NOW P.ACS Victorious in Elections The Ohio June 8 primary elections six weeks before the election. At the Right to Life suffered another major as he defeated Brown for the Demo­ showed significant gains for pro-women time of his death, Ashbrook was trail· defeat In the Governor's race. RTL­ cratic nomination by a 5% margin. candidates, coupled with the complete lng Metzenbaum by a significant mar­ endorsed Democrat William Brown, the A third pro-woman candidate, Jerry drubbing of the major candidates en­ gin. The heir-apparent to the Republl· early favorite, made abortion an Issue Springer, also made an Impressive dorsed by the Ohio Right to Life Politi­ can nomination, State Senator Paul In the campaign. RTL conducted heavy showing. cal Action Committee. Pfeifer, was viewed as too moderate by leafleting on his behalf at churches For NOW activists, the State Legis­ Several thousands of dollars were those who had been backing Ashbrook. around the state, just two days before lative races were highlighted by the targeted Into key races through the Consequently, Right to Life, joined by the election. However, NOW PAC en­ defeat of three-tenn Incumbent Reputr combined resources of the National NCPAC and others, began a massive dorsed Democrat Richard Celeste, a llcan Gene Damschroeder. Damschroe­ NOW and Ohio NOW PACs. In addition, campaign to write-In right-wing State strong supporter of the Equal Rights der's campaign literature Included a massive Ohio NOW PAC elections Senator William Ress on the ballot. Amendment, who also maintained a such elements as " ..• Garden sseds project provided heavy volunteer re­ Jesse Helms and Terry Dolan both strong pro-choice position throughout Instead of food stamps to the able­ sources, NOW Voter Brigade and Voter made personal appearances on his the campaign. As RTL leafleted work or starve ••. Soap should be avail­ Registration, as well as candidate In­ behalf. Right to Life joined In with mas­ churches, qeleste was busy sanding able to the food stampers. Let's keep formation mailings In target areas. sive mailings and leafleting for Ress. a letter outlining his support on wo­ them clean •.. All social programs The most visible upset occurred In During the six weeks before the pri­ men's Issues to over 15,000 women should be In one office so we can sepa­ the 23rd Congressional District (Cleve­ mary, these groups contributed over a around the state. The letter Included rate the lazy from the poor ••• My oppo­ land), where NOW-backed Democrat half million dollars for the Ress media an acknowledgement of the Ohio NOW nent wants to be a full-time politician Ed Felghan narrowly defeated four­ blitz. However, on election day, Rasa PAC endorsement, and listed other -we do enough damage part-time ... tenn Incumbent Ron Mottl In the demo­ managed to gamer only 10.3% of the feminist and pro-choice groups as well. Married to lu, raised five children cratic primary, by 1100 votes. Although Republican vote, delivering another Celeste's strategy proved victorious, (none on food stamps or welfare) •.." Mottl received the official backing of major blow to the rlght-wlngers, and the Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, most particularly to Ohio Right to Ufe. ~'5 AN EL.EC.Tel) 'REn~~I\'E, ~ 'r'OU it\INK VOU'I..L reEL. the local Democratic party defected to In the 11th Congressional District '(OU VOTEP AGAINST E.fi?,R. BECAUSE SECURE IN NO\'EMBa WITH Felghan, joining major labor unions (Cleveland), NOW-backed Incumbent '(OU WOUU>N'T FEEL SCCO~E IN A WOMAN \N THE NE~T and NOW In securing the upset. The Dennis Eckart scored an Impressive COtlliAT WI'TH A WOMAN lilt THf 'lOTI NG SOOTH ? race was viewed nationally as a refer­ victory over the RTL-backed candidate. NE'I.T TRENC~? endum on Reaganomics, as well as a The showing was particularly strong test of the extent of defection of the In view of the fact that Eckart was women's vote, since Mottl was a backer forced to run In a completely new area, of Reaganomics, and had voted con­ due to redlstrlctlnQ. sistently and negatively on women's NOW PAC also supported the ca"'" lssljes. The National NOW PAC was an palgn of , Democratic early, major contributor to the Felghan challenger In the 9th Congressional campaign. District (Toledo). Although pitted Incumbent, NOW-endorsed U.S. Sen­ against two challengers In the primary, ator breezed to Kaptur took 78% of the vote. More sig­ victory In his primary battle, defeating nificantly, she showed a higher vote his challenger by collecting 83% of the count than her Republican opponent, vote. The NOW PAC had given Senator Incumbent Ed Weber, who ran un­ Metzenbaum the maximum allowable opposed. In the 5th District (Bowling campaign contribution. Green), NOW PACs endorsed James The Republican Party, NCPAC, Right Sherk, who made a strong showing, to Life, etc. had targeted Metzenbaum and will face the well-entrenched spon­ as a primary candidate for defeat. How­ sor of the Reagan budget, Delbert Latta. ever, the major Republican contender Feminists In the district organized the to oppose Metzenbaum, right-wing first "Dump Del" picket ever held In the ~~==~------~~~~~~--~~--~~~~,-~~ Congressperson John Ashbrook, died district, at a dinner held to honor Latta. Reprinted bf permla.tcln or NEA, lno. PAC/Woman Walk To Raise Funds for Feminist Candidates by Judy Goldsmith National walkathons on August 28 Woman Walkathons will go to NOW/ one of the most effective ways that we man Walkathons Will be held In numer­ will raise money for NOW P.AC's, to EQUAUTY/PAC, the national NOW PAC can show both our friends and our foes OI,IS cities, Including Los Angeles, elect more women and feminist men for state and local races. as well as to alike that we mean business. Our goal Washington, D.C., Boston, Indianapolis, In state and local elections. NOW chapter and state PAC's. for fundralslng before November of this and Albuquerque. State walks are also Coming right after the conclusion of Walkathons have been a major fund­ year Is 2 to 3 million dollars for NOW/ planned In California, Connecticut, and the ERA Countdown Campaign, the raiser for the ERA ratification effort for PAC (the PAC for federal elections) and New Jersey. The North Carolina walka­ first PAC/Woman Walkathon Illustrates the past five years. This year the NOW the NOW/EQUALITY/PAC. If we reach thon will procsed across the entire the unbroken continuity of the fight National Board, at Its April meeting, that mark, we will be the third largest breadth of the state, "from the moun­ for equal rights. decided that the successful August PAC In the nation, behind only Jesse tains to the sea." NOW President Ellie Smeal com­ fund raising events should be converted Helms' right wing Congressional Club The walkathons have always been mented: "We have always known that, to fundralsers for NOW PAC's for state and the National Conservative Political held on or near August 26, "Women's just as there can be no time limit on and local elections. Action Committee (NCPAC). We will Equality Day," commemorating passage equality, there Is also no limit on our "On June 30," said Smeal, "we de­ also then be the largest progressive of the Nineteenth Amendment, which detennlnatlon to win lt. Far from laying clared that we would change the face PAC In the nation. If we do this Is 1982, gave women the right to vote. The date down our banners and abandoning the of American politics, that we would watch out for 19841 We will be a central thus serves as both a celebration of field, we are moving forward with a elect more women and more men with political power-a power we can put to that historic victory as well as a recom­ renewed commitment." a proven commitment to equality. Doing work for women." mitment to complete the unfinished The funds raised through the PAC/ the walkathons to raise PAC money Is Early reports Indicate that PAC/Wo- fight for equality. u.S. Civil Rights Commission Ct:ipRied bv Reagan by Ellen Griffee More changes In the once Indepen­ Earlier this year, Reagan had pro- contends that a fertilized egg Is a per- of the Legal Services Corporation, the dent, bipartisan, U.S. Commlslon on posed the Rev. B. Sam tltart for the son, calls for further restrictions on a administration's proposal for tax Civil Rights are being forced by Presi­ Civil Rights Commission. Hart, a Phlla- woman's constitutionally protected exemptions for private schools that dent Reagan In one year than have delphia evangelical minister who op- right to an abortion, and demands that discriminate, the relaxation of affirma­ taken place In any other year since the posed ERA and afflnnatlve action, and Roe v. Wade be overturned. Destro was tive action regulations and Tltle IX commission was created by Congress was openly hostile to homosexuals, previously unknown In the civil rights enforcement, the foot dragging and 25 years ego. While continuing to Insist was to have replaced Republican Jill community, and his litigation record sabotage attempts on voting rights; that he Is "In full accord with providing Ruckelshaus, a long-time feminist and shows no Involvement In cases pro- and It Is understandable why the civil civil rights for all our citizens," Reagan civil rights activist. After a stonn of tectlng the rights of women or blacks. rights community Is alanned at the persists In the wholesale turnover protest over Hart's lack of quallflca- Registered as a Democrat, Destro cam- back-sliding caused by the Reagan within the commission. tlons and questionable financial protr palgned for Reagan and other right- administration and has activated to Civil rights leaders read the total lams, the Hart nomination was with- wing Republicans In the 1980 elections. oppose the changes. shakeup as purposeful crippling of the drawn. While Destro was their counsel, the commission. The Investigation and Reagan has replaced the two other Catholic League's principal efforts for Counter Commission Formed appraisal of the legal and civil rights Republican commissioners and plans "rights" have been to pressure for tax To monitor and publicly counter the progress by the commission Is critical to oust the three Incumbent Democrats. funds for parochial school students, Reagan regression In civil rights and 1or women, particularly poor and minor- Not more than three of the six member to strike oyt against any perceived slur the concurrent attempts by some mem­ Ity women. "NOW has taken an active Commission can be from the same or Innuendo against the Catholic bers of Congress to compromise and role," said Jane Wells-Schooley, NOW political party. Church, Its beliefs or personalities, and weaken civil rights laws, a group of VIce President-Action, "In alerting the Anti·Abortlonlst Nominated to fight In the courts, the legislatures, prestigious, experienced fonner civil Senate to the Reagan Administration's For one of the Democratic slots, and the press against all abortions. rights commissioners and cabinet strategy of breaking the momentum Reagan has nominated an anti-abortion Even schools and libraries have been members of both parties have con­ and continuity of the Civil Rights Com­ attorney who testified In 1978 that If harassed for showing population con- vened the Citizens Commission on mission. The President Is forcing the the commission "were to go out of trol and sex education films. Civil Rights. Three former secretaries change to poltllcal appointees with existence today, It would not be of Health, Education and Welfare, Wil­ little or no commitment or experience missed." Reagan's Regressive Actions bur Cohen, Elliot Richardson, and with civil rights enforcement. The Inte­ Robert A. Destro, during most of his Cause Alarm and Activism Arthur Fleming, fonner Labor secretary, grity, the Independence, and thus the legal career, has been general counsel Add to these offensive or Ineffective Ray Marshall, and six fonner members effectiveness of the commission are for the Catholic League for Religious Civil Rights Commission nominations, of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission eroded by this unprecedented, appar­ and Civil Rights In Milwaukee. In numer- the severe budget cuts In civil rights recently announced the new group's ently politically motivated shakeup." ous articles and publications, Destro enforcement funds, the undennlnlng fonnatlon. 5