Alternative Headline: "Nation Makes Fun of Robertson '75 for 'War on Women Debate Remark"
During last week’s debate between House Republican Tom Reed and Democrat contender Martha Robertson ’75, most of the audience erupted in laughter and groans when Robertson attempted to implicate Reed in the souped-up “war on women.”
This video has gone viral, with national news outlets and personalities covering and discussing it. It’s proof of how more and more Americans are realizing just how ridiculous the “war on women” rhetoric has become.
Naturally, the Cornell Daily Sun, realizing Robertson’s chances of defeating Reed are diminishing by the second, is really panicking. On Tuesday the Sun’s front page featured an article entitled Roberton ’75 Links Republican Tom Reed to to ‘War Against Women.’ The real news here is the national backlash and mockery of Robertson for trying to pin Reed down in her rhetorical trap. The Sun, however, believes the news is that Robertson said Reed is part of the “war against women.” During the span of a debate and an election, each candidate ends up saying a lot of words and phrases, but the Sun chooses to report solely on the “war against women” comment, fully knowing that Cornell students reading the headline will automatically turn against Reed because of it.
Two weeks ago I posted an article detailing how the Daily Sun ran an alarmist headline and article (well, alarmist only to Robertson supporters) about Robertson losing DCCC funding and support. This article and headline spanned the top of the front page, pushing down more pertinent stories and dominant photos.
Clearly, the Daily Sun is vying hard for Robertson. In itself, that is acceptable and their freedom of the press and speech. In the same vein, The Cornell Review is vying hard against Robertson.
The difference, however, is that this publication admits its political leanings, while the Cornell Daily Sun does not and instead tries to subtly manipulate its readers.
There is no “war on women” by the GOP or Tom Reed. While I support Robertson I think that language is too strong. There is, however, a lack of understanding of poverty by the GOP. And a lack of understanding how poverty has an effect on poor women and women with children. This is seen in the cuts to food stamps and attempts to dismantle the ACA. It is seen in the refusals to expand Medicare and Medicaid (thankfully not in NY thanks to Governor Cuomo). And it is seen in the opposition to a woman’s right to choose whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. A health care decision that should be between a woman and her doctor, not a political decision made by non-medical politicos.(A good example of this mentality is the Virginia law, passed by the GOP, which REQUIRES a woman to undergo a vaginal probe if she is considering an abortion.) For the record, Mr. Reed does NOT support a woman’s right to an abortion. He does not support her right to control her own body. Once pregnant, he wants decision making about that body to belong to the state. Big brother and big government will tell a woman whether she can or cannot terminate a pregnancy. While not a “war on women”, in general the GOP ideology diminishes the citizenship and rights of women, especially poor women who have few options as it is.