Does being pregnant mean one should not be a member of Congress?

[malta blue]

I don't have a link, but this is a letter that appeared in the Post-Star of Glens Falls, NY:
***************************************************************************************
Editor:
Regarding a story that appeared in

The Post-Star on Dec. 6: "Rep. Gillibrand announces she is pregnant."

First of all, I must admit that I am a male chauvinist and that there are, thankfully, differences between men and women. There are many occupations suitable for women and their physical attributes. Carrying a weapon while serving in the Armed Forces and firefighting are not suitable lines of work for women to prove that they are physically equal to men. How many male police officers feel comfortable with a 100 pound female backup?

And now, I have to add serving in the U.S. House and Senate as an occupation that may not be suitable for women.

Ms. Gillibrand's current pregnancy makes a strong case for my opinion. Ms. Gillibrand was elected to serve her constituency, and while she is away from her elected office she cannot perform those duties. The taxpayers who were duped into voting for her will have to pay for her medical benefits. Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer, Ms. Gillibrand receives excellent health benefits, courtesy of her constituents. We will be without representation in Congress for a time leading up to and following the child's birth. There will be times when she and the new baby will visit doctors. You can add those days to the total that she will not be serving her constituents.

The current base salary (2006) for members of the House and Senate is $165,200 per year. I wonder if Ms. Gillibrand will do the right thing and reimburse the U.S. Treasury in the amount of $452.60, her daily salary, for each day that she is unable to perform her elected duties. For some reason, I doubt it.

RON XXXX
Queensbury
************************************************************************************
:puke::puke:

What the hell is wrong with people? So now women should not be allowed to serve in Congress if they are of child-bearing age?
:wtf:

[Ilsa]

1. I guess women who have to see the doctor need to reimburse their

employer as well for the time spent away?

Ron is a thoughtless pig.

[malta blue]

4. Perhaps all members of

congress should be sterilized :sarcasm:

[trotsky]

2. And just how well were Stormin' Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms serving their constituents?

Their senility and incapacity lasted for YEARS, not weeks, but is this asshole whining about that?

[malta blue]

7. nor is he whining

about Cheney's "pre-existing" heart condition...

[WinkyDink]

3. I wonder what Bushco could offer families of dead/maimed soldiers as "reimbursement".

I'd say a pregnant woman is far more able to serve American interests.

[malta blue]

5. Un-freaking-real

I would love to find this guy in a dark alley...

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. Women belong in the house

And the Senate, and the Supreme Court and (why not?) the White House as well. Should we disqualify men from such positions because they might get an erection?

[malta blue]

11. ...

:spray:

Thanks :rofl:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. I bet Ron either lives in his mom's basement.........

.....or gets the shit kicked out of him every night by his wife "Olga".

STFU, dickweed.

[malta blue]

13. I really want to go confront him on this one....

This is so disgusting.

[Donnachaidh]

9. Wonder how many truffles this nut managed to find on his own for Christmas?

I'd personally LOVE a close look into his background. :puke:

[malta blue]

16. I am so close to looking him up in the phonebook

and going to picket his house...

[LiberalFighter]

26. Check this out

Ron and his wife
According to the article he retired while in his mid 50's.
He was in the Army in 1966.
He might be 61.


From Google it appears that he is getting a lot of static about his letter in the Post and other newspapers. Most likely, he has received phone calls and possibly been berated by his fellow citizens in Queensbury. His wife might be embarrassed by it too.

[malta blue]

28. Oh YEAH - his email is there too.

You are a star LiberalFighter!

[Buzz Clik]

10. This was a LTTE? Enough said.

[Benhurst]

12. How can this possibly be an issue? Most working American women

have no choice but to stay on the job during their pregnancies. Is she planning to take a long maternity leave? God knows Congress has set up first-rate day schools with infant care for their children -- nothing but the best for our "leaders." She'll face few of the difficulties most American mothers have to deal with, plus have a nice fat salary and lavish perks as well.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. It's Only An Issue In Ron's Tiny Mind

Hence, you are correct.
The Professor

[LiberalFighter]

15. If this was a LTTE then the name should not had been deleted

Any letter writer accepts their name to be made public.

[malta blue]

17. I took his name out - his full name appears in

the paper. I was not sure if I could put his name on there...

[LiberalFighter]

21. Post a link to the letter as I just did below

Letters 12/20

[Donnachaidh]

34. and then go to zabasearch.

http://www.zabasearch.com

:evilgrin:

[Didereaux]

18. If their name is Spears, the answer to the subject line is YES!

[LiberalFighter]

19. Here is someone's response the the LTTE

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/12/27/opinion/letters/13204603.txt

Editor:

I was appalled that you published Mr. Blachut's sexist letter Dec. 20 concerning Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand's pregnancy and that he thinks this makes her "not suitable" for Congress.

Shall we require all public servants to be sterilized? Shall we test male congressmen for diseases which could make them miss work to go to a doctor's appointment? Bar diabetics from public office?

Vice President Cheney seems to miss a lot of work due to his health problems, but I don't see Mr. Blachut complaining about his taxpayer money going to fund Cheney's health insurance.

I think the self-admitted male chauvinist, Mr. Blachut, is living in the past. It is against the law for an employer to fire an employee for being pregnant, and it has been since 1964.

I think we should be proud that Representative Gillibrand is the sixth woman in U.S. history to be both a congresswoman and expecting a baby.

ENID MASTRIANNI

Glens Falls

[malta blue]

22. Yes, I was sent that letter by a friend who knows this

respondent since he knew I was crazed by the original LTTE.

Thanks for the link.

[undeterred]

20. Being a Republican white male should make one ineligible IMHO

They do too much damage to the country.

[Bitwit1234]

23. Crooks and Liars had a big piece on it.

And I guess the macho men of this world are all repeating Huckabee's statement that women should submit to their husbands. And I suppose they should all wear, veils, burkas, and walk ten paces behind.

[malta blue]

24. Great - I missed it when it was originally published

since I don't usually read the paper. A friend sent it to me knowing that I would be interested.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

25. And what about the Senator who was out with brain surgery?

This idiot doesn't seem to have a problem with that situation!

The man in question was out for months, and recently went back to work...

Full salary, and benefits...

And that was entirely appropriate, IMHO, too...

The male chauvinist letter-writer is living in the far-distant, dark, and horrifying past...

:grr:

[malta blue]

29. Ah yes Peggy -

I suppose since the senator was a man, it was just peachy for him to receive benefits.
:sarcasm:

[spinbaby]

32. And let's not forget Strom

Strom Thurmond in his last years had no idea what was going on. He lived in a hospital and they rolled him out for votes.

[DinahMoeHum]

27. Fuck "Ron" - he's probably a disaffected Repuke.

n/t

[China_cat]

30. There's still a lot who think a woman shouldn't be seen in public

if she's pregnant.

[Nailzberg]

31. I don't mind that she's preggers, but she can't bring the baby to work.

The Constitution limits the House to 435 whining babies.

[alarimer]

33. Idiot.

There are plenty of people in Congress who become ill from one thing or another. Does this idiot feel they should resign? After all chemo treatments take time away from constituents.

This is just sexist drivel.

[Le Taz Hot]

35. I'm assuming RonXXX

will never be pregnant and has single-handedly managed to prove that pregnancy is not a prerequisite for stupidity. :eyes:

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

36. Depends.

If she gets something like hyperemesis gravidarum she should probably be treated as if she was in a coma..

[GreenPartyVoter]

37. Ummmm What about all the campaiging Reps and Senators who aren't doing

their job in their offices?

Actually, I'd rather keep the pregnant ones and ditch the campaigners. I bet they would get a lot more done that way.