E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
John Brecher / NBC News
"I like the idea that Mitt Romney is a businessperson, and is concerned about what's important to small business owners," said Kathy Eshelman of Columbus, Ohio. As the founder of a small business, Eshelman's main concern is the reinvigoration of the economy.
John Brecher / NBC News
Jane C. Edmonds, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston, is a Democrat who came to the RNC to offer her support for Mitt Romney's candidacy.
NBC's Michael O'Brien reported Tuesday on the Republicans' need to capture the support of women from Democrats, noting:
"Obama led Romney 51 percent to 41 percent among women in the August NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, and the GOP brand lags significantly behind the Democratic brand among women voters."
At the same time, there are thousands of women attending the Republican National Convention, and not all of them are Republicans.
At left, Jane C. Edmonds, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston, is a Democrat who came to the RNC to offer her support for Mitt Romney's candidacy. She served as secretary of workforce development for Gov. Romney in Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and says that experience convinced her that he'd be a good president:
"I want to be able to feel that the next president of the United States will be in a position to move us from the place that we're at right now to a better future."
John Brecher / NBC News
Mary Elizabeth Russell, who studies international political economy at the University of Texas at Dallas, holds her just-autographed copy of Dinesh D'Souza's "Obama's America" in the Channelside district of Tampa. She said about her presence at the RNC: "We're the first generation who's worse off than our parents, and that's what makes me want to get involved."
Siobhan "Sam" Bennett is president and CEO of The Women's Campaign Fund of Washington D.C., which provides money through its political action committee to female candidates of any party, provided they support abortion rights. Bennett says that though her positions on issues haven't changed in 30 years, her place on the political spectrum has shifted from moderate Republican to liberal Democrat.
John Brecher / NBC News
"I stopped believing you have to be a Democrat to effect change," said Anita Moncrief of Washington D.C., editor-in-chief of emergingcorruption.com. A former employee of ACORN, she voted for Obama but then became disillusioned with his administration's political appointments. She registered as a Republican in March after "two and a half years and a lot of soul-searching."
John Brecher / NBC News
"We probably don't really understand how good we have it," said Colorado blogger Michelle Morin about living in America. Morin's perspective starts with the idea that the United States is unique among nations because of the principles established by its Founding Fathers, and that the freedoms that make it special are subject to continuous erosion. She said: "Most Americans I talk to outside of the conservative movement don't really have a full understanding and grasp of those principles that made this nation great."
Marion Jones is from Honolulu, but she got the hat as a gift from the Texas delegation. As a staunchly anti-abortion Catholic, her political choice boils down to the issue of abortion. Watch this video to hear her and other women at the RNC talk about what motivates them politically.
See more visual stories from the RNC in PhotoBlog, and NBC's full coverage of the event.
Slideshow: 2012 Republican National Convention
Leave a Comment:
Women: In the Bible you were in bondage to your male relations, and your jealous husband could bring you to the priest to cause a miscarriage (Numbers 5:22). In the Old Testament, the life of the unborn was subject to the will of the father.
At the founding of this nation, you were passed over for the right to vote. Only white male property owners were given the right to vote.
At the emancipation of this nation from slavery, you were passed over for the vote, including emancipated female slaves.
In the 19th Amendment, you won the right to vote.
In Roe vs Wade, you won the right to make your own decisions regarding motherhood.
You are now free to make your own decisions in privacy.
This election, you have many moral decisions to make, and both the Old and New Testament had many admonitions against the love of money and injustice.
Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 writes that the goal for Christians is equality (not equal opportunity):
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: 'The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little'."
And the Gospel of Luke 16:13 warns against serving two masters:
"No one can server two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot server both God and money."
The social conservative Christian endorsement of Ayn Rand's gospel of selfish capitalist individualism and entitlement of the conservative wealthy to be given preferential tax treatment conflicts with the social Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament, you were set free from the Old Testament law.
Under the Constitution, you were set free from having men make your decisions for you.
Consider voting for compassion and community in this election of 2012. Christianity doesn't promote competitive religious individualism.
Jesus, the liberal Jewish alternative to the Tea Party Christian Conservatives who believe selfish capitalist individualism is based on the Bible.
While I think Mitt Romney is a poor candidate with little to no intgrity exposed by the flip flopping and constant lying, I am glad to see articles like this one. As a woman, I am proud that women are a large and DIVERSE interest group and don't all think alike. As to why women support a party that oppresses them, why are there log cabin Republicans?? Sometimes people will vote ideology over their own self interest. Fortunately as a liberal, my ideology and interests pair quite nicely. :)
Larry, Do you really believe President Obama is not a US citizen? For God sakes man think on your own...And if you are, all I can say is I am sorry
The great thing about facts is that they don't require anyone to believe in them to be true. They're not Tinkerbell.
Wow. Amazing! Just after one of their party members made his now infamous quote about women being able to "turn off" pregnancy. And these women are still gung-ho for these idiots. I guess they just ignore whatever they do not want to hear.
And also, I hear the echo's of people wanting to return to the glory days of "greed is good" and "lets buy more than we can afford". That is what got us in this CF!!!! Why would anyone in their right mind long for a return to that train wreck.
Please do not be so simple, ONE man makes a stupid comment and ALL these women thinks he speaks for the entire Republican party?. Geez if every Democrat left the party after every stupid thing Joe Biden said in the past, you guys would be pretty lonely
Nice to see some women thinking with their brain rather than with their uterus. "War on women" what B.S. Like Obama has done so much for us women in 4 years, unless you like being unemployed.
Women: In the Bible you were in bondage to your male relations, and your jealous husband could bring you to the priest to cause a miscarriage (Numbers 5:22). In the Old Testament, the life of the unborn was subject to the will of the father.
At the founding of this nation, you were passed over for the right to vote. Only white male property owners were given the right to vote.
At the emancipation of this nation from slavery, you were passed over for the vote, including emancipated female slaves.
In the 19th Amendment, you won the right to vote.
In Roe vs Wade, you won the right to make your own decisions regarding motherhood.
You are now free to make your own decisions in privacy.
This election, you have many moral decisions to make, and both the Old and New Testament had many admonitions against the love of money and injustice.
Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 writes that the goal for Christians is equality (not equal opportunity):
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: 'The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little'."
And the Gospel of Luke 16:13 warns against serving two masters:
"No one can server two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot server both God and money."
The social conservative Christian endorsement of Ayn Rand's gospel of selfish capitalist individualism and entitlement of the conservative wealthy to be given preferential tax treatment conflicts with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament, you were set free from the Old Testament law.
Under the Constitution, you were set free from having men make your decisions for you.
Consider voting for compassion and community in this election of 2012. Christianity doesn't promote competitive religious individualism.
Jesus, the liberal Jewish alternative to the Tea Party Christian Conservatives who believe selfish capitalist individualism is based on the Bible.
HEY NBC! That story of the CNN woman reporter being pelted with garbage on the convention floor because she's BLACK, is GONE! It was only up on this site for a few moments that I could see. NOW we get this crap about happy republican women! Do you really think we don't see that you're a free poster-boy for your republican agenda?
Here it is:
If it smells going in....... The GOP STINKS!!!
It is sad how so many commenting here are attacking these women for having a different opinion. I hear over and over that women shouldn't vote republican because they are voting their rights away. I am a woman and I don't think anyone, man or woman, should have the right to take away another human life (which is how I view abortion). I know women who have had abortions and I do not judge them or love them less for it, but my heart breaks when I get messages from them each year telling me how old their child would have been. Nobody is speaking to the broken hearts of the women who had an abortion in a moment of uncertainty and look back on the decision with regret because that choice was made so easily available that they didn't have time to make the decision themselves. Taking away that option would save many women great amounts of pain. Not all women, no, but these greiving would-be mothers are the forgotten demographic who are never mentioned in this debate. So, because of my beliefs that abortion is taking the life of a child, I cannot see it as an inherent right, therefore, no rights are being or will be taken away from me by the republican party so stop saying I am voting against my best interest.
While I disagree with those who are socially or fiscally more liberal than myself, I would never demean their intelligence because of our differences. That is an old fashioned school of thought, to attack those different from ourselves.
Nobody is telling me to vote conservative or telling me how to think. The conservative argument for moral values and personal responsibility is one that I can relate to much more closely than the liberal argument for equal results regardless of effort. There are many folks out there who disagree and I don't equate that to them being bad people or stupid people. Conservative women should not have to apologize for standing firm in their ideas and opinions.
Based on their reasons for supporting Romney, it's a valid opinion to say that these women are not deep critical thinkers. But yes, you are fighting against a woman's (or any person's) Constitutional right to privacy, under the fourth amendment. You don't get to dictate your religion onto everyone else, with the effect that they get rights taken away.
It is weird to assume someone is not a critical thinker or lacking intelligence because their opinion differs from yours. I vote according to my values, as most people do. Our values differ, so our votes will differ. There unlikely to ever be a world where everyone has the same dream and the same set of values. This is why we vote. Attacking one another's abilities to make decisions is not constructive and causes greater division and anger.
K.Stu -- it's fine for you to have your beliefs on these issues. I have to assume that you came to these beliefs after life experience and perhaps due to your religious affiliation.
However, the issue I have with the GOP is not that they share these social beliefs (many of which are religious based) but that they try to impose them on others by law.
Morality is not based either on religion or political affiliation.
What is it based on then?
The basic tenet of living a good life. You don't have to be religious OR a Republican to do so.
I find it interesting these women are so supportive of the GOP, as the party in general, and its Representative specifically, have made comments unilaterally indicating that women are second class citizen, no better than chattel. Seems the Muslim Sharia concept and the Christian right have more in common than not...
Ryan recently said in an interview that rape is simply a "method of conception". That is appalling and outrageous, yet these women remain "pro-life" and pro- GOP! I would really wonder what their decision would be in that moment when they realize they have conceived their attacker's child?
Colorado's Morin (quoted above) says our rights in America are being eroded. This is most true and it STARTED on the GOP watch with the introduction of the Patriot Act. My son's right NOT to be assaulted and essentially MOLESTED by a TSA "officer" was taken away by the Bush Admin. And don't go on spouting about travel safety - I have flown thru Ben Gurion on El-Al - one of the safest airlines in the sky - and none of us was physically accosted by the security detail! While too many Dems are on board for too much gov't involvement, I can assure you the MOMENT GOP determines if I should be allowed Birth control, if I and my doctor do not have the right to determine what is best for me (in ANY health matter) then THAT is WAY too much gov't for me!
As a woman small biz owner, I have NOT hand one ounce of help from either party to support my minority based business. As a matter of fact, BOTH parties in Congress are legislating AWAY my rights to pursue my business, because they think they know better as to what pets with which I am allowed to own or work! Do not tell me the GOP is supporting small business when they added their signatures on several bills that BYPASSED the Lacey Act (law already in place!!!) so they could meet an agenda of the $$$ loaded lobbyist in a way that will DESTROY an entire nationwide sector of small businesses in the pet trade.
I am fully Independent, would vote for Ron Paul (despite his Rep affiliations) in a heart beat - oh, except Romney's machine managed to change the rules at the LAST minute and exclude any of the support Paul had going into the RNC. THAT type of back stabbing in the ranks REALLY worries me for the future of this country if loyalty to the law and the rules of engagement are so easily tossed aside right within their own party.
Lastly, I close with the memory of Ann Romney recently responding that they do not need to offer any other tax returns because "we gave YOU people all you need to see". Just who are "we people"??? Is there now a "Class distinction" of which I was unaware? Apparently WE PEOPLE are the voting population, the less enfranchised who don't need to have any transparency from our elected officials.
Hmmm.... "let them eat cake" - you know "YOU people!
Women who join the GOP are just unfathomable. It makes as much sense as the few token blacks and Hispanics who join. Why would anyone promote a political philosophy that so blatantly acts against their own best interests?
Right into a Party that believes that people are smart enough to make their own future, that believe in Independence, hard work , achievement, success - dare I say prosperity. Or stay with Democrats who want a permanent underclass that needs the Govt tit to suckle on all their miserable lives, needs it to think for them, make decisions for them and take care of them from cradle to grave yea, sounds great
maybe one day all women will understand that politics has no gender favoritism democrats have a can of worms acting as if they are going to show partiality to females, rather then equal protection of the law, to believe that the Republicans are against women is to ignore where we are, men and women divided worse then ever before in history during a democratic leader, in fact during Bush's years I think the gender gap was closer, I only hope more people will read the comment by
"Mary Elizabeth Russell, who studies International Political Economy at the University of Texas at Dallas, holds her just-autographed copy of Dinesh D'Souza's Obama's America in the Channelside district of Tampa. She said about her presence at the RNC:
"We're the first generation who's worse off than our parents and that's what makes me want to get involved."" wow a very smart lady
It's interesting when I hear Republicans claim that one law, rule, party makes unequal rules for a minority group instead of "equal protection of the law" for two reasons.
1. Of course it's not equal protection if you born disadvantaged by race or sex.
2. These same people want all the American advantages to go to the smallest minority of all...the wealthy....the so called "job creators".
They don't have a problem overtly requesting special treatment for them based on the notion that they are so benevolent that they will take care of us peasants instead of big bad government.
so sad for you that you are this misguided and do not have the facts. facts that have spewed from these two very dangerous men - stop with the war between men and women - and stand up for who and what you are - if you are a woman then there is no other choice than President Obama and the Democrats. there just isn't read the facts. - we've got a great group on fb - Women Against Romney/Ryan and for Womens Rights - there are lots of FACTS there - go read them. No one will ever tell me or define for me or decide for me what i can and can not do with my own body. who died and left these sleezeballs GOD??? Obama/Biden 2012
I just laugh at all you people combatting over voting one way or another. I wish you'd all pull your strengths together and use it for something good, instead of bs like this. It's a free country- let people vote for whoever, worship whoever, abort whatever- I understand the need for a forum, but man you guys all sound like hateful idiots. No wonder our country is in the state that it's currently in.... Have some morals, show some respect, and BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER!
These women are weak and under the thumb of their greed driven husbands.
I would hope that people come here to listen to, and share, ideas. Unfortunately, the vast majority of comments here are no more than a pile of tripe. The incendiary, bigoted and hateful comments are disgusting.
Sad but true.
That is why FOX News stopped allowing comments. However, here it is 1000% more civil than those your read on FOX. Let's face it. This is our society.
Linda, your comment on FOX was interesting. As I don't go there, I didn't know. Maybe what is realy sad is that MSNBC allows the types of comments that they do.
jrl, I think you are right. If it makes you feel any better I don't give a damn why they are there. I wouldn't expect them to give a damn about where I am.
How sad, these women have lost their way, their ability to think clearly; guess they like rich men making decisions on what they can and can't do with their bodies and they must like the rich getting richer and while they struggle to make ends meet. Pretty darn sad.
I'm as liberal as they get but even I understand that different people are motivated by different things.
If you're a woman who would never consider abortion, it's a non-issue. So the economy may be more important to you. I get that.
What I don't get (and what scares me) is if they win, will they stop? Or will they push the "traditional family values" platform until women really can't use birth control and aren't allowed to work? I don't believe that's their current platform but let's face it, winning on one issue doesn't mean they'll stop trying to force their beliefs on the rest of us.
JC both sides of the asile are rich men making decisions. Please explain to me when the Republican candidates told me what I can and cannot do with my body? You are being feed some pretty ugly talking points from the far left. Please explain to me why the poor are poor. I do like the rich getting richer, I would like the poor to get richer, along with the middle. I feel sorry for those who feel personal responsibility is bad thing. I feel sorry for all of those folks who want to be hateful to those who succeed. I could go on and on but hopefully you get my point. This is the United States of America, we can work as hard as we want, we can educate ourselves, we can be successful, we can speak our minds, it is the greatest nation.
Well said, Lynn.
Show me one poor man in congress(?).
Tampa, Florida (CNN) – Two people were removed from the Republican National Convention Tuesday after they threw nuts at an African-American CNN camera operator and said, “This is how we feed animals.”
Multiple witnesses observed the exchange and RNC security and police immediately removed the two people from the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
The convention released a statement saying, “Two attendees tonight exhibited deplorable behavior. Their conduct was inexcusable and unacceptable. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated."
CNN also acknowledged the incident, saying, "CNN can confirm there was an incident directed at an employee inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum earlier this afternoon. CNN worked with convention officials to address this matter and will have no further comment.”
The convention began its first full session on Tuesday after being delayed a day by what was then Tropical Storm Isaac. It continues through Thursday when Mitt Romney is expected to accept the party’s nomination as its presidential candidate.
it's just an example of how these people REALLY THINK - and you've got women and minorities supporting them????!!!! it is beyond anything i could and can ever comprehend. wake up people - these sleezeballs don't give a rats ass (willards) about you. Obama/Biden 2012
easy, during the demonstrations in Madison, WI, there were democrats that spit in republicans faces and threatened others lives. Based on your extrapolation, should we than think this is how all democrats REALLY THINK?
Hey, Ladies it is your Congressman and your state legislators who are taking your rights from you not the President. If 40% of today's US population is under 30, why aren't they voting for their future? Why are they letting the people over 55 year olds control their life today and the future? Wake up your future is now.
It doesn't matter who is taking the rights - we are women and we must stand with the party who will at least try to support us as women, our rights, our bodies, our decisions, our choices. come join our group on fb and get some real facts - Women Against Romney/Ryan and for womens rights! Obama/Biden 2012
Spoken like a True male who has No skin in the Game.
Does foreskin count?
How very very very sad for you and for all women that you would ever consider voting for religious fanatics who will take away your rights as a women!!! Have you no pride, have you no concern for what women before you had to go through over 50 years ago - and died for - before we HAD RIGHTS to our own bodies. You are so very mislead and misguided and you are a shame to all women - truly you are - and for those of you of color or in the minority - if you think for even one second that these teabaggers and repUbs even understand you let alone would back you - you are NUTS!!! simply put - you are nuts!!! These are some really horrible people with their heads in the clouds - or overseas counting their money. They haven't and will continue to do nothing for you. NOTHING. You aren't 'one of them' - you'll never be and they are laughing at you in their mansions and on wall street - they are laughing at you. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 TO PRESERVE YOUR RIGHTS, WOMENS RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CITIZEN.
The Democratic side has done what? Oh, they encourage sitting on the porch waiting for the check to arrive? That 70+% of black babies are being born to unwed mothers? We are going broke as a nation we can afford to continue with all of the entitlements but don't tell anyone? What has the liberals done to make your life better? Why on earth are you waiting for your government to make your life better?
Tell me how much money has Joe Biden donated to charity? Better still how much have you donated, to help your fellow human?
gee great! OK I want any of these women to go tell some nice 27 year old woman who with her husband are trying to start a family "Sorry Mrs. Smith but you have an Ectopic pregnancy that will either cause extreme injury or death... to bad you can't have an abortion"
I myself think abortion is wrong but like anything else they are not an absolute. The position of the republican party is way too extreme bordering on psychotic.
If thier rules were in place 25 years ago I would be a widower and not have the family I have now.
You make a really good point. I agree. And the parties just seem to move further and further away from the center. Do you think they will ever begin to move towards a working system again? I'm fairly young and this is only the second election I've been "a part" of. I can't help but wonder if things have always been this way or if each year really gets worse than the one before.
K.Stu. No it wasn't both parties were more reasonable and a lot of good legislation was passed.
I used to look at the Republicans as the party that tried to solve problems with the least amount of government. certainly they would balk as they were once genuinely for small government but if there was no other way to solve the problem they would go along with changes, you know compromise.
Now everything seems like a zero sum game in which we all lose.
When I see Mitt Romney and hear him speak, I have the same gut feeling as I had with George W. Bush.
A man with his own personal agenda, not for the american people. We are just the tools( or should I say fools ) to achieve that personal agenda.
These women are idiots who make me ashamed to share their gender.
Maybe because they don't mind getting raped?
Voting is like driving a car:
Choose (R) to move backward.
Choose (D) to move forward.
pretty easy choice if having a choice/voice still matters to you.
AmericanSocialist, you're such a pathetic little loser. No wonder you socialists want someone to take care of you. You would never survive in the country our mothers and fathers built. You're too much of a big f*cking baby. The only thing you've got on the conservatives is an empty, unsubstantiated claim that republicans wouldn't give women their right to vote. If you grew up in my neighborhood, you would have got your ass kicked twice around the block, after saying such lies. No wonder you're a socialist, you can't accept the truth so you want somebody to hold a gun to everybody else's head and force them to pay you to sit on your lazy fat ass and do nothing. That's what socialist do. That's why all of the socialist countries in Europe are going bankrupt and their citizen's salaries are total sh*t. Socialists are too f*cking stupid not to realize that. Luckily there's enough men and women of real American values left to keep you little fags irrelavant for the remainder of my years.
DING-DING-DING!!!! WE HAVE A WINNER! Give it up folks. No one here will beat this comment. It wins hands down as the most stupid, hateful, ignorant statement of the last quarter century. So the real "men" are not little "fags". Now we all know the truth! Thanks for the insight, idiot.
427FRED, if you weren't such a communist dip@!$%# you would realize that I was responding to a whole spew of many accusitory remarks calling these Republican women stupid, brainwashed, etc. just for excorsizing their freedom of political choice. Call me names all you like because I call you guys little cry baby, pussy socialists all the time. But these women are innocent. That's why you guys are such pussies. Just as soon as someone calls it like it is you start crying "hate, hate, hate". It's more like "criticizm, criticizm, criticizm" , but you can't f*cking handle it. That's why I think you guys are so pathetic.