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Maybe it’s just discouragement from when we almost crowned the lipstick-wearing pit bull as (God Bless) America’s second-in-command, but it seems like strong female leadership has fallen off the agenda, at least in Wisconsin. In an interview last week with Fox 11 out of her native Green Bay, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton discussed her reasons for recently ending her run for governor of Wisconsin. Citing that the state’s resource allocation and press coverage are structured in a way that puts female candidates at a disadvantage, Lawton said she “hate[d] to admit” Wisconsin is not yet ready for a female governor.
This clearly presents alarming implications for the way Wisconsin’s campaigns are structured. It is also disappointing, coming from a candidate who has been aware of and active about the need to expand opportunities for fellow women. For instance, Lawton launched the Wisconsin Women = Prosperity initiative, which seeks, among other things, to empower and increase economic opportunity for females in the workforce. She has also spoken on many occasions about boosting female leadership and prosperity. I mean, this is a little ironic (Alanis, anyone?). The position of governor would obviously have afforded her the ability to take action on the issues she is passionate about, had she won. And if that includes women’s issues, then staying in the race is itself a means of “preparing” voters for a strong, viable female candidate.
Additionally, placing the blame on the state community seems, to put it bluntly, a little bit of a cop-out. Yes, we are shaped by society, but we are also responsible for directing it through the choices we make. While some of those choices may be forced upon us, Lawton was not coerced into running for office, and should take the opportunity to use her pulpit for the issues that matter to her. Especially in politics, you cannot meekly ask for what you want and expect to get it (a la Oliver Twist in the cafeteria); you—or your elected representative—have to demand it. And by refusing to, Lawton is, in a way, allowing the unacceptable to continue. She may not only be calling the community unprepared; she is also demonstrating her tacit acceptance of that unpreparedness.
That said, I understand it is not Lawton’s responsibility to change the system or to suffer any injustices she may be facing for the sake of current or future female candidates for office. In that case, though, she should not take the approach of blaming her withdrawal on Wisconsin’s unpreparedness. After all, many would argue the United States is not ready for gay marriage. But that does not, and should not, deter people from working toward LGBT rights. If those who are being marginalized send a public “we give up” memo, nobody is going to work to improve their situation for them. Because let’s be honest — we love ourselves a little status quo maintenance.
So yes, Lawton is right to point out the problems inherent in Wisconsin’s politics, and it is certainly her prerogative to drop out of a race she does not feel she has a fair chance in. But it is downright hypocritical, and an affront to her own prior efforts, to frame her exit as a surrender to everything she is fighting against. And though she is not responsible for women everywhere, she should, being cognizant of her public image, nonetheless consider the message she is sending to aspiring female leaders. Because only a woman leader (this does not include a certain 2012 wannabe with ugly rimless glasses) can prepare us for, drum roll please… a woman leader.
Hannah Shtein ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in philosophy.
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Can anybody teach this girl not to write 5-paragraph essays for her articles? This is journalism, not academia. Jesus Christ. Same shit happens week after week.
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Did she try to use big words to justify her philosophy degree and holier-than-thou attitude? Check.
Did she write a rambling five-paragraph essay that would have gotten no credit in many high school English classes? Check.
Did she push for women in public office, yet disparage (without justification) the second woman to run for vice president? Check.
Three checks…UW’s admissions standards need to be tightened just a smidge.
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To the above,
Lay off the ad hominems. You come across as petty assholes. Correction: you are petty assholes.
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So you follow up your whining about ad-hominem attacks with two ad-hominem attacks. Typical liberal hypocrisy.
LOL
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Give me a break. Lawton is a moron and never stood a chance in the election anyway. Very curious that she drops out right before Obama comes to Milwaukee and leans on Barrett to enter the race. I’m sure that had nothing to do with it. I’m sure it’s because Wisconsin “isn’t ready for a female governor.” Do a little digging, she has some skeletons the Obama thugs know about. It’s the Chicago way. It’s a lot easier to win an election when you don’t have to run against anyone, just ask Obama how he became a US Senator.
And then, wow, take a swipe at Palin by criticizing her appearance. Unbelievable.
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“Lawton is a moron and never stood a chance in the election anyway.”
DING! DING! DING! We have a winner! I would never trust her to make an important decision in a crisis situation, or any situation for that matter.
As a side note, I am all for a female governor or president. Just give me one that would be competent at the job and not always just looking to take the credit and a photo op (the latter portion referring to Kathy Falk).
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Or it could be because the Doyle camp (who currently functionally run the party in Wisconsin) hate the Lawton camp and have kneecapped her gubernatorial chances.
Also, lol at the “Obama Thugs” and “Chicago Way”
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So if I ended my column with a rip on Palin’s appearance, I’m a clever funny liberal. But if I quip about Tammy Baldwin’s fat ass, that would make me a conservative sexist pig, right?
Shtein, you’re a shameful hypocrite.
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Sarah Palin’s glasses are a choice (albeit an unfortunate one), while the size of Tammy Baldwin’s ass is not necessarily within her control. And I’m sure you’re a conservative sexist pig regardless of that comment.
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Actually, the size of Baldwin’s ass IS directly within her control. All she has to do is get off it and do something…
lovingly, another conservative, sexist, homophobe pig
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“the state’s resource allocation and press coverage are structured in a way that puts female candidates at a disadvantage.”
what the h..l does that mean? Could we have some specifics, please?
I understand that it is currently de rigeur to take cheap shots at Sara Palin - could David “screw the help” Letterman be wrong? - but it is getting a bit boring. You people are good haters - I have to give you that - but it will get you somewhere down the line. Better to let it go.
T-Shirt - I’d rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than for a ride with Ted Kennedy
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Actually Sarah Palin is not that bad, but when you people found out that she had chosen NOT to kill the child (aka live human being) she had in her because it had Downs Syndrome you really went ballistic and continue to do so. I said in a previous post that you enlightened folks are good haters and I meant it. That doesn’t mean it is right, just that you are good at it- you practice a lot I guess.
Ever read a description of a late-term-abortion? Lovely reading. And you should check the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision of 1857 that legalized slavery - the language similarities between it and Roe V. Wade are striking.
It all breaks down to what you call a “person” - how quaint.
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I’ll “betcha” Hannah Lib was educated at a four star liberal college. She learned the trade well. Isolate, villify and cover ignorance of all facts in case the public might find the truth somewhere. Hannah. Have you ever met Sarah Palin? I rest my case.
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You said, “Maybe it�s just discouragement from when we almost crowned the lipstick-wearing pit bull as (God Bless) America�s second-in-command, but it seems like strong female leadership has fallen off the agenda”
So…because Republicans voted for Sarah Palin, Democrats are going to stop running females? And Democrats are the party that supports women? Okay, then!
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Hey your article was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. They were making fun of it. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704007804574573781206641484.html
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The reason she can’t win is not because she is a women but because many in Wisconsing including people in her own party thinks she’s nuts.