Rep. Kristi Noem continues the standard GOP sleight-of-mouth. As voters indicate their disapproval of the GOP's War on Women, South Dakota's lone Congresswoman tries to tell you that her votes against women's health care don't really matter:
Anyone who has turned on the TV, listened to the radio or read the news in the past few weeks has undoubtedly heard about the Republican Party's supposed War on Women. So many hours have been wasted on this topic that folks actually might think it's a real issue. It's not.
The truth is our nation's political leaders are using women as a means of manipulation to try to win an election. This means real issues are taking a back seat to a political sideshow. Instead of talking about how we are going to get Americans back to work or lower gas prices, talking heads on TV are bickering over whether being a stay-at-home-mom is an occupation [Rep. Kristi Noem, "Focus on Real Issues, Not Sideshows," that Sioux Falls paper, 2012.04.25].
Notice that, in classic Noem fashion, our Congresswoman can't talk about specifics. She doesn't address the bad policies that actually constitute the war on women's rights, like the abortion restrictions that Noem backed here in South Dakota to drive women into second-class citizenship. She doesn't address her efforts to make birth control harder to get. In this article, Noem never explains why women's issues don't matter; she just debates a label.
Let's take a look at some of the GOP legislation that might be considered part of the War on Women:
- The Georgia House and Senate passed the "Women as Livestock Bill," an anti-abortion bill that earned its moniker after State Rep. Terry England compared pregnant women, carrying fetuses that had already died, to cows and pigs on his farm, saying that if the animals should have to deliver dead fetuses, so should women.
- A proposed law in Arizona could force women to prove to their employers that they are not using birth control pills for pregnancy prevention -- or face termination.
- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker repealed his state's Equal Pay Enforcement Act, which permitted victims of workplace discrimination to seek damages in state courts. The bill was enacted in 2009 to address the tremendous gender gap in compensation in Wisconsin.
- The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which would expand the reach of domestic violence programs, faces opposition in the U.S. Senate [Anika Rahman, "Mommy Wars: An Attempt to Disenfranchise Women," Huffington Post, 2012.04.26].
Personal health choices, freedom from employer interference with birth control, equal pay, protection from domestic violence... please tell us, Kristi, why those issues are sideshows.
I'd like to think there's an upside here. If Noem is declaring abortion a sideshow, maybe that means she'll tell her boss Speaker Boehner to keep the government out of uteri and finally focus on creating jobs and balancing the budget. But we know that's not the case. When Kristi thinks she can push her oppression of women for electoral gain, she and the GOP see abortion as a primary issue. But when women start pushing back and when Republicans realize they're losing on the issues, Kristi starts crying sideshow.
The GOP War on Women is real. If it is a sideshow, it is because it is the bait-and-switch perpetrated by Kristi Noem and the Tea Party class of 2010 who said they wanted to focus on the economy and getting government out of people's lives but instead of focused on all too literally inserting government into women's lives in the worst ways possible.
Related: The Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act on a 68-31 vote yesterday, with 15 Republicans setting a losing political fight aside and casting the correct vote. Senator Tim Johnson voted aye; Senator John Thune voted nay.
Also related: Noem's boss can't even provide some reasonable student debt relief without turning it into another ploy to take away more women's health care.
This mindless little twit needs to go. If you try to email her, you get some vague form letter back with the usual platitudes saying NOTHING. What does she care or most of the politicans care, as they have health care for life? Most are men, so are not too worried about women's issues.
Someone on here once said she just spouts whatever is in the Rep. playbook, and that is so true. The woman does not have a mind of her own and needs a script. She is an embarassment to SD and many women.
What is sad, is there is more and more legislation against women that many do not even hear about, usually until it is way to late.
http://pol.moveon.org/waronwomen/?rc=fb
I wish I had accumulated all the articles concerning the war against women. How much do you want to bet it would be far larger than ww might think?
"This mindless little twit needs to go. "
Spoken like a truly tolerant respectful pro-choicer.
I've actually emailed the delightful Mrs. Noem three or so times (I can't remember all the issues), and it's been the same thing every time. Tim Johnson responds quite thoroughly to mail. John Thune doesn't respond as well as Johnson, but he's clear about his stance. I don't think Noem (or her hirelings) even reads her emails. She just sends out copy-pasted nothingness.
Maybe she only responds well to emails that agree with her? Anyone want to send her a letter asking her to vote yes to an issue she's already in favor of?
Sibby, Sibby, Sibby….If I am pro-life or pro-choice does not make a difference. You are very narrow sighted if you think the war against women is just about pro-life or pro-choice.
How about equality of pay?
How about the defunding of clinics like PPH, where I can go to get my Pap smear, cancer screening and mammogram? What if I want HRT’s? Can I have them if my employer does not think I need birth control? Do you know what HRT’s are?
What is the GOP doing to cut spending for senior programs; 2/3rds of the elderly are women?
How about all the cuts for family programs, you know like the ones that help mothers and children survive? That is part of the war on women.
So, young man, it is not just about abortion or birth control. Do you get my drift? I could go on.
Way to go Prairie Lady. Oh, and Mr. Sibson, your sarcastic statement "Spoken like a truly tolerant respectful pro-choicer" is the pot calling the kettle black. I have yet to see you be tolerant and respectful of anyone on this blog.
Why is Noem calling the war on women just sideshows and Boehner is saying it is a phony war the Democrats have made up? The GOP is the one who started passing laws that are anti-women. What are we women supposed to do; go back to scrubbing floors and keep our mouths shut and keep having uneducated children who will carry on the GOP party because they are not smart enough to think for themselves?
Here is one of the latest that makes me sick. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/student-loan-bill-passes-house_n_1459347.html
GOP wants cuts in programs which benefit women and children to support the lower interest rates on student loans, the Democrats want to tax corporations. What make more sense?
I fought hard to have equal rights because I wanted more than being a teacher, clerk, secretary or nurse and opportunities for my daughter, if I would have one. (No there is nothing wrong with those professions, as an individual I wanted more opportunities open to me.) Pardon me, but I believe I should be paid the same as the male in the same position.
Thank you Eve!
Why should the GOP tell me I do not know what rape is and is going to redefine the definition? Why should the GOP tell me that violence against women is not important?
How long will it be before women do not have the right to vote? A little extreme, but….. I am afraid, very afraid, where this country is going.
Gayle, I need—heck, South Dakota needs you to say what you just said at the top to everyone of your ladyfriends who will listen. Please make that point, and never apologize for being blunt about it.
Cory, I do say it to all of them. Unfortunately, I live in a bubble, so do not have the network I once had. Don't know any way to be, but blunt.
As you know I am in my early 60's. I have good women friends who are in their 80's. A few of us had a long discussion last Friday night and we are all appalled with the young women who do not realize what life was like in the time we were starting careers. They do not value the rights we have worked hard for and are not listening. Many do not have much time with careers and families, to read what is going on to their detriment.
I am pretty outspoken. My friend, Mary (82) is ever more so. She was in sales, as I am now, and was paid way less then her male counterparts, and raised 4 kids on her own. She just worked 3 jobs. The conversations we have are priceless to me.
I really am not sure how to get the word out there, but do what I can. Thanks for the support!
I'm sure John, Kevin, Eric and Paul coached Kristi on her op-ed, so maybe we should cut her some slack as she was just taking orders.
What's classic is that the men in that lead the Republican party care soooo much about what women think that they are going to look into the issues. Seriously...seriously?
Of course when I say men...I mean the manliest men of all...the self named Young Guns.
You can't make this stuff up...From Politico:
"The YG Network is launching YG “Woman Up,†riffing off of the term “man up,†in an effort to better communicate conservative policies to women."
Started in 2007 by three male House Republicans — Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.), Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (Wis.) — the Young Guns brand hasn’t been associated closely with women’s issues.
"The new project, YGW, has a six-figure investment for launch and a target budget in the mid-seven figures, according to senior adviser Brad Dayspring. He declined to comment on who put up the funding."
"To start, the group is launching a four-pronged strategy —survey research and focus group, building an online community, economic analysis and issue advocacy with the goal of understanding better what language and viewpoints appeal to women and establish itself as the hub for center-right women frustrated with the policy debate."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75599.html
So boys, what you're saying is that you have to spend over a $1,000,000 to find out how to communicate your policies to women? Not to really figure out what their views are, but to figure out how to sugar coat your regressive policies to us?
It'll be interesting to see if Kristi makes it to either of the rallies this weekend in either Pierre or Rapid City to hear what politically active women have to say.
http://www.occupybrookings.com/2012/04/united-for-women-rally-in-brookings-set.html
http://sdgopolitics.blogspot.com/2012/04/women-unite-march-in-solidarity.html
Kristi, can you get back to us on that?
PrairieLady: Thank you for all that you and other women have done to make careers and life better for my generation. I am 27, and you would not be appalled by me :-)... Equal pay is LONG OVERDUE.
Jana - Thanks for that info. I don't think I have read anything about them.
Tara - Thank you!
When we were watching the new abut the formation of the YG group, my wife Suzie asked me "do you like it when somebody says 'Man Up' to you?" I thought about it a minute and said, "Well, no, not especially." She said, "Well, then why do they think WE would like being told to 'Woman Up'?"
Looks like they maybe should have done some research BEFORE they did the creative on their new brand, huh, Jana? That's usually how it goes with these geniuses.
Above: "When we were watching the NEWS ABOUT..." (sorry.)
Hey Kristi, woman up! (...see how well that doesn't work?)
Okay so let's try another angle: "Hey Thune, Nelson, Hicky! You guys need to woman up!"
(I don't think so... looks like the 'Young Guns' may have shot themselves in the foot with this deal.)
Now granted, there ARE a few GOPers that just might like the sound of it, but I doubt if that's really the audience they're trying to address.
http://www.logcabin.org/site/c.nsKSL7PMLpF/b.5468093/k.BE4C/Home.htm
I suppose Kristi could help them out with a little "Cowgirl wisdom":
• Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction
• Don't squat with your spurs on
• There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence.
• Never kick a cow chip on a hot day
• Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco
...etc.
"Sadly, Sen. Thune (SD-R) voted against VAWA on the very same day that this Victim feared for her life:" Vi Waln †@wicaglata
Facts on violence against women:
18.3% of women in America have been or will be sexually assaulted. (It's happened to me.) 64% of these assaults are by people they know: their boyfriend, husband, former boyfriend, husband, relative, or friend.
One in every 4 women in America will be a victim of domestic violence; Every 15 seconds, an American woman is battered by her partner; domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women 15-44 in America.
A college survey taken years ago asked female students what they most feared about men; they said being beaten, raped, injured, killed. They asked male students what they most feared about women: they said being laughed at. The female students weren't being paranoid; the male ones were.
Men and women live in different worlds when it comes to expectations and risks of violence directed towards them. The bitter opposition by the GOP to the Violence Against Women Act is just one more proof that they have no clue, and do not care to get one, about what it's like to be a woman in America.
I wish there was a "Like" button on the Madville Times comments...
Good points Bill.
Maybe they were listening to or trying to appeal to the Sarah Palin momma grizzlies. After all, wasn't she the one that had so much fun with "man up" and "put your big boy pants on?"
Loved the visual of … "looks like the ‘Young Guns’ may have shot themselves in the foot with this deal."
I also hope that the Dem congressional campaigns pick up on their message of telling women that they must not be smart enough to see the "real" issues.
Gosh Young Guns and congressional fellas, whatever would we do without smart people like you? I guess that's why you should be in charge of our reproductive rights and why we should earn less for equal work. We really do love it when you talk down to us!
And maybe that's why they think the whole violence against women isn't an issue when it's just boys being boys... you know...we should just "woman up."
Suppose the gender gap will spread to down ballot races and issues?
On second thought, given the impact on mothers and children of the Ryan/Romney budget, maybe we do have to "Woman up."
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/04/cuts_to_kids.html
Kristi tell us how these cuts to mom's and kids is a sideshow...we love that story and if you "Woman up" you could even campaign on that!
But we sure know that our congresswoman Noem's priorities are in making sure that big ag doesn't get hurt...especially the subsidized crop insurance subsidies her husband sells.
oops, silly me, should read
…especially the subsidized crop insurance policies her husband sells.
Okay, this will be pushing it, but as an ad guy, I just can't help myself.
Product concept:
New improved GOP soft drink (aka fizzy kool-aid)
Brand:
Woman Up.
Brand Positioning:
The Uncola for Aunties.
For those not old enough to remember the 'Uncola' campaign...trust me, this is funny.
Jana, check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0tDjJwtLh0&feature=fvwrel
Jana, this is exactly right and so well put: "So boys, what you’re saying is that you have to spend over a $1,000,000 to find out how to communicate your policies to women? Not to really figure out what their views are, but to figure out how to sugar coat your regressive policies to us?"
That "woman up" crap reminds me of what is considered by some men to be a compliment. A woman does something bold and unexpected. Someone describes her as "having balls."
Ick. No buddy. We don't want to be more like men. Being brave and courageous is not related to one's reproductive parts. Please.
That should be edited with GOP attacks on women and finish with the ending...classic!
Thank you Bill...certainly needed a laugh today!
"War" is really a mild term for Republican sexual politics. It's really a jihad against women that uses terrorist tactics. There is a religious aspect to Republican policies against women that have their roots in a twisted form of fundamentalist Christianity and in the retrograde old boy network of the Catholic hierarchy. Relaxing domestic violence laws and espoucing rape by government transvaginal testing are terrorist efforts made to make women kowtow.
The good ol' boy network is still alive. (I work for one and as an older woman, know how to "handle" him. Thank God his daughter is taking over the business!)
Bill, you are a HOOT!
Ladies, you have no idea how happy I am to see more women with like minds and feminism is not dead in SD!
"Gayle, I need—heck, South Dakota needs you to say what you just said at the top to everyone of your ladyfriends who will listen. Please make that point, and never apologize for being blunt about it."
Cory, thanks for all the news. At lunch today, I reminded a good friend to come and do a bit of reading. I will work on that request. Unfortunately, alot of the older women I know are not computer literate, but there are things I print out for them.
I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable here, and I want to say there are many very intelligent and good hearted people posting. You have no idea how many times I sit and chuckle or have my mouth hanging open... when a few post.
Glad you showed up PrairieLady(Gayle). Thanks for telling it like it is.
Bill...ya don't need alot of big words to get your message across? Thank you. I read about your daughter having a baby and your thoughts on that..... and....wow. Your wife is a lucky woman, as you sound very supportive.
Eve, I would like to get to know you!
The timing of Rep. Noem's statement is very interesting. On Monday the 23rd I sent her office a news release about the "United for Women" march & rally that would be held in Brookings on the 28th. That announcement indicated that our primary concerns as organizers of the event were women's rights to (1) accessible and affordable health care, including contraception and reproductive services; (2) to equal pay; and (3) to freedom from violence, in public and in the home. Just two days later, our good Representative labeled these very same concerns a "sideshow" and chastised her constituents for "wasting" their time standing up for these rights. As one of those constitudents who turned out to the Brookings rally on a dreary day with fire in my belly, I respectfully disagree. (To do so "respectfully" requires considerable effort.)
I would point out to my sister Kristi that according to various studies, South Dakota currently ranks (with #1 being the "best" among the states):
#7 in the size of the pay gap between women and men
#29 in the rate of teen births
#30 in basic health care for women
#39 in overall quality of life for women
#42 in the rate of women murdered by men
#44 in efforts to help women avoid unintended pregnancy
#45 in the number of women serving in political office
#50 in the percent of businesses run by women
...shall I go on?
What benefits women ends up benefiting us all. That has been proven over and over again, in this country and around the globe. Am I wasting my time standing up for women's rights here in South Dakota? No. I'm investing it. For the sake of my family, my community, my state, my nation, my world. And I'm far from alone in making that investment.
What you call a sideshow, my dear Kristi, is one of the main events. You've got a ticket, and there will always be room for you in the tent. Come on in!
Deep peace,
Phyllis Cole-Dai
Exactly right Phyllis. Thanks for your letters, participation, and all your hard work.
How can we be surprised when another Repub trivializes our lives, wants, needs and quest for human dignity? Noem has reinforced the apparently accurate perception that Repubs are engaged in a war on women. F**k Repubs! (The ones engaged in this war.)
Perhaps the doubling of the death rate in 20 years among women in childbirth and pregnancy is also a sideshow in Noem's eye.
À la Bob Ellis's "LiberalSpeak" page, I could offer a "NoemSpeak" page:
sideshow: (noun) an issue that loses Kristi votes
PrairieLady, I'd love to get to know you, too! I think we'd have a great time!
There was a SIDESHOW in Sioux Falls this afternoon. My roomie said on her way home, on 10th and Cliff, the Pro Life crowd was out, complete with big graphic signs of fetuses. Ok, they have a right to rally, but should little kids be there? My roomie was very upset there were children involved. This was something I had never realized was happening. That just is not right in my opinion.
Related to this, no doubt. They get really upset when their ability to violate other people's constitutional rights is challenged.
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/federal-judge-stops-texas-law-on-women-s-health/article_6994ca0c-92fb-11e1-991b-0019bb2963f4.html
PL, I hope you went outside and shouted at them, "Get a job(s bill)!"
John Thune and Kristi Noem are continuing to block the Violence Against Women Act.
John had a chance to vote for it again in a very bipartisan vote. Kristi had a chance to stand up and represent the Native women of South Dakota.
The insane injustice of this was covered in the New York Times...can't say so much for the men who run the media and cover politics in our state.
You know, the ones who are supposed to keep us informed on what our representatives are doing in Washington.
Boys, this is a big deal that affects thousands of women in South Dakota, where you at?
Ellis? Woster? Tupper? Huizenga? Wood? Beck? Lance? Brokaw? Lalley? Mercer? Perry? Siebold? King? Heinert? Caudill?
Here, I'll do some of your research.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/us/politics/violence-against-women-act-held-up-by-tribal-land-issue.html?_r=1&
Congratulations South Dakota GOP! South Dakota Ranks Among Worst States for Women!
http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2014/10/20/sd-ranks-among-worst-states-for-women/17548959/
We're well on our way to last place to join our leading from behind standing on education.
I would encourage women voters to ask Mike Rounds where he stands on the Equal Pay Act. If he agrees that birth control should not be covered by insurance.
Hey Mike and Dennis, in South Dakota under your leadership, 2/3rds of minimum wage workers are women. Tell us again how not raising that minimum wage is good for families and especially single moms.
Thank god you guys have done a great job in making us the #1 state for corruption! Well done...boys.
What will it take to send women to the vote and get them to vote in their best interests and that of their children?
Oh yeah, Dennis and Mike...
Who do you suppose gets hurt the worse by your ideological pandering in opposing Medicaid expansion? I'll give you two guesses.
http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Health-Care-for-Underserved-Women/Benefits-to-Women-of-Medicaid-Expansion-Affordable-Care-Act
Jerry, the Argus story is a start. But it will take Rick, Susan, Suzy, Karen Soli, Elle Spawn, Robin Page, et. al. to make this an issue in this campaign season.
It will also take reporters asking these questions during debates.
Mostly it will take all of us to make sure that this is part of the electoral discussion.
I like your last part the best. I do my best to try to tell the message of what the raising of the wages would mean for the whole spectrum of improving not only the lives of women and their children, but also to help make business grow as well. If you ain't got the dough, then you cannot make any kinds of purchases that really help improve the economy as a whole.
I really thought the Medicaid Expansion and the fact that the legislature denied all South Dakotans the vote at the ballot box would have brought out the women vote. I just don't know why women are so complacent as to allow this continued abuse.
The Argus story is starting to hit Facebook, so hopefully that will get some awareness going.
In the meantime, I need to leave the phone line open just in case Mike or Dennis call and ask me to make them a sandwich.