Say it loud, say it proud girlfriend!
December 28, 2008
by Amy Siskind
|One of my former Wall Street colleagues sent me this video and I just had to share it.
Gotta love my pal Lynn Tilton. Lynn is the CEO of Partriach Partners, a $6 billion asset management firm that she started by herself 8 years ago. Even the name of her firm is a work in irony – Lynn is one of the biggest feminist you will ever meet.
A colleague of mine one quipped that on any day on Wall Street, someone was telling a story about Lynn Tilton. Lynn was and is one of the most colorful personalities to match that Yale Summa Cum Laude Degree.
One of my favorite stories (and there are many) about Lynn was when she sued one of the largest banks in the country for copying a structured vehicle that she had created. Folklore has it that a senior officer at the bank chided Lynn about coming down South to “their territory” for the court hearing. Lynn’s response: “You’re f*cking with the wrong lady.”
As you can see if the video above, Lynn never misses a beat. I only wish that the other female experts would be so assertive. Lynn knows her stuff, and she is not afraid to take ‘em on. She is not concerned about ratings, or being a good girl, or being intimiated by the men in the room.
You go girlfriend!
P.S.: Me thinks Ophelia needs to invite Ms. Tilton on to her show soon….
What a breath of fresh air. And so young.
Er.
I think you TNAs should grab onto that little ‘switch’ move she made with her fingers, her right hand about 2/3 the way through.
That could be your ‘fist bump’.
Yeh. The “Switch”
Lynn is the best.
Ya know, the women on Wall Street survive and prosper because we always had each others’ backs.
I think one of the biggest failings of the feminist movement is that few know how to create – they only know how to destruct!
I am hopeful that TNA can bring what worked best elsewhere to the world of women’s rights. We’ll just continue along our merry way of speaking out for the women of this country and creating.
would like to share a story with you. My friend,Monica,is a divorced single mom. She decided to take her three children: a boy and two girls to a Holiday Inn hotel /Coco Key Water Park in Waterbury,CT during school break. She was in the water park and the management decided to close the water park early. She told her children that they would go to the hotel pool and continue swimming.Her eldest( a daughter) and she were dressed and sitting in the pool area, while the two younger children played in the pool. The pool was occupied by a group of Jewish men and boys. The youngest(a girl) was approached by a man in the pool. He informed her that she would need to get out of the pool. It was a “men only swimming session”. It did not sit well. My friend approached the management and was told to keep her voice down, when she questioned why as a hotel guest, she was not informed that she and her daughters would not be able to use the pool. She was asked to step outside the pool area to speak to the manager. She refused. She asked repeatedly to know why she was being asked to leave. Another female guest and her daughter were told the same thing. The management then told them that the pool was reserved, although as she entered the pool area there were no signs stating that the pool had been reserved. The lifeguard that was present in the pool area had not approached my friend to inform her and appeared to have no knowledge of the reservation. As she had made her reservation weeks earlier, she was told that all the facilities were available to her. She then told the management that she expected a full refund as she checked out of the hotel. She called me and relayed the story. Imagine in this country, at this time, a man approaching an 8 yr old girl and telling her that she’s not good enough to swim in the same pool with the men and boys!!!!!!!!!! Please pass this story along. I will be contacting the management of this hotel. And I intend to continue to share this story with everyone that I meet .
Kudos to Lynn! And to Amy and everyone at TNA!
Lan, keep on posting that story. How insulting! The story also reminds me that we need to keep the issues of sexism and misogyny front and center, and in the press. One way to do this is by keeping the Favreau story active in the press. Favreau is still employed and is writing Obama’s inaugural speech.
There continue to be positive spin stories on Jon Favreau in the press, and a number of papers are reprinting the Washington Post article edifying him. His PR team is working hard. . .
Action Plan:
Here is some updated information about where you can write Letters to the Editor.
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITORS OF THE FOLLOWING PAPERS THAT ARE SPOTLIGHTING FAVREAU. These newspapers have reprinted Eli Saslow’s Washington Post article that spins Favreau as a wonderful guy . . .
1. Kansas City Star article, “Meet Obama’s Speechwriter”: http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/16180
• Letter to the Editor (up to 150 words): letters@kcstar.com or via paper mail to: The Kansas City Star, Letters, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108,
• Mike Fannin, Editor and Vice President: mfannin@kcstar.com
2. Minneapolis Star Tribune article, “Word for Word with Obama”: http://www.startribune.com/pol.....LanchO7DiU
• Letter to the Editor: Dennis McGrath, Editor, StarTribune.com/Politically Connected, djmcgrath@startribune.com
• Nancy Barnes, Editor and Senior Vice President for News, Star Tribune, nbarnes@startribune.com
3. The Charlotte Observer article, “Obama’s word man has the world waiting”: http://www.charlotteobserver.c.....27997.html
• Rick Thames, Editor, The Charlotte Observer, rthames@charlotteobserver.com
• Ann Caulkins, President and Publisher, acaulkins@charlotteobserver.com
• Dee-Dee Strickland, Senior Editor, deedeestrickland@charlotteobserver.com
• Street address for mailed letters: The Charlotte Observer,?600 S. Tryon St.?Charlotte, NC 28202
4. And, of course, the Boston Globe article anointing Favreau as one of 6 Bostonian’s of the Year. There are some great comments here if you need ideas, and the site is still taking comments: http://www.boston.com/news/pol....._in_chief/
The Boston Globe Magazine wasn’t printed today. We hope there will be letters to the Editor in the next edition to come out next Sunday. Let’s keep the issue alive. Send your Letters to the Editor at the Boston Globe:
• Charles P. Pierce is the reporter who wrote the article on Favreau: cpierce@globe.com phone: (617) 929-2724
• Doug Most, Editor of the Globe magazine: dmost@globe.com phone: (617) 929-3454
• Susanne Althoff, Senior Assistant Editor: Althoff@globe.com phone: (617) 929-1543
• Boston Globe Magazine, Letter to the Editor: magazine@globe.com or by mail at: The Boston Globe Magazine/Letters, PO Box 55819, Boston, MA 02205-5819.
• The Boston Globe newspaper, Letter to the Editor: letter@globe.com or online at: http://bostonglobe.com/news/op.....px?id=6340
Together we are strong!
This was probably part of some religious observance? Still, the hotel screwed up, owes your friend an apology and her money back, and I would say. a free weekend of her choice. Then they need to make sure this never happens again, not by firing some hourly wage clerk, but by changing their reservation process to one that works better, and make sure everyone is trained in it.
Good for your friend that she spoke up.
Even if it were a religous observance, would not it be best observed in a place that is not open to the public? And , religious principles that demean women might be popular in countries such as Darfur, but do we allow it here in this country?/ Where do we draw the line?
Oh, excuse me. Screw the religious observations. Whether they are Islamic or Hassidic.
If I’d have been her, I would’ve loudly told those men that my tampon was quite secure and then plopped into the water.
I would’ve kindly laid an “unclean” hand on their forearm, too, while assuring them I would not leak into the water.
Unfortunately, if the men had booked the pool for exclusivity, and they can do that, it might have been wise to take the high road. The man was wrong for being rude to her, the hotel was at fault for not telling other patrons the pool was closed for a private party, and making some amend to her on the spot that was so generous and diverting that she was calmed, at least long enough to see sense where, apparently, no one else could.
It is legal to do what the men were doing IF my supposition was correct.
I’m not Jewish.
Untrue. So very untrue. You stand on the ground we gave you.
“I think one of the biggest failings of the feminist movement is that few know how to create – they only know how to destruct!”
I hope feminists, all feminists, will do both, and know which is appropriate when.
Lynn Tilton is a very impressive human. Very well-spoken, doesn’t miss a beat, answers questions directly and completely, and you can tell she knows what she’s talking about.
I found another video with an interview of her on youtube where she says:
“I wanted to use wall street as a platform to make the world a better place, to prove that make money and making the world a better place were not mutually exclusive”
I like this chic!
Here’s the video link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
I like her. She would be a great guest on Ophelia. We all need to see a lot more of these successful women that know their stuff. Keep em coming.
Please have Ms Tilton on Ophelia.
As for the Holiday Inn, Coco Key Water Park, if a religious observance, than the hotel is at fault for not making this clear, and the boys in the pool are equally at fault for being petty, unkind, and piggy. Hope they asked for forgiveness. These things “stay” with children, so their momentary bad behaviors will linger for a long time.
I think Ms. Tilton would make a great Ophelia guest.
I like how she stands up for herself and just keeps pushing politely forward.
Ms. Tilton was great. Professional, assertive, knowledgable and claiming authority for herself! Power power to her and more power to all of us to do the same.
As for the pool story. I would NOT continue to pass that story around. It sounds like the hotel handled the incident very poorly and who knows all the details. But, if the issue was related to religious customs, then that’s not a matter for discussion. Unfortunately, no one involved appeared to do any education and it sounds like it was handled poorly. I stronly disagree with Zee on how to respond to something like this that appears to be founded in a religious boundary. What you are suggesting would fall into the same kind of category as much of what we, as women, experinece in terms of disrespect and degradation. Culture clashes due to ignorance happen. Perhaps this was one such instance. If so, it’s not a case of little girls not being able to swim with the boys and men. It’s entirely different. I’m not defending how it was handled. I’m simply saying that this may be being interpreted through a particular lens that does not apply in this case.
I am Jewish.
ER
Are you keeping track of The Boston Globe’s letters? If so, I just got an e-mail from one of the assistant editors that they might print mine! No guarantees. They wanted permission, name as I would like it to appear, etc, with the caveat that it all depends on how much space they have. But, it seems the letter I sent at least made the short list for consideration! Please post if you are tracking this.
Thanks.
And, again, I hope you sent your very helpful and informative post directly to TNA and to PUMAResponders.
“If the issue is related to religious customs, then that’s not a matter for discussion”
So sexism is allowed if its related to a religious custom?
Isn’t that the excuse they’re given in the UK for the passage of the Sharia Laws?
Was there not a Synagogue around that could have been used for the religious observance – or a private home or club? Perhaps it was incumbant upon the Jewish gents to find a place to hold their religious observance that didn’t infringe on the rights of women and girls to be treated like human beings in that public/secular establishment. -Just another way to look at it.
FYI
I don’t know anything about what this particular practice might have been, but an Amish friend of mine told me that men and women aren’t allowed to “bathe” together in the Amish faith either. It isn’t about there being anything wrong with women or girls though because the girls are required to swim first. They just consider swimming a state of undress and men and women are supposed to do it separately. The women liked it that way too because them men always “nasty up the water.” Her words not mine.
Misogyny is not ok. But if the pool was booked for a private party, she needs to deal with management.
Then, you and she can try to change orthodox religions. I personally would welcome that, but until you do, if it was booked exclusively for religious reasons, it’s legal, tolerated, and in my community, encouraged. My niece has had to lifeguard on private pool nights for Muslim women. What, you expect every ethinic community centre is going to have a pool and gym?
I sometimes teach ESL to aged Muslim widows. I am safe you see, not giving off troublesome pheremones to their male relatives (some around age eight) sitting outside waiting to take them home.
It’s sexism, I agree, but it’s also their culture, and that’s just the way it is with first and sometimes second generation immigrants and orthodox observing. Bet it was with yours too.
pacific-cali
I typed a too rapid response and the quote you posted is fair to call out: “If the issue is related to religious customs, then that’s not a matter for discussion”
What I should have said was that there are religious customs that have nothing to do with sexism. But, to say “it’s not a matter for discussion” is misleading. Obviously, anyone can discuss anything they want. I meant that if the Jewish men and boys had booked the pool, the matter is closed in the sense of Jewish law for observant Jews.
To the original poster and others, just so you know: If it had been the other way around, i.e. a pool booked for observant girls and women, they would have told any men or boys they couldn’t come in, either.
There are many lenses through which we all view the world. In Orthodox Judiasm, males and females are seperated in temple, in school, etc.
Still, if you behave like a prick people will respond accordingly. Orthodox and not.
Anna – thank you for the illumination. Its good to know that it was merely an issue of separation of the genders – and that women are afforded the same courtesy in their religious observances.
Separate but equal. I learned something.
Re: Lynn Tilton. – What a role model! It would be great to hear her on Ophelia. I’d love to hear more of what she has to say – especially with regards to the fourth wave and on the subject of women helping women (as opposed to the old way).
Sis – Since the story is told in the tradition of someone who told someone who told someone, I can’t speak to whether someone was behaving like a prick or not. And, if so, then the fact that mention of the religion seemed pertinent pricked (no pun intended) my ears as do sexist comments. All sorts of folks can act like jerks, why allude to there beng some connection between that and being Jewish.
Pacific-Cali – Thank you so much for your generous and open-minded comment. I thought you (and others, perhaps) might find it interesting to realize that Orthodox women are indeed afforded the same power to insist on observance of traditional rules, laws, rituals, etc. including respect of their private female spaces.
I didn’t allude to there being any connection to the man behaving like a prick and his being Jewish. It’s my considered opinion, however, that whoever the man was (fictional or real, Catholic, Jewish or Muslim) he was being a prick. I don’t think there’s an exemption clause for males of any religion being a prick is there, particularly, one who goes after a child in the manner described.
We’ve been trolled.
Go back up and read the thread Anna. You’ll see I was the first poster to defend exclusivity, for religious or other purposes, and mention women in a pool, and women exclusivity in yet another context.
Is your blood sugar low?
Stop snapping at me. You’re not old enough.
Sis
The tone of your last two posts is needlessly insulting. Please don’t accuse me of being a “troll”, refrain from sarcastic remarks about blood sugar, I wasn’t snapping at you, you have no idea how old I am (which has no bearing anyway). I don’t know why you are so angy and defensive, or at least that’s how your words are sounding when I read them.
BTW, I was addressing the original poster and not you regarding my post about linking the issue up with religion.
TNA is a welcome relief from the sort of tenor of your last two posts, an environment more commonly found on some other blogs.
No further response or comment from me to you about it.
ER
Thanks again for your post further up thread about the newspapers reprinting the WAPO piece. I sent them letters today, thanks to all the info you provided. I also responded to a post/question you wrote a couple of days ago on the Bostonian of the Year thread as to where to send your ideas. Don’t know if you saw it.
Here’s the letter if anyone wants to use it as a template for their own (probably still too long, for sure for the Kansas City Star, but you can always edit, plus, sometimes papers will accept a letter and edit it themselves, which, of course, gives you less control):
————————————————————————————-
Your reprint of the story about Jon Favreau from The Washington Post serves to perpetuate his rising star status while minimizing his disrespectful behavior of groping a life size cutout of Senator Clinton while his speechwriting buddy mimed getting her drunk. The behavior he and his buddy acted out is often the prelude to date rape. That Favreau was interacting with an image of Clinton does not diminish its meaning. Images are powerful, made all the more potent in this case by Favreau’s celebrity status as a talented speechwriter in the eyes of some and the media’s willingness to write feature articles about him. By reprinting this piece, your newspaper sent a message that what Mr. Favreau did is not only inconsequential, but that he is worthy of gushing media attention. I wonder if this would have been the case if Mr. Favreau were found to be groping a life size cutout of Michelle Obama.
Sadly, neither our President-elect has spoken out and the press appears unwilling to speak truth to power and state that Jon Favreau demeaned our incoming Secretary of State and it is unacceptable. It sends the wrong message to people all around the world, the stage upon which our next Secretary of State must live.
You have just served as a vehicle for Jon Favreau’s public relations campaign and nothing more. I would have expected a greater level of journalistic integrity from a prominent city newspaper such as yours.
Anna! I am not calling you a troll. I was referring to the post we are all responding to.
And the comment about age is *of course* a joke. For pity’s sake lighten up!
Hello All,
Please do remember the rules of engagement for our blog. We want a respectful and kind atmosphere. We want all our members to feel like they are amongst friends.
Awesome
Anna,
Thank you for writing letters to the papers who reprinted the WaPo piece about Favreau, and for sharing your great letter with everyone! Also, thank you for the info about where to send my ideas.
Keep up your great energy and activism!
By the way, CHECK OUT TNA’S GRASSROOTS SECTION (click on Grassroots above and then on “Share News and Ideas” for lots of ideas about how you can take action regarding the Favreau issue, sexism, misogyny, etc. Or just click here: tp://thenewagenda.net/grassroots/share-news-and-plans/
You’ll find lots of other great things in the Grassroots section as well.
Here’s the correct connection: http://thenewagenda.net/grassr.....and-plans/
ER – Just read your last two posts. One more mistake like that and you’re going to have to sit in the corner and think on your actions!
PS All kidding aside: Are you tracking The Boston Globe letters to the editor that get printed this week and/or in the Sunday edition?
PPS Ditto on the encouragement to keep up YOUR great energy and activism. I so appreciate your posts with very concrete info that you have kindly taken the time to research and share.
Harkening back to Thia’s lovely piece about Laura Bush, I’m just giving everyone a heads up that there is a piece about First Lady Bush at American Thinker today (sadly, it’s not Thia’s piece). Unfortunately, the author has created the very dichotomy that TNA is working hard to chip away at regarding old notions of liberals and conservatives, and in so doing, the author has diminished Clinton en route to praising Bush. This is a great opportunity for all of us to descend upon that site and do a bit of educating. In short: Why must one woman fall in order for another to rise? Here’s the link for anyone interested in posting. (No need to register at that site. Posts are moderated, but most go through rather quickly. I don’t think they allow anyone to embed a link in their post.)
http://www.americanthinker.com.....nolia.html
[...] Tilton. Lynn and I worked together for five year in the in the mid 1990s. The blog piece titled Say it loud, say it proud girlfriend! featured a commanding performance by Lynn on CNBC’s Squawk [...]
[...] women including Lorrie, Arleen, Sophie, Julie, Jean, Paula, Joyce, Pam, Ivona, Nancy, the infamous Lynn Tilton and many more. Of course at the end of the night it was again Christine, Lisa, Barbara, me and [...]
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