The Closing Session at BlogHer 2007

It's the closing session at BlogHer, and the guest speaker is Elizabeth Edwards. She is so compelling, it's really too bad that she isn't the candidate. She's right on point on so many of the social justice issues I care deeply about, reproductive justice and marriage equality. Much further along than her husband.

When asked about what issues she thinks are of importance to women she responded that the issue that seems to come up most often is health care. In her travels she finds that women nationwide believe we need to have universal health care. In order to provide this we will have to raise taxes on individuals who earn $200,000 or more. She said this, recognizing that it's a difficult issue for many of the candidates to embrace.

The first question from the audience is about child care. How can we provide safe and affordable child care for working mothers and fathers. One of the ideas Elizabeth is suggesting is to give tuition credit for individuals who will become child care providers and teachers, who will commit to working in the field for at least two years.

BlogHer co-founder Lisa Stone ask the question: "Is Iraq a woman's issue?"

Elizabeth responded that it certainly is, given that 10% (or more) of the troops in Iraq are women. It is also a woman' issue because it's our sons and daughters, and our husbands and partners who are dying. "If we don't have a direct connection, we need to take it personally when someone else's child is there."

The next question from the audience was about our media, and the way -- and type -- of information we are receiving. Does John Edwards have a position on the Telecommunications Act of 1996? Elizabeth's response is that John would not want Rupert Murdock to be the gate keeper of information and he would work to repeal the TeleCom Act. She said that he also supports Net Neutrality, which drew applause from the audience.

One of the last questions asked was about faith, and how it informs the work she and her husband do. She mentioned that on Monday, she and John will renew their wedding vows. In preparing for the ceremony she looked back at their original vows, which included a commitment to public service. She said she was pleased to be reminded that one of the things that bound them together 30 years ago, is still an important part of their lives today.

As I have mentioned before, I would not hesitate to support Elizabeth Edwards for elected office!