Los Angeles Head of NOW endorses Palin as "REAL FEMINIST"

[CitizenPatriot]

Shelly Mandell's (head of LA chapter of NOW) endorsement today of Sarah Palin as a feminist and supporter of woman's rights in Carson, CA at a Palin rally is a complete and utter AFFRONT to women.

What the HELL was she thinking? Supporting a woman who thinks we don't have the right to choose, whose policies as mayor required victims of rap to pay for their own rape kits? I am APPALLED. Mandell has single-handedly undermined NOW's legitimacy in way that is beyond measure.

Didn't NOW come out to publicly endorse Obama/Biden precisely because Palin's policies were so dangerous for women?

I am writing every NOW chapter I can find. This is an outrage. I hope Rachel picks this story up. Mandell should be asked to step down. If she wants to endorse Palin, she can do so as an individual-- not as a NOW chapter chair.

[EFerrari]

1. Do you have a link? That's disgusting! n/t

[Warpy]

18. Here's a VIDEO link!

It's for real, it starts at 1:42, http://truthreportnow.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/nows-la-president-shelly-mandell-america-this-is-what-a-feminist-looks-like/

[EFerrari]

19. Oh, I believe it. I just wanted to read/hear a little more.

Thanks, Warpy!

[mod mom]

21. UFB!

[roguevalley]

35. any links to the organization in LA so we can swarm them?

[goddess40]

2. That's insane

Palin could be the calendar girl for what isn't a feminist.

[barbtries]

3. they paid her.

like, lots and lots of money. i don't know. any feminist worth her salt is not endorsing the end timer.

[Marnieworld]

4. Wow. there really are "vagina voters"

I'd love a woman VP. JUST NOT THIS WOMAN!

[radfringe]

45. If you vote with your reproductive organs you end up with

dickheads and boobs in office.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Women's rights? The right to pay for their own rape investigations? The right

to be forced to carry a pregnancy to term? I expect NOW to publicly smack this aberrant piece of shit down, hard.

[Graybeard]

6. This will cost them a lot in donations and canceled memberships...

...if this is not retracted and Mandell fired.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[charlie]

14. It's real

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJxIYQKmM0M

(Warning: turn down your speakers. There's about a minute prelude with an AC/DC song)

[BlooInBloo]

17. Thanks! Can't wait to see what firegdoglake has to say about that.

[mod mom]

26. from CBS:

-snip

The "Victory '08 Campaign Rally" made a determined effort to build support among women for the McCain-Palin ticket. Shelly Mandell, president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Organization for Women and a self-described lifelong Democrat, introduced Palin at the event.

In rarity for a Republican event, Mandell bragged about her efforts campaigning for the failed Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and her support for Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 1984.

"I know Sarah Palin cares about women's rights," Mandell said. "As vice president, she will fight for you. She cares about our children and she cares about women's lives."

-snip

http://cbs2.com/politics/Sarah.Palin.Carson.2.832634.html

[TheWraith]

8. I'm apalled, but not really surprised.

NOW's regional heads aren't exactly a brain trust. Remember when head of the NY State NOW chapter compared not supporting Hillary to gang rape? And then AGAIN when Kennedy endorsed Obama?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

9. Link here...

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/palin-mccain-women-2180284-democrat-obama

"'There's a place in hell reserved for women who don't support other women,'" Palin recited to the cheering crowd at the Home Depot Center's tennis stadium. :wtf:

[Midlodemocrat]

16. No Sarah. There's a place in Hell reserved for the intellectually lazy

and your spot is right over there.

Simply having the same genitalia as I do doesn't guarantee my vote. You're a major shit head and the sad part is, you know you're way out of your league, but you're too fucking arrogant to admit it.

[bumblebee1]

39. The place in hell reserved for women who don't support other women.

Mayor Satan, meet your first resident, Sarah Palin.

Sarah, may I present the Mayor to that place in hell, Satan.

Mayor Satan: Nice to meet you, Sarah. That thing about forcing rape victims to pay for their rape kits. That's low. I would have never thought of that one. I'm the one who is considered evil throughout the world?

[DemoRabbit]

10. Makes no sense since the NOW PAC endorses Obama/Biden

Here's the link to the endorsement

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=30349

[kikiek]

11. If true she isn't following the National NOW opinion.

They have endorsed Barack Obama

[samdogmom]

12. Huh? So credentials don't count any more. Now you just "flirt" your way to power!

Go figure. If true, this is a step back into the dinosaur/man on earth at the same time realm! WOW!

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. It's called "pussy power", last seen circa 1960...til now.

How the bloody hell did we get back to the 60's????

Palin reminds me so much of Phyllis Schlafly.
( Eagle Forum creator, for those who might not know).

[AlCzervik]

13. are you sure they aren't talking about Tammy Bruce--former LA chapter Now head?

and how about a link?

[intheflow]

20. Links to this story are upthread.

Any links from you for implicating Tammy Bruce? I have no idea who she is, it just seems to me if you're going to criticize the OP for not providing a link while presenting another possibility, that new possibility should have a link cited to let those of us "out of the know" what you're basing your suggestion on.

[Tutonic]

37. Mandell is cut from the same cloth as Tammy Bruce. Two completely

useless things. Mandell is with PUMA also.

[Warpy]

15. Her longevity as head of the LA NOW chapter is extremely limited

My guess is that she's exactly the type of stupid woman the Palin candidacy was aimed at, a woman who'd vote for anything with a vagina.

As much as I hate to admit it, these idiots do walk among us, vote, and sometimes attain positions they would never reach if the rest of us asked the right questions at the right time.

Well, she's out there now. I sincerely doubt she'll be there for long.

Perhaps Falwell's stealth candidates didn't limit themselves to mainstream politics.

[Left coast liberal]

22. WTF? This seems to check out, so I had to fire off an e-mail to NOW about it

Here's a good link if you want to tell NOW what you think about it.

https://www.now.org/contribution.php?code=TARXNWCDX&srce=wbtpnv

DU it, folks.

[WillyT]

23. She's A Divorce Attorney, A PUMA, And Apparently... A Cheapskate...

Divorce Attorney: http://www.shellymandell.net/home.nxg

PUMA: http://hillaryorbust.com/2008/10/pumas-at-the-palin-rally-in-carson-california/

A handwritten Palin sign was abandoned near us, so we got a marker and modified it to say “PALIN PUMA.” We spotted another PUMA area up in the eaves over to the right of us. They carried a sign that said “Hillary Supporter(s) for Palin.” I tried to wave to them with my PUMA sign, but I don’t think they saw us. It was good to see that other Hillary supporters were there though, even if we could not connect with them.

The event was well-organized, with a variety of speakers warming up the very enthusiastic crowd. These were mostly local Republicans, who thankfully talked briefly, perhaps five minutes or so. There were a lot of women Republicans who spoke, and a few Latinas as well. Actor Jon Voight also warmed up the crowd.

The biggest surprise to me was that the President of Los Angeles NOW (National Organization for Women), Shelly Mandell, arrived to announce Palin! She was greeted very warmly by the crowd and everyone cheered when she said about Palin: “This is what a feminist looks like.”

Cheapskate: http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=MANDELL&first=SHELLY

Oh... And I Forgot... A FUCKING IDIOT!!!

[mod mom]

24. She was a Hillary supporter and is a PUMA. These PUMA's are raising their ugly heads as seen here:

Independent Women In Colorado Focus Groups Prefer Palin To Biden

In two different Colorado focus groups of married and unmarried women conducted directly after Thursday's vice presidential debate, respondents broadly agreed that Sarah Palin came off better than Joe Biden.

The married and unmarried focus groups of 10 women each were organized by the Womens Voices, Women Vote organization, and conducted by the firm of Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research.

-snip

"Palin was more genuine. She's a mom," one said. "She's more herself, just the way she talks -- it's down to earth," said another. Most of the women also said her "say it ain't so Joe" line was "hysterical," and that the "extra credit" line about her brother's class was endearing as well.

-snip
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/03/independent-women-in-colo_n_131479.html


BACKGROUND FROM WIRED ON WVWV:
Washington, D.C., Group Accused of High-Tech Dirty Tricks to Suppress Black Vote

By Sarah Lai Stirland April 30, 2008 | 5:41:18 PMCategories: Election '08

A D.C. advocacy group called Women's Voices, Women Vote is being accused of waging a high-tech voter suppression campaign, after voters in predominantly black districts in North Carolina began receiving automated phone calls implying that they hadn't properly registered to vote in the upcoming Democratic primary.

Page Gardner, Women's Voices, Women Vote's president has apologized for any "confusion" caused by her group's anonymous robocalls to North Carolina voters.

The controversy underscores the mounting tension in the Democratic primary race. Polling in North Carolina currently favors Barack Obama over rival Hillary Clinton for the May 6 Democratic presidential primary there. Blacks, who overwhelmingly favored Obama in primaries in Virginia and Maryland, make up about 22 percent of the population in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Census.

Voters began complaining to The Raleigh News & Observer last week that they were receiving the automated calls, which the paper reported were primarily going to black households. The calls play a 20-second message voiced by a man who calls himself "Lamont Williams."

"In the next few days, you will receive a voter-registration packet in the mail," the Williams recording said. "All you need to do is sign it, date it and return your application. Then you will be able to vote and make your voice heard. Please return the voter-registration form when it arrives. Thank you."

-snip
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/04/north-carolin-1.html#previouspost

WILL HILLARY COME OUT AND DENOUNCE PUBLICLY DENOUNCE THESE PUMAS?

[beac]

27. Contact info for NOW national

National Organization for Women
1100 H Street NW, 3rd floor
Washington, D.C. 20005

Phone: [phone] (628-8NOW)

Fax: [phone]

[jmondine]

28. McCain's Let's Snipe All Those PUMA's strategy worked. He's got both of their votes now

[CitizenPatriot]

29. thank you to all who provided links

my friend who lives in LA told me about this and we were trying to figure out what to do about it. In my rush, I failed to post a link. Thanks to all who stepped in for me-- who also provided a few I wasn't aware of.

We've written NOW as well as many local NOW chapters, asking what they are going to do about this.

We're also going to alert Women against Sarah Palin as well as anyone else we can think of. By all means, please use the link several posts up to write to NOW about this.

We're also doing LTTE, etc.

What a disgusting display of blindness. Yes, Sarah, there is a special place in hell for women who don't support other women. You ought to know. Pick out your colors now, because you'll be staying there for eternity and as you know, end days are a comin'-- so get the lead out.

WOMEN AGAINST SARAH PALIN

[HCE SuiGeneris]

30. This woman needs to be ousted from NOW.

What a disgusting individual.

[MzNov]

31. Here is CA NOW's response.

from the website today:
www.canow.org


. . . . .

A member and officer of the Los Angeles NOW chapter, Shelly Mandell, recently introduced Governor Sarah Palin at an event in Carson, California. Ms. Mandell was speaking as an individual and was not authorized to represent NOW, the NOW PAC or LA NOW in any capacity in connection with a federal candidate endorsement. As NOW President Kim Gandy said upon Palin’s selection , "Not every woman supports women's rights."

The use of Shelly Mandell’s Los Angeles NOW title was apparently intended to mislead the public, and indeed has resulted in local television outlets and internet reports misstating that LA NOW has “endorsed” Sarah Palin or that she has a record of supporting women’s rights. This in fact is not the case.

As President of California NOW and as a member and officer of Los Angeles NOW, I can assure you that there is no local or state affiliate of NOW, including LA NOW, which endorses or supports the McCain/Palin ticket. John McCain and Sarah Palin oppose many of the rights and freedoms we have fought for throughout NOW's 42 years, and we will not be pushed back to the days of back-alley abortions, forced pregnancies, and pay discrimination without remedy.

. . . .

[HCE SuiGeneris]

34. While that defines the real position of NOW California,

I would like to see much stronger (public) rebuking of Ms. Mandell's conduct.

[bliss_eternal]

44. Thank you, Ms. November.

It's disturbing that this was linked to CA NOW. I'm grateful to see members like you taking the time to find the truth, and sharing it here.

In appreciation,
bliss_e. :hi:

[MzNov]

50. that's very nice of you

:hi:

We need all the info we can get! :toast:

[CitizenPatriot]

32. that is what I figured she did

slipping her title in while not there in an official way, which is even worse. She should never have used her title at ALL in this capacity.

She needs to be asked to step down.

Their response is not enough. this is BS.

I am so sick of the way the Pukes have to misrepresent every single thing they do - this is but an example of how they twist things to look better for their side, and Shelly was not only complicit in this, she clearly allowed and endorsed their use of her title. It is obviously the only reason to have her there.

How many americans who do not pay attention to the finer points heard this and think that NOW endorses Palin? Gag me.

Asshats.

[riverdeep]

33. Palin has basically tried to brand feminism as her own since she started.

Trying to make people think that feminism is anything that a woman claims it is. No, it's not. You're pro-life, for example, you're not a feminist, period. No independent feminist bullshit or any of that. You're just not, it's like a copyright infringement.

As far as this praising Palin, she should have some of her time freed up, as in no longer representing NOW.

[CreekDog]

36. You don't have to be for women, you just have to be one

:eyes:

[bean fidhleir]

38. Ever since NOW yuppified and purged the dykes who'd built the org, it's been DLC-style crap

This isn't the first affront to feminism by a long chalk, nor will it be the last.

[VeggieTart]

40. Someone needs to whap this knucklehead Mandell with the clue stick

Figuratively speaking, of course.

Joe Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act and has fought every time to keep it reauthorized. Scary Palin charged rape victims for the processing of their own evidence kits.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden will protect a woman's right to choose. Scary Palin thinks rape victims should be forced to carry resultant pregnancies to term.

And there are dipshits who think Palin is a feminist because she has XX chromosomes? Please! There are plenty of female antifeminists: Phyllis Schlafly, the mother of them all; Katie Roiphe, Danielle Crittenden, Wendy Shalit, and the "Independent" Women's Forum who thinks there's such a thing as a "conservative feminist" (yeah, it's like a fish-eating vegetarian: a contradiction in terms), to name a few. Oh, yeah, and "Feminists" for Life, whose tagline is "Refuse to Choose."

I'd like to know how John McCain, who's been in Washington for 20-some years, is going to "shake things up." And if I hear him or his dingbat running mate say "maverick" one more time, I'm looking for something to hurl at the TV.

[LWolf]

41. I myself

will cast a vote for Obama, who is not on my short list of politicians who've earned my support, specifically because of Palin.

That endorsement IS a complete and utter affront to women.

[CitizenPatriot]

42. she needs to publicly clear this up

and step down.

It's an outrage that someone with her policies would be endorsed by anyone from NOW simply because she is a woman!

[LWolf]

48. Agreed. nt

[ismnotwasm]

43. Ewww. Disgusting

Just for a reality check, here are a couple of links from NOW. Which is not to excuse the asshole in California to use the Palin and the word feminist as though they had any connection. I'm sending off emails as well.


Not Every Woman Supports Women's Rights
http://www.now.org/press/08-08/08-29.html

And a great one NOW links to

The Sarah Palin pity party
Sept. 30, 2008 | Is this the week that Democrats and Republicans join hands -- to heap pity on poor Sarah Palin?

At the moment, all signs point to yes, as some strange bedfellows reveal that they have been feeling sorry for the vice-presidential candidate ever since she stopped speaking without the help of a teleprompter. Conservative women like Kathleen Parker and Kathryn Jean Lopez are shuddering with sympathy as they realize that the candidate who thrilled them, just weeks ago, is not in shape for the big game. They're not alone. The New Republic's Christopher Orr feels that Palin has been misused by the team that tapped her. In the New York Times, Judith Warner feels for Sarah, too! And over at the Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates empathizes with intelligence and nuance, making clear that he's not expressing pity. Salon's own Glenn Greenwald watched the Katie Couric interview and "actually felt sorry for Sarah Palin." Even Amy Poehler, impersonating Katie Couric on last week's "Saturday Night Live," makes the joke that Palin's cornered-animal ineptitude makes her "increasingly adorable."

I guess I'm one cold dame, because while Palin provokes many unpleasant emotions in me, I just can't seem to summon pity, affection or remorse.

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/30/palin_pity/index.html

[OakCliffDem]

46. Kick

[JVS]

47. National Association of Crack Cocaine Dealers is going to endorse Mandell as a "Real Cracksmoker"

[Juche]

49. NOW has 550 chapters nationwide

It was likely that at least one was run by a PUMA who would vote for Mussolini if he had a vagina.

[KamaAina]

53. Or in this case, Moose-olini

:P

[goforit]

51. Never did join and never will.

[Rocknrule]

52. She's a real feminist

the way Joe Lieberman is a real Democrat

[KamaAina]

54. Real feminists make rape victims pay for their own evidence kits

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

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