Polls show that in the wake of the Starr-chamber videotape, the majority of Americans are standing by President Clinton, and do not want him to leave office. Women's support is stronger than men's -- probably because women know that on policy that affects their lives, this President has been pretty good. While deploring his personal behavior and monumental lack of judgement, national women's groups supported this majority of female citizens and came out against impeachment in a news conference yesterday. Citing Clinton's record on family and medical leave, legal abortion, advocating for pay equity, and record numbers of female appointments to the cabinet, leaders warned that losing Clinton (along wih the possibility of a veto-proof conservative majority after the elections) could spell real trouble for women long after the scandal is forgotten. Text of statements can be found on the web at the Feminist Majority Foundation's web site.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund (202-544-4470) will provide posters, postcards and stickers to help women everywhere demand that violence must stop. Next week is VAWA Call-In Week -- a time to send your legislators a message to get their eyes out of the peephole long enough to pass the Violence Against Women Act II before Congress adjourns. The act includes grants for legal services for impoverished victims of violence, and safeguards for women who could lose their jobs in the face of violence. Urge your Senators and Reps to VOTE FOR VAWA II at 202-225-3121 (or e-mail your Representative or Senator).

SEVEN WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION '98

The '98 elections will have a huge effect on U.S. women. If both houses of Congress are overtaken by veto-proof majorities of conservatives lawmakers, President Clinton will be powerless to stop the erosion of abortion rights, further dismantling of affirmative action, and slashing funding for family planning, violence against women, and employment law enforcement. The bipartisan National Women's Political Caucus is conducting a national survey to gauge women's involvement in the elections. We must stay involved, stay focused, and stand by candidates from both parties who stand by women. Our futures depend on it.

Lawmakers are alternately wringing their hands and whining, giving the impression that voters might as well stay home (mostly D's), or calling for the President's resignation without a hearing (mostly R's). Whiners include Jim Moran (D-VA; 202-225-4376, fax 202-225-0017; E-mail) who says his party is "hemorraging," Richard Gephardt (D-MO; 202-225-2671; fax 202-225-7452; E-mail), House Minority Leader who won't stand by his party or his man. Ace witch hunter is Tom Delay (R-TX; 202-225-5951; fax 202-225-5421). Tell these guys (and your own Rep. at 202-225-3121; or send E-mail) that hounding the President out of office with either tactic is bad for democracy and bad for women. Remind them that all the polls show that women (the majority of voters) deplore the Prez's behavior, but also want him to remain in office by a margin of two to one.

As we reported last week, the scandal in the White House will not stop members of Congress from voting on issues that will affect women'sn lives for years to come. A vote to outlaw abortion by overriding President Clinton's veto of the ban on so-called "partial birth" abortion (HR 1122) is scheduled in the house today. The Labor/HHS and Education Appropriations Bill (S.2440), most likely to be voted on next week, is loaded up like the Christmas tree from hell with anti-woman provisions. Both the House and Senate versions expand the longstanding Hyde "I'm an adulterer too" Amendment, which severely limits use of funds for abortions for poor women. Other amendments would require family planning clinics to give parents 5 days notification before dispensing birth control to minors, and curtail family planning funds. The Education portion amends federal law to go "back to the '50's" and once again allow sex-segregated public schools or classes. The National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education is urging calls to Senators to oppose this provision -- there is NO clear evidence that separate classes help girls, but data DO show girls are often shortchanged. Senators can be reached at 202-225-3121 or send E-mail.

Though television is awash in the Clinton/Lewinsky mess and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle are grandstanding like crazy, nothing is going to happen soon unless President Clinton resigns (in our opinion very unlikely). What will happen is that legislation that will affect women long after the scandal has faded will be voted on before Congress adjourns in the next month. Activists should stay focused, so that good legislation gets support and anti-woman laws don't sneak in under the radar. One vote that will be among the first, most likely next week is to curb abortion rights by making it a crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion. The law only exempts parents -- not clergy, grandparents or other concerned adults who may be helping a girl who has nowhere to turn. Tell your Senators you're not looking the other way at 202-224-3121 or send E-mail.

Aided by women's groups that collected signatures from every state in the union, a group of women in the House are calling on the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, before Congress adjourns. Led by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA; 202-225-5161; fax 202-225-5163; E-mail), nine female members delivered full boxes of petitions to every member of the Senate yesterday. Particularly targeting Foreign Relations Chair Jesse Helms (R-Middle Ages; 202-224-6342, fax 202-224-0836, E-mail), who keeps the treaty bottled up in committee, they pointed out that the U.S. is the only industrialized country that has failed to ratify. Add your voice to theirs by calling 202-224-4651, faxing the committee at 202-228-1339 or writing 450 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510-6225