candidates—but we all need to work harder to show how much we want and need more women in government.

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communications Fellow

In 2009, our political team at WCF identified Beth Krom, the former Mayor of Irvine, California, and current City Councilwoman, as a promising candidate for California’s 48th district. WCF endorsed her candidacy early on, and we’ve been helping her gain national attention ever since. This morning, we were thrilled to hear that Krom was named Democracy for America’s Grassroots All-Star.

Here at WCF, we’ve fought for Krom because she is committed to the advancement of women in leadership, and has proven to be a strong and capable representative of Irvine’s interests. During her tenure as Mayor, Irvine was named the “Safest City in America” four times, and also as one of the “Greenest Cities in America.” Running in a Republican area, Krom has won the past five elections in which she has participated, showing that she knows what it takes to run an effective campaign.

As a former teacher, business owner, volunteer, and mother, Krom’s political and life experience is well suited to address the complex needs of her constituents. While we’ve known all along that Krom has what it takes to be a great leader, this impressive victory shows that she has the grassroots support necessary to provide a tough challenge to the incumbent, John Campbell.

John Campbell is one of the most anti-woman candidates currently serving in Congress. In a recent blog post, he suggested eliminating family planning funding under Title X, and his votes speak for themselves: against equal pay for women and for employee discrimination.  Although Republicans have historically held this seat, Krom has what it takes to convince Orange County that she’s the right choice.

Krom has already convinced numerous organizations across the country that she’ll fight for what matters. In addition to WCF, she’s received endorsements from the American Federation of Teachers, Human Rights Campaign, National Organization for Women, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, and National Women’s Political Caucus. And most recently, Krom convinced the over 66,000 voters in DFA’s Grassroots All-Star Competition that she has the most effective team on-the-ground to fight for progressive leadership in Congress.

DFA Chair, Jim Dean, shared his impressions of Krom’s campaign:

”She has 300 volunteers on the ground (many of them local DFA members) who are door knocking, phone banking, and helping get her message out to the district. She also has city leaders who support her and volunteer to coordinate community events. These leaders have helped ensure Beth reaches each and every community throughout the district.”

Krom’s ability to reach out to her community and her strong record in California are major reasons why WCF has supported her for so long. We’re glad to see that more national organizations are getting on board, and we’ll keep fighting for her until November—and beyond!

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communications Fellow

Here at WCF, we believe that everyone needs more women in government. Not only do women benefit from the examples set by powerful female leaders, but fathers, children, environmentalists, Republicans and Democrats have all seen the effects of the collaborative work environment and the new perspectives brought by women in politics.

In yesterday’s Washington Post, David Broder wrote about the introduction of women into political reporting, and the inevitable effect that Solicitor General Elena Kagan’s appointment will have on the Supreme Court:

“I don’t know how having three strong-minded female justices serving simultaneously for the first time will change the world of the Supreme Court. But I will not be surprised if this small society does not change for all its members.”

Indeed, society, D.C., and politics have changed in the few decades in which women have made their movement into the political world. And for the vast majority of Americans, they have changed for the better. Here at WCF, we have a lot of ideas about who needs more women in government, and we’ve put them on buttons to share at Netroots Nation and with the rest of the world.

Who do you think needs more women in government? We’d love to hear your ideas—please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Facebook. And check out our pictures on Flickr to see the Netroots community sporting our buttons!

This post was submitted by Rebecca Freedholm, WCF Communications Fellow

While I was initially excited to see WCF endorsed candidate Brittany Novotny appear in The New York Times, I was disappointed by Hailey R. Branson’s portrayal of the Oklahoma State House race in her article, “A Gay Campaign? Both Sides Demur.” The title of the article tells everything—this race should not be about Novotny’s sexuality or gender identity, and yet this is what many, including Branson, are going to focus on nonetheless.

From the beginning of her candidacy, Novotny has maintained that she does not want her transgender identity to be at the forefront of her campaign. In fact, she doesn’t think it should be an issue at all: “I want to be a representative, and I don’t want to let the fact that I went through that part of my life affect that I am right for the job.”

Although Novotny is not running on a LGBT rights platform, her opposition, led by Republican incumbent Sally Kern, continues to suggest that Novotny has an explicit “homosexual agenda” funded by a “homosexual lobby.” Not only are these allegations utterly untrue, but they are also intensely hypocritical; Kern is the candidate forcing sexuality into the spotlight of this race and conducting an anti-LGBT campaign.

In 2008, OK State Rep. Sally Kern made national headlines when she voiced her extreme views on homosexuality. Kern insisted that homosexuality is “the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism and Islam” and continued by contending that “this stuff is deadly and it spreads and it will destroy our young people and it will destroy this nation.”

She has since garnered support from radical groups like Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, which actively and publicly condemns homosexuality as well as Brittany Novotny’s candidacy. Kern may deem herself the “pro-family” representative, but she seems more aptly to be the anti-LGBT, anti-woman representative. Novotny expressed her concerns about her opponent to Greg Horton from The Oklahoma Gazette:

“[Sally Kern] said in her bio in The Oklahoman that she entered politics to fight a culture war. Her agenda is a social one, not one to build a better community by focusing on economic development, jobs, small businesses, education and other issues that impact all Oklahomans.”

Novotny places these essential issues—jobs, education, economic development, and transportation—on the front line of her platform. That’s why Branson’s depiction of Novotny was so unfortunate; Novotny was described simply as Kern’s transgender opponent rather than as the strong, multifaceted candidate she truly is.

“Honestly, I don’t feel that this version is a fair representation of the time the reporter spent with me on the campaign trail. There are no quotes about me knocking doors or from my supporters, while there is a quote from a Sally supporter (who doesn’t live in the district). I feel that the piece presented me as a candidate fighting for LGBT rights, when in fact I’m a candidate fighting for Oklahoma’s future through Jobs, Education, and Transportation (issues that affect ALL Oklahomans).”

At WCF, we believe that Brittany Novotny is an intelligent, motivated, and dedicated candidate who will make significant changes once elected to Oklahoma’s State House. While we think that her unique life experiences may provide much needed diversity in government, above all we admire her commitment to improving the lives of Oklahoma citizens and believe that she is the right candidate to “build a brighter future for Oklahoma.”

This post was submitted by Rebecca Freedholm, WCF Communications Fellow

Krystal Ball, the Democratic Congressional nominee in Virginia’s 1st district, recently released a brilliant video that functions as a witty commentary on Congressman Rob Wittman’s lack of accessibility. The video, entitled “On the Road With Rob,” features Ball toting a cardboard cutout of her opponent around the district to stand in his place since he has been so unresponsive to constituents.

“After numerous complaints that your congressman refuses to answer your emails, answer your calls or show up to explain his votes, we decided to bring Rob on the road so people across the 1st District of Virginia would finally have a chance to have their representative listen to there concerns.”

The video not only succeeds in humorously highlighting Wittman’s detachment from the people he represents, but also demonstrates Ball’s own approachable nature. Ball is a young, progressive, and accessible candidate who cares about connecting to her constituents.

Ball runs under the slogan, “a fresh voice from Virginia,” and that is certainly what she is. If elected, Ball will be the first woman to represent Virginia in both the House and the Senate. She will also be the youngest woman ever to serve on the United States Congress.

As a young, progressive candidate, Ball could make a significant difference in a district that has not elected a Democrat since 1977. Despite the district’s tendency to vote for Republican candidates, it is still considered a relative swing state since it includes parts of both northern and southern Virginia (areas that have discordant political views). Ball remains positive about her chances, maintaining that “the people here are getting past the D and the R and they really value someone who can think for herself.”

Ball has a reason to be optimistic. For a newcomer, her fundraising efforts have been extremely impressive. Her campaign has “put up big numbers,” and even more remarkable are the unique techniques she’s used to achieve these numbers. As part of her fundraising strategy, the campaign concocted the Krystal Ball Student Loan Challenge, in which she promised up to $50,000 to pay off the school loans of the young person who raised the most money for her campaign.

Ball is eager to connect with her constituents, and is committed to serving the people of the community she hopes to represent. As a young mother, Ball has an incentive for improving the education and healthcare systems and strives to shape a better future for the next generation. She is also dedicated to women’s issues and seeks to create a future where her “daughter has equal representation in our society.”

Krystal Ball presents a challenge to removed, unresponsive incumbent Rob Wittman. She is devoted to the people of Virginia, and looks forward to actively representing them in Congress:

“When our founding fathers first dreamed of this nation, they did not imagine a Congress filled with career politicians, marching their way up the seniority ladder. They imagined citizen servants taking time from their lives to devote to their fellow citizens in the service of this country. I believe in that tradition and I pledge to make you a part of our government again.”