(no subject)
Dear Feminists,
As you prepare to watch the debate tonight between George Bush and John Kerry, or when you listen to the spin afterwards, here are some points to keep in mind.
Rate the Debate!
Who won the debate with women? Click here to register your opinion.
And get Ms. and/or donate to keep Ms. a strong feminist voice online and on the newsstands.
Despite reports that the gender gap has narrowed nationwide, the gender gap is still the deciding factor in many battleground states. In key state after key state, Zogby (September 13-17) has found a sizable gender gap, ranging from 10 to 20 points in most battleground states. For example, according to Zogby, Kerry is winning in Minnesota with a 20-point gender gap, in Oregon with an 18-point gender gap, and in New Mexico with a 15-point gender gap. According to Quinnipiac University (September 16), Kerry is winning in Pennsylvania with a 10-point gender gap.
How much do you think Kerry and Bush are talking to women voters? How many times do Bush and Kerry refer to women as they talk about foreign policy during the debate?
Although the media is talking about “security moms,” don’t be fooled. “Security moms,” like its predecessor “soccer moms,” is just spin that deemphasizes the gender gap. Everywhere the term appears in the media, there is only anecdotal evidence, not data, backing it up.
We have Googled and researched the term “security moms” and found it is currently being pushed by right-wing pollsters and commentators. These latest efforts began in July, although it first appeared as early as 2002.
Right now, concerning handling the U.S. campaign against terrorism, more women (51%) and more men (58%) favor Bush over Kerry (according to a Washington Post/ABC poll).
Not only do women make up the majority of the electorate (women were 54 percent of voters in 2000, with men at only 46 percent), but they also make up the majority of undecided voters. In some battleground states, women make up an even greater percentage of undecided voters. For example, in West Virginia, according to Zogby, women are more than 70 percent of the undecided voters.
But, in battleground statewide Zogby polls, more women than men (for example, 52.9% of women and 48.1% of men in Florida and 57.7% of women and 43.5% of men in Ohio) think the country is going in the wrong direction.
So as you watch the debate or the spin afterwards, think of the impact of the debate and the spin on the gender gap.
For feminist news and analysis and for more in-depth information about the gender gap and women, get Ms. magazine’s election issue. If you join Ms. magazine in the next five days at the special rate of $22 we will mail you our new election issue. And stay connected to MsMagazine.com for up-to-date breaking news for women.
And please consider making a special gift to help make sure this strong feminist voice for women keeps growing - on the newsstands, in the college classrooms, in doctors’ offices and clinics - you name it, wherever women gather in twos and threes, make sure Ms. is there.
For Equality,
Eleanor Smeal
Publisher, Ms. Magazine
President, Feminist Majority Foundation
Dear Amy Truax,
Tonight's debate was a decisive victory for John Kerry because America saw him as our next President. He showed strength, conviction and a steady command of the facts. He offered clear plans for Iraq and fighting terrorism..
George Bush has a record of failure to defend, and he failed to defend it. The president just gave us more of the same shallow promises.
However, the Republican spin machine is already hard at work. We need your help to beat back their distortions. Right now we need you contact the media and speak your mind.
http://www.democrats.org/debates/
Contact national media using the link below and remember to emphasize the points above.
http://www.democrats.org/debates/
Thank you,
Mary Beth Cahill
Campaign Manager
Kerry-Edwards 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear MoveOn Member,
We strongly urge you to watch the debate tonight between John Kerry and George Bush. A lot of people will be tuned in, and their conclusion about who came out on top may seal their decision about who to vote for. They'll listen to you when you talk about this. If each of the 2.8 million MoveOn members watches these debates, and then gets out and promotes our candidate's positions, values and character, we could make all the difference. Your informed, personal endorsement of John Kerry carries more weight than you know.
Political operatives in Washington consistently ignore the most powerful force in politics -- word of mouth. But studies show, again and again, that the MOST trusted source of influence in politics is friends, family and colleagues. You can make a tremendous difference by recognizing the power of your own voice, and then actively talking about these debates and the coming election.
The debate tonight will be broadcast at 9pm ET, on most major networks.
If you do watch the debate, don't be surprised that George Bush does OK. These debates are highly scripted and Bush does fine with scripts. However, John Kerry has the most to gain from these debates, because this is really the first time most Americans will see him in action. This is the first time they'll see the two men side by side, as peers.
After the debate, get out and talk about what you liked about John Kerry's performance. When you talk to your friends, family, and the people at work, the most powerful way to talk about political issues and about the candidates is to tell a story about values and character.
George Lakoff, Professor of Linguistics at the University of California, has done some interesting work in connecting how people respond to political issues within a values framework. He encourages progressives to go beyond the bare facts surrounding issues to the core values that make these issues important in the first place. (He's written a great book on the topic -- see below for details.)
As Lakoff would say, there are important shared values at stake in this election -- values shared by every American. George Bush doesn't embody these values, and John Kerry does.
Here are some examples of how to frame John Kerry in terms of the American values he represents:
John Kerry will work for all Americans, not just rich Americans. He embodies the values of fairness and opportunity.
John Kerry will bring us together to move forward, not pull us apart for political gain. He embodies the values of community and patriotism.
John Kerry believes in working with our allies around the world, not going it alone. He embodies the values of community and shared security.
John Kerry has fought for truth telling. He won't lie to us. He embodies the values of honesty and openness.
John Kerry will focus us on the real challenges that face us, instead of using fear to manipulate us. He embodies the values of courage and integrity.
The way a candidate embodies these values makes up the candidate's character. And in the end, people don't vote their interests, they vote character. George Bush is a reckless and stubborn man, who has consistently misled the country. This is a character statement. George Bush doesn't have what it takes to be a successful President. John Kerry is fair, thoughtful, honest, smart and courageous. That's why he will be the next President of the United States.
We've posted a number of resources that can help you flesh out your case for Kerry below. And while we're on the topic of persuading people to vote, today we're launching the sixth ad in our "10 Weeks" countdown to the election. This week's ad is a beautifully shot ad by director Marty Callner which features actress Rebecca Romijn winning over a Republican voter. You'll get a kick out of it. You can watch the ad now at:
http://www.moveonpac.org/10weeks/
But the most important thing is for you to watch the debate tonight and be sure to engage your friends, family, and colleagues. Tell them why you're voting for John Kerry. If we all do it, it'll put us over the top.
Thanks for everything you do,
--Adam, Eli, Hannah, James, Laura, and the whole MoveOn PAC Team
Thursday, September 30th, 2004
P.S. One final note: In most persuasive conversations an effective way to persuade someone is to first listen to their concerns. What issues are most important to the person you are talking to? Once you understand this person’s concerns and the values you share, you‘ll be better able to show them why they should vote for change. People who feel listened to are more apt to be receptive to your point of view.
Resources
For a great summary of how to frame political issues in terms of values, we highly recommend George Lakoff's most recent book, Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate. You can read a sample chapter of his book at:
http://www.chelseagreen.com/images/DTE_Sampler.pdf
And you can buy it online at Amazon.com at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931498717/qid=1096558621/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-8620916-1892802
If you feel like you still don't know enough about who John Kerry is to do him justice, the folks at TruthOut have posted a terrific article that gives an overview of the man and his accomplishments. Check it out at: http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/093004A.shtml
The folks at udecide.org have assembled eight great flyers, with key facts on homeland security, Iraq, jobs, health, environment, debt and education. For another great resource, as you're looking for facts to connect to these values, go to:
http://www.udecide.org
PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC www.moveonpac.org
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Vote Early on a Paper Ballot and Avoid Election-Day Disasters
Vote early on a paper ballot and avoid Election-Day disasters. Get your verifiable paper ballot by clicking here.
Here are two great reasons why you should consider taking a few minutes today to vote by mail:
Voting by mail also allows you to spend all your free time on Election Day helping local groups turn out the vote.
If that’s not enough, voting by mail ensures that no Election-Day disaster-such as a car accident, bad weather, a sick kid, or a fight with the boyfriend-will stop you from voting.
Any AK voter may vote by mail, and lots of people are doing so this year. In the last presidential election, a vote-by-mail campaign by Florida’s Gov. Jeb Bush gave his brother a 125,000-vote head start. The Miami-Dade elections chief said “it might h ave been the difference in the election.”
As always, we’ve made requesting your vote-by-mail ballot as easy as clicking your mouse.
Just click here: electionimpact.votenet.com/truemajority/absentee.cfm
Once you get your ballot in the mail, be sure to take your time and fill it out carefully. Follow the instructions; don’t fold, spindle or mutilate; and turn it in before the deadline. If you are a first-time voter, don’t forget to include a copy of a f orm of identification with your ballot when you send it in.
Yours in working toward the turnout that will make a difference,
Matt Holland
TrueMajority campaign coordinator