A DOLEful WAY OF
        BRIDGING THE GENDERGAP

        Did you miss the unusually muted reporting of the media that former Senator, Bob Dole, had a face lift?

        Some people who knew him well were interviewed to confirm how much younger he looks now.  Well, that's surely his right, but we are much more interested in the story of why. Think GENDER GAP!

        Increasingly, Dole has been putting himself into situations so he will be interviewed and at each interview he touts the candidacy of his wife, Elizabeth, to be the first woman president of the United States.

        In strategy meetings, the R.N.C. has been anxiously searching for ways to overcome what they have found to be a serious problem -- the gender gap.  Women's votes are increasingly becoming a determining factor in the outcome of elections.  We women who form that gender gap are voting for the preservation of our hard won human rights -- rights that some candidates for office wish to take away.

        Since these strategist believe that women are essentially devoid of the intelligence to understand and vote on the issues, they think that a woman presidential candidate will get the 'Gappers vote, simply because of gender.  The only problem they see is that many men would feel uncomfortable voting for a woman so that's where the face lift and new Dole image comes in.  The male electorate may be assured that Elizabeth Dole will be directed and controlled by her "prince consort" -- Bob, a "nearly-young" man who is certainly qualified and who could be assumed would really be in charge of the office.

        So what does this woman stand for?  For one thing, she is absolutely anti-choice. She does not and will not support women's human rights.  Is the loss of your human rights worth having a woman for president?

        On another front, this time Florida, one of the "Shrubs" (as Molly Ivins calls them), Jeb Bush, is running for governor again.  We understand that he, too, sees that the gender gap (women) defeated him when he ran last time.  He is actively courting all minorities and especially women, promising all sorts of goodies.  Look him over, Floridians, and especially look over his supporters.  Do you want to retain your constitutional right of church/state separation?

        In any event, understand and pass on the information to your friends: the conservatives owe the religious extremists big time for political contributions.  They think that GenderGappers are airheads -- women.  They think that all they have to do is put up either a female candidate or a "pretty" "sexy" male to get our vote or downplay the "reproductive choice" issue.

        P.C.J. is once again in the news, along with her handlers, as her suit against the President comes closer to the courtroom.

        The media has finally taken a close look at where the money is coming from that supports her.  Surprise!  It comes entirely from groups financed and supported by conservative religious extremist groups.  One of these well financed entities has put out radio and T.V. ads asking women who have been propositioned by former Governor Bill Clinton to contact them. According to their ads, they want to help you and although money is not specifically mentioned, it is definitely implied that it will be "worth your while."  Just imagine what could come out of the woodwork with an ad like that.  We've heard from some women who are calling the number often to tell them about the immoral propositions they've gotten from conservative candidates.

        Finally, what are we going to do about the President's nomination for head of affirmative action, Bill Lan Lee?  The Senate Republicans have killed this nomination in committee by refusing to allow it out for action by the full Senate.  They were led in their HATCHet job by Sen. Orin Hatch, author of a recently released album of religious songs.  (Remember the words spoken recently, at an R.N.C. gathering, by the christian coalition's, Pat Roberts?  "It's payback time.")

        If you are a woman and you are reading this, you'd better believe that affirmative action is still important to you.  If you don't know why, ask any woman who worked outside her home before Title VII or attended college before Title IX.

        TWANDA@ConnRiver.net

        1997-044

        Copyright 1997 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: TWANDA@ConnRiver.net.

        G e n d e r G a p p e r s   T M