Women's Council | 03/12/2009 9:10 am

Activists Split on White House's Women's Council

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

President Obama made headlines yesterday when he established the White House Council on Women and Girls.

The interagency group, said the President, would "ensure that American women and girls are treated fairly in all matters of public policy." Such a committment represents "an important measure of whether we are truly fulfilling the promise of our democracy for all our people." But some women’s groups are wondering just how committed Obama could be — though it will be headed by Obama aides Valerie Jarrett and Tina Tchen, the new council doesn’t have a permanent staff, according to Politico, and that makes some uneasy.

Martha Burk, who once chaired the National Council of Women’s Organizations, told the website, "With all respect to Valerie Jarrett and Tina Tchen, both of whom are excellent folks … I think both are going to find this is one of many things they’re responsible for and I think they’ll be stretched to give it proper attention. We have told them that."

National Organization for Women’s Kim Gandy, meanwhile, says she and her peers are quite pleased, "We have a commitment from the administration that they are determined to make this work and that, if it doesn’t work in the way they and we hope, they’ll take another look at it."

10 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I believe the "bandaid approach" is being applied here. No staff, a pat on the back and we will revisit it later if we need to take another look.

Politicians!

By deber B on 03/12/2009 9:35 am

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You might be right, deber. The administration probably wanted to do ‘a little something’ instead of being accused of ignoring the issues of women and girls.

In any event, it’s nice that Ms.Gandy has a hopeful attitude.

By Green Tears on 03/12/2009 9:41 am

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Barack Obama has an impeccable record on advocating for the rights of women, so I would not assume his administration would stoop to doing ‘a little something’ for women.

By DeBúrca obj on 03/12/2009 10:21 am

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Indeed, Green Tears!

By deber B on 03/12/2009 9:49 am

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It just sounds to me like women’s groups are weighing in on this to make sure it lives up to it’s potential, which is as it should be. So this article is really ‘much ado about nothing’.

By DeBúrca obj on 03/12/2009 10:20 am

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a woman I’m looking forward to hearing more from….

Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino — returned last week from a four-week visit to South Africa, where she volunteered with her husband at an HIV-AIDS clinic funded by Bush’s PEPFAR project.

"I left from Dulles Airport at 10 p.m. on January 20," Perino told FOXNews.com, saying she was inspired to become a more effective advocate for the relief program after visiting Africa with Bush in February 2008.

For Perino, the trip was as much a self-realization as a humanitarian undertaking.

"I think over time as press secretary, I developed a very thick skin and put a shell around my heart that hadn’t really been there before," she said.

"There was one point during the time we were volunteering when my heart burst wide open and I realized that this is why I came here — so I could remember who I was before."

Perino said she has no plans to work on a political campaign in 2012, but she hopes to strike a deal with a major news network to become an on-air contributor.

"I think I can be a Republican voice at a time when the Republican Party is getting its footing," she said, adding that she would like to put to rest misperceptions about Republican women.

"For a long time we have been misunderstood, and to borrow a word from George Bush, ‘misunderestimated,’" Perino said.

By S.J. Morgan on 03/12/2009 10:39 am

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S.J. …misunderestimated…

LOL. Sounds like him. Bush did a lot for Africa… which is rarely acknowledged even by black people.

By Marjorie C. on 03/12/2009 12:15 pm

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This was and is a wonderful idea and one that is needed. For those of you who didn’t catch it, Chris Matthews show did a segment on this very topic last night that was fascinating. Kim Gandy was on and made all the right points she needed to get across. It was interesting to hear Michelle Bernard (who is a Black female) speak against this as something that is not needed. Arguing that the government should not have a hand in protecting the rights of women. What? Here’s a link to the clip for those who want to watch. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#29642717

By Belinda Joy on 03/12/2009 10:45 am

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I’ll be very interested to see how often this council speaks up, what policy reforms it initiates, and the congressional response to their voice. This could be the start of something big.

I already think the idea of lengthening the school day to coincide with a regular work day will be a huge boon to working parents of both genders…AND their otherwise, all-too-often latch-key kids.

By Ms. Dee on 03/14/2009 11:40 pm