Memo to the GOP: You don't own me.
From You Don't Own Me PSA.
Showing posts with label GOP Misogyny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GOP Misogyny. Show all posts
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Let's Talk About Apologies or How Rush Limbaugh Blew It . . . Again
You may have recently heard that Rush Limbaugh called Georgetown University Law student Sandra Fluke "a slut" and many other even more vile things because she had the audacity to attempt to testify before Congress about how birth control for women isn't always about preventing pregnancy, how it is often used to treat real medical issues quite successfully, and how women desperately need birth control to be covered by all insurance plans. In short, birth control is a women's health matter.
You can imagine how repulsed I am that anyone would attack a woman in this way. It's vile, misogynistic, and shows Rush Limbaugh's ignorance. The damage of Rush's words went far beyond Ms. Fluke. (Read that, trust me.) What appalls me even more is that none of the GOP candidates for president could bring themselves to truly speak out against Rush. Instead, they all spoke around it. Clear Channel hasn't seen clear (pun intended) to do the right thing and suspend Rush. If they didn't own almost every single radio station, I would never listen to one of their stations again.
But I digress.
A number of days later, after digging himself further into the hole and losing seven (now at least nine) of his advertisers, Rush finally issued a statement "apologizing." Here's his apology:
A Statement From Rush
For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.
I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone's bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.
My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.
Because I didn't want to mess it up and I didn't want any commentary, I got that straight from Rush's website.
In my opinion, that is one of the worst apologies I've ever seen or heard.
First of all, notice the title "A Statement From Rush." WTF? Real apologies don't take 187 words of a 196 word statement to use the word "apologize."Second, Rush was being humorous? Please raise your hand if you think calling a woman a "slut" or a "prostitute" is funny. Anyone? Okay, so I see zero hands raised. We'll just all agree that calling a woman a "slut" or a "prostitute" is not funny. Ever. Third, he didn't mean to attack Ms. Fluke personally? Why did he carry on about her for days on end? Finally, what is that paragraph in the middle? Yes, we're living in serious times and we've got serious issues, but an apology isn't the time to try to divert people's attention.When I was a kid, believe it or not, I misbehaved sometimes. Usually, it had to do with fighting with my brother, but once in awhile, I blatantly broke a rule or misbehaved in a way that required both punishment and an apology. Apologies were taken seriously in my house and we were drilled in them.
According to my parents, apologies required three things: (1) you must take personal responsibility and own your wrongdoing (apologies never contain "if, then" statements); (2) you must be remorseful and sincere; and (3) you must make reparations.
Based on these requirements, here's what I'll accept from Rush as an apology. Anything less is just more blowhardedness:
"I am genuinely and sincerely sorry to Ms. Fluke, all women, and all of my listeners for my vile and out-of-line slander of Ms. Fluke. Ms. Fluke did nothing to call for my personal attacks on her character and I should never have used the words "slut" and "prostitute" to describe her or any woman or girl. Attacking someone personally is the coward's way out. In no way does being on birth control reflect on anyone's moral character and my accusations were misogynist and just mean. To help undo some of the damage my reprehensible words have caused, I am immediately removing myself from the tv and radio airwaves without pay for one week and donating $1 million of my personal money each to NARAL, NOW and Planned Parenthood. Again, I sincerely apologize for my cowardliness not only to Ms. Fluke, but to all Americans."
I'm guessing he won't take my advice and issue the apology I've just created for him, but because I think this is such a big deal, I'll even let Rush use my words without giving me credit for them.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Truth About Planned Parenthood
I meant to post this on Friday night, but got lost in the whole federal government shutdown coverage (you know I love politics, right?).
Let's talk about Planned Parenthood, which was what the whole threat to shut the government down was about. The GOP was holding up approving the federal budget because of a rider they wanted to defund Planned Parenthood, which amounted to 0.0083% of the federal budget.
In 2009, Planned Parenthood provided 11.5 million services to women, men and transgendered women, of which only 3% were abortion services. And per The Hyde Amendment, no federal money actually pays for abortion services. The Hyde Amendment has been the law since 1976. That's right, since it became effective in 1977, no federal government dollars have been used to pay for abortions.
So what does Planned Parenthood do exactly if they're not in the business of killing a gazillion babies everyday using federal money?
Planned Parenthood provides basic healthcare services for women, men and transgendered women. It's one of the few places in America where transgendered women can know they will receive healthcare services with dignity. Planned Parenthood provides pap smears, breast exams, counseling on reproductive health and planning, HIV counseling, flu shots, and diabetes testing, just to name a few.
It is simply appalling to me that the GOP hates women so much that not only won't they allow single-payer affordable healthcare, but now they want to dismantle an organization with the mission of providing healthcare services to those who would otherwise go without. Ironically, thanks to the small amount of money Planned Parenthood receives from the federal governement each year (none of which, again, goes to fund abortions), the governement actually saves $4 for every $1 dollar spent on family planning. If you don't provide women with basic healthcare, it doesn't mean any problems they have don't cost anything. There's a reason that Ben Franklin's famous adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is true.
Let's listen to the truth about Planned Parenthood.
Let's talk about Planned Parenthood, which was what the whole threat to shut the government down was about. The GOP was holding up approving the federal budget because of a rider they wanted to defund Planned Parenthood, which amounted to 0.0083% of the federal budget.
In 2009, Planned Parenthood provided 11.5 million services to women, men and transgendered women, of which only 3% were abortion services. And per The Hyde Amendment, no federal money actually pays for abortion services. The Hyde Amendment has been the law since 1976. That's right, since it became effective in 1977, no federal government dollars have been used to pay for abortions.
So what does Planned Parenthood do exactly if they're not in the business of killing a gazillion babies everyday using federal money?
Planned Parenthood provides basic healthcare services for women, men and transgendered women. It's one of the few places in America where transgendered women can know they will receive healthcare services with dignity. Planned Parenthood provides pap smears, breast exams, counseling on reproductive health and planning, HIV counseling, flu shots, and diabetes testing, just to name a few.
It is simply appalling to me that the GOP hates women so much that not only won't they allow single-payer affordable healthcare, but now they want to dismantle an organization with the mission of providing healthcare services to those who would otherwise go without. Ironically, thanks to the small amount of money Planned Parenthood receives from the federal governement each year (none of which, again, goes to fund abortions), the governement actually saves $4 for every $1 dollar spent on family planning. If you don't provide women with basic healthcare, it doesn't mean any problems they have don't cost anything. There's a reason that Ben Franklin's famous adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is true.
Let's listen to the truth about Planned Parenthood.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Still don't believe me? Listen to the story of one woman who wrote to Lawrence O'Donnell on Friday. Yes, she's had an abortion, but that does not make her a bad person, as Glenn Beck would have you believe today (if you want to hear his hate-filled tirade, google it because I won't link to it). She's a woman who has had to rely on Planned Parenthood for her basic healthcare because she could neither afford private insurance nor qualify for it after she lost her job. Healthcare that could be provided by a single-payer system, if only we had one, but instead is provided by an institution set up to provide healthcare to all, no matter their ability to pay. And it's saved her life.Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Lawrence O'Donnell teared up when he read her letter. He did so because her story is all too common and without Planned Parenthood many women would die.Friday, January 9, 2009
Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL 10th) Must Hate Women
I know I promised I'd work on being less snarky after the historic election of President-elect Barack Obama and lately I haven't entirely lived up to that promise. This post isn't going to live up to that promise either. On the one hand, we have a lot to be grateful for today, but on the otherhand, we have a douchebag of a Congressman and that's not such great news because we deserve better.
The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 passed the House of Representatives today 247-171 (15 Congressmen/women abstained). You'll recall that this is the law that spanks the Supreme Court for its ridiculous ruling allowing women an incredibly short time to sue for discrimination even if they didn't find out about the discrimination for years after it started.
Wanna guess how Mark Kirk voted? He voted NO.
That's right. Mark Kirk voted no, just like he did in 2007.
Just before that, the House voted 256-163 (14 abstentions) in favor of the Paycheck Fairness Act which stiffens penalties against companies that discriminate based on a person's gender.
You're probably not surprised to learn that Kirk also voted NO on this bill again, just as he did in 2008.
Don't ask me why he hates women so much, but he obviously does.
I'd like Rep. Kirk to remember that I will remember this in 2010 when he is up for re-election and I will make sure every woman I know is aware of his misogyny. That's my campaign promise to him.
The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 passed the House of Representatives today 247-171 (15 Congressmen/women abstained). You'll recall that this is the law that spanks the Supreme Court for its ridiculous ruling allowing women an incredibly short time to sue for discrimination even if they didn't find out about the discrimination for years after it started.
Wanna guess how Mark Kirk voted? He voted NO.
That's right. Mark Kirk voted no, just like he did in 2007.
Just before that, the House voted 256-163 (14 abstentions) in favor of the Paycheck Fairness Act which stiffens penalties against companies that discriminate based on a person's gender.
You're probably not surprised to learn that Kirk also voted NO on this bill again, just as he did in 2008.
Don't ask me why he hates women so much, but he obviously does.
I'd like Rep. Kirk to remember that I will remember this in 2010 when he is up for re-election and I will make sure every woman I know is aware of his misogyny. That's my campaign promise to him.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sarah Palin DID Charge for Rape Kits!
Much has been made about Sarah Palin's policy as mayor of Wasilla, AK to charge rape victims for their rape kits.
At first, it was just a whisper that she allowed this despicable practice to occur under her leadership. Once the media picked up on it, she said she didn't know it was happening and she found it vile. I don't buy that for a second and neither should you. It simply isn't plausible that as mayor of a town of approximately 6,000 (then) she wouldn't know that her hand-picked chief of police was in a public fight with the state over Wasilla's policy of charging rape victims for their exams.
The fact is that Sarah Palin allowed rape victims to be charged for their exams. And that is vile and inexcusable.
No woman should ever be forced to pay for evidence of rape to be collected from her. Rape is a horrific enough crime and it changes a woman forever. There is no reason in the world a rape victim should ever be forced to bear the cost financially for this crime. I guess, however, I shouldn't be so surprised that a woman who would force another woman to give birth to a child conceived during rape and would refuse her the "morning after" pill, would also insist on this final humiliation.
If for no other reason than Sarah Palin's obvious misogyny, you should vote for Barack Obama.
At first, it was just a whisper that she allowed this despicable practice to occur under her leadership. Once the media picked up on it, she said she didn't know it was happening and she found it vile. I don't buy that for a second and neither should you. It simply isn't plausible that as mayor of a town of approximately 6,000 (then) she wouldn't know that her hand-picked chief of police was in a public fight with the state over Wasilla's policy of charging rape victims for their exams.
The fact is that Sarah Palin allowed rape victims to be charged for their exams. And that is vile and inexcusable.
No woman should ever be forced to pay for evidence of rape to be collected from her. Rape is a horrific enough crime and it changes a woman forever. There is no reason in the world a rape victim should ever be forced to bear the cost financially for this crime. I guess, however, I shouldn't be so surprised that a woman who would force another woman to give birth to a child conceived during rape and would refuse her the "morning after" pill, would also insist on this final humiliation.
If for no other reason than Sarah Palin's obvious misogyny, you should vote for Barack Obama.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Women Are Just Burdens on Society
At least according to John McCain.
John McCain would like you to know that if you have a uterus, then making sure that your pay is equal to a man's pay is simply too great of "a burden on business." In fact, he thinks equal pay is such a trivial issue that he couldn't be bothered to show up for the vote on the Ledbetter Act in April.
I strongly encourage you to share this new Obama ad with your girlfriends. They deserve to know the facts about just how little John McCain thinks of women.
By the way, if you live in the Illinois 10th Congressional District, Mark Kirk (R), ALSO voted AGAINST the Ledbetter Act. That alone should be reason enough to vote for Dan Seals.
John McCain would like you to know that if you have a uterus, then making sure that your pay is equal to a man's pay is simply too great of "a burden on business." In fact, he thinks equal pay is such a trivial issue that he couldn't be bothered to show up for the vote on the Ledbetter Act in April.
I strongly encourage you to share this new Obama ad with your girlfriends. They deserve to know the facts about just how little John McCain thinks of women.
By the way, if you live in the Illinois 10th Congressional District, Mark Kirk (R), ALSO voted AGAINST the Ledbetter Act. That alone should be reason enough to vote for Dan Seals.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
My Congressman Speaks! Just Not To Me.
As I turned onto my street about an hour ago, I discovered both sides were lined with cars and Mark Kirk (R-IL) for Congress signs and flags in most lawns. My across the street neighbor was having a tea. Oh goody. Hopefully, my Dan Seals (D) for Congress sign would still be in my yard, but it's been known to disappear before.
Pulling closer to my house, I noticed him standing in my neighbor's driveway and I realized there was no place for me (the homeowning taxpayer) to park. Normally, this would not be a problem because I would simply park in my driveway. Unfortunately, my town is in the middle of replacing my street and they started on the curbs on my side of the street, just poured the concrete yesterday, and we have not been given the clearance to park in our own driveways yet. Given how much stuff I had to bring into my house (I had been meeting with some clients), I wasn't about to park a block away just because all the GOPers were having a party. I pulled right into my driveway figuring if someone says something to me, I'll blame my violation of the rules on my Congressman.
Settled into my driveway, one of my neighbors walked across the street to greet me. She said "Congressman Kirk is across the street to meet with all the neighbors. Everyone's invited . . . except you because you have a Dan Seals sign in your yard."
To be honest, I'm not sure I remember the last time someone spoke to me that way. It made my blood boil. It's not that I want to be invited to a GOP coffee because let's face it, if I was there, I would have to point out all of his lies, but no one needs to speak to me in such a condescending manner. You can be certain that I told her exactly why I'm not voting for Kirk and am voting for Dan Seals.
Since I am obviously not going to be given the opportunity to speak to my Congressman, here's what I would have told him.
1. You don't really care what your constituents think. I hate that you call at 6:30pm (or other random times) with a recorded message that says "We're having a town hall meeting via conference call NOW and if you'd like to participate press 1." I have, in fact, pressed one a few times only to discover that I am not allowed to ask questions. What's up with that? Other times, the calls come at completely bad times and I've just hung up. These calls completely irritate me. I'd like to participate. I'd like to hear what my Congressman has to say. I want to ask him questions. And if I knew about the calls IN ADVANCE, I would be able to plan an evening around them. I've called his office numerous times about this and never get an answer to my complaint.
2. I am troubled by your hypocrisy. Mark Kirk, although being a member of the Naval Reserve, did not go to Iraq when his unit was called up during this war. Instead, he served his time at the Pentagon. It must be nice to have that option. His reason was that he would put his unit at risk by being there. I hate to burst his obviously inflated ego, but I don't think anyone in Iraq cares about him. But it's a nice message to send to the folks back home: "I'm in the Reserves, but am too important to serve."
3. Judgement matters and you don't have it. Mark Kirk supported the War in Iraq. In fact, he authored the resolution to go to war and has voted 12 times against a withdrawal. He also took money from Halliburton and then voted to protect Halliburton's Iraq contracts.
4. Off-shore drilling isn't going to lower gas prices for at least 10 years, if at all. Mark Kirk loves off-shore drilling and takes money from oil companies.
5. You're too much of a "yes man." Mark Kirk has voted in line with President Bush's wishes 88% of the time.
6. Uninsured Americans cost us all more and aren't uninsured because they're lazy or don't want health insurance. He voted AGAINST SCHIP which would give healthcare coverage to impoverished kids.
7. No Child Left Behind isn't working. Ask any teacher. He supports President Bush's "No Child Left Behind," but refuses to fund it.
8. Gas costs too much. When Mark Kirk was running for office in 2000, gas was under $2 per gallon. At my neighborhood gas station, it's $3.95 today. Why is that? Why doesn't he do anything about this?
9. You're out of touch. He voted against extending unemployment insurance and refused to support any measures that would help homeowners facing foreclosure due to predatory lending because we live in a very high income district.
10. Why do you hate women? Finally, as a woman, I cannot ever support someone who opposed the Paycheck Fairness Act and Lilly Ledbetter Act which would have ensured pay equity for women. He was worried it would create lawsuits. How dare we want to enforce laws and get equal pay for equal work, when we're currently making $0.77 for every $1 a man earns.
When I see Mark Kirk, I see President Bush's lackey. He's a significant part of the problem in Washington these days. I want my Congressman to have a clue what goes on in our district. I want him to be someone who listens to members of the district, rather than telling us what he wants us to hear.
I'm voting for Dan Seals, who will work to end this debacle in Iraq, support my right to control my body and support a real energy policy that will include alternative forms of energy.
Oh, my yard sign is still there and I'm loving the fact that my car is parked squarely in my driveway with 4 Obama, Dan Seals, and anti-war stickers on it! But if my yard sign disappears, you bet I know who will get my first call of anger.
Sources: Mark Kirk's Congressional Website, Kirk Facts, Where Was Mark Kirk?, Dan Seals for Congress, Ellen of the 10th, and Progress Illinois.
Pulling closer to my house, I noticed him standing in my neighbor's driveway and I realized there was no place for me (the homeowning taxpayer) to park. Normally, this would not be a problem because I would simply park in my driveway. Unfortunately, my town is in the middle of replacing my street and they started on the curbs on my side of the street, just poured the concrete yesterday, and we have not been given the clearance to park in our own driveways yet. Given how much stuff I had to bring into my house (I had been meeting with some clients), I wasn't about to park a block away just because all the GOPers were having a party. I pulled right into my driveway figuring if someone says something to me, I'll blame my violation of the rules on my Congressman.
Settled into my driveway, one of my neighbors walked across the street to greet me. She said "Congressman Kirk is across the street to meet with all the neighbors. Everyone's invited . . . except you because you have a Dan Seals sign in your yard."
To be honest, I'm not sure I remember the last time someone spoke to me that way. It made my blood boil. It's not that I want to be invited to a GOP coffee because let's face it, if I was there, I would have to point out all of his lies, but no one needs to speak to me in such a condescending manner. You can be certain that I told her exactly why I'm not voting for Kirk and am voting for Dan Seals.
Since I am obviously not going to be given the opportunity to speak to my Congressman, here's what I would have told him.
1. You don't really care what your constituents think. I hate that you call at 6:30pm (or other random times) with a recorded message that says "We're having a town hall meeting via conference call NOW and if you'd like to participate press 1." I have, in fact, pressed one a few times only to discover that I am not allowed to ask questions. What's up with that? Other times, the calls come at completely bad times and I've just hung up. These calls completely irritate me. I'd like to participate. I'd like to hear what my Congressman has to say. I want to ask him questions. And if I knew about the calls IN ADVANCE, I would be able to plan an evening around them. I've called his office numerous times about this and never get an answer to my complaint.
2. I am troubled by your hypocrisy. Mark Kirk, although being a member of the Naval Reserve, did not go to Iraq when his unit was called up during this war. Instead, he served his time at the Pentagon. It must be nice to have that option. His reason was that he would put his unit at risk by being there. I hate to burst his obviously inflated ego, but I don't think anyone in Iraq cares about him. But it's a nice message to send to the folks back home: "I'm in the Reserves, but am too important to serve."
3. Judgement matters and you don't have it. Mark Kirk supported the War in Iraq. In fact, he authored the resolution to go to war and has voted 12 times against a withdrawal. He also took money from Halliburton and then voted to protect Halliburton's Iraq contracts.
4. Off-shore drilling isn't going to lower gas prices for at least 10 years, if at all. Mark Kirk loves off-shore drilling and takes money from oil companies.
5. You're too much of a "yes man." Mark Kirk has voted in line with President Bush's wishes 88% of the time.
6. Uninsured Americans cost us all more and aren't uninsured because they're lazy or don't want health insurance. He voted AGAINST SCHIP which would give healthcare coverage to impoverished kids.
7. No Child Left Behind isn't working. Ask any teacher. He supports President Bush's "No Child Left Behind," but refuses to fund it.
8. Gas costs too much. When Mark Kirk was running for office in 2000, gas was under $2 per gallon. At my neighborhood gas station, it's $3.95 today. Why is that? Why doesn't he do anything about this?
9. You're out of touch. He voted against extending unemployment insurance and refused to support any measures that would help homeowners facing foreclosure due to predatory lending because we live in a very high income district.
10. Why do you hate women? Finally, as a woman, I cannot ever support someone who opposed the Paycheck Fairness Act and Lilly Ledbetter Act which would have ensured pay equity for women. He was worried it would create lawsuits. How dare we want to enforce laws and get equal pay for equal work, when we're currently making $0.77 for every $1 a man earns.
When I see Mark Kirk, I see President Bush's lackey. He's a significant part of the problem in Washington these days. I want my Congressman to have a clue what goes on in our district. I want him to be someone who listens to members of the district, rather than telling us what he wants us to hear.
I'm voting for Dan Seals, who will work to end this debacle in Iraq, support my right to control my body and support a real energy policy that will include alternative forms of energy.
Oh, my yard sign is still there and I'm loving the fact that my car is parked squarely in my driveway with 4 Obama, Dan Seals, and anti-war stickers on it! But if my yard sign disappears, you bet I know who will get my first call of anger.
Sources: Mark Kirk's Congressional Website, Kirk Facts, Where Was Mark Kirk?, Dan Seals for Congress, Ellen of the 10th, and Progress Illinois.
Friday, September 5, 2008
An Open Letter to Sarah Palin
My friend Scott (he's one of the good guys) posted this on his Facebook page and I just have to share it with you.
Feel free to distribute it as you like.
Hello All,
I just can't refrain from sharing this piece with you which I wrote this morning after Sarah Pallin's appalling speech last night! I was so outraged by her smarmy sarcasm! This piece has just been picked up by Women's Feature Service, a syndicate to which I regularly contribute, so I am prohibited from submitting it to major dailies. However, feel free to share as widely as you'd like!
Elayne Clift
PO Box 299
Saxtons River, Vt 05154 USA
802-869-2686/fax 2687
eclift@vermontel.net
www.elayneclift.com
AN OPEN LETTER TO SARAH PALIN
Okay, you did it. You hoodwinked your party and a lot of other Americans too, I suspect, with your cheerleader’s charm and your finger-waving fervor. You got yourself called “Hottest VP.” Some say you “knocked it out of the park.” Well, I think you should be knocked out of the park, Sarah, and here’s why.
First, your hypocrisy is astounding. How can you possibly say that something like an unplanned pregnancy is a personal matter deserving of privacy? Doesn’t every woman who grapples with a painful abortion decision deserve the same privacy? What rock have you been living under that enables you to advocate for abstinence-only sex education when you can’t even teach that dubious value to your own daughter? Why do you speak of love and support for children (including the unborn) when your party refuses to legislate policies that would offer them decent healthcare and early childhood education and provide their mothers with a modicum of support, including paid maternity leave?
You are a selfish woman, Sarah, with dubious priorities. “J’accuse”, as writer Emile Zola wrote -- but you must pardon me for exposing my elitist education -- because as a mother myself, I cannot fathom how you would subject a teenage daughter in trouble to the kind of public scrutiny she now must endure in the interest of your own ambitions. At the risk of sounding like a failed feminist, I must also say that being the mother of a special needs child too, I just don’t get how you can abdicate the desperately important advocacy and monitoring that will be required in these first years of your son’s life. (I know your husband is deeply involved and responsible, but believe me, Sarah, no one does it like a mom.) As you said yourself, “Children with special needs inspire special love.” Where is your special love, Sarah? Family values, I might remind you, are not just a set of lofty ideals wrapped in grandiose rhetoric; they involve making hard choices in the best interest of everyone in the family.
By now many people are finding you either mean-spirited or remarkably ignorant. I think you are both. Nothing revealed these characteristics so much or so shockingly as your attack (and Rudy Guliani’s) on community organizing. “I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer’ except that you have actual responsibilities,” you said. Don’t you get it, Sarah? Community organizing is what your beloved faith-based charities do! Community organizing by women all around this country is what happened in the 1970s and 80s to enable you to be taken seriously as a candidate for vice president, and to stand, God forbid, a heartbeat away from being the CEO of the most powerful country on earth. Community organizing is what got us the Americans with Disabilities Act which will serve your son well as he matures. I will never, ever, forgive you, Sarah, for your snide, sarcastic, demeaning, despicable disrespect for one of America’s finer traditions – or for your surly attacks on the media, America’s Fourth Estate and a pillar of any democracy.
Your much anticipated coming out party was billed as a way for all of us to get to know who you are. Well, Sarah, I know who you are. You are the bully in the sandbox, the teenager who thinks she can get her way by being flirtatious, the adult who thinks she can get by without doing the hard work and get ahead without paying much dues, the politician who believes that lies are more expedient than facts. I know who you are, Sarah, and I don’t like or trust you. I find you duplicitous, shallow, insulting and frighteningly retro – all qualities I am terrified to contemplate in a V.P. or a president.
For the record, by the way, here are just a few reasons, reported by the Associated Press, that I find you duplicitous and dishonest:
• You said you had protected taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending but the truth is that as mayor of Wasilla you hired a lobbyist and went to Washington every year to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. Since you’ve been governor Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal funding, the largest per capital request in the country. And that Bridge to Nowhere? You only dropped the idea after it was ridiculed nationally.
• You accused Barack Obama of never having authored a major law or reform, “not even in the state senate.” The fact is that as a new senator Mr. Obama worked in a bipartisan way to pass federal legislation, now law, that helped intercept illegal shipments of WMDs and made it harder to stockpile conventional weapons. He also co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
• You falsely accuse Mr. Obama of planning to raise all kinds of taxes without fully sharing his complete and complex tax plan. In reality, just for starters, the McCain-Palin plan would raise taxes for middle income taxpayers by 3% while the Obama-Biden plan would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly.
• You and Mr. McCain continue to inflate your experience and role as governor in a state that ranks 47th in terms of population. For example, you may be in charge of your state’s national guard, but your authority does not include calling those guards into actual military service. (Alaska has one of the smallest state guards in the country, by the way.) Contrary to what John McCain has claimed, you do not have national security as one of your primary responsibilities.
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. Even your own political pundits, Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy, were caught by a live mike calling your speech “political [expletive]” and bemoaning the fact that “It’s over.” Honey, I’m afraid that as the truth keeps surfacing and folks get beyond your being a “hotty,” and when you must finally respond to the press on the Sunday morning talk shows or at press conferences, and when the spotlight shines down upon you as you debate your formidable, experienced opponent you will no longer be the toast of your party. You will simply be toast. And that’s something I wouldn’t find hard to swallow at all.
# # #
Elayne Clift writes about women, politics and social issues from Saxtons River, Vt.
Feel free to distribute it as you like.
Hello All,
I just can't refrain from sharing this piece with you which I wrote this morning after Sarah Pallin's appalling speech last night! I was so outraged by her smarmy sarcasm! This piece has just been picked up by Women's Feature Service, a syndicate to which I regularly contribute, so I am prohibited from submitting it to major dailies. However, feel free to share as widely as you'd like!
Elayne Clift
PO Box 299
Saxtons River, Vt 05154 USA
802-869-2686/fax 2687
eclift@vermontel.net
www.elayneclift.com
AN OPEN LETTER TO SARAH PALIN
Okay, you did it. You hoodwinked your party and a lot of other Americans too, I suspect, with your cheerleader’s charm and your finger-waving fervor. You got yourself called “Hottest VP.” Some say you “knocked it out of the park.” Well, I think you should be knocked out of the park, Sarah, and here’s why.
First, your hypocrisy is astounding. How can you possibly say that something like an unplanned pregnancy is a personal matter deserving of privacy? Doesn’t every woman who grapples with a painful abortion decision deserve the same privacy? What rock have you been living under that enables you to advocate for abstinence-only sex education when you can’t even teach that dubious value to your own daughter? Why do you speak of love and support for children (including the unborn) when your party refuses to legislate policies that would offer them decent healthcare and early childhood education and provide their mothers with a modicum of support, including paid maternity leave?
You are a selfish woman, Sarah, with dubious priorities. “J’accuse”, as writer Emile Zola wrote -- but you must pardon me for exposing my elitist education -- because as a mother myself, I cannot fathom how you would subject a teenage daughter in trouble to the kind of public scrutiny she now must endure in the interest of your own ambitions. At the risk of sounding like a failed feminist, I must also say that being the mother of a special needs child too, I just don’t get how you can abdicate the desperately important advocacy and monitoring that will be required in these first years of your son’s life. (I know your husband is deeply involved and responsible, but believe me, Sarah, no one does it like a mom.) As you said yourself, “Children with special needs inspire special love.” Where is your special love, Sarah? Family values, I might remind you, are not just a set of lofty ideals wrapped in grandiose rhetoric; they involve making hard choices in the best interest of everyone in the family.
By now many people are finding you either mean-spirited or remarkably ignorant. I think you are both. Nothing revealed these characteristics so much or so shockingly as your attack (and Rudy Guliani’s) on community organizing. “I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer’ except that you have actual responsibilities,” you said. Don’t you get it, Sarah? Community organizing is what your beloved faith-based charities do! Community organizing by women all around this country is what happened in the 1970s and 80s to enable you to be taken seriously as a candidate for vice president, and to stand, God forbid, a heartbeat away from being the CEO of the most powerful country on earth. Community organizing is what got us the Americans with Disabilities Act which will serve your son well as he matures. I will never, ever, forgive you, Sarah, for your snide, sarcastic, demeaning, despicable disrespect for one of America’s finer traditions – or for your surly attacks on the media, America’s Fourth Estate and a pillar of any democracy.
Your much anticipated coming out party was billed as a way for all of us to get to know who you are. Well, Sarah, I know who you are. You are the bully in the sandbox, the teenager who thinks she can get her way by being flirtatious, the adult who thinks she can get by without doing the hard work and get ahead without paying much dues, the politician who believes that lies are more expedient than facts. I know who you are, Sarah, and I don’t like or trust you. I find you duplicitous, shallow, insulting and frighteningly retro – all qualities I am terrified to contemplate in a V.P. or a president.
For the record, by the way, here are just a few reasons, reported by the Associated Press, that I find you duplicitous and dishonest:
• You said you had protected taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending but the truth is that as mayor of Wasilla you hired a lobbyist and went to Washington every year to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. Since you’ve been governor Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal funding, the largest per capital request in the country. And that Bridge to Nowhere? You only dropped the idea after it was ridiculed nationally.
• You accused Barack Obama of never having authored a major law or reform, “not even in the state senate.” The fact is that as a new senator Mr. Obama worked in a bipartisan way to pass federal legislation, now law, that helped intercept illegal shipments of WMDs and made it harder to stockpile conventional weapons. He also co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
• You falsely accuse Mr. Obama of planning to raise all kinds of taxes without fully sharing his complete and complex tax plan. In reality, just for starters, the McCain-Palin plan would raise taxes for middle income taxpayers by 3% while the Obama-Biden plan would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly.
• You and Mr. McCain continue to inflate your experience and role as governor in a state that ranks 47th in terms of population. For example, you may be in charge of your state’s national guard, but your authority does not include calling those guards into actual military service. (Alaska has one of the smallest state guards in the country, by the way.) Contrary to what John McCain has claimed, you do not have national security as one of your primary responsibilities.
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. Even your own political pundits, Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy, were caught by a live mike calling your speech “political [expletive]” and bemoaning the fact that “It’s over.” Honey, I’m afraid that as the truth keeps surfacing and folks get beyond your being a “hotty,” and when you must finally respond to the press on the Sunday morning talk shows or at press conferences, and when the spotlight shines down upon you as you debate your formidable, experienced opponent you will no longer be the toast of your party. You will simply be toast. And that’s something I wouldn’t find hard to swallow at all.
# # #
Elayne Clift writes about women, politics and social issues from Saxtons River, Vt.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
GOP: "Respect Bristol's Privacy. That's Always Been the Tradition and Practice When It Comes To the Children of Candidates."
Attention! Attention! Attention! The Grand Old Party has an announcement to make!
Per an internal, not for external distribution GOP Talking Points:
"The media should respect Bristol's privacy. That's always been the tradition and practice when it comes to the children of candidates. The children of candidates do not choose to run for office and be thrust into the spotlight."
Yes, you read that correctly. The GOP would like you MEAN and LIBERAL BIASED media types (and that surely includes you bloggers - who John McCain hates) to stop hating on and bad mouthing poor Bristol Palin. And they have a spotless record of always embracing politicians' children, no matter the political party.
Except for when they don't.
"Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly?" John McCain told a handful of big Republican funders in June 1998. "Because Janet Reno is her father."
For the record (and in case John McCain was confused), Chelsea Clinton, 18 in 1998, was not running for political office, nor had she been thrust into the news due to her activities that were in complete contrast to her father's (President Bill Clinton's) beliefs and policies.
Nope. That is Bristol Palin, the pregnant daughter of Sarah Palin. So John McCain will just have to excuse us for questioning Sarah Palin's strict abstinence policies and her pregnant, unwed teenage daughter.
And just cuz I've been looking for an excuse to point out how misogynistic John McCain is, enjoy the following where John McCain joking about women enjoy being raped* is just "McCain being McCain."
*Trust me on this one. Women DO NOT like being raped.
Per an internal, not for external distribution GOP Talking Points:
"The media should respect Bristol's privacy. That's always been the tradition and practice when it comes to the children of candidates. The children of candidates do not choose to run for office and be thrust into the spotlight."
Yes, you read that correctly. The GOP would like you MEAN and LIBERAL BIASED media types (and that surely includes you bloggers - who John McCain hates) to stop hating on and bad mouthing poor Bristol Palin. And they have a spotless record of always embracing politicians' children, no matter the political party.
Except for when they don't.
"Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly?" John McCain told a handful of big Republican funders in June 1998. "Because Janet Reno is her father."
For the record (and in case John McCain was confused), Chelsea Clinton, 18 in 1998, was not running for political office, nor had she been thrust into the news due to her activities that were in complete contrast to her father's (President Bill Clinton's) beliefs and policies.
Nope. That is Bristol Palin, the pregnant daughter of Sarah Palin. So John McCain will just have to excuse us for questioning Sarah Palin's strict abstinence policies and her pregnant, unwed teenage daughter.
And just cuz I've been looking for an excuse to point out how misogynistic John McCain is, enjoy the following where John McCain joking about women enjoy being raped* is just "McCain being McCain."
*Trust me on this one. Women DO NOT like being raped.
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