LA NOW Prez on Palin: 'America, This is What a Feminist Looks Like'

lilypotter: I defy you to name one reason besides racism that you would refer to Barack Obama as a pimp. You should be ashamed. Comments like yours reveal the true colors of the McCain/Palin crowd.

...I find it hard to believe that a whole organization that is supposed to be based on the premise of women's rights, can ban together and oppose Sarah Palin as V.P.
I also think that there are many, many more like Ms. Mandell, many women who understand Gov. Palin's point of view even thought they may not completely share all her opinions. If anything, those of us who support Palin might question our own tendency to let her courageously voice a difficult position for us, and to let Shelley Mandell do this for us as well.
There is much to the abortion issue, including that it is being misused, that young women and men are smart enough to know that it is not the answer to many situations it is now being used for. Mother Theresa raised a valid question when she observed that a society was in trouble when its women started killing their own children.
I am proud of Sarah Palin, whose life has differed from my own in many ways, and proud also of Shelley Mandell, who brought tears to my eyes when she introduced Gov. Palin in Carson.
I just received an email from my employer, who is a woman, expecting me to forward it around about NOW opposing Sarah Palin and her candidacy, and supporting Obama. Of course I will not do that. I believe there are many women, in NOW and otherwise, who love Sarah Palin and will defend her right to participate in our democratic system and applaud Shelley Mandell for coming forward. No matter what the election result, I will always be inspired that I was able to be there to watch a historic moment. Thank you for this place to add my comments to a vital subject.

This in fighting of yours is disgusting and makes me want to not be a woman. You think that Palin is the answer because she has breasts and a uterus? Think again. You might do well to research HER policies in her own state. To research how she has led her state to become a "state of fear". She's not a feminist, she's a Christian zealot who thinks that your soldiers in Iraq are fighting a HOLY WAR. OMG how is that in any way different than a Muslim?
As for the Canadian Health Care system. Yes it has its problems, but at least if you can't afford to pay for a doctor you still GET a doctor. If you can't afford a room at the hospital you can still GET one. Don't diss the Canadian system that at least TRIES to make sure everyone has access to a doctor, when so many families in your country go broke trying to get a diagnosis.

The Gods know I'm not a feminist all the way type of woman, but I still believe that things should be fair and equal FOR women. To stand up there and endorse a woman who wants to see women basically going backwards in time, is frightning. Everyone who knows Palin KNOWS that she does not represent any woman let alone the American women. My heart is pounding for you American women who could be led back to the stone age if you don't stop McCain/Palin right now!

If ever anybody doubted there's a right-wing conspiracy going on, these pro-Palin posts should settle that question. These pro-Palin posts are absolutely nothing else but "plants" in the women's movement, right-wing ideologues pretending to be feminists. It's Alice in Wonderland writ large: NOTHING Is what it seems to be.

kdk..you have got it so right so obvious transparently right on the $$$$

How can anyone associated with NOW think that this insipid, power-hungry, twangy, uninformed and classless lady be such a heroine to women. How do you think she will support women when she actually has rape victims in her state pay for their OWN RAPE KITS !!! And do people think it is somehow NOBEL that she has kept her Down's Syndrome child and accepted the pregnancy of her daughter. That's what any decent mother would do -- that is not out of the ordinary. How sad that the woman who support her would think that she is somebdy for them. How fooled they are and how angry they must be to accept her devisive, and cruel comments of those who disagree with her.

Please, please, please, educate yourselves about Obama. It is all IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. This man is not honest, and not really in favor of women or individual rights for ANYONE. He is as close to a Marxist as I have ever seen in a presidential race.

Since when did feminism equal socialism? I believe in the individual. So does Sara Palin. I believe in Choice. That means I have to give the pro-life people a choice to be pro-life, while I fight to keep my own right to choose. It is ALL about education. Make your own informed decision. Do not believe any "single " source. There are a lot of facts available to you, Find them!

For the first time in my life, I am proud of feminists (or at least, one feminist: Shelly Mandell!)

I am a woman, and I support Palin because she is a conservative, pro-life woman! Finally we will have someone to represent US in the White House!

kd state in her posting: His only association with him was an involvement in a volunteer committee that Ayers happened to be on.
Oh my dear you have been misinformed Palin is hitting it on the head! They served on the Woods Fund board together for 3 years. They have appeared together on joint academic panels and Obama was appointed co-chair with Ayers of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which by the way was a disaster. Oh, let's not forget Mike Klonsky. Research and read and you will learn so much about Obama. Personally, his politics scare me and his socialistic views of how the government will take care of me are down right wrong.

Sara Palin should not be endorsed by women just because she is a woman. She is a woman who will say whatever she is told to say. That was evidenced in her acceptance speech and her most recent accusations calling Obama, who is and has been a Christian and an American Citizen who has fought for other American citizens rights his entire life. He was 8 years old when Ayers was linked to any terrorists acts, Obama didn't know him. His only association with him was an involvement in a volunteer committee that Ayers happened to be on. Palin knows this, yet continues to intentionally mislead the American public. She is arrogant and dangerous and yes gal. That is all.

With additional thought, I see these actions of the group as purely political. I have said long ago when Hillary and Obama were bickering that the true motives and ideas of the party will surface. I believe the support for diversity and women’s rights has been nothing but a facade for the Democratic Party to gain control over diverse groups. This is evidenced, I believe, by the ridiculing and condemnation of Sarah in what really should be celebrated as a wonderful time in our nation’s history.

We need to break this glass ceiling NOW! You go girl (PALIN) for Vice President!

If you want to read and an original and intelligent take on the Sarah Palin phenomenon, check out Camille Paglia's several observations throughout this week's Q/A column of hers over at Salon.com. Camille is a strong Obama supporter who, nevertheless, admires Palin on several counts. Kool-Aid drinkers need not waste their time on this... It's tough to get that Kool-Aid down when your comfortably simplistic, Party-line thinking is being challenged.

To paraphrase Michelle Obama - For the First Time In My Life, I am proud of Feminists!

It took a HUGE amount of courage for Mandel to do this. Make no mistake. I salute her. She is a HERO)ine)

It is appalling that the president of an organization that professes to be for women's and human rights would endorse Palin, a woman who is against safe legal abortions, who had rape victims pay for the the rape kits used in the emergency room, who forces her teenage daughter into a marriage, and who is against even teaching about birth control and prevention of unwanted pregnancies.

And to those that may think my objection is only about being PRO abortion - no- it is about supporting safe and legal abortions for women who choose to have one.. All birth control is not 100% reliable, and accidental pregnancies do happen. Deciding to have an abortion is a painful and personal issue.
If abortions are outlawed, women will be forced back to the dark ages of back rooms, infections, perforated uteruses, and even more unwanted children.
It is not pro abortion , it is called pro choice!

I think the comment that Palin is an "anti-feminist" candidate is very telling. Feminism used to mean women would strive to be the best they could be and work to help other women do the same.

Now it seems that feminism really means a woman is pro-abortion. When did that narrower definition became accepted? That's why I'm no longer a member of NOW or NARAL.

Shelly Mandell should be fired for endorsing and promoting an anti-feminist candidate and doing so while mentioning her position at NOW.

I am a member of LA NOW and I am completely disgusted.

My pastor's wife commented that it was sexist of me to support McCain/Palin simply because Palin is a woman. Since I had decided to back McCain, not Obama, long before I knew Palin would be on the ticket I could just laugh at that assumption.

Thank you Shelly Mandell for having the courage to make your own decision and not be warned off by women threatened by Palin. I'm pro-choice feminist who campaigned to make abortions legal in the 1970s, and I'm proud to be supporting McCain/Palin.

I am appalled that Shelly Mandell would endose Sarah Palin. Neither Sarah
Palin or John McCain embrace a woman's right to choose, he voted against equal pay for women, she is against abortion in the case of rape or incest. This duo
would set women back decades. Just because Sarah Palin is photogenic and "folksy" does not make her presidential material. We are not electing a prom queen! And for those of you who keep referring to Senator Obama by his middle name. Get a clue...he was named for his father. He is not a Muslim. Wake up and admit your racist inclinations.