Photo via Flickr user Long Island Business News.Yesterday NARAL: Pro-Choice America endorsed Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand in the New York special Senate primary slated for September 2010. Gillibrand has gotten mixed reviews since her January appointment to Hillary Clinton's seat, with some New Yorkers critiquing her lack of legislative gravitas, while others are still stewing over the moderate positions Gillibrand took on gay rights, gun control, and immigration during her 2006 House run in a moderate, upstate district. Others are willing to cut Gillibrand some slack. She's new to the job, and what's more, she has the support of President Obama, who supposedly has asked other Democrats to refrain from mounting costly primary challenges against Gillibrand.But Manhattan congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is ignoring that call, forging ahead with plans to primary Gillibrand from the left. The NARAL endorsement of Gillibrand is widely being read as "a blow to Maloney," to borrow the phrasing of Jonathan Martin. And indeed, Maloney has built her reputation on issues that matter to feminist organizations, such as reproductive health, domestic violence, and family and medical leave benefits for gay couples. But we shouldn't read too much into NARAL's choice. Unlike Feminist Majority PAC and NOW PAC -- both of which supported Maloney this past winter -- NARAL made no endorsement for the seat back when Gov. David Paterson was stumbling through the appointment process. Over the past year, NARAL has consistently shown more deference to Team Obama and Democratic Party unity than other feminist groups; in May 2008, they became the first major feminist organization to endorse Obama, signaling that Clinton's bid for the nomination was no longer realistic.The real blow to Maloney's candidacy will be if more women's organizations follow NARAL's lead. For now, though, the jury is out.Update: EMILY's List has also endorsed Gillibrand.--Dana Goldstein WILL FEMINIST GROUPS LINE UP BEHIND GILLIBRAND?
Photo via Flickr user Long Island Business News.Yesterday NARAL: Pro-Choice America endorsed Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand in the New York special Senate primary slated for September 2010. Gillibrand has gotten mixed reviews since her January appointment to Hillary Clinton's seat, with some New Yorkers critiquing her lack of legislative gravitas, while others are still stewing over the moderate positions Gillibrand took on gay rights, gun control, and immigration during her 2006 House run in a moderate, upstate district. Others are willing to cut Gillibrand some slack. She's new to the job, and what's more, she has the support of President Obama, who supposedly has asked other Democrats to refrain from mounting costly primary challenges against Gillibrand.But Manhattan congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is ignoring that call, forging ahead with plans to primary Gillibrand from the left. The NARAL endorsement of Gillibrand is widely being read as "a blow to Maloney," to borrow the phrasing of Jonathan Martin. And indeed, Maloney has built her reputation on issues that matter to feminist organizations, such as reproductive health, domestic violence, and family and medical leave benefits for gay couples. But we shouldn't read too much into NARAL's choice. Unlike Feminist Majority PAC and NOW PAC -- both of which supported Maloney this past winter -- NARAL made no endorsement for the seat back when Gov. David Paterson was stumbling through the appointment process. Over the past year, NARAL has consistently shown more deference to Team Obama and Democratic Party unity than other feminist groups; in May 2008, they became the first major feminist organization to endorse Obama, signaling that Clinton's bid for the nomination was no longer realistic.The real blow to Maloney's candidacy will be if more women's organizations follow NARAL's lead. For now, though, the jury is out.Update: EMILY's List has also endorsed Gillibrand.--Dana Goldstein 
