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SCREWING THE POOCH
We sure have seen a lot of THAT going on in the Miami area over a shipwrecked child who became a political football. When Senator Burton stepped in with his divisive language, it became apparent that he had little regard for the child. Burton was going after his nemesis, Attorney General, Janet Reno.
The way most other Repugnants followed Burton's lead intensified the Miami Cuban communities' resolve to keep the child in this country, despite the law concerning ship- wrecked aliens. It also poured gasoline on an already inflamed Cuba and Castro.
The principal cause of the animosity toward Reno is not just that she is a woman IN A POWERFUL POSITION -- it is because she is a woman who never chose to marry, have children and validate cultural directives. To add insult to injury, General Reno is over 6 feet tall, damn smart and fearless. Despite the many attempts of Republican CongressMEN to intimidate, control, harass and threaten her, she calmly goes about the business of being the best Janet Reno, Attorney General, she can be. Confidence in herself and her abilities are her hallmark -- anathema to the boykinpols.
Twice
appointed to this High Cabinet position by President Bill Clinton, she
has been tireless in her efforts on behalf of women and minority civil
rights. She has focused on reducing crimes and drug use -- especially by
children. Her Department of Justice is diverse in color and gender -- excellence
and professionalism, her main criteria. She continues to work hard on our
behalf despite her illness.
She has not only ruffled the feathers of the congressional birds, but also frequently irritated the top dog in the FBI. Reno does not need males to tell her what should be done. She has her life and her vast experience in law to advise her. She accepts information from as many sources as are available to her, and then makes up her own mind and TAKES THE BLAME IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.
As a graduate of Harvard Law School, she faced the same problems finding employment that most women of that time did, making her sensitive to equal rights and opportunity for all. Throughout her tenure as AG, there is nothing she has done that pleases the Republican Majority. They even hold her responsible for the balls-up THEY made of their misuse of the impeachment process. They blame her when cabinet officials are investigated by Special Councils and found innocent of the charges.
Senator
Connie Mack (R-FL) and others were poised to condemn her roundly if she
orders Federal Officers (as she had every right to do) to remove the Cuban
child from his great uncle's home. They have "Waco" video,
primed and ready to assault her -- with the eager cooperation of the media.
The incident at Waco still angers them
-- not because of the terrible fire and loss of life, but because General
Reno TOOK THE BLAME. They wanted it to fall on President Bill Clinton and
they never forgave her for her commitment.
Nevertheless, in Miami, as she continues to seek a nonconfrontational method of fulfilling the demands of the law, she is vilified for "letting things go on too long." Many people in the Clinton Administration have taken punishment from these Republican attack dogs, but Janet Reno has been their constant whipping girl.
Vilified from the right, a constant target of crass and nasty comedy shows and hate radio, and a subject of ridicule all over the Internet, she has weathered nearly 8 years and still acts as if she's never taken a hit. But, some of this hate directed toward her must hurt. How can it not? She must wonder at times, where are the singers and performers backing her? Where are the Florida mayors and other state officals with words of support for her? Where are the women leaders standing up for her as she stands up for them?
A sentence from a Washington Post article reads "And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the attorney general of the United States. Or rather, here is one image of her. She is a man." You can read the rest of the article at:
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/admin/reno.htm Scroll down to "Background from the Post" and click on "What is it about Janet Reno?" 1/25/98
As you may have noticed, women are most usually attacked on their physical appearance -- men seldom are.
So as the Miami/Cuban affair is played out, the wings are loaded with those gleefully hoping that at worst they will have footage of a small child screaming because Federal Marshals are taking him to his father. At best, that colorful videos of "Little Havana" in flames be added to the presidential campaign material for "W". Whatever happens here, Attorney General, Janet Reno, MUST be found to be WRONG. Talk about stacking the decks!
We know that most people in Reno's position would have delegated the Miami situation to an underling. Then that person would screw the pooch and get the blame.
For all her height, abilities, courage and stamina, Janet Reno is NOT a man -- she is, however, in the best sense of the word A MENSCH.
2000-016
Copyright 2000 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@together.net.
G e n d e r G a p p e r s T M
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