For the Asheville locals --
This week on Listen2Women, we'll be interviewing City Councilwoman Robin Cape. The show airs on WPVM 103.5 FM on Thursday, Aug. 2 from 5-6 p.m.
If you have a burning question for her, you can post it on this blog and I'll make sure to add it to my list. Partisan elections? Local immigration concerns? Asheville going green? Or maybe you want to hear about life as a political mom? Or her band The Buckerettes?
She helped start the Listen2Women show several years ago, so it will be great to have her in the studio. We'll also be taking calls live during the show if yould like to chat with her on-air (828-258-0085).
Tune in to WPVM 103.5 FM or listen live at http://www.wpvm.org/ this Thursday, Aug. 2 from 5-6 p.m. If you miss the show live, you can listen anytime on the WPVM archives.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
ranting at the Times
It's hard to say away from the national elections. At some point when my schedule clears (enough so I can see over my desk) I'd like to spend more time exploring local activists and politics. Nonetheless, I read something every week that sparks an idea, a thought or an outrage.
In this Sunday's New York Times magazine (7-14-07) Matt Bai made a grievous error in his rush to make a point. His article, "What Does It Take?" seeks to explore the lack of "Washington experience" that the current candidates have. His thesis, however, delves more deeply into why a lack of experience is palatable for the American people. His point is a good one, but he lost me with this statement, " Today most of the leading presidential candidates have other kinds of experience that are arguably just as relevant to the presidency as years logged in statehouses or the Capitol--living at the White House..."
LIVING AT THE WHITE HOUSE????? Thank you Mr. Bai for acknowledging that there might be "other kinds of experiences" that make a candidate viable for the highest office, but to reduce Hillary Clinton's contribution to the Clinton Administration (or any First Lady's contribution to the presidency for that matter) to a mere "living at the White House" is outrageous. The role of the First Lady is tremendous and Hillary carried a full calendar both as an international ambassador and policy wonk. Actually, the chief complaint of her time living in the White House was that she was too involved. Hillary was so involved, and dare I say, effective that she was subject to a full scale GOP attack that she weathered with quite a bit of grace.
This involved role of the First Lady is not new, Lady Bird Johnson took the beautification committee to the next level ensuring the protection and expansion of wild areas and flowers. I won't even go into the role of sweet Mrs. Roosevelt.
I for one am not going to let the media get away with reducing our contributions to politics. Within the walls that have been set around us women have done great things. So many, in fact that we have our first female candidate for president who might actually get the nomination and quite frankly, she's the most qualified candidate for the job.
In this Sunday's New York Times magazine (7-14-07) Matt Bai made a grievous error in his rush to make a point. His article, "What Does It Take?" seeks to explore the lack of "Washington experience" that the current candidates have. His thesis, however, delves more deeply into why a lack of experience is palatable for the American people. His point is a good one, but he lost me with this statement, " Today most of the leading presidential candidates have other kinds of experience that are arguably just as relevant to the presidency as years logged in statehouses or the Capitol--living at the White House..."
LIVING AT THE WHITE HOUSE????? Thank you Mr. Bai for acknowledging that there might be "other kinds of experiences" that make a candidate viable for the highest office, but to reduce Hillary Clinton's contribution to the Clinton Administration (or any First Lady's contribution to the presidency for that matter) to a mere "living at the White House" is outrageous. The role of the First Lady is tremendous and Hillary carried a full calendar both as an international ambassador and policy wonk. Actually, the chief complaint of her time living in the White House was that she was too involved. Hillary was so involved, and dare I say, effective that she was subject to a full scale GOP attack that she weathered with quite a bit of grace.
This involved role of the First Lady is not new, Lady Bird Johnson took the beautification committee to the next level ensuring the protection and expansion of wild areas and flowers. I won't even go into the role of sweet Mrs. Roosevelt.
I for one am not going to let the media get away with reducing our contributions to politics. Within the walls that have been set around us women have done great things. So many, in fact that we have our first female candidate for president who might actually get the nomination and quite frankly, she's the most qualified candidate for the job.
Monday, July 9, 2007
How Barack Obama brought me back to Jesse Jackson
A friend went to hear Barack Obama speak in South Carolina recently. I wanted to live vicariously through her experience and I asked her to tell me all about it so we could post her comments on the blog.
First she told me that there wasn’t much to talk about, which made me even more interested. As a researcher at heart, I was intrigued by what wasn’t there, what was missing from the experience – that is as telling as what did happen. Here’s what Marin had to say:
“I wish I had something important or interesting to offer from my experience! In fact, is was pretty uneventful...we got there a little late and it was really crowded. I had to wake up [my son] to go inside and he wasn't all that happy about being there. We couldn't really see or hear him well from where we were in the auditorium and after about 10 minutes I ended up outside with [my son]. [My husband and my friend] tried to work their way up closer to view and hear better, but alas, we left early and ended up in an hour of traffic coming home!
I was impressed with the crowd, the gathering of people was black and white and excited...which was exciting to me. I had an impression of how important it would be for the African-American population to have a president who shares their ethnicity. My impression of this may be skewed though, as I have never attended something like this before, and definitely not in S. Carolina...a more diverse crowd is probably to be expected, just new for me coming from Asheville (and Davis, CA).”
What to expect when you’re electing? Her experience reminded me of going to a rock concert. You make a big effort to get there, take your friends, spouse, kids even. But then you get there and it’s crowded and you end up going outside for air. But, you remember the people, the vibe, the energy.
My most profound protest, mass movement experience was hearing Jesse Jackson speak at a rally when President Clinton was on the verge of being impeached. It was in Washington DC. He spoke so eloquently and passionately and with such enthusiasm that I got swept up in his words. I was cheering for health care for hospital workers. He was asking us how the very people that change bed pans and care for others could not get care themselves. I cheered on. I had never cared about that before, but I did then. And I cared because the rest of the crowd cared. The energy pulsed through the people gathered together. I felt the power of what a truly charismatic speaker can create.
Who will do that for me today? Is there a candidate out there – local, state, or national that will sweep me up in their words? Will motivate me to take action? Will bring people together?
First she told me that there wasn’t much to talk about, which made me even more interested. As a researcher at heart, I was intrigued by what wasn’t there, what was missing from the experience – that is as telling as what did happen. Here’s what Marin had to say:
“I wish I had something important or interesting to offer from my experience! In fact, is was pretty uneventful...we got there a little late and it was really crowded. I had to wake up [my son] to go inside and he wasn't all that happy about being there. We couldn't really see or hear him well from where we were in the auditorium and after about 10 minutes I ended up outside with [my son]. [My husband and my friend] tried to work their way up closer to view and hear better, but alas, we left early and ended up in an hour of traffic coming home!
I was impressed with the crowd, the gathering of people was black and white and excited...which was exciting to me. I had an impression of how important it would be for the African-American population to have a president who shares their ethnicity. My impression of this may be skewed though, as I have never attended something like this before, and definitely not in S. Carolina...a more diverse crowd is probably to be expected, just new for me coming from Asheville (and Davis, CA).”
What to expect when you’re electing? Her experience reminded me of going to a rock concert. You make a big effort to get there, take your friends, spouse, kids even. But then you get there and it’s crowded and you end up going outside for air. But, you remember the people, the vibe, the energy.
My most profound protest, mass movement experience was hearing Jesse Jackson speak at a rally when President Clinton was on the verge of being impeached. It was in Washington DC. He spoke so eloquently and passionately and with such enthusiasm that I got swept up in his words. I was cheering for health care for hospital workers. He was asking us how the very people that change bed pans and care for others could not get care themselves. I cheered on. I had never cared about that before, but I did then. And I cared because the rest of the crowd cared. The energy pulsed through the people gathered together. I felt the power of what a truly charismatic speaker can create.
Who will do that for me today? Is there a candidate out there – local, state, or national that will sweep me up in their words? Will motivate me to take action? Will bring people together?
Thursday, July 5, 2007
A phenomenal endorsement
Maya Angelou, the original Phenomenal Woman endorsed Hillary Clinton. Here's the video. I'm still undecided, but Maya's poetic endorsement does work some magic.
On a side note, Oprah endorsed Barack and her mentor Maya endorsed Hillary. I'd love to hear their conversation about the candidates. What do you think?
On a side note, Oprah endorsed Barack and her mentor Maya endorsed Hillary. I'd love to hear their conversation about the candidates. What do you think?
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Friends are gettin' fired up!
Our friend Kate recently sent Leah and me this email about the last round of Democratic debates. I asked her if we could include her thoughts on our blog as "guest commentary." It's always good to hear what a fired up mom has to say about the upcoming elections. If you saw the debate too, what was your reaction?
Hi Ladies,
I stayed up way past my bedtime tonight to watch the democratic debate at Howard University. It was great, mostly. Hands-down, no denying it, the best performance, most skillful, direct, informed answers on EVERY issue came from one of our own -HILLARY! Barak actually seemed to lack some depth; John was a close second, knowledgeable but not always appearing sincere; Dodd was good, really, but why even continue that conversation and same with Biden, although the later could not refer to minorities without interweaving them with poverty and crime (ouch!).
I'll tell ya', I am bit fired up. Let's get Hillary to Asheville and get her on a certain radio program. Haven't we been waiting for this? A woman who really has a shot at the White House because of her credentials? Should we get off the fence?
Cheers!
Kate
Hi Ladies,
I stayed up way past my bedtime tonight to watch the democratic debate at Howard University. It was great, mostly. Hands-down, no denying it, the best performance, most skillful, direct, informed answers on EVERY issue came from one of our own -HILLARY! Barak actually seemed to lack some depth; John was a close second, knowledgeable but not always appearing sincere; Dodd was good, really, but why even continue that conversation and same with Biden, although the later could not refer to minorities without interweaving them with poverty and crime (ouch!).
I'll tell ya', I am bit fired up. Let's get Hillary to Asheville and get her on a certain radio program. Haven't we been waiting for this? A woman who really has a shot at the White House because of her credentials? Should we get off the fence?
Cheers!
Kate
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