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Ear to the Ground

Pelosi Responds to Republicans’ Sexist Nonsense

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Posted on Oct 8, 2009
speaker.gov

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits female soldiers serving in Iraq on Mother’s Day.

Nancy Pelosi wasted no time slapping down a National Republican Congressional Committee press release that said “taxpayers can only hope [Gen. Stanley] McChrystal is able to put her in her place.” That’s “her,” as in the House speaker, whose place is running one of the coequal branches of government.

Pelosi responded to the release by saying: “I’m in my place. I’m the Speaker of the House, the first woman Speaker of the House. And I’m in my place because the House of Representatives voted me there.”

Beyond their blatant sexism, the House Republicans responsible for the statement clearly feel it’s the place of a general to dictate policy to the leader of their chamber, who they apparently feel should be subservient to the military. At least as long as she’s a woman.

Democrats win elections by getting women to vote for them. They should send the National Republican Congressional Committee a thank-you basket.  —PS

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By Louise, October 9 at 10:06 am #

In the world of black, white progressive center, and left, right regressive center, one thing always stands out. As long as there are people, people will look more at the other than they will ever look at themselves. Nancy by virtue of her clout is an easy target, made more so because she is a she. The other.

If Nancy’s name was Ned, she would be just as much a target, but less likely to be so constantly vilified. The she, like the color is watched closer, because the she, given an opportunity that previously was reserved only for the he, must prove herself. Not that she’s as equal to the task as any he might be, but that she is better at the task than any he might be.

What’s up with that?

Volumes have been written about what’s up with that, but like anything else, the reader takes away the info he/she wants to see.  I doubt there is a woman alive, who hasn’t at some point in time found herself in the uncomfortable position of being on the gender comparison hit list. Even by those of her own gender!

Such is the nature of people.

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By Peetawonkus, October 9 at 9:04 am #

Democrats keep trying to be ‘nice’ when the other side of the aisle is full of snarling dogs in total attack mode 24/7. It’s good to see Pelosi start hitting back, even if it’s tepid and polite. If more Democrats started getting a spine and called out Republicans on their Fundamentalist Taliban world view, we might be able to get these neanderthals to crawl back under their Confederate rocks.

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By bylatili, October 8 at 11:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I hope someone is keeping track of all the racist and sexist comments being made by Republicans and conservatives because they will make great fodder for commercials during the campaign season.

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By doublestandards/glasshouses, October 8 at 8:20 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

They can’t win elections by hating 3/4 of the human
race.  They’re stuck with rich white men and
fundamentalist Christians.

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By apolloguide, October 8 at 7:24 pm #

If Pelosi had done the right thing and impeached George
and Dick when ALL of us were pleading with her to do it
she would have been the commander in chief. I find this
response of hers very weak and formalistic.  Which in
turn makes me glad that she isn’t.  It is hard to win
this war of thoughts and deeds.

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By faith, October 8 at 7:06 pm #

Good for Speaker Pelosi !  I cannot fathom that the republican congressmen
elected to office both iterate and think that the Speaker of the House should
relinquish position and authority to one particular General, which would of course,
be unconstitutional.  Isn’t it required that all Congressmen and women have at
the very least a basic civics class?

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By RobertinWestbury, October 8 at 6:04 pm #

No kidding…  they have done everthing they possibly can to alienate Hispanics and Gays…  and now they have likely insulted enough women to matter.  Though in the short memory of Americans, they may need reminding a year from now..

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