Sam Bennett-- The New President Of The Women's Campaign Forum

The Lehigh Valley, basically PA-15, has become more and more Democratic in its politics as the GOP has moved further and further in an extremist, right-wing direction. Obama took the district with a convicing 56-43% win over McCain. DWT readers and Blue America supporters are already very familiar with Sam Bennett, the woman who ran against GOP incumbent Charlie Dent last year. We last talked with Sam just two months ago and then last month spent some time blogging with her about the ruinous impact of still raging political misogyny. Over half the population in America-- women-- holds a mere 18% of the seats in the House... and only 17% of the Senate.

We asked Sam to come back to Firedoglake today (at 11am, PT) to talk about her brand new job as president of the Woman's Campaign Forum, a non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the political participation and leadership of pro-choice women by providing the necessary encouragement, education and resources. They recruit and support women to run for office beginning in their earliest days in politics. They're also building a national network of women voters, donors and activists whose efforts and venture capital will ensure women’s voices are heard.

Sam:

"My goal as new President will be to drive home the national importance of getting more women, more progressive, pro-choice women, in elected office. We must recognize how the U.S. trails behind all other industrialized democracies and tackle this problem head on. WCF has a great tradition of early investment in promising women and we will grow that-- investing in women throughout the course of their political careers not just in the races they run. Dramatically building the pipeline will ensure more women get elected-- work that will require high degrees of collaboration with partners like the Net Roots community."

Come over to the FDL the comments section and learn more about what she plans to do with the organization. My first question for her: A gay friend of mine in Manhattan was telling me that as much as he wanted to vote for a gay Democrat for Congress, the incumbent, a progressive straight Democrat, was such a stellar representative (in every way) that he didn't fall for the identity politics thing and stuck with Jerry Nadler. I watched with horror when Emily's list endorsed reactionary corporate shill Nikki Tinker over Memphis progressive Steve Cohen, who has a perfect voting record on every Emily's List issue (but the wrong plumbing). I saw that last year the WCF endorsed some really outstanding women running for office (although not you???). Among the federal candidates they got behind were outstanding leaders like Donna Edwards (D-MD), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Annette Taddeo (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH), Darcy Burner (D-WA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). But then there were the... non-progressive endorsees-- Susan Collins (R-ME), Gabby Giffords (Blue Dog-AZ), Jane Harman (Blue Dog-CA), Christine Jennings (Blue Dog-FL), Melissa Bean (Blue Dog-IL), etc. First, why didn't they endorse you? And second will the WCF continue what looks like a policy of endorsing any woman who is pro-choice no matter how she stands on other matters? I can't imagine that's a comfortable place for you.