Hillarysworld

This article makes some good points.  The Pols in both parties have made the abortion issue both a carrot and a stick, depending on the circumstances.  Both have used and exploited women in the name of this issue.  By holding this one issue over our heads, they have gotten our votes, counted on our loyalty, compelled us to donate both our time and our money.  They've used us for EVERYTHING - except as viable, serious candidates for political positions.  They have drawn the line at supporting us in efforts to place more women in national elected positions - particularly, the presidency.  We all know what the Dem party did in that regard.  And, the Republicans with their cross over votes for Obama in the primary, as encouraged by the ever open-minded and supporter of women, Rush Limbaugh, didn't help our cause, either.

Not everyone will agree with the inclusiveness of this article, but it provide serious food for thought.  We have got to find a way to advance women - leaving the abortion issue out of the mix, if necessary, and if at all possible.  Sarah Palin had the good judgment to recognize that while she was certainly entitled to her personal, religious beliefs that abortion is wrong, the highest court in the land has ruled that abortion ia legal, and action to seek a different ruling would be counterproductive.

There Are Great Women on Both Sides

October 14, 2009
by Cynthia RucciacloseAuthor: Cynthia Ruccia Name: Cynthia Ruccia
Email: editor@thenewagenda.net
Site: http://
About: See Authors Posts (43)

 

I awoke today to this piece by Kathleen Parker Time For The GOP Women and my heart leapt with joy. Many of us who are the original founding members of The New Agenda have been Democrats all of our lives. All of us found the behavior of the Democratic Party vis-a-vis Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin to be unforgivable and unforgettable.

Many of our members and readers became Democrats because we believed it to be the party that was going to advance the cause of women. And then we let ourselves be divided by the abortion issue.

Today, as we approach 2010, that issue, although important to its constituencies both pro and con,  has become its opposite. Rather than being an issue that might give a woman more freedom, it has actually limited our progress on a host of pressing issues. The New Agenda decided to keep that issue off our agenda.

The New Agenda came together as a group of women and men of all parties to first of all stamp out the sexism in the media. We have experienced some success. Not only have we put insulting behavior back in its shameful place in many instances, we have also been the leader in getting a new dialogue started about women’s progress. You can’t turn on a TV or open any news website or paper on any given day without the subject of women’s advancement and sexism being in the mix.

One of our discoveries as a bunch of current and former Democrats (many of us became Independents like myself—others joined the Republican Party or remained as Democrats) is that—–duh—-there are many terrific women on the Republican side who want the same things as the rest of us do. Things like safety against domestic violence, equal pay, and a host of other items on a woman’s agenda. Many of us pondered the idea that if in the age of Obama the Democrats were going to be blind to their sexism, what was the chance that Republicans might see these same issues as a way to fuel their way back into power?

When I saw this column today, I thought to myself—right on!!! And why not? Sure you can find Democratic women foaming at the mouth at the thought of Sarah Palin. It can be quite disheartening to see. However, I have also found that once you let them run through their tirade, they can be made to see how irrational they are being.

I am not necessarily supporting one party over another. But I do see that there is opportunity for one or both of our parties to press the reset button and offer something wonderful to attract women to their side. The opportunity is great, and women’s issues in the 21^st century need to be redefined. As Kathleen Parker alluded to, with the right message, women’s votes are up for grabs