A group of high-profile female Democratic politicians gathered to speak at the DNC Women’s Caucus. Among these women was Michelle Obama, the wife of Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). Also in attendence at the caucus was Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who emphasized Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) negative voting record on issues such as abortion rights and equal pay for women. She stated that he has a “zero-percent voting record in favor of issues important to women.” Boxer declared, “[Obama] is a hero, McCain is a zero.”

During the caucus, a group of anti-abortion protesters broke into the meeting. Every delegate in attendence stood up and started chanting “Obama.”

Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) drew attention to the importance of the female vote in the coming election: DeLauro stated “[women] set the agenda, and [women] make history,” referring to the so-called gender gap (in which women are more likely to vote for a Democratic candidate, and influence the election) in the current world of politics .

Mrs. Obama cited the hardships Senator Obama watched his hard-working mother and grandmother endure during his childhood as making him understanding and compassionate about female issues and ideals. She discussed Mr. Obama’s legislative plans, such as ending wage discrimination against women and supporting pro-choice legislation.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) comments on the Obama campaign, what it will mean for future presidential campaigns and what the outcome of the 2008 election will be. She also discusses Sen. Joe Biden as Obama’s choice for Vice President.

 

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Jimmy Dean, Chair of Democracy for America and brother of DNC Chair Howard Dean, speaks on party unity, Democracy for America, and Obama’s 50-state campaign strategy. (7:03)

 

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Elia Herman interviews Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rock the Vote. (7:15)

 

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Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oreg.) talks about the upcoming elections and the critical issues Americans currently face with Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner. DeFazio talks about the need for reform of energy laws and the improvement of America’s technological and educational infrastructure. He criticizes the Republican energy and fiscal policy as well.

 

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Former Vice- Presidential hopeful Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) discusses Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) choice of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his running mate with Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner. He also discusses his congressional district and issues facing Americans. Edwards answers questions about the current energy crisis as well as the American health care system and claims that it is not impossible for Sen. Obama to win Texas in the November election (5:17).

 

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“At last [women] have a seat at the table,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D - CA) exclaimed to a crowd of cheering supporters at the Symposium for Unconventional Women in Denver. Notable Congresswomen and other champions of women’s causes spoke on the issues facing women’s participation in the federal government. Protesters from anti-war organization Code:Pink interrupted Pelosi’s speech on several occasions to voice their opposition to the American military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In her speech Pelosi encouraged working women to run for federal office. “Isn’t it better to have working moms looking to Congress and seeing working moms?” she said. Pelosi’s words were echoed by Senator Claire McCaskill (D - MI) and Amy Klobuchar (D - MN) who recounted their experiences running for office as mothers.

The symposium also included women’s rights leaders Allana Goldman of She Should Run and Page Gardner of Women’s Voices, Women Vote. They noted the lack of single women running for office. Gardner said, “We can no longer afford to have single women sit on the sidelines of democracy.” Allana Goldman noted that while women tend to win elections at the same rate as men, too few are encouraged to run for office, a major reason that women constitute only 16% of Congress.

As Pelosi, the highest ranking female to hold office in the US, took the stage, members of Code:Pink rushed holding signs and pleading with the speaker to remove troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. One member denounced Pelosi from a balcony for supporting waterboarding and American military involvement in Afghanistan before being removed by security. Several members continued to interrupt Pelosi’s speech from the crowd, many insisting that Pelosi end the war. “I will stop the war,” Pelosi responded, while also saying she wished the protesters would “put their energy into voting for Barack Obama.”

Kansas Governor, and Presidential hopeful Kathleen Sebelius says that the Democratic National Convention will incorporate both voices and people from across America, including people who have not had an opportunity to participate before (:45)

 

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“We have plans not only to include voices from across America, but also people from across America who have never had a chance to participate before”, said Kansas Governor, and Democratic Vice Presidential hopeful, Kathleen Sebelius at a conference call discussing the nightly themes for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. She went on to say, “We felt that the Democratic Convention was a great way to kick off the momentum for change.”

Sebelius said that the overall theme for the convention will be “America’s Townhall”, and that each night would have a theme of its own marked with a keynote speaker. Monday’s theme will be “America at a Crossroads”, with the speaker being Sen. Barack Obama’s wife Michelle. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is scheduled to speak on Tuesday night when the theme will be “Renewing America’s Promise”, which will deal with economic issues and access to health care. On Wednesday, Sebelius said the theme will center around the contributions of veterans, as well as those currently serving in the US military, with the speaker being Obama’s Vice Presidential running mate, who will be selected before the convention. Sebelius also stated that the theme for Wednesday does not necessarily imply that Obama’s Vice President will have a substantial background in veterans’ affairs, though the selection will definitely be knowledgeable in the area.

When asked if she had been vetted by the Obama campaign for the Vice Presidential slot, Sebelius responded by saying, “I have made it clear since I enthusiastically endorsed Senator Obama that I would be enthusiastic about doing anything I can to help him be elected to the president of the United States [...]“. She added that all information about Obama’s selection for Vice President would have to be answered by his campaign.

Anita Dunn, Senior Campaign Advisor for Sen. Obama, responded to a question as to whether Elizabth Edwards, the wife of former Sen. John Edwards would be speaking in light of recent news regarding his extramarital affair by saying neither will be attending the convention.