The Women's Freedom Network Newsletter November/December 2002, Volume 7, No. 6 WOMEN'S FREEDOM NETWORK TOWNHALL MEETING 2000 Presidential Election by Rita J. Simon

As the newsletter goes off to the printer, on December 13, 2000, with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision rendered on December 12, 2000, in favor of George W. Bush, it looks as if we have finally put the November 7, 2000 election results to rest. George W. Bush will be inaugurated on January 20, 2001.

When we were making plans to hold our Town Hall Meeting on November 13, 2000, on the impact of the 2000 Presidential Election, we of course expected to know who would be the incoming President. The discussion was expected to focus on public policies and future appointments, especially the likelihood of new appointees to the U. S. Supreme Court. To almost everyone's surprise on November 13th the election results were still very much in doubt. Vice President Al Gore had won the popular vote and had 255 electoral votes. Governor George W. Bush had 246 electoral votes. Both needed Florida with its 25 electoral votes to be declared the winner.

We went ahead with our Town Hall Meeting, and we believe what our three guest speakers-- Christina Hoff-Sommers, Sally Satel, and Steve Moore-- had to say is worth hearing.

Before hearing from them, however, here are a few details about what happened and who voted how on November 7, 2000.

First of all, 50.7 percent of the registered voters went to the polls. This turnout was slightly higher than in 1996 but slightly lower than in 1992. Looking at the demographics, we found that 54 percent of women voted for Vice President Al Gore compared to 42 percent of men. Among "working women" 58 percent voted for Gore, as opposed to 44 percent of women who do not work outside their home who voted for Gore. At 90 percent, African Americans voted for Gore at a higher percentage than any other group in our country. Sixtytwo percent of Hispanics, and 55 percent of Asians voted for Gore. Forty-two percent of White Americans voted for Gore. Combining race and gender, 60 percent of white males voted for George W. Bush, and 49 percent of white females voted for Bush. Comparing voters by religion, 79 percent of Jews, 50 percent of Catholics, and 42 percent of Protestants voted for Gore.

Education and age made little difference. Forty-nine percent of college educated voters, and 48 percent of voters who did not attend college voted for Bush. Forty-eight percent of voters between the ages of 18 and 59 voted for Gore, and 51 percent of the 60 year-olds and older voted for Gore.

Income did matter. Voters with incomes less than $30,000 a year voted for Gore (55 percent). Those with yearly incomes between $30,000 and $50,000 split their votes, 49 and 48 percent for Gore and Bush respectively. Voters with yearly incomes more than $50,000 voted for Bush. The largest gap was in the more than $100,000 category; 54 percent voted for Bush.

Looking at the Congressional elections, 98 percent of the incumbents in the House of Representatives won reelection. In the Senate, 86 percent held onto their seats. There will be more women in the 107th Congress than at any earlier time: 4 in the Senate and 59 in the House of Representatives.

This issue's articles are the edited remarks of our conference's three speakers: Christina Hoff-Sommers, Sally Satel, and Steve Moore.