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07/24/2009
Concerned (non-dowdy, non-surgically-induced, clearly gender-roled, conservative) Women For America
"Nancy Pelosi’s surgically induced gash of a smile, which is hard to endure"
The above quip comes the Concerned Women For America's Janice Shaw Crouse, in a piece where she is -- get this -- criticizing the "harsh media treatment of Sarah Palin. A piece wherein she also knocks the "dowdy" Betty Friedan, Bella Abzug, Madeline Albright, and Janet Reno:
Palin illustrates that a woman can be feminine while being a strong, smart leader. Sarah Palin’s feminine appearance, charm, and rhetoric transformed the dowdy image of female leadership a la Betty Friedan, Bella Abzug, Madeline Albright, or Janet Reno. With her casual and humorous approach to public speaking and her down-home expressions, she made harsh feminist diatribes seem empty, meaningless, out-of-touch and out-of-date. Her savvy, confident demeanor reflects her sense of self as a wife, mother and accomplished career woman. Like Margaret Thatcher, Palin’s soft exterior is a stark contrast to her tough inner strength. Unlike Nancy Pelosi’s surgically induced gash of a smile, which is hard to endure, Palin simply lights up the room when she enters it.
Thank You, Sarah Palin [CWA]
So for those keeping score of CWA's unique take on female leadership:
- It's completely out of line for the media to scrutinize a relatively inexperienced politician who, in her quest to becoming nothing less than the most powerful person in the world, botches the few interviews that she grants, earns ethics complaints, raises eyebrows with certain narrow views, and ultimately quits her job.
- While unfair to focus on Sarah Palin's looks, it's completely fair to focus on the superficial appearance of Democratic women. And even ad hominem speculation into the House Speaker's cosmetic surgery is completely kosher, as long as said Speaker sits on a donkey rather than an elephant.
- Saying things like "you betcha" and other folksy phrases somehow negates years of feminism. Ya know, because thoughtful "our bodies, our lives" chants can't hold a candle to silly quips about lipstick-laden pitbulls.
- Falling into a "feminine" gender role is not just a characteristic -- it's somehow a plus in terms of leadership. Unless, of course, you feel compelled by a society that puts heightened scrutiny of females to engage in some sort of procedures, then you just might find your "surgically induced gashes" mocked for the sake of political opportunism.
Keep on riveting, Republican Rosies!
Your thoughts
Margaret Thatcher? As in, the Iron Lady? As in, a woman who became prime minister after almost 30 years of political experience in one of the world's most powerful countries? As in, a woman who has more foreign-policy experience than our last three presidents combined? As in, a woman who, before going into politics, was already a successful scientist? (And I'm just summarizing here.) Oh, yeah, Palin is totally like that. Pshaw. Yeah. Sheesh.
Posted by: Brian | Jul 24, 2009 10:58:52 AM
Brian, you forgot what is clearly the most important fact in Crouse's estimation of Thatcher: her soft exterior.
Posted by: Diogenes | Jul 24, 2009 11:20:47 AM
Janice Shaw Crouse certainly has a "soft" exterior. What are they feeding these social con women to make them so grotesquely overweight? And so zombie-esque in their adherence to the supremacist credo? One might mistakenly come to suspect that they are Stepford wives. But the cost of enough Frubber to cover those frames would be too cost prohibitive to make it worthwhile.
But what I am wondering is why Serial Killer Palin is getting a pass from national news coverage with regard to the AK Medicaid mismanagement. The federal investigation into her administration's mismanagement led them conclude that seniors were better off not joining the program:
"A particularly alarming finding concerns deaths of adults in the programs. In one 2 1/2 year stretch, 227 adults already getting services died while waiting for a nurse to reassess their needs. Another 27 died waiting for their initial assessment, to see if they qualified for help."
That 2.5 year stretch would have been almost entirely on Palin's watch. 227 dead Alaskans might still be alive today, were it not for Palin's "strong, smart leader[ship]". And, you would think that Crouse would be exceptionally pissed about that since most of those geezers were probably "Concerned Women" supporters, or at least sympathizers.
Posted by: Dick Mills | Jul 24, 2009 12:25:05 PM
Yay, we get to assess *their* looks now!
Hey, CWA: Fashion show! Fashion show! Fashion show at lunch!
Posted by: GreenEyedLilo | Jul 24, 2009 12:41:08 PM
I'm no fan of Maggie Thatcher, but at least she knew what she was doing.
TRiG.
Posted by: Timothy (TRiG) | Jul 24, 2009 12:48:47 PM
One of the things I found so distressing about McCain's selection of Palin was her "casual and humorous approach to public speaking and her down-home expressions."
They did not "soften" an otherwise intelligent and determined politician as did Lincoln's or Reagan's demeaner. Rather, they revealed a woman out of her element, without rhetorical skills, polish, or the ability to connect with educated serious people who care about their nation and want thoughtful and cautious people at the helm.
Posted by: Timothy Kincaid | Jul 24, 2009 3:16:39 PM
I posted a link on Facebook to this page, and a friend there on Facebook made a comment describing CWA as "Ladies against women".
TRiG.
Posted by: Timothy (TRiG) | Jul 24, 2009 3:42:54 PM
Just goes to show you as long as you look like a barbie doll, no one will actually question the insanity of the crap that comes out of your mouth. Maybe thats why they accept Lynne Cheney's homosexuality (aside from the family credentials!)
Posted by: Krissy | Jul 25, 2009 2:46:08 PM
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