This is a story that isn’t going away anytime soon, even though I’m sure Komen never thought in a million years that women would react as viscerally as they have.  And that’s why the Komen Foundation is probably finished, because they misjudged their constituency.   Not understanding the motivations of supporters is a death knell for any organization.

But the real story in this whole fiasco is one that most have missed — the role that women in online and social  media had, and continue to have, in bringing attention to a story that Komen must have believed would go relatively unnoticed because the amount of money involved was such a small portion of Planned Parenthood’s annual budget.

The fight against breast cancer is supremely personal in a way many other causes are not.  A true sisterhood was born around this one medical issue  and the bonds of that sisterhood have only grown and become stronger over time.  Women across the country have come together in support of each other to raise awareness for the need to fund the research for a breast cancer cure.  We’ve walked together in pink t-shirts and we’ve taken money out of otherwise tight family budgets to donate to “the cure.”

This sisterhood exists not only in real life, but in the virtual world, as well.  And as anyone who is the least bit social media savvy knows, women rule online spaces.  In the last few years, those women have created powerful brands and successful businesses out of knowing how to leverage those tools for maximum effect.   How any organization could have failed to foresee that tech-savvy women, who are the same ones who’ve been their primary supporters, wouldn’t use those same tools to fight back on behalf of loved ones who need the screening and preventive care services Planned Parenthood offers,  is about the biggest corporate communications failure I’ve witnessed for a long time.

Women felt betrayed and they had the tools and presence to do something about it.

Facebook and Twitter lit up with users speaking out against Komen’s decision, encouraging people to stop giving money to Komen and take it to other breast cancer organizations.  Women announced they would stop “buying pink.” (The issue of pink-washing is another story for another day).  And Beth Kanter, one of the leading authorities of how non-profit organizations can use social media effectively, created the “Komen Can Kiss My Mammogram” board on Pinterest.

Whether Komen was actually using dollars for breast cancer screenings as a political pawn in the war against abortion and women’s reproductive rights, we may never know for sure (though according to at least one report, Komen’s VP for public policy, who is staunchly anti-abortion, was one person behind Komen’s plan to ditch Planned Parenthood.)  But in some ways, it doesn’t really matter now.  Komen has offended its base and there may be no fix for that.

I doubt there is a woman on the planet who doesn’t know someone who’s had breast cancer.  My grandmother had breast cancer.  My best friend died of breast cancer.  And a good and wonderful friend Susan Niebur — a planetary scientist, mother of two, author of the blog Toddler Planet and known as “@whymommy” on Twitter — has been a graceful and eloquent advocate for her particular form of breast cancer. Susan is in hospice and the people whose lives she has touched have been sending their good thoughts and prayers to her through virtual cards being produced by her friend Amy aka TeachMama.

When an organization uses the lives of our friends and families as political fodder, we don’t take kindly to that.  And we know how to raise a ruckus.  And we’re not afraid to do that in the name of good people who aren’t statistics, but who are important parts of our lives.   For those of us for whom this is personal, it doesn’t matter that the amount of money the Komen Foundation wanted to pull from Planned Parenthood was only a small part of that group’s annual budget.  What matters is the message it sent — that keeping political benefactors happy was more important than even one woman’s life.

As one person pointed out to me, the Komen Foundation can do whatever it wants with its money and give it to whichever organizations it believes advances its agenda.  And that’s true.  But as others have said, “Susan G. Komen is dead to me,” and “I’ll never give the Komen Foundation another dime.”   I suspect a great majority of Komen supporters will find those other organizations in a hurry.  I know I have.

UPDATE:  After I wrote this post, Susan Niebur passed away.  She is much loved and was a valiant spirit.  For those who are interested, please consider donations to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Yeah, my mom writes about politics. What of it?

Yes, I spend a lot of time reading stories from around the web about politics, ESPECIALLY in this crazy election year!  But sometimes a girl’s got to spread out, get a little perspective and check in with other parts of the world, even when I’m knee deep in the process for my new gig as Election editor/contributor at iVillage iVote.

One of the main themes of my book, Mothers of Intention, was that there are SOOOO many wonderful, talented and inspiring women writers around the web who don’t get as much attention as they should. Some of them write about “politics,” but many write about other things important in all our lives.   So in keeping with that theme, here are some women you should definitely check out, because they’ve got some things to say that apply to so many of our lives:

Tracey at Sweetney ponders the nature of relationships, especially how to make things work in the crazy world we live in, and will be writing about that through the month of February.  As Tracey says, marriage isn’t easy and none of us has all the answers, but I’m sure she’s bound to have a thing or two to say that will inspire me this month.

Thinking about diabetes in the aftermath of Paula Deen’s announcement that she has Type 2 diabetes and still promotes those deep fried butter balls?  Kerri at Six Until Me, who was diagnosed with a Type 1 diabetes in the 1980s, talks about how she’s tired of feeling guilty about having to explain her disease to others, and how she’s dealing with that “burnout.”

Liz at Mom-101 is asking for help for her brother’s six-year-old niece who has autoimmune encephalitis.  The family is raising money to help fund a much needed bone marrow transplant.  Please take a read about this brave girl.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation has come under intense fire for cutting funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood and then, at least temporarily, reversing itself under an extreme uproar from the public.  I’m still pondering this whole ‘breast cancer meets politics’ thing, and definitely have something to say, but in the meantime, there are two wonderful posts at The Broad Side with two different perspectives on what turned into a major debate, not only about breast cancer, but how we as a society view the spectrum of women’s health issues.

Well, that should keep you busy during Super Bowl halftime!  If you’re not waiting to catch the Ferris Bueller in middle age commercial, that is!

(Yes, I drive a CRV.  No, I don’t work for Honda.  I just love Ferris Bueller.)

Maniacal laugh. MANIACAL LAUGH!

Welcome to the latest installment of BlogHer’s series Why I’m Political. I know lots of people steer clear of the world of politics or anything that makes you think about one more televised candidate debate! But the political means a lot of different things to different people, especially women. I learned that as I was writing Mothers of Intention: How Women and Social Media are Revolutionizing Politics in America and discovered the women writers who contributed their essays to show the world that women in general, and mothers in particular, are not only motivated by important causes and issues, but they are writing publicly about those issues and are getting involved to in various ways to make a difference.

This week, I was pleased to interview Ilina Ewens, who writes at her personal blog Dirt & Noise, and contributed to Mothers of Intention with her essay, “Purchasing Power of Women.” Ilina wrote her essay after having to explain to her two young sons the importance of President Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law — so I wasn’t surprised that Ilina had a lot of things to say about being a politically minded woman!

What motivated you to become political and/or go public with your political views? Were you ever afraid of what your /friends/family would think?

I’ve never been one to shy away from controversy, though I don’t seek it out. I am confident in what I believe and think more women should feel free to speak their minds. So many women have told me what they think politically but don’t share because it’s different than what their fathers or husbands believe. It’s a tough position to be in. My political views and values are such a large part of who I am, so it wasn’t a conscious decision to write about politics. In fact, my very first blog post was about politics. It’s called “Feeling Blue.” I wrote about why I didn’t support George Bush and how I explained that to my sons.

What are the issues you most focused on now going into the 2012 campaign season? What issue do you think is important that the candidates aren’t talking about?

Education. It’s abominable that teacher salaries are being cut and less money is spent on educating our children. We need to change our paradigm to view education as an investment, not an expense. The future of our country is on the backs of children today. We can’t leave them to fend for themselves with no skills to not just cope, but to succeed, in the high tech, global climate that awaits them.

Coupled with the lack of education focus is the lack of support for families in general. It’s an outrage to me that conservatives rest on their “family values,” when their policies harm families more than help them. Our kids can’t succeed if they are hungry, hurting, homeless, abused, latchkey, or without bare necessities and resources. The working poor need help. The middle class needs help. We need to restore a sense of security and long-term vision to the people. Providing and valuing a sound education is the only way out and up. This seems like a no-brainer to me because the whole community is lifted by an educated society.

I think one reason education is so sorely neglected and undervalued is because teaching is a profession that is largely female. As a nation we don’t put the same value on women (take our crappy maternity leave policies as an example). This palpable neglect and discrimination against women must end. That drives me crazy, and that is what no candidate is talking about.

How do you connect your political views or activism with your role as a mother? Did your views/approach to the political world change after you had children?

I’ve always been opinionated and active in politics, since I could vote. I’ve always seen the world as a place bigger than the space I occupy (literally and figuratively). When I became a mother, my perspective shifted to make me see things in a broader way. I no longer focused just on the here and now; I started focusing on the future. The concept of legacy is important to me, mostly because I have no sense of that myself. I have a fierce desire to follow the cliche to leave the world better for my sons. I also want to show them firsthand that every single person matters and that being engaged in the system is

paramount to changing the world.

I have taken my sons canvassing and have taken them with me to vote in all elections big and small. We have marched in protests against the re-segregation of our school system and watched presidential speeches on television. I openly talk to my sons about the issues that matter to me and follow up with what we can do about it. I don’t want them to feel helpless and overwhelmed. I want them to see that being informed, educated, and involved makes a big difference. And I hope they pass that on their children one day.

What motivated you to write the essay that was included in Mothers of Intention?

I think mothers’ voices have been ignored, but social media has allowed us to speak out and speak up. We are a force, politically, socially, and financially. I love the community of women who contributed to Mothers of Intention and am proud to have contributed to the book. It should serve as a wake-up call to politicians and their handlers to stop underestimating the power and value of mothers. We advocate for multiple audiences — children, our husbands, our parents, teachers, caregivers, women, teens, girls, the list goes on — so our voices are powerful and relevant.

Recently you’ve done some writing at your blog, Dirt & Noise, as well as The Broad Side, about the issues in the Penn State sexual abuse story? What prompted you to write about issues involving abuse and how we react to that socially/politically?

Though we don’t want to admit it, we live in a culture of abuse. It’s more than the Kitty Genovese Syndrome. We have come to accept that hubris and power trump human decency. Certain segments of our population, often the young and/or disenfranchised among us, are victims of abuse. Those victims have little to no recourse. Our values are simply effed up when grown men put their careers and wallets first. This mindset is not unique to Penn State. I’ve seen it in corporations, too. Abuse gets brushed under a PR machine’s rug, and the culture doesn’t change. By allowing abuse to continue and not protecting victims, we as a society are saying that it’s acceptable. We condone this kind of violence by ignoring it. It has me seething.

Would you ever run for office?

No way. Too many skeletons that I can’t bear to bare. Plus, it’s a daunting task to run for office. I have a family and my own marketing consulting business, and I can’t imagine how I would juggle it all. But most of all, I also don’t have the temperament or decorum to play political games. I’m better with the written word than playing word games with a poker face. However, I did desperately want to be president of the United States when I was in first grade. My teacher, in not such a kind manner, told me I could never be president because I wasn’t born in America. I was crushed.

Who is not running for office right now that you wish was running?

My husband. Seriously. He is extraordinarily smart and compassionate, with no ego to get in his way. He is a rare professional who operates with the ideal balance of heart and head. He hasn’t an ounce of hubris and truly wants to focus on bringing opposing sides together rather than pushing forward his own agenda. He has strong opinions and is incredibly articulate and well informed. I’d love to see him make a difference locally. I also happen to think I’d make a fine first lady.

Who do you hope will be the first woman elected president of the United States?

I’d totally vote for you, Joanne! I find it astounding that India had a woman leader before the United States (I say this as an Indian woman who was raised in the U.S.). I met [U.S. Senator from Maryland] Barbara Mikulski once many years ago. She left a lasting impression. I think she’s got some Paul Wellstone spirit in her, and American politics is missing that kind of earnest passion. I would love to see her in office. I would heartily support [U.S. Senator from New York] Kirsten Gillibrand, too. I love her commitment to social issues and her understanding of how social issues integrate within the larger scheme. I bet we have a lot in common as we navigate raising compassionate, responsible boys. And I would love for her to Skype with my six-year-old son

so he could practice his Mandarin. What a leg up she has on the global stage with that skill!

What advice do you have for women online and other bloggers about how not to fear writing about important or controversial issues?

What’s most important is the tone you take. Write confidently and passionately. Tell a story to depict your position, rather than point fingers and call names. I admittedly can be snarky, but my voice still reflects my beliefs in a heartfelt, positive manner. Write for yourself and your main audience; don’t write to please the masses. I also reiterate to my readers that I use my blog and my voice to opine, not to report. Authenticity is important so share both your joys and heartaches. Controversy is easier to digest when it’s presented in a thoughtful way that clearly reveals the writer’s opinions and values. A little vulnerability can be a good thing to open up dialogue. There’s a big difference. In the online world everything is open to controversy. I even got jeers on a post I wrote about grilled cheese! I wrote about using your voice here.

What advice do you have for women who are thinking about doing more writing at their blogs that involves issues important to them, but who are wary about dipping their toes into potentially dangerous waters?

Start with something local. Write about what’s happening in your community. Make a call to action for a food drive or shed light on an issue others might not know much about. You don’t have to tackle the pro-choice debate on your first post. Write about what you know. You could even write about a topic that you want to explore more, and present your readers with some questions to garner their opinions. You don’t have to present yourself as an expert on every topic that moves you. It’s okay to present a mix of opinions and facts, because you’re sharing your ideas and values, not presenting objective news content.

Ilina Ewen is known as “Mommy” to two sons ages eight and six, affectionately called “Bird” and “Deal.” She’s a creative spirit with business sensibilities and a love for all things culinary. Ilina is a seasoned marketer with over 20 years of experience in branding, communications, advertising, and consumer research. She believes in the power of community and spends her time advocating for causes that touch her heart or ruffle her feathers. Ilina is a lover of words and has an affinity for Audrey Hepburn, the Oxford comma, and Meyer lemons. She writes about her musings and rants at Dirt & Noise (home of the weekly feature 5:00 Fridays, where you can find a new cocktail recipe and the story that inspired it), TypeAParent, and Technorati.

Cross posted at BlogHer.

Don’t believe me?  Take a quick listen to this great TEDx chat from Megan Kamerick, the immediate past-President of Journalism & Women Symposium:

Isn’t it time to stop wondering where the women are and make a bigger effort to include us in the conversation?

Now, many of you know I have a love/hate relationship with the term “mom blogger,” because many people use that phrase as a justification for suggesting that the writing and work of mothers online isn’t important because, well, we’re just “moms.”  But if we can use the attention that lists like this one can give to the important writing and issues that women online care about, then I’ll take one for the team!

What did they say about me?

Joanne Bamberger from PunditMom continues to find herself on our Top Mom Blog list this year as she tirelessly covers issues of our time with grace and epic smarts. We love that she embraces diversity in political opinions — despite having very strong opinions herself — and feel empowered every time we read her blog, whether it’s her PunditMom blog or the Spin Cycle she writes on Babble Voices.

Joanne came out with the book PunditMom’s Mothers of Intention: How Women & Social Media Are Revolutionizing Politics in America this year, and it is a must-read for the astute analysis of the biggest Internet force — you know, women. You will go to PunditMom for the fabulous perspective on mothers and politics and stay because it just makes you smarter.

Thank you, Babble, for the kind words and continued support of women writers online, who just happen to be moms!  Here’s hoping that this is just another step on the way to collective world domination by amazing, smart women!

The “new, old” Obama was on display this week in Kansas, invoking the name of another populist president, Theodore Roosevelt:

“I’m here in Kansas to reaffirm my deep conviction that we’re greater together than we are on our own. I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same rules. These aren’t Democratic values or Republican values. These aren’t 1% values or 99% values. They’re American values. And we have to reclaim them.”

He’s clearly in full rallying-the-base mode with this kind of speech and he’s going to need every last vote from that group to win in 2012.  Observers are saying this recent speech is reminiscent in tone of the one he made at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, when he was just a mere blip on the political radar as Illinois State Senator Obama:

“Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us — the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of ‘anything goes.’ Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.

The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an “awesome God” in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and yes, we’ve got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

So as a Democrat, I should be happy and excited that the President has gotten his political groove back, right?  Sadly, while his public appearances are great, there are some other headlines that suggest that the President doesn’t know which side his political bread is buttered on.

Two announcements from the administration suggest that the President’s 2012 campaign team has started a strategy of pandering to the conservatives.  First, a recommendation by the Food and Drug Administration to allow the contraceptive Plan B to be sold over the counter to all customers was shot down by Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  News reports say that’s the first time that has ever happened.  Ever.

The FDA’s recommendation would have allowed teens under 18 to have access to what’s often called the “morning after” pill without a prescription, based on the research provided to the FDA.  According to a post at RH Reality Check:

[The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research] carefully considered whether younger females were able to understand how to use Plan B One-Step.  Based on the information submitted to the agency, CDER determined that the product was safe and effective in adolescent females, that adolescent females understood the product was not for routine use, and that the product would not protect them against sexually transmitted diseases. Additionally, the data supported a finding that adolescent females could use Plan B One-Step properly without the intervention of a health care provider.  [Emphasis added.]

As if that story about what seems to be a wavering commitment to reproductive rights isn’t enough to make me question what’s going on in those strategy sessions at the White House, there are now news reports that the Obama administration has launched a high profile investigation into food stamp fraud just as 2012 is upon us.    Banking fraud and Wall Street fraud that caused our economy to tank in 2008?  No investigation.  Possible wrongdoing by hungry Americans?  That’s SOOO much more important to fixing economy, isn’t it.

So in addition to populist-sounding speeches, the White House apparently has decided that the way to win re-election is to go on the attack against pregnant teens and food- stamp recipients.  Maybe polling shows those demographics don’t vote much, so the administration can ignore promises made in the past in order to woo some conservative voters who don’t like reproductive rights or Americans who need financial assistance.

So I have to ask — which Barack Obama is running for president?  The one who wants to lift all boats and make us a better nation by bringing us together and advocating policies that will benefit us all?  Or the one who seemingly is directing his administration to keep some conservatives happy?

Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t want any of the Republican candidates to become president in 2012.  But President Obama should be careful about playing with policy to allay conservative fears about teen sex or poor people on food stamps.   If he’s not careful, he’ll start alienating those who fervently supported him and campaigned for him four years ago.  He’s already slipping in his support numbers from that group.  If he doesn’t want to move back to Chicago until 2016, he really can’t afford to be seen as abandoning the philosophies of his base in favor of a handful of red votes.

Image via barackobama.com

Image via gawker.com

I’ve been trying not to bang my head against the computer over the latest in the ‘Herman Cain Tries to Go to Washington’ saga.  My already-brewing migraine has to do with the revelations of his supposed thirteen-year affair, but not for the reasons you might think.

I’m not holding a possible affair against Herman Cain; I’m holding it against the American voters.  Here’s why:

1. Reports that sexual harassment claims made by female subordinates while he was employed by the National Restaurant Association were settled out of court didn’t tank his candidacy.

2. Reports of alleged sexual assault made by a woman seeking career advice didn’t make supporters rethink and, in fact, boosted his campaign fundraising.

3.  Requests he apparently made of colleagues to help set him up with women he wanted to ask out, as “creepy” as they were, didn’t send supporters packing.

4. But new stories of an alleged consensual, long-term, sexual relationship?  Apparently that will be the story that sends Mr. 9-9-9 back to his book tour.

Before I get dizzy with all this head-shaking going on at my desk, I’m’ not going to ask what’s wrong with Cain, because I don’t really care unless he is the one sitting in the Oval Office.  The bigger question for me is this:

What is wrong with us?

We, the American voters, apparently have a sex problem.  Cain’s supporters didn’t have an issue with Cain being a potential law breaker with the allegations of workplace harassment, and there was little push-back after another made claims of sexual assault, which was still a crime last time I checked.

But apparently reports of Cain’s sex life may be his undoing.  Of course, if that’s the case, it could be good news for the Democrats, because that would knock Newt Gingrich out of the Republican pack!

We are truly a county with some serious sexual hang-ups, as well as a disconnect regarding what actions should be disqualifiers for high office.  Abuse of power as in workplace sexual harassment deserves a serious look.  Consensual sex?  Well, I’m not a fan of extramarital affairs, but as between the two, isn’t it worse to be a lawbreaker than a philanderer?

Our country needs some serious head-shrinking when it comes to sex and politics.  I think it might be time for a nationwide intervention with Dr. Ruth or maybe the Mominatrix to set voters on the right path for 2012.

Image by Joanne Bamberger.  All rights reserved.

Welcome to this month’s edition of the Why I’m Political series. Don’t run off! I know the word “politics” can be scary and conjure up images of never-ending presidential debates. But that’s not what this is about. It’s about thoughtful women from both sides of the political aisle sharing what motivated them to take the leap into writing publicly about issues important to them — and what they’re focused on as we enter the 2012 election season.

Some of the women in this series are contributors to my recent book, Mothers of Intention: How Women and Social Media are Revolutionizing Politics in America (Bright Sky Press) , which explores the rise of women’s voices online.

This month, I interviewed Jaelithe Judy from The State of Discontent and MOMocrats about her essay, “Cynthia Davis is Right: Hunger is a Motivator,” which is about her experiences with childhood hunger. She was prompted to write that essay when Davis, then a Missouri State Representative, advocated that Missouri programs to help feed hungry children in the summer should be shut down to save money, suggesting that kids could just get a job at McDonald’s where they would get free food as employees.

Not surprisingly, Jaelithe had a few things to say about that, in her always thoughtful and eloquent style. Her post is extremely moving. I read an excerpt from her essay at a recent conference where I was speaking on a panel about storytelling, and I saw at least one person crying as I read Jaelithe’s words about the difference between being hungry and going hungry.

Jaelithe, who I have the honor of knowing through our work at MOMocrats, was very gracious about taking time out of her already overloaded schedule to chat:

What motivated you to become political and/or go public with your political views? Were you afraid of what your readers would think?

I’ve been interested in politics since I was old enough to begin to understand it. I was just a freshman in high school when I won a school-wide essay contest with a piece on the value of cultural diversity in schools.

As the child of a working-class, divorced teenage mother, growing up in one of the most dangerous and economically segregated cities in the country, I had a lot of school of hard knocks lessons early in life on just how personal politics can get. I know I was incredibly lucky to rise from those circumstances to the position I enjoy today as a college-educated, middle class person, and I also know that even though I worked like hell to get myself here I could not have done it without help — from neighbors, teachers, family and my country.

So I feel a responsibility to speak up about politics. I feel compelled to speak out on behalf of other Americans who have not had the same opportunities I’ve had to make my voice heard.

Of course I was scared of how the people who read my work would react. I still get scared all the time. But it’s scary to write about anything that’s important. If I’m not scaring myself now and again as a writer, I’m not working hard enough.

What are the issues you’re most focused on now going into the 2012 campaign season? What issue do you think is important that the candidates aren’t talking about?

Obviously, if you ask random Americans off the street what the most important campaign issue is right now, the answer you’ll hear again and again is, “It’s the economy, stupid.” Which of course is true. But it drives me absolutely bonkers when politicians say, “I’m going to create two million jobs in my first year in office,” and then do not elaborate in any meaningful way as to how they plan to do such a thing.

I view our struggling economy as a symptom of a whole set of bigger systemic problems. The economy is tied up with environmental and energy policy. I live in a state that’s been hard hit lately by natural disasters fueled by climate change, and you can bet that has not helped the economy. The economy is tied up with education. Our public education system is a disgrace, and it’s failing to produce good doctors, scientists, and entrepreneurs. There are more honors students in India right now than there are students, period, in the

United States. Is it any wonder that our jobs are being shipped overseas?

But of course the biggest reason our economy crashed so dramatically in 2008 is that there just wasn’t enough government oversight of financial institutions. You know, I don’t want onerous regulations that make it hard to do business. But I do think that corporations should be required to play fairly with consumers. If I swindled one of my neighbors the way some people have been swindled by banks in the past few years, I could be prosecuted for theft or fraud. Why should a bank get away with things a citizen can’t?

How do you connect your political views or activism with your role as a mother? Did your views/approach to the political world change after you had children?

Motherhood absolutely and permanently revoked my privilege to give up on the world in despair. The future is no longer an abstract place to me. It’s a real world my son will live in someday — hopefully for a long time after I’m gone. Becoming a mother made me so much braver about speaking up for what I believe in, because I simply have to be. Come what may, one day, when my son is an adult, I want to be able to tell him truthfully that I tried to make the world a better place.

I think a solid commitment to protecting the future is something mothers across the political spectrum have in common, actually, and I hope that gives mothers a special talent for finding common political ground.

Describe your additional writing that you’d call “political” since you wrote your incredibly moving essay about politics and hunger.

Lately I’ve been writing a lot about food policy at Care2.com. The way we eat is connected to so many very important political issues. Choosing a salad over a cheeseburger can change your carbon footprint. The cocoa in your hot chocolate may have been sustainably harvested, or it may have been doused in pesticides and picked by a starving child laborer who earns 40 cents a day. What kids are served in a school lunch program can affect their standardized test scores. Food choices matter, a lot more than many people consider, and I’m trying to illuminate some of the ways that those choices matter.

How have your political views impacted your relationships with your friends and family, if at all?

I have absolutely lost friends over politics. When I started writing for MOMocrats back in 2007, there were definitely a few other bloggers who just stopped talking to me. It makes me sad because I myself appreciate diversity in thought; I like listening to other people’s points of view — as long as they are well thought out, educated points of view. So I don’t generally want to stop being friends with someone just because we think differently on a political issue.

Some of my in-laws just don’t read much of what I write, on purpose, so they won’t get annoyed with me. But my mother absolutely approves. She even wrote a guest post for MOMocrats once! She’s never explicitly said so (gee, thanks, mom) but I think she’s really proud of me for growing up to be a bit of a professional rabblerouser. I definitely learned rabblerousing from her.

Would you ever run for office? If so, which one?

I think I would make a terrible politician. I was never the popular kid in school — I’m a major nerd, on purpose — and the idea of being famous sort of terrifies me.

I would also have a really hard time toeing a party line. I’ve always been much more interested in the policy part of politics than the partisan part. I care more about outcomes than who gets something done. When I was just a kid I had this sudden revelation that a typical partisan’s support of a political party bears an uncanny resemblance to a sports’ fan’s support of a favorite team, and that just seems ridiculous to me. Politics is much too important to be treated like a sport. Every time I vote, people’s lives may literally hang in the balance.

Who do you hope will be the first woman elected president of the United States? Why?

Elizabeth Warren. Because I think she’s like me — she cares more about policy than partisanship. And because she’s smart as hell, and willing to stand

up to anyone. She wasn’t afraid to criticize the president after he appointed her. I think that’s fantastic. A good president needs advisers who are willing to say “I think you’re wrong.”

What advice do you have for women online and other bloggers about how not to fear writing about important or controversial issues?

I don’t think there’s any way to totally banish that fear. What I did, personally, is put my fear into context. Am I more afraid of possibly offending someone, or more afraid of what might happen if no one speaks out on an issue that I find to be incredibly important? And really, are political controversies that develop in the blogosphere any worse than other sorts? People will argue for days over the best way to start tomato seedlings, or the merits of cloth diapering. I think we Americans need to get over this silly idea we have that it’s not polite to talk with friends about politics. If we don’t talk rationally to one another about politics, how will we ever get anything done?

Jaelithe Judy, mother of one, is a writer, editor and search engine optimization consultant who lives in St. Louis, Missouri. Jaelithe works on SEO at Cool Mom Picks and Cool Mom Tech, writes about sustainable food for Care2.com, is a semi-regular guest on the MOMocrats MOMochat Blog Talk Radio show, and occasionally remembers to write at her personal blog, The State of Discontent. In her spare time, Jaelithe grows far too many tomatoes, writes poetry that she never shows to anyone, and volunteers one day a week as an unofficial librarian at a school for children with special needs.

Originally posted at BlogHer.