Jennifer Granholm had a great discussion Thursday night with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York about women in politics and President Obama’s proposal to require religious groups to provide health coverage for birth control — and the subsequent protests that ensued. We decided to take the conversation off the set and onto twitter for a Q&A with the senator.
Here’s the transcript from our twitter exchange. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions.
And for a link to the GDP study mentioned below, please go here.
Looking forward to chatting with @SenGillibrand shortly. Here’s our interview from #TheWarRoom last night, ICYMI: bit.ly/wF1xH6
— The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
@GranholmTWR @JenGranholm Hi, everyone. Thanks so much for the chance to reply to some of your questions! — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
Q for @SenGillibrand: What did you think about the birth control policy compromise President Obama outlined today?
— The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR I was plsd the @WhiteHouse upheld the core principle that all women should have access to contraception.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR It also reaffirmed that the decision to use contraception should be up to each individual woman, not her boss. — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@SenGillibrand Do you think independents will move toward Obama in 2012 because of anti-choice views among GOP candidates? — The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR Pres Obama is a true champion for women, which is why it’s so impt for us to turn out for him in November. — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR Pres Obama has shown commitment to protect women’s access to preventive care–it was an impt part of his health reform plan.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR Well, one important thing is we need more women to run at every level of government – including school boards. — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@SenGillibrand … which often results in school curricula being slanted against women’s rights?’ — The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR It’s why I created offthesidelines.org–to serve as a call to action to women to get more involved & make their voices heard
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR When women run & win and have a voice at the table, the outcomes are often better, particularly on issues women care about.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@SenGillibrand So true. We talked about this last night on #TheWarRoom a bit. A related issue is about income equality for women … — The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
.@SenGillibrand A study found that America’s GDP could be 9% higher if we had equal pay btwn men and women.
— The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR Women currently make only 78 cents on the dollar that men make–unacceptable! We have an obligation to work to close that gap.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR Well, for one, we must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would begin to address the inequity. — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
Also, more women in positions of power within cos is crucial. And women need to negotiate their own salaries & demand what they’re worth. — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@SenGillibrand Amen to that.
— The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR #1million4women is a joint project by me & @BarbaraBoxer as well as several of our colleagues, both men & women. Pls join us! — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR Yes, pls sign up for #1million4women at onemillionforwomen.com. Help us fight back against the next attacks on women’s health. — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@GranholmTWR Thanks so much for having me today! And great being on the show last night, @JenGranholm! Thx, everyone.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 10, 2012
.@SenGillibrand We hope you’ll join us again soon.
— The War Room (@GranholmTWR) February 10, 2012
