Posts Tagged ‘ scott brown ’

Women Newsmakers in 2012

December 30, 2012
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Women Newsmakers in 2012

What an incredible year for women. During what many dubbed the War on Women, we used our collective voices, driving positive changes. Here’s a look back at some of the women who made news in 2012. We may not agree with all of their decisions and politics, but we should be grateful they stepped up and inspired us. Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann was the only woman in the presidential race. However, she dropped out in the first week of the year. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited more nations than any of her predecessors. She plans to step down at the end of this year, and speculation abounds as to whether she will run again for President in 2016. The Girl Scouts celebrated their 100th anniversary this year. The organization remains dedicated to teaching girls critical leadership skills and supporting STEM initiatives. This year Senator Barb Mikulski became the longest serving woman in Congress. After Republicans refused to allow her to testify at a panel about contraception, and radio host Rush Limbaugh attacked her, Sandra Fluke became a strong leader for women’s rights. Malala Yousafazai, a young advocate for educating girls, was shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban. Consumer [...]

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News from Around the Web

December 23, 2012
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News from Around the Web

Here is some of the news from around the web affecting women: Last week, The Commission on Judicial Performance, admonished California Superior Court Judge Derek G. Johnson for comments he made during a 2008 rape trial. During a sentencing for someone convicted of rape, domestic battery and stalking his former live-in girlfriend, Johnson said, “I’m not a gynecologist, but I can tell you something. If someone doesn’t want to have sexual intercourse, the body shuts down.”  Johnson’s comments were offensive and just plain wrong. In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, Charlotte Allen of the The National Review, questioned the lack of “male aggression” in elementary schools writing it, “can be a good thing, as in protecting the weak — but it has been forced out of the culture of elementary schools and the education schools that train their personnel.” Meanwhile, The Hartford Courant published a tribute to the women of Sandy Hook citing the staff’s “goodness and strength.” Also in New England, yet another Senate race kicked off in Massachusetts following President Obama’s nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State. Senator Scott Brown, who lost the November election to Elizabeth Warren, is expected to run on the Republican ticket. Former Governor [...]

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Elizabeth Warren Wins!

November 6, 2012
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Elizabeth Warren Wins!

Massachusetts will send its first woman Senator to Washington in January. Elizabeth Warren defeated Senator Scott Brown tonight. It’s still early but it’s a good night so far for women: Senator Claire McCaskill defeated Todd Akin who made headlines with his comments about legitimate rape and pregnancy. Joe Donnelly beat Richard Mourdock in the Indiana Senate race. Mourdock made news when he talked about pregnancy resulting from rape. New Hampshire elected Maggie Hassan as the only pro-choice female governor. Powerhouses Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Debbie Stabenow and Amy Klobuchar were all reelected.         More to come…  

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The Hello Ladies Guide to Sexism in Politics (revisited)

September 12, 2012
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The Hello Ladies Guide to Sexism in Politics (revisited)

Clearly it’s time to revisit The Hello Ladies Guide to Sexism in Politics. In recent weeks: Reporters at the Chicago Sun Times, in reporting a story about whether or not Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan would run for governor, wrote, “Madigan and her husband, Pat Byrnes, have two young children, ages 7 and 4. She was asked whether she could serve as governor and still raise her kids the way she wants to.” Eric Golub, a writer for the Washington Times Communitites section wrote following the Democratic National Convention, “Sandra Fluke and Elizabeth Warren gave shrill, angry, hysterical speeches that validate every negative stereotype about women. They began their speeches enraged and ended somewhere between conniption and apoplectic.” Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh referencing one of Senator Scott Brown’s campaign ads said, “ He spent a couple million dollars folding towels on TV to prove he’s an honorary girl.” So in an effort to help easily identify and respond to unfair treatment of female politicians, here again 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 [...]

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Todd Akin Revisited

August 21, 2012
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Todd Akin Revisited

  Congressman Todd Akin continues to dominate the news cycle following his comments on a St. Louis television program about rape and abortion. When asked about abortion exemptions for pregnancies resulting from rape Akin said, “It seems to me first of all from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Here’s a quick roundup of reactions. Over at Salon Joan Walsh wrote Akin a thank you note for exposing his party’s misogyny. Wrote Walsh, “Of course, the far right will keep trying to get its laws into our lady parts. The battle is far from over. But it’s clear Akin crossed a line, and once again reminded women how far right Republicans hone. ” Walsh also appeared on MSNBC’s “NOW along with actress Gabrielle Union. They discussed the importance of women advocating for women’s rights, and the need for access to affordable women’s health care. Union, a rape survivor, said Akin’s comments told rape survivors, “Your experience is not valid.” Walsh added that Republicans, “Play on people’s fear about the independence of women.” You can watch the clip here. President Obama held a press conference yesterday [...]

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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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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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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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Scott Brown Skips “It Gets Better” Video

July 28, 2011
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All but one member of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation taped a video for the It Gets Better Project. Senator Scott Brown declined an invitation to particpate. The It Gets Better Project was created to show lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth that life gets better after the teen years. The project has amassed more than 10,000 videos from celebrities, activists and politicians. Regarding the Senator’s decision to pass on the taping, Brown’s spokesperson said, “Scott Brown has a strong record at the state and federal level against bullying and believes that all people regardless of sexual orientation should be treated with dignity and respect. His main focus right now is on creating jobs and getting our economy back on track.” However The Boston Globe pointed out, “Last week, despite his jobs focus, the senator also announced legislation – and gave an interview – to combat marine mammal abuse after the shooting of six seals on Cape Cod. At least our sea life won’t be bullied.

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2010 Political Review (Slideshow)

December 31, 2010
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Here is a look back at just a few of the political stories we were talking about in 2010. What do you think 2011 will bring?

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