White House to Augusta: Time to Admit Women

But it's the golf club's decision: Obama
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 5, 2012 1:56 PM CDT
White House to Augusta: Time to Admit Women
The sun rises over the Augusta National Golf Club house before practice rounds for the Masters golf tournament Wednesday in Augusta, Ga.   (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

As controversy over the Augusta National Golf Club's men-only policy resurfaces, the White House is taking sides. President Obama "believes women should be admitted," says press secretary Jay Carney. It's "up to the club to decide," but Obama's "personal opinion is that women should be admitted to the club." Meanwhile, a women's rights campaigner who led protests against the club in 2002 is gearing up for a new fight, CNN reports.

This time, the debate centers on the exclusion of Virginia Rometty, CEO of Masters sponsor IBM. The activist, Martha Burk, says there are only two ways out: Either Augusta must admit women, or IBM should stop funding the tournament. Some have suggested Rometty might gain membership after the tournament, but that's no good, Burk writes in a CNN column. "Telling Rometty to be a good girl and wait a little longer with IBM's collusion would be a disaster—not only for the company's image, but for Rometty's credibility as its leader." (More President Obama stories.)

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