Mother Talkers

I've been Baracked

by Laura

Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 04:50:27 AM PDT

So great to see another presidential candidate addressing the issues of working mothers. I just read a Q&A with Barack Obama in Newsweek and was impressed. Thanks for writing your impressions of him, Laura! -Elisa


On Monday, I had the most amazing experience of my political life.  Somehow (the details are a mystery to me), I was selected to be part of a 8 member panel meeting with Barack Obama to talk about the issues of working women.  I was invited on Saturday (I was in Denver at the time), vetted Saturday night and Sunday, and Monday at 1 I found myself standing with 7 other very nervous women at a local chocolate factory, waiting to meet the man himself.

I expected to be terrified and unable to speak, but after having the little meet-and-greet right before we started, I found myself amazingly at ease.  He was warm and funny and charming- all of which I expected.  I didn't expect him to be as empathetic and understanding as he was- he really seemed to get what we were talking about, having been raised by a single mother who (at times) had to access food stamps to take care of him and his sister.

I ended up telling my story about my son's birth,when the boarding school where I worked wouldn't allow me to nurse in the dining hall, but required me to take my meals in the dining hall- leaving me in a bit of a pickle.  He responded with a story about one of his aids returning from maternity leave and discovering there was no  place in the entire building where she could pump or nurse comfortably.  He was amazed then that these kinds of adaptations hadn't been made in the 50 years since women became integral parts of the work force.  At the end of the discussion, he came back to my story and remarked that, while there are protections in place to address the kinds of discrimination I faced, most women either don't know about them or don't know how to access them or are afraid to do so- and most businesses either don't take them seriously due to lack of enforcement or just plain don't care- also due to lack of enforcement.

The best part?  I was sitting right next to him and he kept poking me in the arm to make his points.  And he grabbed my elbow at the end.  I may never wash that sweater again.

It was an amazing experience- to stand (and sit) that close to someone who is that close to making history.  I of course saved every newspaper I could find and taped the news.  My 15 minutes of fame are rapidly drawing to a close, but what a ride it was!

Tags: Presidential politics (all tags)

Permalink | 14 comments

  • Lucky You. (0 / 0)

    I met him about sixteen years ago in Chicago.

    Amazing!!!

    by Aimee on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 06:32:22 AM PDT

  • I love it (0 / 0)

    "Baracked" :-)

    It sounds a heckuva lot more exciting than being "Kuciniched" (as much as I admire Dennis).

    by ChristineB on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 08:01:41 AM PDT

  • OH! SO jealous! (0 / 0)

    I love love love this man. Seriously, it's a feeling from the heart kind of thing, when he speaks I tear up and it's just so wonderful to listen to him. Wash that sweater? Don't you dare- sell it on ebay first ;)

    I wish he were better at debates. But honestly, I'd rather have a president eloquent everywhere else. He speaks and I swear, every time I'm like "your lips to God's ears,".

    by lilianna28 on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 08:02:45 AM PDT

  • How cool! (0 / 0)

    At YearlyKos, I was impressed by his depth and understanding of education issues, something I hadn't heard him talk about before. I think it's his sister who's a teacher, and he really seems to get it and know what's important.

    by shenanigans on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 08:43:05 AM PDT

  • I think he is a very thoughtful man. (0 / 0)

    And you had what sounds like a very memorable experience.  

    And his answer is a great example of why we need to elect liberal/progessive politicians.  In my state, we  elected a democratic governor after 16 years of republican administrations.  When you elect a governor, or a president, you don't just elect that person...you're also electing every appointment to every board position that will be made during his/her administration.  Our rights as workers have been so eroded in this manner..."labor boards" are no longer filled with those who believe that workers have any rights, period.  Therefore, even the existing laws  aren't enforced.

    by tjb22 on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 09:33:35 AM PDT

  • Wow, that's awesome! (0 / 0)

    Lucky you!  :)

    Katherine

    by pat of butter in a sea of grits on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 09:55:25 AM PDT

  • Reading this makes me... (0 / 0)

    ...want to really pursue that PhD in Educational Psych.  An Obama administration is one that could do good things, and I'd love to be part of it, know what I mean?

    Even a Clinton admin would be better than what we have, but an Obabma one?  He'd make things happen -- or at least get out of the way so they can happen!

    by meanderwithme on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 10:14:46 AM PDT

  • sigh! (0 / 0)

    that sounds like an awesome experience. awesome...

    by Rachel on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 11:32:26 AM PDT

  • Baracked (0 / 0)

    Love your story -- what a very cool opportunity!

    As a Chicagoan I was fortunate to meet him for the first time about a week before his DNC speech, at a small house party fundraiser.  I was blown away by his presence and speaking ability.  He is a fantastic, inspirational person who is thoughtful and considerate.  If I'm sending someone to speak to world leaders on my behalf, that's what I'm looking for.  I'd love to see him in the white house!

    While I firmly believe that you elect the candidate, not the family, I will also say that I was very impressed by Michelle at a Women for Obama event.  

    In the spirit of full disclosure, I will also add that my support of the Senator includes agreeing to switch back to full-time work to let my DH volunteer full time at the campaign.  

    --R

    by Rocky on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 02:30:32 PM PDT

  • I'm so jealous (0 / 0)

    and to be discussing the issue of working women!!!I would kill for that.  What did he say about the FMLA?  Did he talk about a woman's right to breastfeed?

    by anarchist mom on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 04:10:19 PM PDT

    • FMLA (0 / 0)

      He wants to see it extended to businesses with 25 or more employees rather than 50 and wants to have caring for parents, attending school events, and similar things included in it as well.  He refered to the right to nurse as a given- but also about the need to educate business leaders as to the law and increase repercussions for violating it.  He also spoke about honoring the need for famillies to have time and support to create strong famillies, with paid maternity and paternity leave being the norm, as it is in most other developed countries.

      He also refered to the need for childcare to be staffed by well paid folks who are educated in early childhood education- that childcare shouldn't just be babysitting, it should be education, since birth to 5 is such an important period in a child's life.

      I'm sure you can find the details of his policies on his webpage.

      by Laura on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 05:34:21 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      • That's the problem (0 / 0)

        I can't.  It's easy enough to say some of these things, but would he support legislation that does them and what would that legislation look like?  How is does he plan to make paid maternity and paternity leave 'the norm'?  How would he pay for it?  How long would it be?  I would love to pick his brain, or to at least make him start thinking more concretely about these issues.  

        by anarchist mom on Thu Nov 15, 2007 at 08:30:10 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  • Obama is the real deal (0 / 0)

    I recently saw Barack at a political rally here in St. Louis.  It was phenomenal, the positive energy coming from the crowd was unbelievable, and Obama is an amazing speaker in these settings.  He spoke directly directly to the audience, as if he were speaking to each individual personally with sincerity and compassion, about all the issues that Americans are most concerned with, Iraq, health care, overreaching presidential power in the future of America.  

    I had a press pass, and was able to move freely among the local and national press at the event.  I was surprised that Obama's people were more interested in catering to his supporters, then to the press, who were largely kept at bay during the event.  The press people were not amused, and many of them seemed almost openly hostile to Obama, especially the old guard.  The younger people were smiling like me.

    There was a separate section to the right of the stage for the disabled and the elderly were the press was not allowed to go during his presentation. And the press pit in front of the stage was kept clear during his speech.  Photographers were only allowed to visit this area one at a time, escorted by someone from the campaign.  I've never seen photographers lining up to take pictures in this way, I was lucky I got a few minutes in front of the stage to get some shots.

    Barack Obama in St. Louis, Union Station

    I never imagined that a political rally could be so exciting and worthwhile, I was so charged up after the event I couldn't sleep at all that night.  I can now say without reservation, that Barack Obama is indeed the real deal, and I believe he should be our next president, but if Hillary gets the nomination, I hope she chooses Obama as her running mate, because I believe Obama represents the future of America.  This man will be the president sooner or later, Mark my words.

    Obama 08, genuine leadership

    by Aaron on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 05:41:08 AM PDT

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