NOW Calls on NBC
to Skip the Sexism and Report the News
Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy
February 8, 2008
NBC News President
Steve Capus announced this afternoon
that MSNBC's David Shuster would be
suspended from appearing on all NBC
broadcasts because of his "irresponsible
and inappropriate" remarks -- I would
call them disgusting and sexist --
suggesting it was "unseemly" that
27-year-old Chelsea Clinton is
campaigning for her mother, and then
characterizing it as "being pimped out."
After Shuster's
damaging remarks on-air, the National
Organization for Women and others called
on Capus to take action. After all, NBC
has had a track record of employing
sexist on-air personalities and for
taking its time to deal with their
behavior.
NOW applauds Steve
Capus and NBC for taking such swift and
decisive action. NBC must have learned
something about the public response to
sexism and racism when Don Imus made
those outrageous remarks about the
Rutgers women's basketball team and
women responded in fury. Then in
January, MSNBC's Chris Matthews
apologized on-air after weeks and weeks
of repeated sexist remarks about Sen.
Hillary Clinton. It took a coalition of
women's groups protesting outside MSNBC,
and a deluge of angry emails from Media
Matters, before Matthews apologized.
Now, it's Shuster's turn; only this time
it took NBC less than 24 hours to
respond appropriately.
Media misogyny has
reached an all time high, and Shuster's
remarks are only the latest example. And
despite their quick response, there is a
pattern at MSNBC: insult, apology,
insult, apology. Starting now, let's
just skip the insults and go straight to
the news.
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Women Deliver on Super Tuesday
Women delivered big for Hillary Clinton in key
Democratic states with the mother lode of delegates. After
working for the women's movement for over forty years I am
ecstatic, because I believe women are on the verge of cracking
the highest of glass ceilings. I am so sick of hearing that
women are their own worst enemy -- after these results, I hope
that we have finally put this old saw to rest. - Eleanor
Smeal, Co-Chair of the NOW Advisory Board
"The women's vote carried Hillary Clinton to
victory in delegate-rich states that will put her ahead in the
ultimate delegate count. Her historic race has energized the
gender gap, which is key because women make up the majority of
voters in the general election," said Kim Gandy.
It is of special importance to me that Hillary
is an unparalleled champion for women's reproductive rights,
justice and health. In fact, I've just signed
a letter from many leaders: Martha Burk,
Gloria Feldt, Cecelia Fire Thunder, Lulu Flores, Ellen Malcolm,
Irene Natividad, Ellie Smeal, Gloria Steinem, and Rep. Stephanie
Tubbs Jones on why Hillary is the best choice for those of us
who care so deeply about these issues.
She is our Native Sister
“She (Senator Clinton) is, after all, our native
sister,” said Bonnie Grabenhofer, president of Illinois NOW. “We know
from her record and in her heart she will be there for us.” Bonnie
Grabenhofer, President, IL NOW PAC.
Out For Hillary: Young Women
Speak Up
01/27/08
"So, when they
told me, don’t waste your time, Illinois Democrats have already
decided. I say, I’m not wasting time anymore. I say,
I’m fighting for Hillary in Illinois. The same way she did
for us. Hillary not only stood by us, she stands with us.
" ... Malia Miranda.
Donate to IL NOW
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now.
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membership organization and donations are not tax deductible because of
NOW's political work.
More
about IL NOW
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SHE is there on issues that matter for women.
In celebration of
Women’s History Month, March 28, 2007, the National Organization for
Women Political Action Committee, NOW PAC, announced its endorsement of
Hillary Clinton for President (see article below).
Illinois NOW PAC
supported the endorsement of Senator Clinton. “She is, after all, our
native sister,” said Bonnie Grabenhofer, president of Illinois NOW. “We
know from her record and in her heart she will be there for us.”
Senator Clinton has a
long history of support for women's empowerment, and her public record
is a testimony to her leadership on issues important to women in the
U.S. and around the globe. She has eloquently articulated the need for
full economic, political and social equality for women in every
institution of society, taking action throughout her career — as a
lawyer, community leader, First Lady, Senator and candidate for the
presidency — to advance the civil and human rights of women and girls.
After looking at his
record, Grabenhofer does not feel the same way about Illinois Senator
Barack Obama.
Obama Was Present, But
He Was Not There On Issues That Mattered to Illinois Women
During Senator Obama’s
2004 senate campaign, the Illinois NOW PAC did not recommend the
endorsement of Obama for U.S. Senate because he refused to stand up for
a woman’s right to choose and repeatedly voted ‘present’ on important
legislation.
As a State Senator,
Barack Obama voted ‘present’
on seven abortion bills, including a
ban on 'partial birth abortion,' two parental notification laws and
three 'born alive' bills.
In each case, the right
vote was clear, but Senator Obama chose political cover over standing
and fighting for his convictions.
“When we needed someone
to take a stand, Senator Obama took a pass,” said Grabenhofer. “He
wasn’t there for us then and we don’t expect him to be now.”
Clarifying the
record on Brett:
Brett was
not Chicago NOW President during Obama's present votes.
Statement of Bonnie Grabenhofer, IL NOW
State President
Much has been printed in
both the mainstream and alternative media and many have watched
videos of Lorna Brett’s comments on important votes that
occurred while Barack Obama was serving in the Illinois State
Senate (see article below). Ms. Brett continues to present
herself as the President of Chicago NOW when IL State Senator
Barack Obama was making decisions on votes that were critical
for women and girls in Illinois. As the current Illinois NOW
State President, it is essential that I clarify for the record
that Ms. Brett’s assertions are not correct. Lorna Brett was
president of Chicago
NOW from 1996-1998. She was not, as she represents, the
president of Chicago NOW at the time IL NOW activists were
meeting and talking with legislators about the abortion bills in
the early 2000s. 
Five of those votes occurred
in the 92nd General Assembly session in 2001. Our records
indicate that Ms. Brett has not been a member of NOW since 1999.
Ms. Brett was not involved with either Chicago NOW or IL NOW
when we were fighting to stop these bills. Ms. Brett is
misleading people and using her very old affiliation with NOW to
help distance Senator Obama from his vote of present on key
bills and as a platform for her personal criticism of Senator
Hillary Clinton.
To be clear, voting
“present” on those bills was a strategy that IL NOW did not
support. At that time, we made it clear to the legislators that
we disagreed with the strategy. We wanted legislators to take a
stand against the harmful anti-choice bills being brought to the
floor of the Illinois State Senate. Voting “present” does not
demonstrate leadership and does not send the clarion signal that
one is unwavering in their support of a woman's right to choose.
IL NOW knew that those bills were unacceptable to women. Except
for these present votes, Senator Obama’s record on choice has
been excellent, but he has not taken leadership on the issue at
the same level that Hillary has.
Ms. Brett asserts that the
strategy to vote “present” was devised to give political cover
to legislators in conservative districts. State Senator Barack
Obama did not represent a conservative district and he could
have voted “no” with little negative consequence in his
district.
NOW PAC Endorses Hillary Clinton for
President
Illinois NOW is pleased to announce
that the National Organization for Women Political Action
Committee has endorsed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for
president of the United States. NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy made the
announcement at the historic Washington, D.C., home of the
National Woman's Party on March 28. Senator Clinton was present
to accept the endorsement and was cheered on by NOW leaders and
activists.
"Senator
Clinton has a long history of support for women's rights,
opportunities and empowerment, and her public record is a
testimony to her leadership on issues important to women in the
U.S. and around the globe," said Gandy.
“It is a
historic day for the women of Illinois,” said Bonnie Grabenhofer,
president of Illinois NOW. “After all, Hillary Clinton is
Illinois’ favorite sister.”
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