RECENT POSTS
- President Obama: Asia Trip Helped Usher in a New Era of American Engagement
- Secretary Sebelius Celebrates the Tenth Anniversary of National Adoption Day
- Organizing for America Targets Sarah Palin
- Obama Administration Starts to Publicly Raise Issue of Detained US Citizen Xue Feng
- President Obama Gives Interview (of Sorts) to Dissident Cuban Blogger
- "You Guys Make a Pretty Good Photo Op," President Obama Jokes to Troops at Osan Air Base
- Did the Chinese Government Crack Down on an Obama Interview?
- Our Trip to the DMZ
- President Obama Greets U.S. Troops in South Korea, Wraps Up Week in Asia
- White House: We’re Not in the “Immediate Gratification Business”
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
NOW President on President Obama's All-Male Athletic Outings: 'It's Troubling'
October 26, 2009 10:12 AM
We asked Terry O'Neill, the new president of the National Organization for Women, what she thought of those Democratic women and others quietly complaining about a "boy's club" atmosphere at the White House, as exemplified by the president playing basketball earlier this month with 11 members of Congress and four Cabinet Secretaries -- all men.
As the New York Times and cable news chatter looked at whether the Obama White House is too fratty yesterday, President Obama brought along a woman golf partner for the first time in his 24 golf outings as president, domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes.
Is this much ado about nothing?
O'Neill says no.
"Relationships get built in those more informal settings," O'Neill told ABC News, "and the relationships have a huge impact on the influence an individual has. We know what happens when we segregated whether it by race or whether it by gender -- you end up with 1st class citizens and you end up with 2nd class citizens."
O'Neill told ABC News' Mike Callahan, "we need to see the White House leading the way for desegregating the work places all around the country and it is troubling."
Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius played basketball for Trinity University in Washington, D.C. The day before the all-male White House hoops game, Jay Leno asked her who might win a game of HORSE between her and the president.
"You know I actually made my college basketball team," she said as the crowd laughed. "I'm not sure he did so you know, bring it on."
Sebelius is #21 below.
In his first year, President Obama has appointed more women to his Cabinet and Cabinet-level positions -- seven out of 22 positions -- than any president before him. President George W. Bush appointed four women to positions of that status; President Bill Clinton appointed six.
But to O'Neill that's not enough.
"It’s extremely important now especially for the president to have as many women as men in his closest circle of advisors. ... If women had been at the heads of the companies on Wall Street instead of these masters of the universe then we might not be in the predicament that we’re in today." She says the ratio "needs to be 50/50. Women are 52 percent of the voting public so obviously there needs to be 50/50 of any Cabinet."
-- jpt
Photo credit: Trinity University in Washington, D.C.
October 26, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (163)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
obama seems to have plenty of time for hoops, but no time for our troops.
as for NOW: go iron my shirt. you lost all credibility when you supported bill clinton's heinous on-the-job behavior.
Posted by: rick | Oct 29, 2009 11:06:46 AM
What is more troubling to me is that The Man Child thinks he has so much extra time to play basket ball. But I almost forgot that his many Czars are busy running everything for him, so that he has plenty of time to run around and play.
Posted by: Black | Oct 29, 2009 6:37:09 AM
Just look at the racist, non-diverse team Kathleen Sebelius played on.
She has no right to criticise President Obama.
Posted by: mjaybee | Oct 28, 2009 11:53:04 AM
Comments like "If women had been at the heads of the companies on Wall Street instead of these masters of the universe then we might not be in the predicament that we’re in today" Bother me so much. We shouldn't be including women in power because they are somehow immune to egotism, greed and shortsightedness; they're not. We should be including women in power because we need the best possible people with the best possible ideas, and that means not just getting advice from people who look like you, or play your favorite sport, or come from your home state etc etc.
Posted by: Jorgen | Oct 28, 2009 2:09:40 AM
n October, 2009, the greatest numbers of USA troops, fifty-five had passed away in Afghanistan War while the president of USA has too much enjoy lavish sports, trip, and musical in Broadway. I do believe that Cheny was right to POINT OUT that Obama has been afraid to make a right decision
about the War. I've missed GWB who stopped playing Golf because of thinking of USA troops in the spot of War and prayed for American safe everyday. THANKS GEORGE W. BUSH !!!
Posted by: jr-NY | Oct 27, 2009 11:59:07 PM
I'd like to see him on the basketball court with General McCrystal. He might get carried off the court without any teef.
Posted by: Kelley | Oct 27, 2009 11:32:04 PM
If something is bull, that's what it is-on or off the golf course. Is every man that golfs really into the game? O'neil makes a valid point of women being a majority, but we don't have the comradiary of men. And, Secondlook is dead on, if that's your thing--thats what you do. NOT GENDER NOT RELIGION NOT RACE
Posted by: Niccole | Oct 27, 2009 9:25:19 PM
What's interesting is that it seems Obama calls in the press photographers to take pictures of him playing with his pals. It's apparently not enough of an ego trip that he can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and with whomever he wants -- he needs to be photographed doing it!
Posted by: dream | Oct 27, 2009 8:33:14 PM
Who cares?
Obama is a hypocrite as are the vast majority of liberals.
You're running the risk of being accused of "racism" here Jake & being banned from the press pool, lol.
"Your taxes in order Tapper?"
Posted by: A. Lincoln | Oct 27, 2009 7:34:17 PM
THIS is exactly what you get when you promise EVERYTHING to EVERYONE to get elected. Obama made ridiculous promises to every prominent political group in the country (women, liberals, minorities, hispanics, illegal aliens, the elderly, unions, teachers, banks, and on and on and on). AND NOW....all those folks wanna be paid back...and there's no way he can make everyone happy. Didn't you see this coming?
Posted by: jjolive1111 | Oct 27, 2009 4:32:37 PM
Terry is right. Martha Burke taught us about this when 490 of the Fortune 500 CEO's are teeing off at Augusta. Excluding women is the point of clubs and games. Choose a game that is inclusive and let the relationships have a level playing field.
Posted by: Zoe Nicholson | Oct 27, 2009 4:12:15 PM
Slow news day, Jake? Couldn't think of anything to say about Afghanistan or the public option?
Posted by: gVOR08 | Oct 27, 2009 10:42:17 AM
It's a catch 22. If women were playing then there would be reports of the president messing around with the women or inappropriate touching on the court. Why don't we worry about more important things rather than a stupid basketball game.
Posted by: kathy | Oct 27, 2009 9:46:11 AM
This is the same NOW who supported Slick Willy after he was caught exploiting a subordinate worker for personal gratification--in the workplace while his family slept upstairs! NOW that’s standing up for the rights of women!
After denying it under oath and sending out everybody including his wife to lie for him, then getting impeached for it--years later Bill admitted to doing it. But we just can’t help but to love him!
Posted by: I'm Not a President, but I Play One on TV | Oct 27, 2009 9:02:23 AM
He still throws a baseball like a girl.
Posted by: Lone Star Rules | Oct 27, 2009 8:18:17 AM
But there are women there Terry! They are picking up the towels and washing the men's gym clothes after they prepare lunch and bring cold beers all around. It's great serving your new president isn't it?
Posted by: FRED | Oct 27, 2009 2:35:59 AM
when is barack NOT 'on vacation' ?? daily golfing, nightly parties, shopping in paris, catching a broadway show, holding 'beer summits', sunning on a hawaiian beach, playing basketball, vacationing at martha's vineyard, going out for a burger, playing star wars on the whitehouse lawn, ...need i go on ?
Posted by: el polacko | Oct 27, 2009 1:02:16 AM
This woman needs to really find something to do with her time.
This is petty, period. As for the President golfing on weekends, I have no problem with that, at least he isn't "clearing brush " endlessly in Texas for months on end.
Posted by: Gail | Oct 26, 2009 11:25:08 PM
Sarah Palin runs marathons.
Obama runs his mouth.
Palin 2012
Posted by: bailey | Oct 26, 2009 11:07:41 PM
Obama is an old man! And he smokes.
Those guys playing b-ball with him look half his age.
Does he give them kickbacks to take it easy on him?
I bet he needs oxygen and a wheelchair after a quick game.
Posted by: kyle | Oct 26, 2009 11:05:35 PM
Post a comment
