Republican war on women? Coming from Debbie Wasserman Schultz, don't even.
The more I hear and see of the Democratic National Committee chairwoman's blatant opportunism and hypocrisy, the more I wonder how she can look another woman -- any woman, regardless of party -- in the eye.
First, she clambers behind Nan Rich's back to help put the screws on Rich's Emily's List endorsement for governor. Then, when Rich loses, just as she hoped, she professes her great friendship for the former Senate minority leader in two public propaganda fests.
With friends like that ...
Then last week, DWS fillets Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker like a perch on a cleaning block for espousing policies that hurt women -- all the while campaigning for a House candidate in New Mexico who has padded her client list with male abusers of women.
It's true. Ten days before Debbie accused Walkers policies of giving "women the back of his hand" and grabbing us by the hair and pulling us back, she flew to Albuquerque to go to bat forRoxanne Lara, a Carlsbad attorney whose practice includes family and divorce law.
Lara's campaign biography said the Carlsbad attorney focuses on defending abused children. But court records say something else.
In four cases from 2001 to 2012, she defended a man who allegedly sexually abused his estranged wife, another who allegedly beat his wife and forced her on drugs she was allergic to, another who smashed up his estranged wifes home, according to a police report, and a fourth accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend.
The cases had a similar abusive theme summed up in a quote from one of those allegedly targeted by Laras client: He wouldnt give me a divorce, he doesnt plan to re-marry, he just make my life a living hell, she said in the court papers.
Oh, yes, and DWS kept dutifully silent on the Democrat challenging for governor in New Mexico -- Attorney General Gary King -- who apparently has his anti-women problems, too. Even while the Florida congresswoman campaigned with Lara, protesters wielded signs against King, pointing to the gender discrimination suits he faces for paying women less than men to do the same job.
I wish I could tell you I'm the first to report Debbie's latest hypocrisy. But, regretfully, no. That honor belongs to the The Washington Examiner. In fact, bloggers all over the sphere picked up the New Mexico story, having more fun with it than kids flying kites in a cornfield, using headline words that refer to "Debbie Blabbermouth Schultz" and "hyp.o.crit;" and one story even directs Democrats to "send that poodle to the nearest Petsmart for a haircut."
Meanwhile, the DNC was getting busy, placed on immediate mop-up duty over DWS's Scott Walker comments.
Lily Adams, deputy communications director for the DNC said in a statement reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that domestic violence is an incredibly serious issue, and the congresswoman was by no means belittling the very real pain survivors experience.
See below the video of Debbie in full cry, gutting Wisconsin Gov. Walker.
Debbie Hypocrisy-'R'-Us Wasseman-Schultz, Florida's queen of hyperbole though she is, will survive blabbing the latest dumb thing, as she has at least half a dozen others in the past three years. Say what you like about her, in a state short of Democrats who can be relied upon to win consistently, she not only does that impressively, by virtue of her passion, fierce loyalty and the grace of God, she manages to stay on the edge of real power in Washington.
But, enough already.
It's past time for DWS and everybody else to stop talking about the Republican war on women. It's a shameful way to get votes. The truth is, it's one big battleground out there for all women, whatever their party.
Don't make me start talking about the Democrats' war on women. And the male war on women isn't the only discrimination game in town. There's a worst kind of war, women's war on themselves. And for that, DWS -- whose boots were made for walkin' over anybody in her way, male or female -- is as prime an example as I can find.
I think most women accept their lives as they are, or fight the good fight, live with it and move on. In spite of everything, most of the women I know are strong, proud, try to be happy and find their own way to matter.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
