NOW will target Bush appointees

St Paul Pioneer (de)Press ^ | 6/24/02 | KAY HARVEY

[Valin]

The National Organization for Women plans a demonstration in the nation's Capitol this summer to oppose President Bush's blanket nominations of conservative candidates to federal courts appointments across the country.

Voting delegates endorsed the rally as part of an energetic nationwide campaign of petitions, postcards and local, state and federal lobbying. The decision came as the feminist organization wrapped up its three-day national conference Sunday in St. Paul.

"If all of George Bush's nominations are approved, conservatives will control 11 of the nation's 13 federal circuits," NOW president Kim Gandy said.

NOW members say that political imbalance would threaten advances in women's rights, including abortion, family and medical leave policies, and enforcement of Title IX, the law protecting female athletics in public schools.

The multilevel campaign was approved Sunday along with several resolutions that determine issues on which NOW will focus its resources this year. One formally opposes efforts to use the war on terrorism as "an excuse" for massive imperial expansion, for a war on Iraq and for the support of unilateral policies that violate international law. Others call for action on a variety of issues:

• Initiating hearings to determine whether money given to the Roman Catholic Church for charitable causes was used to help cover up sexual-abuse scandals.

• Raising efforts to contact members of Congress on the issue of reducing poverty, not just U.S. welfare rolls. NOW opposes lifetime limitations on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and caps on education and job training. It supports funding of childcare for eligible families.

• Reviving meetings with senators to promote ratification of the United Nations Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Among industrialized countries, the United States is alone in not ratifying the agreement.

• Working to include "sex, transgender people and gender identity and/or expression" as protected categories in federal legislation, specifically the Local Law Enforcement Act.

• Backing U.S. expansion of a peacekeeping effort throughout Afghanistan and increased funding for women-led Afghan government organizations to restore women's and girls' rights.

• Supporting the advancement of medical research, including stem-cell research, to find cures for serious diseases.

During a keynote speech Saturday, Gandy appealed to members to actively support political candidates who share NOW's philosophies.

"Change your lives in some way between now and the 2002 elections — whether it's taking a leave of absence or changing the location of your vacation — to help a candidate who is particularly worthy," the NOW president said.

Her comment brought a standing ovation. About 400 people across the age span, including more than a dozen men, participated in three days of workshops, convocations, issue hearings and entertainment at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel. The event marked the first time NOW had brought its annual conference to the Midwest.

Susannah Northart, a 27-year-old delegate from Oxford, Miss., called the annual NOW conference her best antidote for burnout.

"We get tired fighting for some of this stuff," Northart said. "But burnout really isn't an option. Talking about all the issues gets me worked up, and all the beating down we get lifts off here. It's like a spa for feminists."

Kay Harvey can be reached at kharvey@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-5468.

[Valin]

"If all of George Bush's nominations are approved, conservatives will control 11 of the nation's 13 federal circuits," NOW president Kim Gandy said.

And this is supposed to be a bad thing?

[Valin]

The National Organization for Women plans a demonstration in the nation's Capitol this summer to oppose President Bush's blanket nominations of conservative candidates to federal courts appointments across the country.

FYI

[Paul Atreides]

How now NOW sow...

NOW President Kim Gandy in her office, formulating strategy.

[concerned about politics]

All those lesbians have PMS again.
Poor George.
Just lock the Whithouse doors and turn up the stereo.

[Pushi]

Yeah, it must be terrible for them. They want to be men so bad, but they just don't have the balls. And then, to have to suffer PMS--that just takes the cake.

[fuzzthatwuz]

"During a keynote speech Saturday, Gandy appealed to members to actively support political candidates who share NOW's philosophies."

This is the organization that supported Billy Jeff? Their silence was deafening in response to his rapes and abuses of women. What exactly is their philosophy?

[toenail]

"Initiating hearings to determine whether money given to the Roman Catholic Church for charitable causes was used to help cover up sexual-abuse scandals."

[toenail]

"This is the organization that supported Billy Jeff? Their silence was deafening in response to his rapes and abuses of women. What exactly is their philosophy?"

It's simple, really. Promote infanticide as a means for employers to get out of paying for sick leave and maternity leave. That's no exaggeration either; it's exactly the reason NOW began supporting abortion. They've helped kill twenty million baby girls (and twenty million baby boys, which doesn't bother them) so that labor is cheaper. Great job, wookies.

[lasereye]

Wait a minute, I thought we have President George W. Gore or Al Bush or something.

[toenail]

Another ping here. We need a "National Organization of Wookies" logo for the Gandy crowd.

[olivia3boys]

I suppose they'd do it even if all his nominees were (conservative) women.

[pattycake]

We need to nip this thing in the bud. I don't know of any woman who is dumb enough to belong to such a worthless bunch. Let's check out their web site and hope there is a poll.

[Doug Loss]

NOW members say that political imbalance would threaten advances in women's rights, including abortion, family and medical leave policies, and enforcement of Title IX, the law protecting female athletics in public schools.

Isn't this an overt admission that the see the courts' role as legislating from the bench? Logically, you can't win advances from a judicial system performing its proper role of interpreting the laws handed to it by the legislature. You can only gain clarification of the meaning and scope of the existing laws. Granted, it hasn't worked that way for some years now, but I think we need to make it clear that what they're calling for is continued and increasing rule by judicial fiat rather than by properly passed legislation.

[goodnesswins]

Actually, this could be NOW's DEATH KNELL - they can't have enough members to actually march anywhere anymore! Publicizing that will prove it.

[Angelwood]

Thanks for the heads up on this upcoming event. Your efforts are appreciated.

[Big Mack]

So does anyone realy give a rip about NOW and their rantings? After the eight years they were on their knees in fron of Clintoon, The only women I know, on the college campus I am employed, that are in favor of NOW are all lesbians and ugly.

[weegee]

Perhaps this irrelevant group should change their name to:

T.H.E.N.

Tired Hags Espousing Nonsense

I want to hear no more talk of the "gender gap" as they proved themselves under Clinton to have a "credibility gap".

[weegee]

Working to include "sex, transgender people and gender identity and/or expression" as protected categories in federal legislation, specifically the Local Law Enforcement Act.

This means that even if there isn't a biological/psychological reason why a man wants/needs to dress as a woman, he should be allowed to go to the office wearing a dress and makeup.

[Always Right]

NOW will target non-Liberal activist judges??? I am shocked!

[Mr. Jeeves]

The National Organization for Women plans a demonstration in the nation's Capitol this summer to oppose President Bush's blanket nominations of conservative candidates to federal courts appointments across the country.

Clues for the Clueless: Your side lost the election.