Maybe the feminists had it right after all…
Don Martin’s comment piece in today’s National Post has been bugging me all day (Harper looks to woo soccer moms) and I couldn’t figure out why. Then the answer start bubbling up through my consciousness. - His sexist attitude is showing again.
Remember when he was telling Helena Guergis how she should be acting under certain circumstances and when she was allowed to show emotion, and so on? Well, now he’s trying to tell us that Harper’s concern for human health and consumer safety is an attempt to “crack the estrogen voting code”!!!
Never mind that there may actually be the odd male out there who cares about his baby’s health or if that apple juice he’s giving his toddler really comes from Canada even though it’s labeled as “Product of Canada “.
But here’s the best one:
…But the overarching point of all this is that all three initiatives cater to soccer mom and Tim Hortons sensibilities — voters who don’t fret over young offender legislation, mandatory sentences or 99% of all those Conservative ideological priorities …
Get that, ladies? You don’t need to worry your purdy little heads about crime, and complicated stuff like that. Let the menfolk deal with it.
Perhaps it’s time for the Post to send old Don off for some sensitivity training …
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Soccer moms are way ahead of Don Martin, Joanne.
Hey! Where’s my - I AM WOMAN, I LIKE HARPER shirt!
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Hey! Where’s my - I AM WOMAN, I LIKE HARPER shirt!
Well, you’ll have to take that up with Mary T. Last I heard they were bombarded with requests.
Which is strange, because according to MSM women don’t like Harper, ya know.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Just added the pic, BTW.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I don’t see product labelling as a gender related issue, I see it more as a food safety issue. If I buy rice knowingly from China, that’s one thing, but if it’s in something I buy thinking I’m buying Canadian, that’s a whole other issue, I want the information to make the choice.
As far as the female vote, I would like to see more of the PM with his family. There is nothing more appealing than a family man. Personally I find PM Harper very attractive, but that’s not why I vote for him.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
You know, it’s “Martin” “dazes” like today’s column that confirm why Alberta votes Conservative.
The poor frustrated chap, I do feel his pain - it must be awful having to write this kind of stuff to make a living.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I think that Martin is probably right about the CPC strategy. They are trying to increase support amongst the suburban middle class, especially in central Canada. But I see it more directed as family friendly policies than mothers. I also think he is wrong concerning the CPC tough on crime target audience. Again, it is very much directed towards families because parents do worry about violent crime and repeat offenders. They want a safer community for their kids.
Anyway, his obvious disdain for soccer moms and the middle class coffee crowd is often there, just below the surface. I picture him the typical sneering snob that so often seems to lean to the left. You know the oozing with arrogance “I don’t eat hotdogs (haughty sniff)” kinda guy.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Don Martin, reaching dizzying new heights in “spin the nuts off of it” journalism…..
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
It’s a strategy used by the Republicans - developed by Frank Luntz.
Last election Harper used the “hockey moms”. Bush used the “security moms”.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Well put Joanne! Furthermore, catch the end of the article where he states:
“But the overarching point of all this is that all three initiatives cater to soccer mom and Tim Hortons sensibilities — voters who don’t fret over young offender legislation, mandatory sentences or 99% of all those Conservative ideological priorities.”
Unbelievable. Note how he refers to them as “ideological priorities.” If it were the Liberals, it would simply be “political priorities.” But you know -them conservatives are all instinct, they can’t think, right?
Hey Don: Tim Hortons Sensibilities ARE conservative priorities.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
‘..voters who don’t fret over ‘blah blah blah’ or 99% of all those Conservative ideological priorities…”
We’ll have to forgive msm for thinking that EVERY move a party makes is a ’strategy to win votes’, as the media are conditioned by years of Liberal ’strategy just to win votes’ , not ideology.
‘Family first’ is a Conservative priority, not a strategy.
That’s why Cons are ‘getting things done’, it’s easy to set priorities when you have a focus.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I AM a soccermom and I already like Harper! I want a shirt like that, too!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Other than being a bigger boob than anything mounted on the chest of most women …..
What exactly does Martin have going for him?
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:06 am
I want a shirt like that, too!
I hope Mary T. sees this. She is the one who has the friend that makes them.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 am
Other than being a bigger boob than anything mounted on the chest of most women ……
Not wanting to be picky here, but that could be taken as a somewhat sexist remark too. Let’s not stoop to the level of some members of MSM.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 am
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, Don Martin has been on an anti-Harper campaign for some time now, although lately his comments have become increasingly vitriolic. With this article, he manages to insult not only our PM and the Conservatives, but also middle-class female voters.. the ones who drive their kids to soccer practice and have a coffee at Tim Horton’s… unlike the latte-sipping left-leaning urbanites Don Martin obviously admires.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Those wanting a t-shirt, contact
shirstit@shockware.com
I have a blue one and a white one.
Cost is 25.00, and that includes gst and mailing.
With Garth predicting an election this fall (NNW) we need to get the message out now, women like Harper.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Thanks, Mary T! I may be ordering one myself.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Don Martin might be very surprised that a lot of men, and fathers do grocery shopping. They also want safe food for themselves and their families.
This is family orientated, not female orientated, to go with the CPC family values agenda.
Can anyone recall being in Wal-Mart and having a father ask the greeter, Where are your contaminated food or toys.
Martin is way off base on this one.