Women & Politics: Really, Why Bother?

This kind of 'funny' stuff infuriates me. Yeah, I know it's supposed to be a lighthearted jape. Pardon if I don't laugh.

When I was 11 I started really getting interested in politics. REALLY interested. Ronald Reagan made it seem accessible and intriguing. I attended my first political rally, learned about platforms and planks and conventions and electoral colleges and all other assorted wonkery. By the time I was 15 I had my heart set on majoring in Political Science and going to Washington to Serve My Country. By the time I was 18 I had attended a John Birch Society Meeting, a Young Communists Meeting, met various B-List politicos and received at least 3 plaques. (Wooden plaques with brass nameplates are the Trophies of the Junior Wonk Lifestyle)

Through this long course of events (too much for a blog post) it was repeatedly communicated to me that if you are a woman, the best you can hope for is to have whatever words you say or actions you take be judged only after your appearance is thoroughly dissected. Then came Hillary Clinton.

I know we didn't like her. I still don't. I know we have a lot of good reasons to dislike her. I think her policies are over-reaching and dangerous to liberty. I think she's motivated solely by self-interest and is not a good public servant. But for heaven's sake, let's not talk about all that. Let's just talk about how ugly she is and how she's probably a lesbian and doesn't her outfit look TERRIBLE. We've decided to totally ignore the substance of women's contribution to public policy. It's now solely about style.

I wonder if the men who perpetuate these hilarious diatribes have daughters. I wonder if they've even for a moment considered that they are slapping their daughters in the face.