Naysayers and detractors continue to scratch their heads in amazement at President Obama's ability to pull significant Republican support. But if they looked at the president's 13 plus years as a politician, they would see that he's always worked closely and substantively with them. Remember his friendship with Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard? Though a conservative, he so admired Obama's pragmatic, bi-partisan approach to politics, and his standing as an action-oriented visionary. That admiration landed him an appearance in an Obama TV ad in early 2007.That is but one example of Obama's clear outreach to Republicans. We can look at his selection of Republicans like Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation or Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense for his administration. We can also look at his incredible 50 State Strategy, which had him campaigning in and/or setting up offices in states like Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Georgia, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Nebraska. A more recent and dramatic example, however, is his naming of Gov. Jon Huntsman as the new Ambassador to China.This one is awesome. Why? Well, Huntsman has a very impressive record on international affairs, and, he speaks mandarin Chinese from his days as a missionary, so he's perfect. Also, by most accounts, Huntsman has been a very good Governor of Utah, which is literally America's Reddest State. Utah resident and progressive blogger Bryan Young wrote a piece in the Huffington Post that all but confirms this. He described him as "level-headed, even-handed, well read, and well respected". He continued:"...[Gov. Huntsman's] not afraid to veto the idiotic bills brought to him by a legislature that by and large has only a tenuous grip on reality. He's even worked hard to liberalize the liquor laws that have strangled tourism (as well as my social life) in the state, against the will of his party and a majority of his supporters, simply because it's the right thing to do. He's vetoed a lot of legislation that's come across his desk and has one of the most progressive records on the environment in the west... He's even come out in support of civil unions for same sex couples... Add to that, the fact that he's actually kept Utah's head largely above water through the economic crisis and you'll agree that he's actually a pretty good Governor... It's no wonder he was tapped by the Obama team for any job and he deserves our support and encouragement... He really is a stand-up act."
Being associated with yet another moderate, centrist Republican allows President Obama to continue occupying 65%-70% of the country in poll after poll. These types of approval ratings give President Obama a powerful consensus for most of his policies. Huntsman only helps to solidify his numbers.
Huntsman's appointment may not play well with self-styled "true progressives", but for most Americans, he is fulfilling his role as "President of the United States", not "President of particular Democratic constituencies". President Obama is the man: BLUE STATE credentials, for sure, but also...RED STATE credibility!
2morrowknight is an internet strategist and community organizer who blogs at 2morrowknight.blogspot.com, and is author of a forthcoming children's book. You can follow him at Twitter.com/2morrowknight and friend him at Myspace.com/2morrowknight.
I know you've heard the news by now: President Obama created WWW.OPPORTUNITY.GOV, another great resource for America's unemployed.
It was created because President Obama wants to make it easier for those receiving unemployment to enroll in school or job training programs. Giving up one's monthly unemployment check is often a requirement to returning to school. And, if they decide to enter school, qualififying for federal aid is mostly impossible.
The Obama administration will ask states to make exceptions so that the jobless can attend a community college or pursue other education or training, and keep their benefits. Yes, some states will be resistent, especially those headed by Republicans looking to run for president in 2012. But this looks to be a coast-to-coast hit with the unemployed.
The president clearly understands what it will take to get us out of the worst economic downturn since World War II. It will take a break from a lot of conventional thinking, and a willingness to try new things.
Let me also be incredibly clear about something: this website, OPPORTUNITY.GOV is yet another example of why President Obama will easily go down as one of the greatest presidents of all time. No, not because he's the most perfect president to ever sit in The Oval Office - because there are no perfect people, and yes, its still early in his term. But at this rate, with all that's he's done, greatness will not dare elude him. The level of "out of the box thinking" he is exhibiting is just incredible. No, scrap that: it's f&#%ing awe-inspiring!!
With unemployment at high levels, OPPORTUNITY.GOV can reinforce the services of sites like careerbuilder.com, monster.com, snagajob.com, as well as help millions of the unemployed train for GREEN JOBS President Obama has been aggressively laying the groundwork for, and that many community colleges have training classes for.
Websites like OPPORTUNITY.GOV can also go a long way towards diluting a persistent conservative argument against government intervention: that it's are no good at helping our citizens, and that the private sector is better. Well, with much of the private sector hampered by "job creation KRYPTONITE", this is the government's chance to step up, and Obama's opportunity to continue remaking the image of the U.S. Government in general, and The White House in particular. Opportunity.gov helps tremendously in this effort.
After his sweeping, historic win in last year's election, President Obama promised to be a bridge builder, not a partisan bomb thrower. And he has kept his word. He has Republicans in his administration, and, early in his term, he met with Congressional Republicans to hear their views and ideas. This approach has endeared him to moderate, independent voters who believe in President Obama's strategy: to continue to woo the the small business owner in California and union member in Connecticut who likely supported him, while aggressively reaching out to the evangelical farmer in Montana and supply-side economist in Mississippi who probably didn't.
Yet, on more than one occasion, he's had to shake off the haters. Conservative talk show host Tammy Bruce referred to the Obamas as "trash in the White House"; a Republican Los Alamitos Mayor quits after sending a racist e-mail showing watermelons on the White House Lawn"; and last but not least, Rush Limbaugh insults the President literally every day with his racially irresponsible rants. Interestingly, by not responding to these slights and staying on message with the economy and his agenda, it keeps his poll numbers up sky high, which gives him enormous political capital to pursue health care legislation and other matters. To the average engaged voter, President Obama looks busy, and his detractors look, well, petty and feeble-minded. Who knew that all of this hate would have a reverse effect for Republican officials and give unintended support to President Obama?
So as the hate continues to be directed at him and his family, President Obama presses on and finds a way to make the purveyors of that hate look even more foolish. Watching our president shake off the haters has become thoroughly enjoyable.
CNBC's John Harwood made a great analogy on the show Meet the Press recently: he likened President Obama's performance to a star quarterback driving the ball down the field getting first down after first down. To put it another way, imagine a game where Lebron James and the Cavaliers or Kobe Bryant and the Lakers hit 3-pointers and slam ducks at will and never ever turned the ball over. That explains President Obama's overwhelming success thus far.Indeed, President Obama's First 100 Days in office is going down in the history books. Someone might be able to say that they disagree with his policies, but no one can say he hasn't done anything. Most of the of the national polls put him in the mid to high 60% range. A healthy number of respondents in a recent New York Times/CBS News Poll say they have strong confidence in Obama's leadership, and, that they see small signs that the economy is getting better (ever so slightly) with his initiatives.And yes, OMG!, just last week, President Obama announced that the Recovery Act is "starting to work" and that 2,000 transportation projects are under way around the country: Red States and Blue States. In fact, last week, on The White House Blog, there was a compilation of articles from publications around the country hailing the job-generating success of the Recovery Act. Yes baby...its working.
President Obama has been inspiring, substantive, engaging, unconventional, and downright transformational. He has signed 7 pieces of major legislation so far, which include: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, DTV Delay Act, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and The National Service Bill. He has cracked down on mortgage fraud, worked with the Federal Reserve Bank to lower mortgage rates, and created a very resourceful website (makinghomeaffordable.gov) that comes highly recommended by consumers and mortgage professionals alike.Furthermore, he has ordered the closure of Guantanamo Bay Prison in 2010; reversed horrendous Executive Orders by President Bush on reproductive rights for women, stem cell research, and environmental protection; and, already, opened up The White House for parties, bi-partisan cocktails, and well-publicized cultural events with community children. Plus, he made groundbreaking appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ESPN's" "March Madness/Bracketology" segment, and Univision's popular music show “Premio Lo Nuestro" to raise his profile with millions of viewers who were not tuned into the debate over the Recovery Act and his budget - and it worked beautifully.But he has been the most compelling in the following areas:(1) Foreign Policy - Yes, he has taken some lumps on defending some Bush Administration views on warrantless wiretaps, and, yes, Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea (and Palestine) are still evolving toward a solution, but don't tell me that any of that dampens the awe-inspiring impact of his trip to Europe and Asia, where he was the toast of every country he visited. His town hall meeting with Turkish students was the stuff of legends. Need I mention his outreach to Cuba - which most Americans support? And don't get me started over his involvement with the effort to rescue Captain Richard Phillips. Obama rocked it! (2) Diversity - Simply put, President Obama has stacked his administration with action-oriented thinkers and visionaries (young and old) who care for America, believe in America, and, look like America. Asian-Americans, Latinos, Native-Americans, African-Americans, Arab-Americans, Whites, women, and gays make up the most experienced, pragmatic, and diverse administration in history. Obama refuses to believe there is a contradiction between "outreach" and "achievement". His cosmopolitan hiring is certainly putting pressure on employers in this country who believe they don't have to embrace diversity and can cling to antiquated thinking.April 29th will mark President Obama's 100th day in office. And so far, he has proven himself to be a thoroughly innovative and pioneering individual, who is complimented by his unflappable and dazzling wife and life partner, First Lady Michelle Obama, and by his phenomenal, social media savvy staff. I wait anxiously for what the next 100 days will yield.
Below are five more women - women who have been selected for great positions in the Obama Administration, and will help make Obama's vision for transformational change a solid reality for this country. They are:(1) VALERIE JARRETT, Senior White House Adviser
WHY SHE ROCKS: She's known Barack and Michelle for almost 20 years, and will be an authentic voice that Barack knows he can trust. Vogue Magazine's great story on her is right here.
(2) LISA JACKSON, Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
WHY SHE ROCKS: She will likely strengthen environmental regulations, which were slightly weakened under the Bush Administration. She would be the first African-American to head the EPA. Furthermore, she'll be in a position to advise President Obama on the development of millions of Green Jobs that will be a major component of the new frontier of American job creation. Check out more on Lisa Jackson right here.
(3) SUSAN RICE, Ambassador to the United Nations
WHY SHE ROCKS: She brings some serious muscle to Obama's Foreign Policy Team. She is an expert on underdeveloped countries, the implications of global poverty and transnational security threats. Her former position as assistant secretary of state for African Affairs (under Bill Clinton) puts her in a position to advise President Obama on African issues like genocide in Darfur. Check out more on Susan Rice right here.
(4) DESIREE ROGERS, White House Social Secretary
WHY SHE ROCKS: She will be responsible for planning, coordinating and executing social events at The White House. This means she'll be planning state visits and state dinners. Ms. Rogers will also plan activities at The White House designed to connect strongly with the greater DC community. She has the personality and track-record to be one of the best to ever hold the position. Check out more on this Renaissance woman right here.
(5) MELODY BARNES, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
WHY SHE ROCKS: She will be working with the likely HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to bring about comprehensive health care reform - something that should help the 40 million plus American with no health care coverage, and millions more who can barely afford their coverage. She will also work on issues such as education, immigration, and criminal justice. She's an impressive woman who has been named one of the 10 best-dressed women in Washington DC - click here. See more about her career by clicking here.
President Obama isn’t the only member of the Obama Family with a comic book. In January, Marvel Comics came out with a limited edition comic book showing Spider-Man teaming up with President Obama at the inauguration. Now, it's First Lady Michelle Obama's turn to be a superhero. Her biographical comic book hits the stands next month It will be will be officially released on April 25 and will sell for $3.99.The 22 page comic traces her roots from the South Side of Chicago, to the Ivy League Greens of both Princeton and Harvard Universities, to the historic corridors of The White House. The book's publisher, Washington State-based Bluewater Productions, predicts this will be a big seller. You can pre-order it right here.This comic book will be the third installment of the "Female Force" series profiling female leaders. Issues featuring Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sold out immediately upon their release.Michelle Obama is educated, visionary, assertive, enterprising, and a serious intellectual. But, she is also a superhero! Wow. Actually, I call her a cultural hero because of the earth-shattering impact she is already having on this country, and, the world at large. Michelle Obama is likely to be just as transformational as her husband, if not more so. Chicago Magazine’s 2009 February cover story on Michelle Obama was like none other that I’ve read on her. It was a great, refreshing, engaging article that revealed her to be the fiercely determined, family- and community-oriented person we already know her to be. This is why I know the comic book will be a huge seller!
I was asked recently why I refer to myself as an “Obamacrat” when I’m a registered Democrat. And it’s a very good question. From 2000 to 2007, I was a registered independent. During that period, I continued voting for Democrats because I liked their agenda and issues, but I scoffed at the notion of belonging to a party. After all, “issue identification” has always been more important to me than “party affiliation”.But President Obama really inspired me to change my party affiliation…and ultimately, to believe again. My belief in the concept of the politics of hope has always been strong, but now it's bigger than the boundaries of this planet we inhabit. It was just a matter of time before I knew the word Obamacrat fully applied to me. But it's more than a word, it's a bonafide movement.Allow me to explain.To be an Obamacrat is to acknowledge (not dismiss) the color-specific differences that make us unique, while also embracing the color-blind commonalities that bring us together. If you see it this way, then you’re happy that President Obama has assembled a rich, cosmopolitan group of smart people that will advance, improve, and transform lives while "visually reflecting" the diversity of America. In a country of shifting demographics, this is necessary. In fact, Obamacrats will be cheering loudly when President Obama names a Latino and an Asian American to The Supreme Court.To be an Obamacrat is recognize that nothing, but nothing, trumps grass roots organizing. President Obama beat Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Primary season last year because of his simple community organizing philosophy: city-by-city; block-by-block; person-by-person. But he became the most popular person in the world when he grew his profile using the tools of The New Media: the MySpacing-YouTubing-Facebooking-texting-Twittering component. Obamacrats see this as the smartest way to market your message for a mass audience. And we appreciate how Barack Obama continues to use New Media tools to promote his presidential message.Obamacrats crave diplomacy, you know, where our country talks to both its friends (like Great Britain and Israel) and its enemies (like North Korea and Iran). In a world that is more connected and inter-dependent than ever before, nations working together can reduce, if not obliterate, the child sex trade; female inequality; global warming; the AIDS epidemic; famine; and never-ending war.Furthermore, Obamacrats also want a president who can bridge the cultural divide in this country, you know, someone with both BLUE STATE credentials and RED STATE credibility. Indeed, regardless of who voted for him on November 4th, President Obama now represents the evangelical farmer in Montana and the supply-side economist in Mississippi (who probably didn’t support him) as well as the small business owner in California and the union worker in Connecticut (who probably did).To be an Obamacrat is to believe you can build something as majestic as The Great Pyramids or The Great Wall of China; to believe you can be as historic and life-affirming as P.B.S. Pinchback or Shirley Chisholm; or to believe that regardless of your cultural name (Gupta, Nguyen, Garcia, Omar or, Obama) you can be President of the United States. You know there are limits, but your strong, overpowering belief in the possibilities pushes you, and drives you.Labeling myself an Obamacrat is a profoundly impressive honor that I take very seriously. I love the fact that President Obama is not only a great communicator, but also an intellectual stud. The Obama Family living in The White House, a building built by African-American slaves, is compelling. Truly earth shattering. But, even more compelling is the fact that slaves also dug foundations, hauled limestone, baked bricks, and cleared timber for The Capitol, where Obama was inaugurated, and for the massive area known as The National Mall, where 2 million people were packed in to witness his swearing in.Like President Obama, we walk in the spirit of people who championed our rights, who spoke truth to power, and, who even envisioned this great moment in history. Let us all make the most of it.To be an Obamacrat? Man, right now, nothing even compares to the feeling.
We all helped Obama in our own way: some phone-banked; others knocked on doors. Because of my busy schedule, I couldn't do any of that.So I decided to become a voluntee internet strategist for Obama's campaign. I launched my own "50 State Strategy" - essentially a massive e-mail campaign, where I micro-targeted voters. I sent out over 100,000 e-mails on his behalf the past 9 months to people from the 50 states.It was a great deal of fun. I spent two hours a day mining the internet for e-mails specific to region, race, ethnicity, etc. And this worked beautifully. For example, when Obama was endorsed by the Asian-American PAC (the 80-20 Initiative) I sent an e-mail out that same day to over 500 members of Asian-American fraternities and sororities. And when Obama had a surprisingly rocky start with a Latina member of Congress in June (the start of the general election), I went into overdrive, e-mailing over 2000 Latinos across the country for a whole week straight about his commitment to concerns Latinos hold dear.Moreover, when I e-mailed states like MT, ND, WY, ID, WV, and NE, I played up his eye-popping appeal among white voters. However, when I e-mailed NM, CO, OR, CA, FL or WA (more cosmopolitan, and racially/ethnically diverse states) I simply showed how he was winning and what his positions were.So in four years when we're all working to get Obama re-elected, let's not forget about the internet. Its powerful. And it was largely responsible for him getting elected.
And when he announces his bid to run for re-election, I'm determined to have 600,000 e-mails I can send his info to. I'm growing my list, which currently is over 200,000...we have to keep the momentum going!
As we look ahead, let's all make “connecting, advancing, improving and uplifting the community” one of your top resolutions of 2009. Let’s harness the amazing energy we created to elect the amazing Barack Obama into something amazing for future generations. I believe we are about to witness a period of innovative and unprecedented civic engagement. And why do I believe that?Because Barack Obama is about to expand existing service programs like Peace Corps and AmeriCorps and put in place new service organizations to confront the ever-evolving needs of this country. According to Obama’s CHANGE.GOV site, this includes the creation of “a Classroom Corps to help underserved schools; a Health Corps to serve in the nation's clinics and hospitals; a Clean Energy Corps to achieve the goal of energy independence; and a Veterans Corps to support the Americans who serve by standing in harm's way.”This is awesome! Not only is Obama asking all middle and high school students to perform 50 hours of community service a year, but he is going to reward college students who engage in 100 hours of community service a year to receive a fully-refundable tax credit of $4,000 for their education. Yes, Obama is going to make community service a truly desirous component of our national culture.So encourage your family members, friends, neighbors, and co workers, to participate in some form of service. Before Obama gets started, however, there's a lot we can all do now. You can go to VolunteerMatch.org, which is incredibly effective in matching you to the area you’re passionate about. Or, you can fund classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org, or provide micro-finance loans to entrepreneurs through Kiva.org.Every year since the age of 9, I’ve found some way to have a positive and measurable impact on my community. I’ve volunteered to hold the infants of drug-addicted parents for area hospitals and given food to homeless families living under freeways. Throughout the year, I go around the community to collect old clothes from my neighbors – clothes to be donated to The Salvation Army and area homeless shelters. And, I also build houses with HABITAT for HUMANITY. So the work one can do is truly endless. I love it!Right now, the organization Global Green is building home in the area of New Orleans most devestated by Hurricane Katrina - The Lower 9th Ward. These new homes will be more energy efficient for the low income residents set to reside in them. In this “Age of Obama”, the idea of service will take on something new, something awesome.We must make a loud declaration of love and community. Word warrior Howard Thurman says it best in his book The Centering Moment:We must remember those who are close to us by ties of blood and accommodation, whose needs have been exposed to us in the days that are behind; those who are sick and who are moving slowly into a terminal dimension of their illness; those who have fallen upon hard and difficult times, from whose hands have been snatched those symbols of security by which the tranquility of their lives have been measured; those who are dependent upon us for things which we cannot give and we do not know how to say we cannot give them. We remember those men and those women whose private lives are burdened by the responsibilities of others and who find, because of the problems which surround them, that their private lives are inadequate and they are lonely and frightened and dismayed. We remember all those who stand within the shadow of the radiance that belongs to the healthy mind and the vigorous spirit; those who are wrestling withinner tortures that pull the world out of balance, who find themselves retreating more deeply within in the hope that in the iron-bound security of their inmost privacy they may beprotected from the things that overwhelm and prove unmanageable.As Thurman's moving passage suggests, we all have a solemn duty to lift each other up. And that means not just being nice to each other. That's not enough. To transform our lives and the lives around us, we must also be thoughtful! Let’s make it happen…and make 2009 the best year yet!
When I read about this on the huffingtonpost style page, I shook my head in utter amazement. I couldn't believe it. Yes, the founder of the Black Artists Association, Amnau Eele, slammed Michelle Obama for not picking an African-American fashion designer for her inauguration dress. Here is what she said:"It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?"I believe her criticism is completely undeserved. It really is.Not because Michelle Obama is above criticism (no one is) but because the First Lady will have 4 full years (hopefully 8 years) to showcase the artistry and radiance of African-American designers. Think of all the State Dinners at the White House. Think of all of the Democratic Party fundraisers. Think of all the international travel to continent after continent. You get my point? She’s going to have 365 chances each year to wear the digs of African-American designers in high-profile settings – and brag about to the press.I do believe there was an missed opportunity here. Ms. Amnau Eele, who leveled the criticism at Mrs. Obama, could have leveraged her position with the Black Artists Association to be a contact for The First Lady. You know, someone who could consult The First Lady about clothes and styles from both established and up-and-coming designers alike. Michelle Obama has a full staff, and a strong communications team in her office. So why not e-mail her? Why not fax her? Why not send her a nice card congratulating her on her beautiful dress, and letting her know that you’d like to recommend some designers for her next big event?I just don’t get it.Also, let me say this too: I really didn’t like the “be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries” part in Ms. Eele’s criticism either. This is a multicultural country. Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native-Americans, Arab-Americans, and young whites also voted in earth shattering numbers for President Obama. Not just because of him, but also because of his lovely, enterprising wife – a woman of incredible charisma and unimpeachable intellect, and, a woman who walks amongst dignitaries and heads of state without losing that COMMON TOUCH. She resonates with the nameless, faceless, voiceless millions who yearn for an empowered life outside of the shadows and margins of society. Indeed, her agenda (children, education, and military families) is animated by the hopes of the millions who follow and support her - including millions of black designers.Knocking The First Lady for choosing an Asian American designer and a Latino designer is very, very unfair. I don't believe for one second that the Obamas are going to leave African-American designers out in the cold. No one can convince me of that. I mean, of course Michelle Obama is going to wear dresses from black designers (she wears them throughout the year).Michelle Obama is going to continue to reach out to different racial and ethnic groups for designers with great styles. She has to. Her position as First Lady of The United States mandates that she speaks to both the color-specific differences that make us unique (because they exists and are real) as well as the color-neutral commonalities that bring us together. The current composition of this country demands it.But, I can't help wondering how things would have been if Ms. Eele said this instead: “I will continue to celebrate Michelle Obama’s wonderful, awe-inspiring style, and, through my group, and others, consistently suggest ways she can maintain that style through the creative visions of designers, representing the total richness of America’s racial and ethinic diversity. I want to help her in that process.”Why didn’t she say that instead?
When President Obama signed The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act bill on January 29th, it was an unmistakable Love Letter to American Women - a love letter that ensures women across the country will receive equal pay for equal work. By signing that bill, he is helping to fulfill what millions of women have fought for. Women like Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary Church Terrell, Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, and Anna Julia Cooper.When Jeannette Rankin was elected to Congress in 1916 (four years before women had the right to vote), she had Equal Pay for Equal Work for women in mind. When Nannie H. Burroughs and Mary McLeod Bethune started The National Association of Wage Earners in the 1920s, they not only worked to improve living conditions for women, but also envisioned Equal Pay for Equal Pay for Women. When Fannie Lou Hamer fought 15 years for civil rights in The South (despite threats by the Klu Klux Klan and beatings by police), I’m sure she envisioned how her efforts would bring about, among other things, Equal Pay for Equal Work. These were brave, pioneering women.Yet despite their awe-inspiring work, and the work of countless others, gender inequities have never been corrected. According to a study by The Center for American Progress, women may lose $434,000 in income, on average, due to the career wage gap. As it is stands right now, women in general earn 77 to every dollar a man makes for full time year round work. For a black woman it is 67 cents; for a Latina woman it is 58 cents. And as a policy specialist, President Obama is aware of these disturbing figures.By championing the right of working women to receive fair pay, the paychecks of millions and millions of women (particularly in low wage, non-unionized jobs) can now see a boost. But, with President Obama's love letter comes a strong challenge too. Before the signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, President Obama said: "So in signing this bill today, I intend to send a clear message: That making our economy work means making sure it works for everyone. That there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces, and that it's not just unfair and illegal—but bad for business— to pay someone less because of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability."New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson understands President Obama's challenge. He recently signed an executive order requiring his state to study and report its own pay practices when it comes to gender and race, and it will require the same from private sector companies that want state contracts. Gov. Richardson's motivation is to overcome pay inequity in his state, and he created a task force to implement the necessary changes. Yes, this is awesome! Companies that want state contracts in New Mexico will have to show taxpayers (who are footing the bill) that their businesses pay its workers fairly. And don't you believe that by doing pay equity analyses, these companies will cut down on discrimination lawsuits because their statistics will be available to employees who will see they're not being shorted? I do.More work has to be done though. In fact, I would like to see President Obama sign a similar executive order for companies that want federal contracts, and I e-mailed him at WHITEHOUSE.GOV to let him know. E-mail him yourself and let him know your ideas.President Obama signed not only a love letter, but a declaration of justice and a commitment to fairness for the nameless, faceless, voiceless women who help hold up our economy but are not rewarded for it. So let us rejoice that we have a president who understands the economic realities of American working women, and who understands what needs to be done to boldly address the less than flattering aspects of those realities.Ladies, President Obama just signed you a love letter.
