I’ve put the headline in quotes, because it isn’t my question. It’s a question more often posed by those who are left of center. It’s not my question, because I know that Republican women can do whatever they want to do, in the political arena, or otherwise. I’ve met some very capable, perceptive, resourceful, creative, intelligent, skilled, and motivating Republican women. The left-of-center questioners are hoping that Republicans answer in this fashion: “Because the men of the GOP hold them back.” I don’t think that’s the truth.
So why aren’t more women at the forefront of the GOP?
One of the factors might be how such women are treated by the left. Think especially about how the left treated Sarah Palin last year. She was courageous enough to follow through, and so was her family, despite being maliciously slimed with rumor, innuendo, fabrications, and outright lies. Other courageous women are up to the challenge of leading within the GOP, also. But . . . there are other women . . . who might be rightfully apprehensive about charging into the fray and taking a leadership stance in the GOP. I welcome them to take that chance, and if I can do something to help defend them against the merciless onslaught, I’m willing to help.
But if you thought the left’s treatment of Sarah Palin was an aberration not to be repeated again, you’re wrong. Check out this article by Vicki McClure Davidson at Frugal Cafe Blog Zone. The main target of a lefty troll, who wrote a frighteningly vicious magazine article, is one of my favorite conservative bloggers, Michelle Malkin, who had some reflections of her own. That lefty troll has a lot of company, too. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but the number of left-of-center blogs listed in my blogroll is a fairly small number, and the main reason why some don’t make it to my blogroll is because some of them are overly coarse, vicious, vulgar, mean-spirited, and potty-mouthed.
June 3, 2009 at 10:43 pm
You really should cheer up on this one – I try to note every time I learn of a woman entering a race – so far, I’ve written about these two:
1. In South Carolina, GOP statehouse rep. Nikki Haley – whom Mark Sanford seems to support:
http://themoderatevoice.com/32259/is-sc-gop-gov-candidate-nikki-haley-image-of-conservative-female-political-leaders/
2. And just today I wrote about the Republican Mayor of Walto Hills, Marlene Anielski who has announced her candidacy for Josh Mandel’s seat in the Ohio House District 17:
http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com/2009/06/03/walton-hills-mayor-marlene-anielski-r-to-run-for-ohio-house-17th/
She has no Internet presence at all yet though.
And then I took note of Sara Marie Brenner, who is very recently married to Andrew Brenner, Delaware County Recorder – both of them w/the GOP:
http://saramariebrenner.com/
She’s also on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin etc.
Finally, I learned today about the RNC’s Women’s Program and its first annual Women’s Summit, to be held in DC later this month – read about it here:
http://phconservative.blogspot.com/2009/05/follow-up-to-all-interested-west.html
I couldn’t find much more info on it but it does appear that the ORP is sending some folks there.
So…recruitment and support and experience and connections seem to be as much the game as ever – and these women seem to be ready to go.
June 3, 2009 at 10:55 pm
First comment must be in moderation – here’s another link I learned about today, but it is rather stale – The Pink Elephants, the women’s coalition in the RNC, made a Facebook page – but, as I say, it hasn’t been updated in several months. Joanne Davidson of Ohio seems to be one of the titular heads.
June 4, 2009 at 12:41 am
Of course, you have earned a place on my blogroll from day one. Thanks, Jill.
And when I thought you were being unfair to Sarah Palin, I didn’t neglect to speak up.
June 4, 2009 at 1:04 am
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