Pence shows his disrespect for women
How many women have seen that look? Women know what we’re talking about. It’s that look from a man — maybe a boss, maybe a husband, maybe a boyfriend — who makes condescending or belittle comments during a conversation. The look is designed to let a woman know her place.
Vice President Mike Pence gave that look numerous times during last weeks debate with Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. And when he wasn’t giving that look, he was talking over Harris.
Pence even kept talking over the moderator, Susan Page of USA Today, ignoring her alerts that his two minutes were up so that he could commandeer more time than Harris got. Page was left say, “Thank you, Vice President Pence. Thank you, Vice President Pence. Thank you, Vice President Pence.”
And it’s not just Pence, let’s remember that during CNN’s post debate discussion, commentator Gloria Borger found herself being interrupted by former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum when she tried to make a point about Pence’s interruptions. “Mr. Santorum, I’m talking,” she had to remind him.
This isn’t just sexism, it’s sexual bullying, which comes in many forms, whether it’s Trump’s talking about women as sex objects, or his treatment of female reporters at press briefings. It’s unacceptable.
But while Pence’s treatment of Harris is par for the course on the part of many men and male politicians toward women, we once again are angry that these debates have become nothing more than shouting matches or talking points. Debates as well as forums and public “meet the candidate” gatherings have distinct value in showing an individual’s depth of knowledge about the issues of the day coupled with their political and philosophical differences or distinctiveness.
We don’t get that when people talk over each other, ignore time limits and belittle each other. This is gulling when it comes to Pence, who is a former radio talk show host. People on the radio live with a timer in their face and always know what time it is and how much time they have left at any point when they are on air.
And Harris is an attorney and former San Francisco prosecutor. She should also know exactly how much time is elapsing. When attorneys speak before federal courts they are strictly timed and have to learn how to make their cases in maybe minutes — including interruptions from questioning judges.
The point is that both Pence and Harris — all politicians in fact — should know exactly how much time they have. They should not have to be reminded or told to shut up.
This next week Woodland will have a forum courtesy of a new group which calls itself “Know Your Candidates of Woodland.” The group and is planning on hosting two virtual local candidate forums on Sunday, Oct. 18. The forum for candidates running for the Woodland Joint Unified School District Board will run from 10 a.m. to noon. The forum for Woodland City Council candidates will run from 2 to 4 p.m. Both forums are free and open to the public, but attendees must pre-register. People can get more information by sending an email to knowyourcandidateswoodlandca@gmail.com. We don’t know how this forum will be run, but we suspect it will be considerably more civil than what we have witnessed at the national level.
Unfortunately, this year the Woodland League of Women Voters had to ask questions of candidates instead of holding their typical forums, where questions and answers are presented with speakers timed and decorum upheld. It may seem quaint somewhat, but one has to ask that if the local League of Women Voters can hold a substantive forum, what can’t that happen at the presidential level?
There should be time keepers at presidential and vice presidential debates and they should have the power to “flip the switch” on a microphone if a speaker exceeds their allotted time.
Most of all, moderators should have the power to shut down candidates if they start behaving badly to one another. These aren’t cage matches. They are supposed to be civilized discussions where ideas and issues are explored and explained. If that can’t be done, we may as well bring them to a halt.
Debates aren’t cage matches, they are supposed to be discussions of ideas and issues that affect us all.