On Women's Equality Day, Aug. 26, 2003, the National Organization for Women's Political Action Committee (along with the National Women's Political Caucus) announced its endorsement of former Senator and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun for President of the United States in 2004. It's been two decades since NOW has been able to support a candidate for President. A candidate has to demonstrate a strong uncompromising commitment to the entire range of women's rights issues in order to get a NOW/PAC endorsement. Our endorsement goes to the strongest feminist candidate regardless of gender; however, we are particularly excited when out of a field of strong progressive candidates, the strongest feminist candidate is also a woman!

What does this endorsement mean for NOW, its members and, ultimately, all women? Below are answers to questions we are hearing from people both inside and outside of NOW.

1. Why did NOW/PAC endorse Carol Moseley Braun?

After examining the records and positions of all of the candidates who have lined up to challenge President Bush, one candidate stood above the rest for her lifetime commitment to feminist ideals and her 25-year record fighting for the rights of women at the local, state, national and international levels: former Ambassador and Senator, Carol Moseley Braun. NOW and Moseley Braun have been allies throughout this period, from planning the campaign to pass the ERA in Illinois at her kitchen table to this year's Drive for Equality to register and mobilize women voters.

Moseley Braun has never wavered nor bowed to political pressure in her commitment to social and economic justice for all. Among her many accomplishments, Moseley Braun has a perfect record supporting reproductive rights, starting in the Illinois state legislature in 1978. As the first African American woman in the U.S. Senate, and the only African American senator during her six year tenure, she single-handedly stood up for civil rights and women's equity time and time again.

For over 25 years, NOW/PAC has worked tirelessly for women to gain equal representation in our government. Carol Moseley Braun's candidacy is a prime example of what feminists strive for—women moving up through the pipeline to all levels of political office. We want feminist women to run for the highest office of all—President of the United States—and we're not afraid to support the brave woman who chose to do so. We don't forget our friends who have been fighting for us, especially when they really need our support.

2. What is the primary goal of the endorsement?

NOW/PAC's number one political priority is to defeat George W. Bush in 2004. The Bush administration has been a disaster for women's rights, civil rights, economic justice, our democracy, the environment, global relations–essentially everything except big business. Bush is packing the federal courts with right-wing extremists who are dedicated to dismantling abortion rights as well as every other right for which we have fought. Bush's policies benefit primarily the super-rich, particularly his family, friends and business associates. The time is right to mobilize the millions of people in the U.S. who are fed up with the way our government is being run.

Carol Moseley Braun is a unique candidate because she speaks to a large portion of the U.S. population who have not been inspired to get out and vote. They are looking for someone who looks like them, someone who speaks to the concerns of their everyday lives. Carol can talk to women, people of color, low-income families and other progressives to help get these disenfranchised groups truly motivated. Unless we are able to energize frustrated, lapsed and new voters, we may end up with four more years of George W. Bush in the White House.

3. Is Carol Moseley Braun really qualified to be President of the United States?

Carol Moseley Braun is well qualified for the job of President of the United States. She is an experienced public policymaker who has served this country with distinction. Moseley Braun has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Illinois State Representative, Cook County Recorder of Deeds, U.S. Senator and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. No other candidate for president has such a distinguished and broad political resume.

Carol Moseley Braun was the first woman in history to serve on the Senate Finance Committee. She is experienced in coalition-building and working across lines of race, gender, party and ideology. During her term in the Senate, Moseley Braun co-sponsored key legislation, such as the Violence Against Women Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. She introduced the Women's Pension Equity Act, and she was one of only twelve senators to stand up to President Clinton and oppose the punitive welfare reform bill.

4. What is Carol Moseley Braun's platform?

Carol Moseley Braun strongly supports all of NOW's issues, including reproductive freedom, affirmative action, civil rights for all, ending violence against women, promoting social justice, same-sex marriage rights and much more. Moseley Braun's plan to revamp the health care system—she is calling for a single payer system run by the government where coverage is not linked to the workplace—has been called one of the most sweeping proposals of the nine-candidate field.

She is also dedicated to fixing education in the U.S., arguing that a large federal investment in rebuilding local schools would upgrade the quality of education and also create thousands of jobs. Moseley Braun believes in protecting the environment, saying that investments in alternative energy generation sources can not only lessen reliance on foreign oil but spark the economy. Moseley Braun strongly opposes the war in Iraq and has boldly criticized the Bush administration's wartime activities.

5. Does NOW/PAC really believe that Carol Moseley Braun can win the presidency?

Carol Moseley Braun has always defied expectations. When she first ran for the U.S. Senate in 1992, no one thought she could win—but she did, beating a well-funded incumbent. In fact, Moseley Braun has already won 14 elections. With the strong support of women's right advocates, Moseley Braun can reach out to disenfranchised voters, build her campaign, garner media attention and seriously compete for the Democratic nomination. In a head-to-head battle with George W. Bush, Moseley Braun has the potential to energize substantial numbers of voters among the 101 million people who did not vote in 2000.

American politics is full of underdog stories, in which an unexpected candidate rises to the top. Bill Clinton went from dark horse to President in 1992. Who could have predicted the presidencies of Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush from their pre-election bios? And this year, Howard Dean surged in popularity and status in the span of just a few weeks—moving from marginal candidate to genuine contender. With strong support from feminists and other progressives, Carol Moseley Braun can do the same.

6. Isn't NOW/PAC worried about siphoning votes away from a "more viable" Democratic candidate?

Without Carol Moseley Braun in the campaign, many key issues would rarely, if ever, be addressed. She raises women's rights issues at every debate, in every public forum—something the more mainstream candidates either forget to do or shy away from. Without her voice, the Democratic debates wouldn't be far from business as usual. If we want to ensure that women's rights are a key element in the upcoming election, we must support Carol Moseley Braun's historic campaign. But she can't remain in the race as a symbol or a token. Carol Moseley Braun must run a serious campaign—a campaign designed to win over the hearts, minds and votes of the people of the United States.

NOW/PAC's goal of women running for the highest office in the U.S. is not for them to just show up, but for them to win. If women and girls are to believe that a woman can be President, then qualified women candidates must be taken seriously. We are proud to see an African American feminist woman standing shoulder to shoulder with the other candidates, an equal partner in the race for U.S. President. She will bring voters to the ballot box who have not been inspired to vote before. With our support of her candidacy, we can't worry about her siphoning votes from other candidates, because that's what a winning candidate does!

7. Hasn't Carol Moseley Braun been involved in scandals that could hurt her chances in the race?

Mud was thrown at Carol Moseley Braun during her 1998 run for the Senate, but none of it was true. Karl Rove, who was little-known outside of Texas at the time, reportedly was paid nearly a million dollars to orchestrate the smear campaign that was primarily responsible for her loss (by less than 2%) to Republican Peter Fitzgerald. Despite accusations and investigations, she has never been fined, charged or reprimanded by any agency or office. It's also important to note that Moseley Braun's background was thoroughly checked and cleared before her 1999 Senate confirmation as Ambassador to New Zealand. An almost unanimous Senate confirmed her nomination—the only two Senators to vote against Moseley Braun were Jesse Helms and Peter Fitzgerald, her former opponent.

8. What will NOW/PAC do for Carol Moseley Braun's campaign—will you be giving her money?

We know that our membership throughout the country will enthusiastically support Moseley Braun's candidacy. By our endorsement we send the signal to all NOW members and women's rights supporters throughout the country that this is a campaign to embrace. With more than 500,000 supporting members located in every state in the country we can awaken a funding base which will more than qualify this campaign for federal matching funds. Our members are already volunteering in her campaign. In fact, the greatest contribution that the National Organization for Women can give to a campaign is the assurance to our members that here is a candidate who will fight for the issues they care so much about. That kind of contribution is far more valuable than the small amount of PAC money to which we are limited by federal election law. But yes, we will support this candidate to the full legal limit.

9. What can NOW members do right now to help Carol Moseley Braun's campaign?

NOW/PAC calls on all NOW members to contribute to Carol Moseley Braun's candidacy so that she will be able to qualify for matching funds—an important factor for candidates without endless personal and business capital. Because every dollar of small donations becomes two dollars with matching funds, we can help keep a woman's voice at the table through small donations from throughout the country.

Members who want to donate time to the campaign are also needed. The only way to get Carol Moseley Braun's message out to the people who need to hear it is to have volunteers around the country working hard from now through the Democratic primaries and, hopefully, beyond.

10. I am already volunteering for the [Dean/Kerry/Kucinich/...] campaign. As a leader and/or member of NOW, won't that conflict with NOW/PAC's endorsement of Carol Moseley Braun?

NOW respects the right of NOW members, as individuals, to support the candidate of their choosing. If you have already committed your time to a campaign other than Carol Moseley Braun's, we understand that you must honor that commitment. However, any NOW member who works for another campaign is representing her/himself and not the organization.

We know, however, that all NOW members want to make sure that Moseley Braun's voice and ideas are at every table and debate throughout the primaries. We want to ensure that a feminist woman is standing on the dais on an equal footing with the male candidates. And for that reason, we hope that all members will consider at least a small contribution to her campaign. We, of course, hope that our endorsement will at least make our members reconsider their positions and support this historic candidacy.

11. What can individual NOW members do besides donate money to support Carol Moseley Braun's presidential campaign?

Volunteer activity by individual NOW members is one of the easiest ways to help a federal campaign. NOW members throughout the country are phone banking, having house parties and using their personal email accounts to spread the word about this exciting candidate. Any monies spent during such activities must be personal contributions to the campaign.

12. What can my NOW chapter do to elect Carol Moseley Braun?

NOW chapters cannot engage in federal election activity. Only the national NOW/PAC can endorse presidential or other federal candidates. It is a violation of federal election law for chapters to make any kind of financial contribution to a federal candidate—and this includes mailing political literature or giving the campaign NOW membership lists. However, NOW members can join together to perform volunteer activities with the campaign. Any questions that a chapter has regarding election activity should be directed to the NOW Action Center (202-628-8669).

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