New York Times readers were greeted Sunday morning by the American Left's new feminism wherein it's not only acceptable to demean conservative women, it's desirable.
The architect of this truly bizarre neo-feminism, Ms. Maureen Dowd, proudly wrote in her October 17 column, "We are in the era of Republican Mean Girls, grown-up versions of those teenage tormentors who would steal your boyfriend, spray-paint your locker and, just for good measure, spread rumors that you were pregnant":
These women — Jan, Meg, Carly, Sharron, Linda, Michele, Queen Bee Sarah and sweet wannabe Christine — have co-opted and ratcheted up the disgust with the status quo that originally buoyed Barack Obama. Whether they’re mistreating the help or belittling the president’s manhood, making snide comments about a rival’s hair or ripping an opponent for spending money on a men’s fashion show, the Mean Girls have replaced Hope with Spite and Cool with Cold. They are the ideal nihilistic cheerleaders for an angry electorate.
For the record, that's Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, California senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina, Nevada senatorial candidate Sharron Angle, Connecticut senatorial candidate Linda McMahon, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin, and Delaware senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell.
There was a time when America's feminists would have celebrated and cheered such successful women entering politics and standing up to male rivals.
Sadly, we've learned in the past several decades, and received a higher education since Palin was announced as a vice presidential candidate two years ago, that such sentiments only apply to Democrat women.
Any conservative females having the nerve to challenge liberal men are "Mean Girls, grown-up versions of those teenage tormentors who would steal your boyfriend, spray-paint your locker and, just for good measure, spread rumors that you were pregnant."
If you really want to test this double standard, imagine if Jan, Meg, Sharron, Sarah, and Christine were Democrats with the exact same mannerisms, intellects, and styles going up against Republican men named Terry, Jerry, Harry, Dick, Barack, and Chris.
Would Dowd be calling them mean girls two weeks before Election Day or reveling in their feminist spunk and gumption?
Yes, that was a rhetorical question.
*****Update: Former Bush press secretary Dana Perino responds, "Two can play at that game, sister."
So does Commentary's Jennifer Rubin.
Mark Levin commented via email:
Maureen Dowd is as bankrupt as the media company for which she writes. If I weren't a gentleman I'd call her what Jerry Brown's wife called Meg Whitman.
So did Laura Ingraham:
Maureen wouldn't know real America even if it ever decided to make her relevant. Fortunately for her, that's not looking likely.