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Steven Senne / AP
Ann Romney and Mitt Romney address an audience during a victory rally in Schaumburg, Ill., on March 20.
The gender gap has returned to presidential politics with a vengeance as the general election begins to take shape and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney finds his campaign struggling with the pivotal bloc of women voters.
The Romney campaign is waging an aggressive counter-offensive in response to weeks of Democratic assertions that the former Massachusetts governor and the Republican Party are waging a “war on women.”
“They're working desperately to change the subject, and that's why they've created this whole 'war on women' campaign,” Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the top-ranking Republican woman in the House, on a conference call organized by the Romney campaign. “There's no war on women by Republicans. What's really going on is a ‘war on reality’ by Democrats.”
Republicans are now working to re-frame issues of importance to women after eager messaging efforts by Democrats to advance the “war on women” narrative, which has contributed to a Republican disadvantage with female voters in 2012. It's a deficit aided by a hard-charging fight over access to contraception led by some Republicans earlier this year.
When Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus asserted in an interview last week that the media would just as quickly report a “war on caterpillars” if Democrats insisted it were the case, the Democratic National Committee pounced, and hyper-actively accused Priebus of trivializing women’s rights by drawing such a comparison.
First Thoughts: Romney struggles to close gender gap, but catches break
That Democratic argument reached a fever pitch on Wednesday when a Romney surrogate, speaking on a conference call, hesitated to say whether Romney supported a law making it easier for women to file lawsuits challenging pay disparities.
A spokesperson for Romney said later in the day that the former governor wouldn't do anything to change current law, but Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chairwoman, nonetheless called the Romney campaign's momentary failure to provide an answer "utterly shocking."
Ann Romney, the wife of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, took to Twitter and the airwaves to defend her decision to be a stay-at-home mom.
Now with the primary campaign mostly behind him, Romney has begun working to address the issue on the trail. His rhetoric at a pair of campaign stops – at each of which there were plenty of women sharing the stage – on Wednesday marked a preliminary effort by the Romney campaign to push back against the Democratic storyline.
“The real war upon women has been waged by his economic policies,” Romney said Wednesday in Connecticut. “Let’s hammer day in and day out what has happened under his policies, and recognize those policies, those things he believes, do not work.”
But the Romney campaign’s struggles in their attempts to reach women voters were on equal display as the candidate and his campaign repeated a dubious statistic about women accounting for nine of 10 jobs lost during Obama’s time in office.
It wasn’t until a consultant outside of the Obama campaign suggested that the GOP candidate’s wife, Ann Romney, had “never worked a day in her life” that the Romney campaign was able to stanch Democratic momentum.
That gaffe, at least temporarily, gave Republicans an opening.
The Romney campaign quickly organized a conference call and Ann Romney hit the airwaves for an interview to combat the charges. (Senior Obama officials also quickly disavowed the comments by consultant Hilary Rosen).
First Thoughts: Romney struggles to close gender gap, but catches break
But the back-and-forth bickering obscured a larger battle Romney must fight to make up ground with women. A Washington Post/ABC News poll released this week found Romney trailing Obama by 19 percent among registered women voters. (By contrast, Romney leads by eight percent among registered male voters.)
“It should definitely be a concern,” said Dan Judy, a Republican pollster for North Star Opinion Research. “I don't think they need to hit the panic button at this point, but that's something that you're going to see them work hard on.”
In the Daily Fix, NBC's Andrea Mitchell talks to The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza and the Daily Beast's Michelle Goldberg about the widening gender gap in the general election and Hilary Rosen's comments about Ann Romney.
Romney’s strategy to address his deficit among women has been virtually indistinguishable from his work to court other demographics – like Latinos – or, for that matter, the general electorate as a whole. That is, Romney argues that improving the overall economy is just as paramount to women as anybody else and that the president’s record has fallen far short on that score.
Republicans argue that the former Massachusetts governor’s struggles are partly attributable to collateral damage from a divisive Republican primary season and a persistent focus in Congress and on the state level about access to contraception.
A prime example came in Virginia, where Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell had to back off supporting a controversial proposal to require women to undergo an invasive ultrasound procedure before terminating a pregnancy. And Rick Santorum, who suspended his presidential campaign this week, spent weeks answering questions about his personal opposition to birth control.
Romney is likely to make up some of that ground just by virtue of campaigning in a general election environment. ("People haven't had a chance to listen to us or hear us," his wife said in an interview on FOX News.)
First Thoughts: Romney struggles to close gender gap, but catches break
But the million-dollar question involves whether much of that collateral damage will linger with Romney, and how he might go about addressing his gender gap.
“They need to drive the conversation away from women’s bodies to the economy," said Sabrina Schaeffer, the executive director of the conservative Independent Women’s Forum, adding Romney should "come up with some tangible examples of how they can help women on things like employment, health care, education and other issues.”
Schaeffer argued that Romney might package together squarely conservative proposals on entitlements, education and health care in a way that’s appealing to women. She also warned the campaign against being caught flat-footed on issues like the fair pay law a surrogate had declined to speak about on Wednesday.
RealClearPolitic's Erin McPike and The Atlantic's Molly Ball talk about Ann Romney's response to Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's comments.
“They need to think carefully about how to respond to issues like Lilly Ledbetter,” she said.
Cheri Jacobus, the founder of Capitol Strategies, a Republican consulting firm, also encouraged the Romney campaign to employ more women surrogates.
“I think that it’s always helpful to have effective surrogates from all walks of life,” she said.
For their part, Democrats argue that Romney’s deficit with women is about far more than messaging.
“When it comes to connecting with women, it’s not just an optics problem – it’s a substance problem,” said Jess McIntosh, the deputy communications director for the Democratic women’s group, EMILY’s List. “Even if Romney could put a really great spin on his anti-woman regressive policies, they would still be anti-woman regressive policies. And despite what the GOP may think, women notice that.”
First Thoughts: Romney struggles to close gender gap, but catches break
But for Romney, making inroads with women might also depend on the kind of women he targets.
The Republican pollster, Judy, suggested that young, unmarried women might be a taller order for Romney to win than, say, suburban, middle-aged mothers. These voters are the ones the Romney campaign is targeting when it rolls out Ann Romney, one of its most effective surrogates for the campaign due to her biography as a mother of five who’s suffered from breast cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Republican thinking suggests that if Romney steers clear of hot-button social issues like contraception and keeps his focus on the economy, he could be more competitive with Obama in winning the female vote.
“Women voters, especially the more independent-minded female voters in the swing states are critical to either party if they want to win,” Judy said. “Mitt Romney has an opportunity to get some of those women back."
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There is no gender war, just disagreement on policy and which america is the most american. Divide and conquer politics is the reason I probably won't vote for any of them. The nepotism legacy in Washington is a true impediment to the voice and will of the people. They are ALL out of touch and pandering to their own self interest and vision. Really is embarrassing and gross. Also, who gives a cr@p what a President's spouse did/does for a living? A woman willing to raise a family is just as valuable (if not more) as a lawyer. This is just my opinion and I approve.
I've voted in every presidential election since I was of age. The only president that I have voted FOR for Reagan, the second time, because by then he had proved himself. All the others, I voted for the lesser of two evils in my opinion. Someone will make the laws for you and potentially be able to change your future and the future of your children. Please vote. Even if your vote cancels mine out. People need to recognize the truly great responsibility and privilege it is to be a part of choosing their rulers. Dictatorships and Kings haven't worked out that great.
How a Stay-at-mansion mother measures parenting skills:
You're only as successful as your lowest paid nanny.........
As the polls have proven, the Tea-Republican (vagina controlling party of "NO") Mitt (the flip) Romney, and his (bobbled headed, fake smiling) wife, Ann Romney, and the wannabee Rush Limbaugh commentator, Hilary Rosen, do not speak for the women voters of this country.
The attack spin, and faked outrage that Mitt (the flip) Romney, his little bobbled-headed, fake smiling wife, and the T-republican party is putting on the comments by Hilary Rosen, only proves once again that the women hating, T-Republican, vagina controlling party of "NO", and it's institutional (mostly white chauvinist male dominated) system in this country, is cloaked in catch words to cover up their own sexist, racial, bigoted comments, to undermine and control all (white) women, and minorities in this country. And this is Just like what little-Newt, Insane Sanatorium, Mitt (the flip) Romney, and all of the Tea-Republicans in the Senate and Congress is doing daily to pass bills against the equal rights of (white women, and minorities) in this country. The minorities in this country of all races are use to being singled out because of their races, but white women haven't totally understood why so many bills and legislature actions are directed at them daily about the most intimate nature of their bodies, by the Tea-Republican (Vagina controlling party) of "NO"
This is what the racial hatting bigots in this country use to belittled blacks and minorities by making their race a derogatory word, now they are doing it to women. If you are a woman how would you feel if like the black people, and minorities, you are constantly being singled out as being inferior because you are less than equal, because you have a vagina/ breast, and that you need the (Vagina controlling/tea-parry) to make laws to decide what you can and cannot do with it? Well lets look at the women and female politicians who sit in congress/senate and have to listen to the mostly white male, old nasty ass dogs, discussing women's rights concerning their, vagina, breast, pregnancy, abortion, religion, marriage, military,contraception, and anything to undermined women as equal to the white males (penis).
The Tea-Republican (Vagina controlling party) of "NO" are using religion and making women's rights and equality a campaign issue, just like they have done to blacks and minorities before Pres.Obama was elected. Whats sad is that white women throughout this country, are mostly ignorant to this sexist discrimination by the majority of white males in the the Tea-Republican (Vagina controlling party) of "NO", or like with the women's fight to get the right to vote, women (mostly white women) just don't want to face the truth concerning the actions of their sexist, racial hating, fear mongering, vagina controlling males (mostly white males) in this country.
The polls only prove that real independent women in this country are slowly realizing that they are the majority voters, and they are tired of being used as political slaves of the Tea-Republican (Vagina controlling party) of "NO" But women like Ann Romney, who have excepted her inferior treatment in The male (mostly white male) Tea- Republican (Vagina controlling party of "NO") are willing to continue to let her husband, and the males of her husbands party treat, her and women as second class citizens, like they did to many other minorities until they demanded equal rights. The Democratic Party white and minority males, will vote for a woman to be President. The Tea-Republican (Vagina controlling party) of "NO" will never vote for a woman or a minority male to be president. And they will never support a qualified woman, or a minority candidate. And I don't mean the fake candidates like, Herman Cain, M. Bachman, S. Palin types they knew could never win, but was allowed to run in the GOP campaign to make it look fair and unbiased.
Women, Vote for Pres. Obama- Biden -H. Clinton in 2012. and Vote for President. Hillary.Clinton in 2016. she is qualified, vetted, and ready, she just need the other vaginas in this country to support her, that is if they can get their male masters, and T-Republican males penis permission to vote for women's equal rights.
""BUNCH OF DUMB ASS TEA-REPUBLICAN (MOSTLY WHITE MALE), VAGINA CONTROLLING, WOMEN'S EQUAL RIGHTS VIOLATORS""WAR FIGHTER OUT""HOOAHhhhhh''''''''''''
Wow you progressives really don't GET IT ,WOMEN vote with individual FREE WILL. Women don't need and reject the DNC/Obama machine/Rosen et al telling us what to think and how to be good little girls.
Yup, and 7 out of 10 women already realize Mittens doesn't speak for them and they refuse to further the Republican war on women. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-04-01/swing-states-poll/53930684/1
About Mom make the Economy... I wish I could have had Ms Romney's version of the "real" job of staying home and raise my childeren like her but I couldn't. Why? Because the middle class and the poor is being taxed so hard that it took both my husband & I to bring in two incomes to support our family. Unlike Ms Romney and her 15% tax paying husband. So no, I disagree with Ms Romney. The "REAL" mom is one who raises a family AND works a job who makes the Economy! AND NO.. I dont support the GOP (greedy one percent!)
If you permit me, the reason why you need to work so hard is not because of the GOP. It is because of our culture. I never was able to stay at home to raise my kids because I "felt like" I needed the house with the two cars, private school, be able to eat out at least once or twice a week, cell phones, and a vacation to anywhere. When I was introduced to a family who lives in a third world country, I realized that even if I didn't work, my husband made the equivalent to a doctor in that particular country and I was richer than 99% of those people. When people in other countries say they are poor, it's because they live in literally a garbage dump (I've seen it), they don't have a car, they don't have a cell phone for every member of the family, they don't have literally a roof over their heads and their sole focus of the day is to get enough food to just survive. I know it is easy to look at what we don't have, but I submit to you, be thankful for what you do have and that the good people of this county will not let you go not only without your daily food needs but most of your desires as well. Do not envy those that have more than that. It is something that will evenually destroy you. Start living free . You are the master of your destiny. Seize the day! You can do it!. :)
I've done both,you are no more real than ANY other mother be she fulltime in the home or fulltime working in AND outside the home.
You'll never see NBC describe Obama as "spinning" issues do you? Another example of the ultra biased mainstream media. Obama spins EVERY issue in one context only: How will this help my reelection. He will even throw his own party under the bus in this regard. Obama met personally with Hillary Rosen no less than 5 times recently according to white house records. Obama's fingerprints are all over Rosen's comments....and HE is trying to spin away from it now that it has backfired. Once again, NBC got it wrong and is feeding us all a load of bull crap.
No shooby pay attention now. The point is this if you are a multimillionaire it is easy to stay home and raise 5 boys. Ann Romney had the luxury to stay home and raise her boys. And she was able to do it with out worrying about money for even a second. She had a mansion, a house keeper, a nanny, anything and everything. So this is a stupid point. Most moms can not afford to stay home because most families need 2 incomes just to survive. So I agree with what Rosen said because it is true. I have no pity or admiration for Ann Romney. Again the right lies, well because they have to and idiot republicans lap it up. God help you.
I don't think Ann Romney ever asked for pity. I believe that what happened was that a person, Hilary Rosen, who chose a different life style and world view, which is still permittable in the USA, gave an opinon of Ann Romney's choice in life. The rub comes from the fact that women that have "chosen" to stay at home and raise their children are any less intelligent or in-tune to women's issues as women who either chose or were forced into a job. Ann Romney's opinions should not be discounted any more than any other woman in America who has chosen to stay home and raise they children, with or without paid help. Don't envy. It will only destroy you.
Gobig,sometimes we women buck what is defined as success,in our case the stay at home choice meant one 10-15 year old (PAID FOR) car,one TV (didn't get flat screen until kids in college),staycations,CAREFUL budgeting...to maintain no more than 25% of gross income roof over our heads (PAID FOR) and the freedom to grocery shop without a calculator meant we saved and delayed child bearing until I was 37 yr old , prepared for the loss of my income during the formative(in our opinion 0-7 yr old,everyone has own standard of exactly which are most important years), I decided to return to fulltime stay at home mom work during the tough 13-17 yrs of age ...in other words a choice to have and buy less in order to be a fulltime stay at home mom. Our wealth is our children.
Unless you are Ann Romney. Then your husbands preying on businesses and putting people out of work is your wealth (along with your children.)
Romney
and the Mrs. are fighting a losing battle. It's hard to believe Republicans
when they continue to systematically pass state laws to deny women well-care
deny insurance, harmful pro-life agendas and have pushed any legislation to
empower women of workers. The only successful tactic is lie from the 2010 wins
their reasons for the win to create jobs only to find rallying cries denouncing
any improvements that it's all Obama's fault. The party of NO has no real
ideals. Hypnotizing the public with the barrage of lies then secretly undermines
the nation for their sold out philosophies of protecting the corporation’s extreme
right-wing ideology of us against them by blaming everything on Obama. We all
know Republicans created under Bush as Obama’s fault. The debt, the wars and
loss of life and money drained from the country, nothing to move the country
forward, dividing the nation with a bogus choice of returning to failed
policies as new, fear-mongering everything oil to more wars needed. Will the
real Republicans/Conservatives take their Party back for the sake of the Nation?
Bush said it best “Fool me Once…”
WTFHAPPENED
Hey ladies, get a clue. Republicans won't be happy 'til you're all back in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant.
In the 50's my mom was the exception in our town,divorced mom with 3 children,employed fulltime (many times with another part time position),she finished her master's degree in 1961,after 7 years of being single working mom the sole support of household,mom happily remarried and DECIDED to continue her career working until 1 month before her death at 70 yrs old. I DECIDED to leave my career to be fulltime WORK in the home mom and have also DECIDED to be our family's primary caregiver and household manager a FULLTIME job whilst balancing FULLTIME employment outside of the home.The feminist movement,Democratic Party,Obama administration and the likes of Hillary Rosen are out of touch with real women,we ALL need a sound economy to be able to DECIDE what works for us,we are not a mindless bloc of voting uterii.I am sick of the left over 1960s progressive,feminist,Democratic Party pablum. I keep my own counsel-don't need Obama/Democratic Party to define reality for me or to think for me.I keep my own house in order-don't need progressive orgs like NOW,Planned Parenthood,AARP(I am 60),Democrat Party telling me which INDIVIDUAL LIFE CHOICES are politically correct therefore acceptable. WE -a married husband and wife TEAM make our decisions individually and together. WE raised our own two children just fine. I'll be 2012 VOTING for ROMNEY and FOR ANYBODY BUT a DEMOCRAT.
Why are we even talking about this? Ann Romney shouldn't be an issue in this election cycle. Some idiot on the left made a statement that Romney feels he can take advantage of. Now we have many people talking about their experiences and their mother's experiences in raising kids. To the extent that it matters (which it doesn't) Ann Romney's experience raising her kids in nothing like any of the experiences we can relate to.
But the more important thing is the Romney's youngest child is 31 years old. She's not a "stay at home mom", she's a "stay at home woman". The idea of women having "choices" is moot in this case. Most women have no choice to stay at home, especially when their children are adults.
I've said before, Romney has worked 5 of the last 12 years. Let's compare his experience to the average American. His wife would definitely have to work. She likely would've kicked him out as a dead beat. His license would be revoked and possibly thrown in jail for not paying child support (if the woman was actually raising kids during that time).
Come on folks, quit pretending Ann Romney relates to ordinary women who care about things like the economy...this family is well above economic woes.
Now stop talking about Ann Romney.
BearDown-don't speak for me,I'm no victim, women are well able to make our own decisions and choices based on each individual's circumstances.Life circumstances are not static, don't buy into progressive victimology and find the paternalistic Obama machine/Democratic Party crocodile tears insulting.
"I'm no victim"
You are indeed a victim of your own ignorance and hatred. You are a poster child for the failed political ideologies of the Republican Party and people like you represent nothing except right wing extremism at its worst. That is why the GOP is circling the drain and that is also why President Obama will be reelected by another landslide in November.
Mary, I don't think I said anything about "victimization". Maybe, you see the world or at least liberal ideology as a victim.
I simply said, one, first families should be off limits and two, the Romneys story doesn't relate to average Americans. If you disagree with either point, I'm happy to discuss. But trying to change the subject to the victimization of women doesn't fly with me.
I will agree that Obama is "paternalistic". He's a father and sees the world through a father's eyes. I wouldn't take that from him nor would I take a mother's maternal instincts. Nor would I use either as a negative personality trait.
WOW,Sailcat-I'm from NJ,registered DEM until 1997 then switched to IND. Progressives really don't like the expression of a opposing pov. Your namecalling and vile stereotyping generalization is SOP if one refuses to swallow DNC dogma and its tired feminist propaganda.Not to worry I am a big girl. The progressive movement,Democratic Party,Democratic Party Senate Majority,entire Obama administration and the 40 year old progressive spider web that has choked the fed govt will be flushed OUT on ELECTION DAY 2012.
po' po' women,"most have no choice"=victim mentality
According to mary kirk, the entire conservative/Tea Party movement is a victim mentality. We HAVE TO cut costs in a very specific way which removes choice so the country has a victim mentality if we let the conservative/Tea Party extremist win.
Believing that Romney supports women is like believing Obama supports Hispanics! Both claims are nonsense and they are merely out looking for the "Low Hanging Fruit" voters stupid enough to believe anything they are told by the Mainstream Media.
Voting in America means nothing....the "Rigged" Diebold Voting Machines insure that statement to be true. Remember all the News of 2008 & 2010? Since they haven't bothered to "Fix" these Machines in 2012 how could you possibly believe your vote still counts?
Well there is still one place your vote counts....on Main Street!
Come join your Neighborhood Occupation fighting Wall Street and their corrupt Political Minions on Main Street! May 1st 2012 cast your Vote for REAL...No Work...No School...No Shopping...No Banking!!!
No Way,if anything I'll counter protest against the local Occupy public nuisances;I say clear the sidewalk and stop the noise pollution of this Occupy bowel movement
Screw the OWS astroturf movement. All the big money dems are funding it, and they're too stupid to realize it.
The only grassroots movement that will make a difference is the Tea Party. And it pisses the progressive/socialists off that they can't get a handle on any of it's leaders. I'll save you the trouble...it's a genuine movement that will change the country and there's nothing to stop it.
So good luck socialists, the 2010 elections will look miniscule to the thunder that's coming.
Calling OWS "astroturf" and TP "grass roots"...now THAT's FUNNY!!
Romney attacks women because he cant fight back against men. His wife attacks men because she knows what type of trouble men can get into trouble for fighting back against a woman.
Romney is bad news for America.
Obama may have done some big doppy eared things but not once has he attacked women, not once has he said that the very poor were not to be worried about not once has he said that he enjoys firing people now has he?
Romney will not be elected to the Presidency....the GOP is going to have to wait another four years.
I do not support Romney, but he is not a polygaminst. Very few mormons are. I read however, that anti-abortion people are swinging behind Romney. This is going to make it difficult for Romney to close the gender gap. When people who oppose women`s rights are supporting you it is hard to get women to vote for you in large numbers.
The cowardly Dems, once again, show their contempt for women and everything else that is American. The 'dish-it-out party' but can't take it are scum.
Its true the wealthy do not have to have a Job , Born into Wealth and having Servants to attend to there very need , But for any one of them to stand up and say the Know the struggle of those that have to earn a living is preposterous , That is this Persons demise , she should just keep her mouth shut and go on enjoying her wealthy life style . This is the reason anyone trusting a President to help or do anything for the people he supposedly governs is so Flawed , They are too far removed from anyone struggling for a living and surrounded by there entourage of wealth so as not to even have a clue . Living in the Manson's on the hill overlooking there kingdom as Kings of old ...Looking down on all the little people ..Frank Blackstone
Hmmm, Obama was not born into wealth as was Romney. Obama did not have a family to offer him support, as Romney did. Obama was able to attend Harvard due to his being awarded competitive scholarships; Romney's Dad simply wrote checks. Half of Obama's income comes from royalties from his published books. No one knows exactly where Romney's income comes from and won't until he files his current income tax returns - which he vows to do before November!
Which he will do when he feels like it, apparently!
Obama's mother was Ford Foundation grant funded Lady Bountiful bestowing monies upon desperate Indonesians,she existed on OTHER PEOPLES money and played the grand giver using OTHER PEOPLES money. Do suppose baby Barack was treated like the little prince since Mama doled out OTHER PEOPLES money.Really sick of the plantation mentality of Democratic Party.
What's wrong with you? She was an EMPLOYEE of the Ford Foundation who was paid to help people in Indonesia. Now I realize that helping people is actually something which offends Conservatives, but isn't it the business of the Foundation to decide whom to help, and whether or not to hire employees to help with that work?
As for your implication that Ann Dunham was some sort of debutante passing out money in order to buy favor with the uneducated natives;
http://www.biography.com/people/ann-dunham-434238
The Republican Party is anti-women.
There's nothing any Democrat can do to change that.
Only the Republicans themselves can change that, but they don't seem to want to make those kinds of changes.
So, why is it now that obama won't pay his female white house workers equal pay?
Pres. obama...working for you...HA,HA,HA.
I'd like to see your evidence that the White House does not pay women workers equal pay for doing the same job as men with equal seniority. I have a strong suspicion you are full of @!$%#.
After reading all these postings I stand by my earlier comments. The Democrats are pro women ,the republicans are not.
Did you ever hear a democrat plan to cut food stamps for poor women and children? Did you ever hear a democrat use the word vaginal probe? Did you ever hear a democrat suggest that a woman be denied an abortion even to save her life? Did you ever hear a democrat call a woman a slut because she believes in contraception? Did you ever hear a democrat tell you his religion is the only true path and should be the basis of life in this country?How can any woman vote republican this year.The party has be taken over by religious zealots who want to set back women's rights to the dark ages.
Lar, I think you missed a letter in your name.
Democrats have never missed on a chance to spend my hard earned money. How about personal responsibility? Ever hear of the concept of self reliance?
Guess you happened to miss the attacks on Laura Engram, Michelle Malkin, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman and well any conservative woman around. I truly don't have to explain what Rush said do I? Perhaps you should google the ENTIRE REMARK instead of just the snippet you have been told of. FACT of the matter is, Fluke described herself in front of Congress in exactly the term he used.
This is what I truly despise about liberals, they run to the government for EVERYTHING. I tell you the truth, the churches were doing a fine job and some are still of feeding the needy, regardless of gender. I ask you, in neighborhoods and towns around the country who is more in touch with those people, The federal government or the churches?
Religious zealots huh? I'm very conservative, but not a religious person. People like you make me absolutely sick, mocking people of faith because you have NONE. I hear you liberals bitch and moan about how unfair everything is, how much hate comes from conservatives... YET YOU TURN A BLIND EYE TO YOUR OWN HATREDS. I have personally been the victim of said hatred on multiple occassions, everytime I hear someone say I'm a racist for disagreeing with Obama policies, been called a Nazi, a bigot etc. etc. etc.
Lar, the true war on women is being staged and perpetrated by the Democrats. My question is how can ANY SELF RESPECTING WOMAN VOTE DEMOCRAT?
Oh btw, ever hear Bill Maher or Ed Shultze, Keith Olberman, Louis CK talk about conservative women? Yeah POT MEET KETTLE.
MATHEW: Standard Right Wing talking points. Trotting out the old "personal responsibility" canard. Tell that one to starving children in Apalachia why don't you.
You dont' think the GOP spends your money??? What do you think the Iraq war has cost this nation.
What you're saying is that you have no problem letting families, including young children go hungrey but allowing George Bush to piss away countless billions in an unnecessary war is just fine with you. If Bush's 8 years proved anything it's that Republicans spend even more money than Democrats and they spend on useless things. Remember what Ike said, beware the "Military Industrial Comples"??? The latest estimates on the Iraq war alone are THREE TRILLION DOLLARS. Three trillion. Can you imagine what this nation could have done with that money? Medical research, infrastructure, housing, education, on and on it goes.
Ozzie Boy, when people stop making babies to increase their monthly allowance from the government, when people start accepting responsibility for their own actions then you can talk to me about the "personal responsiblity card".
Never said they didn't, DID I? Fact of the matter is I'm a conservative, the majority of people in DC on both sides of the aisle are progressives. Do your homework, it's the progressive politics that have us in the situation we are in economically and socially, not conservative policies... because there are none being used. Common Sense and Government evidently don't work well together.
NO, misinterpretation of what I said. I don't think it's the GOVERNMENTS job to provide everything for everyone. Sorry if I didn't make that clear enough. The more the government interferes the worse things get, sorry it's a fact. All you have to do is look at the educational system in this country or the energy problems we are facing, how about the inflation problems? ALL stem from the government getting involved in things they were not designed or authorized to be involved in to begin with.
As I said, the churches who are actually in the neighborhoods are much closer and more knowledgable about who the needy are than the federal government who might be 2k or more miles away... DON'T YOU THINK? Proven fact: Charitable donations to churches have decreased significantly. That money is now being taken by the federal government... things any better?
LOL @ your attempt to invoke Ike. YES he most certainly did say that... DO YOU KNOW WHEN AND IN WHAT CONTEXT? I do, I've actually listened to the speech perhaps you should as well. Blaming Bush again I see... so do you blame Obama for Solyndra and all the other "green energy companies" that are filing for bankruptcy now that they have fleeced the American Taxpayer? Let me clue you in, Obama has spent more money in three years than Bush did in eight. Not only that but Bush did in fact have a little thing called 9/11 to deal with, which he lawfully and Constitutionally went to war with a damn near unanimous vote by Congress. Then he also dealt with a little storm damage as well... Can you show me ANYTHING even close to as serious as those two events in the Obama years? Yeah didn't think so.
MATTHEW: Late and I'm gonna sign off so I'll keep this brief.
David Stockman, budget director for the Patron Saint of your party, The Gipper was on Bill Maher's show last night. He stated very clearly that he thinks the entire GOP has been hijacked by the Tea Nuts and went on at greath length, in his opinion Bush's policies were disasterous for this country. This from the budget director involved in the "Reagan Revolution".
Blaming Bush??? You're effing well right I'm blaming that imbecile and his party which allowed him to get us involved in that disasterous mess in Iraq. The Right always say, "Bush is out of office, you can't keep bringing hims up". No? A presidents influence is felt long after he leaves office, particularly when he's a 2 term president. Yea, many on the left voted for the war, to their eternal shame. And the fact that Bush if not outright lied through his teeth he sure as hell cherry picked the intelligence. And in a shameless act of political revenge Cheney and his henchmen outed Valerie Plame to get back to her husband WHO HAD SPOKEN THE TRUTH THAT THERE WERE NO WMD'S. Had a liberal done something like that the Right would have had them hung right outside the Capitol. 9/11? Dubya managed to cock that up mightily as well. His battle cry to the nation was "Go Shopping", stirring words as ever uttered. FDR had Dec 7th, 1941, a day which will live in infamy, Churchill had "if the British empire lasts for a thousand years, men will still say, this was their finest hour". And from Dubya we got "go shopping". Wonder how's that going to read in the history books 50 years hence. What a valiant and inspiring wartime leader we were blessed with.
You avoid the fact that Bush was handed a basically healthy economy, a budget surplus and a balanced budget. 8 years later what did he leave for Obama??? The biggest financial disaster since the Great Depression, that's what. And Obama's policies brought us back from the brink. It's easy to criticize now but at the time many serious economists were talking openly of the real possibility of a full blown depression. You don't think the economic disaster Obama inherited was as big if not bigger than 9/11? 9/11 as horrible as it was and as much of a shock to the pysche of the nation, did not place the entire country at peril the the economic crisis did and has. There's a pattern here, in the 1920s the GOP ran the show, deregulated everything under the sun, handed the disaster off to FDR and then whined and bitched that he wasn't correctly their mistakes fast enough. And in 1936 they convinced him to do the old "balance the budget" routine which then sent the country into another downward spiral. Sound familar???
And if "Solydra" is the biggest cock up you can attribute to Obama, then be my guest. I'll happily compare it to Bush's litany of of disasters. Unlike you, I belive in government nurturing new technologies and subsidizing them when need be. What do you think China as well as many European countries do? And it is one of the reasons why China is eating our lunch. This paranoid aversion to "Big Government" is absurd. New technologies are a gamble and sometimes you lose. You want to talk about lost money How about the F-35 joint strike fighter which has gone double over it's estimate. It's a monster that they are now saying could cost ONE TRILLION DOLLARS. You hate waste so much? How about going after the Pentagon? If waste and failure are cause for defunding projects, we wouldn't have any Pentagon left. They wrote the book on fraud and waste. Impressive, eh? Evil government created the space program, it built the Hoover dam, it created the internet, it's been heavily involved in medical research and is able to do many things that private enterprise can't or won't do. Tell all those little blue haired, Republican Grannies that you're going to take away their Medicare and see where that gets you.
As for charitable contributions, they're way down not because of evil government. What taxes have been raised on you since Obama took office??? Name them. Cause none of mine have gone up. Contributions are down BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BROKE, OUT OF WORK OR AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. Government's got nothing to do with it. You'll have to find a new canard to slap on Democrats.
And I'm quite familiar with Eisenhower's speach, thank you. He saw a runaway miitary machine that would ultimately consume the nation. And to prove the point, even though Bush doubled the military budget, the nutcases in the GOP want to increase military spending further, while they wring their hands over the deficit and dream of slashing every social program developed over the last 75 years. How about we do away with all regulation. I personally would like to see the return of child labor, sweat shops, zero building and fire codes cause big government is always getting in the way of the " Job Creators", don't you know. Bet that would make your old Conservative heart happy. In case you never read it or have forgotten it, do yourself a favor and read Grapes of Wrath again. Perhaps you'll find your humanity.
So Matty, you're argument to defend Republicans perception of women is to try and shift the blame and use strawman arguments?
It's a shame, and a waste of time to even tell you just how stupid that line of logic is. I know you wouldn't understand.
Democrats have hated women since Margaret Sanger pushed planned parenthood to eradicate black babies, male or female.
They've continued their abuse by pushing birth control pills and all the health hazards associated with them. Forcing them to feel like they have to work to be fulfilled while neglecting their children.
The coarseness of the lib/socialists in our culture is evidence of the neglect of their children.
In the black community it is most evident by the language and dress. It's sad, because women can contribute much more to society the working a 9 to 5 job.
But, that's what you get when liberalism infects a society.
Repub American women-slaves/Stepford wives--would be much better at wearing burkas than the Afghan women-slaves! All of 'em!!
Seriously...! The Repub women all talk & act like some robot-android women from the old movies "Westworld" and "BladeRunner".
How's that democratic war for women doing in Afghanistan and the arab @!$%# holes?
Hillary can't find her voice...she's so tough over here..what's the matter, cat got her tongue?
Women should be voting for Republicans. After who knows most about what a women needs? Ask a roomful of Republican men. Not only do they know best they will pass laws to insure their way of doing things for women's bodies, women's healthcare, women's rights and even women's politics. Pretty soon women won't even need to vote the male GOP will have provided everything they need.......
Ann Davis born into wealth, went to college then left to marry rich Mitt and quickly had a baby. No time for a job. Ann forgot being a Mom isn't a job it's love and it's for life. Ann's youngest son is 31 years old and no longer needs to be raised. She is no different the other wealthy women. First Lady Barbara Bush showed class and pride in being a wealthy women and married wealth while raising her kids and helping her husband. Barbara always said she would ask staff how they handle job/kids. Ann might try talking to all women and not just her wealthy friends. It was nice to see the President come out and defend her along with all women. Many forget we have a First Lady right now who is educated worked,married had kids and handled everything before her husband became President. Ann might want to speak to Mitt about insulting her in public by calling her a heavy weight and saying she reports to him as if she's an employee. Women aren't fooled by the GOP tricks and spin and Ann isn't running for President and has no say in the GOP War on Women.
All4areason - damn straight after all she created a job for her trainer who trains her dressage horses - I understand she has a stable full - flew them in from Europe
Well one down - 4 million to go
Amazing, The DEMOCRATIC Party calls "stay at home Moms" stupid and clueless and the media keeps hiding the comments.
Keep it up DEMs, Moms everywhere will be voting Repub this year.
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To you Dems out there, Why does your party's spokespeople think stay@ home Moms DON"T WORK and are clueless to natl. issues. ("quoted from YOUR own party's comments")
When did the Democratic Party call "stay at home moms" stupid? I think you are mistaking a Democrat making a statement and an official policy position from the party.
You guys are good at this. Bill Maher makes a comment and it get attributed to the Democratic Party even when the party and most Democrats distance ourselves from those comments.
On the other side, Rush Limbaugh makes a comment and the Republican Party doubles down in support of him. There's an example of a party doing something rather an individual.
What Democrat called "stay at home mom's stupid"? The comment (made by ANOTHER women) regarded Mitt's "odd" comment that he went to his wife for economic information relative to women. The fact she had never worked and she had ALWAYS been "severely" Rich, made it "odd" since she, obviously, knew very little about what MANY women go through with this beaten down economy...especially WORKING women. Since WORKING women are a key target, I would think, for Mitt, his comment was doubly "odd". Going to his wife for economic information on working women is like Mitt going to one of his tax accountants for information on prostate exams. The commentator was simply pointing out what an "odd" guy Mitt is in expressing himself.
Romney's January view echoes a remark he made in 1994 during his failed Senate campaign. "This is a different world than it was in the 1960s when I was growing up, when you used to have Mom at home and Dad at work," Romney said, as shown in a video posted by BuzzFeed's Andrew Kaczynski. "Now Mom and Dad both have to work whether they want to or not, and usually one of them has two jobs."
Since Romneycare's wife IS a 'Mom at home', it is only fair to point out that Romneycare lives in the 1960s. He since did a 180, and then another, so he has gone full circle (360 degrees) on this already. I know he is a Champion Flip Flopper, but it sounds like we should be ready for 3 1/2 revolutions and a half twist soon, if this recent contortional ambivalence is any indication.
@TexasGram0u812-(24.3) Surely you do know that people with money can make sure that the public never hears of anything untoward regarding their families haven't you? With all due respect, what Hilary Rosen said this week was true. If a woman chooses to stay home and take care of her house and family while her husband works, she cannot relate to the woman who works outside of the home everyday and still have the same responsibilities at home. She definitely cannot relate to the woman who is carrying the load alone. Ann Romney isn't aware of the economic struggles and all that entails because she has the money to eliminate that problem for her, period! Why must people have to constantly apologize for their opinions? Ms. Rosen did not say that Mrs. Romney had committed adultery; murder; kidnapped someone's child, or robbed a bank. As an educated member of the electorate, I am paying close attention to whats being said by both parties; I am particularity being vigilant regarding anyone who is being lackadaisical regarding women and the issues that affect us, weather its in the workplace, the marketplace, or the doctor's office, I would strongly urge all of my sisters everywhere to be equally as vigilant.
January 2012, Mitt was speaking out against welfare. At that time, Mitt said that mothers on welfare, with children over two years, should be required to work. They should learn the work experience. Raising poor children may be even more work that raising rich children since mothers can not afford the helping hands, or summer camp, or sometimes even enough food or medicine. It is fair that a mother be required to provide for the children that they choose to have. It will always be true that the rich can afford more than the poor. A civilization is looked at for values in the way it treats the young, the ill, and the old. How it treats those who can not care for themselves. Raising your child is an obligation and you should be prepared to give up the next eighteen years of your live if needed. The task is work, but it is not a job.
I don't think Mitt is "anti-women" but I don't think he prioritizes women very highly. Look at his positions....
On birth control he had to choose between womens' rights and religious freedom.
Religious freedom
On abortion he had to choose between womens' rights and unborn rights.
Unborn rights
On Planned Parenthood he had to choose between womens' health and a political agenda to defund PP.
Political agenda
I can't think of one case where he's chosen womens' issues over anything else. Now he tries to make the case that he's for women because he's for the economy. WOW REALLY? Women care about gas and grocery prices so he's down for womens' issues.
He's a single issue candidate who thinks making everything about the economy is enough. His plan for turning around America might as well be 999.