What is the National Women's Political Caucus San Francisco (NWPC San Francisco)?

We are a multi-partisan, multi-racial grassroots organization with caucuses in 38 states. Those members have input in our endorsement and policy decisions through their elected regional representatives. Local and state caucuses hold regular public meetings, policy forums and endorse candidates locally. There is no other national women's political organization that has a membership structure such as this one.

 

Why are women the key to the political process?

In 1998, there were 7 million more women registered to vote than men, and they turned out to vote in higher numbers. Why do we believe that parental consent and notification laws should not be passed? In an ideal world, every young woman would feel free to discuss an unintended pregnancy with her parents. Some young women are afraid to talk to their parents because they have become pregnant through rape or incest, others fear a parent's reaction. Imposing parental consent laws forces a young woman to appear before a judge making a traumatic situation even more painful. Most young women do consult at least one parent before seeking an abortion. Young women should have the same right to control their reproductive choice as adult women. It's a contradiction to tell a young woman who is old enough to become pregnant and bear a child that she is not mature enough to choose to terminate an unplanned or even tragic pregnancy.

 

Why does the Caucus oppose legislation regarding so-called 'partial birth' abortions?

The term 'partial birth abortion' is a political term crafted by the anti-abortion movement, not a medical reality. Many of the laws banning so called partial birth abortions – 'partially vaginally delivers a living fetus before killing the fetus and completing the delivery' – are broad enough to include virtually every method of abortion used after the first trimester of pregnancy whether before or after fetal viability. This overly broad definition is the reason the Supreme Court struck down Colorado's ban on late term abortions. Bans on late term abortion have been opposed by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), because they don't allow a doctor to select the abortion procedure that best protects their patient's health.

 

What does NWPC San Francisco offer candidates?

We conduct basic training for candidates, campaign workers and volunteers and for women who just want to learn more about the political process. We offer both basic and advanced training. We recruit women at the local level and provide campaign and leadership training for women. The Caucus offers leadership training for girls (between the ages of 12 and 14), and specialized campaign training for younger women (ages 18-35) and women of color. The Caucus also offers corporate training and international orientations and training.

 

Why do we only endorse women?

 

This is important because women govern differently than men. Studies by the Center for American Women in Politics show that elected women, regardless of their party or ideological affiliation, place a higher value and spend more time on issues impacting children and families. When both women and men were polled about the issues that matter most to them - education, health care, Social Security, and childcare were stated as high priorities. Women have always led the fight for these societal needs. Research shows that women run for different reasons and serve in public office very differently from men. Women are far more likely to run because they want to make people's lives better and to support and propose legislation for those reasons.