Kerry's sister a 'secret weapon' of feminists

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BOSTON -- Sen. John Kerry's sister assured a rally of feminist Democrats here yesterday that her brother will name several pro-choice justices to the Supreme Court if elected president.

"There are three things my brother is going to do when he's elected president," Peggy Kerry told a Boston event held yesterday at the Harvard Club by the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Feminist Majority.

Mr. Kerry will restore $34 billion to the United Nation's population fund for family planning, she pledged, and the Democrat will make sure that "CEDAW," an international treaty to eliminate discrimination against women, is ratified in the Senate.

"He will also appoint pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court," she said, as the crowd of more than 300 women cheered. At least three and perhaps as many as four justices could retire in the next few years, NOW leader Kim Gandy and other speakers said.

In introducing Ms. Kerry, Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal said she had heard of misgivings about the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

Women are wondering whether they are "really with us," she said. There is no question that Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards "have a huge track record with us," Ms. Smeal said.

"And he has a secret weapon," she said, referring to Peggy Kerry and her many years of work with feminist causes.

The "She Party" was held to honor Dolores Huerta, a co-founder with Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers of America. Ms. Huerta was recently named as chairwoman of National Women for Kerry and numerous women leaders and candidates, including Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, stopped by to speak.

A lot more money and energy is needed to secure the votes of women, including the 6 million single women who didn't vote in the last election, said Ms. Huerta.

"It seems to me that it's up to the women, because when women vote, Democrats win," Ms. Kerry said.

As the "She Party" was beginning, pro-life activists with placards and posters about abortion filled the sidewalk outside the Harvard Club.

Rep. Maxine Waters, California Democrat, said she was first dismayed to see the abortion protesters, but her anger quickly turned to delight. "If anyone thinks we've won the battle of freedom of choice, [the protesters] remind us of the work we have to do," she said.

Many women senators didn't make yesterday's event. A last-minute rehearsal for their convention appearance later in the day was scheduled at the same time as the party, Ms. Smeal said.

As the crowd waited, Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Molly Ivins, who also wrote "Bushwhacked: Life in George W. Bush's America," was invited to say a few words.

President Bush met with some Amish people recently and said that God speaks through him, she said.

That is odd, she said, because "I think God knows how to pronounce 'nuclear.'"