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June 16, 2008 10:11 AM

Both Sens. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and John McCain, R-Ariz., had women on their minds this weekend.

Obama gave a provocative speech on Father's Day (watch HERE) in which the first major-party African-American presidential candidate gave some tough love to the black community, specifically on the epidemic of fatherlessness. There were any number of interesting dynamics at play here, but one of them is Obama telling dads -- specifically black dads -- to grow up and start acting like men.

It's a message with some appeal to women voters, Obama's push that single moms need help from government and from dads as well.

But McCain is not giving up women voters, who tend to vote Democratic, without a fight.

In a conference call Saturday, McCain praised Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, hoping to pick up some of her disappointed supporters. "I’m told that Senator Clinton inspired millions of young women in this country," McCain said, adding that she "inspired a whole generation of young Americans in this country."

He cited Clinton, Carly Fiorina, Meg Whitman and Sandra Day O'Connor as role models for women. He did not mention the highest ranking Republican woman in government, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, or the highest ranking woman in the U.S. Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif..

McCain said that women "are still vastly under represented" in government -- on the Supreme Court, in the House and Senate. "I just want to assure you with confidence, at the end of my first term you will see a dramatic increase in women in every part of the government," he said.

The Gallup Poll Daily tracking has Obama with a significant lead among women voters right now, with 54% to McCain's 38% (McCain takes men, 50-44).

Lately Democrats have been trying to make much hay about a fundraiser once scheduled for McCain by former Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams, who in 1990, when inclement weather delayed his cattle roundup here, compared the bad weather to rape. "If it's inevitable, just relax and enjoy it,' he said. The comments were later used against Williams in an ad from his Democratic opponent, eventual winner Ann Richards. (Watch HERE.)

Williams later said, "I feel just terrible about this. Rape is one of the most violent types of crime we are faced with today and will be met with a firm hand if I'm elected governor. Once again, I apologize from the bottom of my heart."

ABC News' Rick Klein broke the news of this fundraiser Friday, which the McCain campaign first said it was canceling but now appears to be rescheduling for a later date. Democrats are now calling upon McCain to return the $300,000 Williams has raised for him.

“The only thing more insulting than John McCain’s willingness to keep hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash raised by Claytie Williams is his  attempt to get away with it by simply changing the venue of his fundraiser," said Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan. "It’s clear that John McCain is more concerned with dealing with a ‘perception problem’ than in condemning these despicable remarks or in living up to the straight talk reputation he brags about."

So…does that mean the Obama campaign won't have anything to do with former comedy writer Al Franken, the Democratic Senate nominee in Minnesota, who is currently under fire for a rape joke he made in 1995?

- jpt

June 16, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (89)

User Comments

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Why would Obama have to convince people he could win without Ohio and Florida? That's an easy one. Better not start laying out that basketball court just yet.

Posted by: geevill | Jun 16, 2008 1:42:28 PM

from ABC:

In a stern Father's Day address, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told an African-American congregation today that too many fathers -- including his own -- have failed their children.

------------------

Just wonder what church Senator Obama is associated with now or he is still a lost "lamb"....

Why did he continue to focus on AA community from AA church? He is running for president of united states of America not president of African America?

He should join a church with a more diversified races with broad background..

Posted by: True Truth | Jun 16, 2008 1:37:22 PM

Yavo Lem wrote:
But there will be a showdown in Denver.
**********

Really??? Hillary Clinton is willing to commit political suicide? Interesting. I really hope she steals the Nomination from the rightful winner. I will LOVE seeing what the Repubs would do to her. They have been drooling for years at the thought of running against Hillary. The Repub base isn't fired up about McCain. But the one thing that will get them out in force is the hatred of the Clintons.

Posted by: jmc663 | Jun 16, 2008 1:36:30 PM

No one is going to vote for McCain. Even Republicans don't like that guy!

Posted by: Pete | Jun 16, 2008 1:36:04 PM

Carly Fiorina isn't a role model for anyone. She's a failure as a businesswoman and pretty much despised by everyone who's ever worked with her. Her six-year tenure at the helm of HP is a tale of disastrously bad management, total lack of business acumen, and abject disregard for employee welfare. She's basically the tech sector's equivalent of George Bush, and had to be publicly ousted from the company for being an unrepentant and ongoing disaster. It's not surprising that she's part of the McCain campaign. She burned every bridge she had and was left with no real future in the business sector.

Posted by: Justin | Jun 16, 2008 1:32:53 PM

The black community owes Hillary nothing. The black community helped put them in office.I never trusted Hillary and obviously alot of America felt the same way. Actual voters voted in these elections and if that Wright controvery hadn't surfaced Obama would have seized the nomination a long time ago.Hillary is not bigger than our party or the presidency.Nor was she entitled.You voting for McCain shows you think that she is.The only way I would support your decision was if Obama cheated like I feared Hillary would.He won. Get Over It!

Posted by: TV | Jun 16, 2008 1:30:54 PM

This electrion becomes very unpredictable and no one knows when and where how many potential political bombs will blow and who will get hurt..

If the focus continues on race, religion, gender, patriotism, Dems' party won't ever be united because of Obama's controversy... However, how many people can forget all Obams's controversies and how many people still try to defend his controversy and continue keeping his controversies alive?? Obama has not shown more effort on uniting his party nor his supporters... They made assumption the Dems has been united but is it true??

Posted by: True Truth | Jun 16, 2008 1:28:13 PM

HILLARY SUPPORTERS are that upset! This is what all of you are just not getting. I don't understand why you are not getting it. Perhaps because in the past the women just fell in line and voted for the Dem even if they were not happy with them and all of you want that mindset to continue. Blame your buddies Obama, Axelrod who swiftboated the Clintons onthe race card nonsense, people like Olbermann and Chris Matthews and I can go on and on listing them. You act like we just woke up one day and decided to be against Obama. We had months of assaults against Hillary Clinton that we had to endure and not one person stepped up and said, "Let's keep this campaign about the issues and stop attacking Hillary." No one said that, no one. If you think Obama is a shoe-in, shink again. Check out the Hillary Supporters Count too all over, especially in Ohio, and if you think he is leading or winning Ohio, you are really in fantasyland. Ohio has been the birth of our movement. We have over 200 clubs nationwide and it is growing by leaps and bounds every single day! Sorry folks, we're here to stay. It's just a ashame we weren't mobilize like this earlier in this campaign because we not have Obama being the nominee, it would be Hillary. But, there is always the future and we WILL constantly be there!

Posted by: Mary Anne | Jun 16, 2008 1:27:52 PM

Mary Anne where did you come from? Why do you hate Obama so much ? What has he personally done to you besides beat your chosen candidate.Hillary lost! get over it. She realized and so should you. If America really wanted her she would have won in a landslide victory.She had everthing going for, but America wasn't buying it. Another woman will emerge and we will have one in the white house one day.I will vote for her if she carries enogh of my values. I have voted and got a woman elected before in a local election.I just really beleive you need to vote for McCain because you support his issues.Okay if the media like Obama. So what.Hillary had name recognition and a popular president to back her.She had Bill Clinton's presidency to plead her case. Where is the fairness in that? Both of them had help and I just beleived the media was shocked and pleased that this country with its hate past would actually support a man of color. It was a ride in the beginning.Hillary realized this at times even though she wanted the coronation.It was a shock.But you really need to look at the fact that Barack represents Hillary's policies in a black male body.If you wanted Hillary and now support McCain you are truly eluding to the possibilty that you don't want him because he is black. You may deny it but its more true than not.

Posted by: TV

=========================================

This is a specious argument.

Hillary has not lost, and if you want, I can post the math to prove it. She has only suspended her campaign. She will be at the convention. The "SUPERDELEGATES" HAVE NOT VOTED, and WILL NOT VOTE, until Aug. 25-28. In the mean time, O'bummer plays at being the "Emperor Jones". But there will be a showdown in Denver.

Notice how loudly she is speaking out, and campaigning for O'bummer at the moment. It is the sound of silence.


Posted by: Yavo Lem | Jun 16, 2008 1:26:54 PM

This blog isn't about Obama, Hillary, or McCain; it is about some person with a user name of Mary Anne.

It is absurd, and ridiculous

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 16, 2008 1:25:32 PM

Nope, I am a lifelong Democrat, so think again. I am not bitter. I am being proactive because my agenda which is equal rights for women was violated by my very own party. The party who had my vote in their hip pocket for decades turned on me, a women, and allowed this travesty to occur to Hillary Clinton. You are right! I am determined and I will not stop until Obama is beaten in November. Call me unrealistic or anything you wish. But, the gender card trumps the candidate for me. Once that happens, I'm done. And, that is just the way it is. And, I don't care if anyone is offended by it or thinks I'm wrong. I think all of Obama's supporters are way off base but at lease I can admire their convictions. And, my convictions shouls also be considered admirable.

Posted by: Mary Anne | Jun 16, 2008 1:22:53 PM

TV, I don't hate Obama. I never said I hated Obama. I never called him any names, you know like the ones you called Hillary, monster, etc? I don't hate him. I just think he is mostly hype. He is inexperienced and was pushed down our throats by the men in the Democratic party. They would rather take an inexperienced person instead of taking a person who is seasoned and knows the score. This is the biggest think I resent. And, all I can say, is here we go. Now Obama's flunkie pull out the old race card. ALL of Hillary supporters would have give our vote gladly to Barrack Obama, UNTIL, he began the gender bashing. He was a self-fulfilling prophecy and has no one to blame but himself. And, I actually lost jobs in my past sticking up for gays, for minorities, etc. so please peddle that racist nonsense someplace else. I feel that the black community abandoned Hillary Clinton after she had given 40 years of service onthe front lines for them. I will never stand by and allow anyone to be treated unfairly for any reason. If you really believe that too, you would be fighting like the dickens for HIllary Clinton. Obviously you only feel that way when it affects your candidate. I am voting for John McCain. I am voting for John McCain so that the Democratic party and this country sees that women will rally and not only not vote for the democratic candidate, we will vote for the opposite party. And, we know the consequences of our actions and are happy to live with it. The problem is, all of you had a long run of HIllary bashing that went unchecked and YOU didn't realize there were going to be consequences for those actions. Grow up and take your medicine. We are taking ours about John MCCain. Now, you take yours and stop whining about it. Gosh.

Posted by: Mary Anne | Jun 16, 2008 1:18:35 PM

Yeah Vanessa, that is why the obama people are out there saying he will win without Ohio and Florida. They are lost causes.

****************************************
LOL he didn't say they would win with out them they are saying they could win without them. Obama currently leads in OH but trails in FL.

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 16, 2008 1:17:43 PM

Mary Anne is a republican. No Clinton supporter is that bitter.

Posted by: Vanessa | Jun 16, 2008 1:16:10 PM

Mary Anne,

In no way did Obama degrade women. It is complete ignorance of the meaning of the word to spill such uninformed reactionism to Hillary's loss. They ran their campaign she lost and now he will probably be POTUS. So search for a little maturity and quit pitching a fit.

Posted by: Reality | Jun 16, 2008 1:14:15 PM

Yeah Vanessa, that is why the obama people are out there saying he will win without Ohio and Florida. They are lost causes.

Posted by: geevill | Jun 16, 2008 1:10:51 PM

Ladies and Gents, JMC663 is from another blog in Ohio, and the blog is so pro Obama that he blocked me from being able to voice my opinions on it. Obama and his group are going to learn that they can't squelch this and that we will find a venue to air our thoughts and feelings about this situation. Good try JMC but we won't go away! But, keep trying. lolol Lord knows, we are going to keep trying and trying and trying...

Posted by: Mary Anne | Jun 16, 2008 1:10:15 PM

Mary Anne where did you come from? Why do you hate Obama so much ? What has he personally done to you besides beat your chosen candidate.Hillary lost! get over it. She realized and so should you. If America really wanted her she would have won in a landslide victory.She had everthing going for, but America wasn't buying it. Another woman will emerge and we will have one in the white house one day.I will vote for her if she carries enogh of my values. I have voted and got a woman elected before in a local election.I just really beleive you need to vote for McCain because you support his issues.Okay if the media like Obama. So what.Hillary had name recognition and a popular president to back her.She had Bill Clinton's presidency to plead her case. Where is the fairness in that? Both of them had help and I just beleived the media was shocked and pleased that this country with its hate past would actually support a man of color. It was a ride in the beginning.Hillary realized this at times even though she wanted the coronation.It was a shock.But you really need to look at the fact that Barack represents Hillary's policies in a black male body.If you wanted Hillary and now support McCain you are truly eluding to the possibilty that you don't want him because he is black. You may deny it but its more true than not.

Posted by: TV | Jun 16, 2008 1:10:12 PM

The Hillary supporters on this blog assume "every" Hillary primary supporter will vote McCain. That's not the case.

I know Hillary supporters voting Obama in the GE. My mother and aunts for four.
I have no doubt there will be several Clinton supporters voting McCain come November, the same as defected Republicans and Independents voting Obama.

At the end of the day... Obama will be president and you Democrat posers will have to deal with this.

Posted by: Vanessa | Jun 16, 2008 1:09:30 PM


Blah, blah, blah! Didn't Hillary say "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen"?

[snip]

Posted by: jmc663

==========================================

No, Hillary didn't say, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen". That statement was made by President Harry Truman.

Posted by: Yavo Lem | Jun 16, 2008 1:03:49 PM

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