Obama to Women: Trust Me

by Shaker DerelictDaugher11

Via AP: "Obama targets women's issues with Clinton at hand."

Ugh. This article made me roll my eyes so much, I got a headache. Here are some highlights:

"I will never back down in defending a woman's right to choose," the likely Democratic nominee said, drawing a sharp contrast with his GOP rival.

Of course he won't. Except that he said this at a "Women for Obama" breakfast, so it loses a bit of authenticity for me, given what he says when he's talking to a Christian magazine. Add to that, the fact that he's only willing to defend "a woman's right to choose" as he defines it. As Zuzu pointed out recently, he only mentions Roe v. Wade—not Doe v. Bolton. He seems to want to pick and choose which of my freedoms he is willing to protect, and that's just not okay with me.

The article seems to frame Obama's "support" of "women's issues" as a (somehow novel) campaign platform. It also acknowledges that Obama is looking for an edge against McCain, and that abortion seems to be it.

Seeking an edge, the Democrat also raised the issue of abortion rights, which is shaping up to be a major point of difference between the candidates.

This is just more of the same favorite Democratic Party tactic throwing of Roe in women's faces, assuming we'll "come home" in November. They need to come up with something else; this game has gotten old and I don't wanna play anymore. NEXT!

Obama supports keeping the landmark decision that legalized abortion, Roe v. Wade, intact, while McCain opposes abortion rights and wants to appoint Supreme Court justices akin to Chief Justice John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

The fact that this "major point of difference" appears to be about who will seek to protect Roe v. Wade through their hypothetical appointments to the Supreme Court means practically nothing to me in this context. Remember, this article is talking about the fact that Obama knows he needs women to vote for him. He's trying to convince them that he is the right guy because he won't appoint anyone who would overturn a landmark decision that protects a critical freedom to choose, which is being eroded through legislation anyway.

That is not to belittle the fact that McCain would appoint justices akin to Alito and Roberts, while Obama would probably not. Nor does it negate the truth that Obama needs to take an active approach to convincing women that he is their better choice, instead of taking their vote for granted. But some recognition that Roe and the courts aren't the end-all be-all of reproductive rights would be useful at some point.

We then, however, skip backward over to "ZOMG, Clinton is ruining the party!!11!"

Obama packed his day with female-focused events in New York and Virginia, a reminder of his need to win over women who include some still smarting from Clinton's loss. She had tried to become the first woman to win the White House, and women were her base voters. They took her defeat hard, so much so that even a few are promising to vote for McCain.

Yep, former female Clinton-supporters are going to vote for McCain because they're pissed off she didn't get the nomination. ::eyeroll:: This fallacy has been covered extensively here at Shakesville, so I won't get into it again now. Liss's recent post on Open Left explored some of the real reasons many women may be less than pleased with Obama's candidacy. (Obama and his people obviously haven't read it yet, though I think they should.)

Finally, there was this gem from Senator Clinton, reminding us about real and important differences between men and women:

She noted that Obama had mentioned that she looked rested after being off the rigorous campaign trail, said she's trying to exercise now and compared her habits with Obama's during the primary season. "Barack would get up faithfully every morning and go to the gym. I would get up and have my hair done," she quipped.

I don't have any good ideas on WTP that was even doing in the article, but it really ended the whole thing on a high note for me! Blargh.

I'd love to feel as if Obama could and would genuinely serve my interests as President through honest discourse about freedom and choice, among other things, but I'm afraid that he is a long way off from participating in that conversation. I am so glad, though, that it's going strong here.