http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/09/12/obamas-listening-tour-for-womens-issuesThe morning noise level at the Blue Strawberry in Cedar Rapids didn't seem to bother Chicago attorney Judy Gold or the local women who came to discuss Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and his bid for the White House.
Gold, who served as chief of policy for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and chairwoman of the Illinois Commission on the Status of Women, is an attorney in private practice. She came to Iowa, however, as a listening ear for the Obama campaign, which she serves officially as the chairwoman for the Women's Policy Advisory Group.
Thirteen women came to this session of the "Hear from the Heartland" listening post and spoke about everything from recent Women's Equality Day activities to the issues of health care and education to the war in Iraq. Most of those in attendance, however, seem to have women's issues -- in particular the issue of women's reproductive health -- at the front of their thoughts.
"I was the Democratic chair for Voters for Choice -- an independent pro-choice political action group," Gold said during her introduction. "Also, many years ago when I was a child, I became involved by working on women's issues by working with a group called the Women's Issues Network, a multi-issue organization in Chicago."
She went on to add that while working for Obama she has "never had to leave her feminist credentials at the door."
"I had the opportunity to work with Barack very closely on some issues like creating an earned income tax credit in Illinois and passing a state version of the violence against women act which was called the Gender Violence Act," she said. "I can say to you without any reservation that Barack is fantastic on women's issues."
The listening post was set so that Gold could hear from local caucus goers -- not all of whom at the table were Obama supporters -- and take what they said back to headquarters for use in shaping both national and campaign policy.
"I have a strong belief that women's issues aren't just the substantive issues that we think of as women's issues," Gold said. "I would like to hear from you about any issues that are of concern to you. If you are a woman, the things that concern you are women's issues."
Following that, Gold asked if there was an issue that women needed to hear Obama discuss more or present more in-depth.
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