Obama Lays Out Plans To Woo Women Voters: Forget Palin, Focus On Equal Pay

During a conference call with national female supporters on Monday, Barack Obama and his aides outlined a comprehensive strategy to target female supporters who could be on the fence between his and John McCain's candidacies.

The plan included intense focus on McCain's opposition to equal pay legislation, which aides to Obama believe resonates beyond female voters; sending out prominent female surrogates to serve as political "ambassadors"; limiting focus on Gov. Sarah Palin in favor of McCain himself; and breaking through the media's propensity to focus on conflicts and gaffes.

"We have got a lot of work to do and I can't do it without your help," Obama explained. "In recent weeks, we have seen Republicans up to their election year tricks. In his campaign ads, John McCain and Sarah Palin - I'm being generous here - distorted my record. They inflated their own. They ran an ad accusing me of promoting teaching sex to kindergartners when in fact the bill called for ensuring that our children learn how to protect themselves from sexual abuse. That is one of the more egregious examples. And with all these antics I'm going to need all of you on call to set the record straight."

"All of you, as prominent women that the American people listen to," the Democratic nominee continued, "are going to be some of our most important ambassadors in this process. To the extent we can get people to pay attention to choice involved on issues like health care, the Supreme Court, pay equity, I am absolutely confident we will win. But we are going to have to cut through a whole lot of noise and the media's propensity to cover scandal, gaffe, polls or attacks."

The National Women Leaders Conference Call came as part of a greater effort on behalf of the Obama campaign to solidify a portion of the electorate that, with McCain's choice of Palin as VP, seems more up for grabs than at any previous time in this election.

A Hill Democrat told the Huffington Post that female lawmakers will hold an event this week focusing on equal pay legislation. In addition, the Obama campaign on Monday rolled out the endorsements of "hundreds of national women leaders in fields ranging from business to women's rights, from astronauts to athletes, from former governors to cabinet secretaries." The list includes Stacey Snider, Chairman of DreamWorks, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Executive Vice President Emerita, AFL-CIO, and Olympic gold-medalist Dominique Dawes.

Speaking on the phone with many of these individuals, Obama implored them to start reaching out on their own to help recruit female support. "Don't wait for our call," he said. "I need you to talk to your colleagues, get on the radio, write op-eds in the newspapers, talk about what is really at stake in this election."

There were several issues on which the campaign suggested these pseudo-surrogates focus. Equal pay, opposition to choice, and the economy were some of them -- Sarah Palin was not.

"I know we are getting a little distracted by discussion about Sarah Palin, but I think it is important for all of us to focus on Sen. McCain," said Dana Singiser, a strategist for Obama. "Ultimately, of course, he will be president, he will be choosing Supreme Court justices, he will be steering the federal government, and we know a lot about him and where he stands on issues that are important to women. The contrast between John McCain's record and his positions and Sen. Obama's really could not be any more stark. I go back to equal pay because, given where we are with the economy, we are finding with the polling that pocket book issues really are what is top of mind for women voters. Whether we are talking about jobs or health care or gas prices, this is what women voters and really all voters are concerned about."

Comments

[bydesign001]

JUST ANOTHER OBAMA LIE. OBAMA DOES NOT BELIEVE IN EQUAL PAY. JUST ASK HIS STAFFERS IN HIS OFFICE.

SEE, "Obama Talks the Talk, but Does Not Walk the Walk; Falls Short on Equal Pay to Women."

http://pumabydesign001.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/obama-talks-the-talk-but-does-not-walk-the-walk-falls-short-on-equal-pay-to-women/

[Bashley]

By design,
I've read your blog entry and the two articles linked to it. The math in the articles is interesting. I've noticed, from my research, that both have more men working for them than women, which skews the number for average salary.

Seeing that you are a PUMA, look up the same information on Hillary's staff members. The numbers fall very close to Obama's when a similar article was published when she was still in the race.

McCain has more corporate board members and lobbyists working on his campaign, so he's had to offer them very high salaries to lure them to his Straight Talk Express. He's also recruited more women into his top positions since Obama won the Democratic nomination, in an effort to gain the votes of Hillary supporters.

So are you willing to vote for McCain because you feel he pays his female staff members more?

[Phil123]

Here's two clues senator:
1) 7 of Obama's top 20 staff positions are held by women who make $0.84 for each $1 made by the men staffers. On the other hand, 13 of McCain's top 20 staff positions are held by women who make $1.05 for each $1 made by the men staffers. McCain's women staffers seem to be beating Obama's men staffers, so they are worth every penny.
2) Don't make "L on a P" jokes when trying to disparage a woman candidate.

[Paxus]

This is very clever campaigning. In the short term Palin has cost Obama Florida and it is this type of real populist issues work that might just win it back.

[snesich]

Along with that, Obama and his surrogates need to remind people that Sarah Palin is against choice for women, even in the case of rape or incest. Palin will have a hard time selling that position to anyone who isn't a part of the "Christian" right-wing.

[cray6123]

McCain is using Palin as a smoke screen so the ignorant cant see through his Bush-ness.
Obama knows what we women go through, he saw it first hand with his mother.
Sorry some women as dumb just going for McCain because he chose a women as VP, a wise women would read, read, and learn about McCain/Palin and see for themselves that those two would be a terrible mistake for women.
Please go to US senators web-site and see how McCain voted all these years, people tht old never change.

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

SARAH-GEDDON
by Mark Ames --- The Nation --- September 15, 2008

Palin thrilled at the prospect of taking America to war with Russia over Georgia on behalf of Big Oil giant BP - McCain and his lobbyists in this up to their eyeballs.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080929/ames

[ChrisLogan]

To Dana Singiser and all others who make this mistake:

Stop speaking about McCain/Palin as if they had already won the election.

Instead of saying McCain will appoint supreme court justices,
say
*If* McCain won the election he *would* appoint supreme court justices.

McCain/Palin have not won the election.
Please stop speaking as if they had.

Go Obama-Biden.

[ivillage]

Sarah Palin: Her Nine Most Disturbing Beliefs:
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/sarah-palin-her.html

Democrats Eat into McCain's Lead as Palin's Supports Drops:
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/democrats-eat-i.html

[MKBARNUM]

My God -- Any woman (or man, for that matter) who wants to vote for Obama in many states must be sure to register to vote before certain SPECIFIC dates.

Those vital dates vary from state to state. You need to find out the date for your state, and register before it arrives

If you don't do that In many states you will be turned away from the poll on election day!

Good idea to inform your friends, plus your daughters and sons, of the date in your state as well. .
.

[amst]

As time goes on and as the poll remain so close, when in fact Obama should have a wider lead, I really really think it's the "race" issue holding people back. I say this as a white woman and Obama supporter. Think about it. My God, Obama is the obvious choice to turn things around. McCain, by some fluke became the nominee and is blowing it just opening his (not so)"straight talk" mouth. He's running the sleaziest (even Rove says so) campaign and it's still so close???? Give me a break.

Come on people, wake te f(**k up. Who in their right mind could possible STILL be on the fence as to whom to vote for? Who in their right mind, cant' see through McCain and notice his ineptness? He is running only on his "POW" status. I sure hope people put their country ahead of party an hope I am wrong and that race doesn't play a part, but sadly, I think it does.

[TRUE BLUE AMERICAN]

Amst- The election has nothing to do with race. It falls on experience vs. inexperience-liberal vs. conservative- capitalism vs. socialism - traditional values vs non-traditional values etc......Obama falls short on all points, better luck in 2012. McCain/Palin 08.....

[revruc1]

You are a "TRUE AMERICAN" Heres why:

Prejudice


An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. 2. A preconceived preference or idea. 3. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions. 4. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion. 5. Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived, unfavourable conviction of another or others.

[goredstates]

The best way for democrats to win woman's votes is to register voters where obama is strong. I suggest Obama encourage his palls at ACORN to go to Germany and France and Hungary and sign up more obama voters there. And please continue to attack Sarah. Thats working well for the Republicans. That bucket of adipose calling Sarah a bucket of fluff is just the type of speech that encourages Republicans. It shows desperation.

Support our Strykers

[Cheryllou]

Well look at that, how about Palin goes back to Alaska, and call out to Russia by her window and sigh up votes there.

[Konnie]

in your heart - at the end of the day, you know you want someone running the country who is SMARTER THAN YOU ARE!

[Cheryllou]

That's right. We had a C grade President and look where that have us. Mind you, I didn't vote for the guy. I want someone smarter than me and who knows what I'm going through, not someone who pretends to know what I'm going through.

[gr8abz]

How dumb are these women who want Palin because she's "like them?" Do they honestly think they are capable of preventing a nuclear confrontation between the US and Russia should things get testy? Does the everyday mom think Palin simply because she's like them has the tools needed to make the right call? The call that could end it all for everybody on the entire planet if it's the wrong one? These are extremely dangerous times and it is a possibility. Not to mention Palin's horrific lies and connections to the very people in business and government that were instrumental in ushering the worst economy in decades thereby hurting the incomes of the average moms all across America. I guess these moms either watch Fox News or read the AP and stay in the dark. Too bad. Their reckless ignorance could be the death of everybody.

[Phil123]

Senator Obama, start here:

Only seven of Obama's top twenty Senate staff positions are filled by women. McCain has thirteen of the top twenty. Women on Obama"s staff are paid 83 cents for each dollar the male staffers are paid. McCain pays his female staffers $1.04 for each dollar he pays to his men.

Some lipstick?

[gr8abz]

Not true. Prove it. Show us the books.

[patricklee5150]

You must be a Republican. I recognize you by your lies!

[HGS111]

Palin is Alaska's Jesse Ventura. They voted for her but they were shocked she actually won. It was more of a protest vote than anything else. I bet she gets recalled after this fiasco fizzles out.