Is It Sexist To Want The Person Flying The Plane To Be A Pilot?
With all this talk about Sarah Palin redefining feminism and people who don't support her candidacy being sexist, I think we could use a little clarification.
Women's progress at work and in government is critically important. We are not, after all, living in the Dark Ages. But, and this is a VERY IMPORTANT BUT, consider the following scenario.
You're about to board a plane and a flight attendant says, "Today as part of our responsiveness to customers program you may choose Mr. Jones here as co-pilot. He will fly the airplane should something go wrong with the pilot, who isn't at his best today. Mr. Jones has been a pilot for twenty years and has an impeccable record. He is, however, a man. Because you support the advancement of women in the workplace, we also have a woman here who is willing to fly your plane. She is not a pilot but she didn't blink when asked to do this and for the past week a team of experts has been talking to her a lot about how to fly."
Who would you choose? If you chose Pilot Jones, would that be sexist? Or would you simply not be a complete idiot?
Apply this to Sarah Palin. She has not spent time in Washington as a senator or a congresswoman. She has spent most of her life in Alaska. From her interview with Charlie Gibson, it is clear that she is proud of not blinking about making decisions that affect millions of lives. And she is uninformed about the workings of the U.S. government.
Personally I'd have nothing against Sarah running for a seat in the House or Senate. It's a reasonable next step. And were she blocked from this path because of her gender, disparaged and demeaned in the press, I'd be miffed for sure. That would be sexist.
But just because I'd like to go to NASA and tell them that by November I want to be an astronaut, doesn't mean they should hand over the space shuttle.
There is far too much at stake to put someone completely inexperienced in the ways of Washington and the world so close to the presidency. There's no excuse for it, really. John McCain should know that. That's not sexist; it's simply common sense.
Dr. Reardon also blogs at bardscove.
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I don't agree with your analogy. Flying a plane is one thing, executive governance is another. Especially in our largest and strategically important, energy producing states. I actually think Governors make good Presidents. Reagan, Clinton (enen though he was impeached and disgraced the Oval Office with his numerous affairs, especially the one with a college student), etc. were great Presidents and they weren't "in Washington" as you stated.
GOVERNORS WITH A FORMAL EDUCATION!!!
Jimmy Carter had a formal education and he was one of the weakest, most inept, Presidents in history. Governors who are energetic, charismatic and effective. Which she is all three as was Clinton and Reagan.
Sarah Palin is Brownie. Moose are equal to Arabian horses. All very colorful and charming and on its face proof that loyalty and ideology have been elevated above country and competence. If Sarah Palin gets to be president we will see the heck of a job she will do.
Oh please! That is a stretch! She has a history of governing, and she was able to tackle some embedded graft and ole boy politics in Alaska.
We know she isn't up to the job based on her performance as mayor of 6,000 and Governor to 600,000. Why would we want to entrust her with 300M?
Off 'That Minority Thing"
If you’re black, and you’re voting for Obama, you “should think beyond your race.”
If you’re female, and you’re voting for Obama, you’re “a traitor to your gender” because the other side has a WOMAN on the ticket!
http://www
Interesting. As a woman, I would say we're not so inclined to feel like traitors for not voting for Palin. I would admit to women being even more critical of other women. The words vindictive and catty come to mind.
Absolutely right on. As I've said in a previous comment last week, you cannot count on women automattcally supporting other women. There are many of us who do not take kindly to some unknown snipey beuty contest runner up being plucked out of obscurity and given the chance to be VP when Hillary, who deserved it and worked for it, was not chosen. In fact, I do wish Hillary woud come at with the cat claws flying about this. I think it would work.
It has nothing to do with being a woman. She is not qualified and the fact that she doesn't know she is not makes her even less qualified. She didn't blink when asked to be V.P. If you were asked to switch jobs across country, wouldn't you consider it for awhile and maybe discuss it with your family? This lady didn't do either when asked to be Vice President of the United States after barely graduating from college with a B.S. in Journalism! Let's be a bit more discerning in our government officials, PLEASE??????
Great analogy!
What also scares me is that we can't mention the discrepancy in education between Obama/Biden and Palin. If you utter in a Rep circle that Obama's Constitutional Law major, or being editor of the Harvard Law Review are assets whereas Palin's degree in journalism is insufficient, you risk being labeled an elitist.
God knows, I'd rather have someone who is intelligent and well educated than someone who doesn't blink!
So we want the best and brightest to be in office. I guess that means we're elitist! So be it!
It doesn't sound like she's going to blink before taking us to war with Russia, either.
Cause she thinks war is like shooting wolves from an airplane..
Well, that’s not such a bad thing.....
For a person who believes that our earth (and universe?) is only 6000 years old and the concept labeled "intelligent design" or "creationism" , taught to children (along with Evolution) who can then "make up their own minds" is astonishing when viewed as the person who will potentially guide our republic (or any other way). We have seen clearly how presidents and vice-presidents of low moral character or "religious" rigidity and dogma act on promises made when running for office, after they are "elected", and how these policies will affect millions for decades.
Americans who have not abdicated sanity or even a modicum of good judgment, cannot allow this charade, this farce, to succeed...
didn't know that Obama's experience as a toy train operator made him into a pilot.
As it is designed to do, the campaign has revealed that Obama's intellect, political skills and organizational skills tower over McCain's. And, Palin's campaign narrative, crafted by Rove, will collapse under the light of day.
This is my prayer! In fact, I'm hoping to see a mandate against the Rove-type, derisive politics come to an abrupt end.
He knows what the Bush Doctrine is, Charlie.
Obama: 8 years Illinois Senate, 4 years US Senate, 12 years teaching constitutional law. Works for me. Imagine that, a president who actually understands the constitution!! You gonna bash the constitution now??
That adds up to 24 years ... however Obama didn't get out of Harvard Law until he was 28. You are way off in your statement.
Much like you banging on a keyboard doesn't mean you are a writer...
He beat the Clinton Machine in the Democratice Party and has been vetted throughout the process.
Voters in this country are simply becoming stupid. They want someone "just like them" instead of someone educated and thoughtful and intellectually superior to themselves. Heaven forbid we have people running the country who went to top universities and have written books and had to reveal in-depth knowledge of the issues when they run for office. No, we want someone we can relate to....look
Before he became President Bill Clinton, President Carter, and President FDR had not spent any time in Washington as a Congressmen or Senators. I guess that means they were not qualified to be President.
One difference. Palin is an idiot. They weren't. Clinton went to oxford and had a law degree. If you'd gone to school and had to work for your degree you would know the difference.
And Clinton did not have to depend on special quotas for his skin color to get into Oxford or to get his law degree
I wouldn't say Palin is an idiot. Ignorant, yes, but not an idiot. She is clever and manipulative in the way that women who have coasted on their looks are.
There is the sexism of men who can only see women as dolls. Of men like McCain. Who do not expect women to be ethical or competent but do demand that they be sexy and charming like these blonde bimbo right wing spokeswomen. Dolls make such men feel protective, hence the "Protect Palin ! from the uppity Black rapist and the librul media" gut level response on the Right. That is why most women do not appear to like her (most women do not like "dolls" who owe everything to their ability to work men and play the girl when the going gets tough.).
I wonder how "respectful" right wingers would be if candidate Hillary Clinton had tried to play the girl, the fainting damsel in distress, to avoid scrutiny the way Sarah Palin does.
I would complain that bloggers are ridiculous. Someone doesn't agree with your views, and they are labeled stupid?
However, I read a NYT editorial today whose tone was exactly the same.
Too bad. This elitist attitude makes ME truly nuts. I don't care if I agree or disagree with people. I can certainly tell the difference between different perspectives and stupidity.
She is not stupid.
These men all organized successful political campaigns. Not an easy thing to pull off. Palin has done virtually nothing. Nothing! Think about that. Nothing.
Bob......y
Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar, studied overseas at Oxford and served as governor of Arkansas for ten years, Jimmy Carter graduated from the Naval Academy and worked with Admiral Rickover on the nuclear submarine program, served two terms in the Georgia senate and was their chief executive for 1 term, FDR was a two term state senator of NY and served as assistant secretary of the navy and was governor of NY for 4 years, hardly the shabby resume presented by Sarah Palin who was mayor of one of the smallest towns in America and governor for 19 months of one of the lowest populated states in America, just over half a million residents, about the same amount of people living in two large apartment buildings in Manhattan. Sorry but the Moose and Wolf hunter is unqualified from my perspective.
Obama/Biden
Bill Clinton never finished the Scholarship, so I don't think you can call him a Rhodes Scholar. He is a Rhodes dropout.
Clinton had been a long time governor and attorney general. Carter had a long career as a naval officer. FDR had been an assistant secretary of the Navy. If Palin could actually show any understanding of the issues, and any amount of intellect, she would be more acceptable. She's afraid of reporters and going on the Sunday morning shows. They know the more she talks, the more ill informed she looks. All they want to do is keep her smiling and spouting slogans.
This is not about GENDER this is about being totally BAMBOOZLED!! WAKE UP!!!!!!!!
Clinton went to Georgetown (Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service) and a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, Yale for his law degree. Went on to be a professor at University of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, spent 11 years as governor of Arkansas, and was chair of the National Governors Association.
Carter went to Georgia Tech, Georgia Southwestern State University, Then United States Navy 7 years, Ran the Family Farming Biz for 9 years, Georgia state senate 3 years, Governor 4 years.
FDR went to Harvard then Columbia law school, then was a Wall Street Corporate law attorney, was Governor of New York 3 years, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for 7 years, Member of the New York Senate for 2 years.
NOT EVEN CLOSE
As for OBAMA
Columbia (Political Science/In
Illinois Senator 3 ½ years, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, Illinois Senate 7 years.
Not to mention.. has done more to organize grass roots community involvement than anyone in decades!!!
I have this conversation with friends all the time--- Voting for someone because they are a woman is as bad as not voting for someone because they are a woman.Judg
It is definitely not a progressive step forward for the women’s equality movement to elevate Sarah Palin to an aging heartbeat away from the highest office in the land.
I think she represents the Phyllis Schlafly wing of the Republican Party and would reverse many of the equal rights victories women have won over the years.
After all Ms Palin is supporting senator McCain who consistently voted against equal pay for women and the right to choose could be in jeopardy?
Obama/Biden
In what way would the right to choose be in jeopardy. Even if Roe v Wade was overturned, it would not outlaw abortion; things would just be turned over to the states and especially in blue states abortion would still be legal. And McCain/Palin support the second amendment, and I think they support vouchers and school choice, so there are two more cases where the support the right to choose
So, poor women in Kentuky or Georgia would just hop a plane for a week off in California or go to New York, right? Access would be non-existent. There would be barriers put in place even in states that didn't criminalize it. Look... if you dont condone abortion, fine. Don't have one, but leave my choices alone.
Kathleen - Absolutely on-point article. As a woman, I haven't been high-profile enough to be subjected to many charges of sexism for opposing Palin's appointment, but there are a few who just start screeching at my refusal. Most of them know absolutely nothing about her policies. This is always what so shocks me, that people can watch constant cable "news" and weeks later, still not be apprised on any significant facts. I noticed this morning that the feelings (my feelings) that were so confused and swirling for so many days, were beginning to settle into a comprehensible pattern. It was the APPOINTMENT of her as VP that got me hyperventilating, not the woman herself. The idiocy of the idea sort of "winded" me. The unabashed indifference to reason exhibited by the Republican strategists; the same sort of cultural "shock and awe" employed by the Bush Administration. And now they have adopted a style of "smile and lie" on every issue, like McCain claiming that Palin requested no earmarks for Alaska on "The View". Facts be damned, full speed ahead! Oblivious to reasonable concerns. It's so brazen, craven and not-what-y
I think Americans are drunk on estrogen juice. I am an African American/Native American woman. I did not automatically supported Obama simply because of his skin tone. I had to listen and watch him carefully over the months of his campaign before I endorsed him. I had to listen to his policies and study his intelligence BEFORE I gave him my vote. To this day, I scrutinize him and any other candidate.
Well put, Dupree.
And as an aside, my ovaries are considering revolt. ;)
Bravo!
She didn't even blink, even when she didn't know what the VP does?
She is the kind of person that only thinks of the consequences after the decision has been decided.
Qualifications aside, and I certainly don't think Palin or McCain are qualified, just take a look at what they want to do once they get into the pilot and co-pilot's seats. They're arguing about replacing the half-and-half in First Class with non-dairy creamer while the plane is in a tailspin about to crash.
When are the Republicans going to start talking about the real issues we face; war, poverty, global warming, energy, diminuation of constitutional rights, the economic gorillas overseas (China and India if you didn't know) and so on. No, they want inject creationism into our science classes, prevent women from having choice, give even more money to rich people and oil companies, take away our constitutional rights, and generally putter around the corners when it comes to govermental reform. They seem to think if we just maintain the status quo then things will be ok. Time for them to grow up!
I think what everyone is missing, which is in a way even more frightening, is that these people believe that the absence of creationism in schools is, in fact, the underlying reason we are facing all these problems. In other words, if only we would follow god's plan... establish god's law on Earth... hold to god's teachings.
Oh good grief, that entire story was a smear. You appear to buy HuffPo's headlines as the gospel truth.
A nice comparison. But it assumes that a little clarification is all that is needed when in fact the ability to think clearly is what is really lacking. I'm afraid that many of those those who would pick Sarah Palin would also pick the female co-pilot as long as they didn't have to get on the plane.
You've hit the bullseye with this observation! The supporters of the McCain/Palin ticket are indeed the Phil Gramms of the world. Not interested at all in making policy choices for the good of all. In fact, completely comfortable with policy choices that benefit only themselves.
Palin represents very Bush like abuses of power with political firings, attempts to ban books, forcing christian mythology to be taught in schools etc. This woman does not have the temperament or an all-inclusive mindset that is necessary to fly the plane anywhere but into the cliffs.
e pluribus unum Sarah. Come back after Liebermann teaches you what that means.
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