BREAKING NEWS: RANDI WEINGARTEN JOINS OTHER DEMOCRATIC WOMEN AS THE NEWEST TARGET OF THE MAGA WOMAN HATERS CLUB
In a shocking turn of events, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has become the latest target of the MAGA Woman Haters Club. Yes, you read that right. Apparently, there's a club for that now.
Weingarten, who is a lawyer, an educator, and a political activist, has been accused of everything from promoting "filth" and "Marxist indoctrination" in public schools to mishandling classified information and obstructing justice. And you thought your day was bad.
But why is the right wing going after Weingarten? Well, according to them, she's to blame for school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, which they claim harmed students' learning and well-being. They also oppose her advocacy for public education funding, teacher salaries, school safety, academic freedom, and social justice issues. In short, they want to undermine public education and replace it with a voucher system that would divert public funds to private and religious schools. Because nothing says "education for all" like excluding those who can't afford it.
Of course, some of these arguments are based on lies, distortions, or exaggerations that don't reflect the reality of what Weingarten and the AFT have done or said. But who needs facts when you have fear-mongering?
Interestingly, Weingarten isn't the only prominent female leader in the Democratic Party who has faced sexism and misogyny from her critics. Hillary Clinton knows all too well what it's like to be accused of mishandling classified information and obstructing justice. And let's not forget the "Lock Her Up" chants that were so popular during the 2016 election.
But while Clinton is a former secretary of state, senator, and presidential candidate who has held various positions in government, Weingarten is the head of a labor union that represents public school teachers and other education workers. So while both women have faced attacks from the right wing media, their situations are different.
Smear campaigns against women in politics aren't new. They can damage their reputation and credibility, discourage them from entering or staying in politics, reinforce sexist stereotypes and norms, create a hostile and unsafe environment, and undermine democratic representation and policymaking. But hey, at least some people get to feel superior for a little while.
Some examples of smear campaigns against Democratic women include Nancy Pelosi being vilified as a radical socialist, a corrupt elitist, and a senile old woman; Ilhan Omar being accused of being anti-Semitic, anti-American, and sympathetic to terrorists; Elizabeth Warren being mocked for her claims of Native American ancestry and her progressive policies; Kamala Harris being subjected to racist and sexist slurs, birther conspiracies, and false allegations of sexual misconduct; and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being demonized as a dangerous extremist, a clueless millennial, and a sexual object. Because why attack someone's policies when you can attack their identity?
So who's funding the attacks on Weingarten? Right-wing media outlets and pundits like Fox News and The American Conservative; conservative advocacy groups and think tanks like Moms for Liberty and the Heritage Foundation; and Republican donors and political action committees like the Koch network and America First Action. Because if there's one thing we need more of in politics, it's money.
But Weingarten and the AFT aren't taking these attacks lying down. They've defended their role in advocating for the health and safety of students, educators, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenged false or misleading claims about their support for teaching controversial topics like critical race theory and gender identity, denounced the political motives and extremist agenda of their attackers, highlighted their achievements and contributions to improving public education, and appealed to public support for public schools and educators.
So there you have it. Another day in politics, another woman being attacked for doing her job. But let's not forget to laugh at the absurdity of it all. After all, humor is the best medicine. Unless you're trying to cure stupidity.
THE DEFT DIVE
Randi Weingarten is the president of the **American Federation of Teachers (AFT)**, one of the largest teachers' unions in the United States⁷. She is also a former president of the **United Federation of Teachers**, which represents public school teachers and other school staff in New York City⁷. She is a lawyer, an educator, and a political activist who supports Democratic candidates and causes⁷¹.
Some of the reasons why the right wing is going after Randi Weingarten are:
- - They blame her and the AFT for the school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, which they claim harmed students' learning and well-being¹³.
- - They accuse her and the AFT of promoting "filth" and "Marxist indoctrination" in public schools, such as critical race theory and gender identity¹².
- - They oppose her and the AFT's advocacy for public education funding, teacher salaries, school safety, academic freedom, and social justice issues⁴⁵.
- - They want to undermine public education and replace it with a universal voucher system that would divert public funds to private and religious schools².
These are some of the arguments that have been made by right-wing politicians, media outlets, and activists against Randi Weingarten and the AFT. However, some of these arguments are based on lies, distortions, or exaggerations that do not reflect the reality of what Weingarten and the AFT have done or said²⁶..
Bing, 6/26/2023
(1) Randi Weingarten - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randi_Weingarten.
(2) ‘The Most Dangerous Person in the World Is Randi Weingarten’. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/magazine/randi-weingarten-teachers-unions.html.
(3) AFT Head Randi Weingarten to Conservatives: Stop Politicizing Education .... https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/aft-head-randi-weingarten-to-conservatives-stop-politicizing-education-and-let-teachers-teach/2022/07.
(4) Extremists Are Lying to Undermine America’s Public Schools | Time. https://time.com/6172216/public-schools-extremists/.
(5) Teachers Union Leader Calls for Defending Public Education From .... https://www.commondreams.org/news/aft-randi-weingarten-defend-public-education-from-gop-attacks.
(6) Randi Weingarten blasts 'right-wing extremists' for fighting 'culture .... https://www.foxnews.com/media/president-of-the-us-largest-teachers-union-blasts-right-wing-extremists-fighting-culture-wars.
(7) PolitiFact | Here's what AFT’s Randi Weingarten said about reopening .... https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/may/02/in-context-what-afts-randi-weingarten-said-about-r/.
(8) Randi Weingarten | American Federation of Teachers. https://www.aft.org/about/leadership/randi-weingarten.
(9) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/randi-weingarten-president-of-american-federation-of-news-photo/82546721.
Some of the politicians who have attacked Randi Weingarten are:
- - Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state and C.I.A. director, who called her "the most dangerous person in the world" and accused her and the AFT of promoting "filth" and "Marxist indoctrination" in public schools¹ .
- - Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman from Georgia, who questioned Weingarten's credentials as a teacher and a mother, and suggested that her advice to the CDC caused a surge in gender dysphoria among youths² .
- - Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, who clashed with Weingarten over his opposition to mask mandates and school closures, and who proposed a bill to rein in "overreaching teachers' unions"³⁴.
- - Marco Rubio, a senator from Florida, who wrote an article criticizing Weingarten and the AFT for supporting "dangerous academic constructs like critical race theory and radical gender theory" in public schools¹ .
- - Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, who released a plan to save American education that attacked Weingarten and the AFT for being "taken over by the radical left maniacs" and "pink-haired communists"¹ ..
Bing, 6/26/2023
(1) ‘The Most Dangerous Person in the World Is Randi Weingarten’. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/magazine/randi-weingarten-teachers-unions.html.
(2) Marjorie Taylor Greene Derails Hearing By Attacking Randi Weingarten as .... https://www.mediaite.com/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-derails-hearing-by-attacking-randi-weingarten-as-not-a-real-mother-youre-just-a-political-activist/.
(3) Teachers Union President Randi Weingarten ... - The Political Insider. https://thepoliticalinsider.com/teachers-union-president-randi-weingarten-wrecked-over-misspelled-tweet-attacking-desantis/.
(4) Randi Weingarten mocked for mistake-filled attack on Ron DeSantis: 'A .... https://www.foxnews.com/media/randi-weingarten-mocked-mistake-filled-attack-ron-desantis-tool-democratic-party.
(5) Randi Weingarten blasts 'right-wing extremists' for fighting 'culture .... https://www.foxnews.com/media/president-of-the-us-largest-teachers-union-blasts-right-wing-extremists-fighting-culture-wars.
(6) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/randi-weingarten-president-of-american-federation-of-news-photo/82546721.
Some of the effects of smear campaigns on women in politics are:
- - They can damage the reputation and credibility of women politicians and affect their chances of winning elections or advancing their careers¹².
- - They can discourage women from entering politics or staying in politics, contributing to the underrepresentation of women in political leadership positions³⁴.
- - They can reinforce sexist stereotypes and norms that limit the role and influence of women in society⁵ .
- - They can create a hostile and unsafe environment for women in politics, who may face harassment, threats, or violence from their opponents or the public .
- - They can undermine the quality and diversity of democratic representation and policymaking, as women politicians may bring different perspectives, experiences, and interests to the political arena .
Bing, 6/26/2023
(1) Gender Differences in Political Media Coverage: A Meta-Analysis. https://academic.oup.com/joc/article/70/1/114/5761879.
(2) Negative political ads and their effect on voters: Updated collection .... https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/negative-political-ads-effects-voters-research-roundup/.
(3) The Smear Campaing. How a Toxic Person Tries to Destroy His ... - LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/smear-campaing-how-toxic-person-tries-destroy-his-targets-cabiron.
(4) smear campaign - Political Dictionary. https://politicaldictionary.com/words/smear-campaign/.
(5) Dealing with the Narcissist's Smear Campaign | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201906/dealing-the-narcissists-smear-campaign.
There are some similarities and differences between the attacks on Randi Weingarten and the attacks on Hillary Clinton.
Some of the similarities are:
- - Both Weingarten and Clinton are prominent female leaders in the Democratic Party who have faced sexism and misogyny from their critics¹².
- - Both Weingarten and Clinton have been accused of mishandling classified information and obstructing justice by their opponents¹³.
- - Both Weingarten and Clinton have been targeted by right-wing media outlets and activists who have spread lies, distortions, or exaggerations about them¹⁴.
Some of the differences are:
- - Weingarten is the head of a labor union that represents public school teachers and other education workers, while Clinton is a former secretary of state, senator, and presidential candidate who has held various positions in government⁵ .
- - Weingarten is facing attacks mainly over her role in the school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and her support for teaching controversial topics such as critical race theory and gender identity in public schools, while Clinton faced attacks mainly over her role in the 2012 Benghazi attack and her use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state¹³ .
- - Weingarten has not been formally charged or indicted by any law enforcement agency for any alleged wrongdoing, while Clinton was investigated by the FBI and Congress for her handling of classified information and the Benghazi attack, although she was not prosecuted or convicted for any crime³ ..
Bing, 6/26/2023
(1) ‘Lock Her Up’ Attacks on Clinton in 2016 Are Used in Case Against Trump. https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-indicted-hillary-clinton-3b266500.
(2) ‘Bleach’ and hammers? What really happened with Hillary Clinton's .... https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2023/bleach-and-hammers-what-really-happened-with-hillary-clintons-emails/.
(3) Fact check: Donald Trump Jr. makes false claim about Clinton, Biden. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/08/26/fact-check-donald-trump-jr-makes-false-claim-clinton-biden/5574637001/.
(4) 5 Things Donald Trump Attacked Hillary Clinton Over But Is Currently .... https://www.vogue.com/article/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-five-attacks.
(5) 20 years after 9/11, Hillary Clinton recalls ground zero looked "like .... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-reflects-september-11/.
Some of the sources that are funding the attacks on Randi Weingarten are:
- - Right-wing media outlets and pundits, such as Fox News, The American Conservative, and Semafor, who have given a platform to politicians and activists who have criticized Weingarten and the AFT for their stance on school closures, mask mandates, and curriculum issues¹²³.
- - Conservative advocacy groups and think tanks, such as Moms for Liberty, the Heritage Foundation, and the American Enterprise Institute, who have opposed Weingarten and the AFT's support for public education funding, teacher salaries, and social justice issues²⁴.
- - Republican donors and political action committees, such as the Koch network, the Club for Growth, and America First Action, who have backed candidates and causes that have challenged Weingarten and the AFT's influence on education policy and labor rights .
Bing, 6/26/2023
(1) ‘The Most Dangerous Person in the World Is Randi Weingarten’. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/magazine/randi-weingarten-teachers-unions.html.
(2) AFT Head Randi Weingarten to Conservatives: Stop Politicizing Education .... https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/aft-head-randi-weingarten-to-conservatives-stop-politicizing-education-and-let-teachers-teach/2022/07.
(3) Randi Weingarten has 'meltdown' at student debt relief rally. https://nypost.com/2023/03/01/randi-weingarten-dragged-for-meltdown-at-student-debt-relief-rally/.
(4) Teachers union head: Pompeo ‘desperate to be labeled as the extremist .... https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3746433-teachers-union-head-pompeo-desperate-to-be-labeled-as-the-extremist-in-gop-primary/.
Some of the arguments that Weingarten and the AFT have made in response to these attacks are:
- - They have defended their role in advocating for the health and safety of students, educators, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and pointed out that they have supported the reopening of schools with adequate resources and protections¹².
- - They have challenged the false or misleading claims about their support for teaching controversial topics such as critical race theory and gender identity, and argued that they are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist curriculum that reflects the reality and history of America¹³.
- - They have denounced the political motives and extremist agenda of their attackers, who seek to undermine public education, labor rights, and democracy, and called for a bipartisan dialogue and cooperation on education issues¹ .
- - They have highlighted their achievements and contributions to improving public education, such as securing more funding, raising teacher salaries, reducing class sizes, expanding pre-K and community schools, and promoting academic freedom and innovation .
- - They have appealed to the public support and trust for public schools and educators, and urged parents and communities to partner with them to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality education² ..
Bing, 6/26/2023
(1) Teachers Union Leader Calls for Defending Public Education From .... https://www.commondreams.org/news/aft-randi-weingarten-defend-public-education-from-gop-attacks.
(2) AFT’s Weingarten on President Biden’s Veto of Extremist Attack on ESG. https://www.aft.org/press-release/afts-weingarten-president-bidens-veto-extremist-attack-esg.
(3) Teachers union head: Pompeo ‘desperate to be labeled as the extremist .... https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3746433-teachers-union-head-pompeo-desperate-to-be-labeled-as-the-extremist-in-gop-primary/.
Some examples of smear campaigns against Democratic women are:
- - The attacks on Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who has been vilified by Republicans as a radical socialist, a corrupt elitist, and a senile old woman¹².
- - The attacks on Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman from Minnesota, who has been accused of being anti-Semitic, anti-American, and sympathetic to terrorists³⁴.
- - The attacks on Elizabeth Warren, a senator from Massachusetts and a former presidential candidate, who has been mocked for her claims of Native American ancestry and her progressive policies⁵ .
- - The attacks on Kamala Harris, the vice president of the United States, who has been subjected to racist and sexist slurs, birther conspiracies, and false allegations of sexual misconduct .
- - The attacks on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a congresswoman from New York, who has been demonized as a dangerous extremist, a clueless millennial, and a sexual object .
These are some of the smear campaigns that have been launched against Democratic women by their political opponents, media pundits, and online trolls. These campaigns often rely on stereotypes, misinformation, or personal attacks that aim to discredit, demean, or intimidate these women.
Bing, 6/26/2023
(1) Gendered disinformation is a national security problem - Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/techstream/gendered-disinformation-is-a-national-security-problem/.
(2) The Smear Campaign Against Biden's Not-Yet-Named Nominee - The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/biden-supreme-court-nominee-smear-campaign/621408/.
(3) Digital Safety: Protecting against online smear campaigns. https://cpj.org/2022/09/digital-safety-online-smear-campaigns/.
(4) Azerbaijan: Stop the vicious campaign of gendered smears and reprisals .... https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2021/05/azerbaijan-stop-the-vicious-campaign-of-gendered-smears-and-reprisals-against-women-activists/.
(5) Dealing with the Narcissist's Smear Campaign | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201906/dealing-the-narcissists-smear-campaign.