Seventeen-year-old Lesley Gore recorded the hit single “You Don’t Own Me” in 1964, when women were fighting for equal rights, equal pay, and control of their own bodies. Shockingly, that same battle is being fought on many fronts today. In the name of that ongoing fight, and as an endorsement for President Obama, a group of women have joined together to sing Gore’s famous song in an online video that was released today.
“I recorded ‘You Don’t Own Me’ in 1964,” says Gore in the video. “It’s hard for me to believe, but we’re still fighting for the same things we were then. Yes, ladies, we got to come together, get out there and vote, and protect our bodies. They’re ours.”
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/51920265]
The description of the video reads:
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. Mitt Romney’s official stance on many of these issues are outlined on the “Values” page on his website. Here is an excerpt from the abortion section: Mitt believes that life begins at conception and wishes that the laws of our nation reflected that view. But while the nation remains so divided, he believes that the right next step is for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade – a case of blatant judicial activism that took a decision that should be left to the people and placed it in the hands of unelected judges. With Roe overturned, states will be empowered through the democratic process to determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate. Mitt supports the Hyde Amendment, which broadly bars the use of federal funds for abortions. As president, he will end federal funding for abortion advocates like Planned Parenthood. He will protect the right of health care workers to follow their conscience in their work. And he will nominate judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the law.
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