Where are all the Republican Women?

Personally I avoid Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh like the plague. If I’m in the mood for hypocrisies, conspiracy theories and hate rhetoric I can usually find a good Hollywood blockbuster that will not only deliver but be much more entertaining and much easier on the blood pressure. So when I heard about both hosts referring to United States Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La) as a prostitute, as much as my blood pressure did rise, it wasn’t exactly a huge surprise. Being respectful and showing regard to common decency have never been strong suits for either man.

What gets me is the reaction from Republican women. I know you’re probably asking yourself, what reaction? Which is my point. There hasn’t been one. Not a thing. Conservative women, specifically Republican Women who actually serve in Congress have nothing to say about blatant sexism against one of the few female colleagues they have? How about Sarah Palin? She has been at the losing end of some of the worst sexists treatment from media in recent history, yet she has nothing to say about calling a Senator a Prostitute?

The reason Senator Landrieu is being called such offensive names is because she offered to vote in favor of moving ahead with health care debate on the Senate floor, (she did not promise to vote for the bill itself, just the vote to move it along) in return for $300 million in federal aid. Federal Aid for Louisiana. Is there really one person in this country who doesn’t think Louisiana needs federal aid more than we need to put off the debate on health care? I wonder how all the people in New Orleans who are still trying to rebuild, who are still without a home, who are still looking for help after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina feel about comparing Senator Landrieau's deal with a whore? I’m guessing not good.

I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised, after all it was last month that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was told she needed to be “put in her place” by the National Republican Congressional Committee. The Huffington Post tried in vain to contact fifteen female lawmakers (fourteen from the House or Representatives) as well as two Republican women's issues groups to get their response to the very sexists statement made about Speaker Pelosi. Not one was willing to provide a statement.

Yes, there were many Democratic women who refused to stand up for Sarah Palin during the media frenzy that occurred during the 2008 Presidential election and the year since because of her politics. But there were many who did. There were many women who put politics aside and made sure their voices were heard when sexism came into play.

But where are female voices from the right? Is sexism not an issue for all of us? Doesn’t Senator Landrieu deserve the respect and defense of her fellow female lawmakers regardless of what side of the aisle they’re on?

Don’t all women?

This is a cross-post from the WomenCount blog. 

Meghan Harvey is the New Media Producer for WomenCount and can also be found blogging at Meg's Idle Chatter.

Comments

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

I guess all the Republican women are staying in their place.

[Larry]

Waste-O-Space.

[Jozet at Halushki]

I'm not sure why any one group of people is being singled out as failing at battling sexism. I think that we have just as big an obligation to call our own men to the mat for being quiet as we do anyone else.

My opinion is that men of all ilk are way too quiet on this and take the easy excuse of "it's not my battle" when sure as hell, if it's someone from the larger "guy camp" being a jerk - no matter political affiliation - then you need to set him down fast. Making this about politics makes it more or less just a game of gotchya.

I'm so exhausted with blaming women only for not taking up the mantel and sword and fighting this fight. I've seen enough sexist, hate-filled rhetoric and pure glee from all sides when it suits their needs. I think pointing only at Republican women is picking a fight with a crimson fish. Why aren't we being louder for all women? Why aren't we calling out more loudly the women and men in our own communities - online and "real life" and in our own homes - when they try to take down any women with hate-filled misogynistic talk?

I think pointing to Republican women is far too narrow when we have enough splinters in our own eyes to remove. Where are "our" men and why aren't they getting loud about this? This is more than politics.

[Cynematic]

@Susan Ramey Cleveland: snort. Guffaw.

I seem to remember these same crickets chirping when senators characterized then-SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor with hideously sexist (and racist) slurs. If there were any Republican Latinas who objected, they sure were quiet.

I heard plenty of Democrats and Independents, men and women, remark how over-the-top senators' comments were, though.

[fake watches]

Ohhh yeah, this week has been AMAZING! I have a washing machine now for the first time in a year, my house doesn't look like a laundry bomb hit it any more!!