Obama: Palin against equal pay

Posted: Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:40 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
TOLEDO, Ohio -- At an economy town hall here Sunday afternoon, Obama said his rival's pick for vice president was against equal pay for equal work.

“We're gonna make sure that equal pay for equal work is a reality in this country,” he said. “You know, John McCain's new VP nominee seems like a very engaging person, a nice person, but I've got to say, she's opposed like John McCain is to equal pay for equal work. That doesn't make much sense to me.”

When asked what Obama was basing that line on, campaign spokesperson Jen Psaki linked Palin to McCain's agenda.

"Sen. McCain has a clear record of opposing equal pay and as his running mate Gov. Palin is tasked with promoting his agenda,” she said.

Obama is hoping to win over many of Hillary Clinton's women supporters by focusing on kitchen-table issues and on policies of importance to women. McCain's selection of Palin, a mother of five, is widely seen as part of an effort to appeal to some of these same voters as well as to women in general.

“I've got two daughters and when I think about them, I say to myself, I want to make sure that those girls have exactly the same opportunities as anybody's sons will,” Obama continued. “That's why were gonna fight for equal pay for equal work. That's why were gonna fight for sick days for workers if their child is sick or they've got an ailing parent. That's why were gonna make sure that we expand family leave so that more people can utilize it and so that women who are in the workforce are able to balance work and family. And men too.”

Obama and Biden each spoke briefly before fielding questions from the audience of invitation-only guests, on trade, healthcare, revitalizing cities and other issues. They were on the third day of a bus tour through battleground states and were set to split up later in the day to begin campaigning separately.

*** UPDATE *** Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella issued this response: “For Barack Obama to accuse Gov. Sarah Palin of opposing equal opportunity for women, when she actually opposes the trial lawyers’ effort to overturn the longstanding statute of limitations in America’s courts -- is not only an absurd accusation, it’s a disgrace.” But if we're reading this statement correctly, this means that Palin backed the Supreme Court's 5-4 majority decision that invalidated Lily Ledbetter's equal-pay lawsuit.

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Comments

that is true. she is aganist equal pay for equal work. I read it in a blog, but I can't remember which one. could be cnn. it is a fact.

voter (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:50 PM)

Question: How did Meet the Press get through an entire hour about Governor Palin (continually touting her as an ethics reformer no less) without ever mentioning that she is under investigation right this minute for ethics violations?

How is that not relevant?

This is why I don't trust the media - you are all bought and paid for.

And why is she allowed to say that she was always against the bridge to nowhere when she has made statements ON THE RECORD supporting it?

What type of "journalism" are you practicing MSNBC?

Why was the "panel" on Meet the Press so unbalanced?

Meet the Press has gone from must see TV to more corporate propaganda. What a shame.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_08/014476.php

Nashville_fan (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:53 PM)

I don't care how many excuses the right wing & the media come up with, it is painfully obvious that Sarah Palin is not qualified to be our vice president. Senator McCain was desperate for attention & since he is incapable of obtaining any on his own merits, his party came up with a plan.

This alone is another reason to look closely at Senator McCain and his judgment issues. He is making a mockery out of this election because Senator Obama is gaining in popularity the more the country gets to know him.

Yet it is we who yet again will have to pay the price if he wins. The issue is not Sarah Palin. The issue is John McCain and the entire GOP who continue to lie year after year to us. On tv. On the radio.

Go after McCain.

Let Biden once and for all go after Palin. If she had any integrity or dignity, she would have turned Senator McCain's offer down.

This is not a joke. We are fighting 2 wars.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:55 PM)

Chuck - I have 5 important questions for Gov. Sarah Palin:

1) What does Sarah Palin think about John McCain leaving his first wife to fool around with the model Cindy McCain?

2) When Sarah Palin thanked Gerry Ferraro & Hillary Clinton in her introductory speech Friday, why didn't she thank any Republican women? Was she trying to imply that Democrats are responsible for progress, even for Republicans?

3) Most importantly, Sarah Palin praised Hillary Clinton, but was it genuine or merely a way to manipulate the emotions of us Hillary supporters and score points for her man, Sen. McCain?

4) If Sarah Palin really admires Hillary, then why did she call Hillary a whiner in March when Hillary refused to drop out of the race?

5) If Sarah Palin is such a reformer who stands up to her party, why did she stand back and let her Republican Party trash Hillary when Hillary dared to revolutionize the role of First Lady and take a strong policy role in her husband's administration? Why did Sarah Palin stay silent when her fellow Republicans criticized Hillary's weight and appearance? Why didn't Sarah Palin jump up to defend Hillary when her talk radio ditto-heads, Rush Limpdick & Peon Hannity, slandered Hillary w/ dishonest attacks when she dared to run for the Senate? Where was Sarah Palin then?

To me, Sarah Palin is a fake & is not worthy of any respect from Hillary supporters.

Rodham Democrat (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:56 PM)

If Palin is a woman running for the VP spot and does not believe in equal pay, then she contradicts the many other things women are looking to change by default. That should also be further proof she was "placed" as Mccain's running mate to lure women voters to the Republican side if it wasn't obvious earlier.

Melissa, Petoskey, MI (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:57 PM)

Quite a contrast, eh? Obama and Biden on one hand, and John McLame and his soccer mom on the other.

Jan, Cedar Falls, IA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:58 PM)

So, exactly what nanoparticle of Palin's brain is feminist? And if she's SO conversative, why isn't she staying home with her 4 or 5 kids?

As for women voting for her b/c she's pro-life, it will never cease to amaze me that Pro-Lifers can still be pro-life under pro-choice laws.

Women wake up! Anti-abortion laws DO NOT STOP abortions. Get a brain.

56 y.o. white woman for Obama/Biden.

sara, mesa, az (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:58 PM)

I get the feeling this isn't going to go well.

Just hit McCain on his lack of judgement in choosing her and ignore the VP candidate herself. Treat her like the gimmick she is and let the news tear her apart on their own.

Robert, West Greenwich RI (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:01 PM)

Palin=George W. Bush with a Y-Chromosome

Anti-Science
-Homeschooler
-Creationist

Anti-Choice

Anti-Equal Pay

Anti-Environment
-Does not beleive in Global Warming
-Wants to take Polar Bears off Endagered Species List
-Pro Gun
-Pro Hunting

Don't believe the Hype! Woman Unite For Our Daughters!! (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:07 PM)

Why isn't the press reporting on Palin child abuse. If she went into labor prior to speaking in Huston then spoke, then flew for over 10 hours, then had her baby... most of the far right would say if another person had done that it was child abuse. Much less most doctors woudl not let her fly that long when being pregnant. What would have happened if she had the baby on the airplane?
Plus, how many women have their 5th child with such a long labor time?

Joe, St Charles, MO (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:13 PM)

Who knows? The woman has no published opinions about anything not related to oil and gas and moose hunting!

LB, Virginia (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:16 PM)

will palin get the same pay as cheney? mccain has a record opposing her getting it.

billy,mi (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:16 PM)

Go Barack, go! He could use some help those because this is a short time between now and elections to get it through the thick skulls of those apathetic members of our society that this VP pick is more than just a bad late night comedy show joke... she is just bad news..but don't take it from me. Alaskans are standing up and telling it like it is:
http://www.grizzlybay.org/SarahPalinInfoPage.htm

dp in phx (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:17 PM)

That is bizarre. Why on earth would a woman not vote for equal pay??? Oh, wait... that's right... she's getting paid enough already.

Oy.

Mil (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:21 PM)

How does Sarah Palin not support equal pay for equal work? That makes no sense.

Kathy, Simi Valley CA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:22 PM)

How can a woman, who calls herself a feminist, run with a man who has opposed legislation providing equal pay for women in the work place? It doesn't make sense.

Paul St. Louis Mo (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:25 PM)

I'm sorry, but I seem to have missed the part where Obama said where he got his information from...not saying that it isn't true, but where is he getting it from?

Audrey, Houst. (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:30 PM)

Could someone provide me with some specific examples that presently exist where a female is paid less than a male for equal work.

Could someone prvide me with job descriptions from employers where it specifically states pay will be be different between male and female for the identical job.

Don Leroux, San Diego, Ca (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:35 PM)

As Dan Abrams would have said "Cheap Shot"!!

KR, VA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:41 PM)

So basically Barack, you based it on nothing......which means you lied

Mike (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:50 PM)

As I am listening to speeches and reading articles about McCains choice of Gov. Sarah Palin for his running mate, I see an base assumption that Sarah Palin is a little housewife that was just cute enough to be voted into the govenors office in the state of Alaska and was choosen by McCain as she will appeal to all those little women still living in the 1950's. The Media, Obama and any others with this view are only showing their lack of research and 1950's view of Alaska and its people.
I look forward to these months before the election as America and the world discover the personal values and grit of the McCain/Palin team. It will show at the polls in November.

Donna Perry Bethel, Alaska (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:52 PM)

Very smart on Obama's part. Since Palin is basically unknown, the assumption is that she ascribes to McSame's agenda and record. Which is a reasonable assumption. One would hope that McSame would pick someone who share's his same views. But who knows, he only talked to her once before asking her to to VP.

Tonia, Atlanta GA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:57 PM)

I hope Palin breaks with McCain on equal pay for equal work - it would pave the way to a better future for her four children and grandson.

David, Baltimore, MD (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:01 PM)

Hi FirstRead!
Thanks for this postings on Ms. Palin. Could you please look into the Bristol Palin pregnancy story for your readers? There are a few blogs addressing this story regarding Sarah Palin covering-up her teenage daughters pregnancy by claiming it as her own. I would very much appreciate MSNBC researching this story as it is important due to Ms. Palin's anti-birth control politics. What I've read so far is quite convincing, but as I deeply respect MSNBC reporting, I'd love to hear what MSNBC journalists have to say.

Mary Murphy, Jamaica Plain, MA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:12 PM)

I would like to see Obama-Biden continue to talk about this.

McCain's vote this year against equal pay legislation was appalling.

Amy, TX (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:18 PM)

It will be interesting to see how effective McCain is as he pivots from the "Edlerly Statesmen - War Hero" to the "Maverick - War Hero" strategy. It seems fairly obvious (at least to me) that since the old strategy of painting Obama as "not ready to lead" has not worked, the GOP is now SPRINTING to Obama's "Change" message with the Palin pick. Obama's killer speech at the DNC convention, forced McCain's hand, and the Palin pick, I think is an act of TOTAL desperation! It also appears as though Palin may not have been properly vetted, and that whatever the issues are with the investigation by the bi-partisan Alakan lawmakers, surronding the dissmisal of the Police Commisioner, could prove damaging as the MSM starts looking closely at Ms. Palin, and her political life.

StrongArm, Portland, Oregon (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:19 PM)

Is Sarah Palin "against" equal pay based on gender differences?

WOW!, Let's hope not...

Randy, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:21 PM)

Jen Psaki says it's guilt by association?

So is Obambi guilty by association with Bill "the bomber" Ayers"?
Or perhaps Rev Wrong?
Or Tony "the felon" Rezko?

wise man, NY (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:23 PM)

That statement just shows how desperate and superficial Obama really is. Gov. Palin and Sen McCain BOTH have a proven track record of not "pushing" anyone's agenda. Gov. Palin needs to be critiqued on her own agenda and strengths (and weaknesses) Not those of Sen. McCain's.

Sen. Obama and his entire party has rested their campaign so far on current failed leadership and associations and not on the candidates themselves. All they have said is 4 more years of the same and I don't believe that will be the case in the slightest no matter who wins in November.

Stick to the candidates themselves, and not the failed current policies that have NOTHING to do with the campaign.

Robert Ross, Modesto, CA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:24 PM)

This seems a bit of a stretch. I know there's not much on the record about her, but there's no need to make stuff like this up. It's just silly.

Tim, Louisville, KY (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:33 PM)

Sarah Palin has presented herself as a modern day women renascent of those portrayed in the award winning television show, Madmen. She is so unappealing to women as her aim is to set us back 50 years. A women's personal choice is tantamount here-whether it is working outside of the home or going choosing that very tough job of staying at home to rear your children.

She should not be applauded because she went to work within two days; especially because insurance constraints promote drive-by c-sections sending women home ill and ill prepared to cope with the rigors of raising children. Many have been rushed back to hospitals with complications because of shoddy insurance coverage failing to provide for the care women need. Imagine the kind of medical treatment the women that cannot afford insurance receive! Also, her story about boarding a plane while in labor is just plain stupid! What a horrible risk to subject oneself or an unborn child too-imagine willingly trying to deliver a baby while 35, 000 feet in the air! Some women have the means and familiar support to enable them to work in corporate America or elsewhere, even Michelle Obama, whose professional credentials far outweigh Palin's, has the blessing of having her mother at her side helping to care for her children. Palin needs to run on the issues and her experience. She doesn't even know what's going on regarding the wars in which America is engaged and certainly cannot tie her scant success regarding energy issues with her ability to deal with foreign policies. Palin simply is no match for Biden or Obama not because she is a women, but because she lacks the good judgment, exposure and basic common sense to get the job done.

Sheila from Texas (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:34 PM)

Obama doesn't need to worry as 'Grandma' Palin will be headed for the north country soon enough.
http://twocanpete.blogspot.com

twocanpete (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:44 PM)

So... Obama is making stuff up...sounds like the politics of old. Must have learned it from the "change" agent Joe Biden (Senator for 30+ years).

Palin is an independent woman who does not agree with McCain or Republicans on every issue.

She vetoed a bill banning rights for gays and lesbians.

She supports ANWR drilling (McCain opposes).

She taxed big oil for Alaska.

As to McCain... He nominated the GOP's first female VP. Sounds sexist to me.

So, instead of challenging her on issues Obama will simply make stuff up.

Let's see if MSDNC will post this??? i doubt it... it comes from an independent female from CA, instead of one of the Messiah's disciples.

D. Pickett. Hayward, CA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:46 PM)

It is amazing that nobody in the media has been granted access to Sarah Palin to ask her directly the tough questions that Obama,Biden, Clinton and all other candidates have been asked over the last 19 months. It is amusing to see how the media is trying to spin any positive angle (preceived sexism, etc) to generate sympathy for Palin. She is not qualified to fill in the shoes of LBJ, Truman and other former VPs that had to be sworn in as President due to unexpected events. It is clear that David Gregory and Andrea Mitchell (and even Tom Brokaw!) are McCain supporters who display contempt for Obama while trying to spin McCain's poor judgment as a "maverick" trait. This is insulting to the intelligence of the American people. The only reason that the national polls are close is that the media refuses to focus on the issues and are trying to make this election about Obama, while trying to minimize McCain's poor judgement and impusilve, irrational behaviour. Good help America! We wish that Tim Russert was still alive and reporting as he masterfully did with focus on what are the important issues of the time.

Frances Pender (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:50 PM)

I challenge Sen Obama to give us a specific action, policy, or reference to anything Sen McCain and specifically Gov Palin has ever done to opposse equal pay for equal work!!! Being charged to promote an alleged agenda is NOT equivalent, nor supportive of this riduculous accusation. Unfortunately, whatever the Sentor says gets a headline. STOP being a lying coward Sen Obama...be a man and make your case without falsely disparaging your honorably opponents.

Michael Novotny, Andover KS (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:59 PM)

No Beauty and the Beast ticket !!!

We deserve better!

No Beauty and the Beast ticket (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:05 PM)

Obama's judgment has left him in a pickle of sorts again. He refused to place the most qualified candidate on his ticket, one who also happened to be a woman. And now when McCain places a woman on his ticket who actually has more executive experience than Obama himself, it makes it difficult for Obama to criticize her. Obama is nothing more than an empty suit. He has never been a governor and had to make multiple decisions like a governor is forced to make on a daily basis. Obama has spent most of his time in the Senate running for President, not even staying in Washington to learn the ropes there. Palin has MUCH more experience than Obama. She is well qualified to be Vice president. She has clearly demonstrated that she is willing to take on pork barrel spending. She has clearly demonstrated that she is willing to take on corrupt politicians and stand up to them. Obama wouldn't even stand up to the Reverened Wright. Even when it meant that his little daughters were being exposed to a storm of racist rants. Palin has much more courage than Obama.
Obama is lacking in so many areas. Obama's weak attempt to paint Palin as inexperienced only serves to better illustrate his own lack of experience.

GeraldD (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:18 PM)

PLEASE DO NOT BE FOOLED BY GOV. PALIN. BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN DOES NOT MEANS SHE IS FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS. LOOK CLOSE AT HER AGENDA - PRO LIFE, NO EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN, ETC. PROMISE YOURSELF TO LOOK AT HER AGENDA, STUDY IT HARD BEFORE YOU VOTE. IF YOU VOTE FOR HER, YOU ARE THE ONE DOING INJUSTICE TO SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON.

WE HAVE COME TOO FAR TO HAVE WHAT WE FOUGHT FOR TORN DOWN IN A BLINK.

DAV, Miami, Florida (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:26 PM)

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