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

[TnKrBeLlA012]

Originally posted by ThAnswr
Maybe the women are as tough as men and if they are, why should they hide it?

Btw, how can you possibly answer the question without explaining why?

The question was on who makes a better First Lady,not a debate on the wording of the post. That is great that women can be tough and they shouldn't have to hide it but if my husband is running a company,that is his job to be outspoken,tough ect... I as a partner (won't say wife) can help out but it's his job, he was elected ,not me. So if I go running around acting tough,saying what ever comes to mind,that makes me look a little crazy. If I'm elected then I'll say and do as I want.I don't tell my husband how to do his job. I respect what he does and to some degree stay out of it. If he needs me or asks for my opinion I'm there for him. That is the role of a First Lady. Someday a women will become president then we can debate on the qualities of the first man!

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I would respectfully disagree with you, jrydberg. While many of the "faces" of the media may lean more to the left than the right, many of the owners/upper managment do not.....and that's who has the final say in what gets on the air.

I actually don't even think of the media (as a whole--again, not individual personalities) as being political, because they generally aren't--it's business. And what sells is what airs--whether it leans to the left, to the right, or stands dead center. When it comes right down to it, THAT'S what matters--not the politics of the announcers, producers, or owners. And what most often sells is the sensational, whether it be true or not. Which is why I maintain that the "liberal media" is a myth--believe me, I know many here would place me firmly in the liberal camp, and I don't feel the media caters to my views in the least.

 

[Mermaid02]

Definately Laura Bush- Theresa Heinz-Kerry seems unstable to me.

 

[maleficent1959]

Originally posted by snarfer1
Good point. Ever think the left-wing media did not want to show the First Lady as she isn't a Democrat?

No. Soon after the election I clearly remember Laura Bush stating that she purposefully planned to be as low-key a First Lady as she could after the Clinton Administration. It's what she thought the American public wanted in a First Lady. I also remember her saying in a later interview that 9/11 made her take on a more visible role than she intended. So I guess by her own words her visibility, or lack thereof, is her decision.

From what I've seen of the two I like THK better.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by The Mystery Machine
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.

Thank you for responding to my questions.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by BedKnobbery2
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.

Nope. Actually, some of us are just very happy. No pent up negativity here.

 

[trampslady]

Without a doubt, Laura Bush. Heinz-Kerry has no class. And, yes, I mean class. Having class has nothing to do with being able to speak your mind or have an opinion. And, it certainly doesn't equate to submission. Someone with class knows how to get his/her view expressed with tact and grace--regardless of the subject matter.

When you want your child to try a new veggie do you gently persuade or cram it down their throat?

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by 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.

Well said.

 

[dizneenut]

Laura Bush

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by KrnB
I think that Laura Bush does a wonderful job remembering that she was not the one elected president.

I bet she tells GW exactly what she thinks about certain policies when they are in private, and that is the correct place to do it. That's where I tell my husband what I think about what he is doing wrong - not in front of other people.

As a wife, I stand behind my husband. And he stands behind me. We support each other - that's what marriage is supposed to be.

IMO, the job of the President's spouse is to support the President, not have his or her own agenda. That's true with a First Lady, and it will be true once we finally have a woman as President.

If Heinz-Kerry or Hillary have their own agendas, THEY should be the ones running for office. As much as I don't like Hillary, I think she is finally doing what she should have done all along - working on her own agenda as an elected official.

ITA.

 

[Peter Pirate]

Trampslady, using your definition I'd guess George W. Bush certainly has NO class. Is this right?

 

[disykat]

Originally posted by TnKrBeLlA012
but if my husband is running a company,that is his job to be outspoken,tough ect... I as a partner (won't say wife) can help out but it's his job, he was elected ,not me. So if I go running around acting tough,saying what ever comes to mind,that makes me look a little crazy. If I'm elected then I'll say and do as I want.I don't tell my husband how to do his job. I respect what he does and to some degree stay out of it. If he needs me or asks for my opinion I'm there for him. That is the role of a First Lady. Someday a women will become president then we can debate on the qualities of the first man!

ITA! While it is nice to see the First Lady play some role, I do not think the "first spouse" is really a political position - more of an honorary one. (In Hillary Clinton's case she took on more responsibility because she was assigned by the President to lead a task force, etc.) It's certainly not a requirement - since being married is not a requirement. It would be interesting to see a man as "first spouse', but it would also be very interested to see what happens when a single woman or man gets elected.

 

[jrydberg]

Originally posted by BedKnobbery2
I would respectfully disagree with you, jrydberg. While many of the "faces" of the media may lean more to the left than the right, many of the owners/upper managment do not.....and that's who has the final say in what gets on the air.

I actually don't even think of the media (as a whole--again, not individual personalities) as being political, because they generally aren't--it's business. And what sells is what airs--whether it leans to the left, to the right, or stands dead center. When it comes right down to it, THAT'S what matters--not the politics of the announcers, producers, or owners. And what most often sells is the sensational, whether it be true or not. Which is why I maintain that the "liberal media" is a myth--believe me, I know many here would place me firmly in the liberal camp, and I don't feel the media caters to my views in the least.

The "faces" of the media and the producers/editors/news directors/newsroom staff are the ones who are making content decisions on a daily basis, not management. Management stays out of those decisions as long as the bottom line looks good.

Anyway, don't want to hijack this into a discussion on the media (though I do appreciate the well thought out response). Just an issue that's close to me, having seen it all first hand.

 

[mikeymars]

O.K., take this as coming from a seasoned professional market researcher who currently runs that function for a Fortune 100 company. I talk to Gallup, Yankelovich, Roper et. al. daily, and the buzz I keep hearing from their political people (who are working for BOTH campaigns) is that a lot of focus groups have been held on this very subject nationwide, and the results tell you why the Bush campaign has Laura out compaigning like crazy.

Bottom line:

Teresa Heinz-Kerry has a TERRIBLE "Q" Factor.

That's media-ese for your measured general personal appeal. Or stated more bluntly, she doesn't "test" well. Most people -- particularly women -- are put off by her, or stated even more bluntly, every time she opens her mouth, Kerry loses votes.

Laura "tests" a LOT better, which is why the GOP wants her on the tube and in the papers as much as possible - so there is an ongoing regular comparsion being made between her and Teresa.

 

[Peter Pirate]

That's great and I don't dispute the results, but how many folks will be swayed by a potential first lady??? I can't believe anyone is really that silly.

 

[trampslady]

Peter Pirate-

I believe wholeheartedly that George W. Bush, Laura Bush, and even their dog, Barney, have more "class" than John Kerry or his off-balance wife could ever hope to have.


Tact and grace (according to me) don't just mean speaking with eloquence and using big words. President Bush may not be the best speaker in the word (by his own admission; imagine that--a President that can actually admit shortcomings) but he speaks from the heart and with true conviction in his beliefs. And, he doesn't scream like Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton, or Al Gore.

 

[Megan's Mom]

I like Laura Bush. She has shown that she is a good Southern lady. (Very polite and mildmanner in public. You don't do anything that might embarass the family name) I believe that she has intentally not be in the limelight because of the 2for the price of 1 Clintons. W has commented on many occasions what a comfort and rock she has been to him during many of the trying times of his Presidency. I believe that is the intended role of First Lady is to be there as a comfort and helpmate for their husbands.

 

[The Duchess]

You can't be serious. This has to be a rhetorical question.

 

[cati]

Lady Laura

 

[MinnieYC]

The First Lady is pretty much irrevelant to me. I've never paid attention to it. I'm not for or against either Laura Bush or Teresa Heinz Kerry.