A coalition of women's organizations on Tuesday sent a letter to the 2020 Democrats, demanding that the candidates make a pledge to have women in key White House positions, including in the role as vice president.
We are calling upon all presidential candidates to commit to:
- Appointing women who share our values of justice and equality to at least half of all presidential appointments including the Cabinet
- Selecting a woman for Vice President
- Ensuring racial, religious, and gender identity representation for all Presidential appointments
We know that the only way to guarantee that women’s issues stay on the agenda is if women are the ones setting it.
Although a historic number of women have been elected to political office in recent years, the coalition said, "it is evident that women are not afforded the platform we deserve in public service."
"Women lead families, communities, businesses, and should have equal opportunity to lead our country away from this bleak road we are on," the letter read. "Women across the political spectrum run for public office, and the vast majority do so in humble service to the principles and values we need in leadership right now: fairness, justice, and peace."
What's interesting is the letter accuses the Trump administration of holding our "democracy hostage" by "transforming prejudice into public policy." President Donald Trump, however, has a record of appointing women to help lead his administration and his campaign.
The letter was signed by the Women’s March, Women’s March Action, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, UltraViolet, NARAL Pro-Choice America, EMILY's List, She the People, Care In Action, #VOTEPROCHOICE and National Women’s Law Center Action Fund.
It's rather infuriating that Democrats see women simply as a box to check off. The people who run our nation should be qualified. Being a woman isn't a qualification. Having experience, leadership and vision makes someone qualified. Of course, women want to see a woman in the White House, either as president, vice president or both, but we want someone who is a qualified woman. We don't want to see someone at the top of the ticket simply because they're a woman.