Who's afraid of Lilly Ledbetter?
Not Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Both came out in favor of a congressional bill that would make it easier for victims of pay disparity to charge discrimination in court. That's what Lilly Ledbetter tried to do, but the Supreme Court ruled against her, adhering closely to a law that says discrimination must be reported within 180 days of its occurrence. As the editorial board wrote earlier this week:
As a narrow reading of the law, that's all well and good. But as a prescription for redressing harm -- the intent, after all, of anti-discrimination law -- the court's approach is impossibly binding. Most cases of discrimination, including the one before the court in Ledbetter, are difficult to discern at once, for the simple reason that most discrimination is covert. In the case of Lilly Ledbetter, a jury found that her employers had unfairly paid her less than male colleagues over a period of years.
Here's Obama's statement, and a video of Clinton on the Senate floor. The two returned to the capital to make remarks, uniting briefly on the issue before going back to trading blows in Indiana. (CQPolitics' David Nather has the play-by-play of their close encounter.)
For the record, the bill didn't get enough votes to avoid a filibuster. And John McCain joined most of his fellow Republicans in opposing it.
And as an aside, doesn't "Lilly Ledbetter" have a great Rosie-the-Riveter-ish ring? To hear more from the woman herself, read The American Prospect interview.
IT'S TIME AMERICA:
It’s time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have defeated her. And proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources. In all honesty. I felt some of that too.
But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say’s that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton’s have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Sen. Hillary Clinton: “You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it’s also clear that we’ve got nine more important contests to go.”
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
Posted by: jacksmith | April 24, 2008 at 07:55 PM
I agree with you assesment of Hillery and Barak but what has that got to do with Lilly Ledbetter?
Posted by: Paul Handley | April 26, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Like most things Liberal, the Ledbetter case is being greviously misrepresented by the Democrats. See the entire story here: http://communities.justicetalking.org/blogs/day04/archive/2008/02/04/the-ledbetter-case.aspx
Of course it "sounds" good, but Government by anecdote is also an incredibly bad idea... Spare me the "jury found for her" argument, they almost always do in Federal Civil Cases, and they are almost always overrulled on appeal, once the emotional appeals by unscrupulous lawyers to uneducated people are taken out of the equation.
Wait, isn't that the Democrat's entire election plan? Emotional appeals by unscrupulous lawyers to uneducated people?
Posted by: Roberrt | September 23, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Way to go Lilly. Obama signed a new law today.
Posted by: guest | January 29, 2009 at 08:23 AM
All women should boycott Goodyear - they will NEVER get my business again
Posted by: RegiK | February 02, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Great accomplishment, but this is never going to do any good if women don't know whether they are being paid equally. Lilly did some heavy lifting, now it incumbent upon every woman to inform hersel fand make sure this legislation makes a real difference. http://www.bettyconfidential.com/ar/ld/a/Lilly_Ledbetter_Has_Her_Day.html
Posted by: Liz | February 02, 2009 at 09:24 PM