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Former Rep. Claudine Schneider (R-RI) tells Alan why she thinks that today’s Republican congresswomen are “not voting in the best interest of all ...
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And -- -- -- -- -- former congresswoman Claudine Schneider served in the US House of Representatives some Rhode Island.
During the eighties -- book coming -- -- is fed up with congress.
Ten steps to getting what we deserve five term congresswoman.
Claudine Schneider thank you so much -- program -- ninth.
Thank you and every -- they would thank you so much you've been hitting pretty hard at the current congress Republican congress and particularly congresswomen who are Republican -- Well I was asked a question I answered it honestly had I always do and the fact of the matter is.
Is that thanks to a good investigative reporter who actually checked the votes on a number of key issues that relates to women.
The majority of the Republican women voted against those.
Ryan that's interesting that you -- -- -- environmental health gender equality laws.
The economic equity intention in quite pay equity acts.
You work with people other moderates like John Danforth in -- Connie Morella.
Olympia -- people like that are no longer in you know -- -- congress it's it's.
It's a shame what's going on.
It is the change and sadly is seem to be that -- primaries are the battleground.
For the Republicans and there -- rule of moderates unfortunately has been trampled by the extreme right.
Now there is something called the women's policy alliance.
And user group a Republican women who claim they are you know with a name women's policy alliance you would think to be -- focusing on women's issues but it seems like that's not where they're doing.
Well thank you for bringing this up -- because I am so adamant about the truth being told and to have the Republican women essentially.
Posturing.
By forming a separate alliance.
I think the American people are it infuriated.
That the congress is so fractured already why wouldn't those women who work with each other.
Democratic women and all the women work together just as we did.
During the 1980s.
We have our differences of opinion but we felt that.
What was most important -- we will rise above their differences.
And many of the Republicans you know honestly -- that they admitted that -- where women first Republicans second.
And when there are so few of us in office I mean.
The fact remains that 396.
Countries of the world the United States.
Ranks sixty nines in terms of having women representing -- so those few women that do hold -- -- I feel it's an honor it's a privilege.
Something that to me I thought it was a blessing and you only need to use that position of power for the -- -- women.
Think progress to the -- I think to which are referred fifteen Republican women who were in the house at the time everyone voted against -- Lilly Ledbetter fair play act and I which is really outrageous.
And thirteen of the fifteen voted against the paycheck fairness.
Act which is.
Simply did not pass Muster.
It so it doesn't I don't understand in terms of reproductive health.
Why are not more women for in in whose interest these acts would be why are they not supporting them.
Well I think it's because of the year I think that the women Republican women may be afraid of losing their primaries.
And if they don't vote with the extreme right with the good old boys.
Then they're afraid that they will lose the primary and be out of office.
It's sad that there's no place for moderates.
Like yourself like Olympia Snowe.
Like John Danforth in congress right now what what does one do -- thank you got a book out that coming in June is this net address this issue.
It absolutely does address the issue and you know this whole development with these women reforming their own separate group -- profile what.
They are posturing is accomplishments.
Is sad to me and we will include part of that in the book because.
I have been such a strong advocate of electing more women because women do things differently we act differently.
And by nature -- coalition builders and negotiators.
And the fact that that's not been happening in this congress.
-- -- -- The studies have shown particular and the state level whether more women legislators.
When they are in -- They certainly do a lot more to help the general population whether they're in the Republican Party your democratic right.
Right and also in our book fed up with congress dot net one can go to the web site.
Don't let congress dot net that's pretty good to get them fed up with congress got fed up with congress -- -- -- can set up.
What kind of dot net and does their -- we also address does the role of the media so thank you Allan for having me on but I think that.
You know we have blocked the honest broker.
-- -- -- -- -- leave the moderate Republicans that it seems that the media has been focusing on the left and the right but there's very little opportunity to hear from the middle.
Did you get elected Rhode Island today.
-- I don't know but I would think so.
-- really I fairly moderate state -- in a New England Republicans different than a Mississippi Republican.
Well I'm so happy said that because when I was first elected that was one of the questions a reporter asked me what surprised me most and I said.
That you reporters are getting it all wrong that the greatest surprise to me.
Is that the Republicans from the northeast midwest have more in common with the Democrats.
And they do with the Republicans from Texas Louisiana.
-- you.
Well.
Blame Republicans.
Primarily historically from Abraham Lincoln I mean he was an incredible role model.
He was always one of my favorite presidents as well as Teddy Roosevelt.
But that they -- -- Teddy -- was a progressive.
I know it was a progressive and that's what Jud built in the footsteps but you know I've I like to follow and so that.
To media I think you know Rhode Island is certainly a state state used to vote strictly for the party and now.
It certainly for -- to get elected where the registration was fifteen Democrats every one Republican.
I -- vote for the person not party and I think that that's what more voters.
Should do this year they should not be looking at the party they should be looking at the person does that individual have integrity.
What it is they're voting record all of that information they can find out -- vote Smart dot org.
And that's a terrific organization -- may face -- With Sarah Palin good or bad for women.
-- I don't I don't really technical and I expert -- The first time the Republicans had a female running in the on the top of the ticket -- -- I mean bottom of the bottom of the exact you know the president vice president of the right.
So that really is a glass ceiling for Republicans like a broken.
Well I I think -- Sadly what happens is that the political operative should deport John McCain look we're losing the women's vote -- the Republican Party.
-- -- the Republicans she's a woman and she -- governors this should work out and.
And Arizona needed to know it's -- Right let's go to Dave Dave in buffalo day.
-- Allan thank you I'm thinking that congress -- sentence sounds a lot like the painters union where frequently work male or female.
Journeyman picketers meg you know anywhere between 26 and 48 dollars an hour depending on whether it's -- work or industrial work.
Commercial or residential.
So it's if that women Republicans.
In congress -- so anxious to vote against Lilly Ledbetter.
Why don't they take a pay cut maybe they should take you know 80% yeah what a male congressman's -- would be.
-- It's only 77% would -- writing.
So clever and -- congressman is making a 145000.
They can they can make a 101 and have no problem with that.
-- -- I think that all of us are fed up with congress.
They only have a 9% approval rating and so no one feels that they should be paid tribe does sound a lot pardon me -- it does know a lot like a union.
I union.
The situation where everybody knows what everybody else -- -- The tournament are you supportive of Mitt Romney.
Well really well would you support -- Obama for election.
Yes.
Really you know as a Republican former congresswoman serving ten years this pretty isn't pretty it's pretty stunning statement isn't could be sued publicly before.
No.
And the reason that I feel that way is because as I had said earlier it's all about integrity.
And I need any president says that we can count on that we believe -- And I think that much of the bad press that he has gotten is the fact that most Americans do not know their civics lesson.
And inside the beltway we always used to say the president proposes and the congress disposes.
Meaning that all the president can really do is create the -- you can have the vision.
But if the congress is.
Made up of a majority that is.
Of the -- saying no party.
And their determination from the outset.
Is to make the president fail.
That they just sat with me so much --
