Delaware Liberal

The Incredible Shrinking Republican Woman

Seems like a no-brainer to me, especially given what you see on display at nearly every Republican event/press conference/news show.  Lot’s of old white guys.  Where are the Republican women?

Of course, there are fewer Republicans than Democrats of either gender in the two houses. But even on a percentage basis, Republicans suffer a gender gap. Twenty-two percent of House Democrats are women, but only 9.5 percent of House Republicans are. In the Senate, nearly 23 percent of the Democrats are women, but only 10 percent of the Republicans are.

Granted, women from both parties have a long way to go.  That said, it does appear that one party is moving in the wrong direction (ya think?) and it just might end up costing them more votes.

But the imbalance seems to be getting worse. While the Republicans had Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on their presidential ticket in 2008, Democratic women far outnumbered Republican women as general-election candidates for the House in November. There were 96 Democratic women on the ballot — but only 37 Republican women.

In 2006, 70 percent of the women competing in major party primaries were Democrats, according to Laurel Elder, an associate political science professor and gender expert at Hartwick College in New York. And, she says, only five Republican women have chaired congressional committees since 1995. Democratic women currently hold four chairmanships in the Senate and three more in the House — plus the speaker’s gavel, in the hands of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). In addition, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) chairs the Joint Economic Committee.

Read the entire article.  My favorite excuse for Republican women not running…

While Palin provided a high-profile role model for Republican women thinking of running for office, her experience was a double-edged sword. Lawmakers say the rough treatment Palin received showcased the nastiness of modern campaigns and underscored the notion that women are susceptible to the charge that they’ve been picked to run because they’re a good demographic fit — and not because they’re the most qualified.

Never mind that Sarah Palin wasn’t remotely qualified or that she was only chosen because she was a woman.  Keep acting as if Hillary Clinton and all the Republican nastiness thrown her way never existed.  By all means, keep pretending… until 2010, and beyond.

Truth is, Republicans are losing everyone.  Their female problems are just one of many, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they succeed on driving Snowe and Collins out by the end of the year.  Eventually there comes a time to stop blaming everyone else for leaving you and look in a mirror.

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