Behind every man is a good women,who is better choice for First Lady?

[luvmk]

I prefer Laura Bush.

I can't figure out why people(men and women) can't voice their opinions with some tact. Just because you(general you) have strong feelings about something doesn't mean that you have to alienate people to get your point across. If your personality repels people, chances are they will tune out what you are trying to say. I strongly believe that people should stand by their principles, I just think it can be done in a tactful, respectful way.


Rachel

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by septbride2002
It's an expression - I don't think we need to personally attack the OP because she used an expression in her title. You are looking for a fight that isn't there.

~Amanda

Nope, not looking for a fight. Just pointed out what bothered me. I'm one of those old feminists from the 60s. The way things are stated does matter to me. I feel women have been held down and held back in so many ways over time and the way we are referred to is one of them.

And believe me THAT wasn't an attack..........

 

[septbride2002]

I can't figure out why people(men and women) can't voice their opinions with some tact. Just because you(general you) have strong feelings about something doesn't mean that you have to alienate people to get your point across. If your personality repels people, chances are they will tune out what you are trying to say. I strongly believe that people should stand by their principles, I just think it can be done in a tactful, respectful way.

I agree. However I seriously cannot remember a time when Laura Bush ever shared her opinion about anything. Please someone post some links or something because I would love to read them!

~Amanda

 

[disney4us2002]

I like Laura Bush.

I'm curious about something and maybe someone more up on "women's lib" can answer this. I've heard lots of people imply or state that the whole "stand by your man" is disgusting, anti-feminist, etc. yet it seemed I was the only one who felt Hillary Clinton should have left Bill. I don't get it. I would have a difficult time trusting my dh ever again if he cheated on me but I don't necessarily think divorce is always the answer, but if it were just between the two of us we could probably go to counseling, etc. and be okay maybe (?). If my dh did something as outlandish as what BC did and the entire country knew, read every detail, and then refused to own up and thus blew the matter further out of proportion, I don't think I'd be able to get past it. This is not an attempt to villify Clinton as everyone already has an opinion good or bad about that but I'm really curious as to how a feminist, a strong-willed and opinionated woman, could rise above it all and continue the marriage. My husband & I don't agee on this issue, let me just add. He thought what Clinton did was about Clinton and I thought it was a slap to his wife. I'm not certain men (and maybe other women) see this as I do. I would've been humiliated but my husband insists it had nothing to do with Hillary and all to do with Clinton himself.

I think there is still a long way to go before the general mindset changes. Men are forceful, women are *****y (rhymes with witchy). I don't think it's right, but I believe that is still the generally-held opinion.

 

[Patty3]

Another Laura Bush fan, Theresa Heinz-Kerry is like a loose cannon.

 

[Maleficent13]

My personal opinion as to why Hilary didn't leave Bill is because I think she's madly in love with him and sometimes personal issues override social ones. JMO, no proof to back it up.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
My personal opinion as to why Hilary didn't leave Bill is because I think she's madly in love with him and sometimes personal issues override social ones. JMO, no proof to back it up.

My feeling as well.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Carla, I think Hillary should have left Bill too.

But I guess, I'm not in her shoes, so I don't know. It has to be hard when the whole world is watching.

I think the whole issue of the phrase Behind Every good man is a good woman is kind of silly. It's just an expression, and one that is , IMO, more insulting to men than too women. It's like saying no man could succeed unless he has a woman there to back him up.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
Ummmmmmmmmm, its the "BEHIND every man" bit I have the most trouble with..............

Oh I didn't take it that way at all. I don't think it is meant to say that she walks a couple steps behind him and nods in agreement always.

I always took that saying to mean that the wife has a huge role in her husband's success. I mean, Maria Shriver is behind her man, but I certainly don't get the impression that she is subservient to him. In fact she is far from it. Maria has her own ideas and political persuasion. She just seems to be more tactful in getting her opinions out there than Heinz-Kerry, while at the same time supporting her husband in his endeavors which are important to him, as I am sure he was supportive and "stood behind" his wife when she was a power player in the media industry.

I remember the great quote from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" where the mother said to her daughter, "The father may be the head of the household, but the mother is the neck and she can turn the head any way she wants." (Or something close to that, I can't remember exactly.) IMO, wives of powerful men have a lot more influence than we think, even if they sit back and smile and keep quiet on the surface. Behind closed doors may be an entirely different story.

 

[UncleKyle]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
My personal opinion as to why Hilary didn't leave Bill is because I think she's madly in love with him and sometimes personal issues override social ones. JMO, no proof to back it up.

I think it's more along the lines that she needed him to help her run for Senator and someday president. He was her meal ticket. I've never seen love between those two, it's more of a marriage of convenance.

 

[Nancy]

I like Laura over Teresa. I just think Laura is a good First Lady.

and I agree with the poster that made the comment about Bill and Hillary. I think Hillary should have dumped him and fast. I didn't think it would happen while he was still in office, but I thought she would do it as soon as they were out of the white house. Then she decided to run for office and probably felt being divorced would be held against her (don't know why though). She must be a very strong person with a great deal of forgiveness.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Since Laura Bush has stated publicly that she does not support "Stem Cell Research" (or limited support for it), I support Mrs. Heinz-Kerry.

True she is outspoken, a bit rash, but I prefer someone like that than someone who hasn't made good use of her position as First Lady.

Honestly I do not know what she has done for our country in the 4 years she has been there but stay in the shadows. In fact, I will go so far as to say she has been the most "hidden" first lady I can recall.

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by TnKrBeLlA012
Well until we have a women as a President,how is this title saying anything that sounds outdated or 50's???? Why can't this be a simple question on a First Lady choice? Does everything have hidden messages? Does this mean this is demeaning to women? Is the title First Lady innappropriate? You know I am a women,but I don't need constant validation of it. The one thing that drives me nuts are women who have to show they are just as tough as men, and their on a mission to prove this. Please just answer the question,don't make a debate out of the topic,it's just a simple question!!!!!!!

OK. Since I didn't see this posted as a poll, I thought it was a discussion on the topic and not just a simple choice of one or the other. And, since it was on the subject of First Ladies, I took it as a thread that was open to debate.

I guess I ruffled some feathers. I'll apologize for my original tone. I really don't want to attack anyone personally. But I won't apologize for my position. I am a feminist; so I guess that puts me in the camp of women that drive you nuts. I certainly don't feel as though I have to be as "tough" as a man. I'm really just looking for respect and equality. And the thing that drives me nuts is that the majority of the confrontations I have over these ideas aren't with men but with other women.

I'm hoping that my daughters will have the same opportunities open to them as my sons. So, yes, I guess I am on a mission. I continue to use my voice in public spaces as a tribute to those women on a mission who came before me and fought to give me that right. And the right to vote, a vote that I'll be casting for president, not first anybody.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by disney4us2002
This is not an attempt to villify Clinton as everyone already has an opinion good or bad about that but I'm really curious as to how a feminist, a strong-willed and opinionated woman, could rise above it all and continue the marriage.

I always wondered the same thing. I'm more traditionalist than feminist, but I thought her leaving him would have been a big gain for the feminists groups seeing as she was showing true independence by going at it alone.......w/o her man. And I believe she would have gotten support from most women traditionalist or feminist for getting out of that hurtful relationship. I think the whole nation would have backed her. It was actually a bit disappointing for the women in my circles that she didn't stand up for herself.

But as EsmereldaX said, I can't begin to understand why she made the choices she did. Maybe she thought being married to him would catapult her to her great political goals, or maybe she was just head over heals in love w/ him and was going to give him yet another chance. Nobody will know unless she tells us.

 

[shortbun]

Laura COULD be a good first lady but I think she has failed
to present the woman's agenda to her husband in an understandable light. I think she is a very nice but ineffective
woman. Her personal contribution has been so small and in
this day and age, we need a more active first lady like Eleanor
Roosevelt, Nancy Reagan or Hillary Clinton. These days, woman
are capable of so much and Laura has done little. She's old fashioned. Well behaved women rarely make history.

Terese Heinz Kerry is a go getter and will accomplish much.
We don't have to like her presentation, it's the end result.
Why would standards be different for a man and a woman.
Dick Cheney is "great" because he speaks his mind and
THK abrasive for saying something MUCH less offensive.

I vote Terese Heinz Kerry and it has no bearing on their
spouses.

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by UncleKyle
I think it's more along the lines that she needed him to help her run for Senator and someday president. He was her meal ticket. I've never seen love between those two, it's more of a marriage of convenance.

I have always thought of Bill and Hilary as two very separate people. I don't think she needed him to help her run for Senator. He may be an asset in a Presidential campaign, but I think Hilary has enough of her own personality that people are going to realize Bill has very little "control" over her and therefore not much say if he became "First Gentleman".

 

[ILUVDXL]

My Mother always told me, "Never discuss politics, it only leads to trouble." Guess this a prime expample of what she ment.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by The Mystery Machine
Since Laura Bush has stated publicly that she does not support "Stem Cell Research" (or limited support for it), I support Mrs. Heinz-Kerry.

True she is outspoken, a bit rash, but I prefer someone like that than someone who hasn't made good use of her position as First Lady.

Honestly I do not know what she has done for our country in the 4 years she has been there but stay in the shadows. In fact, I will go so far as to say she has been the most "hidden" first lady I can recall.

She also said that her DH is the first President to ever fund stem cell research federally. I think that it's at least a start, don't you? It is limited, but a lot of people think it's wrong so he must go slowly.

I think she has done a great deal for us. She has met and spoken w/ so many people to help us get thru the terrible tragedy of 9/11. I've seen her on the Today Show numerous times telling us what we can do to help our children cope w/ the loss of a loved one and to help them disperse their fears when seeing images of planes flying into bldgs. She is a caring and loving woman giving us the tools to get thru tragedy. She is very compassionate and helped a great deal.

 

[SpecialK]

I think Mrs. Bush recognizes the fact that she has not been elected to any office. She is very verbal when it comes to subjects about which she is passionate - literacy, education, family. Many people will denigrate her for those areas of interest because they are thought to be too traditionally female.

I, for one, admire her calm and strength. Why do we expect her to impose her opinions on her husband's job? Don't most spouses, husband and wives alike, keep their own counsel when dealing with their SO's business associates?

Re: Theresa Heinz Kerry, I think there is a difference between being "outspoken" and being over-bearing, aggressive and harsh. IMO, she is the latter.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by SpecialK

Re: Theresa Heinz Kerry, I think there is a difference between being "outspoken" and being over-bearing, aggressive and harsh. IMO, she is the latter.

Yep, she's a strong woman with opinions and an attitude. I wonder what you'd call a MAN who spoke as she does? I believe there's a double standard with sexism written all over it.