Part 2 in a series, read Part 1 here.
At stake this election is defeating a wave of anti-woman Republican candidates who have in common insensitivity, suspicious ties to violence, and open beliefs in gender inequality.
Putting this roundup together was not enjoyable. In fact, I feel a little ill as I write it. This list looks well beyond the familiar roster of philanderers and sexual hypocrites (hello, Senator Ensign, Governor Sanford, & Representative Souder!). It even gives the Rand Paul Aqua Buddha kidnapping a brief respite. But even with those guys off the list, there was plenty of material.
This isn't to say that there aren't Democrats with messy divorces, sexual peccadilloes, or "salty language." But these examples belie a consistent lack of interest in, understanding of, or even downright hostility toward women's issues.
Gross insensitivity
Ken Buck (CO-Sen) first earned his spot on this list when he said "not wearing high heels" qualified him for the job. Then recently an alleged rape victim who dealt with Buck during his time as Prosecutor came forward to say he "put the blame" on her. Buck worried to a reporter that a jury might think the victim had a case of "buyer's remorse." That's what Coloradans will feel if Buck wins in November.
Carl Paladino (NY-Gov) hit the trifecta of sexist, racist, and homophobic statements and emails. But he doesn't just make the list for forwarding numerous sexually explicit emails and videos to a huge distribution list. He also makes the list for his path to victory, which includes only his fellow email connoisseurs. "To any of the ladies I've offended, I apologize. I say this to the men out there who have never opened a graphic image on the Internet: Don't vote for me. For those who have, I welcome your vote."
Tom Marino (PA-10) criticized Democrat incumbent Chris Carney for not co-sponsoring a bill prior to its introduction. When Carney revealed he was with his wife during her breast cancer surgery, Marino pushed forward, instead of pulling back. He claimed Carney was "hiding behind his wife's illness." Marino also tried, unsuccessfully, to help a friend and convicted felon get his criminal record expunged. The felon-friend went on to try to choke his girlfriend.
Dan Benishek (MI-1) repeatedly tried to lower the child support he paid his wife to care for their three children. Benishek's ex-wife earned less than $25,000 a year, and represented herself in court, arguing that Benishek's income was closer to half a million dollars, not the $140,000 he claimed. It raises questions about how he might fight for struggling families, or for closing tax loopholes.
John Loughlin (RI-1) voted to allow people accused of domestic violence to keep their guns. When challenged, Loughlin balked, "you're suggesting I want to supply criminals with guns." So it's okay for domestic abusers to keep their own guns, just not be supplied new guns? Maybe Loughlin should read about some of the folks in the next section.
Ties to violence
Jeff Perry (MA-10), a former police sergeant, did nothing to help a 14-year-old girl being illegal strip searched by another officer. Radio stations have taken down ads discussing the incident, even though the victim herself has now spoken out. Said the victim (now in her thirties), "he had to hear me screaming and crying. Instead of helping me, Jeff Perry denied anything happened." Perry was also accused of covering up a second illegal strip search of a minor (by the same officer) but that lawsuit was dismissed.
Tom Ganley (OH-13): In this well-publicized incident, a woman interested in volunteering for Ganley claims she was instead met with groping, sexual harassment, and discrimination. Ganley suggested the woman wear a leash, and meet some of his "play friends." Ganley has subsequently drawn down his media buy.
Allen West (FL-22) has been a defender of "the Outlaws," a motorcycle gang known for treating women like pass-around property. West is also a regular columnist for the magazine "Wheels on the Road." An example of the magazine's rhetorical flourishes: calling women "oral relief stations." I'm not linking to the magazine. You'll just have to imagine.
David Rivera (FL-25), a Republican rising star and former roommate of Senate candidate Marco Rubio continues to face allegations of past domestic violence. Both Rivera and the victim claim he is not the David Rivera in the legal complaint, but there are several ties between the two, and inconsistencies in his campaign's story. When this issue came up in a previous campaign, Rivera's his car got into a fender-bender with a truck delivering campaign mail.
David Vitter (LA-Sen)'s own personal proclivities aside, he used terrible judgment in keeping on a senior aide convicted of assaulting his girlfriend. The aide kept his ex-girlfriend against her will, stabbed her with a knife, and destroyed her phone to prevent her from calling for help. The aide's job in the Senate office? Handling women's issues. According to reports, Vitter only fired the aide when a drunk driving charge also emerged.
Defending inequality
Dan Webster (FL-08). While some found Grayson's "Taliban Dan" ad a bit strong, Dan Webster has close ties to a group promoting strict rules for women. The group's leader believe wives should be "submissive" and "obedient," to their husbands. Oh, and then there are the rules about women being unclean during their monthly cycles and after giving birth (longer after the birth of a daughter, of course). Webster, as Speaker of the Florida House, recruited other Republican legislators into the group.
Ralph Hudgens (GA Insurance Comm). Much like Senator Kyl (AZ-Sen) , Hudgens opposes mandatory coverage of medical care he doesn't personally need. Specifically, he mentions maternity care, mammograms, and pap smears. No mention of whether he wants to pay for health care treatments for his fellow 67-year-old men.
Christine O'Donnell (DE-Sen). Being a woman doesn't keep you off this list. O'Donnell has said women "cripple" our defense readiness, and that West Point would have to "lower their standards...in order for men and women to compete." But would they be required to know the First Amendment?
All (but three) Republican Congressional incumbents and all (but four) Republican Senate incumbents. Republicans stood squarely against workplace equality for women when they voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Act would make it easier for women to take action against employers not paying them same as men for the same job. Two of the four Republican Senators were subsequently cast out of their own party.
Anyone with a knee-jerk plan to repeal health insurance reform. Before health care reform, insurance companies could consider being a woman, or even being a domestic violence victim, a pre-existing condition. They could also deny coverage for mammograms or maternity care. So Republicans promoting a repeal of health care would in fact repeal these policies. Extremists like Sharron Angle (NV-Sen) say there should be no health care mandates at all. Does a Republican candidate have anything smart to say about reform other than angrily blurting out "Obamacare"? If not, add them to the list.
Empty talk about mama grizzlies won't prevent the trail of tears these leaders could leave in their wake. This list was a bit stomach-churning. But let's take a collective prevacid and get back to work.
Follow Margie Omero on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MargieOmero
Scandals involving minors: Score = Dems 4, Repubs 5
Scandals involving prostitutes: Score = Dems 3 Repubs 4
Scandals involving sexual harassment or rape: Score = Dems 6, Repubs 4
Scandals involving interns, staffers, lobbyists: Score = Dems 13, Repubs 6
Scandals involving same sex (this is funny): Score = Dems 7, Repubs 9
Scandals involving extramarital affairs: Score = Dems 16, Repubs 6
Total political sex scandals: Final Score = Dems 49, Repubs 34
Top 10 all-time political sex scandals: Score = Dems 9, Repubs 1
Didn’t someone say long ago in protecting a woman from stoning: “He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone”?
Ms. Omero – I suggest you broaden the scope of your research to incorporate both sides of the aisle. To stick your head in the sand and ignore one side while focusing on the other is ludicrous and does women as a whole a disservice. That must mean you condone it for Dems and oppose it for Repubs. Unfair, unbalanced, unreal.
Any comment, Ms. Omero? Yeah, I thought so...
Source: http://www.jasmynecannick.com/blog/?p=2275
I want you Americans to know you are being roundly disparaged and insulted and marginalized by this election theme. The Dems know we aren't going to buy any of their promises, because they are lousy, stinking liars. So all they have left with regard to addressing the agenda of a solid majority of Americans is scare tactics concerning how bad the Republicans are.
That very tactic--well, we might not do anything you want, but the other guys are going to do worse--that has me madder at Dems than I can tell you. It ought to make you mad too.
The Oklahoma law requiring the details of every abortion to be posted on a public website.
Kyl's recent quip during a Senate committee meeting that he doesn't "need maternity care."
Chris Christie, Republican gubernatorial candidate from New Jersey, equates preschool to babysitting.
Bob McDonnell in Virginia says inn his college thesis written in 1989 when McDonnell was 34 years old, in which he seems to call working women detrimental to families.
30 Republican senators voted against an amendment to withhold defense contracts to companies who prevent victims from filing lawsuits against sexual assault and harassment. vernment contracts.
The National Republican Congressional Committee saying Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be "put in her place."
John Derbyshire --We’d be a better country if women didn’t vote.
Is it 1910 or 2010?
http://afww.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/why-women-should-vote-and-all-men-too/
The underlying Power Over mentality that was behind this kind of behavior has not been eradicated, just less extreme and physically brutal. When we find a time that we can start focusing on a mutual gain paradigm rather than a win lose situation we will then begin to actually make progress once more. until then we will witness more "winning" at the expense of someone or something else.
Another "women issues" pundit that has sold her soul, and sold out other women, for liberal approval.
Women have nothing to lose, only a lot more to gain. Worried about Roe vs. Wade?? It's not overturned, and unlikely to be in the near future. Do what liberals do best...Education of the young people!!!
Christine O'Donnell? Do great things?
How about we require that a working knowledge of the First Amendment be a prerequisite for 'doing great things' in the public arena?
Look it up. Times have changed and the whole movement has taken a turn to lunacy.
Boo!
.
The article above is simply the facts. But don't let that get in the way of your "rational" thinking. Why don't you sit this one out (election)?
I think it is fine to highlight the scandalous things that politicians in either party say or do. But your point about Christine O'Donnell was merely a cheap shot. Lots of reasonable people have questions about women in combat duty positions. She may be wrong on this point (and many others), but you undermine your own credibility when you call her "anti-woman" for questioning your position on this issue.