There are many ways to achieve this goal. And we saw one of them in a Washington Post article written by Ed Rendell, former Democratic governor of Pennsylvania. He insists that he likes Elizabeth Warren — a lot. Then goes on to label her a “hypocrite.” The article is an example of how women’s careers can be, and often are, stalled by supposed friends praising them before they cut the legs out from under their advancement. Here is the response I posted to the article:
How do you keep a qualified woman from reaching the top of her field? I’ve addressed that question in my research and writing, particularly in The Secret Handshake. One way is to pretend you like her, even praise her, but juxtapose that with an undercut. “I like Barbara – a lot. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees” and “Laura is a star. We all know that. Some people worry that she’s even too nice” are examples of the subtle ways women’s career can be stalled. The prevalence of this type of compliment-based (“I like her”) derogatory communication is why so many women remain in pipelines to leadership – in part why there has never been a female U.S. president. It’s clever in a way. While you’re embracing a candidate, you’re smirking over her shoulder. Rendell has employed this technique. It’s a tried-and-true method for getting your guy the job. In this case Rendell’s guy is Joe Biden. I like Joe Biden – always have. I’ve blogged about that on Huffington Post. Like Warren, Biden has faults. Rendell could have said that about Warren and continued with his criticism. After all, he supposedly likes her. Instead, he went for an attention-grabbing headline – right before tonight’s debate. It’s a cheap shot which he hopes will stick. I hope we’re smarter than that.
I don’t think anyone is stopping Ms Warren other than herself, her lack of integrity, and her political views. The fact that she lied about her heritage for personal gain a number of time is sufficient for most anyone to not support her. The DNA test proved this conclusively. Her lack of integrity and extreme views make her someone most rational people would run from. But I forget that if you are left you use your skin color, sex, or sexuality to shield yourselves from all forms of criticism or you attack another with libel or slander that has no basis in fact what so ever like Judge Kavanaugh . Fact is you cant handle the truth even after its proven or the participants say its a lie done for political gain. You continue to find oppression of women that just is not so. Try looking at the middle east and the Islamic culture who view both women and children as property. Women are treated terribly and even killed for not obeying their husband. They virtually have no rights whatsoever and yet not a peep from the women’s movement. There are legitimate women out there of substance that you continually overlook like Sarah Sanders, or Melania Trump or Sarah Palin. You won’t even acknowledge them because they are conservative. The women’s movement no longer represents all/the majority of women just those who are left leaning with agenda’s. Such a shame!
Excellent points raised here, and sadly, so true. I’ve usually believed that the best candidate should win, but that approach only brings us more of the same, mostly men who continue to promote a non-inclusive agenda. I think it’s time to promote women (unless obviously a ‘wrong’ choice) so as to break the chains that bind us.