John McCain is known to have a nasty temper and to drop the c-word in reference to his wife, but even I don’t believe that he hates women.
He just hates Lilly Ledbetter and Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2007.
What’s this all about, you ask? Here’s a mash-up summary from Middle Class dot Org and the CNN website:
An Alabama woman, Lilly Ledbetter, claimed that her employer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., paid men doing similar work 15 to 40 percent more. Ledbetter said she discovered the discrepancy late in her career — too late, SCOTUS ruled, to go to court.
The Supreme Court ruled that Lilly Ledbetter was not eligible for compensation despite years of being paid far less than her male peers and even some male subordinates. According the Court, unlawful discrimination had occurred only when her employer first set the discriminatory pay rate, even though Ledbetter had no way of knowing about it until years later. Under this ruling, since Ledbetter
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Gah. Once upon a time my husband and I were fans of McCain – he seemed pragmatic, sensible, quick-witted, and independent. And then the Pod People kidnapped him. Or maybe it’s like that moment when you stop thinking your boyfriend is deep and artistic, and start realizing that he’s a navel-gazing self-absorbed twit.
Luckily I work in the pediatrics department of a non-profit hospital. Regardless of gender, we’re all equally underpaid.
With Equal Pay the clock should start when you become aware of the discriminatory act, this was always the old standard. The Court really miffed on this one.
Oh man. What a sad state of affairs this is. Thanks for bringing this all to light, Laurie. I was in the bookstore the other day and saw this new book Ask For It by Linda Babcock. Seems like a good resource…
@Perrik John McCain benefits from his own brand of being a maverick. I just hope the press doesn’t give him a free ride, this time, and starts to question his floppy positions on evangelical christians, evolution, abortion, taxes, immigration, the war, etc.
@Bryan Agreed. It’s tough to become aware of the discriminatory pay act when compensation is so secretive & closed. I don’t believe in a soviet-style system of compensation, but no one knows what other people are paid at most companies. Also, pay is so subjective and the difference between a high performer and a mediocre performer — and how those people are paid — is highly nuanced. Maybe I do support a soviet-style pay system after all!
Alison, I think it’s fair to say that women have a tough time asking for most everything in life. My philosophy is that I don’t ask — I just say what I want (with a smile, of course).
I thought, as Bryan mentioned, it was within 180 days of you finding out about the pay. Huh. It doesn’t make any sense to have it been within 180 days of when pay is initially decided in a country whose “corporate culture” of compensation is all about competition and secrecy.
It’s within 180 days of the discriminatory act, which is unfortunately seen as the first paycheck that represents that act (and not the most recent one). You are right, Wenchie. When was the last time anyone had a candid and honest conversation about compensation at the office? (I’ve never had one.)
PS – Bryan should be our new secretary of labor.
Who was the old secretary of labor and why is the position vacant?
It’s vacant because my cat, Lucy, is retiring!!
dude. stop smoking pot. u freeakin hippies
McCain has a very ugly history of insulting comments and inappropriate humor toward women that should make it impossible for women voters to support him. Former Representative Pat Schroeder, a Colorado Democrat famous for her fight for women’s rights recently told the LA Times: “He has always had trouble dealing with women as equals.”
Check out http://www.McCainHatesWomen.com for: Thirteen “Sexist McCain” Incidents — a list of the best known McCin incidents, with related videos and testimony.
I went to http://www.mccainhateswomen.com/ – I can’t believe they have it all documented…most of it with video evidence!