Parity over party: Democrat Donna Brazile, Republican Dana Perino call for more women

Since marking those milestones, both Republican Dana Perino and Democrat Donna Brazile have made inroads for women in politics and in their respective parties. On one thing they completely agree: both parties, and especially the Republican Party, need more women.

In the fight for gender parity in the world of politics, they say, it’s the only way to succeed.

“It took us 100 years to get 100 women,” said Brazile of the 127 women currently serving in Congress, noting that the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920, is only months away. “Are we going to wait another 100 years? I don’t know about you but I don’t have that much time,” said the former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee.

“We need Republicans. As a Democrat, I preach that,” Brazile said. Why? Among other reasons, women in office increase the chances of compromise, Brazile and Perino said.

“The Republican party, this is no secret, has a problem,” Perino said, referencing the results of the 2018 midterm election when a record margin of women voted for Democrats over Republicans.

Parity over party: Democrat Donna Brazile, Republican Dana Perino call for more women

Luke Frazza/AFP/Getty Images, FILEDemocratic presidential hopeful Al Gore introduces his new campaign manager Donna Brazile, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for his new presidential campaign headquarters in Nashville, Oct. 6, 1999.

“I don’t know about the White House per se, but I know that other people within the party recognize that this is something they have to concentrate on,” Perino said.

And Democrats have historically been better at grooming women for the candidate pipeline from early on — beginning in local office, Perino said.

“There’s a difference in Republican women getting in there,” Perino said, and that needs to come from the top down — especially when it comes to fundraising, she said.

Parity over party: Democrat Donna Brazile, Republican Dana Perino call for more women

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images, FILEPresident George W. Bush listens as White House press secretary Dana Perino speaks, after current Tony Snow submitted his resignation, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 31, 2007.

The 2020 election is likely to only enhance the Democratic Party’s image as one where women can break through.

Brazile listed six candidates — all women and all Democrats — who she categorized as running or going to run: Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who officially launched her campaign Monday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who announced her candidacy earlier this month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who have launched exploratory committees, lesser-known candidate — though someone Brazile said has a following — author Marianne Williamson, who announced her campaign Tuesday, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who has yet to announce.

(MORE: Sen. Kamala Harris kicks off 2020 campaign criticizing Trump and calling for unity)

(MORE: Welcome to 2020: Obstacles for Trump and a wide-open Democratic race)

On the question of whether the country is ready for a woman to be president, Brazile said the answer is a clear and resounding “yes.”

The question now?

“Will one of these women emerge as a top contender in 2020? The answer is also yes,” Brazile said — and there might even be more than one.

“We could emerge with two women in the top tier and then we have to decide, what will that look like?” she said. “It’s exciting.”

Parity over party: Democrat Donna Brazile, Republican Dana Perino call for more women

Earl Gibson III/Getty ImagesAuthors, from left, Donna Brazile, Yolanda Caraway, Minyon Moore and Leah Daughtry speak at “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” book signing, Dec. 15, 2018, in Woodland Hills, Cali.

Neither Brazile nor Perino have pinpointed a front-runner just yet — and Brazile, who’s looking forward to watching from the sidelines until much later in the game, said she’s keeping tabs on “all of them.”

“Let us enjoy the ride a little bit!” Perino said. “It’s fun for us to watch the Democrats go through this right now,” she added.

(MORE: For Democratic senators eyeing 2020 bids, confirmation hearings serve as early campaign platform)

Brazile and Perino met in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Brazile’s hometown of New Orleans, prompting her involvement in recovery efforts. Perino, now a Fox News host, was deputy White House press secretary for former President George W. Bush when the hurricane hit, and soon to make history in taking over the senior role.

The two reunited this week in Washington, D.C., for a women’s mentoring event put on by an organization Perino co-founded, Minute Mentoring.

The event brought together women from both parties who represent congressmen and women on the Hill. Some worked in think tanks, at lobbying firms or in the White House. The conversation wasn’t political, despite — or perhaps because of — the two panelists, Perino and Brazile.

Parity over party: Democrat Donna Brazile, Republican Dana Perino call for more women

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, FILEFox News personality Dana Perino attends the L’Oreal Women of Worth Awards in New York, Dec. 6, 2017.

But as Perino pointed out, garnering a political advantage from gender parity isn’t quite a driving force. The lesson from 2016 she said, was that women didn’t push Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over the edge in the way some expected.

“Especially Republican women are like, ‘Don’t tell me I have to vote for a woman candidate,’ because that does not wash with them,” Perino said.

Perino said it’s about a ripple effect: “Women thinking they can do all sorts of things that don’t necessarily have to do with politics.”

Sourse: abcnews.go.com

Parity over party: Democrat Donna Brazile, Republican Dana Perino call for more women

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