The Democratic Convention

   I watched some of it last night, switching between C-SPAN and PBS, depending on which was more irritating--David Brooks or some of the gooby entertainments that are just a natural part of political events.  My bedtime is early, so I missed Bill Clinton, which I have heard from co-workers was a real shame.  (Yes, we state workers usually go for the Democrats.  We like having jobs with paychecks and stuff.)
   Jimmy Carter was an inspired choice--take that, pundits who whine that the Democrats don't talk up religious values enough!  Without expressly talking about his religious beliefs, Carter was a testament to all the everyday Christians in this country whose beliefs center more around all that stuff that Jesus talked about, like charity, and less about hating gays and loving tax breaks. 
   But I have to say the whole thing with the female Democratic Senators was a real disappointment.  I actually had a bit of hope that the whole thing could be an exercise in making a direct appeal to women voters, talking up why the Democrats are better on women's issues.  Instead, it was the same old treacle about how women need to pay attention to politics for the sake of the children.  To make sure that the voters knew that this wasn't about women, but about children, they finished off the whole thing with a children's choir. 
   Look, the future of children is an important issue and a good selling point to women--and men.  But if the Democrats truly want women to get out of being ghettoized in the party, they need to start addressing female voters as more than just mother bears and start demonstrating that the party regards female politicians as more than mother bear representatives.  For all the talk about attracting women to the polls, they still can't wrap their minds around the fact that there's nothing new about addressing women's concerns as mothers, and addressing women as individuals in their own rights is what is going to make the difference.  Because even mothers of young children have political opinions outside of what is best for their children.  And because many women are not caring presently for their children, either because they haven't had them or their children are grown, and they don't like feeling invisible to their representatives.