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.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus:
Thanx...
How about that: another "hotie" with a brain...wh
I did wonder about your recent PSA(s) and your alignment with WVWV and...was very disappointed in the association. My research reveals that the WVWV is merely a political cover front organization for undercover and duplicitous voter suppression work.
All fish rots from the head down.
This was NOT just a misstep or bad judgment by “some” misguided members...
One mistake is merely an incident or event, but multiple occurrences in 24 primary(s) is a habit that is clearly ingrained. Seven (7) separate investigations are now underway in at least four (4) states.
http://www
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You do NOT serve your well with the current WVWV associations. You and we deserve better.
Why give them your credibility and cover...wi
What's a hotie?
I knew!
Vote your conscience, whether for Obama or Clinton or McCain. How about that?
I liked this post too. Refreshing to read something that is upbeat and respectful.
Wish that others writing here, whether official bloggers or their audiences, could realize that pushing for your ideas in a respectful way is more likely to get results than will insults.
Ms. Loui-Dreyfus may have gained Obama some votes among undecideds just by being kind.
It's a good endorsement.
cynically speaking: women abusing women... well, seems like women made it to the top. Fortunately Clinton defeated herself... the robo-calling is just one more example. Sorry you were used in this way Julia, but most everyone in this nation has been used in some way by Clinton's self-serving and destructive need for power.
Hillary and Bill - putting the "nasty" in Dynasty since 1992
I am amazed by the number of women supporting Hillary by virtue of gender. I find the assumption that I would support her just because I am a woman terribly insulting. Also, I find it unsettling that organizations are formed to encourage women to vote. Are there similar organizations for men? I have always exercised my right to vote and to vote independently based on issues and facts. This year, I am exercising my right to vote for Senator Obama as opposed to the disengenuous and dangerous Clinton. Read her "obliterate Iran" comments. How does this irrational and emotional response to one of the most serious questions facing us help dispel the ugly stereotypes of women? Her "testicular fortitude" makes her nothing more than a female version of George Bush.
Are you amazed that 92% of black people vote for Obama?
Are you amazed that over 70% of black people supported Clinton until she demonstrated an inability to run her campaign? Of course, that doesn't fit into your preconceived notion of the reasoning power of black people. Can you people be any more transparent?
Thank you, Julia.
I also noticed that your father was mentioned in a recent NYT article on early Clinton supporters who have now switched to supporting Obama, including financially. His especially memorable quote: “At the end of the day, all she (Clinton) had to do was open her mouth for me not to believe her.”
So true.
Thank you and applause to you both.
Julia: maybe you could send and publish here a letter to this group asking them to immediately re-call everyone that was targeted with the voter suppression calls -- what some would claim were
"mistakes.
For example, when Hillary went on national TV and said that Obama was not a Muslim "as far as she knows," most people saw that as a suggestion that he really was, but no one could prove it yet. That "mistake" by Hillary was followed up by an e-mail campaign from mystery persons advising the world that Obama was a Muslim. Coincidence? Mistake?
I don't believe these are mistakes. I think these are deliberate tactics by the Clintons to undermine Obama so Hillary can steal the nomination. If it was really a mistake, somebody would be fixing it.
Before Hillary said "as far as I know", she emphatically stated "no, he's not" three times. Kroft just kept on and on. In exasperation, she said "as far as I know".
Julia- Thanks. Any chance of issuing your comments of robocall content disapproval to the NC and national press? Perhaps you have.
No offense, but if people are going to vote for one candidate or another based on an actor's endorsement, wouldn't it be better if they did stay home? We need women to BECOME ENGAGED IN CIVIC LIFE, which means studying the issues, learning about the candidates, advocating for causes, and voting, but thoughtless voting is not really helpful to any of us, as it cancels out well-considered votes. Please, if you want to encourage people (women or otherwise) to do something, encourage them to pay more attention to what's happening in the world and in politics and less attention to what's happening on TV and in the tabloid press. Voting will come naturally to those who are engaged...
How rude! As if celebrities are not allowed to have their own thoughts & opinions & beliefs? Give me a break! Is it not obvious to you that JLD's work with WVWV is doing just exactly that- getting women to get involved and participate? I think your opinion is very short-sited.
Loved your post and I must say I am a fan going way back. I also think people should realize that not all woman "of a certain age" are automatically for Hillary. This older babe is for Obama, the best candidate. Sure I would love to see a woman president some day, but Hillary is not that person...t
I first became aware of Mr. Obama when he gave the keynote address at the Dem Convention. And back then he said this was not a black American, or a white America or a brown America but The United States of America. Personally I believe the campaign should use clips of that speech to speak to the Wright issue, little town America issues, or sadly...ge
Thanks Julia--I'm age 57, female, worked throughout the late 70's and all of the 80's in feminist causes especially about women entering treatment facilities, did my graduate work on gender as it impacts on perceptions of authority--I do not mention for ego--but to emphasize how muc I agree with you. Being truly engaged in our independent strengths and to choose whoever seems the best candidate to us is in line with feminist ideals. I actually believe that if THIS WOMAN has behaved in ways that turn my stomach as much as the Swift Boat tactics, the Bush Cheney tactics and others have done. I try not to be "extra" disappointed because she is a woman as much as I refuse to be guilted into voting for her because she is a woman. We all reap what we sow.
I'm 15 years younger than you tita and one who benefitted from your work in feminist causes but who also had to break down barriers when I entered the work force as well. I agree whole-heartedly with you.
Her Rovian campaign has injected race and xenophobia. She's pandered to the Fox News crowd. She's promoted outright lies, like in New Hampshire when her camp sent out flyers accusing Obama of being anti-choice when he has a 100% voting record with both NARAL and NOW. That pissed me off. To paint a pro-choice candidate as anti-choice is damaging to the cause and women. It shows that Hillary cares more about personal power than the causes of women. That is not a feminist in my book. I do not consider Hillary a feminist at all.
Would I have liked to vote for a woman? Sure. But first and foremost, I'm going to vote for someone who matches my progressive values including women's rights and choice. Obama is that candidate. Not Hillary.
I am not a female, but I find the way in which the Obama camp hits on Clinton absolutely disgusting. The way he played the race card right from the beginning and masqueraded as a poor victim.
It boggles the mind that the conservative FoxNews is consistently the most fair and balanced news service. They are not cheerleading for Clinton, far from it, but at least they hit on both candidates in equal measures, while the rest mainly sits at Obama's feet and drools.
Obama is a hypocrite who throws anybody near him under the bus, if it saves his skin. Back in Illinois he was known for his ability to skip controversial votes by staying away or voting "present" as he did time and again on abortion. This is not leadership, this is opportunism. Since he is NOT pro-choice, Senator Casey had no problem to campaign for him in Pennsylvania.
You have to search quite hard for a black person criticising Obama. Maybe blacks are afraid of the backlash the few that did endured. Lots of black voters vote for him, because he is black.
On the other hand, there are lots of self-proclaimed feminists who criticize Hillary. Fair enough, why should she get a better treatment, just because she is a woman? I would just wish for a level playing field for both candidates.
I agree.
> 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 block. But that does not mean we will automatically align with female candidates.
It's her right, dear. Every woman, 18 or older, should exercise HER right to vote. Woman (singular) ... her (singular)
Thank you Julia. It's about time we voted for the person we feel is right to lead this country. Our race and/or gender should not be the basis of our vote. I am a woman and I will not be a party to leading America down the destructive path that HRC is advocating. I have been pro-Obama from the beginning of this long ,long political season. I honestly believe that he is what America has been waiting for.
The meretricious tactics that have been employed by the Clinton Machine against their 'own' has been shameful.
-unrelenting attacks- blatant/ subtle, lies/manipulation.
-surrogate attacks-Bl
-colluding with MSM to malign Obama
-WVWV robo-calls
Obama was raised by a mother who was a Humanist (studying anthropology) and successfully raised a son to be (what is obvious to so many of us women) a man who Respects and Admires women as EQUALS. (his past and present life have been filled with women he has loved, adored and respected!)
Obama's life story has been replete with admirable women. Both his mom and grandmother inculcated strong personal values -- it is these deeply rooted values (from our mothers and fathers/family) that powerfully and truly inform and shape the 'man' --Obama's sensitivity to people, how he LISTENS to others-without judgment (an admirable trait from his mom and all who KNOW him testify to this attribute!) and thusly how he sees and interprets the world- He exudes Honor and Wisdom and as many have noted--taps out the better parts of human nature.
One's Character becomes Strengthened by diverse exposure and openess -- it deepens our own understanding of people and the world. From my experience, it is often the more radical positions that help us define and crystallize our own views.
I believe OBAMA is a good man-- his Open and Inclusive nature and RESPECT for ALL people would be a GIFT for our daughters/men/ country and world!
Women for Obama '08!
Well, I always wonder about this line about "fellow democrat" or as you call it "their own". This is a contest. If she is nice to him and holds the door open for him, wouldn't he just walk through? Would he hold the door for her? No, of course not! He wants to win and everybody thinks that this is fine. If she wants to win, then she receives accusations. Wierd double standards.
In the praise of Obama, the African dad only appears when he addresses black voters. Otherwise he was raised by a single mom. Notice how often his stepfather is mentioned?
Yes, women play an important role in his life. Just look at the title of his memoir "Dreams of my mother"... Just notice how he threw his granny under the bus by calling her a "typical white person". Not 'woman', not 'grandmother', just 'person'. His mother and father and stepfather raised him until he was 10 and then handed him over to his granny (wasn't there a grandfather as well?).
Obama is a blank, an empty canvas on which everybody projects his/her deepest wishes and hopes. A lot of his past and his personality is just a fabrication, a mix of what the media, his campaign, he himself tells us and what we interpret into it. Can you specify his "Change"? what will he do, if elected? I personally have no idea what to expect from him, because he won't tell.
Thank you, Julia for supporting Senator Obama and for saying so. A while ago David Letterman asked Susan Sarandon if she thought the country was ready for a woman President and she said, "Yes, but not necessarily that woman." (meaning Mrs. Clinton). Unfortunately, Clinton's tactics and her tone and demeanor have set women and the Presidency back to the days when we were fighting for the vote. Carole Mosely Braun was an elegant Presidential candidate who did not get past the early Democratic primaries but lots of women admired her, myself included, and in the early days of Hillary I thought, "Well, maybe.." Ironically, Hillary Clinton has caused lots of women to really dislike one of their own..and that is not easy to do.
I fully support Julia's right to vote for whoever she feels is the best candidate. The media (and by media I mean both the usual right wing culprits and the surprising left wing ie Olbermann, Matthews..
I couln't agree more. I hope supporters of both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama
take it seriously, and take the time to think about it.
Excellent point. Unfortunate that most on either side of the devide are all too happy to show that hate runs just as deeply within our party as it does outside it.
I don't think it's only been the media that has created the chasm, they've just exploited it. I was an Edwards supporter and had some time to consider the two candidates before I made my choice to support.
But after watching how Hillary operated, she made my choice to support Obama for me. The Clinton campaign and their surrogates have alienated a lot of Democrats and the media didn't force them to do that. They panicked after Obama won Iowa and went xenophobic and embraced Rovian politics. Nobody in Obama's camp behaved in an anti-feminist way. Obama has never launched an anti-feminist attack on Hillary. Hillary supporters were the ones who came up with the meme that if you did not support Hillary you were anti-feminist, not the media.
This chasm is not the media's fault, it's the Clinton's. They're just taking advantage of it.
If you look closer, Carl Rove is exclusively advising Obama in newspaper articles and blogs on how to beat Hillary. Since we all agree that Rove is not a Democrat, the only reason possible is that he wants to make sure that Clinton is not the nominee.
why would he like Obama better as a candidate? Not because the man is sooo inspirational or eloquent or such a worthy opponent. He wants Obama because he is sure that the Senator from Illinois is the easier target. With the Wright millstone around his neck and Florida and Michigan already lost, it is far easier to beat Obama than Clinton, who is a tough fighter who never gives up.
Kill Clinton's campaign and say "Hello" to John McCain as next president.
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