Yesterday Betty Jean asked me to access this blog and remove a picture link to “The New Agenda”. TNA had demanded that she do so. Some of you may have seen on other blogs emails that Amy Siskind has sent to other people, in which she says some very harsh things about Betty Jean. In one I saw, she called her “insane”. She had told Betty Jean not to contact her again, because of Betty Jean drawing attention to a post Amy had written about finding a way to overlook the actions of Jon Favreau. Many of us were outraged that she would suggest Favreau spend time at a battered woman’s shelter, as a way to teach him about women’s suffering. How appalling to ask women who have run for their lives to then take on the task of teaching a frat boy like Favreau what every person already knows in their hearts, even if they have also learned the lesson of society that yes, violence and sexual harassment are wrong but… but… wink wink it’s okay to grop a cardboard breast of the incoming Secretary of State. Boys will be boys.
Nonsense!
Below is the content of an email from Harriet Christian detailing why she, a founding member of The New Agenda, has resigned from TNA. It’s sad to see an organization which showed such promise has in the space of less than 6 months become a shadow of what it could have been…
Dear Friends,
On Friday, December 19th, two colleagues and I resigned as Founding members of The New Agenda. Due to a conflict of interest we professionally and politely tendered our resignation. Here is an excerpt from that letter:
This decision did not come easily and we wish you the best in all your efforts. It just doesn’t work for us to be told that we can’t speak with certain people. We would not work against the New Agenda but we have been a part of Puma from the beginning and need to feel free to support them as well. Also, quite frankly, deep down the narrative about BettyJean being dangerous or a stalker just didn’t feel right to be a part of. This whole situation started as a criticism to the New Agenda’s softening to the Favreau situation and snowballed out of control. The irony is that BJ was ultimately right – allowing a “boys will be boys” attitude to persist leaves the door open for worse behavior – but that’s a separate issue.
Since that time, it has come to my attention that Amy Siskind has told the remaining Founders that SHE does not want Blue Collar Women or PUMA “Screamers” in HER organization. I felt compelled to let members of the New Agenda know what the underlying agenda is – looking out for wealthy women and looking down on the rest of us.
Sincerely,
Harriet Christian
Original PUMA
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WTG! Harriet! I was out raged by The New Agenda’s reaction to Favreau. I guess it is good I run under the radar. I compared Favreau to Ted Bundy. TNA thought Favreau should do time in a battered shelter. Ted Bundy did time in a Rape Crisis Center and look at all the murders he committed. I am not suggesting Favreau could become a murderer but he will not be rehabilitated by volunteering in a battered women’s shelter. Amy Siskind is beginning to sound like the arugula eating Whoe Foods Crowd. That is probably the reason I refused to join TNA. I didn’t like their agenda from the start.
Amy Siskind is a tool and a fool. She needs to shut her mouth and go away. Talk about inconsequential! This original blue collar 70s feminist just couldn’t see a purpose for joining a group that couldn’t represent all women equally!
See my blog post about Favreau and BJs needs…..http://msplaceddemocrat.com
Was the picture taken before Hillary was nominated for S.O.S., or after?
I was under the impression the photo was taken a while ago and then recently posted on the net. If that is the case, then Hillary was not yet the S.O.S. nominee.
If I am incorrect, I apologize.
Fact is: Bill Clinton would have allowed this issue to come up at a press conference or interview, and with a subtle shake “no” of his head, would have eloquently and emphatically commented on the better way. For the guy who’s been acclaimed for his eloquence, Obama’s avoidance of the question suggests that Favreau hasn’t yet written what he needs his boss to say about his being photographed having too much fun.
Why would it matter when the picture was taken? It was wrong, it is still wrong. The last thing a shelter needs is this insensitive infant showing up to “help” them. He needs to be out on his butt for this stunt. It’s his disrespect for all women, not just one.
To Harriet and others, I commend you. You have stood up for all women with this action.
My understanding was that the photo was taken this Thanksgiving, so that puts it after the election, and after Obama had asked HRC to be SoS.
Favreau is busy writing Obama’s inaugural address, and nothing will ever be said by Obama about that picture.
The New Agenda–Two wrongs and no right in sight, so it’s looking very old indeed.
Favreau needs a good kick in the nutz. Not a damned one of those guys blowing off his behavior (like James Carville) would have done the groping themselves. they know what the limits are.
Favreau is a child like Obama. for some reason they both need approval of other men more than they need women. a common trait of all the male Obama synchophants. they don’t LIKE women.
IMO a group with as little passion for the cause as New Agenda isn’t worth bothering with. too many non-commited watered down women’s advocacy groups get nothing done. what did the wealthy faction get us before the election? nothing. blue collar women live & work with that misogynist crap every day. we live it, we know it, we’ll fix it. Harriet rocks!!
I have also removed TNA link from my blogroll!
Now, something to hopefully bring some light into your life, Bettyjean…You, Denise and Louisa are in my prayers.
Please enjoy the wonderful pictures of luminarias, a New Mexico Tradition, esp. on Christmas Eve
5. The Heart of the Season: Celebrating the Season with Light…New Mexico Luminarias
Has anyone noticed – TNA had compassion for Favreau but has not covered a horrendous crime? This – a premeditated attempted murder against a member. Committed a heinous crime an attempted murder against the daughters of one of their own members.
I am not just any member either – I am a very dear and close friend of no less than 5 of the original founders. I am also well associated and/or very friendly with several other founding members of this organization?
I also agreed to endorse TNA and endorsed their radio show. I had been approached to be a founder and had so considered the option at one point.
AND TODAY- MY DAUGHTER LIES DYING – she is the victim of violence- AND YET NOT ONE WORD – from TNA – a women’s group whose goal is to address such issues. NO, NOT ONE WORD REGARDING THIS STORY!
We should all be screaming – WHY? Why TNA – Why?
raGing wrote “Favreau is a child like Obama. for some reason they both need approval of other men more than they need women. a common trait of all the male Obama synchophants. they don’t LIKE women.”
I think the above comment by raGing is relatively accurate.
Time spent in a battered shelter for women is not such a bad idea. The primary way to develop empathy for somebody one doesn’t respect is to spend time with them.
The issue becomes HOW MUCH time, and is it all at one sitting, or in intervals. I think it’s great that there are PUMA’s for, and against this idea. Unfortunately, those who have taken different positions on this issue don’t want to acknowledge the validity of differing viewpoints.
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One other thing, It appears the content of the editorial has been altered because there is no reference to Hillary Clinton as SOS. (If I am wrong I apologize). This makes my original point look out of context. My original question was asking when the picture of Favreau was taken, was it actually taken before or after Hillary became the SOS nominee since the original editorial seemed to make reference to Hillary as SOS.
I feel this is very important. If the photo was taken AFTER Hillary was appointed SOS, that cannot be taken lightly. However, if the photo was taken while Barack and Hillary were still adversaries, it still wasn’t a smart move, but at least it would be slightly more understandable.
Please stop talking about sending Jon Favreau to a battered womens shelter here.your being disrespectful of BJs wishes
The ones who should be visiting a womens shelter are Amy and any other woman that believes this a great idea to talk to the many women who look at that photo and see in Jon Favreau eyes their own monster, Their own attack that began with drunken, groping, hair pulling beer bottle in your face. You know boys being boys.
Would you send a child rapist into a school so he could learn to see children as innocents?. .
The question TNA should have asked is why the hell do we have so many shelters for battered women?.women are in prison and we call them shelters.Women treated like criminals removed from their homes and the real criminals are free to attempt to murder her again. Do we not have places for criminals who commit crimes against another human being already called prisons?
TNA you should be asking why are the criminals who commit a crime against women treated differently.? Why are the innocent victims, women, removed from their homes and sent to a shelter-prison?.No other group in our society is treated this way when a crime is committed against them. Only WOMEN..
TNA should be yelling about the Need for shelters for women and not turning their heads to women who are battered.
Barbara,
I agree with you. Sending this pig to a shelter that is supposed to be a safe haven for abused women and children is merely victimizing these poor souls again. They are in the shelter only because there is no legal remedy for them to live in freedom and have their abusers locked up. Frankly, I think the number of males allowed into these sanctuaries should be extremely limited, and certainly should not include any males without the utmost respect and compassion for abuse victims. Allowing a perpetrator access to abused women is incredibly wrong.
Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to suggest that Favreau spend time at the New Agenda. I suspect Ms. Siskind would have objected rather seriously to that idea.
freemenow, on December 24th, 2008 at 8:46 pm Said:
Has anyone noticed – TNA had compassion for Favreau but has not covered a horrendous crime? This – a premeditated attempted murder against a member. Committed a heinous crime an attempted murder against the daughters of one of their own members.
I am not just any member either – I am a very dear and close friend of no less than 5 of the original founders. I am also well associated and/or very friendly with several other founding members of this organization?
I also agreed to endorse TNA and endorsed their radio show. I had been approached to be a founder and had so considered the option at one point.
AND TODAY- MY DAUGHTER LIES DYING – she is the victim of violence- AND YET NOT ONE WORD – from TNA – a women’s group whose goal is to address such issues. NO, NOT ONE WORD REGARDING THIS STORY!
We should all be screaming – WHY? Why TNA – Why?
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For the record, Daily PUMA might have been the first to notice, and even put up a poll question about this very topic. The New Agenda will never be taken seriously if they feel a paper cut out matters more than flesh and blood violence.
http://www.DailyPUMA.com
Wow. so blue collar women are unworthy to the TNA? Sounds like an organization I won’t be checking out.
…even though I have two degrees. I can smell insecure elitists a mile away.