Nov 03 2008
Last Minute Plea: Obama and Women’s Issues
Where does Barack Obama stand on women’s issues?
1. Obama has always been an advocate for a woman’s right to reproductive choice and will oppose any amendment to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
2. Obama is a supporter of the Prevention First Act (January 2007) which will increase funding for comprehensive sex education, teaching abstinence only AND safe sex methods simultaneously. He wants to prevent pregnancy by making birth control affordable and available.
3. Obama wants to reduce domestic violence rates by providing $25 million per year to domestic violence prevention organizations to train staff and provide services to affected families. He also supported the Violence Against Women Act which aims to strengthen domestic violence laws.
4. Women still make 77 cents to a men’s dollar. Obama will fight for pay equity.
5. Obama aims to protect Title IX which ensures that women have equal access to education from pre-K all the way through graduate school.
6. VA hospitals were not set up to accommodate the huge influx of female veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama will fight to ensure that VA hospitals have the resources and funding to care for female vets, with emphasis on helping victims of sexual trauma.
I also checked John McCain’s official website because I wanted to list what he intended to do for women as well. I was appalled to find that there didn’t appear to be any word of women’s issues anywhere on the site. I was surprised and astonished. I at least expected him to mention providing better health care for female veterans!!!
