Equality: Dems revive ERA issue, but not all women approve

[The Sushi Bandit]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON – For Sen. Claire McCaskill, equality for women is “just like motherhood and apple pie,” but the Missouri Democrat is none too eager to change the Constitution to guarantee it.

So as Congress prepares for hearings on a revived Equal Rights Amendment, McCaskill is on the sidelines, much to the disappointment of some of her feminist backers.

“The ERA – just because of the history of it, just in and of itself – is an incredibly divisive thing, and sometimes I’m not sure that the divisiveness is worth it,” McCaskill said in an interview in her Capitol Hill office.

Stacey Newman, executive director of the Missouri Women’s Coalition, said it’s “fabulous” the Democratic-led Congress is promoting the cause once again, and she’s hoping McCaskill gets on board.



Read more: http://www.timesreporter.com/index.php?ID=68151&r=1

[saracat]

1. She is wrong. Our equality does need to be put into law.

We are owed that respect.We also owe that respect to our predecessors who fought for our rights.

[Cerridwen]

2. "Suffrage for women?"

"Gee, I dunno. Look at the history of it. It's been a very divisive thing in and of itself. I'm not sure the divisiveness is worth it."





:argh:



edit: I'd better add I'm being extremely, amazingly, horrifically sarcastic here.

[burrowowl]

15. VIVA ERA!

And do you realize that the US of A has no HUMAN RIGHTS, just civil rights and no they are not the same. Civil Rights, the right of male landowners were people who could vote, no one else.

[alarimer]

3. It needs to be put into law because otherwise it is much easier for it to be taken away.

As it is right now, too many people think we have equal rights but we do not. There is a long way to go. Codifying it into law would go a long way to telling those sexists that still exist that they are the ones in the wrong.

[noamnety]

4. Well, there's some brilliant logic.

Glad she wasn't in charge of freeing slaves.

"I know we shouldn't have slaves, but freeing them is just so divisive ... maybe we should just leave things as they are."

She needs to figure out what's more important - civil rights, or not rocking the boat, now that she's got hers.

[Cerridwen]

5. I used suffrage for women.

LOL

Two great minds...and all that.

[annabanana]

6. I just sent her a "shame on you". . . and I

cut and pasted BOTH your examples...

She should get some heat over this.

[Der Blaue Engel]

7. I contributed to her campaign last November

And I just gave her a piece of my mind.

Women who trample on other women to further their own careers make me very angry.

[Solly Mack]

8. "...equality for women is “just like motherhood and apple pie,” ..."

"“The ERA – just because of the history of it, just in and of itself – is an incredibly divisive thing..."

Smells like bullshit to me

[IndianaGreen]

9. Equal Rights Amendment should include women, minorities, sexual orientation, and gender identity

Pathetic that basic rights that are considered self-evident to a socialist, are still being debated in the great land of "freedom" and "democracy."

[depakid]

10. My eldest sister- a former ERA advocate, feels the same way

Granted, she chose to settle in NC, and so has been inundated with that sort of culture for so many years that it's easier for her to see the gains women have made- as opposed to the persistent inequalities.

When Roe Casey and Griswold are overruled by the Supreme Court, it'll be interesting to see if she changes her tune....

[yankeeinlouisiana]

11. Horrors!!!

Co-ed bathrooms and not being able to use the word "manmade". What other word could we possibly use? Synthetic maybe?

If this is the best of their arguments against this, then it should pass, PRONTO!

Oh, and Landrieu isn't sponsoring it.

:mad:

[NuttyFluffers]

16. IIRC Concerned Women of America helped table ERA for fear of losing chivalry

so many "concerned" people, so little sense....

[intheflow]

12. Women are still only paid about 3/4 of what a man earns.

Now that's some serious devisiveness--of the economy. Whatever, as a senator she gets the same pay as the male senators and that's all that matters, isn't it?

:grr:

[DURHAM D]

13. Good God - because its history is divisive...

I'm sorry but she needs a talkin' to. That quote is just plain stupid. Who wrote the damn history anyway - oh, of course, Rethugs.



I have a question - If they pass the ERA and the draft is re-instituted is everyone OK with female draftees?

Earlier today I had dinner with five women in their late 20s and early 30s. We were discussing the military because one the the women had just returned from visiting her brother who is leaving for Iraq on Tuesday. I brought up the draft and women in the military. I asked them what they thought about the possibility of women being drafted into service. Only one of the women said they thought females should be eligible for the draft. The other four said no way.

When I commented that I didn't think women could possibly be considered for the draft without passage of the ERA they all just looked at me. It look a little while and further conversation before they got the connection. Finally, one of them said "I guess I hope that they don't pass the ERA".

[rodeodance]

14. seems this is like Impeachment-too much time and trouble!

[gobblechops]

17. I am

so sick of our Representatives worrying about offending racist and sexist.and why do so many americans fear equality?