WMC Commentary Denver, August 28: We Watched History in the Making by Carol Jenkins
August 29, 2008
MEDIATRACK 2008: WOMEN. MEDIA. THE VOTE.
The Women’s Media Center began its work on the election in mid 2007—bringing together leaders from many women’s organizations to talk about how we would move together towards November 2008 to emphasize women’s perspectives. Much collaboration resulted from those meetings. Through a series of incisive commentaries on our website, briefings by media and political experts in our offices, and our own writing and appearances, the WMC was a key part of the often fractious primary season.
Progressive Women’s Voices: In 2008 we selected 33 women experts and leaders, and gave them extensive media training and support. They are now a part of the Election conversation. From national security to the environment, race matters to gender inequality, our participants are changing the conversation. Meet these extraordinary women at www.womensmediacenter.com.
Election Dispatches: The economy , health care, foreign policy, the military, immigration and climate change: issues that impact women, issues often discussed in the media without including women. The WMC believes all issues are women’s issues. Our mission is to make the media take women seriously.
Look for additional Election Dispatches as we move towards the election at www.womensmediacenter.com.
Show Me the Women: WMC Campaign to Add a Woman to the Debates There are three final presidential debates scheduled before the November 4th election—three male anchors have been chosen as moderators: Bob Schieffer of CBS, Tom Brokaw of NBC and Jim Lehrer of PBS. While Gwen Ifill of PBS has been chosen to moderate the vice-presidential debate, we believe a woman and/or a person of color should participate in the presidential debate
WMC is insisting that each moderator have a partner reflecting the diversity of our country—which is more than half women. Join us on our website, www.womensmediacenter.com to add your voice.
Sexism Sells, But We’re Not Buying: Nearly a quarter of a million people so far have viewed our viral campaign, a compilation of sexist comments made during the primary season by television pundits. Thousands signed our petition to let the networks know that lines had been crossed, and the public deserves—and expects better. View our video at www.womensmediacenter.com
Bias, Punditry, and the Press: Where Do We Go From Here? A special report from the WMC on the status of perceived bias in the media, it follows our groundbreaking forum Soundbites to Solutions: Bias, Punditry and the Press in the 2008 Election, held first at The Paley Center for Media in New York City in June, 2008 and again at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August, 2008. With our partners The White House Project and the Maynard Institute for Journalism we examine how the media handled the issues of gender, race, age and class in the primary season. An electronic version is available for download at www.womensmediacenter.com.
Our goal is to make women visible and powerful in the media. We hope you will join us in our work.
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In a dramatically staged closing evening of the Democratic Convention in Denver—with fireworks in his speech and in the night air, persuasive endorsements from generals (men, women, white and black) and real people (women and men with compelling stories, well told)— Barack Obama took control of his campaign for the White House by reminding his supporters it’s about their lives, their children’s futures:
“I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you.”
The 85,000 people who filled Invesco Field roared their approval. They stood and cheered and wept. After months in a haze of uncertainty for the Democrats, the skies cleared in Denver this week. On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton put closure to her historic run for the presidency, when, from the floor of the convention hall, she interrupted the roll call of votes to ask for a nomination of Obama by acclamation. Before us now on Thursday night was for many a stunning, improbable, unexpected, and perhaps bewildering sight: a black man in America ever so close to becoming president of the United States. In the stadium, Jackie Hardriche was on the phone to her mother and sister, watching in New Jersey: ”Isn’t it just phenomenal?”
Forty-five years ago on this very date, Martin Luther King, Jr. took his “I Have a Dream” speech to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Kim Matthews of Maine, sitting next to me in the stadium—laughing and crying in disbelief—heard King’s dream in person as a child. She was now seeing its fruition. This trip was in honor of her late mother, who helped integrate movie theaters in Arlington, Virginia. In the sixties Arlington, a stone’s throw from the nation’s capitol, was considered “the deep, segregated south.” Shirley Matthews took her white, privileged children to picket every Sunday for nearly a year until the theaters were opened to blacks—and got arrested for her effort. This trip, said Kim, was in her honor.
While King had a dream, Obama talked about “America’s Promise.” In more acute specificity than he has offered before he promised health care for all, a 95 percent tax cut for working families, an end to dependence on oil from the Middle East within ten years, 150 billion spent on new energy. Jackie Chapman, who lives in Maryland, called it Obama’s “detail” speech rather than his “heart” speech, one crafted to demonstrate that he can handle the job.
And those supporters who worried recently that he—and his poll numbers—seemed adrift got something to hold onto. From the moment he stepped onto the stage it was evident he was laser sharp, fiery and commanding—and on the frontal attack against his opponent, John McCain:
“John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell—but he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives. … If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament, and judgment, to serve as the next commander-in-chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have.''
It was a speech that included an agenda for women. While leading McCain by some 12 points with women, Obama needs to improve those numbers. He said:
- Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for a sick child or ailing parent.
- And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons.
These are huge promises to America’s women.
With Hillary Clinton enthusiastically giving her support to Obama, and former President Bill Clinton vouching for Obama’s commander in chief credentials, the Democrats leave Denver more unified than they came in. But there is still a significant contingent of women who still need to be convinced.
As Jackie Chapman, a supporter said: “Obama did what he needed to do, Hillary Clinton did what she needed to do. So did Bill Clinton. Now, it’s up to us.” |
