Scheer on NOW and Welfare Bills

Robert Scheer grossly misrepresented the work of the National Organization for Women and the work of a large number of feminists in his Column Left, “Who Is Left to Fight for the Poor?” (Oct. 31). He didn’t have to investigate too hard to find that NOW--along with many other feminist organizations--has been fighting hard for women’s economic rights.

NOW in California has put the fight for welfare rights at the top of our legislative agenda for many years. As the statewide coordinator, I have testified to the White House Task Force on Welfare Reform and in countless legislative committees on welfare rights, picketed the White House, and organized demonstrations, public forums, lobbying campaigns and more.

Scheer targets pro-choice feminists as potential “hypocrites.” Yet pro-choice feminists have been loud and clear in their opposition to punitive welfare proposals. The historic 1992 NOW reproductive rights march, with almost 1 million pro-choice feminists pouring into Washington, had poverty rights leaders in the front line and featured prominently on stage.

The California statewide Coalition for Reproductive Freedom hosted a discussion of the attack on welfare at its 1995 annual Roe vs. Wade forum. Members of the coalition led the effort to dissuade the Clinton Administration from approving waivers for punitive welfare measures pushed by Gov. Pete Wilson. NOW’s 1995 rally against violence, with hundreds of thousands of feminists from across the country convening for the first time on this topic, again prominently featured welfare rights leaders who spoke about the violence of poverty. NOW has spearheaded a postcard lobbying campaign on the congressional welfare attacks, reaching hundreds of thousands of voters.

How could Scheer be so wrong in his representation of our work? He based his column on the message machine of one chapter, which did not mention welfare rights.

Scheer was right on one count: Not enough of us are fighting hard for the poor. While we are busy pointing fingers, the right wing is dismantling social programs for poor families. In the end, even more kids will go hungry and homeless.

ELIZABETH TOLEDO

NOW State Coordinator

Sacramento

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* Scheer’s article was so effective that I immediately wrote letters to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer and President Clinton, asking that they change their acceptance of the Draconian Republican welfare bill. Scheer is on the mark in criticizing our senators and also feminist organizations on this bill, but one should not single out only feminists--there has been all too little heard on cuts in welfare, medical care and so forth from other groups whose interests and constituencies are affected, such as unions, African American and Latino groups, and even some groups oriented to children.

NIKKI KEDDIE

Professor of History, UCLA