This is why we need to elect more WOMEN politicians.
CROSS POSTED FROM FLAPOLITICS.COM
I open up my local newspaper, The Tallahassee Democrat, this Sunday morning and flip to the op-ed section. (Yes, my name is Michael and I'm a political junkie.)
Our own Gail Collins, the ever delightful and Facebook Friend Mary Ann Lindley, has a good solid piece on the need for leadership in the state legislature. Can't argue with that.
And then my gaze drifts over to a piece by my own state house representative, the woman whose name took up her whole yard sign, Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda.
Now, I have to admit, I've never really been a big fan of MRV's. I hated to see her term-limited predecessor, Loranne Ausley, go. Michelle just seemed like a low rent copy of my ideal legislator.
I remember when she canvassed door-to-door in my neighborhood (Indianhead/Lehigh, 89.2% turnout in 2008). I didn't really get a good vibe off of her.
I'm ashamed to admit it, but I felt she was "pushy".
I know that the reason I felt that way was because I'm a 60 y.o. man with leftover chauvinist tendencies and she's a woman. That's it, no other reason.
So, I felt sort of a duty to give her op-ed a go.
Well, the very first sentence showed me that she can write (or at least hire somebody who can write, which is allowed). Here it is:
It's no news that Florida and her citizens are hurting and that our economy is very sick.
The piece goes on to say that MRV and veteran Republican State Senator Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach are co-sponsoring legislation which would make the collection of sales taxes on internet purchases easier.
This simple corrective would bring in an additional $2-$4 BILLION a year according to Florida TaxWatch and the Florida Retail Federation. These two lawmakers put together an "amazingly diverse collection of 18 organizations that support the effort".
And here's the YouTube video of the announcement where you can see everyone!
MRV goes on to say:
We need your help. Changing Florida law will help, but we will be able to collect the bulk of the tax only when Congress acts. I have written to every member of Florida's delegation and President Obama. I have made personal appeals as well. And I have spoken to Gov. Charlie Crist. Now I am urging you to write to the governor and Sens. Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, asking them to fight for what is fair, not just for Florida, but for 44 other states.
Let me put all of this into some perspective for you.
At a point in time when the "hope of progressives" Dan Gelber and all of his geeky fan boys are breathless over (you guessed it) TWITTERING, a NEWLY ELECTED legislator has gone about forming RELATIONSHIPS with REAL LIVE PEOPLE to actually GET SOMETHING DONE instead of just texting tweets.
I think you might call that providing leadership.
This is the difference between Boys and their Toys and Women Who Run With the Wolves. I don't know about you, but I'll take the latter ANY day.
And I hate to rub their noses in it, but VIDEO is a HELL of a lot more effective way to communicate then texting. I am continually stunned that more candidates don't get this.
Look, you can buy a YouTube ready camera off Amazon for $200 (PLUS TAX) and post a 30 second clip to your website EVERY DAY. Why blog when you can TALK, for FREE?
But getting back to women in politics, let me point out one more thing. Harvey Milk is now considered a political genius after the movie starring Sean Penn has become so popular.
And if you saw it you know that when he got serious and wanted to win he shaved off his beard, starting wearing a suit, and HIRED A LESBIAN AS A CAMPAIGN MANAGER!
When I posted a link to MRV's op-ed on my Facebook page I made this comment:
WOW!! Talk about breaking out of the blocks well, MRV is a regulalar FloJo. With this initiative she establishes herself as the FASTEST rising of the rising stars of the Fla. Dem. Party.
So maybe this old dog is learning a new trick and getting past his cultural biases. Like I said at the beginning. This is why we need to elect more WOMEN politicians.