Governor Brewer is supporting a project that would capitalize on one of Arizona’s rich resources: copper. The Florence Copper Project will bring hundreds of good paying jobs to Florence and millions of dollars to the state’s economy.
Governor Brewer is also endorsing Peggy Neely for Mayor of Phoenix. Peggy has a track record of bringing jobs to her district during her years on the City Council, is pushing for transparency in city government and voted against the City’s food tax.
Voters have embraced the Governor’s stance on issues from illegal immigration to the economy, but “journalists” discount it by assuming someone must be making decisions for her – – deciding who and what she supports. Would they draw this conclusion if our Governor was a man? Doubt it.
It’s no secret the playing field is still uneven, but in politics it’s magnified. While profiles of male politicians typically focus on issues, profiles of female politicians first focus on the person. Women seem to be saddled with terms that are almost “excuses” for their personalities – – straight-forward, tough. You don’t often read that someone is a “strong man,” but there are many “strong women” in politics. While this may be an attempt at a compliment, it’s really pointing out what the “journalists” considers to be the norm: that women by nature are weak.
It would be nice if journalists could escape their superficial universe of stereotypes and be as sophisticated as their readers. Instead we get stories about Hillary Clinton’s hair. Never ones about Colin Powell’s.
Governor Brewer is wise enough to surround herself with people of varying opinions and backgrounds. In the end, her decisions are her own. Unfortunately, that’s not a juicy enough story.