That Ain’t No Way to Win A Woman…

The rush is on to woo women voters and the politicians and the pundits think they know the trick. Everybody from DNC chair Howard Dean to conservative pundit William Kristol is talking about sexism and why it matters, but women voters aren’t stupid. If there was more than politics to all this new found-feminism we’d see policies on the table.

"I’ve got whip-lash" Lisa Witter, COO of Fenton Communications told GRITtv July 1. "In less than a week, the national discussion of women’s leadership changed from the merits of a female president to the potential first lady’s dress." Witter, who is co-author with Lisa Chen of The She Spot, told GRITtv that women voters aren’t turned on by the makeover of Michelle Obama into nicey-nicey wife. "She’s liked because she’s strong." What’s next? The cookie-baking contest?

What women want is more on policy and not just reproductive policy said Mia Herndon Director of Programs at Third Wave: "I’d like to hear more about urban issues, housing, transport, childcare." The war is a women’s issue: women were disproportionately against the deployment, and women will be the major caretakers for injured and sick vets.

"I want them to talk about everything," said Rebecca Traister, staff writer at Salon.com. "Everything we are mentioning from foreign policy, domestic policy and also education, pay equity, healthcare, and reproductive rights."

Reproduction’s not the only women’s issue, the panel agreed, but if a politician believes abortion should be safe, legal, and funded they should come out and say it. Women are half the population (they’re not a special interest) and, as Traister says, "it’s fundamental…basic human rights."

"Democrats who assume the female vote is a sure thing should think again," Witter warned.

Before they pander for one more female voter, campaigners would do well to listen and learn. Also, why the US needs a motherhood movement. Here on GRITtv. Take a look.