DISGRACEFUL – AT 8:18 A.M. ET:  As you know, Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate for the California governorship (a position he also held decades ago, in an era of vinyl records), has been involved in an ugly incident. 

During a private discussion with aides, accidentally recorded, someone suggested that Meg Whitman, the GOP candidate, be painted as a "whore," apparently because of her stand on pensions for public workers.  Brown was heard saying that he would use that.

That was sickening enough, and the Brown campaign could manage only an anemic, half-hearted apology, issued through an aide.  What was especially outrageous was that the National Organization for Women, despite the incident, endorsed Brown yesterday.  What were they thinking?  Apparently, they weren't thinking about much of anything.  But once again we see how little interest so-called "feminist" groups have in the welfare of women.  They've become basically adjuncts of the hard political left, and front operations for the abortion-on-demand crowd.

It's very sad, because the women's movement, with all its faults, has made important contributions to women's rights, especially in the workplace.  But, at base, it was always a movement of the political left.  In recent years, it has succumbed to the leftist discipline, which places the interests of women pretty far down the line.  Note the lack of support for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries of 2008, as opposed to Barack Obama.  On the left, race always trumps gender.  It's the way things are.

These old groups are now on life support.  My guess is that new women's organizations will be formed in coming years, much more moderate, more attuned to the real issues facing women, and far removed from the rigidities of the 1960s.  And they might even show some interest in the oppression of Muslim women.

In the meantime, NOW might consider withdrawing its endorsement of Jerry Brown until he shows some contrition for that vulgar incident.  I'm not holding my breath.  After all, the slur was only against a Republican woman. 

October 9, 2010