GOP appeals to women voters
By Rebecca Brown
Daily Forty-Niner
The Republican Party needs to listen to
the concerns of women more and reach voters personally instead of through
television, said California Republican Chairman John McGraw at a convention
Friday morning at the Long Beach Hilton.
"We are not doing well with women," said
McGraw, as he spoke to about 50 party members at the 1999 State Convention
of the California Federation of Republican Women.
"We're not best friends. We're only acquaintances,
and we need to talk and listen to your concerns and air differences."
McGraw, whose speech focused on appealing
to women voters, expressed that he wants to change the relationship by
making the GOP more of a grass-roots organization.
"We want our representatives on the street,
knocking on doors and meeting directly with the people and their needs,"
he said.
"We have gotten away from that, and it's
time we made more of an issue of it."
In a state as large as California, it is
easy to stray away from direct contact with voters, McGraw said.
"It's expensive, but easy to go to use
television to get to the people, but it doesn't touch them," McGraw said.
"Most people don't really know their congressman
or senators.
We would rather be high touch than high
tech."
Because the demography has changed throughout
the United States, it necessary to approach women voters differently, McGraw
said.
"The women voters have not been listened
to in the past," he said.
"There is a great need to do a better job
with them."
Women voters are now often the major providers
for households and have increased stress because they juggle careers and
families, McGraw said.
"I have four daughters and although my
wife is not working now, she has in the past," he said.
"Like her, I am concerned with education,
and making sure that children in California get the best possible education."
Abortion is another women's issue McGraw
feels the party needs to address on a more tolerant level.
"Whether a women is pro-life or pro-choice,
as long as I am chairman, these women will have a voice and be able to
express their views," he said.
Republican member Gail Curtis enjoys the
change.
"I think the GOP has come a long way,"
Curtis said.
"They are truly concerned now about educating
women and supporting women who run for public office." |
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