Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers – As I watched Rep. McMorris Rodgers give the Republican response to the president’s State of the Union address last night, I wondered how many heard her mention she was the 200th woman elected to Congress, or for that matter how many viewed her remarks. After all, a survey indicated only 30 per cent of Americans were expected to watch the president.
Despite the fact she is the top ranked Republican woman in the House, and ranked right after Representatives Boehner, Cantor and McCarthy, some beltway pundits predictably suggested she was selected to give the response to answer the Democrat’s phony war on women charge. Not surprisingly, Rep. McMorris Rodgers acquitted herself well as she related goals of the Republican Party
Sen. Margaret Chase Smith – Coincidentally, I read of Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ selection
the same day I read of another Republican woman being remembered for her achievement. Fifty years ago (Jan. 27, 1964) Maine’s Sen. Margaret Chase Smith announced her candidacy for president of the Unites States. A strong conservative, she was the first woman to be elected to the House (1940) and the Senate (1949), and is credited with promoting women as important thinkers and leaders, not just because they were women. David M. Shribman, writing in the Wall Street Journal, chronicled some of her efforts in her 33 years in Washington. I recommend it to your reading.
During a U. S. Air Force public affairs assignment at Dow Air Force Base, now Bangor International Airport, I had the pleasure of meeting the Senator during her visit to the Bomarc Missile facility there (see photo at right). Known as the “Gentle Lady from Maine,” she was strong on national defense issues.
Heard that before – In last night’s State of the Union address President Obama proved that even he is aware of one of the fallacies of big government when he promised to cut bureaucratic red tape for infrastructure construction. During last year’s address he promised “to sign an executive order clearing away the red tape that slows down too many construction projects.” Just three months later, while appearing at a photo op in Cushing, Oklahoma he announced that the administration would cut through red tape for the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline.
