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June 07, 2004

I deserve ME

While I am all for bloggers running for the state legislature (ahem) I am all against blogger candidate celeb Mary Beth Williams' playing of the Sex Card. Obviously every candidate that runs for office is going to leverage any and all possible advantages to try to get themself elected, but the idea that women must be represented by women is, to me, as offensive as suggesting that African-Americans must be represented by AA's or that whites must be represented by whites.

The fact that the rest of the legislative districts in her city are represented by men is really a matter for the voters in those other legislative districts, and shouldn't be an issue in hers. The whole point of represenative democracy isn't that you use one district to "even out" the results of other districts (this is also why I'm against the strict GOP reading of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, disavowed by the Supreme Court in Georgia v Ashcroft) but that voters equally apportioned can make their own decisions independent of others.

I know we're supposed to be all excited about a blogger running for office, but if she's resorted to this type of appeal then I just don't see what the reason for the excitement is. Get excited because a candidate has good ideas, leadership potential, great campaign skills or any number of other valid reasons. But just because a "mom" or an African American (see Willie Talton) or even a blogger is going to get elected is no reason in and of itself to rejoice.

Posted by Chris at June 7, 2004 01:38 AM

Comments

get over it.

Posted by: stress at June 11, 2004 11:11 PM

It is a testament to the progress so far that the younger generations have a harder time seeing the (not dwindling fast enough) patriarchy that prompted Mary Beth Williams' post card. I didn't read her as saying that she needed to be there because men can't represent women, but rather that it is time to include a woman's perspective into the legislative process. Quite frankly, I can't imagine what it would be like to be pregnant (or gay, or African American, etc.), but would be more comfortable knowing that someone is in the legislature to insure that my daughter's interests are at least known and considered. This is admittedly a subtle distinction, but look at it this way: The delegation Portland *might* do a better job of representing everyone if they had a more diverse perspective.

Keep up the good work, Chris!

Posted by: Earl at June 13, 2004 02:38 PM

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