Meet Citizen Jane
I call CitizenJane Politics "The Modern Girls' Guide to Picking the Leaders of the Free World" because that's exactly what it's designed to be. This is where you can find plain-English answers to where the candidates really stand on issues. You can also find out when and where to vote, what all that political jargon means, and whether there's a debate next week that you might want to watch on TV. Finally, you'll see politics through the eyes of women instead of the eyes of men. God love 'em, but why are men most of the voices in the political conversation when women are most of the voters?
Having worked on Capitol Hill for nine years, I can tell you it's because the guys speak up a lot more. They give their opinions. Instead of asking, "Why me?" before writing an op-ed or running for office, they say, "Why not me?"
After I left politics, I went to Columbia University for a master's degree in journalism. I then worked as executive editor at a magazine for a year, but kept seeing a gap in political coverage that I wanted somebody to fill. I wanted to see something about politics that was not a cheering section for either party; something written for women that had more than just gossip and fashion; something that understood that the stakes for the next election could not be higher, but that focusing on just doom and gloom can get a girl down.
CitizenJane Politics is here to fill that gap. We're independent, non-partisan and here for you.
Looking ahead to 2008, I don't care who you vote for, but I do hope you'll vote and that CJP helps you make a more informed decision. I also hope you'll comment when you have something to say or shoot me an email if you're not the commenting type. I hope the next president is competent, qualified and up for the challenge and that skinny jeans prove to be a tragic but short-lived phenomenon. Citizen Janes, the direction of the country is up to somebody–why not us?
Happy voting, Janes!
Patricia Murphy, Editor