Apparently, in the Democratic party, education, hard work, experience, and accomplishment in a long career of diplomacy do not qualify a woman to make diplomatic decisions--but having children does.
"Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, an appalling scold from California, wasted no time yesterday in dragging the debate over Iraq about as low as it can go - attacking Secre tary of State Condoleezza Rice for being a childless woman.
Rice appeared before the Senate in defense of President Bush's tactical change in Iraq, and quickly encountered Boxer.
"Who pays the price? I'm not going to pay a personal price," Boxer said. "My kids are too old, and my grandchild is too young."
Then, to Rice: "You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family." NYP
I myself am a woman with no children, and I'm gosh darn lucky that I work for a company that overlooks that in order to let me help make critical marketing decisions. Thank goodness I don't work for the Democratic party-- they might make me reproduce before I get to pitch in at meetings!
Which is more antifemenist?
1. A woman, in her professional capacity, questions another woman about her professional decisions. In that exchange the first reminds the second that these decisions are perhaps colored by the fact that one's immediate family is not impacted.
OR
2. A woman, on her blog, claims the first woman in the above example, has single-handedly set back the gender equality movement. And in the process, she smears an entire political party by falsely accusing them of dismissing any non-breeding woman's abilities, talents and accomplishments.
Shame on you.
Posted by: Julie | January 13, 2007 at 07:12 PM
What unrelenting hogwash.
How you idiotic rightwingers hear "childless" and "unmarried" in the phrase "no immediate family" is a good question for a psychiatrist.
Apparently such people think the phrase "immediate family" only refers to children and spouses, not brothers, sisters, fathers, or mothers.
Maybe only those people who have actual immediate family members serving in Iraq (like me) can hear the difference.
What's truly shocking is Rice's answer to Boxer's ACTUAL QUESTION: the White House has no estimate, if Rice is telling the truth, on the casualty rate they expect with this escalation, how many more American soliders they expect to die or become permanently disabled in this "new way forward". Oh, goody, yet another consequence of war that they have forgotten to plan for.
Way to go, Republicans. Once again, you have missed the forest for the trees, wallowing in your righteous "outrage" while American military families continue to quietly bear the cost in family blood.
Yeah, that's really supporting the troops.
Posted by: txgirl | January 13, 2007 at 08:43 PM
It is sad that the liberals are talking in such a language that is foreign to them, Serving in the military.
Posted by: joe | January 13, 2007 at 09:07 PM
It is sad that the liberals are talking in such a language that is foreign to them, Serving in the military.
Posted by: joe | January 13, 2007 at 09:14 PM
To Playing Possum,
"Clinton has killed more people than any other president in history." Out of what region of your backside did you find that nugget of wisdom? That is such a ridiculous and ludicrous remark that I am kicking myself for even responding to you. However, I then saw that you had your own blog and felt compelled to make sure that you were either kidding, or just some ten year old who got a hold of mommy's computer. Conservative estimates of how many INNOCENT civilians(not insurgents, terrorists, or enemy combatants, but rather civilians) killed in Iraq top 100,000 while the average estimate falls closer to the 300,000-500,000 range. I'm just spitballing here, but I think that is a bit more than ruby ridge, waco, OK, haiti, kosovo, somalia combined. Do yourself a favor, change the channel from fox news, turn down the Rush limbaugh for a second, and use your f---ing brain!! And if you are going to attribute OK city clinton(his fault?) then you can tack another 2,000+ in the deaths under bush category, b/c that the WTC was attacked on his watch. Your blog describes itself as middle or the road...in comparison to what, Mussolini? Maybe if you say it enough people will start to believe it, that strategy kind of worked for fox news. I love politics but I despise uninformed loudmouths, whether they fall on the left (sandy sheehan) or the right (Hannity). I think that you fall into the uninformed right category. Oh yeah, as far as your final remark, "Good to see you crawled out from under your beds.
bunch of punk-ass cowards." I will debate you toe to toe until the cows come home. I'm no coward, and I am eager to feast on your ignorance.
Posted by: Alex Williams | January 13, 2007 at 09:41 PM
My apologies to playing possum, I matched you name with a post by labeau. Once again, sorry playing possum.
Posted by: Alex Williams | January 13, 2007 at 10:29 PM
At the risk of unleashing a shitstorm:
Does anybody know if Condi is a Lesbian?
Never heard anything either way (not that I truly care, either).
Posted by: Ryan | January 14, 2007 at 01:20 AM
Boxer spoke the Truth. What she said is absolutely true.
In matters as serious as potential deaths resulting from war, since when is being careful not to step on someone's toes more important than the Truth?
You know, King Solomon's famous test shows that real mothers have something precious to protect in the form of their children, while women who are not mothers do not.
And to put it another way for the menfolk out there, it's called having a dog in the fight or not having a dog in the fight.
When it comes to having children about to be potentially maimed or die in a war, Condi Rice has neither a dog nor child in the fight.
And having her precious feelings hurt, is less than NOTHING compared to the unending pain of losing a child to war.
Posted by: PJV | January 14, 2007 at 02:13 AM
The reason so many liberals teach is "the people who can do... and those who can't teach" something like that.Also you all whine about the war and you know its funny the left always forget who is really to blame for the war in iraq. you know the fact sodomwhosinsane broke 17 u.n resolutions. all he had to do was comply with the U.N. provisions you know the ones that were imposed on him because you know invading kuwait. I served my country during dessert storm and my battalion was the next to go but it ended. Because of the u.n. was the little wimps they are we didnt take swartzkoffs advice and take him out then. its something also funny you leftys ignore the fact that china, france, russia all vetoed the u.n. going in as a whole. and then found out they had illegal deals for oil with iraq. your liberal news couldnt deny that . or that russia gave iraq sattelite intel on our troop movements.i was just a spc 4 when i served my country so am not qualified to give you arm chair general opinions like all you hippy-crits play yourselves off to be i know better than that and thats something your hippy professors do and thats why you do it . college professors intelligent? i definitely question that.
Posted by: johnb | January 14, 2007 at 02:40 AM
The problem with what Boxer said is that it's her claim that people without children in a war are incapable of making decisions about that war...which is preposterous on the face of it.
Posted by: GEAH | January 14, 2007 at 02:53 AM
also what about pelosi and other democrats in the last year and a half saying we DONT HAVE ENOUGH TROOPS IN IRAQ are now saying no to an increase in troops ? flippity floppity when are they gonna stoppity?
Posted by: johnb | January 14, 2007 at 03:20 AM
FLIPPITY FLOPPITY WHEN WILL DEMOCRATS GONNA STOP THE HIPPY-CRITTISY
Posted by: johnb | January 14, 2007 at 03:22 AM
Yikes! If you read the comments so far, not only is Dr Rice unqualified, due to lack of offspring... she also is probably "gay"? Democrats seem to be set on bludgeoning feminism on a marble ceiling...
Posted by: Dan Hydar | January 14, 2007 at 03:35 AM
Funny isnt it only democraps make good DR.'s in their studies .
Posted by: johnb | January 14, 2007 at 04:01 AM
Rice serves her country, not her sex. That's the difference between her and the demagoguing feminists - like Nancy Pelosi - who focus on their sex as if that proves something. Condoleeza Rice is a true American asset, not a mediocre product of the media machine like Pelosi, Boxer, et al are.
Posted by: Satrianii | January 14, 2007 at 04:46 AM
I NOTICE LIBERALS CRY BE OPEN MINDED BUT ...... for the people by the people attitude ..... their so called gate keepers (the morons a.k.a. professors of higher learning) to their understanding only have the key to the world , you know their professors , dont really want them to be open minded . Because when some one with a conservative view gets invited to their open campus they dont sit and listen the jump and cry . ha ha ha these so called great minds ( the professors are right from the book 1984 or nine-teen eighty-four . you know what they say "ITS OKAY TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND BUT NOT TOO MUCH BECAUSE YOUR BRAIN WILL FALL OUT " in other words so called great thinkers of the world get a life ... a real life.
Posted by: johnb | January 14, 2007 at 05:06 AM
ITS OKAY TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON YOUR GOVERNMENT ( I SAY EYE AND NOT EYES BECAUSE WITH ONE EYE LIKE YOUR SIGHTING SOMETHING .... ITS MORE FOCUSED ... YOU STILL NEED PERIPHERAL VISION BECAUSE EVEN IF ITS OUT OF FOCUS ... LITTLE THINGS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT).BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO CHECK AND RE-CHECK ALL THE FACTS THAT OTHERS ( DEMOCRAPS MORE SO) TELL YOU.
Posted by: johnb | January 14, 2007 at 05:40 AM
Way to miss the point, folks:
HOW MANY CASUALTIES DOES MS. RICE PREDICT FROM THIS SURGE?
A valid question that Ms Rice (appallingly) had no answer for.
Posted by: LizDexic | January 14, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Isn't it interesting how indignant everyone is about Senator Boxer's comments and no one raised an eyebrow when Laura Bush said the following during a People magazine interview last month. The implications in her remarks are more demeaning than anything said by Senator Boxer who spoke the truth:
PEOPLE: Nancy Pelosi shattered Congress's glass ceiling by becoming the first female Speaker of the House. Do you think there's anything a woman would do differently with the Presidency?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it depends on the individual, but there's no doubt in my mind a woman could do the job.
Mrs. Bush: I agree. But it isn't easy to live here. Dr. (Condoleezza) Rice, who I think would be a really good candidate, is not interested. Probably because she is single, her parents are no longer living, she's an only child. You need a very supportive family and supportive friends to have this job.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20004374_2,00.html
Posted by: irwest | January 14, 2007 at 04:29 PM
To joe and txgirl, who posted the exact same comments about liberals knowing nothing about serving in the military, here are the military records of some prominent Dems and Repubs for your perusal:
Prominent Democrats
* Jim Webb, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Virginia -- rifle platoon and company commander with the Fifth Marine Regiment in the An Hoa Basin west of Danang; was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. (1)
* Representative Jack Murtha (D-PA) - distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990. (1)
* Representative Richard Gephardt, former House Minority Leader - Missouri Air National Guard, 1965-71. (1, 2)
* Representative David Bonior - Staff Sgt., United States Air Force 1968-72 (1, 2)
* Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle - 1st Lt., U.S. Air Force SAC 1969-72 (1, 2)
* Former Vice President Al Gore - enlisted August 1969; sent to Vietnam January 1971 as an army journalist, assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade headquartered at Bien Hoa, an airbase twenty miles northeast of Saigon. More facts about Gore's Service
* Former Senator Bob Kerrey... Democrat... Lt. j.g., U.S. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam (1, 2)
* Senator Daniel Inouye, US Army 1943-'47; Medal of Honor, World War Two (1, 2)
* Senator John Kerry, Lt., U.S. Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat (1)
* Representative Charles Rangel, Staff Sgt., U.S. Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea (1, 2)
* Former Senator Max Cleland, Captain, U.S. Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam (1, 2)
* Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - U.S. Army, 1951-1953. (1)
* Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) - Lt., U.S. Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74. (1, 2)
* Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) - U.S. Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91 (1)
* Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) - served as a U.S. Army officer in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons. (1)
* Representative Leonard Boswell (D-IA) - Lt. Col., U.S. Army 1956-76; two tours in Vietnam, two Distinguished Flying Crosses as a helicopter pilot, two Bronze Stars, and the Soldier's Medal. (1, 2)
* Former Representative "Pete" Peterson, Air Force Captain, POW, Ambassador to Viet Nam, and recipient of the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit. (1, 2)
* Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA: Staff sergeant/platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army; was wounded and received a Purple Heart. (1, 2)
* Bill McBride, Democratic Candidate for Florida Governor - volunteered and served as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam; awarded Bronze Star with a combat "V." (1)
* Gray Davis, former California Governor, Army Captain in Vietnam; received Bronze Star. (1)
* Pete Stark, D-CA, served in the Air Force 1955-57
* Wesley Clark, Democratic Presidential Candidate - lengthy military career.
Prominent Republicans
* Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert - avoided the draft, did not serve.
* Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey - avoided the draft, did not serve.
* Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay - avoided the draft, did not serve (1). "So many minority youths had volunteered ... that there was literally no room for patriotic folks like himself."
* House Majority Whip Roy Blunt - did not serve
* Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - did not serve. (An impressive medical resume, but not such a friend to cats in Boston.)
* Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-KY - did not serve (1)
* Rick Santorum, R-PA, third ranking Republican in the Senate - did not serve. (1)
* George Felix Allen, Republican Senator from Virginia - a supporter of Nixon and the Vietnam war, did not serve. (1)
* Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott - avoided the draft, did not serve.
* Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld - served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. (1) Served as President Reagan's Special Envoy to the Middle East and met with Saddam Hussein twice in 1983 and 1984.
* GW Bush - decided that a six-year Nat'l Guard commitment really means four years. Still says that he's "been to war." Huh?
* VP Cheney - several deferments (1, 2), the last by marriage (in his own words, "had other priorities than military service") (1)
* Former Att'y Gen. John Ashcroft - did not serve (1, 2); received seven deferment to teach business ed at SW Missouri State
* Jeb Bush, Florida Governor - did not serve. (1)
* Karl Rove - avoided the draft, did not serve (1), too busy being a Republican.
* Former Speaker Newt Gingrich - avoided the draft, did not serve (1, 2)
* Former President Ronald Reagan - due to poor eyesight, served in a noncombat role making movies for the Army in southern California during WWII. He later seems to have confused his role as an actor playing a tail gunner with the real thing.
* "B-1" Bob Dornan - avoided Korean War combat duty by enrolling in college acting classes (Orange County Weekly article). Enlisted only after the fighting was over in Korea.
* Phil Gramm - avoided the draft, did not serve, four (?) student deferments
* Senator John McCain - McCain's naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. Why did the Bush campaign smear him so? At least Senators Cleland (D-GA), Kerry (D-MA), Kerrey (D-NE), Robb (D-VA) and Hagel (R-NE) defended him.
* Former Senator Bob Dole - an honorable man. http://www.bobdole.org/bio/wwII.php
* Chuck Hagel - two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, Vietnam. http://www.senate.gov/~hagel/Information/bio.htm
* Duke Cunningham - nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations Recently entered plea bargain on felony charges of bribery, etc. etc.
* Senator Jeff Sessions U.S. Army Reserves, 1973-1986
* Colin Powell. What are we to make of Powell? On the one hand, a long career as a military manager. On the other hand, accused of covering up the My Lai massacre. Back on that first hand, one of the seemingly sane voices in this administration when it comes to Iraq (or at least he used to be). On the other hand, a clear hypocrite ("I am angry that so many of the sons of the powerful and well-placed... managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units...")
* Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), served in USMC in Vietnam; wounded in action.
Back to AWOLBush.com home page Tell some friends about this page!
Here are a few more...
Democrats
* Chuck Robb, US Senator from Virginia, served in Vietnam
* Howell Heflin... Democrat... Silver Star
* George McGovern, famous liberal, awarded Silver Star & DFC, dozens of missions during WWII.
* Former President Bill Clinton - avoided the draft through student deferments; in the autumn of 1969, Clinton entered the draft but received a high number (311) and was never called to serve. (CNN article.) "...it was his doubts about the morality of the war and the Selective Service system that led him to abandon the ROTC idea and to subject himself to a draft lottery. Only the luck of the draw - a high lottery number - kept him out. " (Jeff Greenfield, ABC News, quoting Gov. Clinton.)
* Former President Jimmy Carter, most recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, seven years in the Navy. "Except for his fellow service-academy graduate Dwight Eisenhower, no President of the twentieth century spent more years in uniform than Carter." (New Yorker Magazine)
* Former Presidential Nominee Mike Dukakis - United States Army, 1955-'57 (1)
* Former Senator/Vice Presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen - B-24 pilot in WWII 1942-'45, Squadron Commander; earned Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. (1)
* Former Vice President Walter Mondale, U.S. Army 1951-1953
* Former Senator John Glenn, D-OH (1974-1999) - Served in WWII and Korea; extensive military commendations include the Distinguished Flying Cross on six occasions, and the Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
* Congressman Tom Lantos, D-CA - Did not serve in the US military; did serve in the Hungarian anti-Nazi underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg, is the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress.
Posted by: Midori | January 15, 2007 at 12:41 AM
Mirori, you are forgetting the patron saint of the democratic party. Bill "the skirt chaser/didn't inhale" Clinton. But why wasn't that a problem?
Good research, but an other libral way of waisting time. The Libs have gone after DOCTOR RICE for everything they believe in: Freedom of Choice, being gay, being African/American. Are you just mad that she is not a libral or that she is able to know what is right?
Posted by: Lee | January 15, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Condi is a Nice lady. There is no place for a woman dealing with muslims. The Bush administration has been a failure with a Woman as
Secretary of State. Condoleezza Rice has accomplished nothing but apeased terrorists, and violated Israel.
Women are emotional, Condi cannot relate to world leaders, Her as Secretary of State is a sham, a Joke, flying around the world wasting money, thinking she is making a difference. Our World has grown More Dangerous, and Its No Place for a Woman. Its a fact, Women are emotion, Men are Physical, Men can be more discerning to another man.
I am for equal rights for women, but not in the area of National security.
Posted by: Robert Gant | January 15, 2007 at 12:14 PM
I'm with you. Pay no attention to the nay-sayers.
Posted by: BenC | January 15, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Now I know where all the idiot from the Yahoo boards have gone.
Still the same drivel from the Right.
Posted by: Longlegged Texas Girl | January 17, 2007 at 07:39 PM
"Now I know where all the idiot from the Yahoo boards have gone. Still the same drivel from the Right."
Hmm... soooo.... you think your contentless drivel is a shining example of non-idiocy?
Posted by: DRH | February 25, 2008 at 10:29 PM