September 2003
Democrats are fighting back, and EMILY's List is leading the charge
GOP leaders sent a clear message to the rank and file at the Republican National Committee's summer meeting in July. President George W. Bush does not want "a lonely victory," they told reporters, and he's determined to expend whatever political energy and capital he has to bring more right-wing conservatives into office along with him in 2004.
"Bush and Karl Rove are going to run into a brick wall," says Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List. "The progressive community is energized and organized; we're raising money and fighting back against the Bush agenda. And EMILY's List is leading the way."
A challenge to EMILY's List members
One RNC spokesperson said Republicans are dreaming of a "permanent majority." But these dreams are due to collide headlong with a unified force. Progressive organizations, including EMILY's List, are coordinating a nationwide, integrated strategy to defeat Bush and create a Democratic majority.
"The success of the Democratic coalition depends on the strength of its partners," says Malcolm. "They rely on EMILY's List's groundbreaking research on women voters and our ability to mobilize them during the final months of the election -- and they count on us to make sure that pro-choice Democratic women candidates have the resources they need to win."
To jump-start EMILY's List's WOMEN VOTE! project, five generous members have issued a challenge: they will make a $500,000 donation to EMILY's List if others collectively match their contribution by October 15. If members fulfill this challenge, EMILY's List can count on $1 million to activate the 2004 WOMEN VOTE! campaign immediately.
Recalling the success of WOMEN VOTE! in Michigan in 2000, Malcolm notes that this challenge presents an opportunity for EMILY's List to conduct similar projects in more states in 2004.
"WOMEN VOTE! went full-bore into Michigan to help make Debbie Stabenow Michigan's first woman senator, help Al Gore win its critical electoral votes, and help elect Democrats across the state," Malcolm says. "Imagine if we could work that intensely in a dozen states or more. This challenge grant will get us off to a strong start. Ultimately it could make the difference between victory and defeat for Democrats up and down the ticket, including the presidential nominee."
Early WOMEN VOTE! priorities include fielding a massive national Women's Monitor survey unlike any EMILY's List has conducted before. This Women's Monitor will poll 1900 women and 1700 men. In addition to asking about voters' issue concerns, the Monitor will examine their beliefs and values. Then, using a research technique called "cluster analysis," respondents will be divided into groups according to demographic and attitudinal variables. The result will be a comprehensive set of data that will help EMILY's List create thorough voter profiles to benefit the entire Democratic community.
"This fresh approach will give us a more sophisticated understanding of how to move voters," Malcolm says. "Once we have these profiles, we can determine not only the best message for that voter, but the most credible messenger."
Staff and candidate training counter Bush offensive
One of the most powerful tools in the Democratic coalition's arsenal is EMILY's List's political training program, which has grown exponentially since its inception in 1993. The expanded program includes components designed to train women running for state and local office, recent college graduates, and minority women leaders.
EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program (POP) recruits and trains pro-choice Democratic women running for state legislatures and key local offices. POP has intensified its activities in 2003, already training more than 500 potential or declared candidates in seven states. Fifteen more training seminars are scheduled for this year.
"We are reaching out to a broader base of women this cycle," says Ann Liston, POP director for states west of the Mississippi. "We're working with women in the labor movement, African-American women, and Latinas. Thanks to the help of like-minded allies, we are tapping into new areas."
Before each POP training, Liston and Kate Coyne-McCoy, POP director for states east of the Mississippi, meet one-on-one with pro-choice Democratic women officials to provide technical guidance.
"We ask how much they have in the bank, when their next race is, what are their plans for the future," says Coyne-McCoy. "Our goal is to get women to think ahead and start preparing for their next campaign now."
Next year EMILY's List will establish a second track for elected women seeking leadership positions, "to help those who are already in office work on their fundraising and political skills, and help them move up in the Democratic legislative caucus," Liston says.
Working with progressive allies
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico recently formed Moving America Forward (MAF) to energize and mobilize Latino and Native American voters on behalf of Democratic candidates. Now EMILY's List is collaborating with MAF to organize a series of training seminars across the country for emerging Latina political leaders. The first training seminar will be this month in New Mexico; additional trainings will be held in Arizona, California, and Florida. MAF will recruit attendees for the seminars; EMILY's List will help recruit the training team and develop the curriculum.
"The Republican strategy includes peeling off traditionally Democratic segments of the electorate," Malcolm says. "This is one way EMILY's List is working with key groups to deny Bush a victory in 2004."
Finally, the first class of activists just graduated from Campaign Corps, EMILY's List's political training program for recent college graduates. Campaign Corps received more than 350 applications from young people who want to elect progressive pro-choice candidates; after a competitive selection process, 33 were selected. They were brought to Washington, D.C., in August for an intense week of training, then immediately shipped off to work on campaigns in Virginia and New Jersey for 2003 legislative campaigns; to Texas to help elect an openly gay woman as controller; and to Ohio to help pass a gay rights initiative in Cincinnati for the 2003 legislative and gubernatorial elections.
"Everything we are doing is part of our plan to build a progressive America by mobilizing women as candidates, contributors, and activists," Malcolm says. "Defeating Bush and electing more pro-choice Democratic women in 2004 are the first steps in our long-term strategy."
America Coming Together
In addition to the work EMILY's List is doing to mobilize voters and help Democratic candidates, especially women, Malcolm and other progressive leaders have formed a new political action committee to defeat Bush and elect progressive candidates across the country. America Coming Together (ACT) plans to raise $75 million to create and coordinate a massive registration and get-out-the-vote effort in key states.
"Every single day the Bush administration reminds me why we must take away their political power," says Malcolm. "We created ACT in response to President Bush's extremism on choice and civil rights, the environment, and other critical issues. We plan to go door-to-door to engage and mobilize mainstream America and defeat the Bush agenda once and for all."
In addition to continuing her role as president of EMILY's List, Malcolm will serve as president of ACT. Co-founder Steve Rosenthal, former political director of the AFL-CIO, will be ACT's chief executive officer; Gina Glantz, assistant to the president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and former national campaign manager for Bill Bradley for President, will be ACT's treasurer. Other members of ACT's executive committee are Andy Stern, president of SEIU; Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club; Cecile Richards, president of America Votes; and Minyon Moore, who served as White House political director under President Clinton.
ACT and EMILY's List are members of America Votes, a coalition of progressive organizations working together to mobilize voters for the 2004 elections. Malcolm hosted the organizing meetings for America Votes at the EMILY's List offices.
"Never in my 30-plus years in progressive politics have I seen cooperation of this magnitude," she says. "EMILY's List's participation is a testament to the strength and power we have established over the years as a vital player in the Democratic community. I'm proud that we have taken a leadership role in bringing these groups together."
Top Ten Bush Assaults on Women and Families
George W. Bush has been quietly waging war against women across the nation and around the world while hiding behind his image as the protector.
Some of his most extreme actions have been scrutinized by the media -- for example, the global gag rule -- but much of his anti-woman agenda has gone unnoticed. The only way to defeat Bush and to elect more progressive candidates to office is to be fully aware of the Bush agenda.
For example, how many women are aware of the following?
Number Ten: Even more ironic than rain on your wedding day.
Bush chose Nancy Pfotenhauer, president and CEO of the conservative Independent Women's Forum, to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. The IWF is a right-wing group actively opposed to the Violence Against Women Act. According to IWF's web site, "The battered women's movement has outlived its useful beginnings."
Number Nine: Glass ceiling? What glass ceiling?
Bush appointed Diana Furchgott-Roth as director of the Federal Housing Finance Board. Furchgott-Roth, a former fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, co-wrote a book discounting the wage gap and the glass ceiling, and arguing that women are no longer affected by discrimination in the workplace.
Number Eight: Families First?
The GOP-backed Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2003 increased from 30 to 40 the number of hours that welfare recipients are required to work -- while also providing $200 million annually to promote marriage and $50 million to promote abstinence.
Number Seven: You play, you pay.
Bush tried to eliminate contraceptive coverage from federal employees' health plans. Democrats fought back and won.
Number Six: The sky looks clear to me...
Bush's so-called Clear Skies Act provides special privileges for companies violating emissions caps, allowing them to avoid fines and possible legal action. The bill fails to curb carbon-dioxide emissions, which are most directly linked to global warming.
Number Five Head Start/False Start
Bush appointed Wade Horn as assistant secretary for family support in the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. As president of the National Fatherhood Institute, Horn said that low-income kids whose parents aren't married should be last in line for Head Start and other benefits. Horn tried to back away from these statements at his confirmation hearings. Then, after Horn's appointment, HHS began to offer special services to welfare recipients -- if they agree to marry.
Number Four: A whole new way to risk your life for your country.
Bush policy prohibits military women stationed overseas from receiving safe medical abortions at military hospitals, even if they pay for the procedure with personal funds. Women leaving the base to obtain abortions must obtain permission from their commanders.
Number Three: But women are already 1.2 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs!
Bush slammed the door shut on the White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach, which worked with women's advocacy groups on public policy and political issues. His 2004 budget eliminated funding for the Women's Educational Equity Act to promote equity for girls and women in education.
Number Two: Physician, heal thyself.
Bush nominated Dr. David Hager to chair the Food and Drug Administration's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. Hager has written about Christ's ability to heal women's illnesses and reportedly refused to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women. The good news? Hager did not become chair. The bad news? He did become a member of the committee.
Number One: Juggle this.
Under the guise of helping working families, particularly working mothers, the Bush administration proposed the so-called Family Time Flexibility Act to abolish federally mandated overtime pay for workers, allowing employers to offer comp time instead. Democrats prevented this bill from coming to the floor.
Candidate Spotlight
Governor Ruth Ann Minner: Strong Leadership for Delaware
Under the leadership of Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, Delaware is one of seven states to maintain a triple-A bond rating, the highest possible. Minner cut spending and eliminated a $300 million gap in Delaware's budget -- all without laying off state workers or eliminating vital social services.
Minner runs a tight ship. "We women know how to pinch pennies," she says. While more than 30 years of experience in state government helps, Minner had ample opportunity to develop financial acumen in her personal life. Born into a sharecropping family, she left school at 16 to help on her family's farm. She married at 17 and was widowed at 32, with three boys to raise and no high school diploma. She supported her family while earning her GED and taking college courses. With her second husband, Minner built a successful towing business which she continued to operate after his death in 1991.
Though Minner can point with pride to a balanced budget and other legislative successes, she is still a target for defeat by Republicans in 2004. Her likely challenger is a well-known, very conservative former judge. EMILY's List recently talked with the plainspoken governor about her re-election campaign and the state of her state.
Why is it important for Delaware to re-elect you?
Well, I am the first woman to serve as governor. And we have continued to run this state in tough times and not had to lay off employees, let prisoners out, close schools. We've managed our way through this. We're running well, our budget is balanced, and we're going into the next fiscal year in really good shape. We've been judged by USA Today as one of the top three states for fiscal management; another group rated Delaware #1 for handling our budget and the budget crisis. I have to give credit to my staff and the budget committee -- we've all worked together to make this happen.
I've seen my way through bad years -- if the economy is going to get better, I want to enjoy some of the good years! As women we know how to pinch pennies and take care of our kids -- and when we get a little extra we like to treat our kids to some nice things. It's almost the same with state budget: you want to make sure you are meeting the needs of all of the citizens, but you want to be able to do some nice things, too.
How much has Bush's economic agenda affected your state's economic condition?
Our state taxes piggyback on federal taxes, so every cut they make affects our revenue. And every time they mandate a program but don't give us funding it affects our budget even more. We're making cuts in programs, and the federal government increases our costs with the No Child Left Behind Act and no funding to implement it. Well, we come out way behind.
The program I've fought hardest for was education funding for disabled children. They told us they'd put up 40 percent to our 60, but we're really only getting 16 percent -- so we're putting up our 60 and some of their 40! But we caught all they threw at us, balanced our budget, signed it, and we're done.
Let's talk about HB 99, which would guarantee civil liberties for gay and lesbian Delawareans. You've really laid yourself on the line for this bill.
This is a huge issue. It's one of civil rights -- basically, right now, people who have jobs, if their employer finds out they are gay, he can let them go. We're saying with this legislation, that's discrimination and you can't do that. It passed one chamber and is in the other now. I'm hoping they give it a hearing and put it on the floor next year. It should be over before the campaign really gets going, but it is something my opponent will be talking about.
Have you felt any backlash?
Oh sure -- there've been letters, calls, editorials in papers.
How about support for your position?
Oh, it's very strong, including from a group of 85 ministers who see it as I do -- as a human rights issue. The other side is saying it's gay marriage, other things that are not part of the bill, trying to alarm people.
Talk about your role as the lead Democratic governor on the issue of homeland security for the National Governors Association.
I've taken a leadership role because I feel it's important to have a communication system that connects not just among state agencies but with other states and the federal government. Then there are things we need to do for schools to make sure that they are secure; that teachers are trained to help children in an emergency; that school nurses are prepared to deal with children whose parents are in the military. It's made a big difference. We need to protect bridges, rivers, roads, but we also need to consider what's happening to people in their daily lives.
I understand you have two jars sitting on your desk: one that says "Miracles" and another that says "Rainy Day Fund."
Yes, our budget director gave me the Miracles jar because she thought we pulled a few out when we got the budget done as well as we did. And the chair of the finance committee gave me the Rainy Day Fund with a good tight cork on top to keep it closed. I tell people, pick up Miracles -- shake it, I've used them all ... but don't shake the Rainy Day Fund -- that cork stays on tight!