Swompdonkey

Sexism: Alive and Well

Sexism and Sarah Palin
'We will defend Sarah Palin against misogynist smears not because we like her or support her, but because that's how feminism works.'


Last update: 4:27 p.m. EDT Sept. 2, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 02, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As part of its Stop The Silence on Sexism campaign, WomenCount sent this email to its members today:

It started Friday afternoon with John Roberts on CNN, and then in a slow build over the weekend it became clear what the leading sexist charge would be against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: Is it appropriate for her to accept the vice presidential nomination given the magnitude of her current family responsibilities?

The question came not just from members of the media but also from voters around the country who wrote in to news organizations and on blogs.

The obvious retort is whether anyone would ask the same question of the father of a four-month-old with Down Syndrome and a pregnant teenager. We think not.

Radio talk host Ed Schultz on CNN Monday night took things even further by declaring that Palin would not be able to focus on her job given her family distractions.

And Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn wrote: "Of course, women can be good mothers and have careers at the same time. I've done both. Other women in public office have children ... but ... a mother's role is different from a father's."

The message? Sarah Palin: bad mother.

On that count we have no doubt these accusations would never be made about a man. In that sense, Sally Quinn is right -- and that's why things have got to change.

The very notion that Sarah Palin should not have accepted this nomination because she is a mother with demanding challenges underscores just how far we have to go.

Throughout the weekend, we have been asked about WomenCount's views on Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee. It is important to distinguish between the broader issue of sexism and the ideology of an individual. WomenCount was born of the passion its founders had for Hillary Clinton's clear view of social issues and progressive values. We cannot pretend that Governor Palin meets any standard of progressive politics or social values.

Regardless of the candidates' ideology, we will work to stamp out sexism when we see it on the campaign trail. To paraphrase the words of one blogger who said it best over the weekend: We will defend Sarah Palin against misogynist smears not because we like her or support her, but because that's how feminism works.

WomenCount PAC was created to ensure that the 51 percent of American citizens who are women have their values and votes counted in the political process. So far in the 2008 election cycle, WomenCount has run a series of ads related to the presidential campaign and made contributions to several women candidates for Congress.

Contributions to WomenCount PAC are not tax-deductible. Contributions will be used in federal elections, and are subject to federal law regarding prohibited sources and limits. Contributions to WomenCount PAC are limited to $5,000 per calendar year and contributions from corporations and labor unions are prohibited. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year.

Paid for by WomenCount PAC

Bravo ladies. Way to stick to your principles, and way to point out a the double-standard that has been so evident since McCain's VP pick was announced.

This kind of principled stand brings to mind the oft-quoted and misattributed statement (Voltaire did not say it) about disagreeing with someone, but fighting for their right to say it. Just because she is a Republican poster-girl, and darling of the religious right, does not make her fair game for the kind of nonsense, frankly, she has been subjected to thus far.
If the shoe were on the other foot, how would people react to Hillary being subjected to this kind of crap by Republican smear artists?

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Update: Bad blogging etiquette! i should have linked to this.

BTW, speech-wise, it ain't exactly going so great for the Republicans in St Paul, is it? Sure Thompson was fine, Lieberman was... uh, Lieberman, but honestly, nothing like the Clintons' or Obama's speeches last week. And the less said about President Bush's canned address the better. Palin has to knock it out of the park tonight.