Democrats discuss election, issues

By Tracy Bell

Published: October 15, 2008

STAFFORD — About 40 audience members turned out Sunday to listen to a local panel discuss issues related to the upcoming presidential election.

The event, “What’s at Stake for Women and Families in the November 4 Election?” was held at North Stafford’s of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Fredericksburg Area Democratic Women’s Caucus, a group that was recently inactive but has reinstated itself, according to members, the event included a “Need for Change” panel. Each on the panel addressed a different topic and was given between five and seven minutes to speak before further discussion ensued.

“The Need for Change Panel” included former Aquia District Supervisor Kandy Hilliard; Bill Day, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives; Doris Whitfield, chair of the Rappahannock branch of the Sierra Club; Lauren Bull of Planned Parenthood; Linda Muller, former FADWC president; Deborah Brock of Virginia Commonwealth Univeristy’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs; Noreen Crowley, representing Senate candidate and former Gov. Mark Warner; and Marianna Bedway of Mary Washington Hospital.

The moderator was Brenda King of the women’s caucus.

“I’m excited because this is a history-making event in terms of Obama. [For him to be] at this particular point I feel like I am walking around in some kind of dream,” said King.
Stafford Supervisor Bob Woodson, D-Griffis-Wideater, was also on hand to introduce guest Karen Richardson, policy director of the Democratic National Committee and the Obama for Change Campaign in Virginia. Richardson spoke about “Our Pocketbook Crisis” and later fielded questions from the audience.

“Virginia — This is the state,” said Richardson. “We are really counting on it to bring it home for the senator to allow him to become the next president.”
 
Panelist Whitfield said that in thinking about “what’s at stake,” in the election, the reply that immediately came to her mind was, “everything.”
But, she said, what’s at stake is not just an issue for women. It’s an issue for everyone.
Whitfield said that to her, the economy is the most important issue. It’s something that will impact everything, she said.
On Sen. John McCain, she noted: “He’s doing whatever he can do [to get elected.] And when you look at who he picked [as a running mate,] I don’t need to say any more.”

Hilliard, the assistant director of The Child Care Network, spoke on the subject of child care.

“The importance of Child Care goes way beyond Head Start,” said Hilliard during her discussion.

Bedway, vice president of Clinical Support Services at Mary Washington Hospital, in Fredericksburg, spoke about health care.

Bull, the associate director of advocacy for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., spoke on Planned Parenthood and related issues.

Bull said that Planned Parenthood is not just an abortion provider.
“Only 3 percent of our services are abortions,” she said.
Bull said that Planned Parenthood’s services are primarily preventative and educational.
One in four teens has a sexually transmitted infection, Bull noted, citing a report from last year from the Centers for Disease Control.
“We want to elect candidates who support women’s health care issues,” she said.

Muller, former FADWC President and Stafford County Representative to the 1st District Committee and State Central Committee, Democratic Party of VA Congressional, spoke about domestic violence, having lost a sister in 1996 to domestic violence.
Through tragedy, she said, comes triumph.
She stressed the need for a candidate who knows the importance of supporting anti-domestic violence programs.

“When you look at Obama and Biden as a team, they have made strong positions supporting fighting domestic violence,” she said.

Brock, who is interim director at VCU’s Wilder School, spoke on education.
Representing Gov. Mark Warner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, 
the panel.
“Virginia tends to be on the cutting edge of national issues,” said Crowley. I tend to be very optimistic. We can resolve these issues, even in this economic climate.”