Reporters asked Billy Payne, chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, when the club would finally admit a female member. The controversy over the club's membership policy came to light now that IBM's CEO is a woman. The last four CEOs -- all men -- were invited to become members of club. NBC's Lisa Myers reports.
President Barack Obama believes women should be admitted as members to the all-male Augusta National, home of the Masters golf tournament, which teed off early today.
"It's obviously up to the club to decide," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily briefing. "But his personal opinion is that women should be admitted to the club."
One of the club's longtime sponsors, IBM, has a new female CEO, Virginia Rometty. The last four CEOs at IBM, all male, were invited to be members.
"All issues of membership are now, and have been historically, subject to private deliberations of the members," club chairman Billy Payne said in his pre-tournament news conference this week.
In a rare show of bipartisanship, soon-to-be GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney agreed with Obama this afternoon that women should be admitted to Augusta. Good for him. But then again, what choice does he have given the widening gender gap in the polls.
Ed will go in-depth on the issue tonight on The Ed Show at 8pET on MSNBC with MSNBC Political Analyst Richard Wolffe.
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Ya know, there are men's clubs and women's clubs...just let it be, it's not hurting anyone special, only those that think it is and they're not that special either!
"FOUR" = Why Do They Say "FOUR" - When There Is Only "ONE" Ball Going Down The Fairway ???? Talk About Mindless Repetitive Dolts !!!! And Just Who Is Going To Hear This Call-Out Some 300 Yards Away ??? DUH - WhaaaaaT !!!???????
I agree with you SSReaney, but Fat Mr Ed wants to make it a federal case, I'm surprised he hasn't said "it's Bush's fault". Fat Ed is a MORON
Never miss an opportunity to politicize anything, right?
Gentlemen... and I use the term loosely...
How many meetings of executives take place on the golf course? How many deals done with a handshake? How many CEOs have developed connections in a foursome?
By denying the CEO of IBM menbership at the club, you are saying IBM has to give up one of IBM's connections to the business world... Because the best person for the job happens to be ... (shudder)... a WOMAN?
You belong back in the last century...
Hi David,
Thank you, Thank you.....well said
David (and I use the term loosely), one problem...the CEO of IBM isn't a golfer...she loves SCUBA...they could handshake on a deal at 50 feet under the water...
and even if she was a golfer, there are PLENTY of courses they can play...What, Augusta is the ONLY club in America that business deals are done on??? I propose the Atlanta Atlhetic CLub, which has hosted a US Open AND a PGA Championship...
what is so "last century" about a PRIVATE CLUB??? they can admit who they want...
"Curves" gyms are only for women...there are private colleges only for women...should these also be done away with???
thankfully, the President's opinion means nothing in this issue...(Oh, if only this were true with everything he says!)
Maybe people need to stop playing at Augusta if they can't come around to the 21 century Is time to close down Augusta.
Catt ,Women "CAN" play on the course they just can't join the club. Why would any women want to be part of a men's club anyway.
Close down Augusta, Really? What about the jobs!
That's right. It's his opinion, just like yours, not a "Federal takeover" of Augusta National. Typical "Obama for, me against" attitude. Did you also agree with Augusta National when they didn't allow any African American members?
Welcome back, T.
Thanks Chris. Been back for about a week now, mostly on Newsvine.
Catt ,Women "CAN" play on the course they just can't join the club. Why would any women want to be part of a men's club anyway.
Aw geez, really insuranceman??? r u serious??? they can PLAY there??? so this question is even more worthless than I initially thought... so whats the big friggin deal here??? really, Ed??? this guy asks more irrelevant questions than anyone else...nice of him to distract from the REAL issues...a full week of Trayvon Martin, and not ONE question about "How are working Americans being affected by gas prices?"...or something that actually affects everyone...
T-800- its not so much of an "Obama For, me against" issue, its more of a "Obama really wrong and clueless, Me right" issue...
and I didnt say i AGREE with not allowing women members, i just said ITS THEIR CHOICE, and everyone else can shut their pieholes about it...
black men can join augusta. black men once were denied civil rights. kinda weird they belong to a club which excludes women.
Are you sure the best person for the job is a woman, or is it just a requirement now? just curious.
My sister left a private club because women were not allowed to make tee times at certain times of the day. She was 3 time club champion. But ol'boys clubs will do what they wish. Golf is a good walk spoiled.
w c fields once said he would never join a club which would accept him.
While some apparently think the good ole' boys at Augusta are above criticism, they are very public figures in a very public sport. Where's the PGA (and, for that matter, the LPGA) in this situation? What do they have to say about fairness, equality and sportsmanship? Or are those topics too "political"?
They should be setting the example by telling Billy Payne and the Board at Augusta to get their collective heads outta their collective nether parts and get into the 21st century! Or Augusta can remain as is -- mostly white, rich, (southern) elitist and self-satisfied -- it still IS a free country, after all. (And will remain so even after Barak Obama's second-term, imagine that!)
i see you have no problem with obama once belonging to the congressional black caucus which excludes whites. will you defend obama once belonging to a racist organization? naacp allows whites to join. obama invited these racists to the wh for dinner. obama backs the organization blacks for obama. imagine if romney had an organization called whites for romney.its obvious to all glenn beck was right calling obama a racist.
Quoting Beck makes you suspect, Mika. And comparing Augusta to any goal-oriented social organization is the absolute "apples - oranges" comparison. Augusta isn't the problem -- they can do what they want. For me, the real issue is a national organization like the PGA playing their most prestigious event there without comment. But as has been said, it's only golf anyway -- who the hell really cares??
By the way, Romney has an organization "Whites for Romney". It's called the "Republican Inner Circle"...and, no, Obama's previous "membership" in the CBC doesn't bother me a bit.
Glenn Beck! Really??
wake up ckosti,the pga has commented, theyre still goin.g to golf there. i see you give obama a pass on his racism. someone can be a racist if they fit your agenda. can you give a source where romney said he has a group called whites for romney, lol of course you dont. if he said that the left would want his head. im a rep. and if romney said that ide never vote for him. bottom line is obama saying augusta should allow women while he belonged to a group that excluded whites. in passing i ask you as 95% of blacks voted for obama would you cry racism if 95% of whites had voted for mccain?
Huh, Mika? Sarcasm, muh boy, sarcasm. The very white, very rich Republican leadership has already promoted Romney to the head of the class, albeit reluctantly for lack of anything better. (Let me spell this out for you -- No, there really isn't a group called "Whites for Romney"! I made that up but you didn't get it...)
I used to be a Republican, pro-Life voter, but I woke up about 20 years ago. And, IMHO, Obama is not a racist, or a sexist, or a socialist. But neither he nor I could never convince you of that and there's no sense in further discussion.
I think we should have more diversity everywhere. Lets not forget the NBA and NFL. Blacks (excuse me) African Americans, have a disproportionate number of those jobs. Shouldn't we require a certain percentage of Whites, Latinos, Asians, and yes, Women to be in these sports positions. Along these lines, whites have a disproportionate number of Navy Seal/ Delta Force slots. This isn't justice. We should require the SEALS to have a certain number of every race and sexual preference in the ranks. The SEALS should be at least 30% gay, bi-sexual, and transgendered in the interest of "justice".
What do you guys think? Whites, Asians, women in the more diverse NFL, NBA? It's only fair.
CKOSTI, seriously, why are you OK with an official organization called "blacks for Obama"? Republicans are not all white nor do they exclude any race. Answer his question. Why is it OK for Obama to host a race exclusive group and Romney can't have a "whites for Romney " group support him. Try to answer the question.
Who said there can't be a "Whites for Romney" group? I didn't! And yes, I thinks it's okay to have a Blacks for Obama group, a Catholics for Santorum group, a purples for Bela Lugosi group, and whatever...again, it's not Augusta. They can exclude whomever they wish. I think (it's my OPINION), like the President, that Augusta should admit women. They were forced (by the weight of public opinion) to allow blacks in relatively recent history. Why not women? But it DOES NOT MATTER. The majority white, all male, all wealthy Augusta can refuse anyone they wish. And as someone said before, the PGA has spoken by playing there. Yup, they did. A highly visible national organization that promotes golf everywhere is basically saying "We don't care about membership policies and the like, we're not political and don't see the need to publicly promote things like fairness, sportsmanship, and equality. We are just a bunch boys playin' high stakes golf. Leave us alone, please." Well, OK for them. Tradition over reality, green jackets vs progress...fortunately, it IS just friggin' golf.
As far as the SEALS are concerned, they probably mirror national racial demographics pretty damn well. You get through SEAL training, you are the BEST and belong to a very color-blind family. I wouldn't call for sexual/racial quotas there...but Augusta ain't the SEALS!
By the way, I never said the PGA should have female players. I just think that a club a renown as Augusta should have female members. You Republicans kill me...any call for a hard look at issues of equality is followed by lame pronouncements like "I suppose you want girls in the NBA or NFL, huh?" Geez...
bottom line is youre against a group excluding women. but for a group that excludes whites. is that your definition of equality? as the pga allows women in tournaments will you call on the lpga to allow men in tournaments? i would have no problem with the cbc if they would admit all races. naacp allows whites, whites founded the naacp. my point is there are whites that exclude blacks, blacks that exclude whites, men who exclude women , women who exclude men. every 4 or 5 years augusta is slammed for not allowing women to become a member, although they can golf there. i suggest you be against all exclusion instead of selective outrage against men. democrats calling any black who is a rep. a uncle tom or aunt jemima is pathetic. by the way. im black.
No, Mika, you are wrong...read my previous post. 'Nuff said!
i read your previous post . youre still wrong.
This is a stupid subject. It is a private club owned by a private group.
They can let anyone in they want.
What's more interesting is WHY they don't want women around. Me, personally, I like women.
golf is basically male bonding. men golf with eachother for 4 or 5 hours knowing they dont have to watch their language, talk sports, drink beer, smoke cigars, make bets, compete. reminds me of a joke. 2 men in their 70s were putting on a green next to a street. a funeral procession went by and 1 of the men took his hat off and bowed his head. other man said that was respectful. he said its the least i can do, we were married for 50 years.
You exemplify those type of men.
Small children in grown-up bodies.
Well we sure know now who wears the pants in YOUR family mika..LOL
secret to a good marriage is letting your spouse think they are the boss.
Surprising to see Team Obama come running to the defense of someone in the 1% club. Well, maybe not. He is someone who feels there is no element of society that should not be under the control of the Federal Government. What's next- demanding that men get half priced drinks during happy hour during women's night out events?
I don't think that will apply to you.
I don't think I can afford to join a private club. We play golf on public courses, and occasional on private ones with our friends that can....we play mixed golf, so no problem getting tee times.
See- you've managed a solution without any help from the Federal Government.
Keep cheerleading the demise of your party, rusted.
And you keep Obama focused on side issues. He tends to really get things mucked up when he puts his focus on them, so it is better he focuses on things of import such as membership restrictions at private clubs.
Your comment doesn't change the fact that your party is self-destructing.
With the help of people like you encouraging them.
Thank you.
Chris- just wondering when you thought that I encourage them? I really think you are making up stories. I think you really don't have a clue about very many things- so you tend to stereotype people along with the ways you think they probably act.
This Is a tough one. I tried Cow pasture pool years ago and had terrible score. I went to Pebble Beach when was in Calif. to take pictures and to see the Iconic Tree, you need big bucks to play there for sure. I guess Ithink men need some place to go we are not just as we do. Could we beat the pants off them , You bet . LOL. I will just watch golf on TV because Its allot harder than It looks !!!! FOUR!!!!
when eisenhower left office he tried to join a golf club, if i remember right it was in calif. he was told he couldnt join cause they dont take politicians. ide join that club.
Unbelievable! After reading comments on the subject of allowing women into a private club I’m reassured that there are few that really believe the warped thinking of the MSNBC show hosts (and their “academic” minion guest) and that the majority of their viewers are in fact rational, conservative thinking individuals that find it difficult to change the channel in the same way we find it difficult to resist the inexplicable urge to rubberneck as we pass the accident scene. Do they not realize that one of the gems of the Constitution is the protection of free association and the ability to form groups of like-minded individuals? There are private clubs formed for all types of reasons, including religious beliefs and yes, gender. Any woman has the right to go out and form their own AuGIRLsta National club right across the street and no, they don’t have to let the boys in.
i agree. ed saying on his show that women cant golf at augusta is a lie. women golf there all the time. by the way a woman can qualify and golf in pga tournaments, a man cant golf in lpga tournaments. notice ed refuses to bring this up. now you know the rest of the story.
It's unbelievable this has become a national topic, when we are faced with way greater obstacles in our country. I agree with President Obama, however; as he mentioned, this is up to the club, Mr. Obama's opinion is "His" opinion, and we should respect that. Come on everybody, "GET A LIFE" and do what you can do to move this country of ours forward.
VET = Totally Agree !!!!!
Both Obama (and Romney) should have just kept their mouths shut. It is comical that no matter what the "issue" of the day is Obama feels a need to give us his opinion on it. I'm surprised he didn't have a comment on Barbie's 50th anniversary.
There used to be a phrase "no comment". They need to learn to use it. It's a private club and they can admit who they want.