About That WH Council on Women and Girls...

by: Alegre

Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 23:05:00 PM EDT

When Bill took office back in January of '93, he set up the White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach.  When Bush took office, he shut that office down.  He made it clear right from the start that women and the issues we care about weren't important to him.  Issues like the economy and education.  And we've all seen where that lack of interest has gotten us.

We've been waiting for eight long years for the White House to tell us that women are a priority by creating a council like this.  After a great deal of lobbying and pleading, BHO's brought us in from out of the cold and in to the White House again and what do the MSM and the press have to say about it?

Crickets.

Oh and by the way - there's a move afoot in Congress to create a Presidential Commission on Women.  But we're not hearing anything about that at all.  

Thankfully, we're got folks in the know who are sending out reports and information via email and posting the info on their websites.  Make the jump for more...

We have exciting news to share with you. The President today signed an executive order creating a White House Council on Women and Girls.

We are thrilled that the new Administration has taken this major step in recognizing the responsibility that political leaders have to address the inequalities that women still face. The new White House Council is similar to the White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach that was created by President Clinton and subsequently closed by President Bush. It's wonderful news that it will be reinstated.

And there's more great news: We've also learned that legislation to create a Presidential Commission on Women is moving forward in Congress. The White House Council and the Presidential Commission on Women are perfect companions and can work together to improve the future of women in this country. We will be working closely with the Administration to make sure your voices are part of both initiatives.

Here's why the Council and the Commission will complement each other so well:

A Presidential Commission will be a vehicle for a national conversation among the best thinkers with diverse backgrounds to address problems faced by women in America today. The White House Council will work from within the Administration to advance the policies and agenda of the sitting president. So the Presidential Commission on Women will have a more external focus.

A Presidential Commission on Women is bipartisan and would truly reflect the commitment of our new leadership to respect the opinions and input of a broad spectrum of leaders.

A Presidential Commission on Women would include a significant grassroots component, allowing millions of women from around the country to participate in the work of the Commission. President Obama leveraged technology to encourage participation among voters all around the country during his campaign, and this work has continued into his new Administration. Similarly, a Presidential Commission on Women would turn to women to solicit input, feedback and participation.