Women and GOP

Re “Women Do Support the GOP,” Opinion, Sept. 29:

Wow. The very arrogance of it. If this were written by a male member of the party, it might be excused as the Neanderthal ramblings of some out-of-touch party wonk. But Mary Matalin enjoys a certain amount of respect among those women who describe themselves as “lapsed” Republicans (and we are legion).

Matalin apparently feels that the content of the message is far less important to women than the packaging. The message is that as long as we are spoken to in “ways that are intelligible” to us that we will come flooding back to the GOP fold. The message is that we want things to change, but if you tell us, in ways we understand of course, that your recipe for change won’t hurt anyone, we will support that change. The implication is that women neither want nor require a clear presentation of ideas and agendas. Smoke and mirrors will suffice as long as they are of a pleasing hue.

I am disappointed that Matalin holds members of her own sex in such low regard.

BARBARA SHANKS

Diamond Bar