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Politics | 08/19/2008 9:03 am

McCain Not a Ladies' Man?

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP

Barack Obama’s campaign is trying to convince Americans that John McCain won’t be successful in wooing women voters.

Dana Singiser, who oversees Barack Obama’s women’s outreach efforts, issued a memo Monday, arguing that the Republican presidential hopeful made a major effort to reach women voters in June because he’s so far behind his Democratic opponent in garnering the female vote.

"Despite his campaign’s outreach efforts, McCain’s attempt to bridge the gender gap has fallen flat," wrote Singiser. "He fares worse among women than any presidential candidate since Bob Dole in 1996."

Singiser, who is a former Hillary Clinton aide, noted that women have outvoted men in every election since 1964, and that during this year’s Democratic primaries, the women’s vote reached at least 59 percent in 14 states.

"During the Democratic National Convention next week we will mark Women’s Equality Day, the anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States,” she said. “Eighty-eight years after the right of American women to vote was written into our Constitution, the women’s vote will make the difference in this election."

CBS News and CNN note that McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds did not respond directly to the Singiser memo, but said: "Barack Obama is spinning this issue to disguise his support for higher taxes, and refusing to acknowledge that the legislation he’s promoting has more to do with paychecks for trial lawyers than the struggles of working women."

Bounds said the Equal Pay Legislation, which Obama supports, would benefit trial lawyers in part because it could lead to frivolous lawsuits.

Here are five reasons, according to the Obama campaign, that McCain can’t get the women vote:

1.) Women voters don’t trust McCain because of his extreme positions on the key issues important to them. Obama leads McCain by 10 points (42% vs. 32%) when it comes to which candidate women trust more. (The August 5 poll also found that 14% said they trust neither, and 5% trust both.)

2.) Women want change from the last eight years of neglect for America’s middle-class families and women’s economic security.

3.) Equal Pay: 77% of women believe the next president should address the issue of providing women with equal pay for equal work. McCain has opposed legislation to provide more effective remedies to victims of pay discrimination, and legislation to overturn the Ledbetter decision — a pay discrimination case filed by Lilly Ledbetter against Goodyear. The case was thrown out last year by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision delivered by conservative Justice Samuel Alito.

4.) Health Care Costs: McCain’s health-care plan "isn’t expected to make a major dent in the number of uninsured Americans," and he would – for the first time in our nation’s history – tax health-care benefits. Only 27% of women are very confident that they will be able to afford health care for themselves and their families. There is a disproportionate number of women who are uninsured or in danger of losing their coverage.

5.) Women’s Reproductive Rights: 62% of women believe that Roe v. Wade established a constitutional right, but McCain has bragged about consistently receiving a zero rating from pro-choice group NARAL during his 25-year voting career. McCain has repeatedly voted against federal funding for family planning, and accessibility of contraceptives for women. McCain’s support among Republican pro-choice women dropped by 9% after hearing his positions.

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

Diana T
It seems to me that you are basing your opinions on data and facts…that isn’t intelligent? Then, I don’t know what is. In fact, I have been very impressed with your very objective homework throught out your all of your posts, James.
By Diana T on 08/20/2008 11:26 pm
James the Game
Thank you, D.T., although the shelf-life of any of these threads seems to be 24 hours in terms of responses. And since that exchange with Marj on Tuesday, she and I kind of exchanged pleasantries…or, at least, I sent her a link to a nursing website that explained McCain & Obama’s respective health-care proposals in detail. For that, she thanked me. Marj has expressed that stating anti-McCain viewpoints is tantamount to “baiting” she and the other pro-McCain posters on this site. I certainly never mean to bait anyone, but merely express my opinion, which is what this forum is for. I don’t hold any hard feelings over political viewpoints. After all, she and I might enjoy the same type of pie, football or whatever. No sense hurting feelings over sensitive subjects. By the way, I appreciate your thoughtfulness, warmth and determination to finetooth-comb the facts. You are quite intelligent. I have been to Lexington, incidentally. Beautiful country down that-away, whereas the lower half of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is all flat terrain, save for the glorious lakes. Northern Michigan is God’s country.
By James the Game on 08/20/2008 11:41 pm
Diana T
I didn’t know that Michigan is flat… I have a friend from the Battlecreek area. I have not ever been there. Yes, Lexington is a beautiful and very unique place. And, as of today, I am a Certified Tour Ambassador, which is like a docent. I do a lot of showing around as a Realtor; it is very important that people moving in learn as much as they can about the area. We are having one of the largest events ever held in this country…the World Equestrian Events in 2010, and they are trying to get as many of us as they can. It is anticipated that about 600K visitors will be here for the 8 separate events held over a period of 2 weeks. It is the first time it will be held outside of Europe, and a lot of planning is involved to make this work.
By Diana T on 08/20/2008 11:54 pm
James the Game
Yeah, I know that’s big horse country, and William Shatner owns horses & property in your general neck of the woods. My father trained and raced harness horses for many years. Yeah, Battle Creek is really a dive, DT. Rundown-looking, plenty of crime. I live about 45 miles northwest of there in Grand Rapids, which, along with Traverse City and Ann Arbor, is a crown jewel of the Lower Peninsula. The terrain is very flat, until you get about 100 miles to the north, into much more rural territory. It’s gorgeous up there, with all kinds of woods, lakes, dunes, a fisher/hunter/boater’s paradise. Mackinac Island is where the Republican governors hold their annual convention every summer. No motor vehicles are allowed on the historic island, which is next to the Mackinaw Bridge. The bridge connects the state’s Lower & Upper Peninsulas, is longer than the Golden Gate. Breathtaking.
By James the Game on 08/21/2008 12:04 am
Diana T
Yeah, James, Shatner’s over in Versailles(pronounced versales), and several other personalities own farms in this area. Jess Jackson, of Kendall-Jackson bought 2 at a cost of 10’s of millions. The Arabs, royal families of the United Arab Emirates come here at least twice a year to buy thoroughbreds and they have about 7 farms. Interesting when they are here; the men and their wives wear Levis and look like everybody else… And Queen Elizabeth has had some of her horses standing at 2 farms in the area. Over all, it is just such a different place to be. Very much like rural England.
By Diana T on 08/21/2008 12:13 am
Dona Howlett
James I agree with your statements and appreciate your research on important matters.. I’ve been repeatedly saying on this web site that we should stick to the subject matter and not insult each other. But I get the same response you did. So I’ve quite trying to be a peace maker. I will continue to verbally attack any candidate with facts I know to be true. I never make things up about anyone ..FACTS…….FACTS the facts are what help us to decide who we want to support. I guess we could sit around and say ” Wow he has on nice shoes today….or good hair cut………..nice suit. I wouldn’t learn a darn thing about them if that’s all I heard! lol Anyway James thanks for your words.
By Dona Howlett on 08/21/2008 12:53 am
James the Game
You’re very nice, Dona. Thanks.
By James the Game on 08/21/2008 1:08 am
Lady Gator
Marjorie, Marjorie, Marjorie…….We must start this day with a positive outlook ——My suggestions are…. 1. Open a new file in your computer. 2. Name it ‘Barack Obama’ 3. Send it to the Recycle Bin. 4. Empty the Recycle Bin. 5. Your PC will ask you: “Do you really want to get rid of ‘Barack Obama’ 6. Firmly click ‘yes’ 7. Feel Better? If so…….Tomorrow we’ll do Nancy Pelosi
By Lady Gator on 08/19/2008 12:01 pm
Marjorie C.
Lady Gator, you’ve got me laughing my head off with that one. You’re too funny. LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL.
By Marjorie C. on 08/19/2008 12:13 pm
Lady Gator
Marjorie ————Gotta Have a positive attitude today. The fringes of Tropical Storm Fay are just moving in. Rain is spattering the window. The wind is blowing. As I told Linda on another thread (McCain’s choice for VP — last page) I’m putting her name in nomination for your VP in the ‘flogging club’. And, since I told her I would oil my gun (since according to Winery I’m a gun totin’ mama) and come over to protect her…I’ll be able to use it another way ——-if, by chance, the house gets blown away — I’ll sit on what is left of the roof with my ‘gun’ at the ready — affix a sign on the front of the house that says …..”You loot, I’ll shoot”. What can I say —-life is just one sweet song.
By Lady Gator on 08/19/2008 12:34 pm
Marjorie C.
Lady Gator, I hope storm passes through Florida without incident, just a good soaking to wash the roads off. The ‘flogging club’ is growing, all we need now is a secretary — maybe we can locate Madame Defarge. LOL.
By Marjorie C. on 08/19/2008 2:13 pm
C Hardy
I have already been named Secretary of “the Flogging Club”…that position is taken from the McCain VP blog….
By C Hardy on 08/19/2008 7:29 pm
Marjorie C.
C O, oops. We’re all set then. That Lady G. is right on it. Perfect choice. Madame Defarge can save her knitting for Denver.
By Marjorie C. on 08/20/2008 6:01 am
HA BIBI
Lady Gator, What can I say…You’re to funny! Hope you are safe amidst the storm there. :)
By HA BIBI on 08/19/2008 5:17 pm
Bonnie Oliver
Lady G - I add my best wishes too. Our new reports keep reporting that there is a lot of rain coming down. Stay safe.
By Bonnie Oliver on 08/19/2008 7:19 pm