COMMENTARY | There is an amazing dialogue going on in the U.S. and it seems to be going on without very much participation on behalf of conservative women. That dialogue concerns the “war on women,” the war that the GOP says does not exist, so several elected and, in the case of Ann Romney, non-elected females representing considerable success were scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention to tout the idea that women are doing just fine in the good ol’ USA.
But, as reported by Real Clear Politics and other outlets, the GOP women said absolutely nothing about the “war on women” or the hundreds of legislative measures either being considered or already passed by legislatures in various states that force women to undergo various medical procedures and/or pre-abortion counseling if they choose to legally abort. They said nothing about demolishing laws meant to establish equality of pay and standards in the workplace, such as that accomplished by the rescinding of such a law in Wisconsin earlier this year .
And they certainly said nothing about the fact that the platform of the Republican Party contains the provision to oppose abortion in all cases, including cases where rape, incest, and the possibility of the mother’s death is a concern. It is a provision almost verbatim the stated philosophy of abortion absolutist and “legitimate rape” expert Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), who co-sponsored a bill in Congress with much the same language. In fact, the GOP’s vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), co-sponsored the same piece of legislation, just one of several women’s reproductive rights limiting bills he’s supported.
No, they talked about their husbands, their families and how women were the backbone of the nation, sharing in its success story. Ann Romney touted her husband’s business acumen and family values. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley talked about a hard work ethic, President Obama’s anti-business policies, and insecure borders. New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte blasted the president about small businesses. Nothing wrong with any of that except for the fact that they were ignoring the fact that the men of the party — the vast majority of elected Republicans — have been fully able and willing to deconstruct the legal advances women have made over the years in equal rights and in reproductive rights.
And it appears as if the women of the GOP are willing to go along with it, not to mention cheer them on and be complicit to it.
They should be ashamed.
They were there to refute the argument about the “war on women,” whether it was overtly stated or not. But they didn’t. By talking about jobs, home life, their husbands and families and the traditional role of women — they ignored the massive elephant in the room and embraced their party’s position regarding it. They became cheerleaders for the Republican Party, relegated to sideline cheering while the boys play on, intent on scoring in a game where women are already losing. How cliche. And how disappointing for women.
As long as elected Republican female leaders continue to ignore the game and what it signifies, as long they allow Republican legislators — mostly men intent on passing measures that further curtail women’s civil and/or reproductive rights — to make the rules and play the game for them (instead of doing something other than cheering or watching from the stands), women will continue to be dismissed within and by the GOP. It is a game wherein women, especially Republican women leaders, should not only be cheering but one wherein they should be actively involved in changing the gameplan.
Such mindless cheerleading trickles down to the average female voter. Tampa resident and GOP backer Valerie Wharton told Real Clear Politics, “[Democrats] put all this pressure on birth control. I mean, I think back in my day when there was none, and today you have access to everything for very cheap. I don’t think I’ve ever heard in any of our groups when it’s just women where we talk about abortion. It’s the law.”
Clearly, there is a disconnect. Awareness that “the law” is under attack by the Republican Party might help. To think that abortion isn’t discussed or that birth control can be taken for granted to the extent that conservative women do not understand that their reproductive rights, not to mention workplace equality and such, are under attack by the party they support is frightening.
But female GOP leaders could have stood up for their besieged rights, showed true leadership, instead of verbally shaking their pom-poms and showing team spirit.
For such accomplished women to ignore and deny the real elephant in the room at the RNC was nigh unto high farce, but for women’s rights it was a crying shame.
