Via Feministing comes the speech that Obama gave prior to signing his executive order that created the White House Council on Women and Girls:
I think that it was a rather good speech, even though I really wish that he had said something about sexual violence. And I’m cautious but still incredibly optimistic about what this move signals, if nothing else, about Obama’s dedication to tackling inequality and those issues affecting women.
What do you think about the Council itself, and what are your hopes for it?
I was so wrong about Obama. So very wrong.
I mean, he’s still too right wing for me, but in Canada, the NDP isn’t leftist enough for me, so this isn’t exactly a damning thing. But I was so wrong.
Y’all, I’m *jealous*.
It’s a good step hopefully it will sustain itself, improve upon already established acts and continue to grow. I applaud him for it but now we can only see what the future holds for the council.
I think it would be awesome for the council to have its own website and forum and contact form. Now THAT would be something to be even more happy about.
Its a waste of taxpayers money. We don’t need it.
Wow, well-argued, courage the cowardly dog.
I wish Obama had just went ahead and said the word “sexism,” but other than that, I think this a great start.
“Its a waste of taxpayers men’s money. We don’t need it.”
Fixed that for you. Still wrong, but I think that’s what you meant to say.
That one should have had a strikethrough across “taxpayers.”
I don’t understand how this is a waste of taxpayer’s money. The way I understood it is that people who already have jobs in his cabinet but must get together for a meeting to discuss how they are making sure that what they are working on is not ignoring things that women face in our society and assuming that they are not important
I don’t believe it is a waste of taxpayer men’s money.
I have to admit it’s not my money anyway, as I’m not American, but if my country were to be be hosting any paying for this thing, I’d still feel it wasn’t a waste of my money.
Does anyone else still see the words ‘White House’ and think “Oh no, what’s Bush done now?”. Can’t get used to those words meaning something good happened.
Si said:
“Does anyone else still see the words ‘White House’ and think “Oh no, what’s Bush done now?”.”
YES!!! :D Eight years of conditioning is going to take a while to get over. I just have my fingers crossed that Pres. Obama doesn’t frak things up royally any time *too* soon. I know he’s going to make mistakes — he’s a human being — I just hope it isn’t huge and/or soon. Give folks a chance to breathe and hope a little.
I totally agree with Si! I feel like I’ve been conditioned in the last eight years to go “Oh god, the white house, what has it done now.”
But this sounds excellent! I have to look more into the details, but wow!
I hope Valerie Jarrett steps aside! There are so many women who are qualified to fill this position, those who have been engaged for years for
women/human rights! This is just more of the last 8 years of cronyism.
It’s just another meaningless empty gesture. If it were intended to be anything serious, violence would have been the first thing mentioned in its reason for being.
It should be a cabinet level position. Read the fine print over at Politico:
“After Barack Obama’s election, some in the women’s movement thought big – pushing for a Cabinet-level office, or even a blue-ribbon Presidential Commission on Women.
But when Obama announced his plans Wednesday, he brushed aside those requests.
Instead, he started the White House Council on Women and Girls — a sort of inter-agency task force with no full-time staff, no Cabinet-level leader and no set meeting schedule.”
Not enough and not serious enough. Be satisfied with too little, and that’s what we’ll get. Time to hold Obama’s feet to the fire especially given the patriarchal media reporting about how “more men” are losing their jobs in this recession. See today’s story in the NYT. Maybe it’s true, but women are in a permanent economic recession in the pink collar ghettos and it’s time that our alleged allies on the left started addressing women’s concerns with appropriate seriousness. This is not it.
On a related topic, feel free to also contact Secretary Clinton about Obama’s recent comments regarding making alliances with certain portions of the Taliban in Afghanistan. This new policy direction seems quite at odds with Secretary Clinton’s own recent and very strong statements about women’s rights as human rights.
Hey Emma, just in case you forgot, the president makes decisions, and the secretary of state is merely the mouthpiece for those decisions, so Sec. Clinton’s personal views are pretty much irrelevant. And you should probably know by now not to believe everything you read in politico, as they’re the mouthpiece for hack journalism these days
This comment can be disputed, but I sit on the NOW national board of directors and heard directly from Kim Gandy that NOW and 40 plus other progressive groups had wanted a cabinet level office for women and girls. Ms Garret and Tina Chen (a NOW member) ARE feminsits. This office for women and girls was something that NOW had pressed for in the first series of meetings with the the incoming Obama administration. Not gonna feel gulity for tooting the NOW horn. I am a 27 year member and consider them family.
OOPS its Jarret not Garret. Sorry
One of the women is Mara Kiesling. So, whatever this turns out to be, it’s a nice change to see trans women’s concerns brought to the table, even by a (former?)HRC sellout like Mara.
So, the White House is now more inclusive of trans women than many so called LGB(t) orgs….hmmmm could be an interesting group.
President Obama has already brought so much hope to vulnerable populations. He is such a genius. The naysayers could help a lot by giving him credit for all the good he’s already done instead of trying to tear down everything he does. I’m proud of the White House Council on Women and Girls even though I was among the original group asking for a Commission on Women. What he did is even better because the work involves all Cabinet Secretaries–and they can get started to work right away–instead of waiting for Congress to pass and fund a Commission.
President Obama has already brought so much hope to vulnerable populations. He is such a genius. The naysayers could help a lot by giving him credit for all the good he’s already done instead of trying to tear down everything he does. I’m proud of the White House Council on Women and Girls even though I was among the original group asking for a Commission on Women.
@ Efaye: I think one problem is that most American’s faith in government anything is in the toilet now. My optimism is guarded not because its a women’s group, but because the government is involved. That said, I should also mention that the White House leads many feminist and homosexual rights organizations in trans women’s empowerment.
And the White House ain’t that great. That alone should be worth comment. In the meantime, consider the folks here who have been whacked by FedGov all too many times before dumping on their unwillingness to pop champagne for this guy and his Rick Warren friendly entourage.
It’s wonderful that this council has been established, and that Valerie Jarrett heads it. Even in Australia voters (e.g. dual citizens) as intensely interested in civic issues linked with justice as I am can SEE outstanding Americans like Mrs Jarrett on PBS. We get delayed Lehrer NewsHour Tuesday through Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.–a good time before the usual dinner hour duties. I cut up vegies while watching!
In almost 43 years in Sydney I have experienced more sexism than I prefer to think about–MUCH more than I ever did in America growing up in a lower middle class neighbourhood and eventually attending Oberlin and Harvard. BUT I know only too well what women in America and all over the world have suffered–the inequalities, and especially the private violent acts, not yet ‘covered’ by law.
Three cheers (understatement) for President Obama for creating this Council!