ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MOMS

        We all like to see women in prominent positions heading up a political office or running a huge business with aplomb. It proves our point that women are not an inferior form of human kind fit only for subordinate positions but are competent and innovative leaders that deserve equal pay for equal work.

        We were pleased to see the Cheney/Bush administration appoint women to cabinet and other high government positions and then were disappointed at the aftermath. This was because even though the women had the job title it became painfully obvious that the "males in charge" made the decisions and the women were just "window dressing."

        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Christie Whitman, began to initiate protection programs following her confirmation. However, they were countermanded by the Bushmen and since then she appears to have disappeared into the same oblivion as other women cabinet officers.

        Condi Rice, appointed as National Security Advisor was reduced to the position of a glorified secretary when "The Dick" Cheney usurped the chairmanship that went with her position. She is allowed out to Sunday talk shows to put the "feminine side" of the war to the voting masses.

        Two "liberal" (in name only) journalist have presented us with an inside look at several other women the Bushmen have hired "to influence public opinion, across the globe." Cokie Roberts and Steven Roberts in their 4/12/02 USA Weekend article titled "The White House Message Machine" have written a puff piece that would shame The Magic Dragon.

        "Machine" may be the operative word here as these women are presented as well-oiled cogs in a White House spin machine that comes pretty close to spinning straw into gold. They are the image-makers for the Bushmen that you may have seen on TV Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin, Victoria Clarke and Charlotte Beers.

        Their prime directive is to make this administration so attractive to women voters that they will forget what it is doing to them and only hear the siren song of "compassionate." These women insert carefully crafted "woman speak" into the Bushmen's speeches, such as the oft repeated, "hug your children."

        Political Director, Carl Rove, has learned well the lesson that has been attributed to Caesar: "Separate a woman's emotions from her sensibilities and you've got her eating out of your hand." http://www.gendergappers.org/2001-033.htm

        For sure these four women are talented and intelligent. They certainly should command respect and professional treatment. The Robertses, in their story, have nothing derogatory to say about them but do note that "these four women do have their detractors."

        They also write that Bush refers to them as "my moms." So, who needs derogatory comments when your boss is your primary detractor, trivializes your White House function and lays a humongous diss like that on you?

        Actually, this may be a Freudian slip. Mothers are known for singing the praises of their children and ignoring or covering up even their most glaring faults. And that, of course, is the short form of the job description for these women.

        We wonder if the Bushies have ever read another story about surplus moms. Probably not since Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman and Diana Souza is about a child and her lesbian parents. Rychus republicans don't much like to consider any topic that teaches tolerance for alternate life styles.

        Last Tuesday was one for the presidential blooper reel. At a speech in Bridgeport, Conn., President Bush declared that he wanted each American to volunteer for "4,000 years," a variation of his usual call for "4,000 hours" that produced guffaws in the audience. Later, at a fundraiser, Bush bestowed a new name on Connecticut's lieutenant governor, Jodi Rell.
              "I appreciate Lieutenant Governor Judi Kell for being here," he said. "Great to see you again, Judi."
              "Whatever," says Cathleen Hinsch, a spokeswoman for Rell. "You don't correct the president."
              But the White House does. Both goofs, and accompanying laughter, were stricken from the record -- deus ex machina -- in the official White House transcripts.

        http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56556-2002Apr15.html

        As the news item above illustrates, no one can say these women's efforts aren't desperately needed but we doubt that male presidential aids, advisors and blooper-launderers were ever called "dads."

        twanda@gendergappers.org       

        2002-016

        Copyright 2002 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@gendergappers.org.

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