Los Angeles, Aug. 15 -- First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton warned delegates and guests at the Women's Leadership Forum of the Democratic National Convention that a possible George W. Bush presidency might result in the appointment of pro-life Supreme Court justices, causing women to "wake up and find ourselves going backwards."
Clinton explained to a gathering of both women and men at the posh Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles that during the next presidential term as many as three justices may be appointed to the Supreme Court, due to the aging of many present justices. This means that the next president could have a tremendous influence over the several key constitutional issues, including abortion.
Former Texas Governor Ann Richards pointed out that the court is currently divided five to four in favor the pro-choice status quo. Both Clinton and other Democratic women's leaders fear that, if elected president, Texas Gov. George W. Bush may throw off that balance with his pro-life views.
"He's (Bush) got a cold heart and a cold record," said Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization of Women, in an interview with The Cavalier Daily.
Ireland also referred to Bush's choice of pro-life running mate Dick Cheney as an indication that Bush intends to appoint only pro-life justices.
Richards agreed, saying "there are no mysteries about George Bush."
Mrs. Clinton urged women to go to the polls in November and cast a vote for Vice President Al Gore in order to protect their right to have an abortion.
"If women do not vote in this election, the Supreme Court will not be what it needs to be," she said. "We have to remain vigilant about what is now at stake."
"You women are the power that is going to stop it [a Bush presidency]," said Richards.
Clinton also said that she believes Gore and running mate Sen. Joe Leiberman (D-Conn.) have the ability to carry on Clinton's progress on women's rights.
"Gore and Leiberman understand what is at stake in our country and have been staunch and steadfast partners on behalf of women's rights."
Many women's organizations are trying to inform women of the Supreme Court issue in the upcoming presidential election.
The National Organization of Women has begun a "Bushwhacked" campaign to make Bush and Cheney's record on women's rights publicly available.
Women need to keep working right up until the election because "women are more likely than men to make up their minds later," Ireland said. "We have to be really uncompromising and put the issues in the public eye."
The Women for Gore Campaign has established a national Internet system to inform women not only of the Supreme Court issue, but also of events occurring in their states. The group has been working since December to register women on a national e-mailing list. So far they have 6,000 registered names and are looking to register many more during the four-day Women's Forum.
"It's an incredible grassroots effort," said Margaret Behm, national coordinator of Women for Gore. Although the Internet system informs women of all events and issues related to the election, they have become more increasingly focused on the issue of the Supreme Court, Behm said.
"Women need to be concerned that George W. is pro-life," she added.
The speakers in the forum also took the opportunity to attack what they thought was a staged display of diversity at the Republican National Convention, held July 31 through Aug. 3 in Philadelphia.
"They had a couple of rented minorities up there," said Richards.
Richards went on to describe the Republican Party as nothing more than "the same old frat boys ... and women that think if they act nice to the men then the men will give them something."
Mrs. Clinton also criticized the Republicans for "weaving the strands of some beautiful dream that never was"
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