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April 29, 2012 08:51 PM UTC

"We Are Women Colorado" Events Were A Huge Success!

  • 72 Comments
  • by: nancycronk

(Fantastic work, organizers! Keep the pressure on! – promoted by ProgressiveCowgirl)

Update: The We Are Women Colorado group would like to thank all of our speakers, volunteers, perfomers, security guards and so many others for helping us pull off a huge event this past Saturday!

To clarify, although it was organized and paid for by the grassroots, we couldn’t have pulled it off without the PR help of our friends in Allied organizations who mentioned our event in their newsletters, emails, social media, or at their events: NARAL, Planned Parenthood, Progressive Women of Colorado, Blueflower, 9 to 5, White House Project, Health Care for All Colorado, Occupy, Emerge, AM 760 radio, local Democratic groups, etc. Thank you to OFA and some other groups for allowing their voter registrars to come to our event, as well. A huge thank you to Senator Morgan Carroll for helping me put together the roster for the rally! (Please let me know who I have forgotten.)

My emphasis in the comments that ours was a grassroots event was not to minimize the contributions of these wonderful allied organizations — only to fend off accusations that we were somehow a front group for the Democratic party or for some other group. We weren’t and we’re not, although we do appreciate our allies in this community! Please accept my apologies if you are one of the many people or organizations that helped us spread the word. We love our allies! Please continue to donate to them, volunteer for them, and support them!

Thank you!

**************************************************

Thousands of Colorado men and women participated in “We Are Women” events on Saturday, which included a Rally, a March/Parade, pre- and post-event concerts, and a flashmob at the Colorado State Capitol.

Denver’s main newspaper had nothing to say about it. Meanwhile, Denver’s Channel 9 News did mention the women’s events briefly while also making time for another important breaking story, “Student Makes Prom Dress From Pop Tabs”. Denver’s Channel 7 was the only main-stream media that covered We Are Women events, showing the beginning of the crowd pouring in for the pre-Rally concert, and and actually, a great shot of some flashmob performers.

Numerous simultaneous events were going on in Denver on Saturday, yet the following community leaders stood proudly with Colorado women. Some, like House District 35 Democratic Candidate Armando Valdez, drove hundreds of miles to attand. Some of the high-profile attendees managed to attended the funeral of Democrat Paul Sandoval, and still attend the March afterward.  

Legislators in attendance:

House Representatives Crisanta Duran (D-HD5),

Lois Court (D-HD6),

Su Ryden (D-HD36),

Jonathan Singer (D-HD11),

Beth McCann (D-HD8),

Rhonda Fields (D-HD42),

Joe Miklosi (D-HD9),

State Senators Morgan Carroll (D-SD29),

Gail Schwartz (D-SD5),

Betty Boyd (D-SD21),

Linda Newell (D-SD26),

Evie Hudak (D-SD19),

Pat Steadman (D-SD31),

Brandon Shaffer (D-SD17),

Former Legislator, Dianna Primavera (D-HD33)

Andy Kerr (D-HD26), was later photographed along the parade route.

State Senator Irene Aguilar quickly jumped on the “We Are Women Colorado” facebook page, and apologized for not being able to attend. Senator Aguilar, a popular speaker at Health Care for All Colorado events for a number of years, has been a regular attendee at pro-women’s health rallies in the past.

Performers:

Pre and post-event concert by The Foxfield Four (formerly the David James Band)

Musical Comedy by “The Raging Grannies”

National Award-winning Poetry Slam Artists, Suzi Q and Jen Rinaldi

Sami DeBell and Company performed a surprise flashmob at the State Capitol, and then joined the March, adding to the parade numbers.

Candidates:

Brandon Shaffer (D-CD4),

Dave Anderson (I-CD5),

Joe Miklosi (D-CD6),

Armando Valdez (D-SD35),

Mike Foote (D-HD12),

JM Fay (I-HD41),

Tracy Kraft Tharp (D-HD29),

Paul Rosenthal (D-HD9),

Lorna Idol (D-HD25),

Jonathan Singer (D-HD11),

Pier Cohen (D-HD60)

Mary Parker (D-HD22)

Donovan ODell (D-HD38)

(Nancy Todd D-HD41, and husband Terry Todd, D Candidate for HD41, helped with the planning of the event but couldn’t be there.)

Don’t see your legislators or candidates for office here? Call them and find out why not. Note the two independent candidates in the above list. Notably absent were all Colorado Republican legislators and candidates, for any office.

Community Leaders and Activists:

Human Rights Attorney Beth Klein

Unitarian Universalist Reverend Dr. Nori Rost

Rosemary Harris Lytle, CO NAACP State President, ACLU

Personal story by Activist Kelly Everitt

DeAna Jiminez, Co-Chair of Colorado 9-5, with her children

Native American Activist and former CO State Trustee, Karen Wilde

Former First Lady of the State of CO, Dottie Lamm

Nancy Perlmutter, wife of Congressman Ed Perlmutter

Several attendees commented upon the best speeches of the day, with many agreeing they were by NAACP’s Rosemary Harris Lytle, and CD6 Candidate Joe Miklosi.

Lead Organizer Meg Fossinger summarized,

“It was a beautiful day. So many women and children out standing up for their rights… standing up for our rights! It’s time for those in power to understand women are not going to stand for the attacks against us. I was thrilled with the diversity of the speakers who were there. The roster included everyone from award-winning national poet Susi Q, to NAACP’s Rosemary Harris Lytle, to some amazing politicians like Representative Joe Miklosi and Senator Brandon Schaffer, who are challenging incumbents who do not support women’s rights. It was an incredibly inspiring day for women in Colorado.”

Congresswoman Diana DeGette’s staff was extremely supportive of the events, despite the Congresswoman being at her law school reunion this weekend.

Colorado’s Lead Organizers were Nancy Cronk (Aurora), Pat Hansen (CO-Springs), Meg Fossinger (CO Springs), Kristie Wheeler (CO Springs), Kathryn Brusco (Evergreen) and Allison Vail (Aurora)

Colorado women — remember this list when it is time to volunteer, donate, vote, or subscribe to a newspaper. Your time, your money, and your opionions, matter.

Some memorable moments from Saturday:

Here is the whole two hour video if you want to see it all (except for the pre-event concert and the lunch with NARAL). I hope you watch through the march — the signs are hillarious.

I’m a little embarrassed to show a video of myself (self-conscious) but the movement is more important. Also, I regret my comment about Susan Daggett — she had mentioned to me that if she comes, she wanted to blend in with the audience, not be up on stage, so she could enjoy the crowd. My apologies to Susan.  🙁  Be sure to watch the last third of the bottom video to see lots of great signs and the flash mob.

Comments

72 thoughts on ““We Are Women Colorado” Events Were A Huge Success!

  1. I had planned to attend but was not able to do so because of work. So I got up this morning (Sun.) and got on the DP site to read the story.

    And there was nothing, zilch, nada, zero.

    Top political story was Paul Sandoval’s funeral (which of course was appropriate). But when you’ve fired most of your reporters, guess you can only cover one story.

    Wish I could cancel my subscription, but I did that long ago.  

    1. A group of men, women, and kids from Grand Junction made the trip to Denver to participate in this event. I couldn’t attend because I had other commitments for the day. The first thing I did today was to to the DP’s website to read about the event. ZILCH.

      Nancy, thank you for all you did in organizing this event, and for calling out the priorities of the newspaper of record.

    2. Releases?

      Phone calls?

      Anything?

      I saw a lot of words about it here ( I was out of the country) but did the media know?  Who called whom? How often?

      1. I was not surprised by the media black-out at all. The same thing happened when we organized health care reform rallies in ’09. I’ve shared here that at the one we had outside Coffman’s office with 1400 of our supporters/volunteers, not only did the press decide to call it a mixed crowd, but Coffman’s lying staff said there were more Tea Partiers than reformers.

        In the end, the mainstream media is owned by Republicans. We need to fight twice as hard to get half as much. But then again, I’m used to that… I’m a woman.

        1. Some suggestions:

          1) Develop media “friends.” Talk to Patty Calhoun..on how to do that. What about Lynn Bartel? What about Cherry Creek Chronicle…real republican, but sometimes they surprise with their coverage. North Denver Tribune…Cohen is a liberal. What about local college papers? ASk Jason Salzman how to get in touch with local media.

          2) Ask to be on the republican talk radio,  to publicize the event and discuss the issues.  File a complaint with FCC if you are denied. KOA covers a lot of ground and should be doing “community news.”

          3) Call the “news tip lines” on the broadcast channels.

          “But then again, I’m used to that… I’m a woman.” Don’t throw a pity party.  You all did not do the homework.

          1. We did everything possible to use social media – email, facebook, twitter, google plus, you tube, etc. both before and after the event. There are hundreds of photos on facebook and the photo sites. I was also on AM760 Progressive Talk Radio twice (once with David Sirota) before the rally, and another woman was on a smaller station twice. What was missing was traditional media.

            I was not at all surprised by the lack of newspaper and television coverage. For one, it was a weekend. Two, it was the exact same time as Paul Sandoval’s funeral, the Cherry Creek Sneak, and the March of Dimes Mother’s Walk. Three, the media doesn’t seem to care much about rallies unless they are keeping people from entering businesses somewhere.

            Some readers here remember when we did scores of rallies in 2009 for health care reform. We often had 500 or more people for a pro-reform rally, and if 12 Tea partiers showed up, they called it a tea party rally. I have thousands of photos from that year in my many facebook photo albums to show it.

            Media blackouts for progressive issues are a reality. I don’t let them stop me.

  2. or one Republican. Then it would have been front page news.



    BREAKING: Nearly a dozen dudes stand up for men

    Ten thousand counterprotesters are probably lesbians anyway

  3. not one word in the paper and I never caught anything on the TV news. Yet I’ve seen and read coverage for rightie protests involving less than a 100. Disgusting.

  4. Because the event was staged as a purely partisan one.  “The War on Women” is an attempt to take the focus off the economy, which is the one issue that will be foremost on the minds of voters — both male and female — in November.

      1. I didn’t tell the media not to cover this event.  I’m sure they were very much aware of it, but this had the trappings of a partisan event stamped all over it from the get-go.

        You have a recruiter for the Center for Progressive Leadership organize the event, publicize the event, then report here how wildly successful the event was… and every step of the way bang the drum for Democratic politicians and candidates who were going to be there, were there, or give excuses for the ones that weren’t there!  

        Frankly, Nancy Cronk could have written the summary of this event on the day it was first organized. She had already predetermined that it would be a “huge success.”  It was a carefully scripted liberal Democratic Party get together.   You don’t think veteran reporters didn’t figure this out for themselves?

        Both the Tea Party and Occupy Denver events were spontaneous and grassroots. (The Tea Party knocked off some incumbent Republican in primaries across the country, so they aren’t the darlings of the GOP like you claim they are.)  The activities of both groups were nationwide.  

        You may not see the difference, but the news media sure did.  

        1. Both the Tea Party and Occupy Denver events were spontaneous and grassroots.

          you are overlooking the effect of Koch brothers millions.

          Without those funds, your precious Tea Party might have found organizing and turning out “peeps” just a bit more challenging.

          But…false equivalencies are your parties’ stock in trade. So..it’s OK. Delude yourself, as you will.

          1. The Koch brothers did not form the Tea Party effort and their money did not create the turnout.  I imagine the Tea Party is a real headache to the Republican Party.  Knocking off a sure GOP winner, Mike Castle, in the Delaware senate race, in 2010, just so a Democrat could take the race cost the Republicans dearly.

            Both Occupy Denver and the Tea Party look very much spontaneous and grassroots to me… and apparently to the media as well.  They are people who are fed up with the economy and with the status quo.  I don’t think either group has had much trouble turning out their people.  The voters are not happy… period.

            The main difference I see between the two groups is that Occupy Denver had a lot more younger people, while the Tea Party is made up of a lot of middle age, or older, people — who tend more often to vote than the younger crowd.  How they protested varied, too, and the Tea Party people seemed a lot cleaner than some of the Occupy Denver folks.  

            1. The Tea Party movement was started as a grassroots organization, but it only took off once Fox News started promoting rallies organized and financed by Republican mainstays such as Dick Armey and the Koch brothers.  Koch did fund the buses that took people around to those anti health care reform rallies –  which were the events that made the Tea Party a Big Deal.

              Today’s Tea Party, at the top, is 100% big money astroturf driven crap.  And I’m sorry to have to break that to all the people who joined the movement thinking they were getting something different – it was/is yet another ploy to keep people dissatisfied with government and focused on the Republican Party and “purifying” it.

            2. the Venn diagram on this subject that was presented by Chris Hayes on MSNBC.

              The conclusion was:

              Tea Partiers believe the government has been crapping on regular folks.

              Occupiers believe big business has been crapping on regular folks.

              of course, in the overlap, it should be noted that you couldn’t drive a dime between government and big business with a sledgehammer. The progressive community in Grand Junction and the local Tea Party (not the big money, corporatist, phony Tea Party) have actually begun a dialogue about our common interests.  They do exist.  

        2. I agree Occupy Wall Street and all the other Occupy events were grassroots, so we don’t need to restate what we all agree on.

          The We Are Women movement (and yes, we are a movement) began with a married business  woman named Karen Teegarden in Michigan, telling her girlfriend that she was angry at Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans for a line thy crossed between partisan, and extremely offensive to women everywhere. I’ve spoken with Karen Teegarden numerous times, since we’ve gotten to know each other a little over these marches. She is a business owner, and was not active in politics. She was just angry… very, very, very angry.

          Karen and her friend put out the call on facebook to start a march. Her friends loved the idea, and they told friends, who told friends, who told friends. A couple days later, my friend talked to me, saying, “Let’s do this in Colorado”. There were a few other women in CO from other cities thinking the same thing, and we happened to cross paths on facebook, where we decided to join forces. I happened to be an experienced organizer in Denver, and they were experienced organizers in Colorado Springs and Evergreen (although they had not organized professionally, as I have). We were all very angry at Limbaugh and Tea Party wingnuts. Three of those women were so angry at Lamborn, whom they call Lamebrain, it fueled their efforts.

          We spent every day of the next two months reaching out to women all over this state, and you know what? Every single one of them was angry, too! One of the first women to sign on was Jean Tinley of Lone Tree, a woman who until 2012, says she’s always voted Republican. Jean has since blogged several times, despite never having been interested in political activism before. Jean was by far not the only Republican woman who helped us — Jean is just one that was willing to share her name openly. We had scores of Republican and independent women voice their support for what we were doing.

          Open invitations went out on facebook all over this state. They also went out by email and twitter, for anyone who knew of great speakers. We had no concern whatsoever for women’s political affiliations. If they were women, and they were as angry as we were, we listened. We met in restaurants and coffee houses. We met on-line. We met by phone. The speaker’s list that grew out of our conversations were people who heard what we were doing — then stepped forward — because they were angry, too. Two of those speakers happened to be candidates who were registered as Independents, by the way.

          I did not get a call from Rick Palacio until three days before the event, and you are welcome to check my phone records. He was impressed by what we were doing, but he in no way assisted us. Not one penny of the dollar bills kicked into our hat to pay for the professional sound system, the port-o-potties and the volunteer lanyards (all we had to pay for since volunteers came through for everything else) came from the Democratic party, OFA, any progressive organization, or any legislator. We offered table spaces for a contribution of $50 (to help us pay the port-o-let bill) to any candidate who wanted to be there — no affiliation requirements whatsoever, and we would have been THRILLED if a Republican candidate would have taken us up on that offer. Not one chicken-shit member of the GOP took us up on it. Not one. Women will remember that in November.

          The only sign of support from any organization was a few retired Denver police officers who normally volunteer for Planned Parenthood, offered to volunteer for us. As the weeks passed a handful of organizations listed our event in their newsletters, but also made it very clear it was not “their event”. Look at the videos again. If NARAL or Planned Parenthood or OFA or anyone else was helping us, they would have had their banners or signs. They didn’t. They had nothing to do with us. NARAL did ask for our help, though — they asked us to get out the word about a fundraiser they were doing afterward, so I was happy to mention it. We got nothing in return from them.

          Our event had people coming from all over the state, because they heard about it word-of-mouth, or through social media. Not one penny was spent helping anyone get to our event, make their banners, or paint their signs. No one was given reimbursement for gas, for supplies, or for hours volunteering. NOT ONE PENNY.

          A group called “Unite Women” sprung up on facebook, to help the state’s volunteer organizers band together to get things like insurance, if the states needed it. Fortunately, Karen’s business experience helped with that. The national group, which was also completely grassroots, unfunded, and volunteer, offered states was an opportunity to purchase insurance, and to be listed on her website. They also sent us $48 cash for supplies. Why that amount? That’s what they had.

          And you know what? Events like ours happened all over the country… with no previous organization, no corporate sponsors, no mailing lists, and no budget. Just angry women reaching out to their angry friends. I learned later our was one of the biggest events in the country, and for that I am extremely proud.

          Contrast our 100% grassroots event with the Tea Party “movement”, which was astroturphed from Day One, paid for by the Koch brothers, multi-national billionaires who pour millions and millions and millions of dollars into Republican politics at every level. The Tea Party “movement” bused in paid people, including their most famous wingnut Sarah Palin, on fancy rented, painted buses.

          Thank you for the opportunity, RR, for me to brag again about the amazing men and women in Colorado whom I’ve met over the last two months. My life has been enriched meeting them, and I feel extremely blessed.

          1. and embrace allied groups. We thank allied groups for the work they do. In our many conversations while planning our events, almost every women mentioned being a supporter of Planned Parenthood, especially. Seeking to destroy women’s beloved Planned Parenthood — an organization that stands with women every day of a woman’s life, was a political calculation that will forever haunt the GOP.  

            To Planned Parenthood, thank you for standing with Colorado women, and women all over this country!

          2. The We Are Women Colorado group would like to thank all of our speakers, volunteers, perfomers, security guards and so many others for helping us pull off a huge event this past Saturday!

            To clarify, although it was organized and paid for by the grassroots, we couldn’t have pulled it off without the PR help of our friends in Allied organizations who mentioned our event in their newsletters, emails, social media, or at their events: NARAL, Planned Parenthood, Progressive Women of Colorado, Blueflower, White House Project, Health Care for All Colorado, AM 760 radio, etc. Thank you to OFA and some other groups for allowing their voter registrars to come to our event, as well. (Please let me know who I have forgotten.)

            My emphasis in the comments that ours was a grassroots event was not to minimize the contributions of these wonderful allied organizations — only to fend off accusations that we were somehow a front group for the Democratic party or for some other group. We weren’t and we’re not, although we do appreciated our allies in this community! Please accept my apologies if you are one of the many people or organizations that helped us spread the word. We love our allies! Please continue to donate to them, volunteer for them, and support them!

            Thank you!  

        3. An event that draws thousands is newsworthy. Period. It isn’t the media’s job to police for partisanship.  

          Of course you realize your argument also means that everything righties say about the main stream media having a liberal bias is untrue. Why would the allegedly lefty media ignore rallies that are displays of liberal partisanship?  

          You can’t have it both ways. You know… like the way righties try to have it both ways with the individual mandate being an idea straight of rightie think tanks and a commie plot at the same time.

          Or Rs insisting that all tax cuts are good and especially that tax cuts for the rich don’t cost anything and therefore don’t need to be paid for while insisting that payroll tax cuts that put money in the pockets of those who will need to spend it immediately aren’t good and are expensive and so, unique among tax cuts, either shouldn’t be allowed at all or need to be paid for.

          Or Rs insisting that government shouldn’t interfere in religious freedom and should definitely adhere to a particular interpretation of one set of ancient religious texts.  

          Wait. Righties always do want to have it both ways, don’t they?

    1. In other words, the way Republicans treat women is not an issue because women don’t exist in your universe, right? We’ll see how that works in November, RR.

      Unless of course, the next thing they attempt, and it might not surprise me, is to repeal the 19th amendment.

      1. illustrate why your pet project did not get widespread media coverage.

        In other words, the way Republicans treat women is not an issue because women don’t exist in your universe, right?

        by: nancycronk @ Sun Apr 29, 2012 at 21:37:04 PM MDT

        In your universe, it is only Republicans who mistreat women.  No Democrat or Independent would ever do that.  

        I suppose you thought Bill Clinton’s extra curricular sexual activities, while president, was just his personal business.  Tell me what organization in America would tolerate someone taking sexual advantage of a young company subordinate, on company time, in a company facility… and still keep his job.  To make matters worse, Clinton lied under oath about it, which tells you he knew it was wrong.

        John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, and David Wu are further examples of Democratic officeholders who had no problem mistreating women.  Even President Obama fits into that category, but not because of acts of sexual misconduct.  

        In October of 2009, the New York Times reported “Some women inside or close to the administration complain that Mr. Obama’s female advisers are not as visible as their male colleagues or, they suspect, as influential.

        “Women are Obama’s base, and they don’t seem to have enough people who look like the base inside of their own inner circle,” said Dee Dee Myers, a former press secretary in the Clinton administration whose sister, Betsy, served as the Obama campaign’s chief operating officer.”  

        According to the 2011 annual report on White House staff, female employees earned a median annual salary of $60,000, which was about 18 percent less than the median salary for male employees ($71,000).  Was that on one of the signs at your rally?

        No, it wasn’t… and the blatant one-sided attitude of this rally is why the news media — not me, not the GOP — chose not to cover it.  

        1. doesn’t even rate a “nice try”. Of course it was a one-sided political affair. It hasn’t been the Dems who are trying to send women back to 1957… it is you and your Regressive Party.

          Which, when you come to think of it, would be a better name for your party than the one you have chosen.

          1. It’s reality, Duke.  What’s your explanation for why the Denver media didn’t cover this event? They are the ones who made the decision about its newsworthiness.  Why don’t you ask them?  I’d be interested in what they have to say, although I already have a pretty good idea of what it will be.

        2. In your universe, it is only Republicans who mistreat women.  No Democrat or Independent would ever do that.

          Sure, there are Democrats who mistreat women. But the only people who try to codify that mistreatment are you and fundamentalist Muslims.  

        3. When Clinton, Spitzer, and Edwards had their affairs, I was hurt and disgusted. I was furious, just like women all over this country, when I heard my hero, Hillary Clinton, took back her philandering husband. I told my friends that. (Ask them.) But that is her business — between her and her husband, and G-d. Just like family planning decisions — some things are just no one else’s business.

          And yes, I’ve seen terrible sexism in the Democratic party as well as the Republican party. Time and time and time again, I’ve seen women on campaigns treated like grunt-workers, while men, just because they have a penis, getting many of the paid jobs, or being hired as “advisors” and “strategists”. The only campaign I saw where women seemed to be treated completely as equals was, ironically, on Romanoff’s campaign. Romanoff had the wisdom to listen to, and to hire women in leadership roles. And because of that wisdom, Romanoff spend a tiny fraction of money compared to Bennet and Buck.

          But this isn’t about campaign culture, RR. The reason so many women, and men who love them, are leaving the GOP is because of a pervasive culture of sexism, deeply imbedded in the patriarchal values of the party. Values that reflect braun over brain, guns over diplomacy, selfishness and greed over community service. It’s about consistent disregard for the economic, social, and cultural equality of women — in board rooms, in bar rooms, in bed rooms, and in doctors offices. It’s about a culture of power that diminishes the contributions of women that do not fit outside the framework of an archaic worldview.

          I may have grown up in your world, RR. My parents did not believe in birth control and were not pro-choice. My parents did not allow me to pierce my ears, or wear make-up until I was sixteen because it was “holy” to be plain. I wasn’t allowed to climb trees or wear pants to school, because “good girls” didn’t do those kinds of things in their world. My Dad had more guns than children, and he raised nine children. My parents never met anyone who was gay, or didn’t think they did, until my sister “came out” ten years ago. And then, my entire extended family “prayed for her”.

          But you know what, RR? In the decade before my Dad passed in 2010, he evolved. He had the courage to say he was wrong. He was proud every time he heard of something I was doing that was political, and he said to me before he died, “If you ever meet President Obama, tell him hello for me”. My Dad embraced my sister for her entire being, her sexuality included, before he died. He told me if anyone ever gave her grief for being a lesbian, I was supposed to “kick their ass”… for him. Those were literally some of his dying words.

          I am proud to be my father’s daughter. I am proud for the strong community, strong family, strong religious, and strong moral convictions he taught me. But even more than that, I am proud of my father for being willing to learn from his daughters, too. And for those reasons, my Dad was a great man. I call on Republicans all over this country to evolve… to listen… to change… and to find their own greatness again… just like my Dad.

          1. Bennet was lucky to have so many of us women on his team. He should have hired more women from Colorado IMHO, rather than people from DC.

            Not every candidate is that fortunate. We knew that unless we elected a Dem in the Senate, women everywhere would suffer, so we were willing to volunteer a ridiculous number of hours. Women need to refuse to do that in the future though — we need to be paid what we are worth. The days of being the unpaid workhorses of campaigns are over. If male legislators don’t start hiring more women advisors in top positions, they’ll lose. It’s that simple. We’re 51% of the population, and when we find candidates we like, we vote.

          2. there are a lot of Dem campaigns where I was not intricately involved. I watched my other hero, Diana DeGette, from afar, since I was not in her district. In recent years, I have been extremely impressed by her Chief of Staff, who not only manages to keep track of Washington, but also stays in touch with the grassroots in Colorado. She is truly amazing.  

    2. That can’t be correct.  Why, just last week we learned right here on CoPols that if an organization has leadership from both parties (there are at least 6 in Colorado) then it is be definition non partisan.

      Besides – R women were busy working.

    3. OH WAIT, it’s not 1950 anymore.

      Lemme break things down for you, RegisteredRepublican: I’m a woman. I work. I happen to be pretty good at making money for my company, which, in theory, it could use to contribute to the economy and create more jobs.

      If your party succeeds in taking away my access to birth control and my right to abortion, as well as reducing my legal protections against sexual assault and domestic violence, if I get pregnant–even as a result of rape (and remember, I can’t take birth control or get Plan B to prevent this)–I get to carry to term, whether I like it or not, and that means I go on maternity leave, whether my employer likes it or not. Oh, what’s that? You oppose FMLA? Well, without it, I’d have to support myself and the child through welfare. Oppose welfare, too, no matter the circumstances? Well, then, I guess my theoretical child and I can starve in the streets — and maybe something about that contributes to women feeling like there just MIGHT be a “War on Women.” And that it just MIGHT affect the economy, if your crazy, abusive social issues legislation passes and transforms healthy, productive working women into perpetually pre-pregnant baby incubators with no civil rights.

      In short, fuck off.

      1. I don’t know why Republicans refuse to understand that a woman’s control over her own reproduction has everything to do with her economic situation.  Is it just stupidity or blatant disregard of reality?

      2. the middle school “know it all” attitude from my teaching days.  Spout off “everyone in your group is” statements, paint your opposition as extremists, then cuss them out at the end of your tirade.  Some of us have developed beyond the adolescent stage in life and can actually carry on a conversation without name calling or cuss words.

        First of all, I’m not THE Republican Party and I have pretty much no influence in it. No one is taking away your right to birth control, but I expect you to pay for it.

        While I am pro-life, I fit the category of most Americans, who would grant exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother.  (I even support making the adoption less costly because I believe there are families who want, and can, support another child, but cannot afford the expensive fees of the actual adoption.)  

        I’m not opposed to the FMLA and wish dads could get some time off to bond with their new child.  

        I think if you are on welfare, you should have to do some sort of work for it, even if it is part-time.  I do think welfare recipients should be drug tested because if there are addiction problems, they need to be addressed up front, particularly since children are involved.

        “The War on Women” has culprits on both sides of the aisle.  But I have talked with plenty of men who feel there is a “War on Men” regarding what role they have in determining whether their child can even be born, how much and how child support is spent, the parenting time they have with their own kids, and getting teaching positions in K-12 schools, particularly at the elementary grades.

        Regardless of  “The War on Women” or “The War on Men,” they are secondary to the real issue in November — The Economy, which will include the price of a gallon of gas — and, in this state, what are voters going to if TABOR is declared unconstitutional.

        In short… look at the big picture, Progressive Cowgirl, because the voters — who unlike us are not political junkies — will be!      

          1. My greatest concern with ColoradoPols and Colorado Peak Politics is there seems to be little room, at either website, for a civil discussion of issues.  Believe me, we can all stand to listen to what the other side has to say.  Obviously, both parties have millions of followers across the nation — which is why so many of our elections are closely divided — so negatively branding a group that large is not a good idea.

            Both Republicans and Democrats activists tend to see the other side as monolithic.  I don’t believe that to be true at all.  I actually can detect shades of gray within the host of liberal bloggers here.  I’m probably not as conservative as a lot of Republican activists.

            I don’t think any of you are the official spokesperson for the Democratic Party (and it is the Democratic, not Democrat Party) than I am for the Republican Party.  I also have never believed that Rush Limbaugh is a spokesman, or leader, of the GOP, or that Bill Maher is for the Democrats.  They are entertainment personalities looking for ratings.

            We all are quick to forget the vast majority of voters are not political junkies, and are not seeing all the political idiosyncrasies we claim to observe in every vote or speech.

            As a retired middle school teacher, I have little patience for posts where the author feels compelled to call someone else names or literally cuss them out.  As I learned from the adolescents I’ve taught, when someone reaches that point, they really don’t have much of a coherent argument.  I have found this particularly true when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration.  As soon as someone raises the flag of racism, I know they have run out of legitimate arguments.  

            It would behoove all of us to step back and look at the big picture that the non-political junkies are seeing.  They are the ones who are going to make the difference in November, not us.

            1. Your last two posts were very civil and diplomatic. I applaud that.

              If you are mischaracterizing Progressive Cowgirl by implication, however, you are wrong. She is one of the most patient and diplomatic people on this blog. If you read more, you’ll see that.

              PCG, like women of all ages, but particularly young women, have a right to be angry. Imagine if women controlled the government and were attempting to control your access to prostate exams or to viagra? Imagine if women were almost always the perpetrators of domestic violence, as men are statistically, and services to male  victims were being slashed. Imagine if women were paid significantly more than you are for the exact same job with the exact same duties, and women in power at every level, actually justified that inequality? The list of injustices aimed at woman has reached a boiling point.

              To come on Pols under the name of “Registered Republican” and start with inflammatory comments, only to change your tone, and then accuse a regular contributor of being hostile is really kind of unfair, don’t you think?  

            2. is…what is true and what is not. Your observations and comments, while I disagree with your conclusions, are considered and restrained. Thanks for that.

              I tend to give what I get. In the case of knuckleheaded trolls like the tadpole and AGOP, I try to treat them with the same courtesy they treat my intelligence…so I feel free to insult them when it seems appropriate.

              I told my new neighbor, whom I just met, that I was a liberal Democrat. He is a Republican who cannot seem to find a way to support Obama. As he explained to me the reasons why, it became clear. He is being misled. After we talked for awhile, we concluded that we weren’t so far apart, and parted company with a handshake and a warm “see you soon”.

              Every criticism he had was based on information that ISN’T TRUE. Therein lies the doom of the Republican Party…it has become a regressive party that has based its POV on lies being fed to it by power brokers who don’t care any more for rank and file Republicans than they care for Dems. Money is their god, and Tea Partiers are their pawns.

              I truly hope that a new party will rise from the ashes of the Republican Party. One that will exalt the truth and the people who tell it, instead of hucksters like Mt. Rushbo, Hannity, Beck, et al.

              If you cannot see that your politics and your ideology are terminally ill, the future is going to hit you like a freight train.

              p.s.  

              and it is the Democratic, not Democrat Party

              Thanks…really.

               

              1. To the first part of your response: the Democratic Party that gets demonized day in and day out as the tax-and-spend party of pork died an almost complete death in 1994, and started dying when Reagan won with his famous nine words in 1980.  If you want to see the truth of this, look at Clinton’s pre-1994 budgets, which were already working at lowering government spending.

                To the latter part: one of the most frustrating things for many Dems is that so many people who vote Republican – and are ardent anti-Democrats – are voting (and believing things) against their best interests.

                For example…  Even if you believe the (mistaken) idea that Barney Frank and loose lending policies were to blame for the financial crisis, none of that would have mattered, nor the losses been so large, if derivatives markets were properly regulated and banks and insurance companies were separate from their investment arms as they used to be under Glass-Stegall.  The repeal of those regulations was bi-partisan, but it was Bush and Republicans who stifled oversight, and you don’t find Republicans voting to restore some those regulations or the funding for that oversight – the current batch of GOP elected officials apparently like and support unregulated investment schemes.

                Another example…  Health care reform.  If we agree that health care insurance costs too much, then we have to work toward real solutions.  Tort reform hasn’t done much to cure rising costs here in Colorado, and we have multi-state insurance companies selling here already – the two main reforms offered by today’s Republican officials.  OTOH, we now have several studies that say the most effective way to save costs – for the government, and for businesses in general – is to follow the rest of the major nations in offering a single payer health care system (that could still involve private insurance companies in a number of roles, many of which already exist under our current Medicare system and would be greatly expanded).  And the only thing standing in the way is a reflexive hatred of government.

                We all, I think, want cheaper, less annoying health care coverage.  And I think none of use are really happy that the economy tanked the way it did.  And, moreover, I don’t think any of us think that our current government debt is sustainable or even good (though we might differ on whether or not debt is ever good for a government…).

                Most of us have a lot in common if we look past the rhetoric toward our shared goals.  I just wish we got that out of some of our officials – and unfortunately I do have to point out that it’s the GOP in Congress that haven’t been doing the compromising.

        1. more than 50%, about 53% I seem to recall, are flocking to the Obama banner in droves according to polls. The GOP message that they are so ignorant and naive that they are simply being hoodwinked into believing something that isn’t so by clever lefties isn’t exactly winning women back to the father-knows-best, back-to-the-fifties-future GOP. But we’ll see who’s full of it in November, won’t we?

          1. They might be flocking, but will they stay?

            Come November, the state of the economy will dictate how a lot of voters cast their ballots.  It will be a referendum on the Obama presidency, much like 2008 was for George W. Bush, even though he was not on the ballot.  

            Hispanics may be looking at why candidate Obama, who promised to make comprehensive immigration reform a top priority during the first year of his presidency, but then did nothing when he and his Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress for two years.  Of course, this group will remember that the Obama administration deported more illegals at a rate higher than Bush’s administration ever did.

            If you are really hung up on polls, BlueCat, here’s the Rasmussen Poll from today:

            Rasmussen Reports

            Daily Update

            Only 11% Think War on Terror Is Over

            Voters overwhelmingly reject the idea that the war on terror is over one year after the death of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, although most feel his al Qaeda terrorist group is weaker today. But a majority also still thinks a terrorist attack is possible in the next year.Read More

            55% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law; 56% Expect Costs to Rise

            Most voters still want to repeal President Obama’s national health care law, while belief that it will drive up health care costs is at its highest level in months. Read More

            Daily Presidential Tracking Poll: Romney 47% Obama 45%

            Obama Losing Rock-star Status Among Young Voters: A Commentary By Michael Barone    

             

            The Purple State Poll, from last week, shows Obama and Romney tied at 47% each in Colorado.

            http://elections.huffingtonpos

            1. 1. That the economy is the only thing women care about (we do, but it’s not the only thing).

              2. That Latinos will rebel against Obama and join the ranks of uber-priveledged, white men.

              3. That young people see a vibrant, exciting GOP and will flock to them.

              Love it.

            2. We’re getting sidetracked here, but when I here people say that Obama will lose if the economy doesn’t get substantially better by can’t help but disagree. President Obama’s biggest challenge will be reminding voters where this economy was on January 20th, 2009. I wish we would go back to the term “panic” to describe economic downturns, because there was widespread panic across the world in January 2009. If voters are going to tie the President to the behavior of the economy, then I think he deserves a great deal of credit for calming our fears and putting us on a path towards recovery.  

              1. back in power. Romney’s team consists of Bush advisers.  It’s the definition of insanity: repeating the same failed economic strategies and expecting different results.

            3. We’re getting sidetracked here, but when I here people say that Obama will lose if the economy doesn’t get substantially better by can’t help but disagree. President Obama’s biggest challenge will be reminding voters where this economy was on January 20th, 2009. I wish we would go back to the term “panic” to describe economic downturns, because there was widespread panic across the world in January 2009. If voters are going to tie the President to the behavior of the economy, then I think he deserves a great deal of credit for calming our fears and putting us on a path towards recovery.  

        2. Do you believe there’s a non-religious justification for your right-to-life stance, or are you okay with injecting religion into secular law?

          What do you say to the results of Florida’s experiment with drug testing those on welfare – namely, that it cost the state money rather than saving it, and that fewer than 3% of the welfare population tested positive (a percentage that’s probably lower than overall drug use in the country…)?

          Also as an FYI, the state of Colorado does in fact have work requirements for many people on what we call “welfare” (which isn’t a single program…).

          Finally, I didn’t see any name-calling in PCG’s rant, and only one (justified, at least to her and many others here…) cuss word.  While you might support FMLA and be on the more rational end of the anti-abortion spectrum (which still leaves you to the right of a majority of Americans), the people your party is increasingly putting up for office certainly don’t seem to be so rational and are putting up some very irrational pieces of legislation – and you are supporting your party.  It’s this kind of radicalization that has caused me (and Craig, and a number of others on this board) to switch parties.  I won’t support it any more – I can get fiscal responsibility and good economic stewardship from the Democrats far more readily than I can from Republicans.

        3. And like David, I appreciate the thoughtful reply.

          However, your very USERNAME is “Registered Republican.” I know multiple people who have left the Republican party because they cannot support its social issues agenda. If you remain with the party and endorse them in every post, it’s unfair to expect never to be held culpable for their agenda, especially when you make a post amounting to, “Aw, it’s okay, girls, hush up and keep sweet, your problems aren’t important.”

          All outspoken Democrats get flak from people who don’t care for the President’s agenda, and most of us don’t have a whole lot of pull with the President. We do, however, have a vote and a voice, as do you. Will you commit to voting against anyone, even a Republican, who perpetuates policies that give control of a woman’s body to Congress? Will you commit to voting against anyone, even a Republican, who perpetuates policies that would deny women insurance coverage for birth control? Will you commit to voting against anyone, even a Republican, who proposes repealing the Violence Against Women Act? All three of these issues relate directly to the economy–when women are educated members of the workforce and can plan their families, the economy benefits from their contributions.

          If you will support your party blindly, even as they continue their war on women, then yes, I will continue to be angry with you for the war on women and hold you accountable for the way it will affect me, my friends, and my family. I do not have to play nice or settle down when someone is proposing legislation that literally allows men I’ve never met to make my most intimate medical decisions for me. I do not have to look at the big picture if Congress insists on introducing proposal after proposal to take away my rights. There is no bigger picture for me. If I have no civil liberties, I have no capacity to influence the “bigger picture.”

          There is a war on women–and as you’ve noticed, though you’ve misidentified the phenomenon, it also affects men. That’s why men should be (and are) standing beside women at these rallies. Patriarchy hurts men, too. Go ahead and Google that phrase, and I think you’ll find plenty of information to explain why men are suffering, too. Restrictive, fixed gender roles are not good for the individual freedom of any person.

          1. If you watch the bottom video through to the march, you’ll see that half of the people marching ARE MEN! Intelligent, thoughtful, decent men!

        4. In the middle of all that seeming reasonableness was this whopper:

          No one is taking away your right to birth control, but I expect you to pay for it.

          A) The personhood initiative, endorsed by the religious zealots your party has empowered exactly because they worked hard on the wedge issues that helped elect Republicans over the last decade, would definitely take away the right to birth control.  Now that society has come around to see the regressiveness of your party’s positions on issues of human sexuality you want to poo-poo the importance of wedge issues as a diversion from the “real” issues.

          B) By “pay for it” do you mean it shouldn’t be covered by insurance at all, or it shouldn’t be provided without copay like all other preventive healthcare services as required in the ACA.  Regardless of your answer, it usually boils down to either arguing that birth control isn’t healthcare, or sex is optional recreational activity and shouldn’t be subsidized.  Whichever you choose, you’re wrong.  

          Preventing pregnancy and limiting the number of children, and optimally spacing the interval between which they are born improves women’s health.  That’s a proven fact, ergo contraception is healthcare, even if you ignore the women who use it for treatment of menstrual, uterine, ovarian or any number of other problems.  

          As for subsidizing women’s sex lives, both sexes engage in intercourse, but only one can get pregnant and be impacted by the subsequent health consequences.  There are a few people who never have sex in their lives, but for most of us it is an important part of life.  Some anthropologists argue that because the human female is rare in the animal kingdom for being sexually receptive when not capable of becoming pregnant, sexual intercourse plays an important role in cementing pair-bonding, or what your side likes to call “the traditional family.”   Sadly many relationships come down to “put out or get out.”  When both sexes enjoy the benefits of sexual activity, why should only one bear the burden of the potential negative impact?

          p.s. US oil production is way up, demand is down, yet gas prices are high. How is this Obama’s fault?  

    4. The economy is part of what we are speaking about!  Think how much the spending would go up if women got paid the same amount as men!  Women would be able to afford to help boost the economy because they wouldn’t be spending every last dime on necessities.  It takes a woman an average of 4 months more to earn the same amount as a man in a year!

      1. I would love to know where the idea that this is some democratic setup going on came from!  I volunteer my time and skills.  I know I have not talked to anyone other the wonderful women who live around me and around the country!  The outpour of statements that this GRASSROOTS initiative is some diabolical plan by the dems to take focus off the “real” issues is a REPUBLICAN plan to try to quiet the voices of half this nation! Women are a MAJOR issue in this presidential election.  We are angry and we will NOT be pushed down into subservience again!

        All these women spend their time and energy busting their humps to raise our voices and be heard!  I do not affiliate myself with either party.  I’m done with ANY party or legislative group trying to tell me what to do with my body, how to raise my children, and not protecting my and my children’s rights!

    1. In this presidential race, we have President Obama who made the intelligence moves, and the military move to take out Osama Bin Laden almost a year ago to the day. That was something, even with illegal renditions and torture, Bush did not get done (something I hope he and his minions are charged with as a war crime btw)during all his two terms.

      Romney, on the other hand, never forcefully advocated for the capture or killing of OBL.

      The Dems have a President with courage, convictions and smarts. You and yours, on the other hand, have got Romney.

       

  5. My son (almost 12) said it was the most fun EVER! Thanks so much to you, Meg, Pat, and Kristie for all your hard work!

    This was our first–but most likely not last–political protest. I’m looking forward to the Panty Parade 🙂

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