Steinem Attacks Dems for Having No Child Care at Convention

Women’s groups are accusing the Democrats of conducting their own“war on women” by banning children from the floor of next week's Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., and refusing to provide child care during the event.

“Women are the key to a Democratic victory, and sometimes, children are the key to women,” veteran feminist Gloria Steinem told the Charlotte Observer. “It’s both right and smart for the Democratic Convention to behave as if children exist.”

Steinem and several California chapters of the National Organization for Women accused the DNC of “discrimination against mothers with young children.”

One convention delegate, Susie Shannon of California, planned to attend the event, with her 4-year-old daughter, Gracie.

“The Democratic Party shouldn’t put you in a position where you have to choose between your child and participating in a political convention,” she told The Charlotte Observer.

Convention spokeswoman Joanne Peters told the Observer that there was a list of private child-care providers on an official vendor directory. Facilities are being provided for nursing mothers.

Peters said conventions usually require credentials for anyone on the floor for security reasons.