March 1, 2009 5:05 AM

No, we're not trading in sexism...why do you ask??

Media Matters' County Fair points out a poll on U.S. News and World Report's website asking readers who would run the best daycare center: First Lady Michelle Obama, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, or Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. (Apparently, in the fantasy world of political daycare centers, only women are equipped to run them.) The poll is illustrated with action-figure-like images of the four women....

Just when you could possibly be forgiven for thinking that maybe, just maybe, the American body politic had finally evolved beyond cheap, insulting gender stereotypes...well, you get this crap. Then again, when you consider that much of the political and media establishment are still ruled by White males who still seem to be struggling with the reality of a changing world, I suppose I probably shouldn't be too surprised. With an African-American President and women assuming ever more prominent roles in political leadership roles, the hegemony of the well-fed White male would appear to be in some jeopardy. I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.

Ultimately, I think all of us benefit when our government begins to look more like the America it represents. This doesn't mean, of course, that there aren't those out there who aren't going to be threatened by seeing their age-old position of dominance and control threatened. It's just sad that the folks at USN&WR couldn't see fit to deal with these changes in a more appropriate and less egregiously offensive manner.

The reality is that our world IS changing. After the past eight years, I can't see how that can be anything but good. Anything that makes government- and society in general- more inclusive and egalitarian can- at least from where I sit- only be a positive step. Women and minorities should have a seat at the table. Government should look like America. Opportunities should accrue to all, regardless of race, creed, or color. After all, isn't it written somewhere that all men (and isn't it time we included women in this equation?) are created equal? Isn't it about time we all began acting like it?

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on March 1, 2009 5:05 AM.

Y'all had your chance...and you screwed the pooch was the previous entry in this blog.

Yeah, that's "Heathen", with a capital "H" is the next entry in this blog.

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