Ugly Elections and the Women Who Suffer

Election time again.  Two men fighting like children over a big white house and the power to rule the free world.  It is enough to make you all warm and fuzzy inside.

And then there are the women who love them.

They look to me to be both some fabulous ladies, who have however lived somewhat different lives and made a few different choices.  But they are both women and they are both mothers and they are both trying to make the world a better place. 

But of course, the media or politicians or maybe even other women have a way of making this ugly.  Oh yes, Michelle's speech was smarter (by a landslide) than Ann Romney's.  And of course there were the comments early on that Ann never worked a day in her life (despite raising her five boys).  I can only assume that others have made pot shots at the first lady because she has a career AND children (despite the fact that they all seem pretty happy).  No time like election time to call women stupid or selfish or anything else we can think of in order to push an agenda.

Let's of course forget that politicians and others often have their speeches written FOR them.

Let's forget that the wives of politicians are pretty much obligated to say nice things about their husbands in public even if they are committing fraud or skirting around town (not that either of these lovely men are doing that).

And of course let's forget that we are talking about POLITICS- that special island where it is OK to trash on, hate, dis, make up stuff, forget other stuff, and basically do whatever you possibly can in order to get elected. 

We should forget all that.  Instead we should pit woman against woman, we should criticize however we can and we should be mean and hateful.   Because of course, it is politics, so it must be worth it. 

It makes my little heart just a tiny bit sad to see how often the cruelest ones in these "debates" are women.  Yes, women criticizing other women because they don't like the policies or opinions or "track record" of their husbands. 

Well I have news for you ladies.  (And it isn't good.) 

You have been sold down the river.  You are a PAWN in a game much bigger than yourself.  Yes, if you have taken the time to bash on Ann for "not working" or Michelle for being a lawyer or if you have said Ann is as smart as a fifth grader or Michelle spends too much on her clothes then you are playing right into their game.  The politicians game.  

This is a game they play with us and we shouldn't play it.  They look for the hottest subjects, the most divisive issues that make women hate each other and they highlight them in order to GET VOTES.  They don't care about me or you or our rights or our ability to make choices - on EITHER SIDE.  They make money and they get paid and they get ELECTED when they turn people on each other.  They are very good at it and they are very good at doing it with women. 

I think it is kind of pathetic.  Kind of pathetic that we have bought it, every last line- and we believe it.  We should be ashamed of ourselves for letting any of this be even remotely about how smart this or that woman is.  We should never let the game of politics be about turning working mothers on stay-at-home mothers.  It might be subtle, but that is EXACTLY what they are doing. 

Let it be about politics and issues and the people who think they can change things.  But we don't have to turn on each other.  You can be a woman and vote Democratic or Republican.  You can even be a feminist and vote for either party.  But we don't have to let this game (which let's be real for a minute- is mostly a MAN'S game) turn us on each other.  We don't have to let them use us to further their agenda or fuel their votes.

Lame.  That is all.