Nicole Johnson wonders what’s at stake when politicians pander to female voters.
What’s in vogue this campaign season? A perennial political tactic: the flagrant pandering to women. Republicans and Democrats are literally begging for the female vote, while using every possible angle, including the Augusta National Golf Club.
If you need proof, take a look at the recent headlines:
There is one thing that is worse than a sycophant, and that’s a pandering politician. The recent sucking-up to female voters from the right and the left is nauseating, and the use of Augusta National as a political pawn is equally disgusting. I find it interesting that male politicians vociferously jump on the pro-women band wagon every campaign season. Where are they year-round?
I’m not surprised to see Republicans and Democrats using the controversy surrounding Augusta National’s membership policy to fuel their campaigns. Yet I highly doubt President Obama and Mitt Romney are losing sleep over the fact that women are not invited to become members at Augusta. The last time I checked, neither politician regularly enjoys golf outings with female colleagues to bond over the fairway and strategize about their parties’ policies. Gentlemen, if you’re going to talk the talk, please starting walking the walk.
Here’s a hypothetical: if Oprah Winfrey opened an Augusta-style women’s-only elite club shrouded in secrecy, would President Obama and Mitt Romney lobby for male membership? Would Oprah be bombarded with questions from the press regarding her gender policy, or the fact that men can play on the course if invited by a member but cannot become members themselves? I didn’t think so.
Hypothetically speaking, if I had the money to become a member at Oprah’s all-women’s golf club, I would gladly join. Would I beg Oprah to grant my husband membership? Not a chance. As much as I love my husband, I cherish female bonding time. In fact, men and women (of every age and demographic) have always enjoyed time spent connecting and relating to their own gender. For example: the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the Bohemian Grove, the Belizean Grove, etc.
Politicians have become deft at glomming on to the cause du jour. Case in point, John McCain’s tweet pertaining to the current politicization of Augusta: “Don’t you think it’s time Augusta National joined the 21st century—or the 20th—and allowed women members?” Seriously, Senator, Twitter? This is the best you could do? Your plea via social media is unimpressive. If you want to impress me, start drafting legislation that would be more practical than your McCain-Feingold Bill. (Thanks for enabling the genesis of Super PACs, Senator…)
Newsflash to every politician on the stump: Americans can sense the true motives behind your tepid, (fleeting) opportunistic rhetoric. Elections are not won on pop politics and sycophantic speeches. Start addressing the substantive issues, and stop fueling a media-induced gender war. I know it’s difficult to avoid the temptation of photo-ops, scripted podium moments, and heartwarming handshakes, but spare us. We’re smarter than you give us credit for; we deserve better.
Men and women who have sons and daughters in Iraq or Afghanistan are not moved by media-fueled gender wars, they are more concerned with real wars. Female membership at Augusta National is not part of their voting concerns. Men and women who are out of work and can’t afford to fill up their gas tanks are not thinking about elite, invitation-only golf clubs. Politicians are best served talking about issues that are crucial to our country’s survival.
Gentlemen, during this political season (and beyond) please stop blatantly pandering to women and engaging in bandwagon politics. I encourage you to focus your energies on fixing the economy, and restoring the trust that Americans once had in elected officials. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m fairly certain most men and women are tired of the political Dog and Pony Show routine.