Posts Tagged ‘ massachusetts senate ’

Women of the Senate: What to Expect

January 2, 2013
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Women of the Senate: What to Expect

Today’s guest post was written by writer Rachel Engel. She is optimistic about the 113th Congress and the role women will play. Yes, women have made progress, but we’re not done. Our next goal should be critical mass, at least 30 percent of Congress made up of women. After that, equity, a 50/50 split. That’s when we’ll see the true impact of women in politics. After being told all year long about the supposed “war on women”, I’d say the 98 women who will be a part of the 113th Congress in January are a good indication that we fought back pretty well. With women now making up 20 percent of the Senate, and after several males who made completely inaccurate and foot-in-mouth comments about the female body and reproduction were defeated, it looks like the “fairer sex” will be well represented in 2013. But, what can we expect from the 24 newcomers? Being a female in a male-dominated profession and culture can be daunting, but thankfully, these congressional women seem to have plenty of fire and drive, which is what got them elected in the first place. Senator-Elect Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has already been appointed to the Senate Banking [...]

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This Is the Year to Elect Women

August 19, 2012
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This Is the Year to Elect Women

The four men running for President and Vice President may be dominating the political news cycle right now, but it’s the women running for congressional seats that just might be in the dominant position come November. A record 298 women filed to run this year, and to date 154 women have been nominated in the primaries. That’s also a record number and there are still 10 primaries to go. You can view the list of female congressional and Statewide elected executive candidates at this site managed by Rutger’s University Center for American Women and Politics. According to Politico, both Democratic and Republican women are out-fundraising their opponents. Robin Bravender reports, “The 12 Democratic women running for Senate this fall have raised a combined $110 million, more than twice as much as the $42 million their Republican opponents have raised,” and “combined, the 18 women running for Senate have raised more than $135 million this cycle.” The Massachusetts Senate raise is the most expensive congressional race. Through June, Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren had raised close to $24 million and her Republic opponent, Senator Scott Brown, had raised $14 million. If women do win big in November, they will reverse the backward slide [...]

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Poll Shows Senator Brown with Nine Point Lead Against Elizabeth Warren

February 20, 2012
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Poll Shows Senator Brown with Nine Point Lead Against Elizabeth Warren

What’s going on in Massachusetts? Last Monday, Senator Scott Brown explained his support of the Blunt Amendment, legislation that could allow an employer to exclude any health service from the coverage they provide based on any religious beliefs or moral convictions. Just two days after Brown issued his statement, a Suffolk University poll showed him leading Elizabeth Warren, his Democratic challenger, by nine points. Ladies, it’s time to start paying attention to this race. Senator Brown claims his support of the Blunt Amendment is grounded in a desire to protect religion from government interference. He says it’s not a political issue. But it is. The Obama administration is not forcing religious organizations to compromise beliefs by providing contraceptive coverage to employees. They are allowing religiously affiliated employers such as Catholic hospitals to opt out of that coverage, but are also requiring insurance companies to provide the coverage, without raising the cost of the premiums to employees who request it. Many pundits question why the GOP would wage an attack on contraception mid-campaign and risk alienating women voters, especially when most data shows a majority of Catholics use and/or support contraception. But I can see why Brown would make this move [...]

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What Should We Do About Sexism and Bachmann?

January 5, 2012
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What Should We Do About Sexism and Bachmann?

Let’s not waste time debating whether sexism was a factor in Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s failed bid for president. It was. Let’s instead focus on what we will do about it. Because something needs to be done. Not that we wanted to see Bachmann in the White House. God no. But nor do we want to see Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry or any other anti-woman candidate get elected. But why is Bachmann going home and not the other non-Romneys? For several reasons. First, there is a double standard at work. Susan Mulligan at U.S. News points out, “Michele Bachmann, the Tea Party-approving Republican Congresswoman from Minnesota, has said some crazy things… All of that provides a solid basis for questioning her as a candidate and wondering whether she’s suited for the Oval Office. But has Bachmann said or done anything more bizarre than some of her opponents, including several who are above her in polling in Iowa?” Not really. Second, women don’t “look presidential.” Remember when Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen wrote, “I can think of no reason why anyone who, for some unaccountable reason, supports Michele Bachmann will not move over to Perry… Perry, who actually looks like a president …” [...]

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Women Newsmakers in 2011

December 31, 2011
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Women Newsmakers in 2011

Another year almost over, another few cents narrowing the wage gap. Here’s a look back at some of the stories that impacted or involved women in 2011: Reproductive rights under attack: Three days into the year we wrote, “Congressman John Boehner (R-Ohio) will become Speaker of the House Wednesday and women should pay attention. … In fact, he represents a significant threat to women’s reproductive rights.” And indeed 2011 saw some of the most aggressive attacks on women’s reproductive health. Ashley Portero at the International Business Times has a round up of the staggering number measures related to reproductive health introduced in 2011 including: H.R. 3 with its disturbing “forcible rape”  language (as if all rape isn’t forcible?) H.R. 358, the Protect Life Act, or as some are called it, the Let Women Die Act. The Heartbeat Bill, which would ban abortions after the first detectable fetal heartbeat- before many women even know they are pregnant. Two fetuses were witnesses at an Ohio legislative committee contemplating this bill. And of course, the attack on Planned Parenthood. Rape and intimate partner violence a very real threat: Speaking of women’s health, in November the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released The National [...]

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If I Were Santa

December 14, 2011
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If I Were Santa

If I were Santa, I’d be making my list and checking it twice. And here are the gifts I would give: For Our Daughters: The gift of self-esteem and positive role models The mass media perpetuates a message that women and girls’ value comes from beauty and sexuality – and it affects us. Sixty-five percent of women and girls have an eating disorder. Eighty percent of the op-ed pages are dominated by men. The number of women in senior management positions globally has gone from 24 to 20 percent from 2004 to 2009. For Corporate America: More women in leadership positions There is a large, and growing, body of research connecting women at the tops of organizations to a strong bottom line performance. However, women comprise 53 percent of new hires, but only 37 percent of managers, 26 percent of vice-presidents, and just 14 percent of executive committees.   For Working Mothers: Flexible work arrangements … and a day of rest The life of a working mother is challenging. Flexible work arrangements give parents the ability to work more flexibly and better manage the challenges of work and family. For Working Families: Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act According to [...]

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Senator Brown’s Locker Room Response to Elizabeth Warren

October 6, 2011
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Senator Brown’s Locker Room Response to Elizabeth Warren

Senator Scott Brown resorted to a locker room-style response this morning on a local Boston radio station when speaking about Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren. Earlier in the week, during a Democratic primary debate, Warren was asked how she paid her tuition. Alluding to Senator Scott Brown’s Cosmopolitan photo shoot she said, “I kept my clothes on.” This morning, the radio show host asked Brown, “Have you officially responded to Elizabeth Warren’s comment about how she didn’t take her clothes off?” To which the Senator responded, “Thank God,” then he and the host laughed like teenagers. We weren’t thrilled when we heard Warren’s comment during the debate. We’d prefer she stay on the high road. However, while Warren referenced Brown’s actions, the  Senator referenced his challenger’s appearance. His comment was low. Was it sexist? Perhaps the “Blink-and-you-might-miss-it“ variety. Taken alone, what Brown said could be viewed as just immature and not very savvy. But couple it with previous campaign behavior – with his silence on the campaign trail in 2010 when a supporter suggested shoving a curling iron in then opponent Martha Coakley - and it stinks. Read The Hello Ladies Guide to Sexism in Politics here.     Photo from Medill DC used with a [...]

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Ignorant Legislator of the Week

October 1, 2011
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Ignorant Legislator of the Week

Life’s been hectic lately, but we just had to find the time to bring you a new Ignorant Legislator of the Week. The chair of the Abington, Mass. school committee is this week’s pick. Russell Fitzgerald, who is also an amateur magician, apparently starts all of his board meetings with a trick. However, the AP reported: “Russell Fitzgerald may have crossed a line … when he performed a trick that made it appear that he and a teacher ripped the bra off another committee member through her clothes.” We’re not sure what’s unclear to the AP reporter. Fitzgerald did cross a line. The Brockton Enterprise, who’s writer also states Fitzgerald may have crossed a line, reported: “Asked if the magic trick was inappropriate, Fitzgerald responded after the meeting, ‘No, I don’t think so.’ “”Why did you choose this particular trick,” a reporter then asked. “’I like it,” Fitzgerald said.” The AP has since reported that Fitzgerald, “says he is sorry for the embarrassment he caused committee member … He also says he will no longer perform tricks before meetings.” The “bra trick” story has gone viral, covered at sites from Gawker to the Washington Post, and many commentors have suggested [...]

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Elizabeth Warren Is Running for Senate

September 14, 2011
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Elizabeth Warren Is Running for Senate

Elizabeth Warren has officially entered the Massachusetts Senate race. She enters a crowded Democratic primary field which includes Newton Mayor Setti Warren and City Year founder Alan Khazei, to challenge Republican Senator Scott Brown who won the special election last year to fill the late Senator Kennedy’s seat. In an email to supporters, Warren said, “Washington gives some of the biggest corporations in the world special loopholes and tax breaks, while middle-class families and small businesses struggle. This is wrong. Our hard-working families deserve someone who believes in them, someone who is going to stand up and fight for their interests. That’s why I’m running for the United States Senate.” Warren,  a Harvard law professor, made headlines earlier this year when she was tapped by President Obama to start the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency she championed following the financial meltdown on Wall Street. She came under intense scrutiny and fire from Republicans and Obama ultimately appointed Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the organization. Warren is smart and tough and many Democratic party insiders think she is the candidate best suited to raise the money needed to run against Brown. Visit her campaign site to learn more. Footnote: I am [...]

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The Hello Ladies Guide to Sexism in Politics

August 18, 2011
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The Hello Ladies Guide to Sexism in Politics

The latest presidential election cycle has only just begun and already we are engaged in some lively discussions about the sexist treatment of candidate Michele Bachmann. Was the Newsweek cover photo of the Congresswoman and the accompanying headline sexist? Was the “submissive wife” question out of line?  Sexism may seem more out in front during a presidential campaign but it exists in politics all the time – and at the state and local level too. Some of the sexism is over the top, and some not so obvious. To help you easily identify and respond to unfair treatment of female politicians, here is “The Hello Ladies Guide to Sexism in Politics.” Overt sexism: In this category we have the outrageous remarks that make you scream, “How does this person (insert name of person who spoke or wrote the sexist comment) keep their job?!” Examples: Conan O’Brien sidekick Andy Richter’s recent tweet that read, “There’s nothing wrong with Michele Bachmann that two solid weeks of orgasms won’t cure.” Statements like that one attempt to reduce a female candidate to a shrew, a sexual object, anything but a viable contender for the job. An Alex Beam column in The Boston Globe during the Massachusetts Senate race last [...]

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