Do Republican Candidates Care About Women Voters?

As we are now counting the days to the primaries and caucuses in January, I'm assuming (hoping? praying?) that voters will become more focused on the candidates, both Democratic and Republican, and where they stand on the issues that are most important to them.

As you can probably guess from reading my posts, I tend to lean just a teensy little bit to the left in my politics!

I've paid a lot of attention to where the Democrats stand on issues that impact women, regardless of the political affiliation of those women -- work/family balance, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Roe v. Wade, child care, and health care for mothers and children, just to a name a few.

So, in fairness, I thought I should take a quick tour of some of the candidates' official websites to see what they've chosen to highlight in terms of issues that would resonate with women voters.

And I have to say, I was shocked. At least from what they've got on their sites, it seems like the Republicans aren't very interested in women. Granted, all issues are, in one way or another, women's issues. But I'm looking for something specific about the ones we tend to deal with a lot more than our husbands, partners and significant others.

As for the Democrats, they all have places on their websites to address the so-called "women's issues." John Edwards has his Promise for American Women. Chris Dodd wrote the Family and Medical Leave Act. Hillary Clinton is calling herself a "Champion for Women." Joe Biden has a whole section on his website called "Empowering Women to Take Charge."

So I assumed that the GOP candidates would have similar topics on their sites.

I'm still looking.

Sure, they've included those buzz words "family" and "life," but the main focus is on the war and the economy. Of course those are incredibly important issues, but since women voters are the acknowledged key to the election this political season, wouldn't you think that a few of them would devote a little web space to explaining their positions on helping women, and families, solve the practical problems we all face in our lives? And where do they stand on another important agenda item -- children??

Are they just not thinking about us?

Mike Huckabee talks about "Faith and Politics" and "The Sanctity of Life," but I don't see a mention of working moms and the challenges we face.

Mitt Romney places "Defeating the Jihadists" above most other issues on his site, but I didn't see anything about the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Rudy Giuliani? John McCain? Fred Thompson? None have a separate agenda item on their sites about women, as the Democrats do.

So what's that all about? I'm sure somewhere in a speech or written release, the Republican candidates have uttered some words on this topic. But why have they left that information off their websites -- the best and easiest place for a voter to get the information they're looking for?

Republicans, if you want some of us women to vote for you (sorry, it won't be me, but I know they're out there), maybe you should spend a little time thinking about what's important to women voters and what you have to say about the issues we deal with pretty much every day.

Presidential candidates -- even though you may think otherwise, this election isn't all about you.

You can also find Joanne at her personal blog, PunditMom and MOMocrats.

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Comments

[Merg]

I think every time one of those Republican Bozos mocks Hillary, 1000+ more angry female voters, who understand what it is like to have their ideas ridiculed, mentally move to the Hillary column. Guiliani, especially, will talk himself to defeat.

[eddiestardust]

I've heard that Hillary has a problem with
White Male voters like myself....officially I'm undecided now and I may just not bother to vote or I will write in Al Gore.

[radmul]

The reason you don't see the women's section on a republican candidates web site is that their positions are losers with women. Why would you want to promote the fact that you don't want women to have the right to be free from harassment on the job, that you feel they are not smart enough to take charge of their own health care or that your religion subjugates them to the will of their husbands? If that were my platform I would not point it out to women either.

[mommadona]

Well, here, dear, let me help you with that....

Republican MALE candidates to women:

"DON'T ASK. DON'T TELL.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW.
JUST RELAX AND ENJOY.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
DON'T WORRY.
WE KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT.
DON'T WORRY YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEADS OVER IT.
WE KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT.
YOU TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE AND THE KIDS.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING ELSE.
NO NEED TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE - THAT'S YOURS.

THE WORLD IS OURS.
NOW, STAY IN THAT PLACE AND WE'LL ALL BE JUST FINE.

DON'T WORRY.
BE HAPPY YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN."

[TheRightRuinedUS]

the only kind of women they like are those they pay for... hourly.

[deepthought77]

I agree with your thoughts on all of the GOP candidates...except for Huckabee. His pro-life stance moves much further beyond banning abortion, and is a stance that even us on the pro-choice side can at least respect. He's even chided pro-lifers for "only caring about the fetus" and saying, "I don't believe life begins at conception and ends at birth". He's spoken of the need to ensure that these children grow up in a safe living environment, have access to good education, healthcare, a clean environment, etc.

I agree, he could speak out more about helping working mothers, though. Although, he seems to be the only GOP candidate with a heart, and one who constantly speaks out against corporate greed, and says, "I'm more interested in working for those on Main Street, not Wall Street." Sadly, this means that he probably won't get the heartless GOP nomination...

My vote is for Obama...but I'd love to see him face Huckabee. It would be nice to see 2 nice guys, with a great optimistic vision and without the negative politics.

[Samson1]

No, I don't think they would say how they help or are even interested in women. I suspect that they figure they got nearly half of the female vote in each of the last two elections and they said nothing, did nothing and had a record as bad as the Roman Catholic Church on Women's interest. So, Why should they?

[xenubarb]

Aren't women just breeders of the next generation of cannon fodder to them?

If you start caring about these people, you might find yourself going against the political flow of your party.

[Pdubya]

candidates care about all votes.

the question really is: do women care to vote for any republican?

blue dog democrat for ron paul

www.ronpaul2008.com

delivered over 4,000 babies
supports homeschooling efforts
5 children, 18 grandchildren
married to same wife for 50 yrs

[radiclib]

Answer to the question in your essay's title:


NO.

.

.

[Qbear]

The Republicans don't have many opinions of women, unless those women fit a subset they rail against. Black women, Latinas, Lesbians, Muslim women, Pro-choice women, feminists, Senior women, women with uninsured children, poor women, aetheist women, women without Judeo-Christian beliefs.

Other than those few exceptions feel free to donate to Republicans.

[GoodbyeKitty]

I remember those '04 bumperstickers that read:
'W' stands for Women.
I thought that they should have read:
'W' stands ON women

[tandrmcdonald]

In a word, No.