video

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough has just lit a cannon in the civil war within the GOP–encouraging like-minded Republicans to step up and take on Sarah Palin: “Enough. It’s time for the GOP to man up.” In a withering column on Politico, Scarborough dissects Palin’s resume, intelligence, and path to the presidency, calling her a huge problem for the party: “Republicans have a problem. The most-talked-about figure in the GOP is a reality show star who cannot be elected.”

While the gender-based political attack du jour deals with the sowing end of the seed spectrum, maternity has suddenly become fertile ground for at least one candidate. At an Oklahoma gubernatorial debate last week, Rep. Mary Fallin (R-OK) touted her 6-0 childrearing advantage over opponent Jari Askins (D-OK), causing cries of “Low blow!” to come sweeping down the plain. Asked what distinguished her from Askins as a candidate, Fallin replied “I think my experience is one of the things that sets me apart as a candidate for governor. First of all, being a mother, having children, raising a family.”

It’s not difficult to imagine a new Cialis ad: “It can happen at any moment”, the announcer intones. Onscreen, we see a campaign debate between Mr. and Ms. contenders. The woman looks meaningfully at the guy and shrieks “MAN UP!!”. Maybe that’s the inspiration for the “Man Up” mantra we’re suddenly hearing from so many candidates, who are giving new meaning to the word “hardline”. It’s almost, but not quite always, women, and usually Republican.

video

One of the sound bites to emerge from last night’s Harry Reid vs. Sharron Angle debate has Angle telling Reid to “man up,” a popular line of attack on Reid from both sides of the political spectrum. While this kind of gender-based attack tends to generate nothing more than an “Oh, snap!” from most observers, imagine what would happen if Reid had told Angle to “act like a lady,” or if President Obama told Sarah Palin to “grow some tits?” Is Sharron Angle a sexist? And who is she really telling to “man up?”