Anything less than 3 of these, you're gonna have to spring for the biggee fries and 64 oz slurpee to tide her over til supper.
Posted on 06/22/2010 7:19:28 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
By today’s standards, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman’s recent scandals—over a hair joke and a three-year-old workplace incident—were pretty tame. But because both are women and Republicans, a media firestorm was inevitable.
I love women in politics. Even if our political ideology diverges, I respect any woman who goes into what is still, depressingly, a man’s world. Any woman willing to put up with the inevitable sexism that correlates with seeking political office deserves to be admired on some level, because she is helping to continue to break that glass ceiling. And if a woman running for office and I have similar political views, I am even more enthusiastic.
Two women who have recently thrown their hat in the ring, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman, have been receiving a lot of media attention, not only for winning their primaries but also for a few “bad girl” scandals. Fiorina, who won the Republican nomination for Senate in California, made waves after being caught on a live microphone making fun of opponent Barbara Boxer’s hair. She later said she “regretted this whole situation” and that she “gave people the opportunity to talk about something petty and superficial.” Whitman, the Republican nominee for governor in California, is getting publicity for allegedly shoving a subordinate in 2007, while she was chief executive of eBay; the employee later received a confidential six-figure settlement.
Are Fiorina and Whitman reinforcing negative female stereotypes about women, or are they being forced to put up with a media witch hunt because they are both women and Republicans?
I spent time with both of them during my father’s presidential campaign, especially with Carly, who was an early supporter during the Republican primaries. I found both women to be hardworking, and both have a very dry sense of humor, something I always like in other people. Is this enough to make them a good governor and senator of California? Of course not. But I think these women genuinely want to change things for their state and believe that they can effect positive change through their impressive experience in the work force.
Had Whitman and Fiorina been two male Democrats running for these seats in California, I have a feeling the media would have had an entirely different take on both incidents. I am sure if a man had been accused of shoving a subordinate, the reaction would have been more lenient. It is also interesting to note that the woman Whitman allegedly shoved later told The New York Times that they did have “an unfortunate incident” but that they resolved it and continued to work together at eBay.
Both Fiorina and Whitman made mistakes that they have apologized for and moved on from—and really, by today’s standards, neither is particularly shocking nor even that provocative. Fiorina was caught on a microphone making a stupid joke about her opponent. Do you not think that behind closed doors, Boxer makes jokes about Fiorina? And three years ago the CEO of eBay was involved in an incident that was resolved. As Whitman’s spokeswoman said, “A verbal dispute in a high-pressure working environment isn’t out of the ordinary.”
In the end, neither of these so-called scandals really matter. What matters is what both these women plan on doing to help their state and, ultimately, this country. I hope that they continue on to successful campaigns—and that they make this political atmosphere a little easier for the women who will follow them. Unfortunately, because they are powerful women running for office, they have to deal with a level of scrutiny that just wouldn’t be as intense as it would be if two men were running. And because they are Republicans, that intense scrutiny borders on obsession.
Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com. Her new book, Dirty Sexy, Politics, will be published in August.
Carly Fiorina may be an empty suit, but she’s not a RINO.
Your beloved Petunia is back in the news, I see.
Fiorina supported the bailouts. That makes her a Grade A RINO.
When a writer or pundit uses the word “firestorm” I instantly stop listening/reading.
I can’t help it—it’s an involunatary self protective reaction.
The real news is that there is someone someplace who actually cares what that fat delusional moron thinks.
FIORepublicanInNameAlone - the name says it all.
Oh give it a rest. The primary’s over. Fiornia isn’t a RINO. I don’t believe Whitman is either, but time will tell—but I’ll take that risk over the much greater risk of putting Brown the incompetent boob back in the governorship to finish the destruction he started on the state in the 70s. In any event, this kind of post just helps Boxer and Brown by attempting to suppress conservative turn-out. Good job. I’m sure both leftists thank you.
Megan who? ;-)
“Her new book, Dirty Sexy, Politics, will be published in August”
She must have been scared to death her book wouldn’t sell to have to come up with a title like that.
“Ms McCain, your 3 cheeseburger order is ready for pick up!”
Meghan back in the news, that must send a thrill down your leg.
More like 33.
I notice she wrote an article on Republican women in politics and didn’t mention Sarah Palin once. That is telling.
I remember last year Meghan was on the View and they asked her about Sarah and she just said, “It will be in my new book out in August”. I think she is getting ready to to a hit job on Sarah - ungrateful pig - after all Sarah’s been doing to keep her dad in office.
Whitman did not flip-flop. Her primary radio ads stated clearly that she was against amnesty and that ILLEGAL immigrants did not have a right to ask for (expect?) taxpayer-funded benefits.
However she DID NOT say (in that ad) that she opposed legalization and she DID NOT say (in that ad) that she opposed ILLEGAL immigrants getting taxpayer-funded benefits.
Moonbeam or her.. hmmm.. uh . . . .
Anything less than 3 of these, you're gonna have to spring for the biggee fries and 64 oz slurpee to tide her over til supper.
“Anything less than 3 of these, you’re gonna have to spring for the biggee fries and 64 oz slurpee to tide her over til supper.”
...and you’re gonna have to spring for a cardiologist as well!
Okay, who added ‘nomanwilllayher’ to the keywords?
Yeah, just because she supported the bailouts, supported cap and trade, supported the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayer and opposed Arizona's attempt to stem the tide of illegal alien invaders doesn't make her a RINO. She's actually a RINA.
If the nurses don't kill ya first....
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