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

[CBRorBust]

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 agree with this whole statement. If Hillary is as strong as she says she is or wants us to believe she is, then I don't understand why she is still with the man that ran their marriage through the mud. I'd be willing to bet money that they don't have a "real" marriage since the affair, and that it is mostly show at this point.

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.

This is one of the reasons why I am not a fan of Heinz-Kerry or Hillary. I think that yes, they have the opportunity to get things done in office, but I think we only need 1 president at a time!

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.

I agree, except that I believe this is true for any person not just a woman, First lady, etc.


Backing away with my flame suit on!

 

[UncleKyle]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
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.

Another reason I wake up every morning and thank God I'm a man. I love double standards. And not having a glass ceiling!!!!

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
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.

If a man told me to "shove it" or called me an "idiot" because I didn't agree with his latest idea, I'd call him a *******, quite frankly.

 

[LauraR]

Another vote for Laura Bush (so to speak). Laura seems like someone I'd want to be friends with. I'm voting for Kerry, and I consider myself a feminist, but Ter-ay-za(that's how she tells people to pronounce her name) strikes me as arrogant and abrasive. She's one of those rich people who's used to calling the shots, and it shows. Also, she kept her first husband's last name even after she married Kerry (until very recently), which I thought was weird. I can see keeping your own name (I did), but it seems insulting to her current husband to hang onto her previous husband's name. I like what Ter-ay-za does with her money, though.

And BTW, I don't agree with the attitude of "if a man did it we'd think it was great," as an excuse for women to be aggressive and obnoxious, too. Bad behavior is bad behavior. Not that I consider Teresa totally obnoxious.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by Disney Enthusiast
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.

Yes I agree that 9-11 changed the direction she probably was going to go. Good way to look at it.

As far as the stem cell research, I do not agree.

 

[jrydberg]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
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.

Nope, I don't think it's a double standard at all. Teresa Heinz-Kerry is a bit on the obnoxious side. So is Zell Miller ( I happen to agree with Miller on a lot of issues, but he's rather onboxious about it).

Margaret Thatcher is a woman of strong opinions who expresses them with dignity. So was Ronald Reagan. Doesn't matter whether they be male or female. How they behave matters a great deal.

 

[SpecialK]

No double standard here. If we were discussing a man who had expressed himself in the same manner that Mrs. Kerry has, I would have the same opinion. Rude is rude.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by SpecialK
No double standard here. If we were discussing a man who had expressed himself in the same manner that Mrs. Kerry has, I would have the same opinion. Rude is rude.

Did you feel Dick Cheney was "being over-bearing, aggressive and harsh" when he dropped the F bomb to a Senator in the US Capitol? Or, do you feel it's okay since he's a MAN?

 

[Pete's Mom]

So because Laura Bush does not attack or disagree with her husband's policies publically she is a wimp? How do you know that she doesn't give him hell behind closed doors?

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I prefer Theresa. I feel like I've learned more about her after a few short months in the public limelight than I've learned about Laura Bush in the 4 years she's been First Lady. As someone else mentioned, I can't recall a less visible First Lady in recent history. Theresa strikes me as more "real". Yes, she is forthright and can be abrasive, but so can most of the people I know at one point or another. I, personally, find people who are always polite and smiling to be a little creepy. I always suspect there is a lot of pent-up negativity.

 

[KathyTX]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
Did you feel Dick Cheney was "being over-bearing, aggressive and harsh" when he dropped the F bomb to a Senator in the US Capitol? Or, do you feel it's okay since he's a MAN?

It's all about context.

Speaking harshly and strongly when it helps to convey the message can be appropriate, as was Cheney's outburst.

A woman could use the same harsh language in an appropriate situation and it be okay.

But Heinz-Kerry is simply crude and embarrassing, with outbursts that don't fit the situations and a seeming lack of good judgement.

 

[jrydberg]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
Did you feel Dick Cheney was "being over-bearing, aggressive and harsh" when he dropped the F bomb to a Senator in the US Capitol? Or, do you feel it's okay since he's a MAN?

It was rude.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

My answer would be it depends on how you want the role of First Lady defined. If you are simply talking somebody to put on a nice dress, serve tea to the Emporess of Japan, and attend State Dinners --- well then I really don't care. Either woman can do that perfectly well.

If you want somebody to spend four years as an unpaid employee of the United States government, giving speeches and working to promote interest in social causes and gain support,

I would say Theresa Heinz Kerry, only because in four years Laura Bush has done very little of any of those things.

 

[rcyannacci]

My second apologies to the OP- I remembered that I, indeed, never answered your first question.

I have nothing negative to say about Laura Bush, but I will put in a word of support for Teresa Heinz-Kerry.

I see this woman as someone who went through a horrible tragedy with the death of her first husband and came out the other side a stronger person. That she didn't change her name until recently is, I think, a nice tribute to him.

From personal experience, I've found that going though a tragedy of such magnitude really alters your perspective. You have less time for niceties, politeness at all costs, etc. and spend your energies toward supporting your familiy and forwarding your own goals. I find in Mrs. Heinz-Kerry a refreshing strength and honesty. But in the current political climate, I admit that this behavior could well be a liability.

 

[LauraR]

Another vote for Laura Bush (so to speak). Laura seems like someone I'd want to be friends with. I'm voting for Kerry, and I consider myself a feminist, but Ter-ay-za(that's how she tells people to pronounce her name) strikes me as arrogant and abrasive. She's one of those rich people who's used to calling the shots, and it shows. Also, she kept her first husband's last name even after she married Kerry (until very recently), which I thought was weird. I can see keeping your own name (I did), but it seems insulting to her current husband to hang onto her previous husband's name. I like what Ter-ay-za does with her money, though.

And BTW, I don't agree with the attitude of "if a man did it we'd think it was great," as an excuse for women to be aggressive and obnoxious, too. Bad behavior is bad behavior. Not that I consider Teresa totally obnoxious.

 

[disykat]

I prefer both men and women to be polite - I really don't think I differentiate.

I have to comment about being "behind" someone. I absolutely think that Hillary Clinton was "behind her man" even though she was an independant woman and that she probably stood by him because he showed willingness to also be "behind her". The phrase being " behind" is supposed to mean support as in "catch them when they fall", "hold them up when they need extra support", etc. - things you can't do when you are standing beside someone. I think every good relationship has times when you "stand by", and times when you are "behind" (as in backing them up), your spouse - male or female makes no difference.

So if I ever say "I'm behind you 100%", I hope you'll take it to mean you have my full support - not that I will always be submissive to you!

PS - I vote Laura Bush too. I think her literacy programs have been far more succesful than the much more notorious health care reform of Hillary Clinton. Just because a first lady isn't on the news every night doesn't mean she isn't succesful IMO.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

"Stand by your man" wasn't that an old country song? Well anyway, I would say Teresa. She is tough and quirky, and I like that.

I do think that women get picked apart and scrutinized more harshly then men do. I believe that double standard still exists, unfortunately.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by minniepumpernickel
"Stand by your man" wasn't that an old country song? Well anyway, I would say Teresa. She is tough and quirky, and I like that.

I do think that women get picked apart and scrutinized more harshly then men do. I believe that double standard still exists, unfortunately.

I really feel for the daughters, of the Bush and Kerry and Clinton family. The press likes to pick them apart too.

 

[Rippington'sFan]

Laura Bush hands down. She has class compared to the other choice. Sorry but can you imagine Heinz as the 1st lady? It gives me the chills just thinking about it. Yikes!

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
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..........

Old feminist from the 60s...........ditto and nice to meet you.