When an organization endorses a political candidate, it's important to understand the criteria used in evaluating candidates. NOW uses a set of core issues as well as an evaluation of a candidate's record on key legislative issues. Some organizations focus on a single issue. It's important, therefore, for voters to be aware of the conflicts that can arise over single-issue endorsements.

Recently, I contacted Emily's List, an organization that has provided excellent financial support and public relations for Democratic ProChoice women candidates. I am concerned about one of the candidates they are recommending for election to the House from South Dakota for reasons indicated in this portion of my letter to Ellen Malcolm:

Today I received a mailing from Emily's List giving the names of the women candidates recommended by you. I was dismayed and disheartened to see that Emily's List is still supporting Stephanie Herseth.

In late March, Stephanie Herseth publicly announced her support of the Bush Anti-Gay Federal Marriage Amendment.

Although she didn't have the opportunity to vote for it directly (yet), on July 22, Herseth crossed party lines to vote for HR 3313, the Marriage Protection Act of 2004. She was one of only 27 Democrats who sided with the Republicans on this issue (to limit Federal Court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act).

You call upon women to join you because "working together, we can elect pro-choice Democratic women to office across the nation and use the power of women voters to defeat George W. Bush and other right-wing Republicans."

Yet, you support and recommend electing a woman who takes up the banner of George Bush and his right-wing Republicans when it comes to the subject of marriage equality, even to the level of an anti-gay Constitutional Amendment.

Yes, we want Pro Choice Democratic women in Congress. Choice has been one of the pivotal issues of the feminist movement, but not the only one. Those of us who support and endorse women candidates do our best to identify those candidates' commitments to a number of issues that are of utmost importance to women, including Choice AND Equal Rights for women (regardless of race, ethnicity, age, economic status, sexual orientation, etc.).

For more information about Westchester NOW, e-mail us at info@westchesternow.org!

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