House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa's all-male panel at a hearing on the contraception mandate. (February 16th, 2012)
It may be the start of Women’s History Month, but put your money on 2012 being the Year of the Woman.
We are witnessing an escalating national debate over women’s health issues-- ranging from contraception access to mandatory trans-vaginal ultrasounds for those seeking an abortion-- and women who might have previously been uninterested in politics are discovering that apathy could very well lead to the passage of laws that will affect their everyday lives.
The (now infamous) image of the all-male panel at Rep. Darrell Issa’s February 16 committee hearing on contraception coverage had everyone asking: Where are the women?
That question wasn’t just aimed at the committee but at the legislature itself. Though we’ve had the likes of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on the front lines of the issues, when you take a look at the number of women in Congress it’s not as surprising that the debate has become so unbalanced. The US ranks 78th in the world (tied with Turkmenistan) for percentage of women in office and 2010 saw the number of women in Congress decline for the first time in 30 years, with women now making up only 17%. One group is looking to change all that.
The 2012 Project describes itself as “a national, non-partisan campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) to increase the number of women in Congress and state legislatures by taking advantage of the once-in-a-decade opportunities of 2012.”
Redistricting, a result of the 2010 census, will create new and open seats in government throughout the US and voting on those seats will coincide with the Presidential election (something that only happens once every 20 years)—creating a perfect storm capable of ushering a record number of women into office.
The 2012 Project has been mobilizing to capitalize on the moment—launching education campaigns and outreach programs aimed at recruiting women who might not have previously considered running. The project has assembled a “faculty of former elected women legislators to share the facts about women’s underrepresentation and the many benefits of public service” and they provide those women interested in candidacy with connections to “leadership institutes, think tanks, campaign training programs and fundraising networks.”
The obvious lack of balance in our current political discourse only highlights the importance of women getting involved—but recent issues aside, it’s time for the ladies to get out and have their voices heard. (Ps. This also means, GET OUT AND VOTE!)
As The 2012 Project’s site says, “Don’t Get Mad. Get Elected.”
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Another great resource is EMILY's List. We need more progressive women in public office.
Many Women and Men Should Have Swarmed Those BS "Hearings " !!!!!
it takes two to tango so why is it the woman is the one in the hot seat re: birth control, her body, reproduction, health, etc? don't see the men (where are the women?) regulating access to drugs for their "performance" such as viagra or invasive procedures to determine the necessity of such medication. we have important issues to deal with such as the economy, infrastructure, budget, etc but these righties only want to set women's rights back to the 1500's. at least the blunt bill failed--maybe this will be a wakeup call for the righties.
Kathy = Rite-On = Butt These gop-re-baggers Will NEVER Wake-Up Or Get There Heads Out Into The Light And Air !!!!!!! What Year Is It ????? These Idiots Only Care About Money And THEY Use Religion As A Backboard == Fools They Are !!!!! THEY Are NOT Fooling The American People Any-Longer = WELL = MOST Of US !!!!
Hey MD...you out splatin? Have fun .... gotta get some food in my belly! Chat with ya later!
It really speaks volumes when men have set there sights on women! This war between the sexes will escalate as the war wages against us. We have fought for decades to be treated as equals and demand respect. This is not respect in any way when a grown woman is dictated by goverment officals about her health care. Women are not property to be raped by the politicians who would pass this barbaric legislation ! We are not baby machines or trophy's for the GOP politicians.
We women rock, and those 3 blue dogs fall short. I hope they protected their contraceptives. Estrogen lives on. Thank you for taking a stand Snowe even after you announcement yesterday which made to safe to do what was correct.
Ya know, on virtually every issue Republicans have taken up in the last 3 years, there is a corresponding poll taken and each and every time same these polls slap them down as too extreme for the majority of Americans.
So... why is it then, that guys like Chris Matthews insists that the 20 to 23% representing the minority in this country are just ‘too important’ for Democrats in office to overlook.
Get real here, the last thing they are is “overlooked'! If anything, the Republican MINORITY is guilty of the hostile take over of our government and democracy itself.
I am not saying the minority should not have a voice any of these issues…but let’s face it; they are already the loudest most obnoxious noise in the room.
I’m just saying that in America, according to the CONSTITUTION, it is the MAJORITY that RULES.
I am shocked that we rate 78th when it comes to woman's rights and now the Republicans want to push us back even further...a call to all woman vote democrat and vote for more woman...breakup the good ole boy system that is trying to make us second class citizens..
Ed: I just came from a neighborhood discussion on the Republicans and contraception..not only woman are up in arms..husbands, boyfriends, fathers and brothers cannot understand where the republicans are coming from and why they have made this an issue especially when we have more pressing concerns..
you want people like Linbough in washington, keep voting repubican, birds of a feather....know what I mean? Even inmates in prison know that..