--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We want this - and I - we hope that right…" description: "\"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 d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/eleanor-smeal-14458_barack_we-want-this-and-i-we-hope-that-right-wh_124862.jpg" --- # We want this - and I - we hope that right when they come… ![“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…” quote by Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/eleanor-smeal-14458_barack_we-want-this-and-i-we-hope-that-right-wh_124862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/eleanor-smeal-14458_barack_we-want-this-and-i-we-hope-that-right-wh_124862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/eleanor-smeal-14458_barack_we-want-this-and-i-we-hope-that-right-wh_124862.jpg) > “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.” [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Court decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court-decision/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Desks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desks/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Hope Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-congress-1447777/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Ledbetter Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ledbetter-act-1447774/) [Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation/) [Legislation Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation-hope-1447776/) [Lilly Ledbetter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lilly-ledbetter-217240/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Reversed Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reversed-legislation-1447775/) [Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme/) [Supreme court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-court/) [Wage Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wage-discrimination-1447778/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The Ledbetter Act is aimed at equality. But individuals are not equal. We all have different talents, resources, interests, abilities, educations, and backgrounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/the-ledbetter-act-is-aimed-at-equality-but-individuals-are-not-equal/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [We certainly ... hope that the Congress will act in an appropriate fashion and not waste its time with ineffectual, sham legislation on Keystone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/we-certainly-hope-that-the-congress-will-act-in-an-appropriate/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [Wage discrimination lasts forever. The disparity haunts women beyond their years in the labor force, impacting how much they save for retirement and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/wage-discrimination-lasts-forever-the-disparity-haunts-women-beyond/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [We have held forums here at the White House on workplace flexibility, and the first major bill signed into law by President Obama was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-have-held-forums-here-at-the-white-house-on-workplace-flexibility/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [The first bill that President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. I think it says something about his priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-ledbetter/the-first-bill-that-president-obama-signed-into-law-was-the-lilly/) [Lilly Ledbetter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-ledbetter/) > [ \[During\] the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter \[Fair Pay Act\], equal pay for equal work, the women led that fight. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/during-the-passage-of-the-lilly-ledbetter-fair-pay-act-equal-pay-for/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [Here at home, President Obama early on made the connection between growth and economic opportunity for women. In the depths of our crisis in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lael-brainard/here-at-home-president-obama-early-on-made-the-connection-between/) [Lael Brainard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lael-brainard/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] had already signed Lilly Ledbetter, signed SCHIP, the children's health insurance program. By the time he had his first address to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/barack-obama-had-already-signed-lilly-ledbetter-signed-schip-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure fair pay for women in the workplace. In addition, he succeeded in getting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/obama-signed-the-lilly-ledbetter-fair-pay-act-to-ensure-fair-pay-for/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) ## More by Eleanor Smeal > [Feminist humor raises consciousness. And the reason it's funny is because it stands something on its head. Goodness knows you've got to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/feminist-humor-raises-consciousness-and-the-reason-it-s-funny-is/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I'm not a prejudice person, and I've worked with many male legislators and some have been excellent for us, so I'm not speaking against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-m-not-a-prejudice-person-and-i-ve-worked-with-many-male-legislators/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-is-the-kind-of-legislator-who-whether-she-s-in-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United States funding for Family Planning cannot mention, cannot speak the word "abortion" in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-receiving-united-states/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Since 1996, the Feminist Majority Foundation has been immersed in a campaign to support Afghan women and girls in their fight against the brutal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/since-1996-the-feminist-majority-foundation-has-been-immersed-in-a/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Since the 1950s (until the early 1990s), girls in Kabul and other cities attended schools. Half of university students were women, and women made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/since-the-1950s-until-the-early-1990s-girls-in-kabul-and-other-cities/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-think-that-hillary-clinton-will-be-a-symbol-and-a-reality-for-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney is really constantly thinking, "How do we improve things?" You know, sees the glass always half-full, and you have to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-is-really-constantly-thinking-how-do-we-improve/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ She \[Carolyn Maloney\] has there day in and day out for us and for women of this country and of the world, but she… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/she-carolyn-maloney-has-there-day-in-and-day-out-for-us-and-for-women/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I think that we're just fortunate that you have an experienced legislator: 26 years of fighting for our issues in line. I mean, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-think-that-we-re-just-fortunate-that-you-have-an-experienced/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney knows how to get something done, and as I said, it doesn't matter if she's in the majority or the minority. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-knows-how-to-get-something-done-and-as-i-said-it/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/well-it-s-unusual-for-us-to-do-an-endorsement-you-know-and-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [We have so few women in Congress. We are so underrepresented and whether we like it or not, we are in area - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-have-so-few-women-in-congress-we-are-so-underrepresented-and/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I have been studying women's political behavior since the early 1970s and first identified the gender gap in 1980 with the help of legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-have-been-studying-women-s-political-behavior-since-the-early-1970s/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney has been a consistent fighter for Afghan women but also for International Family Planning Bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-has-been-a-consistent-fighter-for-afghan-women-but/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) [Explore all 46 Eleanor Smeal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) ## More Barack quotes > [ 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.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ 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.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/) [John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) [Michael Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atherton/) > [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) [Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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