Newsweek: "Moneywomen" Fiorina, Whitman, McMahon "Might Have Too Much Baggage"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

These Moneywomen Might Have Too Much Baggage
Why aren’t voters warming to these three self-financed candidates?

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/29/these-moneywomen-might-have-too-much-baggage.html



Three women, all rich, self-made, running self-financed campaigns is seen as a sign of progress, and yet it looks like the voters are likely to reject two of them—Linda McMahon in Connecticut and Meg Whitman in California. The third, Carly Fiorina, also in California, is the only one with any chance of winning, and even that is uncertain.

Why aren’t the voters warming to these businesswomen—these Republican outsiders who are supposed to have the edge? And would the results be any different if they were men? Not necessarily, since self-financed male candidates lose more races than they win. The ability to spend big doesn’t guarantee success, and in California, it’s almost a jinx considering how many have bombed at the ballot box after spending millions.

If there’s a gender bias, it’s in the political baggage these women bring, baggage that might have been lighter if it were carried by a man. It was a big upset when Linda McMahon won the primary over the favored Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, a Vietnam vet and member of Congress. As the former CEO of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), which her husband now heads, McMahon had to overcome assumptions about her character based on the unorthodox business that she once ran.

“I grew up in Connecticut, and it’s a very straitlaced place,” says Linda Fowler, a government professor at Dartmouth. “I can’t imagine people pulling the lever for someone who has a boat that’s named Sexy Bitch.”

[eleny]

1. Those media darlings are now the dipshits who didn't deliver

[AlabamaLibrul]

2. Too much Teabaggage, I look forward to Ms. HP, Ms. Run-Ebay-Into-The-Ground, and Ms. Groin Kick to

be soundly defeated Tuesday.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I can only speak for myself...

But the two women who are running in California simply have the wrong message for me.

They are rich, entitled Republicans. They oppose the things I like.

I would never vote for anyone like them, money or no money.

Their messages are abhorrent.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. 2 anti-choice women running California? no no no

[Xipe Totec]

4. Hey, Cerberus called, and he wants his heads back

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. If that's the best they've got, I'll take what's behind door #4.

Bleeech.

[bemildred]

7. "Self made" my ass. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

9. I thought that was maybe a euphemism for masturbation.

[bemildred]

12. Well, the sexual innuendos are obvious, but I don't want to go there.

There are no "self made" humans, none, we all start out unable to even feed ourselves or wipe our own butts.

[Gabi Hayes]

10. really. can reporting get any shoddier than that?

Vince McMahon JUNIOR 'bought' WWWF/WWF/WWE from his FATHER, then let wifey run it.

Self MADE?????

[bemildred]

13. Yep, the vast majority of genuinely rich people started out that way ....

Bill Gates, for example, had a very wealthy Dad.

[spanone]

8. after 10 months of propping these phonies up, the media gets honest?

[Dappleganger]

11. You know it's almost laughable comparing their campaign

to that of who's running for governor in my state, Alex Sink. She seems downright boring compared to these women.

I want my drama!!

[33Greeper]

14. Divas

Spoiled Divas. Need I say more?

[tularetom]

15. Whitman ain't exactly "self made"

Check into her background. Another East Coast silver spoon Ivy Leaguer who moved west to use their daddy's money to make more money. She may not have snorted as much of it up her nose as bush did but it's basically the same story.