That now-famous and overused phrase is popping up in articles everywhere as GOP leaders urge Americans to view the economy, jobs, the national deficit, and our foreign policy as the critical issues in this campaign. There are many in this country who believe that the Romney/Ryan ticket will solve the problems, whereas President Obama, if given a second term, would drive us further into the ground. However, based on his speech at the Republican National Convention, Romney seems surer about how President Obama failed than about how the Republican Party is going to succeed.
Going on the assumption that the economy is the number-one issue confronting America, here's what I want to know (and I'm sure both parties would like to know, too): Can a feminist put the principles and ideals of feminism aside if he or she believes that Mitt Romney is the one who can get the job done? Can men and women who support equal rights for all, who are pro-choice, and who demand equal pay vote for a candidate who supports none of these? Can a feminist be a social Democrat but a fiscal Republican? Will those who define themselves as feminists vote for Mitt Romney if they believe he can create jobs and jumpstart the economy, knowing that they might be voting against their personal moral compass for the collective "greater good"? And if they do, will they tell?
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright weighed in on the conversation during an exclusive interview with The Huffington Post this weekend, saying, "I can't understand why any woman would want to vote for Mitt Romney, except maybe Mrs. Romney." Even though she rhetorically asked about women in general and not feminists in particular, her outspoken support of women's rights, especially in the workplace, would indicate that she's asking how anyone who truly believes in the rights of women could vote for Romney.
Always eager to hear directly from all of you instead of through the filter of the media, I put this question out to friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter immediately after viewing Romney's speech: "Can a feminist vote for Romney?" The response was fast and furious. Here are a few snippets (reprinted with their permission):
"Of course. A feminist is first and foremost in favor of economic opportunity. For women as well as men. Everything else is just window dressing." (Mary Linthicum)
"I don't feel they can as there must be equal rights for our bodies, our minds, our salaries and respect for us as equals in all things that matter." (Madge Stein Woods)
"No. Even if the economic policies were sound, which is a huge if -- there is no way that a self-respecting woman should voluntarily promote taking back thirty plus years of hard fought progress. Equal pay -- stalled and died in congress, abortion rights -- funding for Planned Parenthood -- Obamacare and all of it's efforts to make coverage fair for women, the list goes on and on." (Donna Brundage)
"Absolutely, a woman can be a feminist, but still subscribe to the family values of the Romney/Ryan ticket. Other than a Pro-life plank in the platform, which according to Gallup polls, is held by about half the population, there are no other 'assaults' on women's rights to healthcare, civil rights, or standing in society. The national platform did not 'redefine' rape, that was the statement by an old fool, who was dropped like a hot potato from Republican support. I chastise people on the right when they repost untruths about Obama, since (I guess its the cop in me), I vet every statement made against either side. I implore others to do the same." (Joe Madas)
"Yes, a feminist can vote for Romney. How are you defining feminist? I have a friend who is most certainly a die hard feminist, writes about feminist issues, is outspoken, very successful and she most certainly is voting for Mitt. i have another friend, she would without a doubt consider herself a feminist, and she too is voting for Mitt Romney. These are smart, intelligent, funny, witty, right leaning feminists." (Amy Ferris)
"My first impulse is to say that, no, a Romney-Ryan ticket would be anathema to a feminist, especially given the likelihood of Supreme Court justices being appointed in the next four years." (John McAndrew)
"Yes, after tormenting inner conflict, if she believes the national debt to be a greater looming crisis. She might if she believes Romney a better choice for that resolve." (Rebecca Fieman Irving)
"Feminists can make whatever choice is best for them. However, with Romney's stance on issues such as reproductive healthcare and funding for family planning services, I see nothing but irony in a feminist who would make the choice to vote for Romney/Ryan -- as they have made very clear their intent to limit the choices that women can make in many other areas of their lives." (Amber Versola)
"Can a Feminist vote for Romney? Yes, a Feminist could, however, I do not think that a Feminist would vote for Romney. That would be counter to everything most Feminists believe, work and strive to accomplish." (Joyce Frazier Melanson)
"A feminist cannot vote for any Republican in today's atmosphere. I have read their whole platform and it is the most anti-woman in history. Far to the right of the 1980 platform which was considered a triumph for conservatism at the time." (Martha Burk)
"In my book a feminist fights to ensure political, economic, and social rights for women. The answer to your question is a resounding 'no!'" (Cassie Holm)
"Feminists are also concerned about children, that they not be hungry or in need of medical care. That is a reason not to vote for Romney and the Republican Party, many of whom want to cut Food Stamps, Medicaid, etc." (Margaret Walther)
"Absolutely not. Romney wants to take away a woman's most basic right -- the right to make choices about her own body. You can't be a feminist and let someone else make those choices for you." (Lois Alter Mark)
"I know a couple of women who would consider themselves moderately feminist, yet who have embraced the Romney platform because they see him as an economic savior who also shares their views on immigration and health care." (Shana Aborn)
"Feminists, be they male or female, are not likely to vote for Romney and the Republicans. I mean, who do you want to appoint the next Supreme Court Justice if you are a feminist? So, no, I do not think a feminist could vote for Romney and still be a feminist. The moment they pushed the 'Vote Romney' button, they would move from feminist to fool." (Maryellen Deckard)
Many men and women I know who consider themselves to be feminists and who work hard to promote true equality between the sexes are worried that President Obama may not be able to turn things around. At the same time they can't imagine supporting the Romney/Ryan ticket. It's become a political, social, economic, philosophical, and personal quagmire. What's a feminist to do?
Where do you stand on this question? Please take my poll and join the debate by leaving a comment.
Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll
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Barbara Hannah Grufferman is the president of Best of Everything Media, Inc. She is the author of The Best of Everything After 50, a guide to positive aging, and is at work on her second book, Fifty Rules: What Every Woman Needs to Know Before Turning 50, which will be published in late 2012. Barbara is a columnist for AARP and Chief Pundit at FOF (FabOverFifty), one of the largest websites for women over 45. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
It's the economy, stupid.
Or is it?
That now-famous and overused phrase is popping up in articles everywhere as GOP leaders urge Americans to view the economy, jobs, the national deficit, and ou...
It's the economy, stupid.
Or is it?
That now-famous and overused phrase is popping up in articles everywhere as GOP leaders urge Americans to view the economy, jobs, the national deficit, and ou...
I don't think men suffer from discrimination from Democrats. The only ones that would are maybe the rich white men, but other than that I don't see that being a plausible statement. Men of minority races, homosexuals, poor, and middle class men are embraced by Democrats.
OMGimaaron: I don't think men suffer from discrimination from Democrats. The
"Men of minority races, homosexuals, poor, and middle class men are embraced by Democrats."
Really? What have they ever done for them?
Black males have the highest high school drop out rate, highest incarceration rate, highest unemployment rate, are 6x more likely to be victims of crime than white women, and are less likely to attend or graduate from high school than any other demographic. These tragedies have only gotten worse in the last four years with a Democratic President and Congress.
Neither the current POTUS nor his Democratic Congressional minions has ever proposed a single piece of legislation to specifically assist black males, despite these facts. EVER. Evidence that they don't care at all.
BarryMayor: "Men of minority races, homosexuals, poor, and middle class men
Why would any woman, feminist or not, vote for a party that wants to perpetuate a financial structure that has brought the Western world to its knees? A financial structure that will ensure that the rich get richer (or at least maintain their wealth) through directly cutting services that affect the rest of the country. And, not only that, a party that also intends to disenfranchise women's rights over how many children they have? The cost of having children is surely a fiscal responsibility is it not? This debate is being couched as 'the economy' in general, instead of the 'economy in particular' and it is the latter which directly affects women's lives and choices.
JaneLesleyOs: Why would any woman, feminist or not, vote for a
Of course a feminist CAN (as in, she has the ability to) vote for Romney, but would she? Like one of the comments said, depends on what kind of feminist she is, what she believes in most strongly. If women's rights are on the top of her list and she's been paying attention to the GOP platform, I'd say she probably would not vote for Romney.
sunny-side-up: Of course a feminist CAN (as in, she has the
Your question is invalid. Romney doesn't like to talk about his plans for after the coup, but he has revealed enough to know that we are guaranteed a depression, unless he gets the war with Iran going before the economic data comes in. One way or the other, he will destroy the nation, if not the republic.
jimtodd: Your question is invalid. Romney doesn't like to talk about
I can't see how it's possible. If Mitt can turn the economy around, women will not get their fair share of the pot....who cares if the economy is doing well if I'm still earning less than the man doing the same job I do. And he's only earning more because he is a man. Not because he is better. If I remember correctly women make up 57% of the public (government) workforce. If Mitt cuts those jobs even more than Obama, where will it leave them. Secondly, Mitt is cutting education, health care, head start programs, pell grants...how does that help women? Women forget that affirmitive action was put in place to help us too.
danyll: I can't see how it's possible. If Mitt can turn
"Can men and women who support equal rights for all, who are pro-choice, and who demand equal pay vote for a candidate who supports none of these?" Absolutely NOT!
There is no reason that I would vote for Romney/Ryan. They lie freely with no conscience about doing so. These two are not an aspiring POTUS / VPOTUS team that could be trusted.
ACaligal: "Can men and women who support equal rights for all,
A true feminist cannot support the GOP unless they're uninformed. That would be voting against their best interests. It's not as if the GOP has any plan to help create jobs or improve the economy.
reader110: A true feminist cannot support the GOP unless they're uninformed.
It's not about women choosing between women's rights or the economy. My concern is that the Republicans are putting so much emphasis on taking back women's rights that they will have no energy or insight into how to move the economy.
Nora_Reilly_Hall: It's not about women choosing between women's rights or the
economy and jobs are the issues. Women would like to have a job, under Obama 500,000 have lost their job. Perhaps we should talk about birth control, climate change, the economy in South America but wouldn't it be nice to have a job to pontificate such issues?
dng999: economy and jobs are the issues. Women would like to
I would like to have a President that belives that I am equal in every way to a man. I would like to have a President who thinks enough of me to think I deserves equal pay and equal protection under his watch. I would like to have a leader who spends more time worrying about nat security than my boday and what I choose to do with it. The answer is no a real feminsit can not vote for the Mitt/Paul ticket as they are the exact opposite of everything they belive in.
Stephaniee_Bennett: I would like to have a President that belives that
But you can vote for the party that gave us the brothers who passed MM back and forth like a candy bar. But you can vote for the party that gave us a guy who left a woman to die and became another icon of the party. But you can vote for a party who gave us The Big Dog who treats woman with little or no respect. I know it is hard for you explain it and don't think this site will give you the chance.
Richard_Genco: But you can vote for the party that gave us
do you like fiction or non fiction books. Obama writes a lot of books. He has even increased his net worth from 400k to 8 million. Perhaps Obama is laughing all the way to the bank.
dng999: do you like fiction or non fiction books. Obama writes
Under President Obama's leadership...yes, women still have the choice to vote for whomever they like... but I hope they understand, that if they choose Romney, the Republican Right's assault on voting rights will go into hyperdrive...and it may be the last time they will have that 'right' to vote.
itolduso: Under President Obama's leadership...yes, women still have the choice to
With Democrats boys and men suffer discrimination.
Really? What have they ever done for them?
Black males have the highest high school drop out rate, highest incarceration rate, highest unemployment rate, are 6x more likely to be victims of crime than white women, and are less likely to attend or graduate from high school than any other demographic. These tragedies have only gotten worse in the last four years with a Democratic President and Congress.
Neither the current POTUS nor his Democratic Congressional minions has ever proposed a single piece of legislation to specifically assist black males, despite these facts. EVER. Evidence that they don't care at all.
I can't/won't vote for romney as he does not reflect MY feminist beliefs.
Ever hear of the Libertarian Party?
There is no reason that I would vote for Romney/Ryan. They lie freely with no conscience about doing so. These two are not an aspiring POTUS / VPOTUS team that could be trusted.
I guess if I can't see the taxes, I won't get an answer to this question.
Ben Franklin was a womanizer & adulterer but as one of the Founding Fathers, his discretions have become irrelevant.