Women and Politics

This post was submitted by Jean Qiao, WCF communications fellow

What’s the number one issue on voters’ minds—regardless of their party affiliation—this election cycle? Jobs. According to a recent poll conducted by the George Washington University, 39% of those surveyed listed jobs and the economy their primary concern and 16% listed them as their secondary issue.

Needless to say that in one of the worst economic recessions this country has experienced, we need elected officials who understand the situation and are pushing for job creation.

Rosemary Palmer, candidate for State Representative in Ohio’s 16th district, has named job creation her highest priority if elected to office. Palmer’s extensive jobs plan involves utilizing her district’s unique location, infrastructure, as well as the wide array of research facilities to create green jobs that will not only restore the economy, but dramatically help the environment. On her green initiative, Palmer says,

“Our region’s survival will be difficult without this dramatic turnaround. However, these are not the only industries or policies that can make Ohio a global powerhouse again. We’ll need the hundreds of niche industries and innovative policies that Ohioans can provide. If ever we needed a serious discussion about what we all believe, the time is now”.

In addition, Palmer’s journalism experience as the co-founder of Capitol News Services gives her a holistic understanding of the workings of the state and federal government.

Furthermore, Palmer’s work in lobbying against the Iraq war resulted in praise from high-level government officials on both sides of the aisle, such as Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Senator George Voinovich.

As the Sun-Post Herald points out, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, upon endorsing Rosemary’s bid for office, said,

“I have known Rosemary for some time and got to know her well after her son Augie was killed in Iraq. Her passion for ending that war pushed her into public service as an advocate for policies that support the public good in the 21st Century.“

To learn more about Palmer and her stance on other important issues, click here.

Palmer’s election will not only help to improve our economy and create jobs, but it will also be one step in closing the gender gap in state legislatures—where women compose only 24% of the seats. Palmer faces the Democratic primary in Ohio next Tuesday, May 4.

Women and politics is about a whole range of issues - energy, health care, education, the economy, national security, and, of course, choice.

Reproductive rights is unfortunately the most divisive issue we face, and ultimately turns into a debate over personal beliefs. However, as WCF president Sam Bennett points out, the decisions made over choice not only deeply affect the woman, but also have far-reaching effects on our society as a whole.

Sam appeared on Business Matters - a segment on WFMZ News in Allentown, PA. The question being answered by the panel of four (two pro-choice, two anti-choice) was “should tax money fund abortions“? Watch the video here.

Inevitably, the anti-choice panelists lead the conversation out of the economic angle and into their usual territory of personal opinion. But Sam was able to steer the topic back to the show’s original intent:

“All research shows that access to reproductive options is the single most important indicator across the world in indicating whether a country is going to be economically successful or not.”

Meanwhile, Michael Ciccocioppo of PA Pro-Life said that having taxpayer dollars fund abortion in any way was like a “bailout” for the “abortion industry.” Yet I’m almost positive he has no objection to our hard-earned money supporting failed abstinence-only programs or fake crisis pregnancy centers. Hmm. Deb Sieger of PA NOW wanted to know where the federal dollars for prevention are? Well said.

The comments on the Business Matters blog are reflective of the unchanging ideals of the anti-choice positions given on this panel. What are your thoughts? Should taxes support services that provide women with the full range of reproductive options? Does individual decision-making power over personal healthcare influence our society and economy? Leave a comment below (as well as on the Business Matters blog) and tell us what you think.