Wingnuts’ new 2016 hero? Marsha Blackburn is perfect! - By Joan Walsh

[DonViejo]

She plays fast and loose with facts and has no legislation to her name, but that just makes her a normal Republican

JOAN WALSH

Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn is having a moment, of sorts. An anonymous aide told Real Clear Politics last week that she was going to New Hampshire to “test the waters” for a 2016 presidential run. And why not? Blackburn would be the only woman in the race (so far), and she’s no worse than the rest of the oft-mentioned male candidates.

She’s no better, either, despite being floated as someone who might help Republicans with skeptical women voters. Blackburn, you’ll recall, became the public face of the House GOP’s 20-week abortion ban last year when Rep. Trent Franks said the bill didn’t exempt cases of rape because “the incidence of pregnancy from rape is very low.” She had earlier become a GOP hero for insisting on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that women “didn’t want” pay equity laws. “I’ve always said that I didn’t want to be given a job because I was a female, I wanted it because I was the most well-qualified person for the job,” she told David Gregory. “And making certain that companies are going to move forward in that vein, that is what women want.” In fact, women overwhelmingly want pay equity, and they support laws to achieve it, according to public opinion polls.

Now that pay equity is back in the news, thanks to Democrats pushing the Paycheck Fairness Act, Blackburn is in demand again. She told CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday that “we’re all for equal pay.” But the GOP supports neither the Paycheck Fairness Act nor the minimum wage, which would hugely help women, who make up two-thirds of minimum wage workers. “I would love for women to be focused on maximum wage,” Blackburn bizarrely explained. She went on to insist “I have fought to be recognized with equality for a long time. A lot of us get tired of guys condescending to us.”

This is what Republicans hope they can reduce this debate to: complaining about “guys condescending to us,” not guys being paid more, or guys paying less for insurance (as they did before the Affordable Care Act) or guys making laws that tell women what they can do with their bodies.

more
http://www.salon.com/2014/04/14/wingnuts%E2%80%99_new_2016_hero_marsha_blackburn_is_perfect/

[pangaia]

1. “I would love for women to be focused on maximum wage,” Blackburn bizarrely explained.

The problem is, she thinks that supporting a higher minimum wage means supporting people (women) working ONLY at a minimum wage.

[3catwoman3]

2. If this is what she really believes...

...“I’ve always said that I didn’t want to be given a job because I was a female, I wanted it because I was the most well-qualified person for the job,” then how does she explain being elected to congress. She is certainly NOT qualified for that.

[jmowreader]

3. Blackburn's position on pay equity isn't a pay equity position at all

The "I don't want to be given a job because I was a female" is part of the "equal outcomes" thing the Republicans think liberals are all about.

[CTyankee]

4. Oh, please run Marsha, PLEEZE!!!

So many women voters in the country will be able to hear your ideas! Think of that!


I'd just love to see you in a debate with Hillary...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Oh yes, please!

ohpleaseohpleaseohplease!

[CTyankee]

8. They'd be able to sell tickets to that debate! It would be one helluva fundraising event

for the Dem Party, wouldn't it?

[Jamaal510]

5. Meet 2016's Michele Bachmann. nt

[bunnies]

7. She has an ice cubes chance in hell of winning NH...

But I hope she dumps a LOT of money here!