Rocking the House

I went to the National NOW convention in Bethesda from 7/18-7/20.
While we hoped we'd get a chance to wander around the mall or the Smithsonian, never did! It was really hot and muggy! My travel log may not be as amusing as Brian's (after all I am sober), but I thought I would share it anyhow.
I had been annoyed with the leaderships lack of willingness to discuss the sexism in the Presdential Primary and how women would respond to it. They blocked our resolution (that would have brought this discussion to floor on Sunday's Plenary). In the wee hours of Sunday morning, I came up with a new plan. I rose early and wrote out a statement.
My plan was to make a motion to reorder the resolutions and place those resolutions that are not germaine to women's rights at the end. Marcia seconded for me. That afforded me the opportunity to read my statement.
It went over great. Marcia received several comments from other State Presidents who wanted a copy of my statement. Marj--who Cindy and I met in Ohio on the Hillary trail--- sent my statement on to her Virginia people with this email that she titled: "Polar Bear in the White House".

Hello, All -The national NOW conference last weekend was interesting and lively as usual. At the concluding plenary Sunday afternoon, where two and half hours were allotted for about 11 resolutions, there was a discussion about whether we wanted to consider resolutions on animal rights and global warming when there was so little time (the other resolutions dealt with health care, reproductive rights, pay equity, etc). Lori Gardner, President of Tompkins County NOW in NY and Executive VP of NOW New York State, rocked the house with her remarks. I thought you'd enjoy them (see below).

Women Must Put Women's Rights First I think that NOW needs to be more focused on sexism and actual women's issues.Personally I am a staunch environmentalist. I belong to several environmental organizations. I hang my wash out on the line, I recycle, reuse, and compost to the extent that I bring my used egg cartons back to farmers for reuse. I save the whales, seals, wolves, polar bears, (and numerous more mammalian and non mammalian species.)But I strongly believe that we should not be diverting NOW's focus. NOW should be saving women! Sexism is the last truly acceptable ism.Did you hear the boys at Sierra Club speaking up against the sexism in the primary?Did you hear the boys at PETA speaking up against the sexism in the primary?Did you hear the boys at the National Wildlife Federation speaking up against the sexism in the primary?NO-- they stick to their message.While the Democratic Party should encompass all these issues and women's rights-Did you hear the Democratic Party speaking up against the sexism in the primary?Did you hear its presumptive male nominee speaking up against the sexism in the primary?Did you hear its Chair speaking up against the sexism in the primary (I mean before women stopped sending in money and the woman candidate had suspended her campaign)?The final straw though is when the National Organization for Women (the one organization who has this mission) can't discuss the sexism in the primary and how we should respond to it, because we need more time to discuss global warming and animal rights.If women don't learn to put themselves first-we will forever be last!It is OK for us to say that everyone and everything doesn't always come before women. Women need to focus and make our rights a priority for us-no one else will.If we can't focus we'll have a male polar bear in the White House before we have a woman.
I have this and numerous other commentaries on the TCNOW blog--so far I am the sole author. Marcia also used my He must Come Bearing Gifts article as a press release.
Lori