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Seeing pink elephants

Seeing pink elephants
By JOAN BRADY - Guest Columnist

I saw them last week — pink elephants, some in funny hats others in expensive St. John knits, proudly strutting and prancing at the GOP convention. It happened Wednesday night as Sarah Palin entered the stage to make her acceptance speech. Suddenly, Republican women, who have long been the backbone and volunteer base of the party, were front and center.
 

I glanced across the aisle to female delegates from Nevada and Virginia. They winked and nodded in sisterhood as if to say, "finally, we're invited to the party." Around the Xcel Center, red, white and blue banners were replaced with pink "Palin" signs, and men in bankers' pin-striped suits donned pink "Palin" campaign buttons.

In true Southern tradition, the gentlemen of the South Carolina delegation gallantly relinquished their coveted floor passes that evening, so our female alternates and guests had a close-up view of this historic event.

The women's perception of our vice-presidential candidate became media priority as they jockeyed to interview us, the once-overlooked, the female delegates. It was our night; mothers, daughters, sisters, working moms and soccer moms. A Republican woman was the nominee for vice president of the United States, and we relished the attention.

I thought back to my first race for the S.C. House. A group of my friends were helping make campaign calls. One of the volunteers yelled out: "Joan, this woman on the phone says she is a Republican and Republicans don't vote for women. What should I say?" I responded, "Tell her they do, when the right candidate just happens to be a woman."

This is an exciting election and an energized time for female voters. Nationally, women account for 53 percent of the registered voters, yet in South Carolina we have the lowest percentage of female legislators in the nation. We can change that as women: Pick your candidate, work on a campaign, run for public office. Organizations such as the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics, the Alliance for Women and Winning Women are dedicated to training and nurturing female leaders.

The spirit at the GOP convention was intoxicating. It marked a new era for women in the political process, as did Hillary's bid for the Democratic ticket. I am still dizzy with delight and hoping to see more pink elephants in South Carolina —and maybe some pink donkeys, too.

Ms. Brady represents Richland County in the S.C. House. She chairs the Legislative Women's Caucus and the Republican Legislative Women's Caucus and is a member of the board of the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics.