As noted very recently on MSNBC earlier, Maureen Dowd is starting to touch on the fact that the GOP is crying sexism over questions regarding Gov. Palin. You can read some conservative blogs (a couple articles are still on some front pages as I type) to get an idea of how it is that they're going about picking up the misogyny hammer.
Apologies for the short diary, but I don't see this point being made as forcefully as we can make it...
If the GOP want to charge sexism on the statements that the so-called "angry left" and the media has made in regards to Gov. Palin, that's a game we can play and win. Furthermore, and most importantly, this is a verbal sparring match that, if played correctly, can do justice to millions of women in this country.
There must be a line drawn in the sand in this regard. There have been remarks made by a great many people, top down--be it from a political figures, media, bloggers, diarists, commenters, what have you, which have revealed, at minimum, a passive sexism still alive in our culture. And in some manner, some individuals have demonstrated a more overt, active sexism over the course of this election cycle. But I feel that we must stand and make a point about this: People say stupid things. In the heat of the moment, everyone has said things that should bring shame on one side and regret on the other.
But its where you stand that matters.
If you're accused of sexism, you should fight back. If you're accused of sexism, tell them that you believe that a woman's reproductive rights should not be curtailed. If you're accused of sexism, tell them that you believe in equal pay for equal work. If you're accused of sexism, tell them how you feel about sexual harassment in the workplace and society, about violence against women (domestic and otherwise), about rape and shield laws, about human trafficking and how women are used as slaves day-in and day-out all over the world, about giving a hand to single mothers in poverty, about loving and caring for our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters and respecting those who we don't know personally through policy that matters. If you're accused of sexism, remind them of where you stand.
Then ask them where they stand.
And remind them if they're not willing to answer.