Monday, January 16, 2012
Phillips Democratic Women Still an Endangered Species
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 8:17 AM
Yes, I'm sure to Republicans it was no big deal to grant state Sen. Jim Kyle the ability to run against Sen. Beverly Marrero. But for Democratic women, it was yet another indication that we are welcome until we need support that "Real Democrats" have decided should go elsewhere.
Shoot, head over to Steve Ross's blog to watch Rep. Antonio Parkinson in action when he decides he doesn't like a proposal made by Rep. Jeanne Richardson, who's now in his new district.
It's no wonder that there are so few Democratic women politicians, when the guys expect women to just step back and let them be in charge. But the problem, as I've said repeatedly, is systemic. When women's work is devalued and women's contribution to Democratic party politics at the local level is downplayed or rolled into her husband's work, when workshops and rallies don't have childcare, women get the message that we're not really welcome.
But we live in a state where Democrats are a minority — a minority made up of women, black men, Hispanic men, and the GLBT crowd. if you can't find a way to engage us, you're not going to get the very little done you could have.
As Aretha Franklin says, if you want to TCB, you'd better show some R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Oh, that's right. You don't value the input of women. Fine, then, take it from Otis Redding instead.
Comments (5)
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Then Democrats wonder why so many women vote Republican when the Democratic party better reflects their interests. Dems, I like you and unfortunately for Progressives you are the only game in town, but you will not get the whole-hearted support of women in this state until you demonstrate that you really care about women in this state. Screwing over women Democrats is not the way to do that.
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With Rep. Debbie Wasserman representing democratic women on the
federal level and Senator Harper on the state level we get a good idea
on the face of democrat women in politics. If that doesn't inspire more
participation and votes, then what will? Did I mention the brain power
in our own Rep. Sherry Jones, which is never covered in The Scene?
No wonder Democrats can't win in Tennessee. Too busy playing identity politics. Go have a group cry with Chip and let the adults run the state.
"When women's work is devalued ..."
Economics 101 : Everything is worth whatever someone else is freely willing to pay for it at any given point in time. No more and no less.
I genuinely hope that Den. Marrero beats the crap out of Jim Kyle in a primary. He has been one of the worst "leaders" of the Democratic Party. and he can bear much of the blame for the ever-worsening fate of the Democrats in the General Assembly.
The lack of message, the misallocation of resources, the pursuit of personal vendettas, the perpetuation of the Wilder fiasco for years beyond any reasonable term, the whining and annoying approach, the total lack of understanding of the state's people and priorities, the aimless "agenda" (if Senate Democrats even have one) -- all of this can be laid at the feet of Sen. Kyle. No wonder the Republicans were willing to work a deal that might keep him min the Senate. He has been the Republicans' best friend.
If he cared anything at all about the Democratic Party, he would just go. And te sooner the better.
