Sexism and Sarah Palin

'We will defend Sarah Palin against misogynist smears not because we like her
or support her, but because that's how feminism works.'

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its Stop The Silence on
Sexism campaign, WomenCount sent this email to its members today:
It started Friday afternoon with John Roberts on CNN, and then in a slow
build over the weekend it became clear what the leading sexist charge would be
against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: Is it appropriate for her to accept the vice
presidential nomination given the magnitude of her current family
responsibilities?
The question came not just from members of the media but also from voters
around the country who wrote in to news organizations and on blogs.
The obvious retort is whether anyone would ask the same question of the
father of a four-month-old with Down Syndrome and a pregnant teenager. We
think not.
Radio talk host Ed Schultz on CNN Monday night took things even further by
declaring that Palin would not be able to focus on her job given her family
distractions.
And Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn wrote: "Of course, women can be
good mothers and have careers at the same time. I've done both. Other women in
public office have children ... but ... a mother's role is different from a
father's."
The message? Sarah Palin: bad mother.
On that count we have no doubt these accusations would never be made about
a man. In that sense, Sally Quinn is right -- and that's why things have got
to change.
The very notion that Sarah Palin should not have accepted this nomination
because she is a mother with demanding challenges underscores just how far we
have to go.
Throughout the weekend, we have been asked about WomenCount's views on
Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee. It is important to distinguish between
the broader issue of sexism and the ideology of an individual. WomenCount was
born of the passion its founders had for Hillary Clinton's clear view of
social issues and progressive values. We cannot pretend that Governor Palin
meets any standard of progressive politics or social values.
Regardless of the candidates' ideology, we will work to stamp out sexism
when we see it on the campaign trail. To paraphrase the words of one blogger
who said it best over the weekend: We will defend Sarah Palin against
misogynist smears not because we like her or support her, but because that's
how feminism works.
WomenCount PAC was created to ensure that the 51 percent of American
citizens who are women have their values and votes counted in the political
process. So far in the 2008 election cycle, WomenCount has run a series of ads
related to the presidential campaign and made contributions to several women
candidates for Congress.
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committee.

WomenCount PAC - 1016 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 303, San Francisco CA 94129 -
http://www.womencountpac.com

SOURCE WomenCount

Rosemary Camposano, +1-650-740-5544, for WomenCount; or Stacy Mason of
WomenCount, +1-650-793-3556, info@womencountpac.com