Scott Walker's mansplaining moment will make you want to elect more women

[Panich52]

Following is from a fundraising letter from Democracy for America. I'm posting it, minus blatant money pleas (link at end) for awareness' sake.


Wow. Presidential candidate Scott Walker just took mansplaining to a whole new level.

In an interview with conservative talk show host Dana Loesch, when asked about legislation he signed in Wisconsin in 2013 requiring women to submit to a mandatory ultrasound -- in some cases, meaning an invasive transvaginal ultrasound -- before getting an abortion, Walker said women should be forced to have ultrasounds because he thinks they are "just a cool thing."

Excuse me?!?

I don't know who Scott Walker thinks he is. But I do know that here in the real world where actual women like me live, there is NOTHING "cool" about being forced to undergo an unnecessary, invasive procedure just because male politicians want to intimidate us out of exercising our reproductive rights.

We can't let politicians like Scott Walker keep telling women what to do with our own bodies. Democracy for America is fighting back against the Republican War on Women with a major push to win big in Virginia, the very first state to pass awful mandatory ultrasound legislation.

That's why, along with several DFA staff members, I'm heading to Virginia in the run-up to this purple state's next election on June 9 to lay the groundwork for an epic power shift in the Virginia legislature. We have the opportunity to win back the state senate and end Republicans' veto-proof majority in the state house -- while putting more women in office and ending this legacy of sexist legislation.

Scott Walker's comments are disappointing and disgusting, but they are hardly surprising. As long as women continue to be horribly under-represented at all levels of government, the laws that government passes will reflect that imbalance, and politicians will continue to be oblivious to the ways their policies affect the lives of women.

DFA wants to build a bench of powerhouse women in elected office -- women who can take states back from the Tea Party and go on to change the dynamic in Washington. Virginia is the perfect place to start. We've already made headway there: We helped progressive Kathleen Murphy win a special election for the House of Delegates earlier this year.

Through our Purple to Blue program, DFA has endorsed a rock star slate of women running for office in Virginia. We've already endorsed Jennifer Boysko, Elizabeth Miller, Shelly Simonds and Kathleen Murphy for the state house -- and we can't wait to help them cross the finish line in November.

We've also endorsed Emily Francis, a progressive champion who is in a tight primary race for the state senate. Both of her opponents are conservatives who switched their party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in order to run in this election; one of them cut millions of dollars in education funding from Chesterfield County public schools, while the other has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates like Bob McDonnell.

Republicans hold the majority in the Virginia state senate by a single seat. Just one victory in November would give Democrats control of the chamber -- and would place powerful progressive women in a position to help change extremely regressive laws like the ultrasound mandate.

A team of DFA staff members, including me, are heading down to Virginia to start organizing ASAP. Will you pitch in $3 now to support our electoral work to win the War on Women, starting in Virginia? https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dfap2b2015/?refcode=CWV052815AW

Thanks for your support. I can't wait to turn Virginia blue.

- Annie

Annie Weinberg, Electoral Director
Democracy for America

[marym625]

1. fuck him and the pos elephant he rode in on

Transvaginal ultrasounds suck! I don't care what they do, they feel very invasive and rapey.

And that doesn't even matter. Fuck anyone who thinks that they get to control my uterus

[Novara]

2. It's state-sanctioned rape.

Forcing my body to be violated against my will because I am exercising a constitutional right is rape.