[ad_1]
Slowly but inevitably, the two main political parties have become the women's party and the men's party – guess which one – which – so that the mid-term elections of 2018 emerge as a decisive battle in the war between the bades.
This is largely the Trump effect – his attitude and remarks about women – as well as the recent Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh.
The Democrats had already surrounded the barricades after Donald Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Kavanaugh's panic also inflamed Republicans – both men and women.
Overall, Republican men have been outraged by the treatment of Kavanaugh and should express themselves accordingly at the polls. Republican women from the suburbs, who generally do not like Trump, have nevertheless welcomed the FBI inquiry requested by Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona. Largely satisfied with the results, they are back to vote against the Democrats. In other words, thanks in part to Flake, the intensity of the vote on the right has more or less balanced the intensity on the left.
These are the findings of Sarah Chamberlain, President and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a coalition of 70 moderate members representing the GOP who seek common-sense solutions to issues of interest to everyone.
Women are undoubtedly at the center of the 2018 elections. More women than usual, especially Democrats, are running. Of the 56 candidates contesting the incumbents, 47 are Democrats and nine are Republicans. Of these Democrats, however, 31 are in strong Republican districts, six in "likely" districts to remain Republicans and seven are "lean" districts, according to CNN polls. The nine Republican women are in solidly democratic districts.
Whether they prevail next month or not, women on both sides have been "awakened", to speak in vulgar terms, of the need for more women to participate in the conduct of the country. This is especially true on the Republican side, with its much smaller number of women elected. There are six Republican women in the Senate and 29 in the House, as opposed to 17 Democrats in the Senate and 78 in the House.
Why do people always ask: Do not Republican women rule like the Democrats do?
In part, they are often divorced culturally from dynamism and politics. Many who could have run in 2018 have decided not to do so because of an increasingly unpleasant environment, says Rachel Pearson, a Republican fundraiser and consultant. In order to better understand Republican women, she recalls being invited to several evenings for a Bloody Mary before the 2017 Women's March. She laughs as she says she refused because "we do not walk".
As in Republican women, the March for Life attracts many conservative women. Its meaning was more metaphorical and could explain why Democratic women are so much more successful in politics than their Republican counterparts. They are making noise. They are more strikers and more willing to go down the street, scream in protest, become agitators and activists. Obviously, it is time for Republican women to take off their shoes, put on their shoes and get down to work. But anyone who hopes for a gentler and gentler country may have to wait a bit.
Things will only get worse in 2020, Chamberlain predicts. Not only does Trump stand for reelection, which will excite the two political bases, but the president is not likely to offend his rhetoric, which will certainly address many hopes of female Democrats.
Democratic women, meanwhile, have light years ahead of the Republicans in terms of organizing, recruiting and fundraising, largely thanks to EMILY's List, the Political Action Committee founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1985 to elect women of choice. Malcolm's vision of supporting only pro-choice women was brilliant and resulted in a pro-choice imbalance on the right.
"I'm afraid that pro-choice Republican women have lost their voices on this issue," said Pearson.
Women in state offices tend to be more virulent about choice and other issues, says Chamberlain. "We have to get them out of the woods."
It could be argued that the increase in the number of Republican women in Congress would be beneficial for the country in terms of balance and diversity. What's needed, says Chamberlain, is "[Michael] Bloomberg kind of money. "
To this end, do some well-endowed benefactors surely have the vision to understand the value of providing financial support for such a cause? Men, bless their hearts, have held the reins of power long enough.
What about philanthropists? Save a dime – or $ 100 million?
The email address of Kathleen Parker is [email protected].
© 2018, Washington Post Writers Group
[ad_2]
Source link
