for being in the presidential race I'll be satisfied...

fighting against discrimination against a religious group is great, but what about when the religion itself discriminates, allowing fewer human rights to the women?

I support religious freedom, (you all have the right to delude yourselves and they're all equally wrong). However, when that religion steps on human rights, I stop and support basic human rights. I'll fight any religion that stifles human rights.

What if a woman wearing chains wrapped around her body wanted to be in an ad with Obama? Should we ask him to condone controlling women with chains, literal or figurative?

Funny how so many Hilary supporters claim to care about women's rights, but want Obama to support chaining women.

A tricky issue for Obama, for sure. But when the Woman was quoted thus:

The infringement on our rights occurred and has been addressed

Was this really an infrigement of her rights?

I think that is misleading, and also marks an important distinction. Discrimination and inclusion can only be legislated so far. We need to choose to be inclusive if we are to be viewed as a free and fair society.

And Obama should be able to demonstrate that he can choose to be so.

Cosmic Mojo-

The conflation of headscarves with chains is deeply offensive, as is the suggestion that Islam is the only religion that has been interpreted to require subjugation of women. It is interesting that, despite the supposed misogyny of Islam, Pakistan and Indonesia, both majority Muslim states, have elected female heads of state (Benazir Bhutto and Megawati Sukarnoputri), while "Christian" America has not.

No woman should be forced to wear a headscarf, but the idea that wearing a headscarf is tantamount to wearing chains is ludicrous and demeaning to the sincerely-held faith of millions.

purposely place some headscarves behind him in his next speech, or is that still too sensitive of a point for a big-time photo op?

O'RLY?

Unlike Moslems, Christians and Jews have always supported human rights for everyone, especially women.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

If you aren't an atheist, you are a hypocrite.

Show me someone selling religion, and I'll show you someone who doesn't support human rights.

If you don't believe and adhere to our dogma, you are anathema and must be converted, ostracized, persecuted and/or destroyed and preferable by extraordinary brutality and torture. Even more so if it is over some quibbling minor detail of your fairy tale's interpretations such as whether or not transubstantiation actually physically occurs or is a metaphor.

In short, you are a bigot and not a very smart one.

So typical and ordinary in today;s america.

You sorta descended into confusion about halfway through, but you start off with an interesting point.

I admit that my knowledge of Islam is incomplete, but my understanding is that discrimination against women is no more inherent to Islam than it is to Christianity. Yes, some adherents to each interpret their scriptures that way, and yes, it's reasonable to find that disturbing.

I think the best we can do is help make sure there are paths out of discriminatory situations if women choose to leave -- available economic support, available educational opportunities, exposure to more egalitarian-minded adherents, etc. Then, if they wish to continue to wear headscarves -- or chains, for that matter -- that's their choice, however that seems to us.

It's true that many women in those contexts don't have meaningful choices ... as is true of too many women all over the world, including the US. Some branches of religions provide an all-too-convenient excuse to discriminate against women, but I don't agree that it's a problem with the religions per se.

Discrimination

fighting against discrimination against a religious group is great, but what about when the religion itself discriminates, allowing fewer human rights to the women?

Then we must include the vast majority of religions for they all hold women in bondage or as second class citizens. Even in Politics religion is the driving force in trying to overturn roe vs. wade for control of a womens body.

1. You have money; use it. Pay people and refrain from begging for everything. You will have a better run campaign at the local level if you do, and will avoid repeating mistakes such as this. You will not run out of money, so be a litte less obsessive.

2.You are caught up in using money in the old campaign style, , i.e., turning every volunteer upside down to obtain every quarter in their pockets when they walk in - and out- of the door and also requiring them to make sacrifices that stop short of giving blood, That is asking- and taking- too much from your volunteers. It gives them a false sense of both expectation and authority that can come back to bite you guys- in this instance it has. It will aslo turn other folks off whose support and energy you need. It has. Balance is critical.

3. Pay attention to what your local people say. Really. They know something. Hire some of them. But hire thoughtful, not crazy, people. Campaigns are notoriously full of crazy people, I know. And yes, you can get away with paying the ruly needy folks next to nothing, and also retain control over them- most times. But not always. So find a balance.

4. Find people with real expertise to lead in situations where large crowds are gathering. You have folks working as ushers who are petty potentates and wield their authority as if they were running a kingdom. Get some perspective and training tot hese folks. You have enough time and sufficient resources to do it. And you'd be giving them skills training they likely never have had- a win-win.

You need to do some leadership training of your volunteers who are on the front lines. Think about it.

5. Learn how to thank your volunteers, not in a video or in some cloying pseudo-sincere manner, but in some more immediate way that doesn't involve asking them for more of something. If you have strong local leaders they can act as your surrogates in this situation, but they must be capable and credible. Good non-profits such as the United Way and Red Cross know how to do this well, and your campaign runs the risk of losing some volnteers in places where you might need them during the general. It is happening already and while it ultimately will likely not translate into fewer votes for you, it does say a great deal about leadership, and it will allow you guys (and you are mostly guys, face it) to sleep more easily at the end of the day. And, an added bonus- you will have learned a few things- from a model taken out of the non-profit, female-centered playbook. You have good friends in high places who can help you put together a model that works in record time. Spend a few dollars on some three ring binders and paper. Or, have someone donate it. Just remember to thank them twice before asking them again. And really mean it.

6. Good luck.