Ronald Reagan, the ORIGINAL "reverse sexist"

[kpete]

Ronald Reagan, the ORIGINAL "reverse sexist"
by Jed Lewison
Wed May 27, 2009 at 08:44:04 AM PDT

Surprise, surprise: Ronald Reagan was guilty of the same sort of "identity politics" that conservatives are accusing President Obama and Judge Sotomayor of practicing.

During the closing days of the 1980 presidential campaign, Reagan pledged to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court, saying one of the first openings "will be filled by the most qualified woman I can find...it is time for a woman to sit among our highest jurists."

Reagan also pledged to appoint women to lower federal courts "in an effort to bring about a better balance on the federal bench."

With his appointment of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on July 7, 1981, Reagan kept his promise, saying "I’ve long believed that the time has come for the highest court in our land to include not only distinguished men, but distinguished women as well."

video & more:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/27/735707/-Ronald-Reagan,-the-ORIGINAL-reverse-sexist

[Cary]

1. Do you remember Nancy's "smiling white faces" comment?

I don't know how much of a racist Reagan was, or wasn't, but he and the Republicans rode the angry white male, Southern strategy for all they could--while they could.

[BolivarianHero]

3. He began his campaign in Philadelphia, MS...

And lots of Southern Strategy code.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. What I particularly remember Reagan saying about the high unemployment

during his first term (paraphrased): Now, I know I may offend some ladies in the audience, but one reason why there aren't enough jobs for those who want to work is women have taken those jobs instead of letting married men have them.

My jaw is still on the floor over that comment.