Why Both the Dems and the GOP Now Think Voters Prefer Female Candidates

The Atlantic ^ | April 24, 2013 | Molly Ball

[2ndDivisionVet]

In the two-year cycle of the political calendar, it is candidate-recruitment season—the time when Washington operatives fan out across the country to size up the political horseflesh. In the months to come, they will meet with scores of state legislators, small-town mayors, community activists, and upstanding business owners, gauging which ones might have what it takes to run for a House or Senate seat, or for governor or state treasurer. These political scouts will take many qualities into account, from life story to speaking ability to baby-kissing skills. But they will be looking, in particular, for a few good women.

These days, political consultants take for granted that, all else being equal, women make more desirable candidates. Which means that Democratic and Republican operatives alike yearn for nothing more than to discover the next Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat and former natural-gas-plant director who was elected the junior senator from North Dakota last November, or Deb Fischer, a previously little-known state legislator who won a tough Republican primary and then beat former Senator Bob Kerrey on her way to the Senate last year. Democrats recently failed in their efforts to recruit the actress Ashley Judd to run against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell next year, but the 2014 election cycle will nonetheless feature a legion of eagerly anticipated female political prospects, from Pennsylvania’s Allyson Schwartz, a Democrat preparing to seek the governorship, to West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican running for Senate. “Women make wonderful candidates for Republicans,” Mike Shields, the chief of staff at the Republican National Committee (formerly the political director of the National Republican Congressional Committee), told me. “It’s no secret our party needs to make progress with women voters, and for that, we need more women leaders.” Democrats feel the same way....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Someone please tell me how a woman journalist writes a 1,284 word column on female candidates and never once mentions Governor Sarah Palin? Do they think that not naming her will lessen her power or some such?

[American in Israel]

Because our nation is Cursed by God, we are Ruled by Homosexuals and Rebelious Women.

[3Fingas]

If radical feminist women are left to their devices, they will all end up wearing the hijab just like “Speed Bump Tsarnaev’s” wife. They better get a clue and stop undermining their fathers and sons of the West before it is too late.

[DH]

We are the nanny state now. How did we get there? The female voters who think with their hearts and not their minds.

[nathanbedford]

Some time ago we fell in love with in general who was black, attributable to some degree at least to the fact that he was African-America.

Then some of us fell in love with a female Secretary of State who was African-American, again at least partially for the same reason.

Thereafter, we fell in love with a female governor for all the right reasons but she was unable, alone and unaided, to overcome the forces arrayed against her.

Next many of us fell in love with the pizza man at least in part because he to was African-American.

Now consultants tell us the fall in love with any candidate who is female.

How about we find a conservative with charisma?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Please name some.

[nathanbedford]

Cruz

[2ndDivisionVet]

Not NBC, not that that matters anymore with Kenyan and Panamanian candidates.

[IbJensen]

It won’t be long, since the two parties have noticed that voters will elect a bucket of sh-t for president, until a homosexual or lesbian candidate will be presented.

If it’s good enough for the Episcopal Church it should be good enough for America.

[presently no screen name]

What happened to the best person for the job?

[Puppage]

EXACTLY!

[presently no screen name]

BUMP!!

[nathanbedford]

No, alas, you are quite right it does not matter, or if it does matter it matters only if the candidate is Republican. In any event, whatever flavor the candidate, the reality, as unpalatable as it is, is that we have moved into an uncertain post constitutional age.

[nathanbedford]

What happened to the best person for the job?

I thought I said he/she should be a conservative and I did not think it was necessary to be redundant.

[Popman]

How about we find a conservative with charisma?

...and a spine...

Cruz is about it...on that list...

[onyx]

I prefer very conservative, serious Constitutional candidates.

[onyx]

We are the nanny state now. How did we get there? The female voters who think with their hearts and not their minds.

Exactly so.

[Vigilanteman]

Wisconsin is already there. They elected a mouthy lesbian over a competent and popular former governor.

[Vaduz]

The left will never notice it it’s just how slow they are.

[equaviator]

“...they will be looking, in particular, for a few good women.”

For what? To ramp up the war on men?