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1070 days ago

Officials: Obama to create White House Women's Council

Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Obama, will head the White House Women's Council.
Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Obama, will head the White House Women's Council.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama is planning to sign an executive order on Wednesday that will create a White House Women's Council overseen by senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, according to two senior administration officials.

The officials said the president will make the official announcement at the White House and is likely to be joined by his wife, first lady Michelle Obama.

One of the officials said the president wants the office to "have a presence at the White House to address the issues facing women and girls," including pay equity and the balancing act working mothers face.

soundoff (40 Responses)
  1. Bruce

    Great...it's the prerogative of POTUS to create any council he/she wants! Next relevant story please!

    March 10, 2009 06:33 pm at 6:33 pm |
  2. Ridgeway

    I loves me some Obama. He's my Sugar Daddy. Big deal. Bill Clinton recognized women's special talents day and night.
    Just think, on the same desk that Obama signed his stimulus package Bill Clinton had his package stimulated.

    March 10, 2009 08:58 pm at 8:58 pm |
  3. ranjit

    This is ridiculous. When we are facing a financial crisis, these are all waste of tax payers money. Rather than creating new positions, it will be wise for Obama to fill up the important cabinet posts. When will our President realize that, he is not in American Idol competition?

    March 10, 2009 09:08 pm at 9:08 pm |
  4. Eileen

    Good move.

    You definitely wouldn't see a Women's Council in a republican administration. They've lost that voting block – along with Hispanics, Blacks, educated, young and middle aged. Hmm...that leaves them the under-educated old white voters, and that base is slowing dying off, literally.

    It's a smart and authentic move by our President.

    March 10, 2009 09:09 pm at 9:09 pm |
  5. Typical White Person

    I guess this is one of those 3 million jobs he was talking about the stimulus bill creating...

    March 10, 2009 09:14 pm at 9:14 pm |
  6. Kyu Reisch, Radcliff, Kentucky

    Like Hillaryland?
    Where is Obama's change?

    March 10, 2009 09:16 pm at 9:16 pm |
  7. becca

    I am more worried about the economy and all the taxpayer money that is being wasted.

    Let's fix that first ......all other issues can wait a couple of weeks.

    March 10, 2009 09:16 pm at 9:16 pm |
  8. Biased

    I guess he had to create some new council again to justify Jarrett being in the White House. Does he have any friends left in Chicago or are they all in the White House now waiting for jobs to be created for them?

    March 10, 2009 09:19 pm at 9:19 pm |
  9. mn

    women are asked if they plan to retiurn to work when they announce they are expecting a baby, Instead of being told , child care and lactation services will be made available on worksite so can they attend to work and child.
    Women want it all and can do it all.

    March 10, 2009 09:22 pm at 9:22 pm |
  10. Little too late????

    Wow...another committee. Woman's Czar?? If it is unconstitutional to just build a gov empire, then make a Czar!

    Why doesnt he just select Nancy Pelosi...maybe she could earn her keep...

    The country could have done better by electing a president with a female running mate!!

    March 10, 2009 09:23 pm at 9:23 pm |
  11. Ernie in LA

    Obama is majoring in minor things. He should have more important things to do. His "Community Organizer" experience is showing. He is trying to take the focus off of his bad decisions.

    March 10, 2009 09:24 pm at 9:24 pm |
  12. bk

    Another council? Give me a break!

    March 10, 2009 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |
  13. Bert, IN

    I think he's doing this so that Michelle does not have to leave the White House because she has to be there for the girls. I will have to wait and see, I'm a little skeptical. Shouldn't this be left up to the Congress?

    March 10, 2009 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |
  14. Steve in Las Vegas,NV

    Women's council...Who could head that up? OH, Bill Clinton! He HAS experience in that department! Just Joking

    Just what we need....MORE government to run things. Is this really necessary? What will this do to help?

    March 10, 2009 09:31 pm at 9:31 pm |
  15. me

    which children's tv show theme song will he steal now

    "bob the builder....yes we can"

    March 10, 2009 09:38 pm at 9:38 pm |
  16. Ron Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

    A womens council is a great idea.But what we really need is more police officers on the street and programs that protect women and children from domestic violence.We are seeing more and more killings in this country commited by men on women and all you have to do is read the papers to hear about it.Its way out of hand.We need more stability in the home and on the job for women,Women are not possesions,they are human beings.Please be good to them they offer so much to us men.

    March 10, 2009 09:40 pm at 9:40 pm |
  17. Rick S.

    Save the gay, "special", baby whales!!

    March 10, 2009 09:42 pm at 9:42 pm |
  18. Dan, TX

    One more job created.

    March 10, 2009 09:42 pm at 9:42 pm |
  19. GoOBAMA!

    WOW! I LOVE a President that has the expertise, skill, capabilities, knowledge and the perfect DNA wiring to MULTI-TASK like OUR President of TODAY! A male who has so eloquently mastered the fine arts of multi-tasking... who would have ever thought?! Obviously, President Obama KNOWS that such learned capabilities comes from the teachings of women!

    WAY TO GO... AGAIN!

    March 10, 2009 09:51 pm at 9:51 pm |
  20. Jerry R Lucas

    I have seen if there are any tax problems. Can we have the office of I do not care if we spend to much to save those that have ripped us off

    March 10, 2009 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |
  21. kid minneapolis

    Well just keep out all the PUMAs. If they behave and earn it then maybe.

    March 10, 2009 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |
  22. Rob from Pa

    Hmm, how many new ficticious jobs has he created in D.C. ?
    I'm starting to loose count.

    March 10, 2009 09:54 pm at 9:54 pm |
  23. Chelsea Allinger

    Looking forward to seeing how this turns out, who is on it, and what they end up working on!

    March 10, 2009 10:01 pm at 10:01 pm |
  24. Llinda

    Good grief! anything to try to keep the votes of the lame-brained women who will fall for this crap. The feminist movement has accomplished this: Many women, now, MUST hold a job outside the home even if they would RATHER be home because men are now expecting it of their wives. Quite the foolish "accomplishment" I say. Let's turn it around, ladies!!!

    March 10, 2009 10:03 pm at 10:03 pm |
  25. Scott, Tucson

    Great! One more meaningless W/H job filled by the great one. And what would the taxpayers be paying for her salary in these hard times?

    March 10, 2009 10:03 pm at 10:03 pm |
  26. P. Y.

    Wonderful ! It is about time that women had someone helping them with their problems.
    Good job President Obama !

    March 10, 2009 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |
  27. Llinda

    Good grief! anything to try to keep the votes of the lame-brained women who will fall for this crap. The feminist movement has accomplished this: Many women, now, MUST hold a job outside the home even if they would RATHER be home because men are now expecting it of their wives. Quite the foolish "accomplishment" I say. Let's turn it around, ladies!!! Back to home-made children, bread, cookies and good old home-making. That's where the good life is. Been there, done that, and absolutely NO regrets!!!

    March 10, 2009 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |
  28. brenda

    Obama the Great Creator...of governement positions for all his friends, cronies. While private business is losing jobs the governement is gaining but who, in the end, pays for these jobs if no one is working to pay taxes?

    March 10, 2009 10:16 pm at 10:16 pm |
  29. Steph

    Excellent decision. Ms. Jarrett, a professional and a mother, is a great person to advise the administration on pay equity and work-life balance issues.

    March 10, 2009 10:18 pm at 10:18 pm |
  30. fearful for my country

    Awe. He finally found something to keep Michelle busy,

    March 10, 2009 10:26 pm at 10:26 pm |
  31. Mel of Alexandria, Virginia

    Great idea Mr President. Most of our women have insights which are vital for the building of a better society. Some women have been filling in for the absent fathers, and might be able to give some insights into dealing with some of those recalcitrant House members.

    March 10, 2009 10:29 pm at 10:29 pm |
  32. Ula Nejad Sacramento, Ca

    Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.......I was wondering when she would be thrown out into the open after a low profile stinit in Davos. Another useless, sleeveless appointee.

    March 10, 2009 10:32 pm at 10:32 pm |
  33. Kelsey

    Good! Finally a president who is actually going to do something about the issues facing women!!

    March 10, 2009 10:43 pm at 10:43 pm |
  34. Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA

    How will this "presence" to "address issues" work? Try again on the Equal Rights Amendment? Find out why women are still not treated the same as men? Expand the political pandering philosophy of "no interest group left behind"?

    March 10, 2009 10:45 pm at 10:45 pm |
  35. Farrell, Houston, Tx

    Every woman deserves equality, especially in pay. I hope all the working women get theirs, I never got mine and it's too late.

    March 10, 2009 10:49 pm at 10:49 pm |
  36. janet in ohio

    How about a Council on Women Grieving After an Abortion?

    March 10, 2009 10:55 pm at 10:55 pm |
  37. R FROM PA

    Cant this be taken care of in a different dept. Do we need to create more government jobs and make the government even larger than it is? If all the tax dollars for the next few generations are going to pay for the stimulis bill(s), where is the money going to come from to pay for more government jobs?

    March 10, 2009 11:04 pm at 11:04 pm |
  38. Perusing-through

    GOOD IDEA PRESIDENT OBAMA,

    Rush Limbaugh's definition of a "Femi-Nazi" is a woman NOT belonging to any Right-wing Radical Extremist Republican groups. The Obama-Jarrett Woman's Council is in response to Limbaugh's dictatorship and will help transfer 10-million more Limbaugh female political moderate rejects" from the GOP to Obama by 2010, and another 10-million more in 2012.

    March 10, 2009 11:20 pm at 11:20 pm |
  39. Marty, Grand Rapids

    One parent families (that tend to be working mothers) and parents who don't pay child support are a big problem for America. We do nothing to help support and develop the greatest resource we have in our country.

    I would like to see changes to FMLA (4 months+ of FMLA for the mother/parent), Child Support (The government should payout and collect child support. This way, the child always gets the money it needs and the government can work on tracking down the dead beat f needed), Child Care (Not sure what we can do here but good child care is hard to find and expensive. We, as a society, need to do more to make this more available to children).

    March 10, 2009 11:24 pm at 11:24 pm |
  40. WE Shall Overcome

    Guess what Bruce? You don't have to read/comment on every story written. If you read the headline and find it irrelevant....don't read the story....good grief!

    March 10, 2009 11:33 pm at 11:33 pm |