Workshop urges women to throw hats in the ring (Ne)

[Omaha Steve]

Published Sunday
October 16, 2005

Workshop urges women to throw hats in the ring

BY ROBYNN TYSVER


WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

MAHONEY STATE PARK, Neb. - Kellie Hall took a long time to answer Saturday when asked whether the country was ready for a female president.

The 28-year-old Omahan, who plans one day to run for public office, finds the question a little strange.

"I think, why not! Why can't a woman be president?" Hall said. "Whether it's my age or upbringing, that's never in my thinking, assuming someone couldn't be something because of gender or whatever."

Full story here: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2045333

[acmavm]

1. Nebraska is a very backword place politically. You know as well as I

do the chauvanistic attitude here and the way women are looked down politically. I don't mean in all areas. Political organizations that are seen as being fit for a woman, such as the school board (although not the top spot of course) are always open to women. Charitable organizations are another 'appropriate' spot for women. But not government. We have had so few women in this state who even try to get elected, and I think that's partly because they rarely succeed. And the campaigns are sort of slanted to infer that women aren't quite smart/strong/worthy of high political office in this state.

The women who do get elected to office have a hard time and have to withstand a lot of condescending and demeaning from their opponents. And it's hard to even be taken seriously because the political parties here are so male dominated.

I think, truly, that women should become more involved. But they are going to have to understand that politics in this state doesn't have a glass ceiling, it has a concrete and steel ceiling. And if your name does make it on the ballot, you are going to have to put up with a lot of hooey that the male candidates don't. Ask Anne Boyle. I'm sure that she'd say to make it here in Old McDonald Land you have to be tough, strong, and ready, willing, and able to take a beating as well as give one.

This is a state that turned its back on its solidly democratic history and went republican simply because of the civil rights and the equal rights acts. This is a state that thinks Tom Osborne is a political genius. This is a state who thinks that they have a democratic senator.

[TheFarseer]

2. So how do you explain

Kay Orr and Helen Boosalis(sp?) in that governors race? Seriously, how the hell did that happen?

[Rainbowreflect]

3. I remember how cool that was, even though I could not stand

Orr. Nebraska was the first state with 2 women running against each other for Governor!
I really don't find sexism to be a major problem in Nebraska compared to other issues.

[progressoid]

4. I don't think that is just a NE problem.

I think most of the country is facing this. It may be a little more blatant here but I think the happens coast to coast.

[Nebraska_Liberal]

5. Personally...

I would rather not see a woman as the next president if that woman is Hilary Clinton or Condi Rice...