"Coakley runs against history in state where old boys rule; Mass. slow to embrace women in high places" by Matt Viser and Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff | December 12, 2009
Twenty-three states have sent at least one woman to the United States Senate, and in three states - California, Maine, and Washington - female senators hold both seats.
But Massachusetts, a bastion of liberal politics and a pioneer in civil rights, is just now marking the milestone of nominating a woman as a Democratic candidate for Senate....
“We’re not great on women in politics,’’ said Andrea C. Kramer, a lawyer who teaches sex-discrimination law at Brandeis University and serves as treasurer of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus. “Massachusetts has very much an old boy feeling to it.’’
Twenty-six percent of the Legislature is made up of women, placing it 17th in the country, according to the Center for American Women in Politics. Among New England states, Massachusetts is ahead of only Rhode Island. New Hampshire and Vermont are first and second in the country, respectively. The Bay State is also one of 30 that have never elected a female governor, though Jane Swift served as acting governor for almost two years after Paul Cellucci resigned to become ambassador to Canada.
Attorney General Martha Coakley is the state’s only female constitutional officer, and if she vacates her position, it would leave a void. But there are several female candidates running for higher office....
Yeah, but put away that smug, self-righteous liberalism, will you, Massachusetts, because it sure does stink!
