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Home » Leadership

Attack on Laura Bush is Low Blow and Unwarranted!

April 21, 2010

by ValentinacloseAuthor: Valentina Name: Cristina Espinosa
Email: valentinago@gmail.com
Site:
About: See Authors Posts (7)

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The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.

What could have prompted the virulent attack on the most popular US First Lady, with actually the highest approval ratings of any First Lady since this surveys have been recorded? Laura Bush is also considered a  moderate in her political views. She is a professional librarian, and has dedicated herself to Women empowerment and literacy. Why on earth would the HP publish this?

Laura Bush’s memoir comes out May 4th. We haven’t read it yet, but spotting the book cover on Facebook this morning gave us a jolt stronger than the mega-sized french roasts on our desks: scary-looking, don’t you think? Vote in the poll below: Quick Poll

What do you think of Laura Bush’s book cover?

Corpse-like scary

Zombie terrifying

Don’t be so mean, she looks nice

It could be argued that Democrats want to revive the hatred towards GW Bush to ameliorate their own unpopularity.  Unfortunately, a major and acceptable tool for democrats/progressives has been to attempt to diminish the image of a public woman, not because of her views, but because she is a woman. If Amy Hertz, and the HP wanted to debate Mrs. Bush’s arguments/positions in the book, why not do that.  I guess attacking a woman on the issues would only make her bigger, and that’s not something Amy or HP want. They only want “certain” kind of woman, and not always; they reserve the right to disapprove at any time it is useful, for entertainment or as a political decoy.

What are they criticizing? not her work, but the fact that she is GWB’s wife. Her work has no merit, not even to criticize it.  People have tried to minimize her, insult her about her “reptilian eyes”, and even discounting her as a professional librarian.  They want to portray her only as “the wife”.  And even if that was the case, that she was only a house wife, that’s plenty of work to claim respectability for her, and for any woman on her own.

The reference to her appearance, as “scary”, because of her association with her husband demeans LB because we don’t want to acknowledge her on her own merits. “Laura Bush’s memoir comes out May 4th. We haven’t read it yet, but”. There is no reason to bother reading the book of the author they are mocking.

Mrs. Bush has shown in practice that she stands solidly for all women, and for other laudable causes such as caring for babies with aids and for literacy (particularly the inequalities with young girls):  According to -First Ladies.org,

[In] Afghanistan she promoted a new teacher-training institute for women in Afghanistan that is being established there with U.S. support and her personal commitment. She accepted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) honorary Ambassadorship for its Decade of Literacy, raising awareness and support for global literacy for children, women, and men around the world. In this capacity, she delivered the International Women’s Day to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women on March 8, 2002. In May, 2005, Laura Bush made one of her most politically overt forays, traveling to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. At the World Economic Forum, she emphasized the link between providing education to all genders and socioeconomic groups within a society and the fostering of democracy.

She has received several humanitarian awards:

The First Lady of the United States Mrs. Laura Bush Thank you message for receiving The Loomba Trust Humanitarian Award 2007

Additionally, In 2008 Mrs. Bush praised Hillary Clinton for her courage and resilience during the campaign. She also warned about the sexist attacks on Palin, just as Clinton did.  So where are the feminist groups?  Why aren’t they calling on HP? Because they only defend “certain” women.

I suppose the amazing fact in both cases (Clinton and Palin), as well as in Mrs. Bush’s case, is that Democratic or “progressive” media outlets have been a major conduit (in the best of cases; promoters in the worst cases) of misogynism against women politicians.

An attack of this kind just opens the door for attacks of this kind on all women. Whether or not you agree with Laura Bush’s, or GWB’s, politics, this type of attack  should have no place in our national discourse!  And it is NOT funny!

5 Comments » Want an avatar? Get a gravatar!

  • Amy Siskind said:

    Valentina,

    I heard Laura Bush speak last Fall at an event hosted by MORE Magazine and I can say that she had thousands of adoring bi-partisan fans. Why anyone would choose to dishonor a woman who does such wonderful work for women is beyond me. Her husband’s politics is beside the point – she should not be demonized.

    April 21, 2010 at 8:23 am
  • Sharon Arthur said:

    I totally agree Amy. Laura Bush is a lovely woman. I for one will not demonize her or any other woman in public life. I respect their efforts and will not try to second guess their motives. This last campaign has affected my thinking and I will never be as trusting again. I will never feel the same about the Democratic Party..I grew up at 72.

    April 21, 2010 at 10:32 pm
  • Bes said:

    Degrading and mocking vocal women, especially those with political connections, is a sport for liberal Democrats. They seem to think it makes them look “with it” or something. This latest attack is no different than their attacks on Hillary or Palin. It is why I am now a Republican.

    April 22, 2010 at 10:44 pm
  • marille said:

    I think Valentina’s suggestion whether this Huffpo article serves as a trial to test whether democrats as a group who are falling apart with the many different disappointments in Obama policies, can be united by misogeny directed at a republican women. To choose Laura Bush with the great overall bipartisan approval is beyond me.
    interesting again the focus on how she looks. women’s brains don’t count at Huffpo, as long as they are not used to defend superman Obama. just my two cents.

    April 24, 2010 at 2:54 pm
  • Jeff said:

    I think Valentina’s suggestion whether this Huffpo article serves as a trial to test whether democrats as a group who are falling apart with the many different disappointments in Obama policies, can be united by misogeny directed at a republican women. To choose Laura Bush with the great overall bipartisan approval is beyond me.
    interesting again the focus on how she looks. women’s brains don’t count at Huffpo, as long as they are not used to defend superman Obama. just my two cents.

    April 24, 2010 at 8:51 pm

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Community Room

  • 0
    Respond
    Bes

    Mexico’s ruling party picks a woman as presidential candidate. Josefina Vazquez Mota, 51 http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/06/.....?hpt=hp_t3

    February 6, 2012 at 4:25 pm

  • 1
    Respond
    Bes

    Washington State has an effective Reproductive rights group who proposes legislation at the STATE LEVEL.
    Reproductive Parity Act. http://www.prochoicewashington.org/

    January 30, 2012 at 2:36 pm

  • 0
    Respond
    Bes

    Report sheds light on the ways in which the media profits from elections while polluting political discourse and failing to cover issues. http://www.freepress.net/press.....1&t=3

    January 26, 2012 at 4:38 pm

  • 0
    Respond
    Bes

    Two studies show Media sexism in 2008 was responsible for Hillary being pushed from the race. Democrats allowed the situation. http://www.usnews.com/news/blo.....s-2008-bid

    January 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm

  • 0
    Respond
    BevWKY

    Interesting comparisons to the 2008 campaigns:
    http://conservatives4palin.com.....d-one.html

    January 15, 2012 at 11:37 am

  • 0
    Respond
    Bes

    Washington State introduces legislation requiring all insurance sold in state which covers maternity to cover abortion http://blog.seattlepi.com/seat.....insurance/

    January 9, 2012 at 6:36 pm

  • 0
    Respond
    Bes

    Top 10 Youtube 2011 videos. None misogynist. This is what free market content looks like. Corp Media does NOT reflect our culture. http://www.gossipcop.com/youtu.....11-rewind/

    January 7, 2012 at 10:10 pm

  • 0
    Respond
    Bes

    A feminist postscript on Michelle Bachmann. Not from the Democrat Ladies Auxiliary at NOW.

    http://womenwintoo.blogspot.co.....hmann.html

    January 5, 2012 at 9:31 am

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