A Point of Clarification

Recently I was part of a group of women who filmed public service announcements for an organization called Women's Voices. Women Vote. The goal of the PSA campaign is to encourage high voter turn-out amongst women, especially single women, 20 million of whom have been known to stay home on Election Day. It is an issue about which I am deeply passionate. However, there have been reports about WVWV which questioned the intention behind my PSA and which candidate I am endorsing for president. For the record, I am proudly supporting Senator Barack Obama.

The news reports came about because there was evidence that an individual or a small group of individuals affiliated with WVWV may have issued misleading robo-calls in North Carolina designed to suppress voter turnout in African American neighborhoods. I find these activities appalling and hope WVWV will immediately disassociate themselves from such individuals and denounce such actions.

I am not affiliated with WVWV in any way other than participating in this PSA campaign, and I debated whether to ask WVWV to pull my PSA from their website. In the end, I realized the message of the PSA is more important than the actions of some its members. Every woman, 18 or older, should exercise their right to vote for the candidate and the issues they believe in. As women, we are a powerful voting bloc. But that does not mean we will automatically align with female candidates.

My spot was set in a replica of the Oval Office and entitled "Who Do You Want in Here?" This was meant as a legitimate question, not to serve as an endorsement for a particular candidate. The PSA was meant to inspire women to vote regardless of their party or their position. The PSA, like me, is not pro-Clinton, but rather pro-women. And yes, you can be both.

Comments

[ObamaEdwards]

Good for her! I have taken my name off the Tina Fey fan page online and I am giving my support to JL-D. Hoorah! OBAMA 08!

[CeciliaBertrand]

Diddo - Julia rocks! Julia has substance -- long track record

[Schnitzel]

Very insightful comment from a woman as brilliant as she is is funny as she is ...YUMMY!

[KarateKid]

It is nice to see there are thinking women making intelligent remarks and not be fooled by Hillary. Obama speaks to everyone as intelligent adults and does not condescend. This is a refreshing change. Unlike Hillary who says what she will do for us (implying only she can) Obama says what we can do together. It is idiotic for someone to vote for a candidate on the basis of race or gender, but some do anyway.

[Anonani]

Thank you Julia Dreyfus for taking the time to set the record straight!
As an intelligent and thinking woman, I demand the right to be heard and to make my own decision about who will get my vote. I truly resonate with Julia Dreyfus. No one can take my vote for granted and nobody will use me by assuming that because I am female and of a certain race or age that my vote is automatic. Imagine if I had celebrity and my image and my words were used in a manner that I did not intend or give permission. Neither am I too stupid to figure out when there are attempts to manipulate me, pander to my insecurities and fears, or guilt me into voting the way that someone else believes that I must! This is a new day and every citizen of the United States who believes that this election will determine our future and the future of the next several generations of Americans both those yet to be born and those already here...must vote. This is too important a responsibility to let your neighbor decide the outcome for you!

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Oh Julia, you make me want to have a "Dreyfus Affair." but please leave Louis at home.

[ScandalousLibertine]

Feminists for Peace and Barack Obama!

PETITION:

In the coming elections, it is important to remember that war and peace are as much "women's issues" as are health, the environment, and the achievement of educational and occupational equality. Because we believe that all of these concerns are not only fundamental but closely intertwined, we will be casting our vote for Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President .

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, we have watched with shock and sorrow as our country has become mired in war.

With a defense budget of half a trillion dollars and expenditures now averaging $12 billion a month for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, resources that might have been used for health care, housing, education, repair of infrastructure, relief of poverty and community development have been drained away.

We urgently need a Presidential candidate, who understands that "pre-emptive" attacks on other countries and the reliance on military force have diminished rather then strengthened our national security.

We do not believe that Senator Hillary Clinton is that candidate.

At a time when this position was politically unpopular and when he was aiming for national office, Barack Obama opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

We are moved by the positive tone of the Obama campaign, the tremendous energy it has released across the country, the dramatic engagement of young people and the impetus for change that his candidacy embodies.

Add YOUR name/sign PETITION:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/NYfeministsforpeace/

[Veteran2005]

ScandalousLibertine

My mother and I both added our names.

Thanks for the link.

[pessimisticoptimist1]

I am so glad you posted this Julia. I am a woman and I find it so disgusting when women want to vote for Hillary just because she is a woman. Hillary voted for this war and is responsible for the death of more than 4000 men and women and a million Iraqis. She has blood in her hands and she never apologized for her vote, never.

[Beowoof]

I'm with you on that war vote. Hillary didn't want to be in the "dove" crowd. She could have had a speech railing against the authorization with a dire warning of the consequeces that the true experts had warned of. And this argument that she isn't the only fuck-up on that vote is an offense to the not so major fuck-ups that are fixable.

[Caringthinkingperson]

You go Julia! You get to the bottom of people who would use you - and get in front of the garbage. I am now officially a fan.

[JackNasty]

Was Ms. Dreyfus really duped by secret Clinton campaign operatives into making an obviously pro-Hillary propaganda piece?.Or did she know what she was doing?

Ms. Dreyfus seems like a smart woman with a good sense of stagecraft.

[ChiGuy]

It would be nice if others wrote as well as you have on the topic, Julia.

In early 2003, I e-mailed Hillary essentially begging her to run for POTUS. None of those that had announced, nor those who were considered about to announce at that time, were impressive to me. Including the eventual nominee and general election loser, Kerry.

I have hoped a woman would get a shot for decades, and even as early as January, while backing Obama, I was still posting here and at other blogs about how much I admired Hillary.

The disgusting events that have occurred since then have cemented my decision to support Obama.

I can only hope that there will be a woman candidate in 2016 when Obama's 2 terms are about to expire.

Female voters,
Please make certain that you're registered to vote, and then participate in a freedom we have that many people of the world are still denied: A free and democratic election.
Choose carefully, and be certain that the candidate you vote for will be the best possible choice to move our country forward from the horrific disaster of the Bush years.

[Kavita]

Ms. Louis-Dreyfus, thank you.

I have always respected your work and have been impressed by what I know of you. When I first saw your ad I was disappointed. I felt it really was trying to promote a "women stick up for each other no matter what" agenda.

I personally have a demanding career in technology in which I strive for excellence, and also to support women (a distinct minority). But I cannot put "girl pride" before principle. While I respect many aspects of Sen Clinton's career and policies, including her ground breaking candidacy, there are some fatal flaws to her character that make it impossible for me to support her. The Presidency is not about proving some point,. It is about what is best for the country.

Thank you for setting the record straight. I hope you can use your great talents to create an ad for a better organization later this election cycle.

[KarateKid]

Julia, you were played like Elaine Benes was by the shrink.

[SmellTheHorse]

If Hillary had shown any of the (forgive me) traditional female virtues of empathy for others; the courage to stand up for what's the right thing to do rather than the easy thing to do; a natural commitment to justice; a moral compass which keeps one from demonizing one's opponents; the courage to resist rattling the sabre when dealing with complex world events -- then yes, I can see why women, in general, would feel a sense of mission with her campaign. But let's talk some turkey: Hillary is running as Dick Cheney in a dress.
I''ve personally known several men who are better "women" (the quote is from TOOTSIE) than Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Including Barack Obama.
Wise up, ladies--vote Obama and give women a true victory.

[RobinL]

I am a white woman in Hillary's prized demographic and I would no more vote for her than fly to the moon.
Congrats on the win today, Barack!

[lucky54]

I am with you Robin !!!!

[kellygrrrl]

please take a moment to watch Bill Moyer's follow-up commentary on Rev Wright interview
and pass it on
thanks

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05022008/watch.html

[Apis]

Terrific post kellygrrrl! Now if we can just get the rest of America to watch and listen.

[KGinSanFrancisco]

Thank you Kelly! I wish the media would talk this sensibly about this complicated issue instead of turning it into tabloid journalism.

[YenNguyen]

Thank you for the link: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05022008/watch.html

It's worth repeating.

As I watch Clinton supporter, Lanny Davis, it's so clear how Lanny is a stooge compared to the great intellect of Moyers. Lanny is one of the "simplifiers" that we should all beware of; he does not add to the intelligent discourse that this country really needs to have.

"Beware the terrible simplifiers"
-historian Jakob Burckhardt

[lmatthe]

YOU ROCK GIRLFRIEND!!!!!!!
I'm putting this link on as many pages as I can!!!!!

[Veteran2005]

Now if that was not an honesty shot to the heart then i don't know what is. Thank you so much for that link and I will pass it on to anyone that I can think of.

"OBAMA 08"

[anons]

It stills baffles me how it's OK for Hillary to be pro women but Barack cannot be pro black..if you wanna talk about a double standard lets talk about that. The fact that Hillary can use feminism (shamelessly) to boost her image and Obama has to run as fast as he can away from Afrocentricity goes to show that issues of race are far touchier than issues of gender

[KarenKaren]

You've got an insightful point there.