The Nation: Condoleezza Rice Is Wrong Kind of Female to Break Gender Barrier at Augusta National

Reason ^ | 08/21/2012 | Matt Welch

[SeekAndFind]

The Nation magazine used to think that getting the Augusta National Golf Club (that atavistic private institution in Georgia that hosts the prestigious Masters tournament each year) to open its membership to women was at least a moderately big deal. In 2002, Eric Alterman in those pages ridiculed what he called were the club's "Cro-Magnon men-only admissions policies," the controversies over which were "aptly described by the Toronto Star's Antonia Zerbisias as 'a dust-up over how a rich white man's club won't let rich white women join, and how CBS still plans to showcase the course when it hosts the Masters, a tournament starring Tiger Woods who, as a black man, should know better than to play at a place which discriminates.'"

In 2004 column asking "Where Are the Jocks for Justice?", indefatigable L.A. lefties Peter Dreier and Kelly Candaele bemoaned that Tiger Woods "remained on the sidelines during the 2002 controversy." A 2007 piece by Zach Marks hailed Augusta-petitioner Martha Burk as one of several prominent "Women Leaders."

So how did the progressive mag react to the news that Augusta finally broke open its gender barrier by admitting former secretary of the state Condoleezza Rice, along with 80-year-old "South Carolina financier and philanthropist" Darla Moore? By having sportswriter Dave Zirin declare that the occasion is "Nothing to Celebrate." Excerpt:

Rice and Moore are not twenty-first-century Jackie Robinsons, and their acceptance into this bastion of exclusion has nothing to do with women's liberation and is utterly disconnected from the reality of daily life for millions of American women.

Condi Rice as a symbol of female power? Only if by power, we mean the power to put thousands of Iraqi women in graves all in the name of a war based on lies that she actively promoted. [...]

In a sane world, Rice would be awaiting trial at the Hague. Instead, she gets to play golf at a club that, incidentally, didn't allow African-Americans until 1990.

As for Darla Moore, she is a banking billionaire who lives on a South Carolina plantation that's been in her family for seven generations. She is a longtime friend of the Bush family as well as of [former Augusta president] Hootie Johnson. [...]

I'm sure it's tempting to look at today as an advance for women in sports. But it's very difficult think that today's national celebration of a multi-billionaire and a war criminal has anything to do with women's liberation.

So glass ceilings only truly get broken by ladies who have the right kind of politics. Duly noted, white man!

In related news, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello last week attempted to revoke the Rage-fandom privilege of Republican vice presidential pick Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) on grounds that Ryan couldn't possibly understand such important lyrical messages as calling on "the people to seize the means of production."

[AFreeBird]

Why, because she’s black?

That’s so racist of “The Nation”.

[yarddog]

I think Erin Andrews is the right kind of girl.

I would even let her join my “He man, women haters club”.

[Joe Boucher]

No, because she is conservative.
They wanted a typical liberal skank instead. One that would more represent their values, some pathetic soul like debbie wasserman schultz.

[OrangeHoof]

I thought Augusta handled this perfectly. They brought in two so nobody had the pressure of being “the first” plus they did this months after The Masters so it looked like a decision made with careful consideration and not caving to political pressure.

The fact that liberals are unhappy with the announcement is all the proof you need that they did it the right way.

[Bryanw92]

Probably because she isn’t a man-hating, bra-burning, bull dyke who will turn everything into an anti-man tirade. Rice would probably just go there to play some golf. “The Nation” wants an annoying activist who can disrupt the club from the inside.

[Sgt_Schultze]

along with 80-year-old "South Carolina financier and philanthropist" Darla Moore

80?? Not! click pic for bio.

more pics at google

[Red Badger]

We can golfs now?...............

[Da Coyote]

Love their decision. Ms Rice is the ultimate in sophistication and achievement.

The Nation probably would have loved Moooooooochellle to be the choice. And she’s the ultimate in nothingness, vapidity, and total worthlessness.

[AFreeBird]

Oh I know.

I was just pulling the same race card the libs use against anyone who doesn’t like “The Won”.

[massgopguy]

Toronto? Where no men are allowed to play on the 21 hole Women’s Golf Club of Toronto? That Toronto?

[LostPassword]

I can't believe it took so long for this to be written (or at least for me to see it).

When it first happened, my response was
These aren’t women any more than Condoleezza Rice is black. At least I think these are both “Republican Women” which is completely different than “women” according to the people who complain about Augusta.

[Grams A]

IMO as a long-time female golfer, I am very disappointed that they are now allowing women to play. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a “male only” golf club or any other kind of club for just males or just females for that matter. God knows that the south is not hurting for great places to play golf.

Just destroyed the uniqueness.

[Iron Munro]

With Condi they get a three pointer.

[Starstruck]

Since its a private club they probably wanted people who would mesh with other club members, not a couple of loud-mouthed liberals.

[nascarnation]

Actually women have been playing at Augusta for a long time.
Just not as members.

[VeniVidiVici]

Dave Zirin. Admitted Socialist. Child molester?

[Red Badger]

21 holes?

18 holes and a threesome?..............

[dfwgator]

The only “Women” that count to liberals are single women and lesbians.

[KosmicKitty]

Pretend for a minute it was Moochelle Obama instead of Condi Rice

Would the author have written the same piece? I highly doubt it.