Beckel Warns Gellar: "You Are A Woman, You Better Be Careful What You Say"

No matter what else is being discussed in this clip (and there's quite a lot.) This line says it all.

Why does it matter that Pam Gellar is a woman? And what is going to happen to her if she doesn't shut up??

Oh and... one other question... Why is Gellar the only woman there to begin with??

Bob, we're waiting....

Progressive Bloggers: Who Knew They Were Mostly All Men?

I mean, really?? ONE woman???

And Why were they at the White House anyways?

The Left Begins to Wake Up, Warning Sounded at Huffpo: "You Are Being Played"

Thanks to Womenstate I now know that at least one Leftie blogger is aware that she has been played. (You can read enough of the article to get the gist, without clicking through to Huff-n-Puff.)

But... will Ms. Williams' warning flare be enough to shut the traps of her comrades at Huffpo? Or on Kos? Or on the M.isogynistic S.ister-hating N.ews B.roadcasting C.ompany?

Hell no it won't. Cuz misogyny is soooo much fun for the cheeto eating bottom dwellers and tingly legged race card players.

Good luck, Joan. But you might as well be talkin' to the hand.

Nice Ad for "Herobracelets.com" Governor Palin! WTG Leftie Bloggers!! (NOT)

Thanks to Sarah Palin for honoring her soldier son by wearing his name on her wrist.

And thanks to my Leftie (former) comrades, for help with getting the word out about a small business trying to survive in a DOOMED economy:

HERE

HERE

and

HERE.

Plus...

There are plenty more links to the misogynist moron brigade at Legal Insurrection so, check 'em out! Even Kos is claiming to be concerned about the "norms of military families." Boohoo.

Statement from the company that made Sarah's bronze deployed hero bracelet:

"In some recent photo’s of Sarah Palin, we noticed she’s wearing her Deployed HeroBracelet bearing her son’s name, Track Paliin. Track is serving in the Middle East right now.

Back in 2008, we had heard that both Sarah Palin’s son and now Vice President Joseph Biden’s son were heading off on deployements, so we made them both a set of Deployed HeroBracelets with their son’s names on the bracelets. Our way for thanking them both for having son’s in the military. We actually got a very nice call from Senator Biden’s office, thanking us for the HeroBracelets. And now we’re quite proud to see Sarah Palin wearing her HeroBracelet."


Let me tell ya, it is increasingly embarrassing to admit I was ever a Democrat. WTF has happened to my party? Is there no one left with a shred of sanity, or respect?

As a mother, I am appalled that anyone would question a mother's right to honor the son she misses... in whatever way she sees fit.

Deathwatch for Keith Olbermann: PUMAsphere and Beyond

I'll come clean here. I don't often *hate* people. But I'm making an exception for the Liberal Misogynist of MSNBC. (Or at least one of them.)

And here's why.

From the linked article:

"Olbermann does not like women, especially attractive and/or accomplished women. Nor is he particularly fond of men. He is forever the awkward, angry teenager of his high school days who mystified psychologists, the überdork whose cruel taunts of the athletes he covered as a sports broadcaster were legendary, even as he yearned to be thought of as the stud that covers studs. Give it up, a Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist suggestedafter watching Olbermann ridicule the appearance of an overweight athlete. He noted that the hefty lefty is “so bloated he looks as if he swallowed Dan Patrick [his ESPN co-anchor] back in 1997.”

And so the venom drips, and the ratings sink. Olbermann is cruel to all who, as a class, have rejected him, such as joyful people and women…or people of faith and women…or people with traditional marriages and women…and those with well-adjusted relationships and women. Did I mention women?

Women are anathema to Olbermann. He delights in demeaning them, and the more attractive or accomplished they are, the more malicious he gets. Conservative Congresswoman Michelle Bachman, who relishes her role as policymaker and mother, is a frequent object of his anger; columnist Michelle Malkin is a “big mashed up bag of meat with lipstick” because of her intelligence and traditional values; Sarah Palin is> a moronic “Bush in a skirt”; and there’s nothing wrong with Hillary Clinton — who had the nerve to oppose Barack Obama in the Democrat primaries — that a good beating won’t cure."

For me, really, the Olbermann hatred began when he called for Hillary to be beaten senseless by a Democratic Superdelegate. If I'd had an Olbermann voodoo doll here at that time, I'd have begun sticking pins in it. No matter, though.... cuz apparently somebody else did it for me.

So now the woman hater has the audacity to claim that he "never even suggested Hillary should drop out of the primaries." Uh-huh. The man thinks we do not have youtube?

Well, here's news for ya Keith-O. We *do* have youtube. And and we can also follow cable ratings. There isn't a PUMA alive that won't rejoice when you get the boot. And there are few women ... of any political stripe... that won't be dancing in the proverbial streets.

Of course, Conservative men won't be cryin'about your demise either.

So who is left to mourn your loss? A few pimply faced blogger punks in their mother's basements? Your woman hating "progeny?"

Alas, that's what happens when ya alienate 51% (or more) of your viewers during a primary season.

There's nobody left to watch you. Boohoo.

Now scram.

SYD

Misogyny Bites the Hand That Feeds It

"Before John McCain unwittingly picked a tabloid-magazine cover girl for his running mate, I was leaning toward going Republican this time around. I did the second time Bush was on the ballot and I very nearly did the first time, too. But as soon as Palin climbed out of her igloo and onto the national scene, well, there was no turning back for me.

You see, I felt my choice was to risk McCain dropping dead and letting the world's most well-known hockey mom run this country..."

Well, Boo-effin-hoo.

That is all.

SYD

Carly, Lynn, Hillary, Sarah and Cynthia: Monster Slaying Women that Won't Back Down, Won't Give Up

The New Agenda carries Cynthia Ruccia's analysis of Lady Lynn Rothchild's re-emergence on the political scene. In conjunction with Carly Fiorina. Discussing Hillary and Sarah.

Five strong women with varying opinions on the issues, but in agreement on one point...

We must slay the political monster that is Sexism. Once and for all!

And speaking of slaying monsters.... HILLBUZZ is hoping for a Sarah victory. All around.

I couldn't agree more.

Nobel Prize Committee: "Let's Go Out and Get Us a MAN that No One Could Possibly Question. You Know, An American Idol Type!"

So the plot thickens, over at the Nobel Peace Prize Committee's quarters. With Bloomberg reporting that the two top contenders this year were women.

HOW CAN THAT BE? WOMEN?? WTF???

"Let's go out and get us a man that no one could possibly question. You know. An American Idol!"

Considering that "The Prize" has now become little more than a hefty piece of propaganda that's no surprise, really.

Is it?

As the truth reveals itself, we find that few women have ever been allowed into the ranks of Nobel Peace Prize Winners, no matter how spectacular may have been their Contributions. Quoting now, from Bloomberg:

[Few Women

Issues of gender, identity and regional representation will play into the considerations,” Berg Harpviken said. “There’ve been rather few female candidates on the long list of Noble Peace Prize laureates.”

In the prize’s history, 12 winners have been women and 84 men. Organizations have also been honored, including the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1917, 1944 and 1963. Some years no prize was awarded.]

Guess this means that, no matter what peace accord Secretary Clinton rescues her name is "off the table." Just like Obama's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. But who cares. Right? I mean... why can't "The American Idol" ramp up a war with one hand, while accepting a "Peace Prize" with the other?? He's an American, after all. And part of the ruling elite.

Too bad Piedad Cordoba and Sima Simar weren't born men, in the United States. Huh?



UPDATE: More on Sima Simar HERE. (Thanks Rev. Amy.)

A Speck of Sanity on the Horizon: Common People's Sensibilities Winning Out Over Hollywood's Love of a Child Rapist. (Sign the petition to jail Roman

Yes, the tide of public opinion appears to be turning. Or maybe not? Maybe Americans never did buy the anti-woman apologism that the MSM, with it's Hollywood jerk--a-lot friends were peddling.

This "Polanski the Child Rapist" story is giving me hope.

Why?

Because the sensibilities of common Americans have been awakened, and seem to be winning out. In the hours since the story broke... and the apologists started singing their sick little song.... the commoners have revolted. Asking us to excuse a man who, while in his forties, drugged and raped a 13 year old... is simply a bridge too far. They have underestimated our resolve.

We want Roman Polanski jailed!

Kanye West is a Sexist Jerkass That Treats Women Like They Are NOTHING!

Thanks to TGW for covering the story.

Is anyone else getting sick of this kind of sh** being placed on a pedestal for young men to emulate?

Alessandro Machi is correct. West should be charged with assault.

SYD

Grab Yer Willies, Lads n' Lasses: Another Weekend of Hip Deep Obama Love

We have been duly warned by NPR's Juan Williams. The Obama-love is running deep and thick this weekend on ABC and CBS.

Anyone with half a brain is steering clear of the MSM B.S. Storm.

No worries, though. Cuz we don't have to go far from the glare of the kowtowing to "Get Real with Sonja." Check out PJTV. Where Sonja clears up the lies about Letterman's and Playboy's "kewl and edgy", uh, er, *misogynist* comments about Republican women.

Many thanks to Flo Johnson of Team Sarah for linking BOTH of the above stories today. Flo remains one of the best bloggers in her corner of the blogosphere, if only for the wonderful research she does to unearth a real scoop. (PUMA WARNING: Flo is a Conservative blogger, so don't go there if that will freak you out.)

******************************

In other, more PUMA related news... I'll defer to Gary's excellent, and up to the minute, coverage of Gay Politicos as they jump ship on the DNC fundraiser that was supposed to happen this weekend.

And a major H/T to Shtuey for his excellent rant on the situation in Iran. I, personally, have not yet taken a position on the Iran situation. But I am getting closer to understanding ... and blog posts like Shtuey's are helping me find my way through the miasma.

********************************

Happy Father's Day to all of my PUMA and Palinite Friends. There would be no free press without you!

And for that, our founding Fathers would be grateful as well.

When is an Apology not an Apology? Dave's War on Working Women and Harriet Christian's Response.

I read Jenn Q. Public's excellent rant at Afrocity's blog yesterday. It's profound. It even borders on "life changing." For a former "Liberal" like me, at least.

Honestly, folks. I never meant to look down upon my roots. I never planned to abandon the ideals of my small business owning grandparents, or my blue collar daddy. My wish for the party with which I affiliated myself was simple inclusiveness. I wanted to be part of the fight for civil rights. And worker rights. And women's rights. And gay rights. "The Big tent" as they say.

A not so funny thing happened while I was off fighting for the various and assundry rights that I still believe in, however. The people I was fighting to defend, turned on me. The party of my blue collar daddy was taken over by "the entitled ones." You know, like David Letterman:

What gives Dave Letterman license to repeatedly troll the gutter without ever dirtying his Worldwide Pants?

Liberalism.

Didn’t you realize? He can’t be sexist, he’s a liberal. He’s no misogynist – he votes Democrat. Like all liberals, Dave will tell you he loves women. He respects them. Isn’t he pro-choice? Isn’t he sufficiently appalled by breast cancer? Doesn’t he joke all the time about those brutish southerners who beat their wives with Confederate flags? Haven’t you heard? He’s a card carrying liberal. Liberal, I tell you. Liberal!

Among his liberal buddies, Letterman can get away with pretending that he intended to insult Sarah Palin’s 18-year-old daughter Bristol, not her younger child Willow. But Willow was at the ballgame, Bristol was thousands of miles away, and Letterman is the skeevy guy in dress shoes and a tan trench coat who bares it all to a 14-year-old girl on the subway, then swears to the cops, “But I thought she was 18,” as he’s being hauled off to jail.

“Look at my record,” Dave told his audience as he clarified his remarks about Willow. What he means is he’s on record as being liberal. He knows the secret handshake and everything! And as we all know, liberal men are inherently sensitive to sexism in our society.

Yes. I admit it. Jenn Q. Public is talking about *me.* The old, unenlightened, me. The me that existed until I saw the brutal male supremacy unleashed on Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2008. At one time, I would have bought Dave's argument. With little skepticism. No more! Now I'm an outright cynic.

Just as is Laura at HotAir.

I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with Allahpundit that his Letterman quote includes an apology. It does not. It includes a post-modern faux apology: “sorry that you rubes misunderstood the joke, which I at least now admit wasn’t funny. To you. Obviously a good portion of my audience enjoyed it immensely and clearly understood it, especially when I non-apologized a couple of days ago. I’ll be more humble this time and see if it flies, so I don’t lose any more sponsors. As a responsible adult I want you to know I did take the time to check and see if that Palin kid was over 18 before I called her a tramp. Because that’s the kind of guy I am, and, again, it’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault. That it was misunderstood. The important thing is that unlike Imus, I’m a liberal who means well, so I deserve a pass for anything I say that is offensive.”

I don't like being cynical. Really I don't. But, Dave's condescension is glaring. It is really because they are stupid, ya know. Those working class sluts that serve cocktails on your two am flight home from Honolulu. They don't "get" Dave's jokes. They don't know the secret handshake, uh... er... fistbump.

Well here's some news for my former "Liberal" allies:

I know the secret handshake.

But, I still ain't buyin'.

And Neither is PUMA, Harriet Christian....




SYD

PS. The idiot interviewing Harriet clearly does not know who she is. He believes she is a Conservative Republican.. and he tries to trip her up about RW talk's part in the Tiller murder. It's priceless to watch him make a fool of himself.

The War on White Women: Day Six of the Letterman Saga

It was PUMA For Life that called my attention to THIS quite excellent article by Andrea Peyser at the New York Post:

"While you were watching David Letterman -- a bitter guy who never saw a woman or a Republican he could stand -- trash Sarah Palin's 14-year-old daughter by "joking" that she was date-raped by Alex Rodriguez and stalked by Eliot Spitzer, you may have missed the memo. Dave's in good company.

His struggling brother up the dial, Conan O'Brien, on Thursday night was having a blast slurring women and Jews -- two groups that may constitute the last permissible sick-comedy staples."

snip

"women, specifically white women, make up the last group that one may freely stereotype to get a cheap laugh.

Not surprisingly, the left has been notoriously silent on the issue. Where are the marches? The boycotts? The National Organization for Women did elect Letterman into its "Media Hall of Shame." How scary.

Letterman replied that he thought he was joking about the sex life of Palin's 18-year-old daughter, not the 14-year-old!"

"How scary" is right!

If you hop over to Women State you can see where a large part of the problem lies. Apparently, certain "men of color" have determined that white women have never really been targeted the way they have. Therefore, jokes about adult Latino men having public sex with 14 year old white girls are not as bad as, say, jokes about black men eating watermelon.

(Whatever, Al. Never mind that I, and many others like me, have defended your positions over the years. Just as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady-Stanton once defended Frederick Douglass' right to vote. Until he brushed them aside.)

History does, indeed, repeat itself.

On the bright side, though:

PUMA PAC reports on the state of the Letterman apology. It has evolved to be a bit more sincere, in the wake of the "Fire David Letterman" movement. But, there is still work to be done!

And, Tennessee Guerilla Women are reporting that an interesting thing has happened on "The View." Apparently, Ms. Behar was afraid she might get the same boot in the butt as Mr. Letterman. So she is changing her tune a bit.

Finally, a word of encouragement from Murphy at PUMA PAC:

"This is how it’s done. Incident by incident. With constant vigilance by us AND the active participation of our members to make those phone calls and send those letters EVERY DAMN DAY. Sooner or later, it WILL become as unacceptable to make jokes about slutty flight attendants and sexual assault as it is to make “jokes” about watermelon and gorillas."

What about today's protest? Anybody have an updated report?

SYD

PS. Thanks to HILLBUZZ for the poster art.

Olbermann and Letterman: Two Pigs, One Blanket

I really cannot say it any better than Egalia did, at Tennessee Guerilla Women.




When will these pigs stop covering for one another?


Hey, boiz... it's time to "Stop the Lies."




SYD

The "Fire David Gutterman" Movement Takes Form: Day Four of the Letterman Saga

Nope. This is NOT going away!



HILLBUZZ asks... "What would Al Sharpton do? And then they answer themselves:

"Does your town have a CBS window on the world' style studio where the morning news is broadcast with an open window looking out to the street? If so, head over there with signs condemning Olive Garden, MARS Candy, and Kelloggs for supporting the statutory rape of minors by way of sponsoring Letterman’s program.

Scare the living daylights out of Letterman’s advertisers, get them to drop this show, and CBS will then be forced to deal with Letterman once and for all.

Tell everyone Al Sharpton sent you, and learn from the master."

Further, I received this letter from one Laureen at Team Sarah today:

“FIRE DAVID LETTERMAN RALLY”

Subj: Fire David Letterman Rally at Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC at 4:30 pm Monday June 15 is on !

I am pleased to report that we have received enough volunteer leader commitments from the now 2,253 people on this mailing list to make a FIRM DECISION to go forward with a planned FIRE DAVID LETTERMAN RALLY, currently scheduled to be held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm this Monday June 15 outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697 Broadway in New York City.

If you live anywhere within a 4 hour driving distance of New York City, please plan on attending this event. Bring your own signs (be creative but PG rated!). We will be announcing more details over the weekend so stay tuned. We need more volunteers to help our “Project Servant-Leaders”, so please email me at michaelpatrickleahy@gmail.com if you can provide some time.

Laureen Cummings has agreed to serve as our “Project Servant-Leader” responsible for our Media Relations.

Marie Wilkinson and others have agreed to share “Project Servant-Leader” responsibilities in the Social Media arena.

We have volunteers for our logistics and volunteer coordination areas as well, and will be announcing the names of that leadership group over the weekend.

Keep telling your friends on the internet and in person to sign the letter to CBS asking them to fire David Letterman at our website, http://www.firedavidletterman.com

Two additional pieces of news to show that we and others are already making some progress:

1. CBS has received so many negative comments about Letterman they have shut down the comments section of their website.

2. A leading New York State Legislator, Brian Kolb, publicly called today for CBS to fire Letterman.

Thanks for all your help. Stay tuned for news over the weekend about how you can help make this coming Monday’s “FIRE DAVID LETTERMAN RALLY” a success !

Finally, we are continuing to target family oriented sponsors of the Letterman show with our calling and writing campaigns. Mars Candy. Olive Garden. Kelloggs.

Meanwhile, if you haven't seen Sarah's response on "The Today Show" yet the interview is linked At the New Agenda. Five posts after their PRESS Release. (Note: TNA has taken this very seriously. Be sure to read ALL of their Letterman related posts. They are informative and helpful, if you have to discuss the matter with some of your "Progressive" friends.)

That is all for now. Carry on, troops.

David Letterman Jumps the Misogyny Shark, Promotes Rape of a Minor. TIME TO TAKE ACTION!

All over the PUMAsphere this morning, the call has gone out. Something simply MUST be done about David Letterman's misogyny.

Here is the call to action from from HILLBUZZ. With a link to Letterman's "top ten" about Sarah Palin's trip to New York. That little video is bad enough.

But NOTHING beats the one linked at The Confluence. Do people really think that raping a fourteen year old is funny? Letterman apparently does. But, I can't believe that the audience actually laughs about Willow Palin being "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez.

Yes,myiq2xu. It is worse than any of us thought.

Here we see Deadenders trying to handle the situation with humor. Who can blame them? The reality of the rape joke, and the laughter that followed, is beyond what most of us can even take in. (Can you imagine what would have happened if Letterman had said the same about Sasha or Malia?)

If you pop in at PUMA PAC you begin to see the larger issue. How a (well meaning?)president's speech can justify misogyny. Simply by the act of omission. Mr. Obama doesn't say it is OK to behead your wife. But, he doesn't say it is not OK, either. Just like he didn't speak out, but rather joked about it, when Bernie Mac called women "ho's."

Nor will Mr. Obama comment about David Letterman's sanction of statutory rape at a ball park.

To all of my PUMA friends, all who have supported Hillary, even if you do not support Sarah Palin for president:

David Letterman has jumped the proverbial shark. It is time for him to go. ALL decent women and men must stand up against this kind of woman hate. For the good of our daughters, and our country. I encourage all of you to follow the HILLBUZZ link above, and find out how to take action. They are dedicating a month to making old Dave's life miserable.

If you don't do it for Sarah, do it for Willow. Truth be told, she looks a lot like my own daughter. The thought of her being raped at a Ballpark turns my stomach.

SYD

Enough Hormones On the Bench, Already!

Personally, I have had it with all that testosterone. Haven't you? I mean... testosterone is the "anger hormone." And it is also associated with risk taking behaviors.

That is why I am calling for equal representation from the other half of the population. You know, the one that has less testosterone. And a little bit more estrogen. Estrogen, being the hormone of love, can only bring balance to the important decisions made by our highest court.

Just about anything you want to know about Sonia Sotomayor can be found RIGHT HERE.

H/T to Prof. Darren Hutchinson at Dissenting Justice, for doing all the research. If it were not for him, I would know far littler about this Obama appointee. IMO, the MSM ... even it's liberal organs.. are doing a TERRIBLE job of telling us who our next SCOTUS appointee is.

Judge Sotomayor *will* be confirmed, despite their negligence and outright misogyny. She has to be. We just can't take anymore of those out of control "hormones" on the bench.

SYD

Women I Will, And Women I Can't, Defend (And Why.)

I love "The New Agenda." A bi-partisan group that defends women against the sexist onslaught of the MSM is just what we need. The group is on my list of PUMA bloggers that I must donate to.

That said... I have to admit... I don't have as much energy as some of the members do, to defend ALL women. I'm sorry if this is a divergent viewpoint. But I really must triage.

It's not that I think "Pelosi Galore" was a good idea. Or that TNA needs to "get a life" rather than raise hell about it. I am, in fact, happy that there are women who will defend Speaker Pelosi against sexist attacks. All I am saying is ... for right now, I'm not one of them.

Look. I live a life of dedication to causes. I run a pet rescue. I volunteer at a hospice. Before I did these things I was a mother/baby nurse and midwife.

I believe in birth, life, and death with dignity. For all beings. Those are my highest priorities. Principles that guide my Feminism. Birthing and deathing are predominantly the domains of women. They always have been. In this culture. And in many others. (What happens in between, tends to be controlled by men. That's how it is.)

So... where does that bring me in the matter of defending women pols?

I'll defend, to the bloody end, any woman who will stand up for the cause of dignity for all. Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Sonia Sotomayor are in that category as far as I am concerned. So, you see... right now, on the national (and international) level, I have a pretty full plate. I am also reserving some energy for Ohio's local women candidates in 2010. (And I'm ashamed to say I don't even know who I may be working for yet.)

Nancy Pelosi has betrayed me. She backstabbed the best Presidential candidate ever. (One who just happened to be a woman.) Plus, Nan is not in my state. I don't have to be concerned about voting for her. Ever!

So... here's my deal. I will support The New Agenda in speaking out against sexism. Where ever it may happen. And to whomever. BUT..... that is as far as I will go.

Speaker Pelosi and her beloved abusers are of little concern to me.

SYD

The Lefty Blogosphere Begins to Wake Up About Sexism (Well, Sort Of.)

I realize it will be a slow, tedious process. And we won't likely get any real concessions about the matter until Sarah Palin is safely packed away and discredited as a future presidential candidate. But it does appear that the Lefty Blogosphere is beginning to awaken to the part that it's members played in the blatantly misogynist, sexist coup of 2008.

It is of no consolation to me that our, perhaps, number one women's ally in the world, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has been effectively silenced. As she spouts Obama policy, and tries to play nicey nice with his breast groping, frat boy administration.

"By all accounts, Mrs. Clinton has worked hard to be a good soldier in an administration run by the man she spent much of last year trying to defeat."

Indeed she has. And, I'll just say, it is a little more than concerning to hear her parroting catch-phrases like "Moderate Taliban." That one will come back to haunt Ms. Clinton, I'm afraid. But, worse... it demonstrates the degree to which Mr. Obama's fantastical ideas about militant Islam are pickling the brains of formerly intelligent and reasonable statespeople.

A scary situation, to be sure.

I guess what I can take away from all this is.... the Lefty Bloggers I used to respect, but came to disdain, are "waking up to sexism in the primaries" just as their Candidate's Secretary of State has decided to sip some of the kool-ade they are so intoxicated with.

But they won't be waking up to the sexism in the general election any time soon. Because Mrs. Palin won't be tipping the glass, so to speak.

She has no reason to.

Boston Boomer Asks "What Is Feminism?" (Part Six in my Real Feminist Series.)

Boston Boomer started this line of questioning in her post at THE CONFLUENCE and I thought it would be best to bring it over here to Stray Dogs.... because I am already in the process of trying to define what Feminism is *in the positive.* Rather than pointing out what it is not.

My own response waxes philosophical:

"Keep in mind that “racism” or “sexism” are negative concepts… and, as such, they are easier to define. Cuz it’s much easier to pinpoint what we do *not* like about a person’s behavior/ worldview… than what we do.

Feminism, being a positive concept, is harder to delineate. We mostly know what it is *not.* And we have a hard time saying what it is.

Like the concept of the “good mother.” We don’t really know for sure what she looks like. But we sure know who is not her!

All that said… here are some things that a Feminist is NOT:

*A Feminist is NOT about tearing other women down for having a different take on certain issues.

*Feminism is not about belittling other women’s feelings because they are unlike our own.

*Feminism is not about taking part in high-faluting ceremonial signings, while still paying your own female employees less.

*Feminism is not groping cardboard breasts while laughing at our Secretary of State. "

Some other responses in the thread at The Confluence:

Okasha Skatsi answered Boomer's six questions point blank:

"1. Of course you can be a feminist if you attack other feminists on their ideology. You just won’t be a very effective or useful one.

2. No way in hell.

3. Possible; feminists can make mistakes, just like anyone else can. Unlikely, though, if the delusion persists.

4. If you attack the woman as a woman, no. Case in point: I can abhor Sarah Palin’s wolf-slaughter and drilling policies and call her out on them as cruel and mistaken. I can do it, though, without calling her a c*nt, a bimbo, a MILF, a whore, hanging her in effigy or claiming that her youngest child is her daughter’s. (I was online the night that particular lie came oozing to the surface. I watched as it was invented and perpetuated on DU and DK by people who knew they were lying. The Democratic Party’s treatment of Hillary drove me out of the party; their treatment of Sarah Palin insures I’ll never go back.)

5. No, but see above. I’m not much on the theory in any case.

6. Another clear case of no way in hell."

Dakinkat was anecdotal in her treatment of the query, and her experience is not unlike many of ours:

"for as long as i can remember there’s been this debate on what is a real feminist?

I remember sitting in my philosophy of feminism class as a sophomore at university in the mid 70s and being absolutely berated by my lesbian seperatist prof just because i was married–in her view, just hanging out with men, let alone marrying one was enough to disqualify me

then later in the 80s, i had the same sort’ve argument pushed on me… i was not radical enough of a feminist to serve in NOW … and a lot of it had to do with my status as a married woman with children and little else …

Now, I’m being told i’m clueless on feminist theory, when basically i spent all of the 70s and 80s in the trenches to change rape laws, pass the ERA, stop the assault on abortion rights and support civil rights for GLBTs. I just don’t get it … when I ran for office, i got labeled a radical feminist who marches in the streets! When I talked to purists, I’m a sell out … wtf?"

I think we can all recognize one thing. Feminism *is* hard to define. We know what it is not, when we see something that rubs us raw, or makes our stomachs knot up. If I had decided to post a series of "Not Feminists" here in my blog, I'd have easy pickings. Some would even say that posting a photo of Sarah Palin's, apparently uncomfortable shoes, is "not feminist." And I respect that. Though don't necessarily agree.

At Feminism's core is the concept of "self definition." I think that is key. And, perhaps, that is what rubbed so many of us the wrong way about the "Obama Superman" issue of Ms. Magazine. I, personally, have never heard Mr. Obama call himself a Feminist. Have you?

If I had heard him stand up against Bernie Mac and say "Hey, man, I'm a Feminist!" instead of "Hey, man, I'm just messin' witchu" .... I'd be a whole lot more comfortable with that depiction.

Or, if President Obama had challenged Jay Z on the "99 Problems" song by saying something like ... "Look, I'm a Feminist and I don't want anyone talking about my daughters like that," I might be celebrating the inaugural issue of Ms. Mag, instead of resisting it.


I'll end this post by linking to Wikipedia's LIST OF FEMINISTS. Take a long look and see if there are some you agree or don't agree about. In the meantime, I'll just pull up some of their photos and post them here for your approval (or not.)

Peace,

SYD

Pictured: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Starhawk, Camille Paglia, and John Lennon.