What Do Undecided Women Want?

There are roughly eight million more female voters than male, and more women than men say they are still undecided. Senator Hillary Clinton and Governor Sarah Palin have undoubtedly changed the debate for many women voters, and it seems like every pundit in America has weighed in on the issue, but the question is: how will they ultimately respond in the booth? The only way to know is to spend some time with them.

This week, NOW on PBS traveled to the highly-contested state of Colorado to get insight from a diverse group of women. These pro-choice, pro-gun women don't fit into neat red or blue categories, but they do respond to issues built around working moms: pay equity, family leave, and child care. They also respond to Governor Palin.

Some of their perspectives are pasted below. See the full show here, and hear the latest from Geraldine Ferraro.

Roxanne
Stay-at-home mom with two children (pregnant with third)

"If I do vote for McCain and Palin, which is the plan right now, the hesitance will be that I have a two year-old daughter and another one on the way. If I vote in people who are pro-life, what if Roe v. Wade is overturned? But unfortunately, right now, what I feel like I have to place my vote on is the economy and our energy situation."

Sharron
Retired factory worker with one adult child

"I'm a Democrat, born and raised a Democrat ... The older I get, the more conservative I get, and it means that I agree with lots of conservative issues. I don't know where I fall, because I think, gee I believe in that and that's an issue that's important to me and yet I'm a Democrat... So what am I going to do? I'm going to do what Hillary would like to have me do, which is vote for Obama."

Laura
Small business owner with two children

"I have to say, that when I heard Sarah Palin do her speech...I said, "There's me--the average, every day mom, hockey mom, I have kids in hockey. I haul them around.

"I am pro choice, though ...I'm getting mails [from] Democrats [saying], "How could you even want to vote for somebody that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the abortion issue?" And I say, "Why would you think that she has the power to do that as a vice president?" If Obama said we've got to cut spending and really balance the budget, and take out a lot of some of the government programs and things, that would make a big difference."

Sonja
Retired school teacher with two adult children

"[I'm] trying to figure out if [Sarah Palin] really is one of us...She can make choices as a governor, and I think you can make choices like she has made, [if] you have money that can back you one way or the other...I worry about women who don't have the support. I think that it takes a village now. And I think about my daughter who has a little boy, not married--barely putting food on the table. [She] lost her condo because of the mortgage--crisis and [was] basically almost out on the street with a newborn. So, when that happens, I'm not sure that [Palin] can be one of us."

Katherine
Homemaker with one adult child

"It was really crushing when Hillary lost...I felt like [Obama] could have spoken out and said okay, enough is enough, stop with the sexist comments, the misogyny, but I didn't hear that from him, but a lot of us did feel that although we were loyal, lifetime Democrats we could not vote for Barack Obama ... It's just the fact that they told a whole segment of American society to go away, we'll win the election without you... it was just incredibly insulting to so many women in this country. I think both Sarah Palin and John McCain are decent people, but again, it's the policies, and that may be why I eventually wind up voting the Democratic ticket in November, but either way I won't be very happy with my vote. Either way I vote this year it will be with great reluctance and with a lot of sadness."

Comments

[RallyGrrrl]

Amen, sista.

As far as I'm concerned, I lost this race back in August. Others like me promised ourselves that we would not vote for the candidate who gutted Hillary's campaign. If we were to uphold that promise, that would mean voting third party or voting McCain-Palin. One is a vote for progressive ideas, the other is just a protest vote. I'm not voting McCain-Palin. Then again, HRC did practically beg her supporters to vote for Obama. To ignore that call would be a disservice to HRC.

And I get that my candidate lost - I do - but that loss and how it came about is exactly what drives this ambivalence. It isnt about who would be the better President - that's no contest. But if there are no consequences, microscopic as my vote is, for treating an experienced, articulate, progressive woman candidate like dirt, then what's the friggin point?

And it isn't about calculating either - I understand that every vote counts, and that there is no guarantee that Obama can win without my vote. By the same token, I refuse to take responsibility for 99,999,999 other people's votes. It is my decision, as their votes are theirs.

I'll be happy to see a non-white male become POTUS, but don't pretend like this vote is easy for former Hillary supporters and loyalists. Respect that passion, as I respect Obama supporter passion.

[procrustes]

What do undecided women want?

A man to decide for them? :)

Couldn't resist--thinking of Erica Jong the whole time. :)

[NAPinMtPSC]

I can only assume that pro-choice women who are undecided are not adequately informed about what has been going on with regard to legislation on both state and national levels that affect a woman's right to choose, accessibility of birth control and other reproductive health issues. There has been a concerted effort by republican politicians to make abortion, contraception and comprehensive sex education less accessible to women all over this country. These actions can and are having detrimental effects on woman's health even without Roe v. Wade being overturned.

As a woman is there really any issue more important than having ownership of your own body?

Sarah Palin and John McCain do not support you or your daughters. Please read up on what is going on in your state. Help keep abortion safe, legal and rare through support of comprehensive sex education. Make sure your local pharmacies will fill prescriptions for birth control pills and emergency contraception. Remember, women don't get pregnant by themselves, young men and boys need to be educated on these issues as well.

Teen pregnancy and STD rates are higher than ever, especially in areas that advocate abstinence only education. Don't fool yourself into thinking it won't happen to you or your kids. Just take a look at what happened to Sarah Palin's daughter. Bristol Palin is fortunate enough to have the love and support of her family, what about those who are not so fortunate? McCain/Palin is not the answer.