Obama's 'First Time' Ad Offensive, Says Conservative Women's Group
A new ad by the Obama campaign featuring HBO "Girls" star Lena Dunham talking about her "first time" has drawn the ire of conservative women who are offended by the ad's sexual nature, saying that it belittles women by portraying them as only caring about reproductive services.
In the ad, Dunham sits in front of the camera and, in a suggestive and alluring way, talks about her voting relationship with Obama as if it were the first time having sex.
"Your first times shouldn't be with just anybody, you want to do it with a great guy," Dunham says. "It should be with a guy with beautiful… someone who really cares about and understand women," Dunham says. "You don't want to do it with a guy that says 'Oh hey I'm at the library studying' when really he's out not signing the Lilly Ledbetter Act," she said, referencing a gender pay disparity law.
Penny Nance of Concerned Women for America issued a statement following the release of the ad.
"I'm saddened to see the liberal women of this country allow themselves to be painted into a corner and portrayed as single-minded and only concerned about getting free stuff," Nance said. "I've traveled across this country and women of all backgrounds are telling me that this election is not just about their ovaries, they're thinking about the overall picture of the economy."
The ad ends with Dunham describing her first experience voting for Obama.
"My first time voting was amazing. It was this line in the sand. First, I was a girl, now I was a woman," says Dunham. "I went to the polling station, I pulled back the curtain, I voted for Barack Obama."
CWA's recently launched a campaign called "She Votes 2012," which is designed to educate women on the importance of voting, focusing on the economy and security of their families. The group has held a series of bus tours in key swing states and led voter registration drives at every stop.
Nance said she wants women to vote to protect their interest and rights as well, but says, "Most women in the country understand that this presidential election does not revolve around reproductive services and free contraceptives. It's about the future of women and how they can help protect their families and secure their economic future at the same time."
Fox News has reported that the Dunham was not paid for her appearance and HBO has defended the ad by tweeting a statement encouraging women to vote for women's rights.
