Before I get into the meat of the diary, you really need to check out Debra's web ad.
Ok on to the meat.
What happens when men face women who don't back down? They start calling them pushy, aggressive and combative. You see, in their world, a woman who is willing to go to the mattresses is a bitch. In politics it becomes an attack line to try and keep a woman from being elected. Debra Bowen is the only woman running for statewide office in California and she is being attacked for not being a pushover when it comes to protecting our right to vote.
We first saw this rear its ugly head in the
SacBee editorial endorsement of McPherson. They basically said she is smart, articulate but too "aggressive" to hold office.
Unfortunately, county registrars complain that her aggressive demeanor as chair of the Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendment Committee has created tensions rather than building the collaboration and trust that are essential between state and county elections officials. Nonetheless, Bowen is a strong candidate and capable of doing a good job in this office.
Now the appointed incumbent Bruce McPherson is using similar language to attack Debra Bowen. He issued a press release today (of course not posting it on his website) calling her all sorts of names. Sallady gives us a taste:
Speaking of gender-loaded and sexist language, McPherson just put out a press release calling Bowen ... pushy. He quoted newspaper articles about her "aggressive demeanor" and "combative style" and "combative nature." Bowen "created tensions," while McPherson established "lines of communications and a cooperative spirit" with county elections officials.
McPherson's campaign is attempting to link Bowen, a state senator, to the aggressive and pushy former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who resigned in disgrace. You almost never see a campaign press release attacking someone's personality -- let alone that of one of the few women on the statewide ballot -- only because it could lead to retaliatory missives suggesting, perhaps, that someone is mildly dumb or doesn't put the toilet seat down.
This is disgraceful.
California...we cannot allow this man to be elected. It will take all of us spreading the word about Debra for her to win. McPherson has his crappy TV ads and Bowen has people power. We brought her to a huge win in the primary, now we need to do the same in the general. Pass on word to your social networks. Forward on the YouTube. Let's do this!