This past Friday and Saturday, female leaders from all around the nation convened at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers for the National Women’s Leadership Issues Conference. Why were we there? The junior senator from Illinois writes:
Women voters will determine the next President of the United States - it’s that simple. We’ve got a lot of work to do, and that’s why I’ve gathered you and fellow women leaders from across the country here this weekend to meet with each other and brainstorm with my team.
During the conference, I ran into so many remarkably accomplished women. It's utterly astouding how dedicated they are to their families, their professions, and this campaign.
I met Lilly Ledbetter! She was sitting four rows up next to Senator Amy Klobuchar. I managed to have an in depth discussion about equal pay mumble like an idiot and request an autograph!
Did I mention I sad FOUR MERE ROWS behind America's Funniest Female Senator?!
Pictures!
Schedule!
Listed below are links my notes on each of our fabulous panels. I didn't want to publish them here because, well, the writing isn't so fabulous and I suck at liveblogging. But if you're curious as to what we were plotting in the Windy City, have a gander:
Economics Panel
Energy Panel
Health Care Panel (w/ Major Tammy Duckworth)
Campaign Briefing Luncheon (w/ David Axelrod)
National Security (w/ Secretary Madeleine Albright & Dr. Susan Rice)
The guest list, with notable quotables:
Oprah Winfrey:
"Not ‘THAT one.’ THE One."
Senator Joe "Joey" Biden, introduced by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden:
“Being a woman is not the same as being THERE for women.”
“Boy, you’re marrying up.”
-Elderly lady from Delmarva, talking to Joe Biden before he married Jill
The Woman Who Hates America:
“All the Obamas and the Obidens”
Suze Orman:
Part of me would be responsible for the downfall of the world.
That's her explaining why she could no longer remain neutral during this race.
More of Suze Orman, who was electrifying. She needs to give a blood transfusion to Hillary!
Popular female governor (no, not that governor!) Janet Napolitano (AZ):
“I’m going to work as hard as physically possible until the 4th of November. I would prefer to wake up tired and happy, and wondering what to wear at the Inaugural.”
“Americans don’t have red wallets or blue wallets. They have empty wallets. And it’s time to fill them up again.”
“[McCain] should never be 'misunderestimated.'”
Nicole Lederer, co-founder of Environmental Entrepreneurs:
“Can we afford it? We can’t afford not to.”
-on the importance of developing alternative energy, even in hard economic times
Van Jones, author of Green Collar Economy:
“We keep asking Barack Obama to save us. How are we going to save Barack Obama?”
Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood:
“A woman voting for McCain is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.”
David Axelrod:
“We’re not just electing a president. Our goal is to change this country in a positive way.”
Madeleine Albright:
“The world is a mess. That’s a diplomatic term.”
Some guy from Hawaii (Isn't he a Muslim?):
“In America, our destiny is not written for us, but by us.”
A bride, who may have been upset that the conference was delaying her wedding, but ended up posing with the Democratic nominee, creating a (second?) lifechanging photograph...
Shoutout to Chicago Kossacks: You have a beautiful city! I envy you and your backwards river!
The conference concluded with Senator Obama and his usual eloquence. Most of his address was taken from stump speeches, but he sprinkled it with good humor and All-American anecdotes. I leave you with an actual quote from his speech:
And then we ate pie.
UPDATE: Just saw Rachel Maddow's show. She revealed Obama's pie obsession - turns out he mentioned it 15 times in one speech!