Michelle Obama, Oprah rally women
FUND-RAISER | It's a focus of Obama campaign, Biden promises conference here
Sarah Palin may be the only woman on a presidential ticket this year, but that doesn’t mean women ought to vote for her, her Democratic opponent Joe Biden told 1,000 women at a national conference/ fundraiser for Barack Obama.
“Being a woman is not the same as being THERE for women — they are two different things,” Biden said to cheers from the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, I guarantee you, Sen. Obama and I will be there for the things that matter for the women of America.”
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
Michelle Obama also spoke at the gathering at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago, called the National Women’s Leadership Issues Conference.
“The leadership of women will be critical, because we all know, when you need something done, we can get it done,” Obama said. “Talk to your friends and your neighbors and your colleagues. Sit down with your mothers and your fathers and your sisters and your girlfriends and tell them about the issues at stake in this election.
“We have women here from almost every state in the country,” Obama said.
“Even from Alaska,” Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarret added with a smile, referring to Palin’s home state.
“All of you live in a swing state or near a swing state, so when you get home, start knocking on those doors,” Michelle Obama told the crowd. “Start talking on the phone. Help us get the vote out for Barack and Joe. It’s never been more important that all women make their voices heard.”
Oprah Winfrey opened the conference with a speech that the press was not invited to.
Barack Obama will address the conference Saturday, as will former Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
The women are all major donors to the campaign, some paying $2,500 to attend the conference, others paying the $28,500 that got them into a VIP reception with Winfrey and Michelle Obama Friday night.
Jill Biden introduced her husband, touting his support for the Violence Aganst Women Act and the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.
That act was designed to counteract a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said Lilly Ledbetter could not sue Goodyear for paying men at her office more than her because she did not learn of the pay disparity until after what would have been the deadline to file the suit.
ÒLilly Ledbetter endorsed Barack for president,” Michelle Obama said. “I love Lilly. She’s a strong woman. There is only one candidate who has stood up for women like me. There is only one team in this race who will fight to see women get equal pay for equal work.”
Joe Biden slammed Republican John McCain for opposing his Violence Against Women Act.
“John [McCain] didn’t believe there was any need for the Violence Against Women Act,” Biden said. “Tell the 1.5 million women who have called the battered women’s hotlines that this was unnecessary. Tell the women who have been battered repeatdly by men who ignore the “Stay Away” orders it wasn’t needed. John doesn’t get it.”