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Politics & Government

Protestors Greet Mary Bono Mack

Dozens gather in Palm Springs to protest local Congresswoman's votes against women's issues.

Over two dozen protestors paraded in front of the Palm Springs Hilton this morning, waving anti-Mary Bono Mack signs.

The mostly Democratic group, Women Against Mary (WAM), were looking to shine light on polices Bono Mack supported that were - in their opinion - dertimental to women.

"We're here because of her support for the Ryan Act, and for not supporting the Violence Against Women Act," said protester Kathleen Osaki. 

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"I'm not here for me," Roberta Craig said, "I'm here for my daughters, my grand-daughters and my great-grand-daughters. They're the ones I'm really concerned about."

Banning-Beaumont Patch caught up with the congresswoman a day before the rally, and asked her about the planned protest:

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“It’s such a hollow argument,” she said of the groups’ claim that she is ‘anti-women.’ “And I suppose that if I had the same record as this president does, as Nancy Pelosi does, of killing the economy, of killing jobs, that I would be trying to change the debate, too.”

The protestors, about an even mix of male and female, were opposed to Bono Mack's support of the Paul Ryan Budget, "which basically cuts Medicare and Medicaid, which is primarily aimed at women with children", according to Greg Rodriguez, vice chair of the Desert Stonewall Democrats.

"We're against her recent voting on the Violence Against Women Act - the Republican version -  that basically strips any protections for lesbians, Native American Women and immigrant women."

The group was also critical of Bono Mack's support of Mitt Romney and what Rodriguez called "the extreme right-wing" of the Republicn Party.

The Congresswoman was at the Palm Springs Hilton to speak to the Coachella Valley Hospitality Association about tourism and the economy.

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