Webchat Transcript on Obama Endorsement

Wow...that chat was just...scary. I don't know if you are just rationalizing, naive, or downright stupid. And I don't believe for a minute that you thought carefully enough about the potential for backlash in your decision.

As for this:

"Without a clear Democratic nominee, Sen. John McCain has been getting a free ride with the media, and a critical voting bloc that could very well swing the election: pro-choice Independent and Republican women. These women could very well make the difference between a pro-choice president in the White House and another four years of anti-choice policies from John McCain.

With our endorsement, John McCain’s free ride ends. "

Are you KIDDING? Do you honestly think that your endorsement suddenly ended John McCain's "free ride" or that you'd even have that much power over Republican women?

Republican women, by the way, are much more likely to vote for CLINTON than Obama for a number of reasons...so your argument here is just downright silly.

I'm continually stunned by the lack of good judgment displayed here by NARAL's leaders. No wonder the left has been struggling for so many years...with insane decisions like these being made, it's a wonder that we have a left at all left.

It is way past time to reunite our Democratic Party and move on to defeat every single GOP Candidate, thats is hoping for Election/re-election in every area of Government. The Democratic Nominee will shortly be selected.

It will then be time to go to work as a Democrat.

Will you meet this task?

You, your daughters, and your Grand Daughters are counting on Your help and Support.

PEACE
John

faher of three daughters, brother to two sisters..
and pround Grand Father of one Grand Daughter.

RE: ENDORSEMENT OF SEN. OBAMA.

Simply put, I will NEVER AGAIN DONATE to NARAL. EVER.

My pro-choice commitment, along with Sen. Hillary Clinton's, is never in doubt.
==this was not an endorsement that needed making
==there was no need to insult and scorn half the pro-choice community
==this action speaks to the fact the NARAL is NOT, NOT, NOT an entity to trust in the fight for reproductive rights.

Your organization's stupidity is beyond comprehension. Thankfully, there are other ways to support the pro-choice movement, of which I've been an active part for 3 decades.

NEVER, EVER NARAL!! NOT A DIME!!

From Yahoo news (http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080516/pl_politico/10408):

In response to the current controversy, Keenan says people will get over their "broken hearts."

Besides sounding incredibly condescending, you are also very wrong. Your arrogance is showing...

Nancy,

ET TU Bruti!!! With only three weeks of voting left, you just couldn't wait. Your endorsement serves no benefit other than slap Hillary when she was gracefully finishing the campaign. With friends like you and the leadership who needs enemies. It is no wonder the Pro-lifers laugh at the disorganization in the Pro-Choice movement. My family has been pro-choice since 1914 through four generations. In 1972, I volunteered in a hospital where a high school classmate of mine was irreversibly injured after attempting to give herself an abortion.

Until yesterday my confidence in the Pro-Choice leadership and NARAL has never waivered. The leadership's actions yesterday, however, were irresponsible, immoral and simply pandering. What were you thinking? Did you really believe that Barack would ignore NARAL if you didn't stick it to Hillary before the primaries ended? If I were a superdelegate considering your endorsement I would say that your endorsement was worthless because you compromized the organization's loyalty to one of its strongest proponents for nothing but a minute of airtime.

Shame on you. You have turned NARAL into a joke.

I also read the article where Nancy says everyone will get over their broken hearts. It's taking every ounce of composure I can muster to not describe that woman in explicitly accurate terms. You Obama people can have her. It hurts to look at her or hear her speak. The live chat was a complete sham.

Simply put, bad decision to officially endorse either Democratic candidate before this thing is decided for certain. There is no reason NARAL could not have waited just a little while longer & spared everyone this drama. Instead of helping to unite the pro-choice community & progressives, you are helping to create division. Not a smart move.

YOU BLEW IT. Man up and admit it. Nothing worse than trying to BS your way through a HUGE mistake.

Naral, how dare you register Naral advocacy for Barrack Obama? What in the world were you thinking? Polls consistently have found that over 50% of the likely Democrat voters are women. And, way over 50% of these female Democrat voters are Hillary Clinton supporters. It stands to reason that very, very likely well over 50% of Naral's female membership supporters are, therefore, also Hillary Clinton followers.

Additionally, whatever happened to Sisterhood, Naral? Hillary Clinton has loyally supported women's rights and Naral for over much of her political career. When women's rights issues have come up in Congress, Hillary has had the guts to vote "yes", jeopardy or not to her political career. Mr. Obama, on the other hand, has taken the safe and neutral course and voted only "present".

So, you choose to follow Barrack Obama to the White House. Wonderful. Brilliant. Political suicide for you.

Following this post, I am going to send my official request to Naral to drop me off their membership list. And I hope other Hillary Democrats do the same.

No more money for you, Naral.

Gosh, as a republican who was looking for at least a party or group that wasn't into self-destruction; guess we don't have an exclusive on "bad strategy"....Hillary was and is winning in all the places where some of us who have choice and glad there are some here who still will support Hillary.

Whitneymuse

I've been a NARAL member for many years. Unfortunately, I'm finished with your organization. I am absolutely stunned that you threw your support at Senator Obama before the Demo nomination is decided. How could you! Tomorrow, I plan to go to the Clinton headquarters in Astoria OR and call potential supporters. Maybe this betrayal will bring out female voters to vote for the woman who has supported women's issues for so long. As far as I know, super-delegates can change their minds as they please. I hope you've pushed this contest back to Senator Clinton. How could you!?

As a woman, I was completely shocked that NARAL would endorse Obama. As a man, my husband was flabbergasted as well, since he can see through the silly love-fest with Obama that half the country is drunk with. We both would have thought you guys at the very least would refrain from helping bring down a sister. What a travesty. Please recosider your endorsement. You must, in your souls, realize that it was a HUGE mistake, no matter what your egos are telling you to say to the "broken-hearted" public to CYA. Either endorse both or endorse Hillary. Otherwise, I won't be marching for NARAL again, that's for sure.

I've written a couple of times because I am so upset by Naral. In fact, I just joined NOW and donated extra. Tomorrow it will be Emily's List. I could not believe your patronizing quotes about getting thrown and then getting by on the horse, something about Montana. Well, Sweetie, most of us are not from Montana and believe me, you've done more to hurt Obama's chances than helped him. You have galvanized Hillary's supporters and we will not forget your cavalier attitude and disloyal behavior, writing off anyone who is over 40. You have inadvertently founded a movement for women who are sick of the sexism that has been demonstrated throughout this campaign by the press and others to rebel. And watch us do it. And you and your candidate will not benefit from the rebellion. . .and it doesn't matter if Obama chooses that woman from Missouri or Kansas. They are not Hillary.

I just read the transcript of your contrived web talk. That was rediculous. Your organization and Nancy made no sense and continue to make no sense. Why can't you confess that you made a huge mistake? I think the many people who have expressed their anger at your endorsement should join together and protest in front of your headquarters until you accept your mistake and acknowledge our feelings in a more real and less paranizing manar. I want one of you talking heads to really address our disgust and anger!

Wow. I only thought I was angry before. But I'll get over my "broken heart"???

How condescending. How belittling.

Newflash for Nancy: We are not dating. I'm not pining for our lost relationship. I was never in love with NARAL or you.

I and the thousands who responded on this blog and others consider reproductive rights to be a very serious and important issue. How dare you diminish our beliefs and efforts, and the cause in general, by implying that those who disagree with you are weepy and overemotional. You really, really don't understand the consequences of your actions or your speech.

Given that most of your base is female, your choice of words was almost (although not quite) as bad as 'sweetie.' Although at least Obama only called a few women 'sweetie'. You've just insulted thousands of your supporters.

Oh, and Second Newsflash: most of us don't live in Montana.

Pro-choice implies actual choice, not dictatation.

Thank you, NARAL, for making a choice for America and my children that i agree with.

Emily's list is good for women.
However, insulting NARAL, telling them to wait, is using tactics that got Hillary into trouble in the first place. Emily's List, in effect, already endorsed Hillary, and are using the politics of her campaign to attack and divide.

We have contributed in the past and will continue to in the future

All I can say is that Obama buys super delegates and I'm sure he paid NARAL -- whatever it was it was not enough to stay neutral. Many people including myself have lost respect for NARAL for endorsing Obama.

This was a political move coming at a time when Hillary is a woman, who has been under pressure to drop out for how many contests, where she has won, to pave the way for a man who is the least experienced man to run in modern times. You could have remained neutral but Obama wanted you to help him bury Hillary and you did -- WHY??????????????

I won't be donating to NARAL again, I'm disgusted.

I just read the transcript, thank you guys for taking the time to do that, because you didn't have to. As you can see, there's not too much you can say to stop the hate and anger from coming at you, hopefully time will heal.

I'm so sorry that you guys have to be subjected to such cruelty. But as a woman of faith - I believe you will be added to greatly, for every supporter that leaves. My heart truly goes out to you. You don't deserve this...especially from people that said they love you and believe in your work. Stand strong NARAL and continue to focus on your issues. I am a NEW supporter and will definitely pass your link on to many.

Thank you for taking the time to explain your decision and for "trying" to reach out to those who are very angry with you. Thank God you have tough skin!!! (smiless)

The hate I hear in some of these posts, is truly sad. They are not willing to give you 'one ounce' of credit. But please know that there are many of us WOMEN - who do support your decision and will do our all to help Sen Obama win in November.

You people have singlehandedly bought into the good ol boy network, and as women I am shocked you alone set women back ...not forward. This is an organization that supports woman, and yo endorse the black guy? why just to ride with the tide...as he hasn't done anything but lie about his being against the war, slanting it to look as though he actually was in the senate and entitled to vote, when in fact, he wouldn't be sworn into the senate til Jan 2005....hardly there when Bush hasd his WMD intelligence report threat, when in fact , Kerry,Dodd,Daschle,Nelson,Edwards all voted just as Hillary did. Others like Biden voted the same as well. Even Mr Obama hwho said in his Audacity book had he been privy to intel reports (which he was not) and had he actally been a US senator (which he was not) he may have voted the same......and yet he slanted and used that against Hillary. Obama has maternal lineage also that goes against his saying how poor he was...Lynne Cheney verified he was related to her husband Dick Cheney...Obama has 8 presidents (3 are alive both Bush's-Carter) and 5 others...he has 2 supreme court judges, 3 seantors, 2 congressmen,...and more..wargs.com (library of congress geneologist)Richardson , Edwards, Obama all well connected Kerry's lineage is almost obscene 13 presidents etc
He also is mixed up with Rezko and money for the shady land deal he entered into with Rezko was from a loan to Rezko...from Auchi...who worked for Saddam Hussein. That was all under the radar...as the press only lets you hear what they wish you to hear. He did favors for Rezko and a Blackman with a table tennis company....he is hardly the man to change Washington......Sweety...as he called the reporter...you guys ought to be real proud of yourselves.....Things are not always as they seem.
YOu have screwed women to endorse the good ol boys club...and bought into MSNBC...we call it Obama headquarters...all pundits not actual newscasters... Cafferty another big mouth opinionated vote swayer on CNN
I will never contribute to your company again

Wargs
The following material on the immediate ancestry of Barack Obama should not be considered either exhaustive or authoritative, but rather as a first draft. (MATERNAL SIDE OF FAMILY)

Christopher Challender Child and Robert Battle contributed to this report. In addition, corrections were provided by Joe David Bellamy, Judy Barry Strangfeld, Gratia Dunham Mahoney, Fred Chalfant, P. J. Evans, James Quinn, and James R. Kuttler.

Barack Hussein OBAMA was born on 4 August 1961 at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein OBAMA, Sr. of Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya, and Ann DUNHAM of Wichita, Kansas. His parents met while both were attending the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. When Barack Obama was two years old, his parents divorced and his father moved to Connecticut to continue his education before returning to Kenya.

When Obama was six, his mother married Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian oil manager and moved to Jakarta, Indonesia. Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro was born after the family moved to Indonesia. Four years later she sent him back to the United States to live with his maternal grandmother.
Barack Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he met his future wife, Michelle Robinson. They have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

DESCENDANTS OF Barack Hussein Obama (born August 4, 1961

PRESIDENTS:
1.Thomas WOODROW WILSON (1856-1924
2.GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH (b. 1924), US President, m. Barbara Pierce
3.GEORGE WALKER BUSH (b. 1946), US President
4. HARRY S. TRUMAN (1884-1972),
5.JAMES EARL CARTER (b. 1924), US President
6. James Madison
7 Lyndon Johnson
8 Gerald Ford

VP's
1. Richard Bruce Cheney

Winston Churchill

SENATORS:
1. BIRCH EVANS BAYH Jr
2. BIRCH EVANS BAYH III (Evan Bayh (Ind)
3. Robert Carlyle Sale, later ROBERT CARLYLE BYRD

CONGRESS REP:
1.JOHN CHANEY (1790-1881), US Representative, m. Mary Ann Lafere
2. GALUSHA AARON GROW (1822-1907

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES:
1. GABRIEL DUVALL (1752-1844), US Supreme Court Justice
2. MAHLON PITNEY (1858-1924), US Supreme Court Justice, m. Florence Theodora Shelton

GOVERNORS:
1. JOHN ELLIS "Jeb" BUSH
2. HOWARD BRUSH DEAN III (VT)
3. Gov. THOMAS HINCKLEY (1619-1706

UK PRIME MINISTER:
1. Maurice) HAROLD MACMILLAN, 1st Earl of Stockton (1894-1986), UK Prime Minister

NOTABLE PERSONS:
1. Patricia Ann Paugh m. m. John Bennett Ramsey
2. JONBENET PATRICIA RAMSEY (1990-1996)
3. .GORDON BITNER HINCKLEY (b. 1910), president of the Mormon church
4. Dorothy Walker m. Prescott Sheldon Bush
5. JOHN WARNOCK HINCKLEY (b. 1955), attempted assassin Reagan (fixationon Jodie Foster)
6. JOHN SAMUEL WATERS Jr (b. 1946), filmmaker

NOBILITY:
1. Mary Victoria Leiter m. GEORGE NATHANIEL CURZON, 1st Marquess CURZON (1859-1924)
2. Bessie Wallis Warfield- Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor (previously Wallis Simpson; previously Wallis Spencer; born Bessie Wallis Warfield;
3. OLIVIER Comte de CAUMONT La FORCE

ASTRONAUTS:
1. JOHN HERSCHEL GLENN Jr

ARTISTS:
1. GEORGIA O'KEEFFE (1887-1986), artist
2. CHARLES SAMUEL ADDAMS (1912-1988), cartoonist

AUTHORS:
1. KEN ELTON KESEY (1935-2001
2. JOHN ERNEST STEINBECK (1902-1968),

INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESS
1. JOHN PIERPONT MORGAN JR. (J.P. Morgan) (1867-1943), banker
2. GEORGE WASHINGTON RIGGS (1813-1881), banker
3. THEODORE NEWTON VAIL (1845-1920), founder of A T & T

JOURNALISTS:
1. ALEXANDER BRITTON HUME (Fox News) (b. 1943), journalist

CELEBRITIES:
1. Leonidas Frank ("LON") CHANEY (1883-1930), actor, m. Frances Cleveland Creighton
2. Creighton Tull Chaney ("LON CHANEY Jr") (1906-1973), actor
3. JUSTIN RANDALL TIMBERLAKE (b. 1981), singer
4. JOHNATHAN SOUTHWORTH RITTER (1948-2003), actor
5. LOUDON SNOWDEN WAINWRIGHT III musician
6. CLARENCE LINDEN (Buster) CRABBE (1908-1983- Tarzan
7. William Hall "BILLY" BUSH (b. 1972), entertainment reporter
8. KATHARINE HOUGHTON HEPBURN (1909-2003), actress
9. WILLIAM BRADLEY PITT
10. CHRISTOPHER REEVE (1952-2004
12. Elizabeth Hadley Richardson m. Ernest Miller Hemingway
| .John Hadley Hemingway m. Byra Whittesley Whitlock
| .MARGAUX HEMINGWAY (1955-1996), actress
| .MARIEL HADLEY HEMINGWAY (b. 1961), actress
13. PARK OVERALL

Hilary Supporters:

Why are you blaming NARAL or even Sen Obama for Hilary not winning the nomination? Why aren't you blaming her campaign managers or Hilary herself?

No one put HRC where she is - we each must take responsibility for out own actions. You are trying to blame everyone else for why HRC isn't the projected nominee. That's dead wrong!

Being hurt and disappointed, I get that. But being enraged, bitter, nasty, disrespectful - and ready to curse out everyone that's for Obama or McCain is BEYOND me! Now you are going to HATE Obama - because HRC didn't win; what kind of NONSENSE and ignorance is that? Why not hate McCain?????

Where is your love? Where is the compassion? Forgiveness? Compromise? I hear nothing but HATE. I'm sure HRC would not even be proud of the disgusting things you guys are saying to NARAL and the Obama supporters. You guys need to take a breath, take a break and check your heart.

I already knew he wasn't poor and the food stamps comment was a gem. His mother traveled to Hawaii..for college and Indonesia, and we all know you cannot fly paying with food stamps. I also learned Obama's mother was an anthropologist, and her mother was a bank vice president, you remember Milburn Drysdale from the Beverly Hillbilly's ...I believe VP's make the bucks. the grandmother he talks about was gramps 3rd wife...so a step-grandmom...who gave an interview while Obama was running for President saying she was a christian, all the while previously she had given an interview to the Times Newspaper..saying she was a devout muslim....I guess portraying y9ourself as a poor bumpkin with granny living in a hut...Obama didn't want to mention rich white granny and college educated anthropologist mom....sort of would muck up his story of "I'm just like you poor folks"

Susan - you are TOOOOOO funny girl!!! Didn't get your way, so now here comes the "black" guy comment! WHEW! We love you Senator Obama!! All the white and black in you!!!

As a white woman, I have NO problems whatsoever with a black, white or brown leader.

It's a shame that you have to stoop so low. But that's what people do when they FEAR. Now the TRUTH comes out - it's not that NARAL supported Obama - you're really mad because they have supported "THE BLACK MAN".

But we don't FEAR you or your racist remarks. :-)

NARAL SUCKS!! and after all the years and things Hillary has done supporting women, and just like the turncoat politician good ol boys who want to keep that job for the boys only club.....NARAL did their part to help them do so....So glad to see women are still shooting themselves in the foot I am furious for women everywhere....No wonder women are held back

How much money did Obama pay you? Obama bought the caucuses and the super delegates with the Hope Fund. But, people vote...buying caucuses does not help.

Who better to protect Women's Rights than Hillary Clinton? And who supports Hillary....WOMEN!
The polls were showing Hillary was the candidate that would beat McCain, not Obama. People will not vote for Obama. Obama has lost a lot of supporters from the states that voted earlier. You people are an absolute joke and every woman in this country should turn their back on your organization.

So, enjoy what little time you have left! Your stupidity is helping John McCain to be elected!

If you are THAT mad and pissed off - why do you guys keep coming here?

Why don't you just go on with your life and move on to the next group that you keep saying you've joined - go make some calls for HRC or something and help her win the nomination!

Instead you sit here and spue all that UGLINESS! NARAL you have done great work! KEEP IT UP! Stop reading these blogs and go help Obama win.

The rest of you that's spueing hate - Move on already!

Jenny is there something wrong with saying the word black guy...If there is and I am politically incorrect too bad! I have a black nephew I am very close too and am raising myself so black isn't an issue to me...it's people like you that want to yell racist all the time whebnever anyone says anything about your candidate. I don't have a racist bone in my body. Jenny why are you voting for Barack it's not because of his experience.

I am not going to say anything about Obama,except he just made senator in 2005..?? But what I will say is that NARAL should be so ashamed at yet again setting women back. The african american male got the vote long before any women of any color got the vote, so here we are again..You see how women are regarded by Men in power here in the US (just look at the SWEETIE comment and then not answering her question)As there was most likely an important male talking to him. ...it's simply women helping to hold woman back....Do you realize there are many women leaders throughout the world, and yet the Men hold the power here....Again NARAL you should be so ashamed...I'm shocked!!

In response to the current controversy, Keenan says people will get over their "broken hearts."

Keenan is stupid!! and NEVER A DIME!

Lord help us! All the pro-life nuts just showed up. You know - those guys that smell bad and walk around in front of abortion clinics with pics.

The very guys that go home a rape their daughters.

The very guys that picket soldier's funerals with signs that read "God Hates You".

Yikes. They show up like ants at a picnic. You can never really get rid of them. Nasty little pests!

I will work hard, to make sure people in my organization never donate anything to NARAL. We can help women in other ways and with other organizations the do the same as NARAL....say goodbye to our money, as you won't see any of it! You women have no loyalty whatsoever!

Now, you guys are making up all types of LIES about Sen Obama! Why are you doing this? What did that man do to YOU? What did HE do to HRC?

Sen Obama offers a powerful message and a freshness to the White House - that millions of us are hungry for. Not because we're against Sen Clinton - we just support Sen Obama.

Why are you guys filled with such hate, though?

Do you think this is going to make people WANT to vote for your candidate. It's definitely a turn off for me and I'll be voting soon in SD. And if this is an indication of what HRC is about - I am seriously rethinking my vote.

On Liz's post..I remember seeing Lynne Cheney on a talk show pushing her book,and being asked about a rumor that Obama was related to her husband Dick, and seeming embarrassed he was a democrat. It was pretty funny,and she verified irt was true after she checked it out. The corporate news never picked up or reported his lineage to so many presidents...and how odd is that, although you could find it on the internet

For those insensed like I am, and may never get over the fact that it is more than a slap and disloyalty to Hillary Clinton, who has supported this cause for years, while Obama was in school. But I will never ever get over how women can hurt each other in the way of holding them back..like men have done to them in the past ..AND PRESENT...the feminists of the 60's would be livid and horrified! All the work towards equality and with one swift...endorsement wipe all the progress for equality away just like that...INEXCUSABLE!,THOUGHTLESS, My money will in future go to EMILY'S LIST or NOW, but NEVER and I mean NEVER will I ever again donate to NARAL

Oh, Tammi - grow up. If you are that clueless about what we are so upset and you are so unaffected by what has been done to Hillary and women - then you were not going to vote for Hillary anyway.

All I can say is people say alot of things about themsleves that doesn't mean it is true...especially when you are running for president, for those of you who know what CFR is..Obama and his supporters are members..Council on Foreign Relations...read a book that tells all about it "None Dare Call it Conspiracy" by Gary Allen. CRF runs this country....thats not a joke

I meant Obama endorsers, Edwards,Richardson,Daschle,Kennedy, Kerry...all members of CFR

If Women stuck together like men did or african americans do....we would have had loyalty.....aslo this primary apportioned delegates...which is odd to say the least...most times it's winner take all, and since Hillary won all the big states, NY,Ca,TX,FL,NJ.....and she won all but one swing state MO....Obama says he won Colorado and Iowa (swings) but those were caucuses party insiders and not the whole population voting...Hillary won white blue collar workers and Reagan democrats...so if Obama gets the Nomination he will lose in November to McCain....as he couldn't win any swing states that can go either way republican or democrat..and then there is FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN...Obama couldn't pull those states...and there are NO caucuses in November....so to me it looks like 100 more years in Irag and McCain........P.S. NARAL is beyond DISLOYAL to WOMEN...they gave it up before she conceded...if SHE does

I am very disappointed with the decision NARAL made today, and will not give any more money to this organization.

During this entire presidential race we've sat on the sidelines and watched the rampant sexism and misogyny toward Hillary, while Obama basked in a warm glow of political cronies (many whom the Clintons helped, by the way) who are chomping at the bit to have their piece in the administration should he win.

I always felt that NARAL stood up for women all over the world and that by holding up other women (like Hillary) they put forth that message. This decision was made prematurely, given that the fight for the nomination is not over, and Hillary has so much experience being a champion for women's rights, access to birth control, and abortion rights. She is the obvious candidate to support, not some whippersnapper who has hardly any experience and would never understand the agony that many women face because he is a man.

Shame on NARAL.

NARAL - stay strong. Don't let the words of negativity get to you. You have a GREAT program with a GREAT mission - and GREAT people will always see that and support you.

What you are experiencing is the FEAR tactic that many have used in the past. Thank GOD your mission is bigger than Obama, Hilary & McCain!

Thank you for the wonderful work you do for ALLLLL people. I pray an abundance of support will flow your way...as you stand behind your decision. I support you and your decision whole heartedly.

I'm so pissed off I'm going to vote for McCain and hope the he appoints a prolifer to the supreme court. Then they will get rid of Roe v. Wade. That will show you. Ha.

So you're saying everyone that support Obama is....whaatt exactly? Hypocritics? Backstabbers? What?

This is AMERICA - we can support whomever we choose! Why are you so mad, because we chose Obama! NO I don't GET that! Not HATING someone for no apparent reason because your candidate didn't win.

She began to loose this race when HRC went NEGATIVE! Nasty! LOW! JUST like you are doing right now! The negative mess don't work anymore! We've seen it play out for YEARS now. We're SICK of it! And that's the only reason, HRC isn't the nominee today. If she had kept running a DECENT campaign and stayed focus on the issues - she would have won. But MILLIONS of WOMEN - decided that HRC no longer represened THEM. And I am included in that number. I'm not for tearing someone down with lies and low blows and saying ANYTHING any one wants to hear to win. That's why people were turned off.

I know I know. You don't see that nor will you ever believe it. I know. It's easier to Blame Obama, I know.

Just because you say it doesn't mean it isn't so.
YOUR CAMPAIGN was the one and is the one that created this divide.

And, you calling Hillary LOW - Get lost Tammi!

I can't handle any of you anymore. You are not on here because you care about choice or about women or anyone really - you are on here because you are PAID to be on here.

Everyone has had to treat your candidate with such kid gloves for fear of being called racist. Well, NO MORE! I am not racist. But, I am mad that your campaign has tried to label Bill Clinton and Hillary and others as being so.

Have fun campaigning to LOSE!

Fellow Clinton Supporters, are you a person of faith? Are you a practicing Christians/Catholic? I too am a HRC supporter but I am deeply troubled by the posts I have read here. Your attacks are brutal. Relentless.

"Judge not unless you be judged?"
"Love your neighbors as yourself?"
"Love them who use you?"
"Forgive seven x seven?"
"Put no other GOD before me?"
"Do not worship another?"
"You should not murder (even with WORDS)?"
"Do not bear FALSE witness?"

For those of you who are Christian - are you displaying the love of the God you serve? Are you making HIM happy with your actions, words, hate? Are you TRUSTING HIM? Or have you made this all about Hilary? I know you mean well. I realize you love Hilary. But can we support Hilary while not tearing others down? If we can't - what do we have?

To SUSAN:

The way you said and go and vote for the black guy - yes you sound RACIST. And your nephew need to talk with you. Because anyone who has a black family member that they dearly loved - would not refer to black people in such a derogatory way.

Oh, now Obama started the negative attack??

WOW! I won't even comment on that. Any news media or video tapes or newsarticles can show you otherwise. So no need for me to answer that.

But what can we do to JOIN forces now? How can we resolve this?

I just had to add my voice as a strong, free woman for choice who appreciates the risk NARAL took and also the anger that my sister Clinton supporters feel. But the point is not to be missed that Nov. is closing in on us and we need to show McCain for who he truly is. As a national group, NARAL is in a unique position to draw attention to his anti-woman, anti-choice stance by making this endorsement now, partially because it IS controversial and will draw attention. I am a woman, pro-choice and pro-Obama, and I am just going to say again, thank you for supporting the Democratic candidate and putting choice in the spotlight in the general election by making the endorsement at this time.

"If Women stuck together like men did or african americans do..."

Some of the women here are decrying sexism, and in the next key stroke saying some of the most racially offensive things. Hate and discrimination isn't exclusive to women only.

You people saying things about Obama's heritage or race or making gross generalizations--like that b.s. about African Americans sticking together--should be ashamed of yourselves.

You're no better than the sexist men who have dumped on you throughout the years.

I have donated to NARAL throughout the years generously. Never bother me again-save your postage.
HOW DARE YOU SLAP SENATOR CLINTON IN THE FACE THE DAY AFTER HER STUNNING VICTORY IN WEST VIRGINIA!
STUPID,SHOCKING AND HORRIFIC DECISION.
Hillary truly still can win the nomination, but not when she is double-crossed by the very people she has supported.I vote "present" for NARAL, but my checkbook is closed forever...Really.

Thanks NARAL for having the courage to stand up and support Barack Obama. He will be the Democratic candidate this fall, and we all need to step up and unify behind him.

We've seen our liberties erode these past eight years. We've seen the worst president in the history of the United States preside over America with a right-wing agenda that is actively whittling away a woman's right to choice. We have another Republican candidate who wants to continue the agenda. McCain has stated he wants to appoint anti-choice judges like Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Roberts. All he needs is one more...

I must admit, I am rather confused by all the "outraged" comments. Some are so ridden with emotion, they're even refusing to donate to your organization. I'm sure the right-wing wackos will love it!

Again, thanks for doing the right thing. Don't worry, the dissenters will soon come back to their senses. Today, you've picked up a new NARAL supporter.

I can't say I've been a NARAL supporter for a long time; you obviously haven't missed my money anyway. But I was a member until 1992. That was the year that Pennsylvania NARAL decided to support Sen. Arlen Specter in his re-election campaign instead of his opponent Lynn Yeakel. Curiously enough, the reasons given were as follows: yes, Lynn Yeakel, like Sen. Specter, was pro-choice, but Sen. Specter had a long public record of supporting a woman's right to choose, so Pa. NARAL felt it would be "ungrateful" not to endorse him.

OK, fair enough, but I had done some research on Sen. Specter, and I found proof that he was not quite the champion of women's rights he had apparently convinced the leadership of Pa. NARAL he was. I went with my state representative, Babette Josephs, to a meeting with NARAL and presented my evidence. Our pleas were ignored. I decided then and there I had better places to spend my money. The national office of NARAL then made the decision to withhold endorsements in the Pa. race altogether, a completely chicken decision that gave Pa. NARAL political cover to endorse Specter, and that incidentally was a total slap in the face to Lynn Yeakel and the women in Pennsylvania who supported her candidacy.

Well, what a difference 16 years makes. Now, apparently, we are told by NARAL that it's OK after all to endorse the relative newcomer and to kick to the curb a woman who has devoted her entire life and career in public office to women's rights and to a woman's right to choose. Does anyone see a pattern here? Does anyone see that, in these apparently diametrically opposed rationalizations for these two endorsement decisions the one constant is that the woman candidate gets kneecapped by NARAL on behalf of a male candidate even when that candidate has a questionable record at best on women's issues, including choice? Some of us out here may, I believe, be forgiven for coming to the eminently rational conclusion that NARAL and its leadership are more interested in cozying up to the old boys' club that exists inside the Beltway than in really fighting for a woman's right to choose.

And please, spare me the comments about "broken hearts." You and others may not like the anger with which that remark was received by so many of the posters here, but there are times when anger is the only appropriate response to such outrageous and egregious behavior as NARAL has displayed, both in its endorsement and in the completely disingenuous comments its representatives have made to justify this reprehensible decision.

Why take side when you can wait a few days. No woman has gotten that far and you did not have the courtesy to give her the chance to show her greatness.
I can see Richardson motive but yours???

Hey! Thank you so much for posting this transcript and making available the whole multi-thread forum for discussion of the endorsement on the blog.

This experience of reading and commenting on the blog and talking about it offline has pushed on me to reflect again on the deeper levels of why I am pro-choice. It's been a while since I had the opportunity to do this in so vivid a manner.

In particular, I've been reminded of the underlying ethos of that stance for me -- that for me at its core, it's about having the choices available AND also about having real and consistently enacted respect for the actual intelligence, thoughtfulness and dignity of each woman making the choice(s) she makes.

Also, your chat answers were very useful for my understanding. I especially appreciated your clarity about how pro-choice does not automatically mean a preference for women candidates and your acknowlegement that other organizations have different missions. That clarity is crucial IMO and I thank you for making it so explicit in the chat. And, I didn't know about the Planned Parenthood of IL strategy but see in that another real-life example of a respectful person who will work collectively and respectfully with others toward a shared goal.

Overall: This "underlying ethos of real respect" thing is looming large for me right now at all sorts of levels. In reading, thinking and discussing the endorsement on your blog, I've learned something important (to me) about the deeper-level connections between my pro-choice stance and my support for Senator Obama. I value that learning a lot.

Finally: thank you again for endorsing Senator Obama and for standing so clearly and intelligently in your choice even as you opened up discussion for those who do not agree (or who, like me, are coming from sort of left field in our attention and focus).

I understand people were swayed, lets remember the woman in the third row right within camera range fainting...close so Obama could be seen trying to get her a drink of water....sounds like a revival meeting to me. Then there is MSNBC/GE and CNN most all cheerleaders for barack Obama....no one said anything nice about Hillary...it was all Hillary bashing all the way. Cafferty, Olbermann,Abrams, Matthews...all bashing her.This the same press that glorified Bush...and all right wing causes....and yet not even one mention of Downing St Memo..Think about it

I understand people were swayed, lets remember the woman in the third row right within camera range fainting...close so Obama could be seen trying to get her a drink of water....sounds like a revival meeting to me. Then there is MSNBC/GE and CNN most all cheerleaders for barack Obama....no one said anything nice about Hillary...it was all Hillary bashing all the way. Cafferty, Olbermann,Abrams, Matthews...all bashing her.This the same press that glorified Bush...and all right wing causes....and yet not even one mention of Downing St Memo..Think about it

Why all of this crying now. Where was all of the female support for Sen. Clinton at the beginning of the primary and caucus run.

Don't blame the media. Sen. Clinton is a smart media savvy woman, she had plenty of time, connections and influence to charm over the media. She and her campaign choose a stand off distance until she was in trouble. She knew her own negatives (triangulation and calculation) and had time to work on them and she didn't. The Iraq war vote and her refusal to apologize was killer.

She might be a great President but she has not run a great campaign. Reading here I get the sense that older professional women are very upset, but that vote was a lock. What did she do to win the young vote? The people she picked to run her campaign were out of touch. What effort was made to win the young female vote. None. That was arrogance. It was this arrogance that put her in the collapsing hole.

Stop beating up on NARAL. You that are complaining might do better to get behind McCain because he is going to need all the help he can get. But be prepared for the consequences of McBush. More War for your sons and daughters, 200 Billion a year flushed in Iraq, Roe V Wade turned back, no equal pay.

The Fighting Dems!

Obama 08

NARAL and Nancy. I'm ashamed of you, your board, your officers, and anyone else involved in this decision. I'm also furious that you have been so dense in your fast self-serving actions that are clearly motivated by your own personal choices. If you all don't understand the level of damage this inflicts to the 'place' of females here and globally, then you are all sleeping. If you do understand the damage you have caused, then this is all even worse.
This is just terrible.

This unbelievable hysteria and vindictiveness from so-called grownup women over losing a race that has been won fair and square by Senator Obama is perhaps the best evidence yet that this country is not ready for a woman in the White House. Her supporters would need to grow up first. You are reinforcing every negative stereotype about feminists.

Mike said: "Again, thanks for doing the right thing. Don't worry, the dissenters will soon come back to their senses. Today, you've picked up a new NARAL supporter."

Don't bet on it, Mr. Mike. We haven't lost our senses! In fact, I feel that we've finally gained our senses. No, the dissenters will not be back so take out your checkbook and write a big check to make up for the loss of revenue. Why should the dissenters stay with Naral when there are wonderful organizations like NOW and Emily's List that don't betray their friends. Obama will never, I said never, get my vote. I hope you understand that, Sweetie.

"This unbelievable hysteria and vindictiveness from so-called grownup women over losing a race that has been won fair and square by Senator Obama is perhaps the best evidence yet that this country is not ready for a woman in the White House. Her supporters would need to grow up first. You are reinforcing every negative stereotype about feminists."

Molly K: Hillary supporters represent 49% of the Democrats who voted (by the way, her voters voted in primaries where everyone got a chance, even single Moms who could not afford a babysitter while they spent hours at a caucus.) If you want your candidate to win, just keep insulting us. Grow up, yourself, and get that you need us if your man is to win the presidency. And at this rate and with unenlightened people like you and Naral, your man will not have much of a chance. In fact, there is a group of women who are organizing to actively oppose Obama because they do not like him, and they are not Republicans. So, again, you grow up! You wouldn't have the vote if it were not for those early feminists who did not worry about stereotypes! In fact, they were branded by persons just like you. Interesting that you can't seem to recognize that. Maybe you need to lose some of your rights so that you can understand the struggle to overcome sexism which has been rampant in this election. That is what we are angry about and to have Naral dish it out to a woman who has been one of their consistent supporters, that is an incredible betrayal. I expect it out of men like Kennedy, Kerry, Daschle and Bradley -- the four horsemen. Maybe Nancy can ride off into the sunset with them. It seems she already has!

I am referring to the following post with this reply;

You mean the gentle - "walk all over me and my Father" way that Jesus handled the traitors in the temple when Jesus yelled and overturned the tables? We are ALL sticking up for what is right. If you are not strong enough to hand with us - then that is your choice. But, "question" it is a NEW day for women as we are NOT going to take this anymore! And, I know that EVERYONE - the Democratic Party, NARAL, Obama, Oprah, the Obama supporters expect for us "little women" to give over our "temper tandtrum" and then get back to being who we are supposed to be and "turn the other cheek" and like a bad boyfriend or husband that we come crawling back to - here we are once again - ready to cook and clean and put out.

YOU JUST WATCH "question commenter" because something is different this time. We are all stronger and have more money and are independent. The days of having to go back and get back "in line" are over because now WE DON'T HAVE TO depend on others where we are forced into such a weak position!

The above post is in answer to the following;

By Question??? on May 16, 2008 11:55 PM
Fellow Clinton Supporters, are you a person of faith? Are you a practicing Christians/Catholic? I too am a HRC supporter but I am deeply troubled by the posts I have read here. Your attacks are brutal. Relentless.

"Judge not unless you be judged?"
"Love your neighbors as yourself?"
"Love them who use you?"
"Forgive seven x seven?"
"Put no other GOD before me?"
"Do not worship another?"
"You should not murder (even with WORDS)?"
"Do not bear FALSE witness?"

For those of you who are Christian - are you displaying the love of the God you serve? Are you making HIM happy with your actions, words, hate? Are you TRUSTING HIM? Or have you made this all about Hilary? I know you mean well. I realize you love Hilary. But can we support Hilary while not tearing others down? If we can't - what do we have?

Tammi wrote:

"Oh, now Obama started the negative attack??

WOW! I won't even comment on that. Any news media or video tapes or newsarticles can show you otherwise. So no need for me to answer that.

But what can we do to JOIN forces now? How can we resolve this?"

Tammi - WE ARE RESOLVING THIS. Just not in the way that you or the other Obama supporters, NARAL, and the Democratic Party want. You just wait and watch - we are stronger women, more independent women, and more financially secure women today than ever before and, we are NOT going to take it again!

Just what I like. An organization that openly admits kicking a person when she's down. What an inspiration of loyalty for all of us. But it's ok because it's all politics. Ironic, isn't it. Obama wants change but here's an organization that want to continue with politics.

Dear Obama supporters:

Please stop with the disingenuous "Oh Naral I'm so sorry the Clinton supporters are so mean" posts. They are patronizing and again, disingenuous.

I'd say the really vitriolic posts are about evenly divided, once you compensate for the far fewer posts in support of Obama. And they only reinforce the impression much of the country has of Obama supporters as supercilious and arrogant.

For those bantering on about 'choice', well, you're right. It's all about choice. And my choice is to put my reproductive rights support elsewhere.

One thing this country has been rather weak on for a long time is taking responsibility for one's actions. Well, Naral knew, or should have been able to guess, this decision would cost them support. So now they have to take responsibility for their actions. There it is, choice and responsibility. Stop talking about choice as if it only goes one way.

One other thing I've been thinking about is the argument that they are both '100%' in Narals ratings. Well, as far as I can tell, the ratings are based solely on legislative votes. They tell you nothing about intensity of support, the time and effort dedicated to reproductive rights, or commitment to the issue. For instance, I've voted Democratic in every Presidential election since I turned 18. I have a 100% voting record! But I don't give money to them, or volunteer for them, or involve myself with them in any other way. I have a good friend who does give them money and volunteer, a lot. She also has a 100% record voting for Democrats. We both have the same 100% record. And yet, if we both decided to run for office, which do you think the DNC would be better putting their resources behind?

One thing that's present in the Clinton supporter's posts is fairly extensive recounting of her long, hard work for pro-choice causes and organizations. But what's missing from the Obama posts is the same (and also missing from Naral's endorsement and the bit of the chat I saw before I logged off in annoyance at the weasly-PR-like responses they were giving).

If you really, really would like to persuade Clinton supporters to support Obama, you would highlight his actual accomplishments. NARAL is a cause-based organization. They should be making their decisions based on that cause.

By the way, this is an interesting article on the opinions of several prominent female politicians and some of the other pro-choice organizations to their endorsement:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080516/pl_politico/10408

here's some more info:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/15/134149/700/365/516289

I would like to ask my fellow sisters if anyone else has this feeling; when I listen to Obama speak - I get the same gut feeling I got when Bush was first running for the office. As though he does not have "much there" in regard to running the country?

For example; if I have heard him once I must have heard him a million times refer back to his experience as "when I was out on the streets of Chicago as an organizer."

I am from TX and I was working in Democratic politics in the early 1990's when the ENERGY & OIL TYCOONS were getting Bush groomed to run for Governor so he could run for President. I kid you not - he was their chosen puppet. No one believed us back then that there was a pipeline being planned in Irag at that time and Bush had been annointed by the oil companies to take the political lead - but, it is exactly what has happened.

What do we REALLY know about Obama. And, I certainly do NOT have a racist bone in my body. I worked with and admired Ron Brown and Barbara Jordan and SO MANY others. But, I am a little concerned about the 'coming out of no where' and not knowing anything about him - like Bush.

I don't want to say anything that is wrong here and I don't want to accuse anyone of anything but, for me - it just feels very familiar and that is worrying me.

Just wanted to see if anyone else had the same feeling or if they had any insight.

Because I have 4 grandchildren and I am VERY worried about the direction we are going in. That is why I truly believe that Hillary is the ONLY choice right now. And, for those that complain we would have Bill back. I don't get it - he was GREAT for this country. And, had he had more than 8-years - I truly believe that he would have done something about the mistake of NAFTA or at least been on top of knowing how to make the changes that needed to be made to make it work for all.

So, sometimes going backwards is not so bad. Like right now - I would take the 50's and the childhood I had then for my grandchildren NOW any day. Back THEN we did not have to worry about guns in school, our children riding their bike to the park, or how they were going to get an education, a house, and a job when they grew up.

Anyway, this is my 2-cents worth.

Thank you NARAL for having the courage to go with your conscience and endorse the candidate that you feel that is best to lead this country...Be it a man or woman. I know this must have been a tough decision for you to make and judging from the fallout of the last few days, I know the ground is shaky underneath your feet as you stand your ground...I am here to let you know that I stand with you and share your support for Sen. Obama....

I support Sen. Obama, not because of his race, but because I truly believe he is the only candidate that actually cares about the rights of all Americans, not just a certain group.

Sen. Clinton and her ilk have used divisive, race-baiting techniques that have drained and broken apart the spirit of this nation (not to mention the Democratic party)...While I definitely believe it is time for a woman president, I do not believe she is the one...

I have no problems with people who support Clinton or even McCain...After all, we all have different political beliefs and that's what makes this country great...However, I am saddened by so-called "progressive" feminists, who in their zeal to support their candidate choose to attack Sen. Obama due to his race. Do they not know that by this they are alienating a big chunk of their sisterhood? Many of us women are surprise...black as well...And when you insult Obama's race, you insult us as well. What gets me is that feminists will try to lure women of colour into the movement under the guise of some false sisterhood...But why should we join forces with a movement that flirts with white supremacy? *sighs* At least I know now where I stand with most feminists...

I am also amazed by the sentiment that many women on here share that if you vote for anyone other than the woman candidate, that makes you a traitor to womankind. Would I be a traitor to my race had I chosen a candidate other than Obama? No...And I have never heard such from any of my black brothers and sisters...

Thank you NARAL for attempting to bridge the gap amongst ALL women...But as you can see here it's not going to be easy...You've gained a new supporter here.

As a new voter, I am supporting Hillary Clinton because she inspires me! She inspires me because of what she has and continues to do in her life that benefits children, women, working people, and families. As a former breast cancer patient, her passion for universal health care is what matters to me. Too many women in this country die from breast cancer because they do not have insurance coverage. Senator Clinton is the one who got this country to start talking about universal health care and she is the only one with the passion and dedication to make it happen. If women have quality health care there will be less abortions. I am so disappointed in NARAL's support of Barack Obama as president at this time in the campaign. It won't make a difference in who wins the nomination - not at all. But what it has clearly done is upset NARAL supporters and that will eventually hurt women and girls. The explanation for the decision is hollow and does not hold with NARAL supporters who are passionate. The bloggers who are talking about the Christion values, the hateful talk, and making the anti-Clinton comments are clearly staged or paid. The passion of the disappointed NARAL members is genuine. When one is disappointed by something they believe in, it shows in their words and anger and emotion. That is real. The silly scoldings by the paid/staged bloggers is so truly not real.

This is in respone to Lady K's remarks.

NO ONE IS saying ANYTING about race! Quit playing the victim and quit accusing us of being racist. BECAUSE, WE FEMINIST, went where it was not safe or allowed for blacks (terrible terrible times - WE AGREE) to STAND UP for the rights of blacks and ALL people - Obama can run today.

So, quit with this entitlement and victimization talk and attitude. Quite frankly Lady K, this is what we have had to fight up against ALL the years we have been fighting for you - is that we were being suckered and that we were weak because your race "felt so entitiled". WHY are YOU trying to prove the REAL racists right at a time when you should be holding your head's proud and being appreciative to those that have helped bring you to the table - so-to-speak. But instead you call the Clintons OF ALL PEOPLE - racist.

THIS IS WHY you are not going to get the majority of the feminist vote. We do not like being walked all over and mistreated - just like you don't. So, if this tells you anything it should at least tell you one thing - WE ARE ALL EQUAL with the SAME HUMAN feelings that get hurt and offened. And, Ms. LADY K - I for one am GREATLY offended.

So, get back into the campaign and try to win honestly and not by payoffs and street money and church sermons that PUT US DOWN just because we are white.

This is so VERY ridiculous and so very hurtful and harmful. But, the feminists NOR did Geraldine Ferraro or the Clintons START this.
This - I guess - is the only way you know how to fight for something you want. And, I am here to tell you that it BACKFIRED on you. For the way that you have fought us - we will not back Obama. And, why should we???

Really really hurt and pissed off that I have to even discuss this subject after spending my entire life fighting AGAINST racism! Just sickening! What the hell are you thinking or doing??

I totally understand that everyone has their right to support a candidate in the upcoming Presidential election but I have to say that I find it so extremely difficult and so very disappointing that NARAL is endorsing a man who has absolutely no experience except the year and a half as a Senator. Senator Hillary Clinton has over two decades of experience, she has ALWAYS put the needs, care and concerns of woman and children in the front of her politicl career -- she is a woman who understands as only a woman can. I am so disgusted and disappointed in NARAL and I can no longer support or have faith in an organization that will turn their back on another woman who has supported and cared for WOMEN and CHILDREN. I have been a part of the Volunteers working to help Hillary and what I know about Obama scares me to death and this campaign is about my children and my grandchildren. God help America if Obama is elected. I guess people forgot about 911 -- Obamas supporters overseas are frightening and God help you....... There will be "change" no matter who becomes President but Hillary offers hope and experience. You have certainly lost any respect I had for your orginazation and that of many other people in this country, you have turned your back on a candidate who would help EVERY American........You turned your back on WOMEN !!

To the person responding to my comments:

You're right- My comments did backfire...Only because I expected tasteful discourse from decent, mentally sane people w/half a brainn...Unfortunately you possess none of these qualities...And ergo I am stuck w/replying to your infantile hyperbole...

I have not said that Obama (or any black American in general) were entitled to anything due to our race...If you're going to quote me, at least get the facts right...

And I could care less who you choose to support in the end...At the end of the day, whoever gets to be president, I am going to do what I need to do to get on with life...Unlike you, I am not going to shrivel up and die if my candidate of choice doesn't get into office...

Anywho:

As far as the racism in the feminist goes, you do not have to look hard to find it...Between the biased editorials and comments from the likes of Gloria Steinem, Roseanne Barr, Geraldine Ferraro, Marilyn Fitterman and most recently, Erica Jong (where she calls Obama a "boy")...In addition to Hillary Clinton last week's comments where she proudly boasts the support she is gaining amongst "Hard working Americans, white Americans"...

Not to mention the influx of comments in here full of loaded half-truths and from some of the posters here (one in which said that Obama did not represent America, but rather Africa). If Obama was a white man, would NARAL garner so much vitriol from the women here? I do not think so...

And Obama is able to run today, not because of anything white feminists had to do, but because of the bravery of black Americans who faced death and even worse to stand up for what is right and fair...When women were not granted the right to vote, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her sisters launched a zealously racist, classist and xenophobic campaign against non-white, non-American men...

You choose to be blind to the flaws in the feminist community because it serves your own purpose...And by your post, you're just looking to fight...I refuse to give you one. Have a nice life :)

Responding to Lady K- This quote in your response tells alot about your attitude towards African Americans; "So, quit with this entitlement and victimization talk and attitude." This concept of Black "victimization" and "entitlement" is such a Right Wing, Fox News Sean Hannity/John Bircher, White Resentment talking point it is sickening.

Sen. Clinton still has a great deal of high level Black political support. She had a significant level of common citizen Black support up until she decided to go negative against Barack Obama. My mother was a backer of Sen. Clinton, until she went negative.

The comments about MLK and LBJ were stretched out of context a bit, but Sen. Clinton's premise was that it takes a inside politician to get legislation thru, which is what she is, and that all Obama is about is dreams. That is insulting, and not just for the thin skinned. It diminishes the struggle of the common citizen, grass roots organizer (MLK or anyone) who wants to create change. It is saying that it is only up to the backroom deals of the politician. It was saying that the organizing Marches, rallies struggles didn't account for anything.

During the campaign in South Carolina, the Black vote was galvanized to Sen. Obama after the comments of the Clinton surrogates, particularly the mispeak of Pres. Clinton. He knew what he was doing when he said Jessie Jackson won So. Carolina, he was saying two things that it was not representative because it was a high black turnout, secondly that it was early in the run. The second point is fine, the first point is a bit of code for he can only win Black votes.

Likewise Sen. Clintons dismisal of Barack Obama as just a eloquent empty suit speaker/messenger was an attempt to marginalize the dream. Secondly he has policies and a record in State Legislature that he had to build himself. Everyone talks about where did this guy come from. Well he built himself into a top political figure. He didn't come from money or have the political pedigree that the Bush name or Clinton name gives you.

Why do you think he was chosen to give the speech at the last Democratic convention, because he was a loser. No it was because he was a star of the future.

Sen. Clinton while a courageous champion of women's rights has made some strategic political blunders in her quest to become President. Remember this isn't just about women's rights. Her war vote was wrong, and her vote for the new bankruptcy /credit card law was not progressive. Outside of Feminism she has trended fairly center right. Obama voted against the war and bankruptcy bill and trends moderate left. Now from what I read in you blog the right side is where you seem to be.

NARAL leadership made a choice because they know the math won't change and Hillary can't gain the necessary delegates. Rightfully you can complain that out of sisterhood respect they should have waited, but the hold of endorsement was not going to change the outcome.

Responding to Lady K - You need to deal with your "White Resentment" and understand that the Obama campaign and Sen. Clintons predicament are not the result of Black "Victimization and Entitlement" sentiment. Her poor campaign strategy, organization structure, policy positions and message are the cause for her not gaining the nomination and the NARAL endorsement.

If you feel so strongly about African American "Victimization and Entitlement" then you need to stick with the Republican party and vote for John McBush.

Black, white - that is NOT the issue here. The issue here is that some post-feminists here (i.e., NARAL's leadership and obviously a small percentage of their supporters) seem to think that being pro-choice has absolutely NOTHING to do whatsoever with supporting women beyond having the right to have an abortion.

In their naive line of thinking, we could have a government run by 100% MALES because all that matters is that these MALES are pro-choice.

Because that's what they are saying when they see no problem supporting the less qualified male candidate over the more qualified female candidate.

There is no analysis or recognition from the few Obama supporters here on the importance of having FEMALE REPRESENTATION in government. Yet, they'll blast you from here to Tuesday for your supposed "racism" if you are not for the black candidate.

How ironic.

The bottom line is this: You cannot successfully run an organization for women if you backstab women like Hillary Clinton. Sure, you may have a few naive women who think that it's not important to have women REPRESENTED in government, that having women in office doesn't SUPPORT our reproductive rights...but those women aren't the majority of pro-choice women.

So NARAL is setting itself up to be a marginalized, ineffective organization that won't have any more power because it has effectively wiped women out of the equation.

PS I think it's time for Nancy Keened to resign from NARAL...because, really...we don't need a WOMAN running NARAL for heavens's sake! So let's stop the sexism against men and find a less qualified man to be the president of NARAL...after all, all that matters is that he's voted pro-choice on a few occasions...

It is time for us, Sen. Clintons supporters to grow up and accept a defeat. Sen. Clinton should bow out with grace and class. If she belives that the pary is more important to her than herself, she should accept the inevitable and submit to the will of the people.
Why are we angry at NARAL for supporting Sen. Obama? The last time I checked he is one of the prime supporter of woman's choice.

God bless

UNITE, UNITE, UNITE!
Let us stop the madness and act like grown ups. It is noble to humbly accept defeat. Sen. has no one to blame but herself in loosing this primary. She lose a sizable lead, blew millions in misguided strategy to winning; underestimated her opponents, went negative against when she was down instead showing class and integrity. Should I go on? by the way she caught lying when she should not have to. Lets us not blame someone else for the mistakes of the flawed candidate and her arrogant husband who showed to be less than a states man.

You will never get another dine from me. The entire national board should resign.

After what you did to Clinton, I will never support you again.

The problem with you Obama supporters is your superior attitude. You are soooo much smarter than we are. I guess I should just put my five college degrees in the closet because clearly you are so much smarter than me. I have waited my entire life to see a woman run for President in this country. It may never happen again during my lifetime and I am sick to death of you people telling us to jump on your bandwagon. I won't be supporting Obama and I won't be supporting NARAL.

I wish I hadn't started reading this board it really saddens me. Crying feels in order. Too much hate. I'm not looking at the sorrow of whether there will ever be a female president, nor the sorrow of whether there will ever be another black contender. I'm looking at the sorrow of girls and women having children that they cannot take care of. Who will take care of these girls and women facing the life-changing experience of receiving or those not being able to access abortion treatment? I used to think apologizing for being a man was enough. I wish I believed in God so I could apologize for being human. We will let other people suffer because of our selfish desire to be right. So sad. NARAL I congratulate your courage to take a political stance. I will continue to fully support our cause and follow your endorsement while others slam your sincerity, as they no doubt, will mine.

Well, Michael, I feel like crying, because who will tell those young girls that they can't grow up to be president of the United States because first the media, and then the very women's organizations that are supposed to be supporting them, will THROW THEM ASIDE for a lesser qualified male candidate?

And still, I have YET to hear a cogent, thoughtful response from an Obama supporter as to why you honestly think it is more important for NARAL to support a male candidate than a female one, given that we need female representation in government to assure that government pays attention to women's issues.

You keep dismissing our outrage as hate. You have yet to respond sincerely to our concerns over having female representation in government. And yet you want us to UNITE behind you? Forget it.

Finally, Hillary has not lost. She leads in the popular vote and Democrats for Hillary are going to fight until the bitter end to have Florida and MI seated. This is not over, and Obama has not won. And we will not "unite" against Hillary, not now, not ever.

Michael, You are sincere, but don't seem to understand and are probably an Obama supporter. What we are angry about is the blatant sexism that has taken place throughout this campaign. Compared to racism, the sexism has been much more prevalent. Neither are acceptable. I am attaching an article by a woman who I think caught it all. I hope it helps to explain. We are sick and tired of the biased press and their biased pundits, MSNBC, CNN and even Tim Russert. They have been biased for Obama from the start. Why do you think Saturday Night Live did their famous skit? They saw it clearly. If young women do not understand the years and years of hard work that those of us who fought for women's rights did, then they need to wake up. Obama does not impress me as a great advocate of women's rights; I doubt he even thinks about it, except when he wants to get more votes or is concerned about his own daughters and wife. He even was willing to throw his grandmother who raised him and who made a comment (in confidence in a vulnerable moment) under the bus. And then there was his condescending "Sweetie" to a grown woman. Many seem to want to focus on Hillary's foibles, but Obama, on the other hand, can do no wrong. This feels to many of us like sexism and ageism! And I saw it from the start of this campaign.

But having said all of that, I doubt you will understand, but hopefully a little bit.

Here's the article about which I spoke:

Published on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 by TruthDig.com
A Farewell to the ‘Hillary Nutcracker’ and Other Obscenities
by Marie Cocco
As the Democratic nomination contest slouches toward a close, it’s time to take stock of what I will not miss.
I will not miss seeing advertisements for T-shirts that bear the slogan “Bros before Hos.” The shirts depict Barack Obama (the Bro) and Hillary Clinton (the Ho), and they are widely sold on the Internet.

I will not miss walking past airport concessions selling the Hillary Nutcracker, a device in which a pantsuit-clad Clinton doll opens her legs to reveal stainless steel thighs that, well, bust nuts. I won’t miss television and newspaper stories that make light of the novelty item.

I won’t miss episodes like the one in which the liberal radio personality Randi Rhodes called Clinton a “big f—in’ whore” and said the same about former vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro. Rhodes was appearing at an event sponsored by a San Francisco radio station, before an audience of appreciative Obama supporters-one of whom had promoted the evening on the presumptive Democratic nominee’s official campaign Web site.

I won’t miss Citizens United Not Timid (no acronym, please), an anti-Clinton group founded by Republican guru Roger Stone.

Political discourse will at last be free of jokes like this one, told last week by magician Penn Jillette on MSNBC: “Obama did great in February, and that’s because that was Black History Month. And now Hillary’s doing much better ’cause it’s White B—- Month, right?” Co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski rebuked Jillette.

I won’t miss political commentators (including National Public Radio political editor Ken Rudin and Andrew Sullivan, the columnist and blogger) who compare Clinton to the Glenn Close character in the movie “Fatal Attraction.” In the iconic 1987 film, Close played an independent New York woman who has an affair with a married man played by Michael Douglas. When the liaison ends, the jilted woman becomes a deranged, knife-wielding stalker who terrorizes the man’s blissful suburban family. Message: Psychopathic home-wrecker, be gone.

The airwaves will at last be free of comments that liken Clinton to a “she-devil” (Chris Matthews on MSNBC, who helpfully supplied an on-screen mockup of Clinton sprouting horns). Or those who offer that she’s “looking like everyone’s first wife standing outside a probate court” (Mike Barnicle, also on MSNBC).

But perhaps it is not wives who are so very problematic. Maybe it’s mothers. Because, after all, Clinton is more like “a scolding mother, talking down to a child” (Jack Cafferty on CNN).

When all other images fail, there is one other I will not miss. That is, the down-to-the-basics, simplest one: “White women are a problem, that’s — you know, we all live with that” (William Kristol of Fox News).

I won’t miss reading another treatise by a man or woman, of the left or right, who says that sexism has had not even a teeny-weeny bit of influence on the course of the Democratic campaign. To hint that sexism might possibly have had a minimal role is to play that risible “gender card.”

Most of all, I will not miss the silence.
I will not miss the deafening, depressing silence of Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean or other leading Democrats, who to my knowledge (with the exception of Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland) haven’t uttered a word of public outrage at the unrelenting, sex-based hate that has been hurled at a former first lady and two-term senator from New York. Among those holding their tongues are hundreds of Democrats for whom Clinton has campaigned and raised millions of dollars. Don Imus endured more public ire from the political class when he insulted the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.

Would the silence prevail if Obama’s likeness were put on a tap-dancing doll that was sold at airports? Would the media figures who dole out precious face time to these politicians be such pals if they’d compared Obama with a character in a blaxploitation film? And how would crude references to Obama’s sex organs play?

There are many reasons why Clinton is losing the nomination contest, some having to do with her strategic mistakes, others with the groundswell for “change.” But for all Clinton’s political blemishes, the darker stain that has been exposed is the hatred of women that is accepted as a part of our culture.

–Marie Cocco

© 2008, Washington Post Writers Group

Disgusting. You've lost my support, NARAL. Permanently. NOT ONE DIME, EVER EVER AGAIN. NEVER. Oh, and I'm a twenty-something feminist, so don't go making the assumption that it's only older women feminists who are outraged.