The Ledbetter Act Passes and Obama's PR Folks are Thrilled

PR Op of the Day

President Obama plans to sign into law today The Ledbatter Act, reversing a recent Supreme Court ruling that had restricted the ability of women and other workers to sue for pay discrimination.

The legislation, named for a retired supervisor at a tire plant who belatedly discovered that she was paid less than her male counterparts, essentially rewrites the rules that specify the time within which workers may sue under a part of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that outlaws discrimination based on gender, race, national origin or religion.

Under the bill, workers may bring a lawsuit for up to six months after they receive any paycheck that they allege is discriminatory. The high court had held that such cases could be brought only within six months of the discrimination's beginning, rejecting a long-held interpretation by lower courts and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that each paycheck represented a fresh act of discrimination.

Ledbetter, 70, who worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber in Gadsden, Ala., for 19 years, became an icon for Obama during the campaign and the pomp surrounding his inauguration. She spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August. The weekend before Obama's swearing-in, she was one of 16 guests on the train that carried the president-elect from Philadelphia to Washington. And hours after becoming president, Obama danced with her at the Neighborhood Ball.

Hey, this is all great...but is it really going to change anything? Anyone in Mrs Ledbetter's position will still have to jump through hoops. And there won't be any jumping unless they have the money to pay for attorney's.

But, it sure makes President Obama look great!

And then let there be cookies, punch, and a photo opp with the Pres and Mrs Ledbetter.

Let the president's PR people shout , "HURRAH..", in unison.

For they have orchestrated a fine piece of PR

Feminism, Ledbetter