Wonderful Women Of The World
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 2nd, 2011
Good morning!
This morning I am posting a write about a woman who might be wonderful to some, but not to this girl. This woman definitely does not deserve my Saturday’s title.
Michele Bachmann: A Woman Does Not a Women’s Candidate Make
The fight for the women’s vote ramped up this week when Michele Bachmann officially declared her run for the presidency. The Tea Party founder is pro-family, anti-government, and has proclaimed herself the champion of women everywhere. We beg to differ.
She’s just one of the guys, she told Daily Beast writer Kirsten Powers:
I’m a woman comfortable in her own skin. I grew up with three brothers. My parents didn’t see us [as] limited [by gender]. I would mow the lawn and take out the trash; I was making my own fishing lures. I went along with everything the boys did.
Just don’t call her a feminist, she told Powers. Clearly.
The opening salvos in the battle for our hearts and minds were fired a few weeks back when DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz called the Republicans out for their war on women. To which Bachmann told a New Hampshire reporter that Democrats were “terribly afraid of a Michele Bachmann candidacy for president of the United States,” said Bachmann. “Democrats see themselves with group politics quite often, they’ll see that they think they should own certain minorities or ethnicities or that they should own women. That’s not true.”
Instead, Bachmann asserted that women are paying attention to economic issues, such as the rising gas and grocery prices.
You know what’s coming, right? The creepy idea that, issues notwithstanding, we’ll vote for a woman because, you know, we are one. That we’re so dumb that we’ll vote against our own interests just because the candidate wears a skirt. Or proclaims herself pro-family.
It’s insulting at best. (Why is it, again, that a man is allowed to vote on the issues, while a woman must vote according to chromosomes?) Dangerous at worst. When it comes to issues that really matter to women — and their families — a skirt does not a woman make. Neither does a tea party.
Don’t get us wrong. We think women come in many stripes and colors. And yet. There are a certain number of bedrock issues you’d assume any Double Xer would support, mainly because these are issues that affect us all.
Just for the hell of it, let’s take Bachmann’s position on defunding Planned Parenthood, which she once called “the LensCrafters of big abortion.” What often gets lost when the debate centers on abortion is this: Planned Parenthood is a prime provider of health care for women who can’t afford it. I know of one woman, in fact, whose life may have been saved by Planned Parenthood. She discovered a lump in her breast shortly after losing her work-related health insurance. Where did she turn for a mammogram? Yep, Planned Parenthood, which ultimately shepherded her through the scary process of not only the diagnostics, but ultimately surgery, chemo and radiation.
And while we’re on the subject of health care, there’s this. Who suffered most under our health care system of old? Women. And when women suffer, it’s often the kids who pay the price. So much for those family values. Let’s recall a few things we may have forgotten about our old health care system that would be back in business if Bachmann and others succeed in repealing Obama’s health care overhaul, which, incidentally, has been estimated to save $140 billion over the next ten years. Pregnancy: pre-existing condition. Women: statistically more likely to work part-time jobs (so they can care for their kids) that do not provide benefits. Sure, it’s all peachy for ladies who can depend on well-employed husbands for heath care benefits. But what if he loses his job? Hard to afford COBRA on a part time salary. Or no salary. Or even one salary, for that matter.
And what if she’s a single mother? Sorry, kids. No doc for you…
Should we go on? Let’s. Back when the bill was first being debated, USA Today provided a cheat sheet for the ways in which the old health care system discriminated against women:
• insurance companies are allowed to charge women more for the same policies as men in 40 states and the District of Columbia;
• in those same states and D.C., insurance companies can charge businesses with mostly female employees higher group rates;
• many companies don’t provide maternity coverage as part of their basic plans;
• insurance companies can exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions; having had a C-section is one of them;
• if a woman is pregnant when she buys an insurance company, insurance companies can deny maternity coverage;
• 8 states and D.C. allow insurance companies to deny coverage to victims of domestic violence.
There’s more, but those are the highlights of healthcare coverage for women who had insurance. But what about the ones who didn’t? Or their kids? You do the math.
Obviously, health care isn’t the only issue that affects women or families. How about the fact that women still make 77 cents to a man’s buck for the same work? Or that the ERA has never been passed? Or the fact that for many women, affordable child care is nothing but a pipe dream because we’ve never made it a priority? But again, what about the families we care so much about? What happens to the kids when mom and dad can’t get a job, or when a single mother can’t find anyone to watch her kids? Or the fact that the workplace is still set up for an employee with someone at home to take care of business — and pick up the kids before the day care center closes. Now that the 40 hour workweek equals 52, there aren’t enough hours in the day for any of us to meet the demands of both work and family without, well, going postal. Which is why so many women, who still own the second shift, dial back their careers when kids come along. Which is fine, so long as there is a spouse in the picture to bring home the bacon — and the health insurance — and that said spouse is guaranteed to have a job in the morning. Maybe this is all stuff that small-town communities, big-hearted bosses and god-fearing families can fix without government intervention. But how has that worked out for us so far?
There’s more that gets our goat, not the least of which is the fact that Bachmann is in favor of killing the EPA (so much for Mother Earth), has opposed tax deductions for breast pumps designed to encourage breast feeding among poor women, and favors spending cuts (that could disproportionately hurt the poor) and is against tax increases (that could disproportionately hurt the rich).
Thing is, parity is important. Absolutely. We want equal representation in government, in business, in life. But when it comes to those who make the policy or run the show, let’s face it: Men vote on the issues, not the pants. Same with us. It’s the issues, not the skirts. A woman who can’t-slash-won’t support women’s issues? Fail.
************
Readers: As the author says, “…a skirt does not a woman make.” Bachmann for President is a joke, but one that we need to take seriously, because our country has in the past voted in jokes into office, and we inevitably pay the price…big time. Palin was a hot topic during her 15 minutes. Expect the same from me for Bachmann.
Zen Lill: Thanks for the kudos.
Robert: Give them a taste of their own medicine. I like it. As Wayne said, “Payback is a bitch”.
Pearl: Loved your story. Let me preface by saying that I take no issue with homosexuals either. But, you are not the first one who has commented to me about Halperin being a gay boy. And I’m with you on the wager. I bet it’ll be breaking news at some point in the near future.
Vivian: Another feather in Obama’s cap. With respect to the republicans, “some things never change”. We don’t need to remind ourselves of that because the republicans always do.
That’s a good place to end, so I will. Enjoy your Saturday everyone! Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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July 2nd, 2011 at 11:38 am
Hi Mischa, you are very welcome, and I like to give kudos where kudos are clearly in order…and I love this article, spells it all out loud and clear about her and about what could happen to health care, for women. Unfortunately its often not in the consciousness of PT working woman w/man of fat wallet (repug wives) to concern themselves with single mothers and their financial/family/health ins struggles.
Luv, Zen Lill
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:48 am
Michelle:
I have been following this Woman Michele Bachman in the news lately since she declared her run for the Presidency in 2012 and have been wondering what you thought of her.
I know what I think of her but didn’t want to voice my opinion on your blog since she is a Woman — The wrong Woman, but nevertheless a Woman.
As you eloquently describe her in your Post today, “Michele Bachman: A Woman Does Not a Women‘s Candidate Make” … “You know what’s coming, right? The creepy idea that, issues notwithstanding, we’ll vote for a woman because, you know, we are one. That we’re so dumb that we’ll vote against our own interests just because the candidate wears a skirt. Or proclaims herself pro-family.”
It’s the issues that count, not her XX chromosomes or her skirts. A woman who can’t/won’t support women’s issues is not the one to vote for just because you share the same gender.
Bachmann is in favor of killing the EPA, opposes tax deductions and favors spending cuts that would hurt the poor. She is against tax increases for the rich. She is a Republican and stands for everything that is bad for our society.
This is one Woman who will not support Women’s Issues or my own. Please listen to what Michelle is posting about her. “It’s the issues, not he skirt.”
HOWIE
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Zen Lill
I agree with you. It is one of the reasons why we white women have a difficult time supporting women. The republican party only attracts women who are idiots or greedy bastards. They would be idiots greedy bastards regardless of their gender. It just the party’s agenda. The people who join it to enter politics as candidates are interested in what is in it for them financially.
The people who support those candidates are made up of three kinds. 1. The ones who are interested in manipulating those candidates to profit financially from their ignorance and or greed. 2. Those who believe that they will become part of the group that the party sucks up to, the wealthy. and 3. The idiots, racists, bigots, xenophobics,(did I leave anybody out?) and women who join to meet them.
Thanks Zen Lill for broaching that topic for me.
Frances
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:16 pm
You call me and say I read your note to me. Baby, I am sorry to tell you that I did not post that for you to read. I posted it because I didn’t have anyone to talk to and you introduced me to this blog because you like to write to it. Why can’t I just write to it when I feel the need?
Lusting for you can sometimes feel like a full time occupation. If I don’t get to fuck you soon. I may have to resort to whipping it to the bone, while listening to your voice on my message center’s cell phone.
What will you say when they find me dead from a bleeding dick?
Ym
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:25 pm
On a planet that mirrors earth’s inhabitants progress, there is a slight variation. The anthropophagi that visit it refuse to eat them because they love their garlic. The whole planet is full of people who eat garlic.
Well not the whole planet. There are those who don’t they are the meat eaters who refuse to be burned upon their deaths. They insist on being buried in sarcophagi.
We can eat them because they refuse to eat garlic. But they are so few that we can not ever get enough to justify farming the planet. Hence we are here.
Lkhori
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Michelle, you are using Word Press. I would suggest that you get another service. Your blog has become too big for them to handle the traffic. Their inability to do so makes it difficult for your many fans to post to it without extreme patience.
It takes me so many tries to get a post that I often just give up. Multiply this by a few hundred or perhaps thousands a day and you can see why you are not getting the exposure in comments that you could be getting.
Daniel
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Damn it I may have to post my comment on ZL’s blog. I want to answer her post here but all I keep getting is this fuckikng – Error establishing a database connection – message when I attempt to post here.
This sucks
Lucy
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:39 pm
Howie, you are dead on!
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Howie, sorry about leaving your name out. I meant to include you in my post to Zen Lill. I think your thoughtful synapsis was right on every account.
I wouldn’t hesitate to jump in on woman’s issues if I were you. Your recent credentials have placed you on solid ground as a thinker about all the issues not just those involving men.
I may not agree with all your opinions(have so far) but I respect your right to voice them. And more important to me is I know that you are not the typical male who can only see through his penis.
Frances
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Yes, you are here but I would venture to speculate that you are here too because of the TWO, more than the farm.
This galaxy is full of farms. As long as you regulate your farming needs so as to not tax the herd, we will all get along splendidly.
iola
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Ym, why not explore the field? Your lady may seem to be the only one that can light your fire, but that may be because you have exposed yourself to a limited source of ignition options.
From what city and state do your hail?
Just curious
Terri
July 3rd, 2011 at 12:15 am
I would like to address the Christine that says she knows an alien, Tanaka I think.
I met a guy last week. He said that he was an alien from another planet. He said that he was left behind when his friends and comrades Tanaka and Bill left. I remembered you saying that your alien friend was named Tanaka.
I challenged him to prove he was an alien. He laughed and said what if he did? I said that I would never rat him out. He looked confused so I restated it and said that what I meant was that I would keep his secret.
He laughed again and said Tanaka always said no one would ever believe a human who said he knew an alien.
Okay, I said so prove it. He asked me for a drink. I suggested wine. He said okay. I got two glasses and poured him and me a glass.
We drank a couple of sips and then he said, “there I’ve proved it.” I said come again. He said look at the glasses. When I looked at the wine goblets, they each had a hole dead in the center, but the wine remained in the glasses.
We eventually finished the wine. But when he left and I washed the glasses they still have a hole dead in the center. But this time the water runs out. Crazy!
Oh, his name is Robby. Would you like to exchange information about our aliens? I am curious. Could your Tanaka be my friends friend?
I live in Kungälv. It is a small town in Västra Götaland County, Sweden.
Ursla
July 3rd, 2011 at 12:32 am
Hi,
I am new to this blog. It is everything I have heard about it. It is 9:23AM Sunday morning. I have just finished breakfast and I am reading my favorite past time, Michelle Moquin’s blog.
Since I was introduce to it 4 months ago I have not missed a read. It is fantastic! I don’t always get the American politics. But I love the stories, and gosh the aliens are terrific.
We argue all the time about whether the alien dialogue is really true or a gag. But we all agree it is fantastic! My question is who are “The TWO” that are mentioned in the aliens dialogues?
Oh and hello, Lkhori, iola and Robby welcome to earth. I hope you don’t eat the healthy.
Valorie
July 3rd, 2011 at 12:44 am
Michelle, what Daniel says is so true. It is so difficult accessing your blog. Sometime when I am successful to my dismay it gives me access only to the previous day. After I post, it takes so long for my comment to post or it refuses to post it.
I think you need to look into changing your blog host. I stay up to try to catch your blog in real time only to be frustrated attempting to get the current day or to post.
Stefan
July 3rd, 2011 at 1:07 am
Howie, great story about the astronauts running from their possible encounter with visitors from outer space. With a bit more plot it would make a nice sci-fi flick.
Are you from outer space? What’s your connection to Carr?
I am new, about 6 months, so I could use a little more input. You are obviously one of the main characters. The staff opinions here are you are one of Michelle’s additions designed to make the blog more interesting.
I hear she started you out as an anti character. You were always against her. Mika says you were boring and whinny then. I have only seem the statesman and guy who knows ALL.
Except I don’t know that much about you. How long have you known Carr? What happened to your side kick, AL?
My favorites are the TAO. Especially the Time Traveler. I wish he would mention Europe’s past events sometimes, though.
I am 53, but young at heart. I teach at a university and I am considering assigning the blog as a class project. But I need to know more about its characters first. Is there a place I can go to learn more?
Borg
July 3rd, 2011 at 1:12 am
Put me down for one of those disgruntled posters. I’m going out to enjoy this beautiful day.
July 3rd, 2011 at 3:11 am
Ursla, yes, it is possible that your Robby knows Tanaka. It’s true, Tanaka would laugh and say that no one would believe me if I tried talking to anybody about them. You are a lucky lady to have met one of Tanaka’s crew…. He left several years ago and I still think about him all the time. Thank you for remembering me and sharing your story with me.
PS:
July 3rd, 2011 at 3:13 am
Ursla, – sorry – I accidentally hit the “send” button before I was done. -
yes, it is possible that your Robby knows Tanaka. It’s true, Tanaka would laugh and say that no one would believe me if I tried talking to anybody about them. You are a lucky lady to have met one of Tanaka’s crew…. He left several years ago and I still think about him all the time. Thank you for remembering me and sharing your story with me.
PS: My mother’s side of the family came from Gotland! Irony
July 3rd, 2011 at 9:28 am
“Light” Ice Cream Treats
Lisa R. Young, PhD, RD
As the weather gets warmer, there’s nothing like a refreshing ice cream treat to cool you down. What to look for when selecting a “light” ice cream treat (per single—serving—one-half cup or one bar)…
Keep an eye on calories. Some of the premium brands of ice cream market light products that contain the same number of calories as regular ice cream. Be sure to check the calories—and don’t exceed 120 calories per serving.
Watch the fat content. A good rule of thumb is no more than 4 g of total fat—and 2 g of saturated fat and trans fat combined.
Go easy on sugar. Opt for a product with no more than 15 g of sugar. Avoid products that contain sugar alcohols, such as maltitol or sorbitol, which may cause intestinal distress… or artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame or Splenda, which often have an aftertaste.
My top picks…
1. BREYERS
Double Churn Light
Ice Cream (Vanilla Bean)
Serving size: ½ cup… 3 g total fat… 2 g saturated fat… 0 trans fat… 13 g sugar… 100 calories.
2. EDY’S
Slow Churned Rich & Creamy
Light Ice Cream (Vanilla)
Serving size: ½ cup… 3.5 g total fat…2 g saturated fat… 0 trans fat… 11 g sugar… 100 calories.
3. SKINNY COW
Fudge Bar
Serving size: One bar… 1 g total fat… 0.5 g saturated fat… 0 trans fat… 13 g sugar… 100 calories.
Personal interviewed Lisa R. Young, PhD, RD, is a nutritionist in private practice and an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University, both in New York City. She is the author of The Portion Teller Plan (Broadway).