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Sep
5
Here’s the most recent breakdown:
1. Me - going Obama, after voting Clinton in primary and not liking either - but I like Biden; Palin is a throwback for me
2. My mother: was John Edwards, now Obama - she’s 69, worked outside the home and in business w/my dad - married at 19, first child at 20, married 50 years!
3. Woman who has a cleaning business, has two grown kids and I’ve known for 14 years: lives in a moderate conservative NEOhio county represented by Steve LaTourette - she voted Hillary, then started to think McCain and when Palin came on, she said no way - but…this woman’s husband loves Palin - he is a higher level blue collar manager
4. Neighbor who is Puerto Rican is a school psychologist, one child in college, two still in public school, husband is in construction industry (like civil engineering): she’s Obama all the way and I’ll be going to her home to help learn more, with other women from around our area (east suburb of Cleveland) about how to help Obama and Biden
5. Religious school secretary (full-time job) with no kids: she voted Clinton, feels she cannot vote for Obama - she does not trust him, was thinking McCain, hates Palin and now is thinking that she’ll either not vote or go for Obama (personally, I think it’s the group like this that Obama should think about - he needs to show consistency and commitment and polish)
6. Female urologist with three kids all in parochial school: was very excited about Palin but knew nothing - when I mentioned a few of Palin’s positions, she got a little wary and appreciated hearing that and said she’d be sure to read and listen.
7. A PhD educated woman who is now in law school, mother of two I think and blog infrequently told me that she would be voting McCain and feels that Palin is very eh - that there were many far better choices, but she doesn’t really see herself going for Obama (which I can understand because this woman really is a moderate Republican - so I can understand that Obama just doesn’t cut it close enough to the center for her).
8. Self-employed lawyer (part-time) mother of two school-aged kids, raised in west side suburb of Cleveland, absolutely cannot fathom Palin and is likely to vote Obama.
Now, if you want to find and read very pro-Palin posts and links, absolutely visit BlogHer for full coverage by women who are pro-Palin.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:12 pm September 5th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin, WH2008
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29 Responses to “How women I know are voting”
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If I could vote it would be Obama-Biden.
I am a felon…one of the millions of folks that know the insides of the federal penal system.
Yes there are thousand of felons who could vote but do not know. This might be a worthwhile demographic to look at. I mean our numbers rank in the millions!
I know felons are the scourge of the earth…but may of us could vote if we knew it.
Damn, Babz - I hope you will write about that - I bet you have already, maybe? Before we “met” thanks to BlogHer - have you? I for one would LOVE you to write about that - or is it too difficult or bring out too many nutcases?
Some states do let felons vote, is that true? I am sorry for being ignorant - but yes - you know, I actually brought up this point about rebuilding our entire election system to ensure that people who can’t vote get considered - children and felons were two groups I mentioned.
Shalom Jill,
Yes, the evidence is anecdotal, but compelling nonetheless.
I think that these kind of profiles inform us more than the scientific polls for two reasons: first, too many Americans don’t understand how polls are conducted and interpreted; and second people don’t related to numbers, they relate to people — polls need faces.
Any chance of expanding this between now and election day?
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] How women I know are voting Posted in Comments, Election [...]
Sure Jeff - what did you have in mind?
Children are felons!
Shalom Jill,
Continue to collect the stories of the women you know and the women they know.
Regardless of why they chose to vote as they will, have them speak of their thought and decision process.
Give faces and voices to those who have none.
B’shalom,
Jeff
I live in Franklin County Ohio, which went for Kerry in the last election. In other words, I live in a happy little bubble where pretty much every single woman I know in real life is voting for Obama. This also speaks to who I run with — my social life is mostly homeschooling liberal feminists. (Yes we exist! In greater numbers than folks realize!) My mom is a feminist (charter subscriber to Ms) whose heart broke when Hillary didn’t get the nod but she’s going Obama and my sister is a feminist who liked Obama from the get-go. Lots of the professional women I know from freelancing are going Obama, too. Nearly everyone I know locally/virtually (twitter/blogs) is going Obama. My dad — a fiscal conservative — is going Obama.
I’d say the only people I know IRL who maybe aren’t going Obama are the folks I know through the local adoption support group I attend. Lots of conservative Christians in that part of my world — ironically way more than in my homeschooling life.
Jeff - I also think it would be best for people elsewhere to chime in - maybe we can come up with a technorati tag or something but even though I’ve expanded my circle and have a few circles, I’m only so “diverse” - I know, don’t choke on the thought.
Hi Dawn - thanks for sharing that! Very interesting about the homeschooling demographic info you give because yeah, I always thought that it’s about 80% or so done by folks due to religion. Of course, that still leaves 20%.
Also about the adoption -yeah, you know - this is so fascinating and it is logical: people who are thyose compassionate conservatives who say no abortion and DO work to support women who are committed to not having abortions walk the walk by being involved in adoption services - I would think.
Likewise, more liberally minded folks who seek to help unrepresented and underrepresented people also would be interested in working in such social services.
This is part of why Palin’s snark about community organizing really shocked me - because these kinds of efforts around adoption can’t work unless you get the word out to the community about the existence of such programs and enrolling people in them and so on.
I have to say - separated from who said it, when I think about that line - it’s just totally mean-spirited to me.
Shalom Jill,
How about this?
By my count we are 58 days away from 4 November. (Please double check my count.)
Between today and 3 November I will post an open thread at 0530 every day asking the question, Why are you voting the way you are in the presidential election?
I’ll impose only two restrictions: the first upon myself, I’m not going to attempt to persuade any commenters that they are wrong. Their decision is their decision and I just want to hear the reasons; and second, no negative reasons will be permitted. I want to know why you’re voting for your candidate, not why you’re voting against you’re candidate’s opponent.
The first post will be up in a few minutes. Care to join me?
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] at Writes Like She Talks wrote a post this morning offering brief insights into why she and seven women she knows are voting [...]
[...] Writes Like She Talks has a long list of women blogger comments and some anecdotal evidence among her circle: [...]
Jill,
Very interesting post. However, I can offer some opposing ancedotes.
87 year old woman (lives next door to grandmother) - always voted Democrat, won’t vote in this election, doesn’t trust Obama…and thinks McCain is too old!
42 Asian lady - Independent - voting McCain since she worries Obama is going to raise taxes like Clinton did.
62 Irish lady accountant Democrat- can’t stand Michelle Obama, in fact voted for George W Bush (1st GOP she ever voted for Prez) b/c she loved Laura Bush. Go figure.
So while you’re stories are valid. I remember the story about the lady that went around in New York after the 84 election, saying (paraphrasing) “I just don’t get it, I didn’t know a single person who voted for Reagan.”
It would be interesting to find the poll numbers of McCain/Obama in each of the Congressional Districts. I’m sure Trakas/Dennis/O’Neill/LaT have done polling on their races and have probably polled the Prez matchup. It would be very interesting to see those numbers, they would probably be great indicators, especially if you compare them to the 06′ GOV election and the 04′ Prez election.
Greg - no doubt - we’re all going to hear anecdotes - Jeff Hess is suggesting a way to try and give those anecdotes space - I think it’s a great idea.
Jill wrote: Palin’s snark about community organizing really shocked me
Gov. Palin said: “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except you have actual responsibilities.” Her gibe was obviously directed at a particular (former) community organizer.
So, what were Barack Obama’s responsibilities–and accomplishments–as a community organizer? Here, in The New Republic, is one perspective on Sen. Obama’s time in Chicago as an organizer. A teaser from the article: “[T]he most important thing to know about Barack Obama’s time as a community organizer in Chicago may not be what he gained from the experience–but rather why, in late 1987, he decided to quit.”
[...] Jill to do more. Since I’d never ask anyone to act in a way I would not act myself, I told Jill that beginning 6 September and until 3 November I will post this open-thread question to my readers: Why are you voting for [...]
[...] at Writes Like She Talks wrote a post on 6 September offering brief insights into why she and seven women she knows are [...]
For information about exactly what Barack Obama did as a community organizer, try here. (Even though the article is in National Review, it’s mostly straightforward reporting until the final page.)
[...] Jill to do more. Since I’d never ask anyone to act in a way I would not act myself, I told Jill that beginning 6 September and until 3 November I will post this open-thread question to my readers: Why are you voting for [...]
Just curious, how do you feel about Obama’s 854 billion dollar global poverty bill that we taxpayers will have to fork out? And as we know from that little fiasco with Chavez, will only prop up dictators and never get to the needy, but Americans will still be on the hook for.
What is it about Socialism that you like so much? Is it sticking it to the productive citizens to take care of the non productive citizens?
What’s the appeal of spending money that isn’t yours that’s so appealing? And you know when the money is spent it still comes out of the hoppers are taxes fill. So we do eventually have to pay for it. But we have generations after us who can deal with that mess, right…
Ladalang- that’s an interesting blog you have though I couldn’t find any place to click to learn more about you.
If you could provide some links that would be very helpful - I’m not familiar with “Obama’s 854 billion dollar global poverty bill that we taxpayers will have to fork out?”.
Which “little fiasco with Chavez,” are you referencing?
You write as though you are a Libertarian - maybe you should just say that.
I wouldn’t mind socialism so much but I love this country and capitalism has many benefits - you do know that countries can have socialism and capitalism, yes?
You wrote, “What’s the appeal of spending money that isn’t yours that’s so appealing? And you know when the money is spent it still comes out of the hoppers are taxes fill. So we do eventually have to pay for it. But we have generations after us who can deal with that mess, right…”
Maybe you should be updating your blog and write about how these recent bailouts of corporate leaders who obviously ignored a whole lotta signs make you feel - seeing as how you don’t like taxpayers paying for much, let alone their greed at our expense.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
ok - found a little info. I love Michelle and Scott Bakalar so if you are a WOM follower, then at least we have them in common, yes?
My blog isn’t about me it’s about the message. I’m a Conservative Republican not a Libertarian. Most people can tell the difference based on the politics of my blog. The party has lost its way but will be returning very soon back to its conservative ethical roots. It’s actually changing from the inside out, just not yet visible to the naked eye.
Obama’s Globalist agenda:
S.2433 http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s2433/text
The Chavez incident where our government funded the coup and removed him from office where we propped up a dictator for about a minute in which the people of Venezuela staged a Revolution and put their Democratically elected president back in power along with their Constitution. It’s an inspirational story of hope. Here’s a starting point:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5832390545689805144&ei=4WrRSKOrOITs-wGjwaGWBg&q=the+revolution+will+not+be+televised&hl=en
I’m extremely impressed you acknowledged your believe in Socialism. I was sure you would denounce it; your honesty is refreshing.
I have several projects I’m working on and sometimes my blog doesn’t get as much attention as it should. I’m more apt to post in active forums where I can do more good such as the WOM. My personal blog is more therapeutic than for public consumption.
Wow - just like McCain and Palin - you like to embellish eh?
1. I wrote, “I wouldn’t mind socialism so much” I wouldn’t call that a ringing endorsement.
2. The bill about global poverty has nearly a third of the US Senate as co-sponsors including some Republicans. There’s no appropriations and it hasn’t gone past being introduced. I’m thinking no one has anything to worry about when it comes to your fear stated here, “how do you feel about Obama’s 854 billion dollar global poverty bill that we taxpayers will have to fork out?”
3. You wrote this, “I’m a Conservative Republican not a Libertarian. Most people can tell the difference based on the politics of my blog.” But then also agree that you haven’t been writing much. I’d not heard of your blog before now so I only have these comments from you to go on.
Good luck with your projects and thanks again for reading and commenting.
So the global poverty bill has “everyone’s” support? Hows does that still make it a good thing? Politicians in America today have a serious credibility problem. That isn’t because they “are” doing what we want.
Everyone is jumping off a bridge, does that mean we should all get in a single file line and start jumping? This is how you judge the merits of a bill by majority support? What ever happened to the ramifications, the cost, the hidden agenda, the language…
You’ve never heard of my blog before because I’ve never promoted it. And I didn’t realize it was a popularity contest. Again it’s more for me, not for public consumption. Anyone can see my history of posting it’s not exactly maintained regularly, but here’s the thing, I’m not claiming otherwise. You may have an issue with my blog but I’m fine with it. I’m not trying to compete with it again its the message and not about me.
I don’t support McCain /Palin. I said I was a Conservative Republican. That means no Neo Conservatives. I would choose a Democrat before I would vote another Bush in.
You said, “I wouldn’t mind socialism”, I said “I’m extremely impressed you acknowledged you believe in Socialism.” I didn’t say it was a ringing endorsement either. Who’s embellishing?
That would still be you:
“So the global poverty bill has “everyone’s” support? Hows does that still make it a good thing?” Umm - yeah? no.
“I didn’t realize it was a popularity contest.” Makes two of us.
“Everyone is jumping off a bridge, does that mean we should all get in a single file line and start jumping? This is how you judge the merits of a bill by majority support? What ever happened to the ramifications, the cost, the hidden agenda, the language…” Er - uh - what you wrote in first comment was this, “how do you feel about Obama’s 854 billion dollar global poverty bill that we taxpayers will have to fork out? ” Looks like you were the one jumping.
Lala - you don’t like it here, don’t read. But if you want to engage, be honest. Just like you said I was.
Just so I’m clear. No actual opinion of the bill just an “it looks like the majority supports it, it’s in the appropriations stage. I’ll ask again. How do you feel about the bill? I’m not asking what the politicians think, or where it is in the process, I’m asking you Jill, to weigh in on the bill. It’s a fair question.
I like it here otherwise I wouldn’t bother. I’m not sure why the hostility, I asked a simple question. I know you didn’t know about the bill, but now that you know it exists, how do you personally weigh in?
When one states “I never heard of you”, “your blog”,etc., it’s as if to imply somehow you would have. How would you have? Of the literally billions of blogs on the Internet, how would you have happened to see mine or heard of it? Answer that question and we’ll get to the bottom of this whole thing.
“But if you want to engage, be honest. Just like you said I was.”–Jill
I couldn’t agree more. I offer brutal honesty, take it or leave it.
[...] first wrote about this topic on September 6, and then yesterday I wrote a bit more about my experience at the Obama campaign [...]