GOP Women Call For Action on Economy, Worry About Health Care | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's note: The author of this fine report is Barry Smith, who is a contributor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

Reps. Ellmers, McMorris Rodgers say women's concerns are universal

    RALEIGH     Republican women -- aided by Washington state U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers - lined up Tuesday at state party headquarters to chide President Barack Obama for policies they say have harmed women. They also used the opportunity to deflect criticism from Democrats claiming that Republicans have launched a war on women.

    McMorris Rodgers, whose name has surfaced as a possible running mate for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, said Obama's policies have hurt women economically and could interfere with their health care decisions.

    She also was critical of the national unemployment rate, which has been higher than 8 percent for 40 consecutive months.

    "It's the longest streak of high unemployment since the Great Depression," McMorris Rodgers said. She said that women weren't sure that their children would be able to achieve the American dream because of the economy.

    McMorris Rodgers appeared at state Republican headquarters with U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C. along with other Republican candidates and businesswomen.

    About a dozen Democrats protested outside the GOP building, criticizing Ellmers for not backing legislation making it easier to sue for gender-based pay discrimination.

    Both Ellmers and McMorris Rodgers said that they agreed that women should get equal pay for equal work.
U.S. Rep. Renee Elmers speaks to the North Carolina delegation of county commissioners on Capitol Hill: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
    "But first we have to get women jobs," Ellmers said. "We need women to get jobs so that they can have equal pay."

    McMorris Rodgers echoed Ellmers' sentiments.

    "Our top priority definitely is getting our economy growing, creating jobs," McMorris Rodgers said. "That's the best thing we can do for women and all Americans all across the country." She said the legislation that has been proposed was designed to aid trial lawyers.

    Ellmers also took aimed at what Democrats are rhetorically calling a Republican war on women.

    "We keep hearing about the manufactured war on women that comes from the Democratic Party and there is nothing that is more untrue," Ellmers said. "Women across this country care about the very same issues that we all are concerned with in this economy."

    Ellmers said they're concerned about jobs, their children, and health care.

    When asked about the prospects of being Romney's running mate, McMorris Rodgers said "it's been an honor to even have my name mentioned in those circles." But that was all she said about it, turning attention to her efforts to represent Washington state and head up efforts to unite House Republicans behind Romney.

    Ellmers, however, was a bit more direct. "I think that Cathy McMorris Rodgers would make a wonderful vice president," she said.