Women and Politics

Cross-posted from my account at The Huffington Post

Will 2010 go down in history as the “Anti-Year of the Woman?”

Given the track record for women candidates already this year, I would say it’s a distinct possibility. So far, we’ve seen Dede Scozzafava, Martha Coakley, Jennifer Brunner, Connie Saltonstall, Colleen Hanabusa, Elaine Marshall, and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter stunted, dismissed, and undermined by their own political parties.

These women come from both sides of the aisle, which is one of the many important points made by National Journal reporter Erin McPike in her recent piece about the struggle of female candidates.

The obstacles to women’s political success are many: lack of party support, lack of recruitment, ingrained sexism, and male-dominated leadership of both parties.

Yes, the odds stacked against women candidates seem insurmountable. However, I am proud to say that the Women’s Campaign Forum (WCF) has been addressing each of these problems since 1974–and we’re not about to give up now.

WCF is the oldest national non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing women’s political participation, at all levels of office. We support women from the very earliest stages of their political careers.

Here’s how we tackle four of the biggest problems facing women candidates:

Lack of Party Support

We know the old boys’ club is alive and well on both sides of the aisle. As each woman this year has been squeezed out or rejected by their own party, WCF has been right there by their side. We watched, many times in shock, at how the political system blatantly damaged talented female candidates.

But this is exactly why WCF exists. We aren’t about politics as usual. We don’t wait for the masses and establishment to throw their collective weight behind a woman to support her–we’re there from the very beginning.

We invest in the woman–not just the particular race she happens to be in at that time. We focus on the political careers of our candidates, seeing their individual gifts and talents.

Not bound by party politics, WCF has been able to uniquely support women in this intimate way for 36 years.

But electing women from both parties is the only way we will ever reach gender equality in our government. A non-partisan approach is essential. We will continue to look for ways to invest in women Republican candidates who support reproductive health choices to ensure that the road to women’s equal representation is paved.

Women’s Lack of Recruitment

Thanks to the brilliant research of Jennifer Lawless, we know that women are:

• 50% less likely than men to seriously consider running for office.
• 30% less likely to actually run.
• One-third less likely to view themselves as qualified to run for office.
• One-third less likely to be asked to run for office.

WCF’s She Should Run program addresses these facts head-on. We know that if women aren’t even thinking about running for office that they need to be asked–a lot. She Should Run’s easy online platform helps us encourage women across the country to consider running for office, no matter what political party they may choose.

Through She Should Run, women are asked to consider running by someone they know and trust–which often greatly impacts a woman’s decision to become a candidate.

Ingrained Sexism

Sexism remains one of the largest factors hurting women candidates. WCF has repeatedly spoken out against misogynistic remarks made about women public figures from both parties. We work with our candidates to ensure they are prepared to handle the toxic political atmosphere that has been created for women.

When the sexism was flung most recently at Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Susan Collins, Martha Coakley, Rep. Betty Sutton, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Secretary Jennifer Brunner, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, WCF and I were there speaking out and saying, “not on our watch.”

Male-Dominated Party Leadership

The list of Republican and Democratic Party leaders provided by McPike speaks for itself: Women have almost no power in their own political party. Clearly women can’t rely on anyone else but ourselves to increase our numbers in public office.

This is why WCF stresses the importance of women’s mentorship at all levels of office as well as positions of support. As was recently reported by Erika Lovley in POLITICO, women are still largely underrepresented in the offices of Congressional members. We look to help foster women helping each other during our Hill’s Got Talent and Hail to the Chiefs special programs.

We know that if we want to see real change, we must see more women at the top.

I hope that many will stand with us to work for women’s leadership at all levels of office, across the country, and from all political parties.

If we truly want to advance women’s rights, we need women who support reproductive health choices for all. If we truly want to reach gender equality in our government, we must support women on both sides of the aisle.

While Sarah Palin’s laundry list of controversial views has incensed a broad spectrum of Americans, she has been an especially sharp thorn in the sides of feminists. And with her ever-increasing celebrity status, it seems we just can’t escape her damaging rhetoric.

But things just managed to get worse. Now Palin is claiming that she’s a feminist? (April Fools? … j/k? … No?)

As if we don’t have enough trouble battling blatant anti-woman forces…now we have to face a political celeb who mistakenly identifies herself as one of us? Oye.

With feminists like Sarah Palin, who needs enemies?

It seems that Palin thinks by putting the word “Conservative” in front of “feminist,” she’s able to magically change its intrinsic meaning. It would be like calling yourself a meat-loving vegetarian—it just doesn’t work. Their goals directly contradict each other.

Of course, many actual feminists have already refuted and condemned Palin’s false identification. Simply put by Taylor Marsh,

“Anything less than supporting women’s full individual rights simply renders you a pretender, a fake, a feminist fraud.”

While there has been debate about whether or not you can be an anti-choice feminist, the majority of thought and most of the feminist community concludes that you can’t. (Basically, an individual’s choice for or against abortion for themselves shouldn’t apply to everyone - but that’s a giant topic for another day.)

As Palin has done nothing but use her own personal decisions to showcase her anti-reproductive choice stance, it’s clear that she doesn’t support women’s freedom to make their own personal choices. Heretofore, she is not a feminist.

In fact, I would argue that it’s worse than that: Sarah Palin’s politics, views, and approach are actually harmful to women.

I say this especially in light of her battle plans against female candidates who would actually advocate for women’s rights. In fact, she’s targeting many WCF-Endorsed Candidates.

WCF works to get more women into public office, from both sides of the aisle. But we, along with many women’s organizations, believe that it’s imperative to elect more women who will defend women’s reproductive health.

Unfortunately, Palin’s recent actions aren’t just threatening to women’s health—her venomous and uncompromising approach to politics harms our entire country.

Many note that Palin and Bachmann’s political approach disproves the idea that women collaborate more than men. As former Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.) said,

“With Sarah and Michele [Bachmann], they’re not listeners — they want to tell you what to believe, so it’s a very different style than most women in politics have had.”

But at a time when explosive partisan politics continues to deepen our divisions, do we really want leaders who will only continue to tear that expanse further apart?

And I must remind everyone that Palin’s extreme reproductive choice views don’t reflect those of most Americans; who believe that individuals, not politicians or the government, should decide which option is best for themselves and their families.

It deeply saddens me to witness the destruction caused by women like Sarah Palin; who could use their powers for good, not evil; whose goals aren’t to truly empower women, but strip them of their freedoms; who don’t foster much-needed collaboration, but boast how they would further divide; who aren’t a true voice for all women, but tow the line of minority opinion.

As recent elections have overwhelmingly demonstrated, our current political system often fails women. And Palin’s tactics only further polarize our political system, making it increasingly difficult for women to succeed within it.

I truly hope that voters this November will choose collaboration over division; new approaches over stale partisan politics; and advancing women’s rights instead of turning back the clock.

Have you ever wondered why women’s political progress has stagnated? Why in the year 2010 we only have 17 women serving in the U.S. Senate?

While there are many factors behind the continuing gender gap, yesterday’s primary elections reveal one of the biggest problems: Our current political structure repeatedly prevents women candidates from succeeding.

Already this year, we have seen too many talented female candidates be ignored, cast off, and even attacked by their own party. (Read: Dede Scozzafava, Colleen Hanabusa). But WCF’s endorsed candidates forge ahead anyway—determined to overcome the odds stacked against them by the political establishment.

Secretary Jennifer Brunner’s run for U.S. Senate provides a classic example of the political system failing a strong woman.

We watched as she boldly defied the establishment—who told her to drop out, give up, and bow down. Brunner ran a tenacious grassroots campaign across Ohio and earned 44% of the vote last night.

She fought the full weight of the Democratic establishment and showed that courage and conviction can be a formidable opponent to money and influence. However, she will be sorely missed in the U.S. Senate, and Ohio still hasn’t seen its first female Senator.

Much like Brunner, U.S. Senate candidate from North Carolina, Secretary Elaine Marshall, was outspent and underestimated in her primary. However, I’m proud to say that Marshall was the top vote-getter yesterday,  garnering 38% of the vote. This tough candidate is ready to tackle the runoff election in June—and WCF will be behind her every step of the way.

We will also firmly stand with our candidates who won their primaries last night, and will continue onto the November elections:

Patsy Keever, North Carolina House of Representatives, District 115
Rep. Marcia Fudge, U.S. House of Representatives, District 11
Rep. Betty Sutton, U.S. Representatives, District 13

Also continuing to the general elections, running unopposed yesterday, are:

Commissioner Paula Brooks, U.S. House of Representatives, District 12
Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, U.S. House of Representatives, District 15

We are saddened to report losses for the following candidates, and we encourage them to run again at the earliest possible opportunity. We all need these women in government:

Tamela Lee, Ohio State Senate, District 27
Rosemary Palmer, Ohio State House of Representatives, District 16

In addition to all these great WCF candidates, Jennifer Brunner and Elaine Marshall especially provide shining examples of why WCF exists—to support women who make the decision to run for office—despite the odds, and even when the system gets in their way.

WCF is here to help clear the path, chop through the weeds, and guide talented women through their candidacy—women who exceed expectations at every turn, forge their own path through the political wilderness, and light the way for those who follow.

To ensure the elimination of our political gender gap, WCF continues to use a different political paradigm for women candidates—one that rewards leadership and courage, and does not bow to the conventional model that stagnates women’s political progress. A league of our own, you could say.

I hope anyone who believes in the need for women’s political equality will stand together in 2010 and beyond to build a new political system that works for women—not against them.

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.

This post was submitted by Jean Qiao, WCF Communications Fellow

In January, WCF President/CEO Sam Bennett was a guest on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews. Along with NOW President Terry O’Neill, Bennett discussed the sexism and double standards that greatly affected Martha Coakley’s race for Massachusetts Senate.

During the energetic banter, Bennett made it no secret to Matthews all the viewers that double standards still cripple the campaigns of female candidates. Bennett touched upon how the media scrutinized her serious demeanor, being called “ice queen” as well as the media’s response to her opponent’s Cosmopolitan centerfold:

“Bennett: Her opponent, nude male centerfold gets a total pass, and here’s Martha Coakley called an ice queen, if she was a guy, Chris, she would have been called dignified.

Matthews: And if she had done the centerfold?

Bennett: She wouldn’t even have been in the race. It wouldn’t even happen. It would have been a deal-killer for her. It’s about a double standard, it happens all the time.”

Watch Bennett’s engaging conversation with Matthews on WCF’s YouTube channel.

This post was submitted by Jean Qiao, WCF Communications Fellow

What will it take for our country to realize that the lack of diversity in our government is severely impeding our progress? And how do we inspire more women to run for office to fix this problem? Research? Statistics? A heartfelt plea?

Well, I’ve got all three for you. Swanee Hunt, Former Ambassador to Austria and Founding Director of Women and Public Policy Program; and Kerry Healey, former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and co-chair of the Political Parity Project, have something to say: Women, start your campaigns.

Hunt and Healey, both seasoned political figures, use the concept of critical mass to support the need for more women: When at least 30% of any group is made up of women, the dynamics and workings of the organization changes, in many cases, for the better.

“Women collectively bring a broader perspective to the political debate, based on their different social roles and life experiences. That breadth is crucial in order to solve the many challenges society faces, including the current economic crisis, national security issues, and health care reform.”

With recent narrow defeat of the Stupak-Pitts amendment and Martha Coakley’s loss in the Massachusetts special election, there is no better time than now for women to become involved in politics. President Obama is determined to pass his health care bill this year. But with women having much less than a critical mass—17%—in Congress, we could very well end up with legislation that puts women’s reproductive rights in jeopardy.

So why aren’t women scrambling to fix this inequity? The problem seems to be twofold: Women don’t realize how much their voices are needed for the strength of our government, and they are much more hesitant to run for office than men.

“Women candidates are also often less confident of their own qualifications to serve, and do not want to run until they have achieved higher credentials than a typical male candidate.”

Studies show that a woman must be asked six times before seriously considering a run for office. And oftentimes after making that decision, women face double standards and harsher scrutiny.

Hunt and Healey call upon women to shed their fears and run for elected office. At a time in which the voices of women are needed more than ever in the political arena, women must be asked and encouraged to run.

“Women in the arena don’t need a brief, polite round of applause for their efforts; it’s not enough when they often have had to work twice as hard just to get into the fight. They need to be recruited, supported, and coached. Our political parties need to encourage women to run, donors need to open their wallets, and the media needs to stop with the random critiques of female candidates’ clothes or hair or belabored debates about whether a tear is from empathy, grief, or exhaustion.”

In order to protect our reproductive health choices and ensure that future legislation fully defends and expands women’s rights, we must not be afraid to take action and run for office.

Remember, when women run for office, they raise as much money as men and win just as often. But, as Martha Coakley reminded us, you can’t win if you don’t run.

I voted today - and there wasn’t one single woman on my ballot. And that, I realized, is why I do my job.

So folks - if you DO have women candidates running in your area, get out there and vote for them today!

Click here to see the list of 2009 WCF-endorsed candidates.

Remember that according to the Center for American Women and Politics, women only make up:

17% of Congress

23.% of State Legislatures

22% of State Senate seats

24% of state house seats

Is that good enough for you? Women are over 50% of the population, 50% of the workforce, yet we only hold a fraction of public office seats. The time to change that is NOW - go vote for the WCF-endorsed candidates in your area!

We’ll be bringing you election results tomorrow.