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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
5

No Country for Single Women?

Praising Napolitano as 'perfect' for Homeland Security because of 'no family' really a diss

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(Newser) – Single? Career woman? Then you must be a cold, power-hungry spinster perfect for the 24/7 job of securing our nation's borders from terrorists. Or at least according to Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell, writes Gail Collins in the New York Times, who damned his unmarried Arizona counterpart Janet Napolitano as “perfect” to run Homeland Security, “Because, for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect.”

Rendell told Collins that he was misunderstood, and actually was talking about all workaholics. “I have no life either,” he said. Still, it always seems to be unmarried women who get "portrayed as vestal virgins who live only to serve their chief executive," writes Collins. “Instead of being celebrated for their achievements, they wind up regarded as slightly fanatic." Think Condi.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, listens to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, left, during a meeting of Democratic Governors, Friday, June 20,2008, at the Chicago History Museum in Chicago. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is at center.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, listens to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, left, during a meeting of Democratic Governors, Friday, June 20,2008, at the Chicago History...   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
In this file photo, Gov. Ed Rendell signs a bill into law at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Philadelphia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2008.
In this file photo, Gov. Ed Rendell signs a bill into law at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Philadelphia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Homeland Security Secretary-designate Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, left, joins Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, at the presidential transition headquarters in Washington.
Homeland Security Secretary-designate Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, left, joins Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, at the presidential transition headquarters in Washington.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Instead of being celebrated for their achievements, they wind up regarded as slightly fanatic. - Gail Collins

And it sure sounded as if he was saying that single people like Napolitano exist in a state so dark and barren that the empty hours can only be filled up by guarding the nation’s borders against terrorists and preparing for the next hurricane. -

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5 comments
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IN RESPONSE:
Shannonals
Dec 4, 08 8:56 PM CST
And how does Janet Napolitano posse a threat to our nations National security?
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jaguarj
Dec 4, 08 10:31 PM CST
No more a risk than BUSH has has had us in for 8 yrs...idiot.
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infidel
Dec 4, 08 10:18 AM CST
This comment has been removed by Newser’s community. You must be logged in to view this comment. Reply
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Nagual
Dec 4, 08 2:30 PM CST
Oouah, your partisan opportunism is showing. No you're right though.. I mean, if it weren't for those damn pinkos, we would surely all have great leaders like our president! Damned be this imperfect world!
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inky
Dec 4, 08 12:05 PM CST
The lady from AZ is a not-very-closeted gay person, which is probably a first. Good for Obama. Boo for all the people who keep bringing up her marital status. Reply
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