Barack Quote by Eleanor Smeal
“We want this - and I - we hope that right when they come back, that the Congress passes the Lilly Ledbetter Act which would correct the Supreme Court decision that was just recent that essentially guts wage discrimination law. It's been in place for years. It was gutted by this Roberts Court. We want it to be reversed by legislation. We hope that Congress passes it and that is on the desk for [Barack] Obama to sign as one of his first acts once he's sworn in. So it - I could go on, we have quite a well-developed list.”
About This Quote
Advocates for legislative reversal of a Supreme Court decision that weakened wage‑discrimination protections, urging prompt congressional action.
In simple terms: Push Congress to restore wage‑discrimination law.
Key Takeaway
Legislative fix for weakened protections.
Themes
law
gender equity
policy
advocacy
Mood
urgent
advocacy
Type
political appeal
When to use this quote
- policy briefings
- activist campaigns
Key Concepts
judicial impact
political strategy
Practical Applications
- draft supportive bills
- mobilize public support
Questions to Reflect On
- How can advocates overcome judicial setbacks?
- What coalition‑building tactics work best?
A Different Perspective
Political opposition may stall progress.
![“[During] the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter [Fair Pay Act], equal pay for equal work, the women led that fight.” quote by Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/266/barbara-mikulski-8601_equal_during-the-passage-of-the-lilly-ledbette_1378557.jpg)
![“[Barack Obama] had already signed Lilly Ledbetter, signed SCHIP, the children's health insurance program. By the time he had his first address to the joint session, that is as it is called, the first speech, he could say, this is what I asked for, this is what we have done in the first four weeks.” quote by Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d9/nancy-pelosi-1267_addresses_barack-obama-had-already-signed-lilly-le_2651264.jpg)
![“Carolyn [Maloney] is the kind of legislator who, whether she's in the majority or the minority, whether her party is in the majority or the minority, she doesn't take "No" for an answer, and she frequently calls women leaders and say, "I think we should do this. This is really necessary for…” quote by Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd1/eleanor-smeal-14458_answers_carolyn-maloney-is-the-kind-of-legislato_283013.jpg)
![“We think that Hillary [Clinton] will be a symbol and a reality for the women of the world, and it's very important because so many - so many underdeveloped countries, not the least of which is Afghanistan, the women of the world need help, and she understands those issues and is a lightning rod…” quote by Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f2/eleanor-smeal-14458_afghanistan_we-think-that-hillary-clinton-will-be-a_414533.jpg)
![“She [Carolyn Maloney] has there day in and day out for us and for women of this country and of the world, but she also never forgets the citizens of New York, and she's been, as you know a trailblazer for 9/11, commission for, you know, the financial district, etc.” quote by Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a2c/eleanor-smeal-14458_citizens_she-carolyn-maloney-has-there-day-in-and_672398.jpg)
![“Well it's unusual for us to do an endorsement, you know, and the special occasions where you need appointments, but we thought that Senator [Hillary] Clinton had occupied such a neat and unique role, certainly a worldwide advocate for women, and also there's also only 16 women without her in…” quote by Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8eb/eleanor-smeal-14458_appointments_well-it-s-unusual-for-us-to-do-an-endors_817437.jpg)
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
![“The president [Barack Obama] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years. And we announced during the tour last week that we have gotten more than 60,000 jobs, and we're well on our way to just crashing that goal out of the…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83d/michelle-obama-518_barack_the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-c_15651.jpg)
![“I think the president's [Barack Obama] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the ground, in fact one of the Republican criticisms is he's got thousands of Americans there. We just don't call them troops on the ground, we don't admit to it. But…” quote by Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/juan-williams-7909_aggressive_i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-pos_17086.jpg)
![“It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president [Barack Obama] has consistently said - which I agree with - is that we will support those who take the fight to ISIS. That is why we have troops in Iraq that are helping to train and build back up the Iraqi military, why we have…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1e/hillary-clinton-51_agree_it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-thi_19737.jpg)
![“It wasn't [Barack] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being wheeled by her son waving a big American flag, and then seeing a guy with his baby in his arms saying, "I didn't want her to miss tonight! I wanted to be able to tell her!" And…” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/806/bill-ayers-1848_able_it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the_20409.jpg)
