So, THK doesn't like the mommies? Who cares. Who died and put her on the ballot anyway?
But am I being a bad feminist for discounting her statements? And doesn't the First Lady have a great deal of influence over politics as Nancy Reagan and her astrologer can attest? And after viewing the weird connection between the Rodham brothers and the Cllinton's infamous pardons, perhaps we should take seriously the politics of the wife, the in-laws, and drunken step brothers.
Laura certainly hasn't had any influence over policy. Indeed, she defers to her husband in all issues, like a doormat, regardless of her actual status in their marriage.
Heinz-Kerry is an obnoxious witch, but she's not a doormat. Although, I seriously doubt she will have serious influence on policy, if for no other reason than the fact that most of Kerry's advisors view her with disdain, if not outright dislike.
Posted by: flaime | October 22, 2004 at 01:31 PM
You're not a bad feminist for discounting her, unless you think it's bad feminism to preserve the right to choose, prevent a radical-right (and antifeminist) takeover of the Supreme Court, prevent our country from stripping citizens of their constitutional rights to trial by jury, free speech, and protest, or to be against deporting foreigners to other countries so they can be more conveniently tortured. I mean, I would think those things outweigh a presidential candidate's spouse who says something inconsiderate about a president's spouse.
But that's just me.
Posted by: emjaybee | October 22, 2004 at 01:42 PM
Perhaps it's all the dearly-loved, loud-mouthed, ballsy, opinionated women in my own family that's influencing me somewhat, but I'm actually warming to Theresa. I rather enjoy women who are not afraid to speak their mind, who aren't afraid to voice an opinion other than an echo of the man in their lives.
This, however, is clearly not the type of woman that George W. Bush is drawn to, having once described Laura as "the perfect wife for a governor," not the type "to butt in and always, you know, compete.' (I'm quite sure he wishes his daughters were as docile and well-behaved.)
But seriously, no woman of sound mind is going to have her vote swayed by these media shenanigans. The huge women's issue on the table in this election is abortion. If Bush is re-elected, we are quite likely to see a repeal of Roe v. Wade in addition to further restrictions on access to sound birth control and AIDs prevention information. That is highly unlikely to happen under Kerry.
Right now we bicker over the choices that we've made with our lives. The Republicans want to take away our right to make those very choices. That's what at stake for us. We forget that to our peril.
Posted by: Erika | October 22, 2004 at 07:24 PM
didja hear the one about THK's campaign handler? After the 'real job' remark, she said, 'Oh, that Teresa, born with a silver foot in her mouth'
It is a big problem for the Kerry campaign that the Heinz-Kerry wealth is so visible and makes their lives so obviously immune to the concerns which hit the rest of us. Very similar effect to the supermarket scanner incident for Bush 41. I don't see it as a feminist issue so much as a class issue.
Posted by: dave s | October 23, 2004 at 05:36 AM
Ooh, can't wait to see Neil's divorce in the national media spotlight. Prostitutes in Hong Kong, was it? And just oodles of cash paid to someone whose sole qualification was being the president's brother?
Posted by: Doug | October 26, 2004 at 12:42 PM