Passing Exchange Becomes Political Flashpoint

The New York Times ^ | 1/13/2006 | HELENE COOPER and THOM SHANKER

[Utah Girl]

A passing exchange during a Senate hearing on Thursday turned into a political flashpoint overnight as Senator Barbara Boxer, the California Democrat, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused one another of insensitivity in comments about motherhood and the war in Iraq.

In an interview with The New York Times on Friday, Ms. Rice suggested that Ms. Boxer had set back feminism by suggesting during the hearing that the childless Ms. Rice had paid no price in the Iraq war.

“I thought it was O.K. to be single,” Ms. Rice said. “I thought it was O.K. to not have children, and I thought you could still make good decisions on behalf of the country if you were single and didn’t have children.”

(snip)

In an interview on Friday, Senator Boxer said her comments had been misunderstood and were now being turned against her by the White House and by Republicans. “What I was trying to do in this exchange was to find common ground with Condi Rice,” she said. “My whole point was to focus on the military families who pay the price.”

Senator Boxer added: “I’m saying, she’s like me, we do not have families who are in the military. What they are doing is a really tortured way to attack a United States senator who voted against the war.”

[UpToHere]

Babs Boxer = J F'n Kerry in a skirt

Al

[mware]

Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii called Miss Rice "the most overrated, underperforming individual in executive authority that I have ever seen." "She constantly gets a pass," he told the Honolulu Star Bulletin this week, days before the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Day. "Who knows if the whole question of race and gender come into it, but ... I can't account for it, except to say she isn't up to the mark."

I wonder if the NY Times is going to ask Abercrombie what he meant by his comments.

To me his comments are even more egregious than hers.

[Mr J]

Not surprising. NYT editors are used to doing the thinking for their readers.

[RightOnline]

Sen. Boxer: "Who ya gonna believe.........me, or your lying eyes and ears??"

[healy61]

Boxer should have quoted that famous Butterfly McQueen line, "I don't know nuthin' bout birthin no babies"

Botched joke water: Kerry and Boxer

[healy61]

Botched joke watch: Kerry and Boxer

Making coffee now.

[goldstategop]

The Left is non-judgmental. Except when it comes to conservatives. Then being judgmental is not only permitted; its mandated. Barbara Boxer was being entirely in character as a Democrat with her adversary.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Calvin Locke]

She is a victim. A victim of clueless voters that constantly send a nasty, unintelligent, illogical, unethical, and uninspiring idiot to represent them (and the country) in the US Senate.

[Actually_in_Tokyo]

You said it!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I called Boxer's office yesterday morning. Told the aide that I shared the senator's angquish about the lives lost in Iraq. Then I asked if senator shared that same anquish over the babies murdered during partial birth abortion.

GOOD FOR YOU!!