Week In Review
August 26, 2005 - WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY EDITION
Today, Americans celebrate Women's Equality Day, which marks the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920, giving women the right to vote. In 1971, the United States Congress designated August 26 "Women's Equality Day," under the leadership of then-Democratic Congresswoman Bella Abzug (NY). A culmination of a 70-year struggle for women suffragists, this day of recognition serves as a reminder to all Americans of women's continued struggle to gain full equality in the United States.
With 80 women Members of Congress and thousands of women legislators around the country, we have made great strides. As we reflect on the gains women have made, the Senate prepares to consider the nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court, and we are reminded of just how critical it is that we have a nominee who will continue to move forward, not turn back the hands of time for women in America.
As the White House continues to stonewall on key memos written by Roberts, serious questions regarding his commitment to women's rights remain. His earlier writings reflect a disturbing trend of hostility towards women's rights, including addressing the pay gap, access to educational opportunity and Title IX. As a sign of respect for women in America and all that they contribute to our nation every day, President Bush should release these critical documents so that we can know the full story.
JOHN ROBERTS ON CLOSING THE WAGE GAP
PROGRESS: Since the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the wage gap has closed by half a cent on the dollar per year. Yet, there is much work to do. According to the 2004 United States Census, currently, women earn just 76 cents on the dollar compared with men. The Census Bureau reported that in 2003, median annual earnings for full-time working women declined to $30,724 - while men's earnings remained unchanged, at $40,668. [University Wire, 4/21/05; Institute for Women's Policy Research, 8/27/04]
Roberts Argued Against Closing the Wage Gap: In internal memos, Roberts urged President Ronald Reagan to refrain from embracing any form of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment pending in Congress; he concluded that some state initiatives to curb workplace discrimination against women relied on legal tools that were "highly objectionable"; and he said that a controversial legal theory then in vogue -- of directing employers to pay women the same as men for jobs of "comparable worth" -- was "staggeringly pernicious" and "anti-capitalist."[Washington Post, 8/19/05]
JOHN ROBERTS ON EDUCATION
PROGRESS: Women students have outnumbered male students since 1978. In 2000 there were 2 million more women than men enrolled in college. In the United States, 200,000 more women than men earned a bachelor's degree in 2004. While men comprise 51 percent of the college-age population in the United States, women account for 54 percent of full-time college students, earn more than 56 percent of the bachelor's degrees every year, and graduate in four years or less at a rate 10 percent higher than that of men. [Pell Institute; Bradenton Herald, 5/22/05; National Center for Education Statistics; University Wire, 4/15/05]
Roberts Questioned Women Going To Law School: His remark on whether homemakers should become lawyers came in 1985 in reply to a suggestion from Linda Chavez, then the White House's director of public liaison. Chavez had proposed entering her deputy, Linda Arey, in a contest sponsored by the Clairol shampoo company to honor women who had changed their lives after age 30. Arey had been a schoolteacher who decided to change careers and went to law school. Roberts said in his memo that he saw no legal objection to her taking part in the Clairol contest. Then he added a personal aside: "Some might question whether encouraging homemakers to become lawyers contributes to the common good, but I suppose that is for the judges to decide." [Washington Post, 8/19/05]
JOHN ROBERTS ON TITLE IX
PROGRESS: Title IX allowed more than 2.8 million girls to compete in high school sports in 2004 -- a 900 percent increase since 1972. In 1971-72, only 294,000 girls in comparison to 3.7 million boys played varsity sports in the nation's high schools. Thirty years later, in 2001-2002, boys' participation had increased slightly, to less than 4 million. That year, 2.8 million girls played high school varsity sports. In 1971-72, men in college sports outnumbered women by 170,384 to 29,977 -- nearly six to one. Thirty years later, women's participation had increased more than five-fold, and the numbers were 212,140 men to 155,513 women. [The Herald-Sun, Durham, NC, 7/24/05]
Roberts Proposed Limiting the Role of Title IX: In a memorandum to the attorney general in August 1982, he expressed support for a federal district court decision limiting the reach of a law against sex discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal aid. Judge Roberts said the law, called Title IX, applied only to specific programs that received federal aid, not to the entire university that maintained the programs. "Under Title IX federal investigators cannot rummage willy-nilly through institutions but can only go as far as the federal funds go," he wrote. [New York Times, 7/27/05]
What little we know about John Roberts's record on women's issues is troubling. Want to learn more? A new report from the National Women's Law Center offers a non-partisan review of his positions. You can see the facts for yourself at http://www.nwlc.org/. The White House needs to release key documents so that our Senators can fulfill their constitutional duty to thoroughly evaluate John Roberts.
YOU SPOKE! WE WANT THE FACTS ABOUT JOHN ROBERTS
More than 80,000 people signed on to the DNC's Freedom of Information request for all the work done by Supreme Court nominee John Roberts on 16 crucial cases during his tenure in the first Bush administration's Office of the Solicitor General. This week we delivered your signatures -- tens of thousands of them -- as part of our request.
The Bush Administration now has less than 20 days to respond to our FOIA request. We'll continue to update you as we learn more, and tell you about some of the other important issues covered in the cases we requested.
NEW RESEARCH SHOWS IMPACT OF WOMEN VOTERS
Women's roles in politics have gained new visibility, according to the Center for Women in Politics (CAWP), a nonpartisan group that looks at women's roles including as voters, donors and political candidates. On Women's Equality Day, CAWP has prepared a snapshot that shows "women have outvoted men for many years and that, as a group, they frequently vote differently from men." CAWP data shows that in 2005, 85 years after winning our right to vote:
More women than men register to vote. Some 68.7 million women were registered to vote in 2000 compared to 59.4 million men.
In every presidential election since 1964, the number of female voters has exceeded the number of male voters. In 2004, 67.3 million women, compared with 58.5 million men, reported voting.
Women outvoted men in 2004 - both in terms of turnout rates and actual numbers - in every racial and ethnic group: African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and white. For Asian/Pacific Islanders, 2004 was the first election where women voted at a higher rate than men.
A gender gap - defined as the difference between the proportion of women and the proportion of men voting for the winning candidate - has appeared in every presidential election since 1980, averaging 7.7 percentage points from 1980 to 2000.
You can view the entire report and view additional research about women voters and candidates at: http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/.
BUSH LOOSING TRUST WITH WOMEN ON IRAQ
President Bush's is loosing the support of America's women on the issue of Iraq. In fact, a new Gallup Poll conducted in August for CNN and USA Today shows over 60 percent of women feel the US needs to bring some or all of its troops home immediately. Before President Bush can expect to regain the trust of America's women, he needs to outline a clear strategy for success in Iraq.
Bush is not listening to military experts telling us what's happening on the ground or to the concerns of people here at home. It's time for the President to show some leadership, for the sake of our troops, their families, and America's security.
BUSH HAS ABONDONED NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE TROOPS
New research from DNC Research show Bush has failed to provide for our troops. From equipment shortages to lack of adequate heath care, National Guard and Reserve troops are being shortchanged, just as they risk their lives to keep us safe. Democrats stand with our citizen-soldiers in making sure they have the equipment and training they need and in keeping our commitment to our veterans after they return home.
PAYCUTS SHORTCHANGE MILITARY FAMILIES
Activated National Guard And Reserve Soldiers Took Paycuts. Surveys in 2004 showed that 40 percent of reservists and National Guard soldiers make less money while mobilized than they earned in their civilian jobs. Surveys of all Guard and reserve personnel found that among mobilized troops whose pay was cut, the average reduction was $3,000, although some took pay cuts in the tens of thousands. [Washington Post, 11/11/04]
GAO Report Cites Massive and Widespread Pay Problems for Activated National Guard Soldiers. A January 2004 GAO report studied six different Army Guard units and found Army Guard soldiers were being denied timely and accurate payroll payments. The report found that, "Overall, 450 of the 481 (94 percent) Army Guard soldiers from our six case study units had at least one pay problem associated with their mobilization. [GAO Report, "Army National Guard Personnel Mobilized to Active Duty Experienced Significant Pay Problems," 1/28/04]
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE SHORTED EQUIPMENT
The GAO Found Army Reserve Facing Increasing Equipment Shortages. In July 2005, the GAO found that "Army Reserve units are not generally allotted all of the equipment they need to deploy." Since September 11th, commanders have required deploying units to have 90 percent of their required equipment, yet in February 2005 the Army Reserve reported it had about 76 percent of the equipment it requires, an estimate that includes older equipment. [GAO, "An Integrated Plan is Needed to Address Army Reserve Personnel and Equipment Shortages." Rpt # GAO-05-660, 7/12/05]
National Guard Units In US Recently Forced To Give Up Equipment. Already suffering from manpower shortages, the National Guard's overstretched forces are being confronted with another problem: not enough equipment to supply Guard troops at home. "To fully equip troops in Iraq, the Pentagon has stripped local Guard units of about 24,000 pieces of equipment. That has left Guard units at home, already seriously short of gear." [Detroit Free Press, 6/13/05]
Soldiers Forced To Buy Their Own Equipment. "Some Army maintenance chiefs, in desperation, are using their own credit cards to make purchases. One soldier, who asked not to be identified, listed boots, goggles and protein bars as particularly coveted items." [MSNBC.com, 4/15/04]
REPUBLICANS LIMIT HEALTH CARE FOR RESERVISTS
GOP Declared a Few Months of Health Coverage Good Enough for Reservists. Congressman Douglas Hunter, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, removed a provision from the Defense Department budget that would extend TRICARE health coverage to all reservists and their families. In an attempt to justify his actions, Hunter stated that, in fact, Reservists and their families have TRICARE coverage from 90 days before mobilization until at least 120 days after they return, so extended coverage was not needed. [Biloxi Sun Herald, 5/28/05]
Republicans Cited Mistrust as Reason to Deny Healthcare to Reservists. In a further attempt to rationalize the removal the provision from the Defense Department authorization bill, Chairman Hunter declared that civilian employers will "game the system" and take advantage of the reservists' benefits. [Biloxi Sun Herald, 5/28/05]
DEMOCRATS STAND WITH OUR TROOPS
Think there isn't a difference in the political parties - think again. Below are what Democrats are fighting for to honor the sacrifice of our troops and their families. Write a letter to the editor today! Send these principles to your friends and neighbors! Post fliers at your local library, coffee shop and public bulletin boards!
Democrats Want the Bush Administration to Be Straight With Our Troops. Democrats want the Defense Department to report on the lessons learned in connection with deployment, extension of duty, and troop rotations. We want the Defense Department to keep its commitment to limit the length of service for our National Guard and reserve troops.
Democrats Want Soldiers to Be Protected. Democrats believe that troops should have the proper equipment and safe transportation to do their jobs properly. While they put their lives on the line, they should have access to all the protection they need.
Democrats Want Pay Security for Military Families. Democrats want to minimize the financial hardship faced by those called to active duty.
Democrats Want Health Care for All Reservists and their Families. Many reservists and junior enlisted personnel have no health care coverage while demobilized. Democrats want to make sure that those who serve our country are not left behind once they leave the battlefield.
DEMOCRATS TAKING THE LEAD
VIRGINA LAUNCHES WOMEN'S OUTREACH PROGRAM
To commemorate Women's Equality Day, Leslie Byrne, the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in Virginia, kicked off a new women's vote outreach program called TAKE FIVE in '05. Byrne unveiled the Take Five in '05 program to "empower volunteer leaders all over Virginia to reach out to their female neighbors who don't vote in every election," There are 740,284 Virginia women who voted in 2004 but not in 2001, which was the last statewide election. Byrne and the Democratic ticket know grassroots outreach will help women voters understand what's at stake in November. Virginia will elect a Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and members of the Virginia House of Delegates on November 8, 2005.
In addition to being a barrier breaker as the first woman elected to Congress from Virginia, Byrne has a personal connection to Women's Equality Day. As President of the Fairfax League of Women Voters, Byrne was a leader in getting a historical marker put up in Lorton to honor the suffragists who were imprisoned in the workhouse there in 1917. "Those women stood up to physical abuse and force-feeding so that the women Take Five in '05 will contact would have the right to vote today," Byrne said.
The differences between Byrne and her Republican opponent on issues important to women voters are stark - he has voted against requiring insurers to cover birth control, against protections for seniors in nursing homes and for putting children in homes with histories of domestic violence. Want to learn more about Leslie Byrne for Lt. Governor or the TAKE FIVE in '05 campaign? Visit http://www.lesliebyrne.org or email takefivein05@earthlink.net.
WOMEN AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: A POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP
It's time for the annual DNC Women's Leadership Forum Issues Conference. Women leaders will gather in Washington, DC on Sept. 28-30 to hear the latest in polling, planning and purpose from the Democratic Party. Also offered are communication trainings and more information on getting involved in revitalizing our local and precinct level outreach in your community. To learn more and register for the conference, visit http://www.democrats.org/wlfconference.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war and I don't think any oil shipments will stop. But this man is a terrific danger, and this is in our sphere of influence, so we can't let this happen. We have the Monroe Doctrine, and we have other doctrines that we have announced, and without question, this is a dangerous enemy to our south, controlling a huge pool of oil that could hurt us very badly. We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another 200-billion-dollar war to get rid of one strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."
- Pat Robertson, advocating the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Monday, August 22, 700 Club, CBN
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
Today, Americans celebrate Women's Equality Day, which marks the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920, giving women the right to vote. In 1971, the United States Congress designated August 26 "Women's Equality Day," under the leadership of then-Democratic Congresswoman Bella Abzug (NY). A culmination of a 70-year struggle for women suffragists, this day of recognition serves as a reminder to all Americans of women's continued struggle to gain full equality in the United States.
With 80 women Members of Congress and thousands of women legislators around the country, we have made great strides. As we reflect on the gains women have made, the Senate prepares to consider the nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court, and we are reminded of just how critical it is that we have a nominee who will continue to move forward, not turn back the hands of time for women in America.
As the White House continues to stonewall on key memos written by Roberts, serious questions regarding his commitment to women's rights remain. His earlier writings reflect a disturbing trend of hostility towards women's rights, including addressing the pay gap, access to educational opportunity and Title IX. As a sign of respect for women in America and all that they contribute to our nation every day, President Bush should release these critical documents so that we can know the full story.
JOHN ROBERTS ON CLOSING THE WAGE GAP
PROGRESS: Since the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the wage gap has closed by half a cent on the dollar per year. Yet, there is much work to do. According to the 2004 United States Census, currently, women earn just 76 cents on the dollar compared with men. The Census Bureau reported that in 2003, median annual earnings for full-time working women declined to $30,724 - while men's earnings remained unchanged, at $40,668. [University Wire, 4/21/05; Institute for Women's Policy Research, 8/27/04]
Roberts Argued Against Closing the Wage Gap: In internal memos, Roberts urged President Ronald Reagan to refrain from embracing any form of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment pending in Congress; he concluded that some state initiatives to curb workplace discrimination against women relied on legal tools that were "highly objectionable"; and he said that a controversial legal theory then in vogue -- of directing employers to pay women the same as men for jobs of "comparable worth" -- was "staggeringly pernicious" and "anti-capitalist."[Washington Post, 8/19/05]
JOHN ROBERTS ON EDUCATION
PROGRESS: Women students have outnumbered male students since 1978. In 2000 there were 2 million more women than men enrolled in college. In the United States, 200,000 more women than men earned a bachelor's degree in 2004. While men comprise 51 percent of the college-age population in the United States, women account for 54 percent of full-time college students, earn more than 56 percent of the bachelor's degrees every year, and graduate in four years or less at a rate 10 percent higher than that of men. [Pell Institute; Bradenton Herald, 5/22/05; National Center for Education Statistics; University Wire, 4/15/05]
Roberts Questioned Women Going To Law School: His remark on whether homemakers should become lawyers came in 1985 in reply to a suggestion from Linda Chavez, then the White House's director of public liaison. Chavez had proposed entering her deputy, Linda Arey, in a contest sponsored by the Clairol shampoo company to honor women who had changed their lives after age 30. Arey had been a schoolteacher who decided to change careers and went to law school. Roberts said in his memo that he saw no legal objection to her taking part in the Clairol contest. Then he added a personal aside: "Some might question whether encouraging homemakers to become lawyers contributes to the common good, but I suppose that is for the judges to decide." [Washington Post, 8/19/05]
JOHN ROBERTS ON TITLE IX
PROGRESS: Title IX allowed more than 2.8 million girls to compete in high school sports in 2004 -- a 900 percent increase since 1972. In 1971-72, only 294,000 girls in comparison to 3.7 million boys played varsity sports in the nation's high schools. Thirty years later, in 2001-2002, boys' participation had increased slightly, to less than 4 million. That year, 2.8 million girls played high school varsity sports. In 1971-72, men in college sports outnumbered women by 170,384 to 29,977 -- nearly six to one. Thirty years later, women's participation had increased more than five-fold, and the numbers were 212,140 men to 155,513 women. [The Herald-Sun, Durham, NC, 7/24/05]
Roberts Proposed Limiting the Role of Title IX: In a memorandum to the attorney general in August 1982, he expressed support for a federal district court decision limiting the reach of a law against sex discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal aid. Judge Roberts said the law, called Title IX, applied only to specific programs that received federal aid, not to the entire university that maintained the programs. "Under Title IX federal investigators cannot rummage willy-nilly through institutions but can only go as far as the federal funds go," he wrote. [New York Times, 7/27/05]
What little we know about John Roberts's record on women's issues is troubling. Want to learn more? A new report from the National Women's Law Center offers a non-partisan review of his positions. You can see the facts for yourself at http://www.nwlc.org/. The White House needs to release key documents so that our Senators can fulfill their constitutional duty to thoroughly evaluate John Roberts.
YOU SPOKE! WE WANT THE FACTS ABOUT JOHN ROBERTS
More than 80,000 people signed on to the DNC's Freedom of Information request for all the work done by Supreme Court nominee John Roberts on 16 crucial cases during his tenure in the first Bush administration's Office of the Solicitor General. This week we delivered your signatures -- tens of thousands of them -- as part of our request.
The Bush Administration now has less than 20 days to respond to our FOIA request. We'll continue to update you as we learn more, and tell you about some of the other important issues covered in the cases we requested.
NEW RESEARCH SHOWS IMPACT OF WOMEN VOTERS
Women's roles in politics have gained new visibility, according to the Center for Women in Politics (CAWP), a nonpartisan group that looks at women's roles including as voters, donors and political candidates. On Women's Equality Day, CAWP has prepared a snapshot that shows "women have outvoted men for many years and that, as a group, they frequently vote differently from men." CAWP data shows that in 2005, 85 years after winning our right to vote:
More women than men register to vote. Some 68.7 million women were registered to vote in 2000 compared to 59.4 million men.
In every presidential election since 1964, the number of female voters has exceeded the number of male voters. In 2004, 67.3 million women, compared with 58.5 million men, reported voting.
Women outvoted men in 2004 - both in terms of turnout rates and actual numbers - in every racial and ethnic group: African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and white. For Asian/Pacific Islanders, 2004 was the first election where women voted at a higher rate than men.
A gender gap - defined as the difference between the proportion of women and the proportion of men voting for the winning candidate - has appeared in every presidential election since 1980, averaging 7.7 percentage points from 1980 to 2000.
You can view the entire report and view additional research about women voters and candidates at: http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/.
BUSH LOOSING TRUST WITH WOMEN ON IRAQ
President Bush's is loosing the support of America's women on the issue of Iraq. In fact, a new Gallup Poll conducted in August for CNN and USA Today shows over 60 percent of women feel the US needs to bring some or all of its troops home immediately. Before President Bush can expect to regain the trust of America's women, he needs to outline a clear strategy for success in Iraq.
Bush is not listening to military experts telling us what's happening on the ground or to the concerns of people here at home. It's time for the President to show some leadership, for the sake of our troops, their families, and America's security.
BUSH HAS ABONDONED NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE TROOPS
New research from DNC Research show Bush has failed to provide for our troops. From equipment shortages to lack of adequate heath care, National Guard and Reserve troops are being shortchanged, just as they risk their lives to keep us safe. Democrats stand with our citizen-soldiers in making sure they have the equipment and training they need and in keeping our commitment to our veterans after they return home.
PAYCUTS SHORTCHANGE MILITARY FAMILIES
Activated National Guard And Reserve Soldiers Took Paycuts. Surveys in 2004 showed that 40 percent of reservists and National Guard soldiers make less money while mobilized than they earned in their civilian jobs. Surveys of all Guard and reserve personnel found that among mobilized troops whose pay was cut, the average reduction was $3,000, although some took pay cuts in the tens of thousands. [Washington Post, 11/11/04]
GAO Report Cites Massive and Widespread Pay Problems for Activated National Guard Soldiers. A January 2004 GAO report studied six different Army Guard units and found Army Guard soldiers were being denied timely and accurate payroll payments. The report found that, "Overall, 450 of the 481 (94 percent) Army Guard soldiers from our six case study units had at least one pay problem associated with their mobilization. [GAO Report, "Army National Guard Personnel Mobilized to Active Duty Experienced Significant Pay Problems," 1/28/04]
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE SHORTED EQUIPMENT
The GAO Found Army Reserve Facing Increasing Equipment Shortages. In July 2005, the GAO found that "Army Reserve units are not generally allotted all of the equipment they need to deploy." Since September 11th, commanders have required deploying units to have 90 percent of their required equipment, yet in February 2005 the Army Reserve reported it had about 76 percent of the equipment it requires, an estimate that includes older equipment. [GAO, "An Integrated Plan is Needed to Address Army Reserve Personnel and Equipment Shortages." Rpt # GAO-05-660, 7/12/05]
National Guard Units In US Recently Forced To Give Up Equipment. Already suffering from manpower shortages, the National Guard's overstretched forces are being confronted with another problem: not enough equipment to supply Guard troops at home. "To fully equip troops in Iraq, the Pentagon has stripped local Guard units of about 24,000 pieces of equipment. That has left Guard units at home, already seriously short of gear." [Detroit Free Press, 6/13/05]
Soldiers Forced To Buy Their Own Equipment. "Some Army maintenance chiefs, in desperation, are using their own credit cards to make purchases. One soldier, who asked not to be identified, listed boots, goggles and protein bars as particularly coveted items." [MSNBC.com, 4/15/04]
REPUBLICANS LIMIT HEALTH CARE FOR RESERVISTS
GOP Declared a Few Months of Health Coverage Good Enough for Reservists. Congressman Douglas Hunter, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, removed a provision from the Defense Department budget that would extend TRICARE health coverage to all reservists and their families. In an attempt to justify his actions, Hunter stated that, in fact, Reservists and their families have TRICARE coverage from 90 days before mobilization until at least 120 days after they return, so extended coverage was not needed. [Biloxi Sun Herald, 5/28/05]
Republicans Cited Mistrust as Reason to Deny Healthcare to Reservists. In a further attempt to rationalize the removal the provision from the Defense Department authorization bill, Chairman Hunter declared that civilian employers will "game the system" and take advantage of the reservists' benefits. [Biloxi Sun Herald, 5/28/05]
DEMOCRATS STAND WITH OUR TROOPS
Think there isn't a difference in the political parties - think again. Below are what Democrats are fighting for to honor the sacrifice of our troops and their families. Write a letter to the editor today! Send these principles to your friends and neighbors! Post fliers at your local library, coffee shop and public bulletin boards!
Democrats Want the Bush Administration to Be Straight With Our Troops. Democrats want the Defense Department to report on the lessons learned in connection with deployment, extension of duty, and troop rotations. We want the Defense Department to keep its commitment to limit the length of service for our National Guard and reserve troops.
Democrats Want Soldiers to Be Protected. Democrats believe that troops should have the proper equipment and safe transportation to do their jobs properly. While they put their lives on the line, they should have access to all the protection they need.
Democrats Want Pay Security for Military Families. Democrats want to minimize the financial hardship faced by those called to active duty.
Democrats Want Health Care for All Reservists and their Families. Many reservists and junior enlisted personnel have no health care coverage while demobilized. Democrats want to make sure that those who serve our country are not left behind once they leave the battlefield.
DEMOCRATS TAKING THE LEAD
VIRGINA LAUNCHES WOMEN'S OUTREACH PROGRAM
To commemorate Women's Equality Day, Leslie Byrne, the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in Virginia, kicked off a new women's vote outreach program called TAKE FIVE in '05. Byrne unveiled the Take Five in '05 program to "empower volunteer leaders all over Virginia to reach out to their female neighbors who don't vote in every election," There are 740,284 Virginia women who voted in 2004 but not in 2001, which was the last statewide election. Byrne and the Democratic ticket know grassroots outreach will help women voters understand what's at stake in November. Virginia will elect a Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and members of the Virginia House of Delegates on November 8, 2005.
In addition to being a barrier breaker as the first woman elected to Congress from Virginia, Byrne has a personal connection to Women's Equality Day. As President of the Fairfax League of Women Voters, Byrne was a leader in getting a historical marker put up in Lorton to honor the suffragists who were imprisoned in the workhouse there in 1917. "Those women stood up to physical abuse and force-feeding so that the women Take Five in '05 will contact would have the right to vote today," Byrne said.
The differences between Byrne and her Republican opponent on issues important to women voters are stark - he has voted against requiring insurers to cover birth control, against protections for seniors in nursing homes and for putting children in homes with histories of domestic violence. Want to learn more about Leslie Byrne for Lt. Governor or the TAKE FIVE in '05 campaign? Visit http://www.lesliebyrne.org or email takefivein05@earthlink.net.
WOMEN AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: A POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP
It's time for the annual DNC Women's Leadership Forum Issues Conference. Women leaders will gather in Washington, DC on Sept. 28-30 to hear the latest in polling, planning and purpose from the Democratic Party. Also offered are communication trainings and more information on getting involved in revitalizing our local and precinct level outreach in your community. To learn more and register for the conference, visit http://www.democrats.org/wlfconference.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war and I don't think any oil shipments will stop. But this man is a terrific danger, and this is in our sphere of influence, so we can't let this happen. We have the Monroe Doctrine, and we have other doctrines that we have announced, and without question, this is a dangerous enemy to our south, controlling a huge pool of oil that could hurt us very badly. We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another 200-billion-dollar war to get rid of one strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."
- Pat Robertson, advocating the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Monday, August 22, 700 Club, CBN
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
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