The rush is on to woo women voters and the politicians and the pundits think they know the trick. Everybody from DNC chair Howard Dean to conservative pundit William Kristol is talking about sexism and why it matters. But women voters aren't stupid. If there was more than politics to all this new found-feminism we'd see policies on the table.

"I've got whip-lash" Lisa Witter, COO of Fenton Communications told GRITtv July 1. "In less than a week, the national discussion of women's leadership changed from the merits of a female president to the potential first lady's dress." Witter, who is co-author with Lisa Chen of The She Spot, told GRITtv that women voters aren't turned on by the makeover of Michelle Obama into nicey-nicey wife. "She's liked because she's strong." What's next? The cookie-baking contest?

What women want is more on policy and not just reproductive policy either, said Mia Herndon Director of Programs at Third Wave: "I'd like to hear more about urban issues, housing, transport, childcare." The war is a women's issue: women were disproportionately against the deployment, and women will be the major caretakers for injured and sick vets.

Reproduction's not the only women's issue, the panel agreed, but"If a politician believes abortion should be safe, legal, and funded they should come out and say it," said Rebecca Traister, staff writer at Salon.com. 'Women are half the population (they're not a special interest.) It's fundamental...basic human rights."

"Democrats who assume the female vote is a sure thing should think again," Witter warned.

Before they pander for one more female voter, campaigners would do well to listen and learn. Also, why the US needs a motherhood movement. Here on GRITtv. Take a look.

The F Word is a daily commentary by Laura Flanders on GRITtv. Watch GRITtv on Free Speech TV (Dish Network Ch. 9415) or at GRITtv.org. And become a subscriber.

Comments (11)

1. 'Michelle Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008… we're a divided country, we're a country that is "just downright mean," we are "guided by fear," we're a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents…"...' -- New Yorker Magazine -- 3 July, 2008

   Posted by HonestLiberal at 07/03/2008 @ 09:41am

2. Motherhood movement? In a feminist article?

   What about the fish without a bicycle...?

   :)

   Posted by JOMAMMA at 07/03/2008 @ 09:42am

3. 'If there was more than politics to all this new found-feminism we'd see policies on the table. '

   Yep. Exploitation of sexism for political opportunism is the name of the game. Clinton tried ever so hard to pull that one over on women (and men), and the media, loving an emotional issue and divisiviness gave it lots of coverage and fanfare. Where's the beef? All we got is sexism sandwiched in a big doughy bun.

   Posted by OneVote at 07/03/2008 @ 10:28am

4. Posted by libzRfreaks at 07/03/2008 @ 10:58am

   Writing in all caps and calling Obama Osama makes you sound like a toddler having a tantrum. Do you act that way because without O'Reily or Rush giving you talking points to mindlessly repeat you realy have nothing of consequence to say?

   Just wondering...

   Posted by Extraneous at 07/03/2008 @ 11:14am

5. libzr-First,you have to write something that has a point rather than post nonsense that's aimed at getting you attention.

   Posted by i'm nobody at 07/03/2008 @ 11:34am

6. Lisa Witter, COO of Fenton Communications....: "Democrats who assume the female vote is a sure thing should think again,"

   I'm afraid, for Ms. Witter, that is truism today....the Demos own the bulk of the female vote, just as they own an even greater bulk of the black vote. She can draw her own conclusions on how successful the blacks have been rewarded for that herd-like devotion!

   Posted by 2HAPPY at 07/03/2008 @ 11:39am

7. 'Michelle Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008… we're a divided country, we're a country that is "just downright mean," we are "guided by fear," we're a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents…"...' -- New Yorker Magazine -- 3 July, 2008

   Posted by HonestLiberal at 07/03/2008

   she's right (for the most part)

   here, read this:

   http://tomdispatch.com/post/174951/rick_shenkman_american_stupidity

   (nothing personal -- it's the same story here)

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/03/2008 @ 11:48am

8. She can draw her own conclusions on how successful the blacks have been rewarded for that herd-like devotion!

   Posted by 2HAPPY

   the same can be said for many of the voters for the REPUBLICAN'TS.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/03/2008 @ 11:50am

9. TESTING

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/03/2008 @ 11:51am

10. "... 'Democrats who assume the female vote is a sure thing should think again,' Witter warned ..."

    Well, assuredly women are too smart for all this pandering! They'll vote for John McCain if they don't feel that they are getting what they want!

    The only Democrat women likely to vote for McCain are the shrieking nitwit sore loser variety who still can't get over the fact that Hillary Clinton lost the nomination, and are stupid, deluded, and ridiculous enough to get behind Bush III out of childish pique.

    Posted by Zero at 07/03/2008 @ 12:03pm

11. Posted by Zero at 07/03/2008 @ 12:03pm

    frank's a woman?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 07/03/2008 @ 12:24pm