Sex Lies & Audio Tape

You've probably heard about this by now:   

The tape of the Feb. 2 strategy session -- released by Mother Jones magazine -- recorded McConnell and his aides devising tactics for discrediting actress Ashley Judd who at the time was widely expected to enter the U.S. Senate race to take on McConnell. She has since decided not to run for office.

But while Judd was mulling the race, McConnell's staff was strategizing that the best way to hurt her candidacy would be to highlight her past struggles with depression and her religious views, according to the tapes.

In the meeting, according to the tape, McConnell is heard saying, "I assume most of you have played the game Whac-A-Mole? This is the Whac-A-Mole period of the campaign…when anybody sticks their head up, do them out."   abcnews.com

The McConnell campaign immediately cried "Foul!" claiming a Watergate style break-in to bug headquarters, calling on the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office in Louisville to investigate.  Here is the Mother Jones accounting of Who What When Where Why.

Leaders of a "liberal super PAC" Progress Kentucky, are claiming responsibility for the taping.  According to today's news release from NPR station WFPL Louisville, the Democratic party is distancing itself from these two activists.

Our Faces, Our Bodies, Ourselves

Ashley Judd is challenging the media as well as the rest of us to stop the incessant focus on outward beauty. She is criticizing the critics telling them to get back to the inherent values of worth: good deeds, kindness, character, inner strength...all "beautiful". It was refreshing to listen to her outrage on last nights Rock Center.

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I don't know about you but I am certainly guilty of participating in the practice of "Wonder if she/he's had work done?".  I had the conversation with the husband of a friend who looks so darn good in photos I was sure she'd gone under the knife.  He laughed and assured me she hasn't.  But I started the dialog.  It's part of our world of "looking good is better than feeling good."  I should know.  I'm from L.A.

Women are too often treated as objects, armpieces, decoration, at-your-service.  We may be asked to do things in exchange for climbing the ladder.  We may think it's okay to exchange self-esteem for security.  But we almost always have a say.  We have the right, the obligation to say "No" if we, in fact, don't like what we're asked to do.  Some women/girls have no say whatsoever.  They are slaves, chattel, second or third class citizens.  They are seen and not heard.  Luckily, this is not the norm in America though I know it can happen.  Polygamous society anyone?

We all scrutinize ourselves and one another too much.  We're all critical.  I am probably more focused on my looks now they are changing, aging & losing their luster than at any other point in my life.  It's exhausting.

What are your thoughts?  Have women perpetrated an age-old problem?  Is it thrust upon us by the male hierarchy, still in charge?  The media?  Advertising?  What can we do to change the dialog?