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Kathleen Parker is one of America's most popular opinion columnists, addressing the country's mental health through her views on current national ...
Read more about Kathleen Parker.
Kathleen Parker is one of America's most popular opinion columnists, addressing the country's mental health through her views on current national ...
Read more about Kathleen Parker.
Republican Women -- Hear Them Roar
Kathleen Parker
WASHINGTON -- As the Republican Party continues its pilgrimage through
the desert, its leaders may be missing the oasis for the vale of
tears.
The answer to the party's woes isn't a revamped Web site (GOP.com) offering -- wowser! -- really cool social networking platforms.
The answer won't be found in the sudden realization that 83 percent of young people 18 to 24 have an online profile -- or other late-breaking revelations that merely reinforce the perception of the GOP as woefully behind the curve.
The answer is ... drum roll, please ... women.
If the GOP is really serious about expanding the party, it's time for the men to hush and let the pros take over. As the saying goes: If you need something done, hire a busy woman. Or, as the White House Project puts it: "Add women, change everything."
In the past few months, several conservative women have emerged as candidates and critics to challenge the notion that the GOP is the party of men. They're also putting to rest any thought that Sarah Palin is the female face of the party.
The McCain campaign had the right idea; it just picked the wrong woman.
Among the newer comers are two mega-businesswomen and two famous daughters, representing younger generations with divergent ideas. Although these aren't the only Republican women rising, they offer a glimpse at what could become a surge of hormonal correction on the conservative side.
First up in this new league of their own are two celebrity entrepreneurs. Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, is running for governor of California. And Carly Fiorina, former Hewlett-Packard CEO, plans to challenge California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. Neither woman has any political experience beyond advising and stumping for Sen. John McCain during his last presidential run, but that would seem a bonus to an incumbent-weary nation.
Fiorina, the first woman to run a Fortune 20 company, has lost some of her early luster with Republican voters, according to a recent Field Poll. And Democrats have criticized her as "one of the 20 worst CEOs in the country," a bold charge from the party that propelled a community organizer with zero executive experience to the White House.
Fiorina's lower numbers are likely a reflection of her reduced visibility recently while undergoing breast cancer treatments. By contrast, her Republican opponent has been stumping to the tune of more than 160 political events since last November. A close adviser says Fiorina, who is "definitely running," is on the mend and expects to be locked and loaded in a couple of weeks.
Billionaire Whitman is running a tight race against two opponents for the Republican nomination, spending much of her own money along the way. If she wins -- and then defeats Democrat Jerry Brown (big ifs) -- she would become one of only four Republican women governors.
This deficit in high office is both a taint on the GOP and a reflection of the broader assumption that Republicans are monolithically against women's rights. Specifically, the party's pro-life platform alienates pro-choice women, as well as moderates, who otherwise might find common cause with conservative principles.
Women such as pro-choice Whitman and "personally" pro-life Fiorina could help change that impression, while also raising other issues women care about. Fiorina caused a slight ripple in the Republican zeitgeist during McCain's campaign when she criticized insurance companies for covering Viagra and not birth control.
Meanwhile, another Meg (McCain) and Liz Cheney, daughter of the former vice president, have emerged as strong voices in a party with too few sopranos.
It isn't quite fair to group McCain with Cheney, given their respective resumes -- one a 24-year-old celebrity blogger whose fame is (thus far) inherited and the other, Cheney, 43, a former deputy assistant secretary of state. But both are relatively fresh voices with instant name recognition. And each appeals to a different, perhaps untapped, demographic.
Cheney, recently dubbed a "red-state rock star," just launched a new Web site, KeepAmericaSafe.com, where she and others plan to critique foreign policy issues. And the socially liberal McCain, though she may not please the party elders, appeals to younger voters who otherwise wouldn't consider lifting the flap on the old man's tent.
Four women: a pro-life hawk; a pro-choice, pro-gay rights libertarian; two entrepreneurs, one pro-choice and one pro-life. This doesn't sound like your daddy's Republican Party, but it could be your daughter's -- if the men wise up.
========
Kathleen Parker's e-mail address is kathleenparker(at)washpost.com
Copyright 2009 Washington Post Writers Group
This news arrived on: 10/14/2009
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Posted Comments:
10-16-2009 22:13
JCE wrote:
Goldenwren
When I was 14, I spent 21 days on a fire, with 49 other men. I learned a bit of the civilizing effect of women. I believe that men keep women in a subservient position for one reason. The women won't let the men play their silly ego trip mind games, that make women work harder, and kids suffer. The early Americans were really impressed with the Iroquois and their alliance, and adopted a few of the things into our government. But the most important thing the Iroquois had was the one thing our founders didn't want. See, anyone who wanted to be a chief could be, as long as the men wanted him. But he still wasn't a chief UNTIL the council of wise women said he was a chief. And they didn't have to, and didn't always do so. Also, the warriors could raid, but couldn't go to war without the permission of the wise women. Unlike our government, which only pretends to have a system of checks and balances, the Iroquois did. And I believe it is why they have survived as well as they have. When I was 15, I was hearing about womens lib. I asked my mom what she thought of it. She told me that she was sorry for the poor misguided fools. I was shocked. She then explained that she was born knowing that she was superior to men. The trick was to not let the men do, and just do what needed to be done. I heard her ask my dad if he thought she could go down from Alaska to Calgary, Alberta, to see her mom. My dad said we didn't have the money. My mom said ok. A few weeks later, he told her he thought she should go visit her mom. My mom asked if we could afford it, and my dad said we would find a way. I was amazed. I watched, and I learned. My dad is a brilliant man, but she out thought him in all that she needed to, and my dad, talented as he is, could never have done half of it without her. I found me a very smart woman. I did as you suggested, and had read of her before. I was once reading about Eleanor Roosevelt, and found out about Edith. You are preaching to the choir.
10-16-2009 13:18
Goldenwren wrote:
Oh, Oh, Oh JCE. Do I hear a hint of anti-womanism in the government in your voice? Women are often the real power behind the throne. I am sure you know of Edith bolling Galt Wilson. You do know that she was often called "the second President" and "the first woman to run the government" when President Wilson had his stroke in September of 1919. Instead of letting the VP and other to carry on, she did it herself, taking those matters that she considered right to her husband who was abed behind closed doors. She had an interesting biography in Wikipedia and you should read it. It is thought that she, herself, made the majority of the decisions that others thought were made by her husband. Don't be mistaken by what women do.
10-16-2009 11:10
Ken wrote:
Republican Women
I like Sarah Palin for at least two reasons:
1) She had a fairly good fiscal record as Governor
2) She has the Democrats scared enough to try to destroy her.
She has some political maturing to do, but I think she has what it takes and is not old school politics.
1) She had a fairly good fiscal record as Governor
2) She has the Democrats scared enough to try to destroy her.
She has some political maturing to do, but I think she has what it takes and is not old school politics.
10-15-2009 18:10
JCE wrote:
Well, with the pro anti human rights candidates, we are already screwed. But lets face it, most women who try to succeed in a traditionally mans world only end up worse than the men. Most of the women in congress, and most of the top CEOs that are women prove that. And Cheney and McCain would be much worse versions of their fathers. There is some hope for any woman who would criticize the insurance companies for not paying for birth control. There is also some hope for a woman that knows business, as our congress seems to only know how to take business money, and support big business. But big mouth kids, riding on daddys coattails, trying to be a big shot, and continue a despicable political dynasty, are pretty much a terrible idea.
That being said, it is unreasonable people who make changes. Who buck the system, and say it needs changing. Who say we can do better, and should not accept 2nd best. Women have the power, they usually abuse it. But a couple of good, unreasonable women, bound on positive change, and who are willing to lead, buck the special interests, fight both parties, and go for peoples, human, womens, and childrens rights, is just what this country needs. Republican or democrat. There is no way a bunch of good women will do as bad as a bunch of normal men. But I don't see any bunch of good women.
That being said, it is unreasonable people who make changes. Who buck the system, and say it needs changing. Who say we can do better, and should not accept 2nd best. Women have the power, they usually abuse it. But a couple of good, unreasonable women, bound on positive change, and who are willing to lead, buck the special interests, fight both parties, and go for peoples, human, womens, and childrens rights, is just what this country needs. Republican or democrat. There is no way a bunch of good women will do as bad as a bunch of normal men. But I don't see any bunch of good women.
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