Women and Politics

In the past two decades, I’ve often found myself asking, “Where are all the pro-choice Republican women?”

But today, despite her second place finish in the GOP primary for Congress in KS-04, I’m inspired by Jean Kurtis Schodorf’s dedication to public service and record of defending women’s reproductive health choices. And as always, I want to thank Schodorf for running for higher office, and encourage her to run again - because we only lose when women don’t run.

In her near decade of service as a State Senator and 12 years as a school board member, Schodorf has proven her commitment to both traditional Republican values and women’s rights.

While pushing for fiscal responsibility and responsible governance, she simultaneously defended women in the Kansas Legislature by opposing legislation to limit women’s access to comprehensive sexual healthcare. This past July, Schodorf received the Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice Barry Goldwater Award for her efforts in supporting and protecting women’s health.

Unfortunately, Schodorf has become a rarity in today’s political climate. Since the GOP’s platform turned extremely anti-choice in 1992, the number of Republican women candidates who support the entire spectrum of reproductive health choices (publicly) has dwindled drastically.

Before this, organizations like WCF were able to endorse Republicans and Democrats alike–and neither was more difficult to come by.

But as we know by today’s divisive environment, defense of choice has become an almost absolutely unacceptable quality in a Republican candidate–as we saw last year with Dede Scozzafava in NY-23.

Schodorf should serve as a role model for all women public servants–but especially for those Republicans courageous enough to challenge the party’s anti-choice tenets and stand up for women’s rights.

Schodorf is also an inspiration for mothers serving in public office. A mother of three, Schodorf served on the Wichita School Board for 12 years and is now serving her third term in the Kansas State Senate–supporting women’s reproductive health choices all the while. Now that’s my kind of Mama Grizzly.

Women’s health should not be a divisive issue in party politics. We need more candidates like Schodorf who are willing to make a difference by fighting for what is right, no matter what adversity they may face because of it. I commend Schodorf on being such a strong, persistent, and inspiring leader, and look forward to supporting her throughout the entirety of her public life.

I’ll also continue to encourage more women–from both parties–to follow her example.

Crossposted from the Huffington Post.

In case you didn’t think that the 2010 elections won’t be important, and that anti-choice forces wouldn’t pull out all the stops to unseat candidates who support healthcare reform and reproductive choices…

…enter the firey devil version of Speaker Pelosi. Yes, over one million dollars has been raised using a photoshopped image of our House Speaker with flames in the background. Let me also point out that the ridiculous amount of wrinkles added to her face is especially classy.

So out of all the other people they could have chosen to attack, they chose the woman. Shocking.

As Christina Ballantoni from TPM points out, their PollTracker shows that Pelosi is more popular than Republican Minority Leaders in the House and Senate. She also mentions,

“Pelosi, on the other hand, has a wide fan base being the first female speaker in history. What’s more is the GOP has attempted to demonize Pelosi for the last two election cycles to little benefit.”

And here’s a little gem from GOP pollster Wes Anderson:

“The only other person voters are as concerned about is President Obama. They find she shares his ideology but not his charm.”

Ah, yes. We can’t have a female leader who lacks charm! That must means she’s a devil woman worthy of being juxtaposed with evil flames!

What’s really sad here is that this over-the-top tact really works on social conservatives, since they have a tendency to embrace sexist stereotypes and reject powerful female leaders.

Make no mistake about it, folks—this November will be a knock down, drag out battle to protect pro-choice seats and defend against vitriolic attempts to elect more anti-reproductive rights candidates.

The time has never been more vital to ensure more female candidates are elected to protect women’s health and increase our voices at the decision-making table.

It seems that Dede Scozzafava’s party is failing her. Word came today of even more Republicans jumping ship to back Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election.

At first, I had hope. The list of people backing Hoffman wasn’t exactly current party leadership: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Former New York Gov. George Pataki, Former House majority leader Dick Armey, Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

However, now we hear that National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman (NRCC) Pete Sessions is jumping ship on Dede, too. Sessions told POLITICO he would welcome Hoffman “with open arms.”

So now, thanks to those who don’t feel that the Republican Party should embrace ideals such as women’s rights, Hoffman is rising in the polls, and the GOP is afraid of losing the Republican seat.

To those who abandoned their own candidate, I have to ask: What if you stood in defense of Dede instead of caving to outside pressure? What would the outcome be if her party actually supported her properly?

Is this how all Republican female candidates should expect to be treated—left in the dust when faced with opposition? Abandoned for standing up against sexual abuse? Cast aside to endorse a candidate who drags the party backward?

Shame on you for deserting your own candidate, and double shame on you for deserting a strong female candidate, who you so desperately need for your party’s future.

Of the total women (90) currently serving in Congress, less than a quarter (21) are Republican. Why?

Let’s look at the case of Dede Scozzafava, WCF-endorsed candidate. She was picked by the Republican party to run in a special election for Congress in NY-23—despite her support of reproductive health choices and gay rights.

However, the vocal fringe of the GOP has descended upon upstate New York to so vehemently oppose her election that they publicly admit they would rather the Democratic candidate win than Dede. They’re now promoting accountant Doug Hoffman, who is running on the state’s Conservative Party line.

These folks (Sarah Palin among them) say Dede doesn’t embrace the ideals of the Republican party. But as David Brooks points out in the New York Times, her voting record is pretty middle of the road:

“Her voting record puts her almost exactly in the middle of legislators nationwide. That means she’s a moderate, though slightly right of center in the context of New York. So do the conservative honchos welcome somebody in the middle of the spectrum? No.”

Dede has a strong record of defending women’s rights, from sexual abuse to domestic violence. Are these issues “too moderate” for the Republican party? They weren’t too moderate to prevent her from being their candidate. And let’s keep in mind that the majority of voters support people’s ability to make their own life decisions about reproductive health.

I argue that women like Dede embody what should be the future of the Republican party: Not out of touch with mainstream ideals and supportive of women’s rights.

A moderate female Republican candidate shouldn’t have to experience what Dede and so many others have. As a nonpartisan organization, WCF fully stands behind Dede and looks to endorse female Republican candidates who advocate for women’s rights, including reproductive health choices.

I sincerely hope that the minority opposition won’t outweigh the true voice of NY-23 and deny them of such a qualified and talented woman leader.