Posted on 06/22/2010 7:19:28 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
By today’s standards, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman’s recent scandals—over a hair joke and a three-year-old workplace incident—were pretty tame. But because both are women and Republicans, a media firestorm was inevitable.
I love women in politics. Even if our political ideology diverges, I respect any woman who goes into what is still, depressingly, a man’s world. Any woman willing to put up with the inevitable sexism that correlates with seeking political office deserves to be admired on some level, because she is helping to continue to break that glass ceiling. And if a woman running for office and I have similar political views, I am even more enthusiastic.
Two women who have recently thrown their hat in the ring, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman, have been receiving a lot of media attention, not only for winning their primaries but also for a few “bad girl” scandals. Fiorina, who won the Republican nomination for Senate in California, made waves after being caught on a live microphone making fun of opponent Barbara Boxer’s hair. She later said she “regretted this whole situation” and that she “gave people the opportunity to talk about something petty and superficial.” Whitman, the Republican nominee for governor in California, is getting publicity for allegedly shoving a subordinate in 2007, while she was chief executive of eBay; the employee later received a confidential six-figure settlement.
Are Fiorina and Whitman reinforcing negative female stereotypes about women, or are they being forced to put up with a media witch hunt because they are both women and Republicans?
I spent time with both of them during my father’s presidential campaign, especially with Carly, who was an early supporter during the Republican primaries. I found both women to be hardworking, and both have a very dry sense of humor, something I always like in other people. Is this enough to make them a good governor and senator of California? Of course not. But I think these women genuinely want to change things for their state and believe that they can effect positive change through their impressive experience in the work force.
Had Whitman and Fiorina been two male Democrats running for these seats in California, I have a feeling the media would have had an entirely different take on both incidents. I am sure if a man had been accused of shoving a subordinate, the reaction would have been more lenient. It is also interesting to note that the woman Whitman allegedly shoved later told The New York Times that they did have “an unfortunate incident” but that they resolved it and continued to work together at eBay.
Both Fiorina and Whitman made mistakes that they have apologized for and moved on from—and really, by today’s standards, neither is particularly shocking nor even that provocative. Fiorina was caught on a microphone making a stupid joke about her opponent. Do you not think that behind closed doors, Boxer makes jokes about Fiorina? And three years ago the CEO of eBay was involved in an incident that was resolved. As Whitman’s spokeswoman said, “A verbal dispute in a high-pressure working environment isn’t out of the ordinary.”
In the end, neither of these so-called scandals really matter. What matters is what both these women plan on doing to help their state and, ultimately, this country. I hope that they continue on to successful campaigns—and that they make this political atmosphere a little easier for the women who will follow them. Unfortunately, because they are powerful women running for office, they have to deal with a level of scrutiny that just wouldn’t be as intense as it would be if two men were running. And because they are Republicans, that intense scrutiny borders on obsession.
Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com. Her new book, Dirty Sexy, Politics, will be published in August.
“If the nurses don’t kill ya first....”
Hoochie Mama!! There’s the beef!!
Meghan gots da curves! LOL
Not guilty!
But Whitman is DEFINITELY a RINO. She is currently running a Spanish ad saying how she doesn’t support the Arizona law.
The fact that Juan McLame could spawn such a disgusting pig is reason enough to vote for JD.
Looks like Johnnie McInsanes little girl is trying to drag her fat azz back over to the conservative, i.e., winning side.
A lot of Republicans supported the TARP bailout, which is the only one Fiorina supported...and she was right to. Nearly EVERY expert agrees it saved the economy from a much bigger crash which would have involved far higher levels of govt. spending on unemployment, welfare, etc. Most of the bailout has been paid back, so the actual cost of it comes in well under $100 billion-—pretty cheap to save the economy from the calamity nearly every economic and financial expert, conservative and liberal, say would have ensued.
As for cap and trade, she supported a far different version of cap and trade than our current one. It was a VOLUNTARY and MARKET BASED system of alotments and trades given out without initial cost or taxation to any business and allowing them to sell or trade their allotments as they under utilized them. It was NOT the same plan of tax and punish that Obama and the Dems are pushing.
As for Whitman not supporting the Arizona law, that’s just smart politics in California. She needs at least some of the Hispanic vote. Brown would have spent the entire election beating her over the head with it which would have probably taken what meager portion of the Hispanic vote she gets away from her. So what? Marco Rubio said he was opposed to it too and he’s not a RINO. Do we really have to be 100% in lock step with prevailing conservative views on EVERYTHING to not be labelled a “RINO?”
What about JD Hayworth being out there on informercials getting paid to tell viewers how to take advantage of government grants? Is he a RINO?
A "lot"? A minority.
Nearly EVERY expert agrees it saved the economy from a much bigger crash
Bzzzzt. Wrong.
"Now that the truth is beginning to dribble out about the Troubled Asset Relief Program - the Government Accountability Office's eagle-eyed auditors said they found no evidence that it prevented a financial meltdown a year ago - this $700 billion monument to political posturing should be shut down."
As for cap and trade, she supported a far different version of cap and trade than our current one. It was a VOLUNTARY and MARKET BASED system of alotments
Barbara Boxer also claims her cap and trade plan is "market based." Fiorina is just as "conservative" as Boxer!
As for Whitman not supporting the Arizona law, that’s just smart politics in California.
So you're saying she doesn't really believe in her position, that she's just lying for votes? What RINO doesn't do that?
Oh, BTW: "50% of registered voters surveyed said they support the law, which compels police to check the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally, while 43% oppose it… Strong majorities of white voters and those over 50 support the Arizona law, while Latinos and those under 30 are heavily opposed." --Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2010
Fiorina's real constituency is clear.
Bookmark
The same talking points to support these two idiots are being repeated all over cyberland and propagandized media. Instead of addressing them over and over, I can just reference your post!
Thanks.
LOLOL @ pissant!!
Post Of The MONTH!!!
I can't stand Mega McCain, either!
I remember last year Meghan was on the View and they asked her about Sarah and she just said, "It will be in my new book out in August". I think she is getting ready to to a hit job on Sarah - ungrateful pig - after all Sarah's been doing to keep her dad in office." <<<<<
LOL, I didn't know that Mega McCain has another book coming out, LOL, whooooooo reads her?
ANSWER: far far far fringe lefties
Did you know that Meg Whitman recently wrote a memoir, and in the chapter entitled, CAMPAIGN 2008 not once did she mention Governor Palin.
NOT even once!!
How anyone considers non-voting Meg-The-SHOVER to be competent to hold political office is way beyond me.
Can you imagine writing all about the last presidential campaign, and never ever mentioning Sarah Palin???
Whitman is a k00k!!!
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