This video was passed on to me by a good friend. "Thought you'd like to see (and maybe pass on) what we women in binders are up to, these days," she wrote.
It is absolutely wonderful. It was the subject of an open thread diary by Barbara Morrill on October 22, before Richard Mourdock further pried open the gaping chasm of paternalistic Republican misogyny and lent even more urgency to this video's message. A lot of commenters had baseball on the brain for that prior open thread, and looking at the online views on YouTube and Vimeo, the video is doing well but isn't viral yet.
So, can we please try again?
"You Don't Own Me" PSA -Official from You Don't Own Me on Vimeo.
Lesley Gore's words at the end put an exclamation point on the Republican time warp:
I recorded "You Don't Know Me" in 1964. It's hard for me to believe, but we're still fighting for the same things we were then. Yes ladies, we've got to come together, get out there and vote, and protect our bodies. They're ours. Please vote.
It's hardly necessary to say here that the war on women is every bit as much a war on the men who care about women. Men too have to come together, get out there and vote, and support equality, respect and autonomy for everyone, regardless of gender, age, race, or economic resources. We don't own anyone.
The consequences of this election are monumental, and will affect us for a generation or more. This video provides a nice shot of adrenaline as we head into the home stretch of GOTV.
More excellent commentary provided by the makers of the video below the twisted pumpkin.
Women constitute more than half of the population. In 2008, 60% of voters were women. It is estimated that 10 million more women than men will vote in this election. Despite this, women make up only 16% of Congress. Women earn only 70 cents to each dollar men make. Women of color and undocumented women make less than white citizens. Mitt Romney and the Republican Party are determined to overturn Roe V. Wade. Romney has not supported equal pay for women (The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act). Romney has vowed to defund Planned Parenthood. Romney has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Romney doesn't want health care to cover birth control. Romney says same sex marriage should be banned with a Constitutional Amendment.
Women, let's rise up. Our vote alone can win this election. A vote for Obama is a vote for your health and your right to choose. It is a vote for equal pay and equal rights. A vote for Obama is a vote for our families. It is a vote to marry who you choose. It's a vote to start a family when you choose. A vote for Obama says that we won't stand for violence against women and that rape is rape. Our vote ensures that our daughters will grow up with the same rights that we've had. A vote for Obama sends a message: This war on women must end. We will not go backwards.
This election is shockingly close. Our safety is at stake. Our silence is consent and our vote is our voice. Let’s get active. Let’s get out every vote we can. Let’s make this election a mandate. A mandate to finally ensure women the respect, dignity and equality we all deserve! This is now. This is our call to action. Once and for all, let's take back the power that is so inherently and naturally ours!
GOTV. If you live in the East and may be affected by Hurricane Sandy, please ensure your safety first, and then VOTE NOW before events might make that difficult or impossible a few days from now. Encourage your progressive friends, neighbors and family to do the same.
This election shouldn't be shockingly close. As the St. Louis Post Dispatch said when it resoundingly endorsed President Obama for re-election, "If more Americans were paying attention, this election would not be close. Barack Obama would win going away."
But we're stuck with countering not only inattnetion, but the forces of atavistic racism, fear, ignorance, and yes, misogyny. We simply must not let those forces prevail.
If you agree with how powerful this video is, especially for the younger folks who may have never heard of Lesley Gore but who will love this video and perhaps better understand why their vote means so much after seeing it, pass it along. Tweet it. Facebook it. Tell your kids and your friends about it. And, GOTV!
Thank you.