Comedian and political satirist Bill Maher has a segment on his show called “New Rules,” in which he simply declares something like, “Californians need to learn how to drive in the rain,” or “Just because a country elects a smart president doesn’t make it a smart country.” The subsequent analysis is both insightful and funny as hell. Well today I am taking a page from his book and declaring some new rules.
New Rule #1: Do not support any politicians who make or ignore sexist remarks on the campaign trail. An incident during the recent Massachusetts Senate race brought back memories of the 2008 Presidential campaign, during which too many political leaders ignored the (sometimes horrific) sexist comments made about candidate Hillary Clinton, then a sitting U.S. Senator and now Secretary of State.
In case you missed this latest instance of sexism on the campaign trail, it took place during a rally for now Senator-elect Scott Brown, who was running against Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. In the middle of Brown’s campaign stump speech, during which he was calling Coakley’s negative campaigning “malicious,” someone yelled “Shove a curling iron up her butt!” According to numerous accounts of the incident, Brown smiled and returned to his campaign cheer, “We can do it.” (It should be noted that the remark was a reference to the charge that Coakley’s office failed to aggressively prosecute a sexual abuse case involving a curling iron. You can read the Boston Globe for more information on that story. But let’s be clear: disagreeing with Coakley’s approach in the case is fine—using vulgar and violent language to attack her is not.)
Brown later told reporters that he didn’t hear the remark, that it was “inappropriate,” and that he would have “said something” had he heard it. I have watched a video clip of the rally, and the audio isn’t completely clear to me—so I can’t fault Brown for not responding immediately. But I am disturbed that when given a chance to address the issue after the fact, he chose not to do more than call the remark inappropriate—particularly given its violent nature and Brown’s stated distate for negative campaigning.
So, New Rule #2: It is no longer sufficient for politicians to say that they “didn’t hear” their followers (or staff) make a sexist (and in this case, violent) remark about a professional colleague (or that they misunderstood it, etc.). When politicians are told that such comments have been made in connection to their campaign, they should quickly, publicly, and specifically repudiate the remarks. They need to lead by example, including using campaign events as teachable moments through which they can inspire and inform. In this instance, Brown should have talked about how sexist and violent attacks on women are not merely “inappropriate;” they are way out of bounds and lead to a culture of inequality—something I am sure he doesn’t want for his two daughters.
Which brings us to New Rule #3: In the future, women and progressive men should support only those political parties that mount candidates willing to run campaigns that focus on the issues and avoid using (or capitalizing on) negative gender-based campaign strategies and sexist remarks.
We can put this final rule into play today by telling the leadership of the major political parties that our continuing support (including financial contributions) will be based on their willingness to set boundaries with regard to how women candidates will be talked to and about during future political campaigns. Call or write them at the numbers/addresses noted below.
Let’s make 2010 the year in which we take a stand against sexist campaign strategies.
Cynthia
Democratic National Committee
Mailing Address:
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Telephone: 202-863-8000
E-mail: http://www.democrats.org/contact.html
Republican National Committee
Mailing Address:
310 First Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Telephone: 202-863-8500
E-mail: info@gop.com
