Visitors' civil comments encouraged.
LA Chapter NOW President, Mandall, 'proud to support Sarah Palin'
"This is what a feminist looks like," said Shelly Mandell, Los Angeles NOW chapter president, in her introduction of Gov. Sarah Palin at a campaign rally in California over the weekend. Mandell endorsed Palin as "an individual and a women's rights activist" and not as a representative of NOW. ABC's, Jake Tapper, has portions of the transcript and a Youtube vid so here's the story via Tapper:
Shelly Mandell, the president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization for Women introduced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin over the weekend in California, speaking not on behalf of NOW but "as an individual, as a woman's rights activist for 30 years who has worked for all those years to see this day."
Going through her feminist bona fides -- the International Women's Year, the Equal Rights Amendment, Geraldine Ferraro -- Mandell said she is "proud to support Sarah Palin, a woman who will fight for women's rights ... a woman who will, Lord knows, shake things up."
"Make no mistake," Mandell said. "I'm a life-long Democrat ... I don't agree with Gov. Palin on several issues." And yet, she said, "I know Sarah Palin cares about women’s rights, she cares about equality, she cares about equal pay, and as Vice President she will fight for it. She cares about our children and she cares about women's lives. She's an athlete and she knows what Title Nine did for girls like her."
Watch the vid for the whole introduction.
Mandell's appearance at Palin's rally and endorsement has caused minor tremors in California's NOW state chapter, which quickly issued a statement in support of Obama. Whether you agree with Mandell or not, her actions are certainly bold by breaking with the NOW herd. I don't agree with Palin on some issues either, but I applaud Mandell for her independence and expressing her vision of what feminism looks like. In the not too distant past, women of color and lesbians were marginalized by NOW. Just saying.
Crossposted from by blog, Red Hot & Blue Politics.
- grlpatriot's blog
- Login or register to post comments
-
Not only is Palin what a feminist looks like, Mandell is what a leader sounds like.
Civil Discourse - ERA - A Mother President - Women's Rights - Primary Reform
Mandell showed tremedous character and leadership, even if she'll have to drag her chapter and NOW as a whole kicking and screaming behind her. Seriously, should any women be excluded from the National Organization of Women? That's ridiculous.
Red Hot & Blue Politics | Alice left me in Wonderland
Thanks for the heads up grlp.
"Right wing sledge hammers never, ever help us." Pacific John
that the Obamedia hasn't covered it? Tapper did and Greta Van Susteren did, which is where I first heard the report last night. If someone from a traditionally conservative organization (for ex, the NRA) that is supporting McCain had a chapter leader endorse Obama, the Obamedia would be trumpetting the wonders of The One.
Red Hot & Blue Politics | Alice left me in Wonderland
It was so great to see this endorsement. I've been surprised to see some in the feminist community forget that abortion is not a litmus test for feminism.
Feminism applies to women who are Democrats, Republicans, pro-choice, anti-choice, Christians, atheists, etc. etc. Freedom to make choices means freedom to choose - not have some group leaders tell you what to think.
So great to see a prominent NOW spokeswoman applauding a woman leader. That's how it's supposed to work. NOW needs to follow the lead of Mandell and stop acting like sheep for Obama. Wonder where was the NOW LA chapter while Obama was trashing Hillary? Maybe they said something, I don't know. If they did, it must not have been too loudly.
Independently adrift
....I'll support anyone who isn't doom, cough Obama Camp, cough, and gloom at this point in the campaign.
The wolf is not at my door, it's a republican, and that's a good thing.
Look to and think postive!
so I'm trying to intrepret the coughs. Pro- Bambi or NoBama?
Staying for our chat tonight?
Civil Discourse - ERA - A Mother President - Women's Rights - Primary Reform