This article seemed like another fashion commentary trivializing Pelosi and the issues with which she is faced. Then I got to the end of the story where it became something other than what some might call a fecal fracas and more like separate water fountains, schools, and all the other separate and equal Republican things. Hat tip to Think Progress
The article after a lot about jokes about holding it in and other third grade potty humor ends with:
For example, Schroeder famously won a spot on the coveted House Armed Services Committee upon her election, only to face the humiliation, along with California Democrat Ron Dellums, an African-American, of being told they'd have to share a chair.
The committee's chairman, F. Edward Hebert, D-La., explained that, to his thinking, women and blacks were worth half of one "regular" member. Hebert lost his chairmanship two years later in a revolt by younger Democrats.
The closing is interesting considering but I had to look up the dates. First of all, Pat was in Congress 1972–1996. These events apparently took place around 1973 when Pat was in her second term in Congress.
Actually, as I am sure Herbert knew, according to original intent, blacks were worth 3/5ths and women were included.
So times have changed and maybe this is just another in a long series of things we all will know is wrong as we look back.
Of course, as my uncle might have said, all this shows is that the male congressional tradition is full of shit.