Republicans and Women

In the last general election, women voted primarily for President Barack Obama, though the percentage of women voting for the incumbent dropped from 2008.  Throughout the two political party nominating conventions, two different images were presented.  In North Carolina, the Democrats harped on the idea that the Republicans were waging a “war on women.”  Meanwhile, in Florida, the Republicans were highlighting their up-and-coming female stars who dot the political landscape, from the state legislatures to the federal one.  Recently, the fight to label the Republicans as anti-women has taken on a fever pitch in various states, most notably Texas, on the issue of abortion. 

One of the more puzzling things about the abortion fight in Texas, one that has already been addressed in North Carolina and Wisconsin, was the content of the pro-abortion argument.  State Senator Wendy Davis of Texas drew a great deal of attention to herself and her cause with a filibuster of an abortion bill.  Now, given the attention she received, given how often her supporters mentioned back-alley coat hanger abortions, one would be forgiven for thinking that Texas was considering abolishing abortion altogether.  No, what the bill was suggesting is that there should be a law against abortions beyond 20 weeks – that is five months and well into the second trimester.  We are entering into late-term abortions territory here.  Is that what Sen. Davis “bravely and courageously” fought for?  Did she fight for the right to abort babies that are into their final stages of development?  Is that what her “oh-so-cool” pink sneakers are about? 

The news media made a great deal about the amount of people swarming the Texas capitol but a couple of things need to be understood.  One, Austin is a bit of an odd duck in Texas as it is easily the most liberal city in the state.  Therefore, the fact that a horde of late-term abortion advocates could descend upon the legislature is not surprising.  Second, the majority of Texans and of Americans are against abortions beyond twenty weeks.  Once surveys ask about late-term abortions, the numbers of those opposed are even higher.  However, the media has painted a narrative that the proposed state laws are unconstitutionally restrictive and the opposition to the laws is increasingly large.  There is a discontinuity between the facts of the situation and the reality.  Is it possible that the same gap exists when speaking about Republicans and women?

According to Gallup, women’s support of President Obama dropped 3% in 2012 compared to 2008.  One might think this is rather paltry but given that women, traditionally, have always been keen towards the Democrat Party, the number is nevertheless surprising.  Additionally, given the “war on women” perpetrated by the Republicans, this statistic seems particularly perplexing.  While numbers of women are small in Congress as a whole, there are a sizeable minority of Republican women serving in Washington, as well as governors throughout the country.  When one considers that thirty of the country’s fifty states are governed by Republicans, the idea that women are rejecting the conservative message also rings hollow.  By the way, four of those thirty states are governed by women (Jan Brewer in Arizona, Susana Martinez in New Mexico, Mary Fallin in Oklahoma and Nikki Haley in South Carolina).  In comparison, there is only one female Democrat governor (Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire).   

Historically, there has been significant female support for Republicans and conservatism.  The philosophy’s message has a great deal that appeal to women.  Political pundits often attempt to pigeon hole various groups and in doing so, minimize the minority within that group and in their own way, prevent its growth.  The fact is that with every major demographic group that has traditionally voted Democrat, there is a growing number voting Republican and representing or trying to represent the Republican Party.  It is interesting that most of the pundits on television who claim to have the answer for the Republicans in future elections are Democrats.  Call me Jewish but I doubt their sincerity.  The best way to win future elections is not to forego conservative principles.  It is the philosophy that most empowers women and the rest of us too.

The Honeymooners, Revisited?

I want to preface this article by saying that my wife is a wonderful woman.  The very fact she has remained with me is nothing short of a miracle.  I’m an idiot – an erudite and charming, not to mention handsome idiot but one nevertheless.  However, I think I’m standing on some firm ground when I say that there are some issues I must point out about my wife in particular.  Let me be clear, there are plenty of silly things about men but this is about my lovely bride.  I don’t understand her.   

First of all, she is very busy.  I’m not speaking of work.  I’m speaking of time at the casa.  She is buzzing around the house like a Messerschmitt and she makes me nervous.  I try and tell her to sit down and relax but she continues.  She does it so much, she makes me self-conscious about sitting down.  Now, I will ask her if I can help and she will clearly and succinctly say “no.”  However, the way she says it suggests that “no” is not an acceptable answer for me to take at face value.  I try to help despite her initial answer and we begin snipping at one another like we are kids.  What began the tiff?  Me feeling guilty, her not alleviating my guilt and ultimately, the two of us getting into one another’s way.  To make it worst, we are intelligent individuals.  We are both college educated.  We both have masters (though, to be fair, mine was more challenging).  Still, we end up acting like children.   

Secondly, the way we process information is so different, it is amazing we are able to make any decision.  Our current decision we are wrangling with is whether I should pursue a doctorate degree.  I want to pursue the doctorate for purely altruistic reasons however, I’m not so dense as not to see that more was needed in my argument.  Therefore, I brought up the increase in salary (sadly, a doctorate does not earn one that much more in the teaching profession).  I brought up the increase in prestige.  I also mentioned that the jobs I could qualify to do would increase exponentially.  Sure there is a cost but more education is never a bad thing, right?  The major complication is our consideration of starting a family in the not-too-distant future.   

My wife began her side of the discussion by saying that she did not want to stand in the way of my dreams and she wanted to support me as much as possible.  At this point of the argument, somewhere in the deepest recesses of my mind, there is another shoe to drop but I brush it aside and think, “Hey, she is with me on this one.”  However, the “but” does arrive with concerns of dealing with a new-born child alone and the amount of work that would fall upon her.  She is worried that she might resent me and my jaunting off to college to learn the intricacies of 20^th-century nationalistic movements in Asia and Africa.  Despite the worthiness of my pursuits, I’m flummoxed as to what to do.  My wife has brilliantly spelled out her wishes for me and her reservations.  Yet, her well-balanced argument has left me wondering what I’ve been allowed to do.   

Lastly, beyond the use of guilt and the circuitous thinking, she has a knack of removing an argument from my concerns to that of others.  A couple of years ago, I caved and bought a cell phone.  I did not want to do it but there you go.  I now feel empowered to get rid of mine once and for all – in a ceremony, officiated by a priest, complete with a hammer and then some fire.  For a little irony, we will record it and put it on YouTube.  I never wanted a phone and have no use for it now but my wife suggests that to do so would be a large imposition on my friends and her.  What I thought was a stance of self-determination and self-actualization on my part has turned into a thoughtless and selfish gesture after speaking to my wife.  She is so adamant, I’m starting to doubt myself but wait…I’m a grown man.  I was making my own decisions for years before I met her.  Surely I can do this on my own.  Yet, in one conversation after another, I’m beginning to wonder. 

Above it all is the creeping thought that she might be right after all, I just don’t understand why.  It is like being at a party and hearing people talk and laugh about something of which you have no idea.  We’ve been married for nearly a decade now.  People at the wedding probably thought it would never last.  However, despite the fact that she’s from Venus and I’m from Mars, or whatever, we make it work.  So, in the confusion of our conversations and discussions sometimes, perhaps it does not matter because we are so good together.  However, I’m still pretty sure I’m right.  I just have to figure out how.