October 2008 Archives

Elizabeth Shipp is political director for NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Okay, so I'm a sucker for movies that feature come-from-behind victories against incredible odds. One of my favorites? Seabiscuit. I mean, come on...who doesn't love it when the underdog (under-horse?) is counted out and then proves everyone wrong on the big day by winning the race? Everyone cries...some tears of joy...some tears of disbelief...and some because an injustice has finally been corrected and goodness triumphs over evil.

(Jim with supporters. Photo source.)

Well, with apologies to my friend Tom Matzzie who used this description first in '06, I'd like to introduce you to my "Seabiscuit" race in 2008 and ask pro-choice Americans and particularly those of you who live in Georgia to do everything they can to help elect Jim Martin to the U.S. Senate. Jim is running for U.S. Senate against anti-choice Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Even if you don't live in Georgia, you may remember the despicable way that Chambliss won his race in 2002 -- by denigrating disabled war-hero and true American patriot, pro-choice Sen. Max Cleland. If anyone deserves to lose solely for being a slimy, disgusting politician who will stoop to depths lower than the gutter to win, it's Saxby Chambliss.

In '02, Chambliss threw the book of dirty, underhanded attacks at Max -- including last minute distortions about Max's pro-choice voting record and values. Chambliss won that race but karma has a way of sneaking up on these kind of politicians and paying them back for their previous sins.

This year, Georgians have a chance to right the terrible wrong perpetrated upon them in 2002 by voting for former state Rep. Jim Martin for U.S. Senate. In return, the good people of Georgia will get a U.S. Senator who actually puts principle above politics and has been a leader when it comes to the values of freedom and privacy, and a woman's right to choose.

I first met Jim in 2006, when he was running for Lieutenant Governor. What struck me about Jim -- beyond him being probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met -- was that he really cares about the people of Georgia and wants to do right by them. He was so genuine and honest and low-key, I really wondered if he was serious about running. That year was a tough one for Democrats in Georgia and Jim ultimately lost that race, but he gave it everything he had and came up just a little bit short.

What a difference two years make. Now, Jim is within striking distance of Chambliss and what a great day it would be for Georgians and the country as a whole to have someone like Jim Martin in the United States Senate come January, 2009. Polling indicates that the race in Georgia (yeah, I'm shocked just typing this) is tightening up and Jim is closing the gap between himself and Chambliss:

• A SurveyUSA poll of 547 likely voters conducted October 11 - 12, 2008 showed Chambliss narrowly leading Martin 46% to 43% with 6% voting for Libertarian Allen Buckley and 5% undecided. The poll had a margin of error was +/- 4.3%.
• In a Research 2000 poll of 600 likely voters conducted October 14 - 15, 2008 Chambliss lead Martin by an even narrower margin, 47% to 45% with 5% for Buckley. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 4%.
• "Martin and Chambliss, who participated in debates aired on two networks in the state on Sunday, continue to run neck and neck in polling, including a new Democracy Corps poll released Monday. The poll, conducted Oct. 15-19, showed Chambliss narrowly ahead of the Democratic upstart, 48 percent to 44 percent, just within the poll's 4-point margin of error. Those findings are consistent with a string of recent polls in the state that have shown a marked tightening of the race in recent weeks." (Roll Call, 10/21/08)

So, take heart...Jim Martin can win this race, but he needs our help to do it.

Here at NARAL Pro-Choice America we have a saying that we take very seriously: We stand with those who stand with us.

Jim Martin has stood on the side of women and now it's our turn to stand with him. Throughout his entire legislative career, Jim was fighting against anti-choice politicians who threatened Roe v. Wade; who undermined a woman's right to choose at every turn; who thought that they knew better than women and their doctors what was best for women and their families. Jim stood with us even when his family was threatened...even when it wasn't popular...even when he constantly had to face down anti-choice politicians in the legislature.

Jim signed amicus briefs in support of Roe v. Wade and always voted in support of the landmark Supreme Court decision that recognized that women and their doctors -- not politicians -- should decide what's best for women's health. When Jim was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the Georgia legislature, he stood up against an anti-choice abortion ban that came for his committee -- more than once -- because it didn't include an exception for women's health.

So, Georgia women, stand with those who've stood with you. Support Jim Martin for U.S. Senate. There are very few people who I feel this strongly about, but Jim Martin is one. He deserves your help, your backing, and most of all, your vote.

Visit his website: Get involved and help put someone in the U.S. Senate who will fight for you: Jim Martin.

UPDATE:

We can help make the difference for Jim Martin. Donate today.

Kristin Koch is Deputy Director of Communications for Online Strategies for NARAL Pro-Choice America.

I almost can't watch the polls anymore. One day Obama's up by 9 in Pennsylvania... the next only by 4. It's the same thing with Florida - one poll shows Obama up by 5, and another one has him tied with McCain. It's too much!

With so many states - and electoral votes - up for grabs, it's going to take each of us to make sure all our friends and family votes for Obama (and pro-choice candidates down the ballot, too).

One thing you can do right now is send your friends a text message on November 4 reminding them to vote.

Sign up now, write your message (or choose one we've provided), and on November 4 your friends will get the text.

If enough people do it, it can really work:

The Student PIRGs New Voters Project and Credo Mobile, in cooperation with the University of Notre Dame recently released a study demonstrating the effectiveness of using text/SMS messages to mobile phones to mobilize young voters during the 2008 primary election. The study found that text message reminders to young voters increased turnout by 4.6 percentage points.

Our handy text reminder page is set up by Credo Mobile, the progressive phone company that's working to get out the vote this election and has given millions of dollars to support groups like NARAL Pro-Choice America.

So do not wait - set up your reminder text messages and let's put Obama into the White House!

If you're voting pro-choice and for Barack Obama on November 4, then you're in good company. Because Jack Black, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Harold Ramis, and Suzanne Whang are, too.

Check out our Get out the Vote video featuring these celebs and other fabulous pro-choice Americans urging everyone to vote pro-choice for Barack Obama.

We certainly feel inspired that all these amazing celebs stepped up to the plate to stand up for choice and Obama. (Seriously, our whole office is in love with Jack Black.) And PS: Molly may have teared up when she watched the video. Mwah.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a "vote." picture - they're all excellent. Check them all out on our Flickr page.

With only 5 days left to make sure we secure a victory for the future of our right to choose, please pass this along to everyone you know. 

I loved how many different reasons people listed for why they're pro-choice. What are yours? Leave a comment and tell us. Here's mine:

I believe in freedom, privacy, and choice for my friends, my mother, and all women.

Elizabeth Shipp is political director for NARAL Pro-Choice America.

There are so many great pro-choice candidates and so little time left before Election Day! With late-breaking races emerging at lightning speed, I asked Molly to give me a shot at one that's worth watching in the last six days.

Polls are indicating that the race for president is tightening up...in Arizona. John McCain's home state. Polls are showing what had been a seven point lead now anywhere from two to four points. While I don't think anyone believes that McCain will lose his home state (but how awesome would it be for him to only win by a couple of points?), this does bode well for some of the down-ballot races -- especially congressional races. In 2006, NARAL Pro-Choice America worked hard to help elect Reps. Harry Mitchell (AZ-05) and Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), adding two pro-choice pick-ups to the total of 23 pro-choice pick-ups in the U.S. House that year.

This year, we have a chance to do it again. Pro-choice candidate Bob Lord is running against virulently anti-choice Rep. John Shadegg in AZ-03. You may remember that Shadegg was the guy who said he wasn't going to run, dropped out of the race, and then magnanimously returned to the race when his fellow anti-choicers in Congress begged him to return. (Notice, it was members of Congress that begged...not his constituents.) Just like AZ-05 and AZ-08, Arizona's Third Congressional District leans Republican. And just like these two districts, AZ-03 has moderate pro-choice Independent and Republican women voters who could be the key to victory for Bob Lord.

In fact, polling conducted in the district earlier this month shows Lord with the lead. An Anzalone Liszt poll of 400 likely voters conducted October 6 - 8, 2008 showed Lord leading Shadegg 45% to 44%. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 4.9%.

So, why should AZ-03 voters support Lord and oust Shadegg? From a pro-choice point of view, the differences between the candidates couldn't be more clear. Shadegg routinely receives a "0" from NARAL Pro-Choice America when it comes to voting on a wide-range of reproductive rights issues in Congress.

We all know that there are some Members of Congress who are anti-choice and vote against any pro-choice legislation. THEN, there are the guys like John Shadegg who not only vote anti-choice, but sponsor some of the most anti-choice pieces of legislation seen of the floor of the House of Representatives. Let's take a look at some of the legislation Shadegg has co-sponsored over the years:

• Twice co-sponsored legislation to override the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone (RU 486), a safe and effective early abortion medication. [H.R.3453, 108th Cong. (2003); H.R.1079, 109th Cong. (2005)]
• Twice co-sponsored legislation crafted establishing "personhood" at the moment of fertilization. [H.R.552, 109th Cong. (2005); H.R.618, 110th Cong. (2007)]
• Co-sponsored legislation forcing women to undergo a medically unnecessary ultrasound procedure before receiving abortion care. [H.R.5032, 110th Cong. (2008)]

Now, we all know it doesn't end there. Not only does Shadegg co-sponsor these extreme, out-of-the-mainstream pieces of legislation, he REFUSES TO SUPPORT ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HELP PREVENT UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AND THEREBY REDUCE THE NEED FOR ABORTION.

Here are just a few stellar examples:

• Voted to de-fund Title X, the nation's only federal program dedicated exclusively to family planning and reproductive-health services. [House vote #614 (8/2/95)]
• Voted five times to deny federal employees the right to choose a health plan that covers abortion care. [House vote #526 (7/19/95); House vote #320 (7/17/96); House vote #288 (7/16/98); House vote #301 (7/15/99); House vote #422 (7/20/00)]
• Voted against contraceptive equity for federal employees - a provision of law that ensures health plans cover birth control equally with other prescription medications. [House vote #493 (10/7/98)]
• Voted twice to eliminate funding completely for all international family-planning programs. [House vote #358 (9/4/97); House vote #360 (8/3/99)]

Okay, so by now you know the drill: Tell your friends and family about Bob Lord, the pro-choice candidate running against one of the most anti-choice politicians in Congress. Visit Bob Lord's website and watch his latest ad -- Republicans supporting Bob Lord! Get involved, get active and get out the vote for Bob Lord.

McCain is really OOC with his extreme use of air quotes, isn't he? We've written about it before - heck, we even made a video out of it!

So I was super psyched to see this excellent segment from the Daily Show last night (relevant part starts at 2:58 seconds in):

Oh Samantha Bee, how I love thee.

The crew over at the Daily Show is really on top of reproductive-rights issues... remember their excellent coverage of this year's abstinence-only hearing? 

Over in VA-11, Gerry Connolly is running against anti-choice Republican candidate Keith Fimian. Fimian is widely documented as being anti-choice and anti-contraception and is even a member of an anti-birth control group, Legatus.

Gerry Connolly, on the other hand, is fully pro-choice and endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC.

Why is this race one that we want to bring to your attention? Easy. First, take a look at this DCCC ad:

Okay, so now we know that Fimian is too extreme for VA-11, but get a load of this next item. According to a DCCC press release:

... Keith Fimian (VA-11) claims to support a woman's access to birth control, a heath care plan for Fimian's company made available on Virginia blogs shows that Fimian refused to cover contraceptives for his employees under his company's heath care plan.

Fimian's plan also explicitly states that even if a woman's life was at risk an abortion would not be covered, a position even more extreme than Fimian's stated anti-choice stance.

"Keith Fimian has proven that he is too extreme for Northern Virginia, given his opposition to life-saving stem cell research and his radical anti-choice views," said Kyra Jennings, Southern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Now, we learn that Keith Fimian actually refused the women who worked for him access to contraceptives. Keith Fimian's extreme values are out of touch with the need of Northern Virginia families."

Ordinarily I wouldn't want to re-post what other bloggers have written, but in the spirit of "Oh-My-Goodness-There-Are-Only-Eight-Days-Left-Until-Election-Day," I'm aiming for easy. So, here are some citations, again courtesy of the DCCC, the outstanding Raising Kaine, Left of the Hill blog, Center for Reproductive Rights and the Washington Post:

Background

Keith Fimian's health care plan does not cover "any oral contraceptives used for birth control." [Raising Kaine, 10/16/08; Left of The Hill Blog, 10/16/08]

 
Keith Fimian's health care plan also included does not cover "any expenses incurred directly or indirectly as the result of an abortion. This exclusion applies to all abortion services including those performed when the covered person's health is placed in permanent jeopardy." [Raising Kaine, 10/16/08; Left of The Hill Blog, 10/16/08]

 
23 states currently have laws that generally say if an insurer or plan covers other prescription drugs and/or outpatient services, it must also cover contraceptives and contraceptive services. [Contraceptive Equity Laws in the States, Center for Reproductive Rights, 1/4/06]

 
Keith Fimian has claimed he is not opposed to contraceptive use. From the Washington Post: "Although [Keith Fimian] is opposed to fetal stem cell research and to abortion unless the life of the mother is at risk, he is also opposed to the death penalty, he said. He is not, as some of the mailings have suggested, opposed to contraceptive use." [Washington Post, 9/10/08]

Folks - this is a really big deal, and Gerry Connolly has a great shot at winning this open seat race.

Take a moment to share this with your Virginia-dwelling friends and visit Gerry Connolly's website to see how you can volunteer, donate and otherwise assist in these last days before November 4.

For the second election in a row, pro-choice Darcy Burner is trying to unseat anti-choice Dave Reichert in Congress. She was this close in 2006, losing by just a few thousand votes.

Recent polls show that Burner's gaining ground - some even have her ahead. That's great news, but a SurveyUSA poll conducted for KING-TV in Seattle shows that Reichert is supported by 30% of pro-choice voters. That number should be zero.

We need your help to stop Reichert's bid for a third term! Here are two ways to help:

1. Talk to your pro-choice friends today. Make sure they understand that Darcy Burner is the only candidate who will protect a woman's right to choose, and that they need to vote for her on Nov. 4.
2. Next, volunteer for Burner. Right now, candidates need people like you making phone calls and going door-to-door and a few hours of your time really can make a difference. It really, truly can. 

What would a Burner victory mean for women's right to choose? Reichert voted against military women's access to abortion care, and even against providing birth control to poor women in developing countries. Washington women and pro-choice America cannot afford to keep Reichert in office. 

Help return Washington's 8th congressional district to pro-choice leadership by supporting pro-choice candidate Darcy Burner!

UPDATE: Though I feel it should go without saying, I don't want to take anything for granted this election cycle. That's why I'm going to add a third item as way to help Darcy Burner: VOTE FOR BURNER on NOVEMBER 4!

Happy Monday, pro-choice America.

I wanted to be sure you all checked out the transcript of our web chat from Friday. It ended up begin a great discussion full of tough but important questions that our political director Elizabeth Shipp had a great time answering. One interesting example:

Gayle:

The response I get from pro-choice Republicans is that there are bigger issues this time: tax increases under Obama, Republicans are more fiscally conservative (untrue, but they aren't convinced)

 

Elizabeth Shipp:

OK. So it's obvious that number one, whoever these pro-choice Republicans are, they are making more than $250,000 a year, which is the only way they wouldn't be getting a tax-cut under Obama. But I know this isn't the Obama for America webchat, so, I guess we'll just have to answer based on choice. Of course there are tremendously big and scary issues facing our country right now. The stock market is going bonkers, we're excited that gas is only $3.00 a gallon, and milk is crazy expensive. It's easy to get trapped into believing the easy definitions that McCain uses to attack Obama. But here's the thing: as I said before, being pro-choice like Barack Obama has so much more to do with your everyday life than you might think. It's about the cost of your birth control prescriptions. It's about cancer screenings for low-income women. It's about making sure our teens have medically-accurate sex education so they don't find themselves in a situation they don't know how to handle before they're ready.

If people are really concerned about taxes and what makes someone conservative or liberal, they need only to look to the candidate who will actually work to reduce unintended pregnancy, reduce the need for abortion, make birth control affordable, and keep clinics that provide family-planning and cancer screenings to low-income women throughout this country fully funded. That candidate is Barack Obama. John McCain won't do a thing to make anyone's life better...well, maybe Sarah Palin's.

The Huffington Post has a story up today proclaiming, "Democrats Set To Win 20 Or More Seats In The House." Guess who had a race that was profiled as one where an Independent (who voted Republican in the past) was now voting for the Democrat? Ashwin Madia, woot woot:

Liebo, a self-described independent who doesn't much like what he calls the "far-right" drift of the GOP, over the past two decades has voted to return Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad to the House from Minnesota's 3rd District. He viewed his nine-term congressman as a "middle-of-the-roader" who worked "for everyone's benefit" in his suburban territory west of the Minneapolis-St. Paul.

But with Ramstad retiring, Liebo, 78, says this year is different. He's now leaning toward supporting the Democrat, Ashwin Madia, to succeed him.

"These open seats are the critical battleground," Ohio political scientist John C. Green said. They are, he added, "the difference between (Democrats) having a modest success and a great success."

Republicans are defending nearly five times the number of open seats than Democrats are protecting. These seats generally are considered much more vulnerable to takeover by the other party than those where incumbents are seeking re-election, because the candidates lack the powers of a sitting lawmaker, such as name recognition, money, and the kind of reputation and rapport with voters that Liebo described with Ramstad.

...In the Minnesota race, Democrat Madia "seems to be more liberal than the other one," Liebo said, referring to Erik Paulsen, the Republican candidate. Liebo also said he identifies with Madia more because both are former Marines. But more than anything, Liebo can't wait for a clean break from Bush and his policies. "I just want all those bad people to go away," he says.

Yes, yes, horray, kudos and all that to Madia (and the other pro-choice candidates), but I urge you to remain cautious and continue to volunteer, donate, and help out the Madia campaign in any way you can... as though he's ten points down. That way we can ensure we're doing absolutely everything we must do to elect our pro-choice candidates!

It's as Zack Stephenson over at MNPublius says:

But let's not get cocky. As Matt reported yesterday, Republicans are spending $1 million in a last minute attempt to defeat Ash. Don't let this seat slip out of our fingers. Donate today.

I know I always like to know what Chris Cillizza thinks, so I was pleased to see that he named Madia the "slight favorite" in the battle for MN-03:

Democrat Ashwin Madia appears to have edged ahead of state Sen. Erik Paulsen (R) in this race in the suburbs of the Twin Cities. In a neutral year, Paulsen would likely win. But Madia's grassroots campaign, his service in Iraq and the strong year shaping up for Democrats in the state make him a slight favorite.

Well, I'm pleased to report that pro-choice America is on the case to help bring change to Minnesota!

You can learn more about the race on our Race of the Week webpage. Not a Minnesota voter? No problem. See if we've endorsed pro-choice candidates in your state or district... and, as always, stay tuned for more information on the Madia/Paulson race. For more ways to get involved with choice in Minnesota, please visit our fantastic affiliate NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota. They have a voter guide you can access here.

Well shoot. That concludes Ashwin Madia week on Blog for Choice. I hope you've enjoyed it! Check out NARAL Pro-Choice America's endorsements page to see who else we've endorsed, and stay tuned for next week when highlight a slew of must-watch races!

Don't be embarrassed. We all have one.

Who doesn't know at least one person who you agree with on a lot of things, but who's voting for John McCain?

For me, it's my high school friend who's in the military. I love her dearly, which is why I'm scared to death to even broach the topic. I know from Facebook that she's voting McCain. She's super pro-choice (and she lives in Virginia, yikes!) - and we totally need her vote for Obama.

Or maybe your friend, mother-in-law, or neighbor is on board with Obama, but isn't yet convinced to vote for a pro-choice congressional candidate...

Whoever that important person is in your life, we want to help you try and convince them change their mind!

Sure - that's easier said than done. We get that politics is one of those taboo subjects - it's not exactly what you bring up at work over lunch or at your Sunday dinner with grandma.

That's why we hope you join NARAL Pro-Choice America's fabulous political director, Elizabeth Shipp, for a webchat TODAY at 2 pm Eastern.

Submit your question - come on, just do it!

Even if you can't join the chat live (although what better way to pass a Friday afternoon?), you can check out the transcript afterward.

We have 11 days. Less than two weeks to convince pro-choice Americans that voting for McCain - or any anti-choice candidate - is the absolute worst thing they can do for the future of women's reproductive health. Forget "choices." McCain has voted to end the federal family-planning program. We're talking pap smears and breast cancer screening - basic health care is really on the line this election.

Every pro-choice vote matters. It's that simple.

See you this afternoon, and send in your question right now.

Kristin Koch is Deputy Director of Communications for Online Strategies for NARAL Pro-Choice America.