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stephanie
03-01-2007, 01:31 AM
:laugh2:

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Valerie Sullivan
SPECIAL TO THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Californian Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, is drawing accolades as a role model for young women.


WASHINGTON — For a new generation of girls, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is something of a modern-day Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Yet, unlike the stylish, idolized wife of President John F. Kennedy who became a fashion and cultural icon to millions of American women of that era, Pelosi is a glamorous role model based on her own accomplishments, say pop-culture experts, fellow female lawmakers and several young women interviewed recently.

"No longer are women solely the backbone; we’re the candidate," said Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Cleveland.

The important message for young women to take from Pelosi’s success, said Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington, "is that glass ceilings in politics are largely an anachronism now."

In Pelosi, young women have found a powerful yet fashionable female role model, said Julia Pflaum, an Ohio University senior and president of the student club Fashion Associates.

"She is kind of breaking down barriers, in the sense that you can dress nicely but also have something to say, and I think a lot of women look up to that and respect that," said Pflaum, of Hudson, Ohio.

"Nancy Pelosi is very much interested in fashion, but ... she knows that her true impact on the world is in politics and providing a good role model as a powerful and successful woman."

Pelosi’s allure as a role model for young women underscores the ever-changing ideal for women, said Susan Schulz, editor-in-chief of CosmoGIRL magazine.

Girls today want success but have also "seen the sacrifices that women have had to make … in their personal lives" to achieve it, Schulz said.

As a result, they are now looking to role models who have a balance between the two, Schulz added.

"Nancy Pelosi (had) a family life. She raised her five kids before she went into public service. She is a woman," Schulz said. "She’s not trying to play the game the way the boys play it. She’s brought her own set of rules, her own style."

Shelly Branch, co-author of the book What Would Jackie Do — An Inspired Guide to Distinctive Living, said the evolution of the role of women in politics is largely "what society has been willing to accept."

She credits such women as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for having broken the mold.

But even as Clinton helped break down barriers for what women can accomplish in politics — going from first lady to U.S. senator from New York to 2008 Democratic presidential frontrunner — she has been more of a polarizing force.

She took a while to develop a glamorous fashion style and offended many women with her comment years ago that she would not want to stay home and bake cookies, Branch said.

Pelosi has been a force in Democratic politics for years as a lawmaker from California. But she burst onto the national scene this year without much known about her when she was handed the gavel as the first female speaker and her achievement was lauded by President Bush last month during his State of the Union address.

What sets Pelosi apart among female officials — and is turning the heads of young women across the country — is that, like Onassis, Pelosi has achieved success while embracing her femininity, from her actions to her wardrobe, observers say.

Like Onassis, Pelosi is feminine, but also confident and strong, said Alison Brower, Redbook magazine executive editor.

On the day she was sworn in, Pelosi "chose to showcase her femininity," Tubbs Jones said. "She invited all these children to come up to the speaker’s podium and get a feel for what it was like … for banging the gavel and being in the chair."

Pelosi’s fashion sense is also earning nods — a style that’s "clean, elegant, simple, very much in the vein of a Jackie O," Branch said.

"(Pelosi) is someone who’s obviously given some consideration to her appearance and the clothes she wears, and this is very same idea that Jackie had, that your clothes say a lot about you," Branch said.

A generation of young women are paying attention to a woman who sits second in the line of succession to the presidency, said Beth Kaltenbach, an Ohio State University sophomore and president of the OSU chapter of the ONE Campaign, an international AIDS advocacy group.

"Nancy Pelosi has achieved the powerful position of speaker of the House without giving up her beliefs and character as a woman," Kaltenbach said.

"For this reason, she is a role model to many young women today, who hope to follow in her footsteps and achieve great roles in our society as well."
http://www.dispatch.com/national-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/27/20070227-A3-01.html
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CSM
03-01-2007, 06:56 AM
Pelosi is about as feminine as a used jock strap.

GW in Ohio
03-01-2007, 11:31 AM
CSM: If you'll examine the situation objectively, I'm sure you'll agree that Nancy Pelosi is quite a babe, especially for her age.

Your view is colored by your view of her politics.

Hobbit
03-01-2007, 01:37 PM
CSM: If you'll examine the situation objectively, I'm sure you'll agree that Nancy Pelosi is quite a babe, especially for her age.

Your view is colored by your view of her politics.

Ugh, no. I wouldn't bang her with a stolen dick.

I will give her this, though. I find it admirable that she finished raising her kids before pursuing public office.

CSM
03-01-2007, 01:55 PM
CSM: If you'll examine the situation objectively, I'm sure you'll agree that Nancy Pelosi is quite a babe, especially for her age.

Your view is colored by your view of her politics.

Yaa know, you are one sick dude....she is just plain ugly! That notwithstanding, I do not find her personality "feminine" at all....just my personal taste you understand. Then again, I'm not a reporter trying to dress up a bullfrog to look like a princess.

5stringJeff
03-01-2007, 02:05 PM
I could see how someone could find her attractive, even though I don't.

avatar4321
03-01-2007, 02:25 PM
I could see how someone could find her attractive, even though I don't.

I really cant. it has nothing to do with the politics. Mostly because she is pretty old. Maybe if i saw a younger picture of her I could maybe comprehend it...

GW in Ohio
03-01-2007, 03:12 PM
Yaa know, you are one sick dude....she is just plain ugly! That notwithstanding, I do not find her personality "feminine" at all....just my personal taste you understand. Then again, I'm not a reporter trying to dress up a bullfrog to look like a princess.

You know what you're saying, don't you?

You're saying you're turned off by strong women.

You probably don't think Hillary is babe material either, do you?

Hobbit
03-01-2007, 03:16 PM
You know what you're saying, don't you?

You're saying you're turned off by strong women.

You probably don't think Hillary is babe material either, do you?

Hillary? A babe? Look at her. Even if she didn't look like some radioactive fondu-spawn, her smile has all the warmth of a Yukon January.

darin
03-01-2007, 03:17 PM
Not at all - he's saying he's turned off by strong, masculine, ugly women. I don't blame him.

Hillary a babe? I believe nobody with proper vision could consider her attractive. When she was younger, and didn't speak a much, she could have been at least 'average' in the looks department...in my HUMBLE opinion. :)

5stringJeff
03-01-2007, 03:18 PM
That statement I made about Nanacy Pelosi? I can't make it about Hillary. I think Bill Clinton must have lost some kind of bet.

GW in Ohio
03-01-2007, 03:23 PM
Guys.....guys.....guys......

Hillary has always been major babe material.

She is a bit long in the tooth these days, but nevertheless I'd take a weekend at the Watergate with her.

avatar4321
03-01-2007, 03:26 PM
Guys.....guys.....guys......

Hillary has always been major babe material.

She is a bit long in the tooth these days, but nevertheless I'd take a weekend at the Watergate with her.

You dont see many women do you?

darin
03-01-2007, 03:54 PM
Guys.....guys.....guys......

Hillary has always been major babe material.

She is a bit long in the tooth these days, but nevertheless I'd take a weekend at the Watergate with her.

Wow. Brother...

:uhoh: :puke3: :puke3:

CSM
03-01-2007, 06:03 PM
You know what you're saying, don't you?

You're saying you're turned off by strong women.

You probably don't think Hillary is babe material either, do you?

Naw, I am saying I am turned of by old ugly women! As for strong women, I doubt either one could bench press more than 100 lbs.

CSM
03-01-2007, 06:05 PM
Guys.....guys.....guys......

Hillary has always been major babe material.

She is a bit long in the tooth these days, but nevertheless I'd take a weekend at the Watergate with her.

Now I really feel sorry for you. Send me your snail mail addy and I'll send you some magazines so you will know what real women look like!

Abbey Marie
03-01-2007, 06:12 PM
Nancy is certainly a better role model for young women than slutty and worthless Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, so I'm in favor of that. But glamorous? No, not even close. Perhaps if her eyes didn't bug out so much she would be somewhat attractive to some people, but as it is, nah.

avatar4321
03-01-2007, 06:37 PM
Nancy is certainly a better role model for young women than slutty and worthless Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, so I'm in favor of that. But glamorous? No, not even close. Perhaps if her eyes didn't bug out so much she would be somewhat attractive to some people, but as it is, nah.

A rock is a better role model then all of them:)

glockmail
03-01-2007, 07:50 PM
CSM: If you'll examine the situation objectively, I'm sure you'll agree that Nancy Pelosi is quite a babe, especially for her age.

Your view is colored by your view of her politics.

Actually, its a well known fact that GOP women are much more attractive. It has something to do with reduced stress: not having to worry about where your hubby's been, not having to keep track of lies, and not having to worry about how to micromanage the economy in a socialist system.

Gaffer
03-01-2007, 09:36 PM
There's a big difference between a strong woman and a mouthy selfish obnoxious bitch. Neither of them are strong women.