Why Women Support Obama

"Barack Obama is a leader, not a follower -- a strength that has been lacking for the past 7 years and is necessary to turn this country around.  Now, more than ever, this country needs a President with a high level of integrity and honesty; someone who does what’s right for the people. The Republicans say he’s too young and doesn’t have the right judgment, but he was one of very few who opposed the Iraq war which is costing us billions of dollars while our economy continues to falter.  The bottom line is, with Obama, we have hope and a chance to rights the wrongs of the Bush Administration. We can put a President in the White House that will put this country on the right road and regain the respect of the rest of the world."

-- Karen, Michigan, Age 50

BACKGROUND

• Graduated from Columbia University
• Went to Chicago as a community organizer seeking to improve conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment
• Went to Harvard Law School and became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review
• Returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law
• Ran for the Illinois State Senate and served for eight years
• Became a U.S. Senator in 2004

Barack Obama serves on the following U.S. Senate Committees:

• Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which oversees our nation’s health care, schools, employment, and retirement programs
• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which is the chief oversight committee for the U.S. Senate
• Foreign Relations, which plays a vital role in shaping American policy around the world
• Veterans’ Affairs, which champions issues for military veterans, including compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education, medical care, civil relief, and civilian readjustment
• From 2005-06 served on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which safeguards our environment and provides funding for our highways

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Why Women Support Obama

"I am thrilled that Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee.  I will be voting for him, and so will the other members of my family in Alabama.  I think we finally have a candidate with morals and intelligence.  I really like  knowing that he will think through each problem and come up with the best possible solution before he acts.  Just knowing this kind of thought process is going on will relieve people of the worry about the corruption and the dismal decision-making process that has been the trademark of the Bush administration.  We need to restore America's stature in the world and be proud of this country, instead of being ashamed by what the Bush administration has done. Obama is the one to bring this country onto the right path."

-- Diane, Alabama, Age 66

• Women: Supports funding for research into women's health issues; supports a women's right to choose; advocates legislation protecting women against violence; fights for pay equity and equal education opportunity.
• Fiscal: Proposes that the money for new programs or tax cuts must come from spending reductions in other areas from generating new revenue (like closing corporate tax loopholes); will repeal Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
• Healthcare: Quality and affordable coverage for everyone; partially paid for by repealing the Bush tax cuts; also advocates preventative measures which lowers costs over time. 
• Iraq War: The ONLY candidate who offers a clear distinction on the Iraq war; as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Obama was a vocal opponent of the war (prior to the vote sanctioning the war). He warned of “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences." He was right!
• Foreign Policy: Restore diplomatic relations with friends and foes; make resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a priority; fight global poverty; strengthen NATO; seek new partnerships in Asia while holding China accountable to international rules and trade agreements.
• Energy & Environment: Invest in clean energy technology, which helps create jobs; support research and production of next generation biofuels; improve energy efficiency 50% by 2030; double fuel economy standards within 18 years; upgrade our aging utility grid.
• Economy: Cut income tax by $1,000 for working families; simplify tax filings; fight for fair trade and amend NAFTA; invest in U.S. manufacturing and create new job training programs for clean technologies
• Education: Ensure access to high-quality early childhood education programs; recruit and reward well-qualified teachers and principals, especially those who take assignments in high-needs areas; close the achievement gap through summer learning and college outreach programs; invest in what works by researching and developing better educations tools and methods.

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ACTIONS

This is a summary of the legislation Barack Obama has championed in the U.S. Senate. For more details and information about additional legislation, visit the U.S. Senate web site.

• Co-authored and passed legislation enabling every citizen to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent
• Championed a bill to reinstate PAYGO federal budget rules which require new spending commitments or tax changes to be paid for by cuts to other programs or new revenue
• Co-authored and passed legislation enabling the U.S. and its allies to detect and stop the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world
• Introduced a bill that seeks to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, and stop the spread of nuclear weapons
• Co-sponsored the Healthy Kids Act of 2007 and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 to ensure that more children have affordable health care coverage
• Co-introduced comprehensive chemical plant security legislation that would establish a clear set of federal regulations that all plants must follow
• Introduced legislation to establish guidelines for tracking, controlling, and accounting for spent fuel at nuclear power plants
• Authored legislation to create Teaching Residency Programs to prepare teachers to work in high-need districts
• Introduced the “Success in the Middle Act”, which will provide federal support to improve the education of middle grades in low-performing schools
• Introduced the “STEP UP” plan that was signed into law; addresses achievement gaps in grade schools and provides for summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children
• Introduced the STOP FRAUD Act to increase penalties for mortgage fraud and provide more protections for low-income homebuyers
• Introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America; maintain their corporate headquarters in America; pay competitive wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military
• Passed legislation to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps
• Sponsored an amendment that became law; provides $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within 5 years
• Co-sponsored a measure urging the Department of Health and Human Services to provide clear and reliable information on the Medicare prescription drug benefit and to ensure that Medicare recipients are protected from fraudulent claims by drug plan agents
• Introduced and passed legislation to create a centralized, federal database to help reunite families displaced by an emergency  

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Source: Information regarding Barack Obama's background, issues platform and actions in the Senate were obtained from www.barackobama.com