Rosa: ‘Issue Is Not Gender’
by Paul Bass | September 4, 2008 7:09 PM
Posted to Election 2008
Republicans in Minneapolis wore “Hoosiers for the Hot Chick” buttons to greet the country’s potential first female vice-president. In New Haven, a Congresswoman who fights to advance women in politics was less enamored.
Click here to continue reading Paul’s report, or click on the play arrow above to watch a portion of the interview.
Comments (1)
Posted by: christine | September 4, 2008 7:36 PM
Shortly after posting this report, DeLauro's office sent out this statement:
Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) issued the following statement:
"Families across the country rely on the income earned by working women, yet on average these women still make just 77 cents for every dollar men make. Closing this wage gap is not just a woman ' s issue, it is a family issue - it is the family that finds it harder to get by when women are not paid what they deserve.
"That is why Senator Obama, Senator Clinton and I are working to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. This bill would take critical steps to close the wage gap between men and women by modernizing the Equal Pay Act, giving this law the teeth it needs to be an effective tool against pay discrimination.
"And that is why the Senate should vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act when it returns next week. The House overwhelmingly and on a bipartisan basis passed the Paycheck Fairness Act on July 31st. It will illustrate the clear values and policy differences on issues important to women and families between the Obama-Biden ticket and the McCain-Palin ticket.
"Last year when the Senate considered pay discrimination - John McCain failed to show up for the vote. If John McCain really cares about working families and working women, he will join with Senators Obama and Clinton and I in supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act. He would stand up to President Bush, who said he would veto the Paycheck Fairness Act and work with us to pass this bill. It is more than picking a woman as his vice presidential nominee - it is about supporting the policies that help the economic security of working women and their families.
"If Senator McCain continues his 95% voting record in support of the failed policies of President Bush - American women can expect more of the same. Instead of straight talk, Senator McCain will continue to ignore the realities of today ' s families - that all too often women work the same job as men, but make less. Adding Sarah Palin to the ticket does not change that. Sarah Palin as a running mate does not mean John McCain will finally stand up for issues important to women and families.
"Despite their efforts, the men and women of this country are smarter than that - they will look at the issues and they will not be fooled. The American people want and deserve a President who will fight to guarantee equal pay for equal work."