Why didn't Russert include women in his "moral values" debate?

[TomClash]

Much of it centered on abortion and, as my wife astutely pointed out, no woman was anywhere to be found on the panel. Then they talked about gay marriage and there was no gay or lesbian on the panel. Bishop Gene Robinson and Sister Joan Chittister are two of many who could speak eloquently on these issues. Jim Wallis is a bit wimpy and Al Sharpton is well . . . Where does Russert get his producers from?

[cornermouse]

1. I don't know if you noticed, but Al Sharpton

appeared to be moderate in comparison with Falwell and whoever the other one was.

[skeeterintexas]

5. Al Sharpton was one of the 'cooler heads' on the panel

Jerry Fallwell just makes me want to PUKE! Has he been ill? Is he on some sort of medication that caused him to puff up like a pufferfish?

If not, he needs to read the passage in the Bible about gluttony: "Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony." - Proverbs 23:2

[jdj]

6. he is very eloquent in response to questions about gay marriage.

I don't know what his personal beliefs are, but I have seen him answer these question perfectly succinctly, saying that the right is trying to distract us with things that are not about gov't, and that gay marriage is not about govt'.

[tx_dem41]

2. Email Meet the Press

Email addy is

[email protected]

[Jade Fox]

13. Done. Thanks for the address.

[FloridaPat]

3. My comments exactly. Just like when Bushco signed the bill to

outlaw late term abortions - there were no women at the signing. So I wonder who really does have all these problems with these two subjects?

[jdj]

7. geewhilikers, it's their freaking DNA crying out.

they don't even have any conscious awareness of WHY they are so opposed to civil rights for minorities and women, they just feel some weird twinge in their testicles and march in lockstep.

I wish someone would do a study on the difference in genetic make-up between normal men and right-wing fascist men. Of course it could be a nurture thing, but their lack of awareness about their own motivations is appalling (unless of course they are just all straight sociopaths or asbergers or something.)

[thinkingwoman]

4. because white males

rule this country and make the decisions.

Didn't you get the memo?

[FloridaPat]

9. I got it to late before I turned into a raving feminist! Sorry guys.

[thinkingwoman]

11. LOL

Right there with you.

[checks-n-balances]

8. Women have few leadership roles in the Christian church in general

Especially in the Southern Baptist churches, which officially ban women from ordination. As long as they include panelists from that denomination (as MTP did today - two members: Richard Land & Jerry Falwell) they probably will not have women on anyway. I doubt that the SBC members would even recognize that women could even be leaders, so the women panelists would automatically be discredited by those male panelists.

IMHO, any show that keeps insisting on having Falwell as a spokesman for Christianity doesn't know enough to invite a female Christian leader (moderate-to-liberal) as a panelist. If enough people wrote in to complain, all they would probably do is invite a highly conservative female, which would add virtually nothing different to the conversation.

[FloridaPat]

10. I wrote in and complained. My nature to point out that kind of

crap.

[Crunchy Frog]

12. No doubt because Russert is wise enough to know

that women's place is at home, barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, and they shouldn't be worrying their pretty little heads about serious political matters that are the natural concerns of men.

Women should trust their menfolk to understand and protect their interests much better than they themselves can.

<heavy sarcasm>

[pop goes the weasel]

14. he's just being consistent

Where are the women commentators and guests for any topic? On any show? Except for "To the Contrary," the opinion shows rarely have women. McLaughlin has Eleanor Clift as his token, and that's it. Far and away, the talking heads are white men. And right-wing. I don't usually bother to watch those shows because of it. If I want to hear a bunch of self-satisfied conservative white men yammer on about things they know nothing about, I can always go to church.