"Time for Ohio to have a Woman Senator" Ohio Dispatch (Good quote by Rep. Maloney in this!)

[Captain_Nemo]

"Ohioans have a rare opportunity to elect the state's first-ever woman to serve in the United States Senate. Now that Sen. George V. Voinovich is retiring, the jockeying in both parties has begun.
Two women with track records of statewide support and a history of good service to Ohio should be serious contenders to run for Senate in 2010. Republican state Auditor Mary Taylor has performed ably in her position, a job that is even more important during our current economic difficulties. She was also the only Republican to win in the Democratic tsunami of 2006. Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner can claim the exact same assets: highly competent, qualified, and a record of winning statewide.

Why should it matter to anyone if we have a woman representing Ohio in the U.S. Senate?

First, consider these statistics. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the United States ranks 69th in the world (out of 189 countries) in female representation in government. Of note are some of the countries ahead of us. Spain, the country that brought us the concept of machismo, ranks 10th, and Afghanistan and Iraq (28th and 35th, respectively), are far ahead of us. We are the champions of promoting freedom and equality, and we can't even muster a ranking higher than 69th?

A second set of statistics hits closer to home. The Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University ranks Ohio 34th out of 50 states for female representation in government. Although women represent more than 50 percent of the population in Ohio, they hold only 20.5 percent of the political offices. Colorado ranks first with 39 percent representation and South Carolina is last with 10 percent."

~snip~

"Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., notes in her book, Rumors Of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated, that since women make up only 16 percent of the House members, an extraordinary amount of time is wasted convincing male legislators of the merits of issues such as domestic violence, pay equity, sexual harassment and even children's health care. Maloney posits that if women achieve 30 percent representation, their time will be more effectively spent legislating on these issues instead of raising awareness and enlightenment."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/02/14/ruccia14.ART_ART_02-14-09_A8_73CSHFQ.html?sid=101

[billyoc]

1. Marcy Kaptur, maybe?

:shrug:

[Captain_Nemo]

3. I will look her up! THanks!

[Ikonoklast]

10. Correct answer!

If the rest of Ohio could persuade Toledo to let her go, I would love to vote for Marcy Kaptur for Senator.

I would like to see Brunner stay in Columbus to keep an eye on our election stealing Republics...Governor Brunner in a few years would be nice.

[Kolesar]

2. Brunner would get the endorsements if she ran for Sec'y of State again

She worked really hard for fair elections in 2007 and 2008. I think the Democrats owe her the nomination (and a huge campaign purse) if she wants to run for Senate.

[Berry Cool]

4. I would vote for her in a heartbeat.

If not for her, Ohio would not have gone for Obama. I am sure of it.

The more I think of it, the more I realize how crucial those "non-presidential" elections can be. 2006 was a watershed year for this state. We got Brunner in to clean up our elections in time to help elect Obama, and we elected Sherrod Brown, never dreaming that it would be his vote we'd so desperately need to pass a desperately needed financial stimulus package this year. But that's how it shook out, and despite all he had to do to provide it to us, he did it.

[Kolesar]

7. For the correct answer, you get a heart!

[Ceela]

5. Statistics

Here is a good place to look up the stats for your state.
http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/

Great article! Cynthia Ruccia surprised me with Ohio's statistics. I thought they would be much better than that.

Maloney has a good point. :( She should know the effects of women in office, or the lack thereof.

[madmom]

6. We have to be careful as far as Brunner is concerned because with

the census coming up the repugs want her OUT of her current job.

[Kolesar]

9. Jennifer Brunner stuck her neck out for us and for that she should be rewarded

She bothered to attend an "election protection" conference in Cleveland in mid-2006. It was sponsored by "all the usual Cleveland lefties", so credit her for reaching out to us.

You are correct, though, the party has had trouble recruiting candidates in the past.

[madmom]

15. Yes I know Jennifer Brunner is a GOOD democrat, I meant we can't afford to loose our dem sec of st.

[Thrill]

8. Tim Ryan wants it

[camera obscura]

11. I am a woman, BUT I would love to have Tim Ryan in the Senate (if he could be more pro-choice)

He is very progresive, voted against FISA, supported impeachment talks...

[Hippo_Tron]

13. As long as he supports Obama's judges I think it's okay

The Democrats are going to have an overwhelmingly pro-choice majority within the caucus and within the Senate whether Tim Ryan is there or not. Choice is an extremely important issue but not one that will be made or broken by replacing one anti-choice Republican with an anti-choice Democrat.

That said, the guy is like 33 or 34. If he gets to the US Senate at that age he's inevitably going to think about being President some day. In order to get the Democratic nomination you pretty much have to be pro-choice thus I wouldn't be surprised to see him change his views on the issue.

[msongs]

12. you can have dianne feinstein - she's a woman nt

[SemiCharmedQuark]

14. Obviously we need more women in government. However, if it comes down to a man who shares my views

or a woman who does not, I'm going to go with the man. That's where I disagree with The New Agenda.

[RollWithIt]

16. Personally I think it should just be the most qualified candidate....

I have a hard time saying, "It has to be a woman." I personally love Brunner but if Tim Ryan who is a rising star in the party, still in his mid 30s, on his third term in the House, and a possible future President were to run then I'd have to throw my full support behind him.

[mod mom]

17. FYI This is by the crazy woman who pushed for Dems to support McCain over Obam

and appeared on O'Reilly to say so (remember the PUMAs:

Cynthia Ruccia, 55, a sales director for Mary Kay cosmetics in Columbus, Ohio, is organizing a group, Clinton Supporters Count Too, of mostly women in swing states who plan to campaign against Mr. Obama in November.
-snip
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/us/politics/19women.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=politics


The sentiment is great, but as a woman, I would like to see the best PERSON for the job, just as I did for the presidency (which is why I voted Obama)

[sfbabe3]

18. Time for New Mexico too

While NM is 10th in having state legislators being female, we have had no female senators. We did have a female representative, Heather Wilson.
If Bill Richardson would vacate (maybe he'll be bagged on one of several pay for plays that are being investigated), we might have Diane Denish (now Lt Gov.) as Governor.
That would indeed be a nice thing to contemplate.

[Doctor_J]

19. Hopefully they don't mean Jean Schmidt

:puke: