NOW-NY: Kennedy's endorsement 'ultimate betrayal of women.'

[geek tragedy]

http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=6285

“Women have just experienced the ultimate betrayal. Senator Kennedy’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton’s opponent in the Democratic presidential primary campaign has really hit women hard. Women have forgiven Kennedy, stuck up for him, stood by him, hushed the fact that he was late in his support of Title IX, the ERA, the Family Leave and Medical Act to name a few. Women have buried their anger that his support for the compromises in No Child Left Behind and the Medicare bogus drug benefit brought us the passage of these flawed bills. We have thanked him for his ardent support of many civil rights bills, BUT women are always waiting in the wings.

“And now the greatest betrayal! We are repaid with his abandonment! He’s picked the new guy over us. He’s joined the list of progressive white men who can’t or won’t handle the prospect of a woman president who is Hillary Clinton (they will of course say they support a woman president, just not “this” one). ‘They’ are Howard Dean and Jim Dean (Yup! That’s Howard’s brother) who run DFA (that’s the group and list from the Dean campaign that we women helped start and grow). They are Alternet, Progressive Democrats of America, democrats.com, Kucinich lovers and all the other groups that take women’s money, say they’ll do feminist and women’s rights issues one of these days, and conveniently forget to mention women and children when they talk about poverty or human needs or America’s future or whatever.

“This latest move by Kennedy, is so telling about the status of and respect for women’s rights, women’s voices, women’s equality, women’s authority and our ability – indeed, our obligation - to promote and earn and deserve and elect, unabashedly, a President that is the first woman after centuries of men who ‘know what’s best for us.’”

[Avalux]

1. Good heavens - she's not bitter, is she?

One of those who are voting for Hillary just because she's a woman. I feel sorry for her.

[GodlessBiker]

25. Bitter! Table for one!

[neutron]

104. Kennedy said Hillary has No Chance

of winning, according to CNN. Sounds like
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING.

Isn't he pontificating to end all those attacks?
So he does it with not just an attack, but a
moronic, clueless attack that is going to piss off
those of us who support Hillary Clinton.

Fortunately, Robert Kennedy Jr. and other family members
support HRC.

[rhett o rick]

113. Will you vote for Sen Clinton in the general? nm

[Maribelle]

65. This OP is bogus flamebait

[SeattleGirl]

2. Well, if he had picked Hilary, couldn't the Obama folks make a

claim that Kennedy had betrayed blacks?

Just askin'.

[robbedvoter]

And they would've too. A bit over the top for me this one.

[SeattleGirl]

18. Absolutely over the top.

I don't think that response is helpful to Hilary at all.

[mathewsleep]

33. what did he say?

i blocked him so i can't see what it was, but it sounds good.

[Drunken Irishman]

19. Not this Obama supporter.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

20. Only thing is that this NOW reaction is a fact and you are merely speculating. nt

[geek tragedy]

5. No. NY-NOW is just a bunch of crazy dinosaurs. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

Probably not.

Do you see anybody attacking Janet Reno?

[stillcool]

55. Does it ever end?

is it so ingrained that it's the first and foremost issue that comes to mind? Just asking.

[PassingFair]

70. But he didn't, and they didn't.

WTF are you just askin for?

It's like asking "What if Spartacus had had a Piper Cub"?

[cali]

3. what an embarassing piece of nonsense. yikes. nt

[SteppingRazor]

4. Oh brother.

:eyes:

Yeah, everyone involved with "DFA ... Alternet, Progressive Democrats of America, democrats.com, Kucinich ..." are a bunch of sexist pigs.

[AX10]

6. ....

:popcorn:

[bicentennial_baby]

14. Glad you edited your nasty Chappaquiddick reference...

:puke:

[R_M]

45. Chappaquiddick: speaking of leaving women behind.

:puke:

[rodeodance]

60. the ghost still hovers.

[Connie_Corleone]

7. Once again, it's all about being a woman.

You can't be a feminist if you don't support the female candidate for president.

You can't be for women's rights if you don't support a female candidate.

This is truly pathetic.

[FiveGoodMen]

8. Hillary is entitled to the White House, you see. How dare anyone not hand it over to her!

GodDamnIt that's lame!

[ErnestoG]

17. Well spoken, and spot on.

HRC is the political entitlement candidate. And that is one reason why she tends to elicit such strong feelings against her.

[Stephanie]

80. I think it's a hoax

Trying to find it from NOW, does not appear. And the Times Union site seems to be down > http://timesunion.com/ -

[CoffeeCat]

95. It's also anti-femminist...

A person should run on their merits, not on their gender, race, or ethnicity.

This screed by NOW is the real attack on women.

If you don't agree with Hillary, you aren't a real woman, I guess?

Strong and smart women are in all of the candidate camps. To suggest that Teddy Kennedy
is dissing women, with his endorsement of Obama, gives NOW a bad name.

Did NOW formally endorse Hillary?

[Proud2BAmurkin]

9. ouch

[David__77]

10. Identity politics at it's worst.

This is something the large majority of voters - male and female - would emphatically reject. And I agree, it's terrible.

[busymom]

11. As a Clinton supporter...

I think she probably is reaching with that article! :crazy: Kennedy chose who he thought was best. Ultimately, of course, he will be proven wrong when Hillary gets the nod, but....at least he had his moment today!

[ErnestoG]

12. How stupid.

I've always supported NOW but on this, they have definitely been digging into stash.

[DJ13]

13. Its ironic that NOW purports to be for a country thats "gender neutral"

.....yet they think that when someone makes a gender neutral endorsement they are "anti-women".

Thats seriously screwed up.

[Metric System]

15. Can you hear it people? The sound of millions of women waking from their slumber...

RISE! RISE!! RISE!!!


And get breakfast ready.:donut:

[EFerrari]

27. Waking and throwing up from the insider opportunism!

Let me be the first feminist to call bullshit.

[Mz Pip]

101. I'll second that n/t

[GalleryGod]

16. Sounds like a press release from "THEN"

:puffpiece:

[monmouth]

21. Wow. As a woman I'm looking around for the insult....Nope, I'm not feeling it.....n/t

[EFerrari]

22. LOL!

:rofl:

[boston bean]

23. Actually, I called his office today and said basically this to his staffer who I must admit listened

intently.

[EFerrari]

29. I looked for the number and was too dumb to find it.

Can you please PM it to me?

[EFerrari]

37. Never mind. Got it. n/t

[geek tragedy]

40. You actually said something this stupid? n/t

[donheld]

92. You actually posted something this stupid? n/t

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Maribelle]

62. nevah mind

some times we don't even need a full moon

[Maribelle]

64. This OP is bogus flamebait

[sandnsea]

73. In response to insanity like NOW is engaged in

That's what prompted right wingers to coin the term. Feminists have got to stop this stuff, it is not helping any of us. Ted Kennedy did not betray anybody. Hillary Clinton is running a divisive and hateful campaign, which is supposed to be the antithesis of what women bring to the political debate.

[BeyondGeography]

26. How we think about this race is all about our attitudes toward WOMEN...I get it

:freak:

Talk about identity politics at its most superficial. Psssst, Hillary: This isn't helping you.

[bunnies]

28. A new level of absurdity has been reached.

What an insane piece of garbage this is. Unreal.

[sniffa]

30. Wasn't Lizzie Borden the first President of NOW?

:shrug:

[Windy]

31. speaks very poorly for NOW. Sad... n/t

[milkyway]

32. Whine, whine, whine! It's all about me! The only thing that matters is how it affects me!

Um, maybe Kennedy endorsed Obama because he thought he would be the best President? Just a thought.

[Armstead]

34. Yes Kennedy sold out the Family Leave Act...(sigh)

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:QLLZnoLZ9dcJ:www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2005-05-25-medical-leave-usat_x.htm+the+Family+Leave+and+Medical+Act,+edward+kennedy&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Family, medical leave act at center of hot debate
By Stephanie Armour, USA TODAY

May 2005

.....The Labor Department began looking at changes to the federal leave law following a 2002 Supreme Court ruling that dealt with a narrow provision involving employer notification under the FMLA. The court struck down a provision that penalized employers who failed to properly inform workers that time off qualified for FMLA.

Some Democrats fear more is at stake. Some congressional leaders have signed letters to the Labor Department opposing major changes. "These changes would deny FMLA to those currently eligible and roll back the intended protections of the law. Such changes would be unacceptable," says a letter signed by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. "It's difficult to understand why the (Bush) administration wants to take away rights," Kennedy says.....

[stillcool]

51. Thank goodness.

Got to love that man's record.

[Raine]

35. What GARBAGE

she's the one betraying women with a venom embittered rant like that. :mad:

[BattyDem]

36. As a woman, I would never back a candidate based solely on gender ...

and frankly, I'm a little wary of people who would make such an important decision based on something that superficial. If they want to discuss Clinton's position on the issues and how she might further women's rights more than Obama (or Edwards), that's different ... but for NOW-NY to expect women or advocates of women's rights to vote for Hillary based on nothing more than her gender is insulting to me as a woman.

[Coexist]

38. wanting a female president, no matter who the female is ... is stupid.

[lurky]

39. My head hurts just reading that.

:(

[Azathoth]

41. This type of hysterical, divisive, bigoted bullshit is the exact reason Kennedy went with Obama n/t

[Bread and Circus]

54. Oh shit, you used that word...

you are fucked...

[southern_dem]

42. wonder if the Clinton campaign appreciates this "support"? n/t

[Barack_America]

43. NOW just lost my support.

Supposedly they are fighting for my voice to be heard, but only if I speak their words? Supposedly all women must vote for Hillary or we are betraying our sex?

Fuck that.

They did not give me my voice. My voice belongs to me. And I will use my voice to support Barack Obama.

[Maribelle]

44. I cannot find this NOW press release anywhere else except the link

this is fishy

[Armstead]

46. It does seem a bit too over the top...

Even if they are angry about the endorsement, one would assume they'd be more circumspect in the wording

[Maribelle]

50. First read, I thought it was....

actually beyond fake, if you know what I mean

[geek tragedy]

53. "Psychological Gang Bang of Hillary is Proof We Need a Woman President"

http://www.nownys.org/pr_2008/pr_011108.html

This past week, we witnessed just such a phenomenon involving men who are afraid of a powerful woman. Hillary Clinton, in her quest for her Presidential nomination, has in fact endured infantile taunting and wildly inappropriate commentary. Indeed we have witnessed almost comical attacks by John Edwards who in turn sided with Barak Obama as both snickered at Clinton's "breakdown," which consisted of a very short dewy-eyed moment. Now John Kerry, who should certainly know better after his own "swiftboating," has joined the playground gang.

Just fucking nuts.

[Maribelle]

58. You couldn't find a link for the info in the OP, I see.

?

[Bread and Circus]

69. It is traceable back to the NY Albany times blog section

[geek tragedy]

83. Ben Smith confirmed it:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/NY_NOW_Betrayal.html

[Stephanie]

79. January 11, 2008 - nothing to do with Kennedy's announcement today

[geek tragedy]

84. Link:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/NY_NOW_Betrayal.html

He contacted them and confirmed it.

[Stephanie]

87. I just read that - it's shocking.

Why isn't it on their website, I wonder?

http://www.nownys.org/news.html

[Hell Hath No Fury]

57. There is nothing on their website...

just checked the entire thing, couldn't find it.

[Stephanie]

76. The link doesn't work for me, the language is innappropriate

I don't think this came from NOW.

[VolcanoJen]

89. Marcia Pappas, President of NY Now, confirms its authenticity.

Per Ben Smith.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/NY_NOW_Betrayal.html

"The Times Union reported it first (writing, "'Scathing' feels inadequate here."), and I confirmed its authenticity with the president of the organization, Marcia Pappas."

So, I'm sorry to say, this appears to be bona fide.

[Stephanie]

90. Unbelievable.

It's really poor form. Shame on her.

[Arugula Latte]

47. Oh, please.

I'm a woman who wants a woman prez, but not badly enough to want Hillary to win.

[stillcool]

48. Whoa...that didn't take long

Ted Kennedy? Betrayal? What about Caroline and Patrick? Maybe it was written before the event. I thought endorsements didn't matter. Dennis Kucinich lovers? Howard Dean, and Jim Dean? Alternet? Progressive Democrats of America? All those folks the DLC loves to hate.

[Debi]

93. Caroline Kennedy HATES women!

x(

[beachmom]

49. I didn't realize Hillary Clinton equaled ALL WOMEN.

Very strange screed by NOW.

[Major Hogwash]

81. That's how some are portraying the race - you're either for Hillary or you're sexist!

No matter. I would have voted for Hillary if she had been right on the issues.
But, since she wasn't, I looked for someone else to support.
Since there were no more women in the race, now they say I'm sexist.
It's complete gobbeldy-goop.

[Bread and Circus]

That's the greatest portrayal? There's nothing worse he

could have done to them?

Wow...just wow...

[zulchzulu]

52. Of course this would be the Clintonian tact, but what about Caroline?

It's a twofer:

1.Demonize Ted.

2.Play the Poor Me Gender Card.

I'm sure they are trying to find some kindergarten paper that Caroline Kennedy wrote to smashmouth her with.

Heck, they got Janet Reno today!
:rofl:

[arewenotdemo]

56. Hillary shouldn't be acknowledged as a female candidate

when she's running as one of the boys.

[Maribelle]

59. Your OP is bogus flamebait

[dailykoff]

61. Hmm.. she wouldn't have a philandering husband named Bill would she?

Naw.

[Mojorabbit]

63. Pure hogwash

and I am speaking as a feminist.

[rucky]

66. WTF?

Where did that come from?

[loveangelc]

67. that is one of the most stupid things I've ever read. I thought it was satire tbh.

He's suppose to endorse a woman just because she is a woman? Gawd, some of these women make me sick with their loyalty to hillary simply based on the fact that she is a woman. I hope whoever wrote this knows she does not speak for all women. This honestly makes me angry.

[CreekDog]

68. So the complaint is that the decision is about gender

But no comment about the campaign trying to make the decision about race?

hypocrite. :spank:

[THUNDER HANDS]

71. NOW - National Organization of Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhh

[rolleitreks]

72. Got to be a joke. n/t

[Mass]

74. As a woman and a feminist, I disagree - It is insulting to think that somebody has to be supported

because of his/her gender or his/her race.

[Glimmer of Hope]

75. This is so ridiculous. She doesn't deserve my vote just because she is a woman.

[Nedsdag]

77. WTF?

:mad:

[Stephanie]

78. That's funny because they declined to endorse her in the 2006 Senate race

Because of her waffling language on choice. I don't think this piece came from NOW. Where is the link to the actual NOW website?

[Samantha]

82. I am thinking Caroline Kennedy would not agree with this statement

It's truly outrageous. I would not vote for a Presidential candidate because I made my selection based on race or gender. I am just looking for REAL leader who can resolve this Country's problems and inspire the American people to once again hold up our heads with pride.

[VolcanoJen]

85. Let me see if I understand this...

... Ted Kennedy is a misogynist, chauvinist pig who is only picking Obama because he hates women to the core. Got it!!! :eyes:

You'd think by now the Clintons would have realized this kind of unhinged ranting isn't working so well for them.

[Stephanie]

86. I am attempting to verify this story with someone at national NOW right now

I'll wait until I see some corroboration. It does not appear on the New York State or NYC NOW websites.

http://www.nownys.org/news.html

http://www.nownyc.org/womensissues/home/newsroom.php

[eShirl]

99. thank you

I hope it is a hoax

[Stephanie]

111. Unfortunately she confirmed that it's true.

This truly is a generational battle. The old school feminists of my mother's age are Hillary's base.

[Debi]

88. WOW - NOW nothing like asking people to support Clinton JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A WOMAN

x(

[Stephanie]

91. Imagine if the NAACP sent out something like this.

I just can't believe it.

[Tulkas]

94. What about CAROLINE??? Did She Betray Women Too?

[The Backlash Cometh]

96. Ohhhh Puhlease!!!!!!!!!!!!

Besides, this election ain't over until the fat lady sings. Now, that, that is a betrayal of women.

[Lucinda]

97. The link didn't work for me.

[City Lights]

98. Sour grapes.

Talk about overreacting...:eyes:

[grantcart]

100. If Clinton supporters, including Bill keep this up

Hillary will be lucky to stay in 2nd place.

[VotesForWomen]

102. this is the negro's hour. not it's not racism, that was what was said all through

the early part of the women's movement. women must always step aside and help advance the black man because 'this is his hour.' that's all well and good, but who will fight for women, and when will it be women's turn? not now according to teddy.

[kickitup]

108. You are horribly misinformed

many of the early feminists were racists. That is a fact. Sojourner Truth ring a bell?

[EFerrari]

110. God goddess. You have it exactly backward. n/t

[mzmolly]

103. Hmmm, the link doesn't work. But, it's nonsense regardless.

:hi:

[Prophet 451]

105. This is bullshit

Assuming this isn't a hoax (which I suspect it may be), it's just crap. It relies (as some of Hillary's more militant supporters do) on the premise that not supporting HRC automatically makes one sexist. If that's true, not supporting Obama automatically makes one racist. While neither would be my preferred candidate, both are decent enough and would make decent presidents.

[VolcanoJen]

106. Just in case anyone is doubting the authenticy, and for the record...

... Ben Smith of Politico spoke with Marcia Pappas, President of NY NOW, and confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/NY_NOW_Betrayal.html

The Times Union reported it first (writing, "'Scathing' feels inadequate here."), and I confirmed its authenticity with the president of the organization, Marcia Pappas.

So, it's not a hoax, even though that had to have been just about everyone's initial reaction. Sadly, it appears to be bona fide.

[EFerrari]

107. Cool. So how compromised is NY NOW?

They can take their cr@p and stuff it.

[izzybeans]

109. Why not call him a race traitor and get it over with?

[realFedUp]

112. This is the actual statement from the NY state NOW site....

NOW's Response to Sen. Kennedy's Endorsement

Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

January 28, 2008

The National Organization for Women has enormous respect and admiration for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.). For decades Sen. Kennedy has been a friend of NOW, and a leader and fighter for women's civil and reproductive rights, and his record shows that.

Though the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee has proudly endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president, we respect Sen. Kennedy's endorsement. We continue to encourage women everywhere to express their opinions and exercise their right to vote.

http://www.now.org/press/01-08/01-28.html

[Infinite Hope]

114. So we HAVE TO support a woman just because she's running? That itself is the ultimate betrayal of

women and justice because it brings a superficiality to it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

115. shouldn't make someone take pity on a woman!

Teddy chose who he thought was the best candidate.

I had years of Margaret Thatcher, therefore being a woman leader doesn't always work either.

[karynnj]

116. What idiocy - Is Napolitano, or Sebelius also ant-woman

It is fair to:
- Defend why HRC is best
- Criticize Obama

But to say that anyone not behind HRC is anti-woman is crazy. If I were in NOW-NY I would quit immediately, though I doubt a majority of their memebers agree with this. I hope even a majority of their members supporting would find this an embarrassment. In Dean's case, isn't he neutral because he promised to be.

The idea that we have AN OBLIGATION to support HRC becasue she's female is an insult.