Divide and conquer is the ultimate war mantra, and especially in politics this is a common practice. And the Democrats are too easy a prey. We can’t deny that although many times on the wrong side of history, the Republicans are masters at winning in political warfare. So much, to the point they can be seen as mean and as bullies. As a result, they may not be liked, but are feared and respected by many, including the opposition. They go even as far as turning around the bully and mean labels and slapping them on their weaker and more “fearful” opponents.
This latest stint of taking the words of Democrat strategist and CNN contributor, Hilary Rosen, and distorting her message, is extremely outrageous. Even more outrageous, is that everyone has fallen for it, including the media, the United States President and other top level Democrats. It is the Democrats’ cowardly response, starting with the President, and not Hilary’s statement, that makes me think that perhaps, given this small “triumph”, the Romney campaign and the Republicans may just have a shot at the White House in November, after all.
As I watched the media coverage throughout the day, Hilary Rosen’s words were played over and over, mercilessly, and presented in a negative light. In the morning shows, mostly male Democrat commentators did not hesitate to throw her under the bus. By mid-morning, when CNN anchor Suzanne Malveaux came on, there was finally a non-GOP woman commenting on it. It took too long to get women who were not Republican involved. And fairly, Rene Syler, author of the great blog, http://goodenoughmother.com/ finally shed the clarity that had been completely missing until then.
Her comments and entry deserve a good read. See my link below. I agree with Rene. Hilary Rosen’s message last night was distorted when she was addressing the fact that Mitt Romney is so out of touch with women that he always turns to his wife for advice. The conversation turned to the economy and women, and how Mitt Romney often turns to his wife for advice on that as well. Hilary, obviously frustrated –as I would be- stated that, “guess what, his wife never worked a day in her life. She’s never really dealt with the kind of economic issues that a majority of women in this country are facing…”
Credit: CNN Videos http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2012/04/12/exp-ac-war-on-women.cnn.html
Apparently, after “Guess what. His wife has never worked a day in her life” no one heard anything else. No one actually paid attention to the words that followed: “She’s never really dealt with the kind of economic issues that a majority of women in this country are facing.” Of course the mean-spirited Romney/Republican camp took that and ran with it. They sent Ann Romney to defend herself out in the media, as if she had been called names. I found that outrageous. These Republicans are the same party that not long ago was calling women who want to make choices over their lives and family, sluts and whores. I have to give it to the Republicans. They are masters at political war.
When I heard the comment last night, it didn’t faze me. I didn’t think anything of it because I understood Hilary’s point. Ann Romney, and I Googled her, has never had to work outside the home in order to bring a paycheck while at the same time raise kids. She has been able to afford her choice to be a stay-at-home mom, which nowadays is more of a luxury a privileged minority of women in this country can afford.
The fact that Ann Romney and the Republicans have come out in force, twisting Hilary Rosen’s words and making an issue, making it seem like stay-at-home moms are under attack by the Democrats, including the President, is utterly ridiculous. The fact that the media bought it, as well as the White House and Dem party leaders, is beyond irrational. Weren’t people listening?
I am more outraged at the distortion of Hilary Rosen’s valid point than anything else. Hilary is right, although Ann Romney chose to work as a stay at home mom and raise her kids at home, (and I don’t deny is hard work) she had the privilege to choose it so, she and her few cars, likely household help and no economic worries. Sure I don’t discount her own life challenges. God knows we all have our own good share of those. But to Hilary’s point, Ann Romney has never had to worry about choosing between staying late at work to finish something important for the boss, and coming home to make dinner or do the laundry.
My mother had to work three jobs and raise us at the same time, by herself, after the terrible divorce that brought us to this country. She took care of the laundry, the cooking, the teaching, all while working to make ends meet. She had to worry about the economic issues that women like Ann Romney, who are wealthy enough to choose to stay home, and likely with help, will never have to worry about. Worries such as coming up with money to pay the rent, school tuition, uniforms, books, all while making sure we as a family did not go to sleep hungry. At times my mother had to make the tough choices of foregoing certain special occasions or other family needs to ensure all bills were paid and that our school came first. Our first Christmas we had to forego Christmas gifts so that all bills were paid. These, I doubt were the kind of choices that women like Ann Romney had to face. But these are the choices millions of women out there are likely facing right now. And that is what Hilary Rosen was addressing. It resonated with me because I’ve seen it first hand. Perhaps it doesn’t resonate with others who have not had to go through those tough situations.
Working outside of the home, even if it’s just one job, it’s very difficult for a mother who does not have the option to be a stay-at-home-mom. She has to make sure the rent is paid and the food is on the table, all while making sure she earned enough money to afford her family a basic lifestyle and she still has to get home to be mom, night after night. Just like many moms out there, my mom had no choice. She had no help, not even the government’s. That is what Hilary Rosen was talking about. At no time I ever heard her say anything against Ann Romney as a stay at home mom, except that she has not gone through the hardships that working moms have to face, and therefore, Romney cannot rely on just her advice to understand women and economic issues. Ann’s experience does not encompass that of all women who are moms and have to make economic decisions. Hilary’s point was clear.
The fact that David Axelrod, on behalf of the Obama campaign, is upset because a political spouse has been targeted, is unfair. Mitt Romney often brings his wife into the conversation, and in fact, often mentions her as his advisor on women issues. So, in my opinion, that was fair game.
I am also extremely disappointed at the cowardly response from the White House. Earlier I heard the Press Secretary disown Hilary Rosen by claiming he didn’t know who she was, that there were a few other Hilary Rosens out there.
Was he serious!?
Does he not watch CNN?
Hilary Rosen is often on the air, speaking favorably, always supporting the president, even in his unpopular decisions, when he has bowed to the Republicans and angered his own base.
David Axelrod is just now on CNN speaking to John King, also disowning her.
This is downright betrayal!
Talk about turning so quickly on your own!
This is the sort of play that turns me off about the Democrats. While the Republicans have stated really awful things, they rarely apologize for anything. The gutless Democrats take it and move on. When one of their own gets attacked by the Republicans, the Democratic leadership steps aside and watches her get slaughtered, and in fact help the slaughter. And I am sure that all Democrat strategists won’t even dare to speak up against that cowardice. They have to watch out for their own political survival.
Had President Obama, his administration and advisors, taken the step to clarify the situation, instead of distancing themselves so quickly from Hilary Rosen, I would have more respect for this whole “democratic leadership”. For now, my respect goes to the nasty lying Republicans for winning this one, not cleanly, but for winning dirty. There go the Democrats giving in again. How can we voters expect them to stand up for us under the pressure of the Republicans? It feels hopeless!
While President Obama has been earning my vote, today I pause about that decision. It is sadly true that likely come November, there will be nowhere else to go but Democrat, but for now, I will say, President Obama on a day like today, could have easily lost my vote for not standing with a staunch supporter, who has faithfully stood by his side, politically in the media, and instead, once again, bowed to the mean suits whose only goal is to win, even if it is against the best interest of the American people.
I am very disappointed Mr. President, that you are not taking care of one of your own. You are so busy trying to keep your job that you may just lose it by showing lack of spine in defending your team and those who stand for you.
Let’s hope this is not the year 2000 over again.
Click here to read Rene Syler’s post on the controversy. Her blog address is: http://goodenoughmother.com
P.S. Interesting discussion on The View this morning. Check it out here, or click below.
