I feel this in the marrow of my bones.
Watching the treatment of the women in the presidential race, particularly @ewarren is exhausting, deeply painful, and fills me with a resignation cum hulk rage that could derail a freight train.
...and not because any were "my" candidate.
Watching the treatment of the women in the presidential race, particularly @ewarren is exhausting, deeply painful, and fills me with a resignation cum hulk rage that could derail a freight train.
...and not because any were "my" candidate.
I ran for office for the first time in 2018. I knew I had a few hits against me as a relative unknown and an independent. I'm also a very private person and had virtually no social media presence at the start.
I know that being deliciously boring can cut either way.
I know that being deliciously boring can cut either way.
I'm also a functional attorney with 4 degrees, at least moderately good on my toes in a debate, generally reasonable, and not prone to tin foil hats.
Maine is a fairly egalitarian state full of women with moxie; I had no clue how vivid and pervasive misogyny still was.
Maine is a fairly egalitarian state full of women with moxie; I had no clue how vivid and pervasive misogyny still was.
I spent the first several months of campaign season Gen Xing that I just hadn't picked up steam so I needed to be higher impact.
At one point it was me and at least 11 men who were declared candidates, so I figured standing out in the pack may be a chore; it was a gaggle of us.
At one point it was me and at least 11 men who were declared candidates, so I figured standing out in the pack may be a chore; it was a gaggle of us.
Then I noticed that almost no news sources would cover me, even as the field narrowed and I had somewhat meaningful and distinct things to say.
There would be events and it would sound like I wasn't even there in press coverage. I would not be quoted or I was listed at the end.
There would be events and it would sound like I wasn't even there in press coverage. I would not be quoted or I was listed at the end.
The *very* rare times I would get a headline with my name, it would be combined with terms like "lashed out"...well, to be fair, I can count on one hand headlines I saw with my name.
No matter what I did it was not enough or too much.
I was apathetic or histrionic.
I didn't seem to want the job or I was power hungry.
I was silent on my accomplishments or a braggart.
I was not a part of the conversation or knocking on the men and "ruining" it for them.
I was apathetic or histrionic.
I didn't seem to want the job or I was power hungry.
I was silent on my accomplishments or a braggart.
I was not a part of the conversation or knocking on the men and "ruining" it for them.
Any national commentary on the race also had me nameless, if it mentioned there was anyone else in the race at all.
I showed up prepared and ready to go at all the debates, the last one twice (and the only person to show up both times).
I was invisible. When I would speak up about it, I would hear "So are you strong and capable or a perpetual victim? Pick one."
I was invisible. When I would speak up about it, I would hear "So are you strong and capable or a perpetual victim? Pick one."
Rather than question press coverage, the most common response was to say I was the flaw.
My positions, which were more in line with the voters than *either* of the top two candidates, were the problem.
I wasn't good or smart enough.
It couldn't be the system or the press.
My positions, which were more in line with the voters than *either* of the top two candidates, were the problem.
I wasn't good or smart enough.
It couldn't be the system or the press.
One of the men got the final debate cancelled, wasting my time, and taking away the live audience - the media did not cover that or even the last debate.
They would never have sent the audience home and rescheduled another candidate for a now audience-less event at my request.
They would never have sent the audience home and rescheduled another candidate for a now audience-less event at my request.
When the race was over, my performance exceeded expectations and threw the race to the first federal ranked choice vote ever...and CNN couldn't even be bothered to use my name in an article.
When I spoke up, they deleted a man and didn't mention the edit.
When I spoke up, they deleted a man and didn't mention the edit.
⤴ this one *really* pangs when I see coverage for Warren.
They listed the first, second, and fourth place winners by name.
I was just...not in the article.
@CNN has never apologized or acknowledged their error.
Apparently, journalism doesn't require them to not be dicks.
They listed the first, second, and fourth place winners by name.
I was just...not in the article.
@CNN has never apologized or acknowledged their error.
Apparently, journalism doesn't require them to not be dicks.
The race ended in a very interesting lawsuit.
In almost all coverage, if mentioned at all, I was just "an independent"...a nameless, invisible thing.
Almost no one asks me about the folks who voted for me, who are by extension invisible...and the ones who determine races.
In almost all coverage, if mentioned at all, I was just "an independent"...a nameless, invisible thing.
Almost no one asks me about the folks who voted for me, who are by extension invisible...and the ones who determine races.
I've never really tried to be popular or interesting before I ran for office. I'm an introvert.
When I finally had something important to say, I was erased.
Watching this happen to women in a presidential race is personal, and soul-crushing.
Do better America. We deserve it.
When I finally had something important to say, I was erased.
Watching this happen to women in a presidential race is personal, and soul-crushing.
Do better America. We deserve it.
Speak up.
Support women. (And minorities, and other vulnerable groups)
Push back on media every time they decide we aren't enough to be the story, or even in the story.
Support women. (And minorities, and other vulnerable groups)
Push back on media every time they decide we aren't enough to be the story, or even in the story.
Also, push back on bad polls.
If you are reading this, I'm running for the US Senate.
You could have a follow, tell three friends, and do a #MaineRaising.
That would be an excellent way to support a woman.
bond4.me/maineraising
You could have a follow, tell three friends, and do a #MaineRaising.
That would be an excellent way to support a woman.
bond4.me/maineraising
And then go find 3 more women running for office.
Follow them, tell three friends, contribute if you have the ability.
Change requires doing.
Follow them, tell three friends, contribute if you have the ability.
Change requires doing.
