BlogHer - On blogging, hate speech, Election '08 and life: What are your questions for Elizabeth Edwards? - Comments

I would ask her: - As a

Sahar Maranlou — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:23:00 -0500

I would ask her:
- As a woman, what are her main criteria for initiating dialogue between South and North women activists to peace building?
- As an attorney, how US can use international human rights discourse with a real good faith as an instrument to improve human rights situation first within USA and then in other countries? Without double standards raising from US political interest, like its different approach to human rights abuse to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and Iran...
- As an advisor for her husband, how US is going to cover Iraq’s war damages and deaths? Is it possible to fill the deep gap in Iraqi life that Bush has created just by brining home American soldiers? And also what’s her reflect on Iran? Is she thinking about another war even for a short moment in her strategic planning?
- As an American, what she is thinking about interacting just dialogue between American society and other nations ( Middle East)? ...we in South countries in particular Middle East have been influenced by American media propaganda; we are scaring from American empire building which caused us a lot of difficulties...

Iranian human rights activist and blogger
www.saharmaranlou.blogspot.com

Still no equal pay...

Marilyn — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:23:59 -0500

Lisa,

In 1992, I was given the opportunity to ask a question of Clinton and Gore during a live national Q&A. My question ended up being asked to Gore about the environment, but only because my original question had been asked by someone else...and that was...that women make only 75 cents for every male dollar for equal work (and wondering what they were going to do about it). Fifteen years later, has that figure even budged?!? THAT'S what I think about when I see the photo above. And it's not an issue I hear much--if ANY--talk about on the campaign trail.

California Fever

Co-Founder of Bloggers for Darfur

Asking question from SL BlogHer participant

ecritures — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:07:55 -0500

Hi, since i live in (and blog from) Amsterdam, The Netherlands I will be participating in the virtual BlogHer conference in Second Life. I blog (in Dutch) over politics 2.0 on my blog www.ecritures.nl and I have the following question for Elizabeth Edwards: "Reading a lot of blogs of Dutch politicians and having worked for a Dutch government department myself, a lot of politicians seems to struggle with the balance between political (and private) information they can blog about and strategic information they rather keep under wraps. How do you decide on what is appropriate to blog about, both on personal and private matters, while trying to find a balance between keeping a blog personal and just resorting to PR-speech and marketing talk?" I hope my question will get answered. (My avatar name is Gwendolyn Kronsage btw) See you all in SL :-)

Thank you Erin!

Lisa Stone — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:06:49 -0500

Eager to hear from the SL crew

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Jen, this is a ompassionate approach to this question

Lisa Stone — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:02:55 -0500

that I have seen mangled elsewhere. Thank you for your wording . It's on the list, indeed.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Second Life BlogHer's will be asking too!

Queen Tureaud — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 23:29:12 -0500

I sent a notice out to all our BlogHer in Second Life attendees letting them know they too can ask a question here in the comments of this post!

I was really struck by how

jen lemen — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:35:49 -0500

I was really struck by how the whole atmosphere changed in the room when a woman stood up and confessed to Arianna Huffington that she could be fearless in business but completely terrified in her parenting. That kind of honest comment made the space (imho) for Arianna to be honest, too--it was one of those amazing moments where the conversation went from theoretical/political to powerful. I will never forget it.

That said, I really want to ask Elizabeth Edwards how she feels about the campaign and the demands that kind of travel schedule puts on herself and her husband--especially in light of her illness. As a voter who really likes John Edwards, I feel torn about supporting him when this is a really critical time when his presence in the Edwards family might be vital. What makes it worth it to her to pursue this dream of the presidency with her husband--especially now when her cancer is back?

I don't know if that's too personal, but it's something I'd like to hear her talk about if she felt comfortable.

www.jenlemen.com art, soul and stories for everyday

Mary, you've got two great questions here:

Lisa Stone — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 23:15:26 -0500

>Electing new people to a poor system won't provide the needed climate change initiatives fast enough.

What's her opinion of the system?

>Even Clinton stated that market incentives, not laws will move the green building initiative along faster. What will John do to move things along that perhaps doesn't need the approval of Congress?

What's the Edwards plan for effecting change for the greener -- now, not later?

Thanks!

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Right on Morra. And as someone who has worked in campaigns...

Lisa Stone — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 23:13:04 -0500

...you've seen this first-hand! Have you ever seen anyone else push back?

Thanks.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Of hats, gloves and the Equal Pay Act

Lisa Stone — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 23:11:52 -0500

Theresa, this is a keeper:

So, do we support each other in our day-to-day lives or have we just become a generation of women who seek to be the first in line?

Personal aside: For years, this photo of President Kennedy signing the equal pay act was my screensaver:

I still have a strong emotional response to the photo -- you know they clawed their way through Capitol Hill to get this legislation. I feel proud of these women. You can see their excitement. But I also feel myself cringe when I see only white faces, another harbinger of the age just like the hats and gloves. And I've often thought of how hard it's been to bring all women together to work on these issues since...

Theresa, I do think there's a new opportunity to come together to make change for all women, regardless of party. (That's what BlogHers Act is all about.) And you've articulated the philosophical issue that I've been trying to finger, and failing. So thank you.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Pam, this is a great question

Lisa Stone — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 22:55:45 -0500

No one who has studied the Democratic Party's record in the past two elections could argue with your articulate point. I think this is an interesting pair with Susan's question about partisan politics. Thank you.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Climate Change issues

Mary Clare Hunt — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:38:53 -0500

Given that the Clinton/Gore administration with all their clout, charisma and facts couldn't get the auto-workers to agree to lower emissions and given the mutton-mindedness that exists in Congress today, why should we believe that Washington carries any weight to get something done quickly?

Even Clinton stated that market incentives, not laws will move the green building initiative along faster. What will John do to move things along that perhaps doesn't need the approval of Congress?

It's long, but I sincerely want to know. I see politics as the definition of insanity. Electing new people to a poor system won't provide the needed climate change initiatives fast enough. I'd like to know her thoughts on it and where she sees women as change agents outside the system.

Mary Clare Hunt
www.InWomenWeTrust.com

I want to know how she preserves her own voice

Morra Aarons Mele — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:22:21 -0500

Mrs. Edwards manages to be competely, totally, herself. She mentioned this in her Vogue interview a few months back and it stuck with me. I'm wondering if this has been a problem, ever, in her political and public life, and how she handled attempts by advisers or handlers to control what she says, looks like, acts like, etc.

Do women support each other?

tshadrix — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:12:41 -0500

Susan,

Well, OK, get out your shovel:)

The online world has proven women will support each other via their fingertips - just look at Blogher. But, what happens when the computers are turned off?

My eyes were opened when I wrote a column about Toxic friends and infectious eye shadow. I thought I was alone, but I heard from women who were sucked dry from other women, not men, in the all aspects of life.

In our society, it seems like women don't have a Good Ol' Gals network. Meaning, do we really watch each other's back or do we dive into the gossip pit first without thinking about other women? Do we help advance other women in their home life and career? Do we take responsibility to nurture ourselves first and then to nurture others? Do we mentor other women and encourage them? Are we strong enough to tell another woman we don't see eye-to-eye, but yet still love her?

Here is an example of what I mean: Although statistics show men are helping more with household chores and are much more involved in childcare, we live in a society in which extended family members, for the most part, are not available to help with the daily tasks of life. So, when a friend of mine was pregnant with her fourth child and very sick, I showed up at her house and cleaned it from top to bottom. It was so difficult for her to accept help and the first thing she thought about was that I might tell other women how dirty her house was! Well, that was almost a decade ago. I never told anyone about her house and we know that no matter how hectic our lives may be, I have her back and she has mine. She is part of my Good Ol' Gals network.

Think about this: If it were not for the women before us, we would not have the right to vote, the right to property, the right to our children and the right to be heard. So, do we support each other in our day-to-day lives or have we just become a generation of women who seek to be the first in line?

Blessings,
Theresa Shadrix
All The Rage Fashion Columnist

The Democratic Party

Pam — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:41:28 -0500

I guess this is a bigger question about party politics than it is a personal one.

With the party straying so far to the right, with the erosion of civil rights, social conscience in gov't, and the shocking ineffectiveness of the Democratic Party over the last 6 years, I wonder what the strategy will be to activate apathetic voters who feel abandoned (a-hem), to revitalize the party faithful (a-hem a-hem) and to deliver on the issues that have been touchstones for socially minded democrats should the party be successful.

Nerd's Eye View

On blogging, hate speech, Election '08 and life: What are your questions for Elizabeth Edwards?

Lisa Stone — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:17:54 -0500

If you could ask Blogger Elizabeth Edwards anything, what would it be?

Because you can. In ten days, Edwards takes the stage at BlogHer '07 in the final keynote discussion of this year's conference. She and I will talk for a few minutes and then we'll open up the microphones for a room-wide conversation. For those of us who cannot be there in person, I'd love to ask your question and credit you and your blog if the conversation goes in your direction. All you need to do is list your question below.

In a year when social media is dominating both the run-up to the 2008 American Presidential Election and world news, Elizabeth Edwards stands out in the pack of political newsmakers as the one who doesnâ€™t just â€œgetâ€ the Internet â€“ she uses it. She blogs for husband John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign, and comments regularly.

Whether or not you like Mrs. Edwardsâ€™ politics â€“ and let me re-confirm immediately that BlogHer is a non-partisan organization â€“ she has embraced the Web, using it to make an enormous amount of news in the past six months, some of it quite personal, some of it strategic and political. Hereâ€™s a sampling, including some of her own posts:

March 3 ~ Denounces hate speech by Ann Coulter on the John Edwards â€™08 blog, urges people not to â€œto sit silent in acceptanceâ€

March 22 ~ Announces that her breast cancer has returned

April 4 ~ Continues campaigning for her husband despite cancer, to positive and negative reviews

June 24 ~ Splits with her husbandâ€™s view on gay marriage

June 25 ~ Asks Ann Coulter on live television to stop â€œthe personal attacksâ€ and later blogs it

July 17 ~ Says Hillary Clinton is not as vocal a women's advocate as her husband

July 19 ~ Says John Edwards' health plan would cover reproductive health, including abortions and birth control

So you tell me: What should we ask? Or not? Take it away -- comments are open below.

Thanks.

Photo credit: Citymama. Elizabeth Edwards with Mary Tsao at a 2006 blogger meet-up in San Francisco