Will the Republican War on Women backfire?

[polichick]

Or are there enough women in this country who hate themselves and enough men who hate women for Republicans to win?

What a horrific moment in American history! (As if Obama Derangement Syndrome wasn't enough.)

[HockeyMom]

1. I doubt it

that horse left the corral more than a generation ago. I think YOUNG WOMEN are finally realizing what we OLD WOMEN have been warning them about.

[polichick]

12. I sure hope it's waking up a few complacent young women!

[madrchsod]

2. it`s a gift from whom ever for the democrats

if they decide to use it. it never hurts to somehow bring this up in a daily conversation ...

[polichick]

13. True - every Dem and progressive indie should bring it up every chance we get!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Republican women are flocking to Santorum in OH. They truly believe that women should be relegated

to the house and stay there. They truly believe that women should live to serve men and their husband. They truly and honestly believe that their self worth is wholly tied to being married and subservient to their husbands and having babies.

All of that is fine if that's what they believe.

The problem is that they want to turn our government into a theocracy.

[saras]

5. There are women this dumb. They are right - THEY shouldn't be trusted in society.

Two problems arise...
One, the men don't feel the same way, and they aren't any more trustworthy.
Two, they both think they have the right to impose their limitations on others.

The truth is that many people drawn to Christianity are drawn because they really do feel, deep inside, that they are evil and selfish and need external authority to tell them how to live.

Who am I to argue with them, just because I and my friends have no such need?

[polichick]

10. I think you're right about many Christians buying into the "we're so sinful" story...

...and wanting some authority to keep them in line. Makes me think of all the Republicans who preach against homosexuality, and push policies against it, when they're living double lives.

Let's face it, that "we're so sinful" story is what keeps Christian churches - and many other churches - in business, and the "authorities" in power.

[titaniumsalute]

6. Some bold statements

Just because GOP women dont have a problem with Slick Rick's positions on female health issues, doesn't mean they represent the majority of women. These kinds of quotes from women still give me lots of hope.

“I’m still on the fence, but it’s not looking good for the Republicans,” said Bonnie Diehl, 45, an independent voter from Rochester, N.Y., who owns a house-cleaning business. “They’re laughingstocks. I’m trying to pay a mortgage, and I’m a cleaning lady, so of course I took a hit because that’s the first thing people are going to let go. And they’re trying to fly their conservative, back-in-the-’50s flag. I mean, let’s face it: Nobody leads the ‘Leave it to Beaver’ life. It’s over.”

Washington Post

[Arkana]

11. That woman hit the nail on the head more accurately than anyone has.

"No one leads the 'Leave it to Beaver' life. It's over."

Damn right. This is 2012, not 1955.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. Yes. I'm happy that these issues are not reflective of women as a whole.

[polichick]

8. It's amazing that those who are most afraid of Sharia Law in America...

...are all for pushing the American version onto the rest of us.

That authoritarian mindset is what Republicans have counted on for decades - if this doesn't wake people up, I don't know what will.


Edit: typo

[markpkessinger]

4. It SHOULD backfire, and one certainly hopes it WILL backfire . . . and yet . . .

. . . I've noticed, certainly among friends and family of mine who are Republicans, there seems to be an almost impenetrable wall of denial as regards the radical extremist agenda that is being pursued by elected Republicans. Rank-and-file Republicans, en masse, seem to be doing their very best ostrich imitation. One of my sisters and her husband falls into this category. They are perfectly reasonable, decent people insofar as their own beliefs are concerned -- sure, they are a bit more conservative fiscally speaking, but they aren't really interested in dismantling the social safety net, and they certainly aren't interested in the extreme social agenda that the GOP is currently pursuing. Yet, when I try to have a discussion with them about the facts of what elected Republicans are actually pushing by way of legislation across the country, their eyes sort of glaze over and they fall into rote dismissals of the concern, invoking (false) equivalency, etc. They simply refuse to look at what is going on. So I wouldn't bet on it necessarily backfiring, at least not to the extent it really should.

[polichick]

7. Thanks for your insights. That's what I'm afraid of...

I don't have many Republicans in my life but I often eat at a local restaurant that is frequented mostly by lifelong Republicans, and I get the feeling that few (if any) of them will be questioning their votes over what I consider "American Taliban" policies. They simply belong to the Republican "club" and believe anything they hear on Faux News. Scary.

[Arkana]

9. Absolutely it will.

Doubling down on being anti-sex can only hurt them. Women already tend to vote Democratic--but with this Republican assault on birth control, I expect the margin for Obama in 2012 will climb to historic numbers.

[polichick]

14. If nothing else, it should get more young people to the polls...

But I think most thinking women have already stopped voting Republican.