Barbara Lee in What Will It Take to Make A Woman President?, by Marianne Schnall

On Abortion: "War on women": systematic attacks on rights in Congress

A: Absolutely, and I believe there is a war on women. And when you look at what has happened here in the House, in terms of the effort to erode women's rights, women's healthcare, women's right to privacy, to an abortion, to pay equity--when you look at everything , there are assaults on women each and every day. Women are fed up with these assaults. And the war on women.which I actually coined! At a press conference I was just so frustrated and I was trying to think of what to say about these attacks, and I said, "You know, this seems like a war on women." And I think that this caught on, and I think women, whether they agree with it being a war or not, they know that every day they are systematically being attacked here in Congress.

On Civil Rights: Women have fought to reduce systemic barriers

A: Well, I tell you, there are real barriers. Women have had to really fight to reduce systemic and institutional barriers on all fronts. When you look at pay equity versus a man--we're still fighting that battle. And so, we've come a long way since women gained the right to vote, but we have a long way to go. Our struggle for equal rights is not over and I think that's reflected in all levels of government and in the private sector.

On Education: When I started school, public schools were segregated

On Government Reform: Public campaign finance levels the playing field

A: Start with money. This money and politics is obscene. We have to get the public financing of campaigns to level the playing field. Right now, of course, it's been a man's world and so they have the access to the resources, in many ways, much more than women. So we've got to have a campaign finance system that really allows for equality. At this point, that system is not fair and that's a real factor in federal elections.