Members: have your say
December 20, 2008
by The New Agenda
|40 Comments
The news cycle seems to have slowed as we unwind into the soft-focus of the winter holiday—no big stories this week—no scandals, a few cabinet appointments, nothing monumental.
It seems like a good time to ask: what’s your take on the incoming administration?
List the one thing you most strongly agree with, and the one thing you most strongly object to (and your reasons, if you’re inclined).
The New Agenda is listening.
On the whole I still have the feeling that Obama does not take women’s opinions seriously. He gave us the minimum number of cabinet-level posts necessary in order to avoid an outcry.
My biggest concern at the moment though is that he has not yet made any proposal to create jobs for women in the same way that spending on infrastructure is going to create jobs for men. This is going to have far-reaching consequences, putting women at an even greater disadvantage economically than they are now.
Always very hard to pick the “one” thing about anything! But, here is my attempt:
Most strongly object to the fact, in light of the massive caucus fraud, that Obama may well not be the rightful person in the job. I my eyes, his legitimacy will always be in question.
Most strongly agree with nothing at this point, since all we have are words, and when we have had actions, they have often contradicted the lofty words.
Sorry, at this point, it’s two thumbs down and waiting.
I have hope though (geez, that word feels so tainted now ever since it became part of the Obama brand, thanks to Jon Favreau’s brilliant writing!), since we are in deep trouble and we must see are way through it in every way we can, which inlcudes, in my view, the vision and actions of our government.
Waiting, watching, skeptical, while hoping for the sake of us all.
Natalie – Can you say more about how you feel so convinced that spending on infastructure will create jobs for men and not women?
Anna,
This excellent piece by Linda Hirschman speaks to what Natalie is commenting:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12.....shman.html
Amy,
Thank you. Very informative (if not also depressing) piece. I wondered if infastructure meant construction and I guess it does in the most broad stroke sense. Ugh.
Is TNA considering addressing this with a press release?
BTW, I think it’s a good move replacing the video on the home page. Keeps things fresh and current. (Even though I’ve grown accustomed to seeing the back of your head each time I click on the site!)
We did address it best we could so far by signing onto a coalition letter that Beverly Neurfeld sent our way (check blog story) and we will continue to speak out.
Best thing: I have cautious hope that science funding may be a priority under the new administration.
Worst thing: Obama is an unabashed “free” trader whose choice of economic advisers gives me no hope that things will improve for labor under his administration, and a booster of the Great Education Myth, which David Sirota describes as “the idea that if we only just made everyone in America smarter, we would solve outsourcing, wage depression and health care/pension benefit cuts.” (Sirota went on to support Obama and viciously attack Clinton in the primaries.)
What do I strongly disagree with? The misogyny and the sexism which will trickle down into every policy decision. I can’t stand Bush, trust me, I’m no fan, but even he tried to pay lip service to womens issues. Remember the “W is for Women campaign”? He may have been FOS, but he at least spoke of the women in Afganistan and women’s equality in the ME. He at least got gender parity written right into the Iraqi Constitution. He gave us our first female four star general here at home. He’s actually done a lot of aids relief work in Africa, too.
He was absolutely NOT a great advocate for women’s rights, but why can’t we even seem to get that much from Obama? Where’s the mention of what women in the ME go thru? Where’s the commitment to defending women’s rights? Where is the evidence that he at least considers women at home important enough to pander to?
So my take on the incoming administration is mostly filled with dread about how women’s issues could be going from the frying pan right into the fire. And “women’s issues” encompass everything, from healthcare to civil rights for gays, from job creation to the condition of the economy, from education to foreign policy. The health of a nation can be meassured by how it deals with what are often referred to as “women’s issues”.
So far I’ve seen nothing to give me hope.
Yea there’s nothing I agree with. This all is just one big DISAGREE
the 15th – I really respect your maturity in being able to have some objectivity with this issue. And, I agree, there is a lot of reason to be hopeful that this administration will have a more current view of science and the place of science in our world compared to the present administration. And that will be no small thing. Bush surely set things back in that area, though I have concerns about Obama’s interest in expanding Bush’s faith-based initiatives. Still, I think it’s quite reasonable to expect science to move forward with an Obama administration as compared to what we’ve seen the past 8 years.
I read that his education secretary is for charter schools, merit pay for teachers. here goes my hope that anything good will happen for my kids’ schools.
And in generally, this Riverdaughter essay
http://riverdaughter.wordpress.....s-remorse/
shows why Republicans financed and PR-ed so hard B0 over Hillary: in a time when Democrats should (and could) impose their principles, Obama will triangulate away, privatize, Rickwarren, etc.
Well, I feel dissappointed about more women not being chosen for the cabinet, particularly for Treasury (Sheila Bair) and Commerce (Meg Whitman). I feel very good about the women choosen for the other positions, particularly Labor and Homeland Security and about the numerous women chosen in untraditional second-tier roles like the Economic Council and the SEC. While many of these women should have received top jobs, a pool is being created for future promotions and appointments.
With respect to construction jobs, there are organizations like “Hard Hatted Women” who could use the support of the New Agenda so that women get their share of the construction work.
Anticipating’ whether BO’s ‘Presidency’ will be kind to women only serves to legitimize his unlawful ascent to and occupation of the Oval Office.
The best thing about the new administration is that I won’t have to listen to any more Bush bashing. People will have to find someone else to blame for everything from a termite infestation to stubbing their toe. I like the guy, I don’t agree with everything he’s done, but I think he’s a good and decent man who has gotten a raw deal mostly from the media who we all know is always truthful and fair and wouldn’t dare crucify one politician to help another. (sound familiar?) It’s my opinion, leave me alone!
The other best thing about the new administration is that as much as I dislike many many many things about Obama and his policies, I can tell when he looks at his wife and daughters that he genuinely loves and adores them. I can only hope that he will begin to see women’s issues through his daughters’ eyes and be our ally on at least some of our goals.
The worst thing…They want to raise my taxes. They (and I mean everyone in Washington) already fritter away enough of my money. I would like to see them do a better job with what they already get before they ask me for more. At least they could let me take a small portion (maybe 2 % of the 42% I already pay) and donate it to a non-profit of MY CHOICE. Imagine the battered women’s shelters we could fund and build with that money.
I agree with Not Your sweetie. And add, taking down teachers’ unions. I first heard of this news last night on Fox news. If all of this is accurate, Obama’s appointment for Education Secretary is the worst mistake so far.
A little over 10 years ago Wayne State University was instrumental in forming a charter school in Detroit. I am only familiar with the formation and first year, but quality teachers and an educationally savvy principal were lowest on the list of priorities. A few really great teachers were hired and more who had little or no experience or understanding of what education is or what should be the result. Into the first year the incompetent principal was fired and replaced with someone familiar with education and who had appropriate experience. I lost touch with how things moved along after that.
Teachers’ unions are knowledgeable regarding how to improve education. They do not want to “protect” incompetent teachers, but they do expect salaries in keeping with their educational levels, experience, and interest in education–conferences, reading, and keeping up with what students need. Their understanding of what our country needs in terms of an educated citizenry usually exceeds that of people who focus on teachers’ salaries and teachers unions.
And the racial issues around education are controversial and explosive. Perhaps we need a new educational paradigm and a new educational language in order to educate everyone. Something of this magnitude will not come from persons concerned with the “power” of teachers unions or with teachers’ salaries. Perhaps it must come from teachers and others aware of how quickly our world is changing and the incredible level of knowledge and teaching methodology needed to educate students. And educating parents where necessary.
Obama’s educational appointment may be the most significant of all his appointments. And perhaps the one given the least real concern and thought.
Kevin – Great org idea. I hope TNA adds them to their list of resources/orgs to support and collaborate with.
Thia – You are too generous in my view. (BTW, “Kabud’s” English skills have radically improved over at PJ and he has a very brief and icky response/comment for you.
TNA – Do you have a down and dirty list that shows the gender breakdown in Cabinet posts (I realize people leave and/or get fired so this changes somewhat during any given administration) for the past 4 or so administrations? If so, could you post it? (I realize there was/is some controversy regarding what actually constitutes an official cabinet post as it seems even those have changed somewhat, but ballpark figures will be fine.)
Anna-
There has been a lot of discussion and links to info about the various cabinets etc in the Cabinet Watch thread. You might find what you are looking for there. I’m off to PJ….
Thanks ER. We will look into it!
Thia – Thanks. I’m so used to clicking on “Blog” that I need to be more pro-active about checking out the rest of the site and the resources available. Thanks. (BTW, if you go to PJ, the piece is still on the home page, but not in the large type. It’s bumped down to what will be the last place it willl exist before it goes to its final resting place. There’s a list on the right side of the page with about 5 pieces that recently bumped off the main section. Last chance! It doesn’t appear that PJ has an Archives.)
Thanks, Anna! In recent years, there’s been a lot of focus on hot-button issues like creationist school curricula, when I think that the most serious threat to science is dwindling opportunities in the field.
And I believe that when educational attainments in science or any other field are valued, it’s good for women. Women compete very well when it comes to achievements with clear criteria, like a degree. It’s harder for us when hiring decisions are based on “intangibles” like the ability to fit in at a company or being a motivated self-starter or whatever the latest buzzword is, because so often these qualities are evaluated by the old boys’ club. Unfortunately, it seems like we’re seeing a devaluing of education as women receive a greater proportion of degrees.
Thia, I also suspect Bush is a decent man — some will point to that disgusting interview he did mocking Karla Fay Tucker, but I don’t think that one offhand comment is indicative of his true character. I do think that the U.S. is in serious trouble now, though, and I’m inclined to blame him for a lot of it.
the 15th – Fair enough!
Anna- they finally posted my response on your article at PJ. I hope you like it…
I agree with Anna. O’s legitimacy will always be an issue for me. I also agree with yttik re nothing so far to give me hope.
O and the DNC stole the nomination from Hillary thereby risking and/or taking for granted the women vote. That combined with extreme misogyny in the media and within the O campaign and staff, makes it really hard to get a sense of hope from the little bits of bone thrown our way via 5 women cabinet posts.
As someone else said, there is no sign that they want to “pander” to the women vote. O wrote off our vote during the primaries, never pandered to get it for the election, won anyway, never said a word about Favreau, appointed blatant sexists to cabinet, invited an extremist Christian that promotes women being submissive to men to speak at the inauguration, and still has done nothing to show an interest in gaining our support. I see no reason to believe O will be strong on women’s issues, yet I do see him pandering to extremist Christians.
I’m sure O has his eye on the next election. I don’t expect the economy to get much better, if not worse, within the next four years. That will make it hard to get re-elected. Just how far will this pandering to extremist Christians go?
Women were the first demographic O wrote off, no sign he wants our support, signs he wants extremist Christians support. Doesn’t give me any reason to have hope.
2 thumbs down
Obama is a snake. That old story about being charmed by a snake and then being bitten by him holds true for him tenfold. Women are not on his agenda at all and I don’t care if he looks at his children adoringly. Obviously he doesn’t care about them as women or he would be way ahead of the curve in how he approaches all women. You can dress him up, make him talk nice and underneath it all he is still a snake. I would like the New Agenda to take hard stands and stick to them. Women are being beaten, shot and killed and we can no longer back down and excuse the behavior of the men who are repsonsible. Take a stand and don’t back down. Boys like Favreau need to be fired – rehabilitation is not an option The New Agenda should be concerned about!
The New Agenda started out strong and now is becoming a player in the world of politics. We don’t need players, we need lightening rods who are willing to take the heat. Change will not come easily and it certainly won’t come with compromise!!
Marilyn,
Why does there have to be only one way to fight? Don’t we need to use every tactic at our disposal? I think about it like what the AA community has done that made it pretty successful in at least making people ashamed of being racist and discrimination based on that illegal. Why can’t we have the Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and the Black Panther approach. I don’t care which! Fight however you want as long as we women are all fighting for the same thing. Equality and the end of sexism. (or at the very least the shaming of it.)
I like this:
“rehabilitation is not an option”
As a slogan, Marilyn.
Kiuku, I can’t speak for everyone here but rehabilitating him was never the point for me. It isn’t about him. I said somewhere on this blog that I thought Hillary should get to punch him in the face on national TV. The blog post everyone is referring to as the “backing down” or “rehabilitating him” idea came from a conversation on Ophelia with a domestic violence expert. This is supposed to be a place where we can be open and exchange ideas. That was ONE of MANY ideas. If you go back and look at the articles and comments people have called over and over for him to be fired. Other opinions have been discussed as well. I don’t want to participate in a group that doesn’t respectfully allow everyone to have an opinion. It was just an opinion written after the conversation with the domestic violence expert. Yours is different, and I hear you loud and clear.
Unfortunately I can see absolutely nothing positive about the seizing of the White House through voter fraud and illegal tactics, so I can speak to nothing positive if the Obama people actually succeed in taking power in January.
The issues that disturbed me from the beginning and continue to disturb me greatly are grounded in media collusion with a sexist campaign to bring down the best candidate through calculated playing of gender and race cards; the suppression and twisting of fact and the rampant , overt flouting of our laws, our Constitution and our electoral system, which resulted in the disenfranchising of millions of voters.
I am also extremely concerned with the lack of tolerance the Obama camp has demonstrated toward anyone who disagrees with or questions them. Respectful discourse, exchange of ideas and questions are vital for human rights and the democratic system of democracy to succeed, and to suppress CIVIL, COURTEOUS, RESPECTFUL input is to doom the entity that does so.
I think it is vital, perhaps now more than ever, for people to exercise restraint and courtesy in exchanging of ideas and opinions so that we can all hear one another. It is only in practicing civil discourse that any entity can hope to succeed.
truthisgold – nice post!
this – loved your posts over at PJ. you had the final word – final 2 words! it was a perfect ending: a woman soldier, literally and figuretively!
Anna-
Glad you liked it. He was making me cranky
truthisgold-
Excellent post!!
Huh Thia?
I just liked it as a slogan. I don’t think I made any reference to anyone’s particular idea.
Kiuku
I was agreeing with you.
Oh ok Thia! Yea we all want him to be fired it seems. I think that most women want him to be fired. Yet, there could have been many things Obama could do to address this without firing him, but he didn’t even do that.
What more can we really expect from a guy who slaps his wife on the ass in public though? Take sexual harassment seriously? yea..
I missed the butt slapping! Who slapped who?
Obama touched his wife’s lower back as she left the platform, on the day he accepted the nomination. I did not see a slap.
Re: One way to fight
Quote from Thia above: “Why does there have to be only one way to fight? Don’t we need to use every tactic at our disposal?”
I completely agree. We don’t have the luxury of saying “my way or the highway,” and a multi-pronged attack at the problems is a good thing, in my opinion. There are many styles in the game which move and reach different parts of the audience.
I am worried about infrastructure projects which will line the pockets of friends of the Admin. Also, I’m concerned that these projects will provide significant jobs for women, vs. men.
And the basic question: How anyway is all this to be paid for?
I can’t really say I’m disappointed in the direction the O administration is taking, because I never expected anything else. He’s an arrogant guy. I figured he’d only give lip service to women and women’s concerns. What do I want? I want religion kept out of goverment. I want women to stop making excuses for why we are still treated like second-class citizens. I want women to get mad and stay mad — to allow that mad to crystalize into a laser beam of real change and to refuse to be silenced, diminished or disregarded. Why is it the discussions about sexism only seem to last 2 minutes? Where is the groundswell of transformation? Sigh. I’m tired already.
SanteFeK -Great question!
politicallyincorrectfem- When I get tired and discouraged I’m going to go back and watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB_t_UGdmfQ
I get mad and energetic all over again.
Hang in there.
Leave your Response Want an avatar? Get a gravatar!
Community Room
February 6, 2012 at 4:25 pm
January 30, 2012 at 2:36 pm
January 26, 2012 at 4:38 pm
January 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm
January 15, 2012 at 11:37 am
January 9, 2012 at 6:36 pm
January 7, 2012 at 10:10 pm
January 5, 2012 at 9:31 am
BUILD your NETWORK
Our Network of College Women
Protecting our Teenage Girls
We’re in the Media »
Click to see our latest stories in the media
More Stories »Recent Comments
The Latest from our Blog
Archives
Pioneer Mentors
Blogroll
Find us Online
Subscribe Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS)
The New Agenda is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls by bringing about systemic change in the media, at the workplace, at school and at home. More...