April 6, 2012, - 5:48 pm

Mitt Romney Sides w/ Obama, Feminists on Augusta National Membership

By Debbie Schlussel

Something happened this week that should tell you something about Mitt Romney: he’s a lot like . . . Barack Obama.  Both of them said women should be allowed into the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters golf tournament.  I expect that from liberal Obama.  I expect better–but will never get that–from “Mitt Happens.”


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Mitt Happens: Romney Sides w/ Feminist Nutjob Martha Burk on Augusta National

At a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, Mr. Romney followed suit: “I’m not a member of Augusta. I don’t know that I would qualify—my golf game is not that good—but certainly if I were a member and if I could run Augusta…of course I’d have women in Augusta.”

In 2002 and 2003, when feminist Martha Burk was hootin’ and hollerin’ about the lack of female members at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters golf tournament, I appeared on a number of shows to debate her.  That’s because the Augusta National press people saw me on a couple of shows, “CNN Live” and “Buchanan and Press,” kicking everyone’s ass on the topic (I’ve posted partial clips of these before, but eventually, I’ll post the whole clips).  After that, Augusta National’s then-press person (now, he’s Tiger Woods’ press person), Glenn Greenspan referred shows to me if they wanted the Augusta take.  (After that, the Augusta people invited me to the Masters and gave me an all-access pass–the most coveted sports ticket in the world and the most boring week of my life.)  The bottom line–aside from the whines of ugly women, saying, “Me, too! Me too!”–is that it’s a private club.

And that’s how Mitt Romney should have answered press inquiries about it, now that the story is back in the news after USA Today feminist hack columnist Christine Brennan, once again, did Martha Burk’s bidding by whining about whether or not female IBM CEO Virginia Rometty will get an Augusta National membership.


After all, Romney’s church and other organizations he belongs to have members only events that “discriminate”–as we all “discriminate” every single day, from whom we choose to date and marry to our favorite colors, foods, and scents.  Many of Romney’s in-laws, for example, could not attend the weddings of their own children to Mitt Romney’s sons because the Mormon LDS church doesn’t allow non-members inside.  That’s their prerogative, as it is the choice of any private religion to do as it wants.  Just as it’s the prerogative of private clubs to choose their members.  Just as it’s the prerogative of Augusta National to do the same.

Romney should have stayed out of it and respected the freedom we hold dear in America to associate with whom we want . . . and not associate with whom we don’t want at private clubs.  But he’s no different than Obama.  They both want the women’s vote, and both of them are willing to throw everything to the wind to get it.  We should expect that from a liberal like Obama, who wears identity politics on his sleeve like a favorite tattoo.

But, now, Mitt Romney is on the same side as feminist Martha Burk, who famously argued that men should have to go before a committee if they want to have children.  These are the wacko views that feminists hold in the name of faux-equality.

And Mitt Romney’s now joined Barack Obama down the slippery slope of the bra-burning, sagging refugees of the ’70s.

President Bush was smart enough to stay out of this debate back in 2003.  He had an Iraq war to keep his attention occupied.  But Mitt Romney doesn’t.  He has an etchy-sketchy campaign going.

And he just threw the principle of private associations and their right to freedom of choice out the window.  What’s next?

You’ll see little difference in a Romney Presidency from the Obama version.  Yes, “anyone’s better” than Obama.  But that shouldn’t be the standard.  It’s far too low and so low it’s hard to get worse.

We should demand a LOT better than Obama.  But we haven’t.  So we won’t get it in Romney.  Not even close.




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22 Responses

Yup. Another reason not to vote for “Mitt Happens.”

The guy doesn’t have a conservative bone in his body. And we have people in public life like him who are intellectual and moral cowards.

You can’t say the politically incorrect and principled things because it might cost you votes, a government grant or being invited to grace trendy social circles where every one is a moron.

Men can’t have freedom of association if feminists don’t want it. And Etchy Sketchy’s pandering to them in the end won’t get them to vote for him.

This is the first GOP presidential nominee I find intolerable because he’s completely spineless and unprincipled. Republicans shouldn’t expect to see him really oppose Obama on the things that matter to them. In short, a Romney Presidency isn’t going to be significantly different or better than the one Obama is now running.

NormanF on April 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm

Has anyone ever seen Romney and Obama in the same room? Is there tangible proof that they are not the same person?

Stephen Schochet on April 6, 2012 at 6:11 pm

I guess it just shows that the Dems are smarter than the Republicans. They tried to create a big women’s issue over the Sandra Flake contraception controversy. That has fizzled, so they are trying again. Now they’re getting better results, as they got ol’ Mitt to go along with them — and of course Mitt will learn that you can’t out-Dem a Dem.

So Mitt fell (perhaps willingly) into their trap. They must really be laughing it up tonite.

Little Al on April 6, 2012 at 6:42 pm

In light of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, escalating debt, stagnant growth and the loss of the middle east to Islamo-facism, we’ve got to stop everything to ponder a few acres of a stinkin’ golf course?

P. Aaron on April 6, 2012 at 6:54 pm

I do not want to vote for a “Me Too” candidate. Why should I be happy with a gradualist version of Barack Obama? Finally, why would I want to join a private club where I am truly not wanted? It would be like crashing a wedding or birthday party that I had not been invited to. I would be deemed rude and selfish, and rightly so.

This is not the same as a public accomodation discriminating agaisnt someone. Public golf courses, restaurants, swimming pools, and other facilities should not practice gender discrimination, as well as other forms o legally prohibited conduct. But, Augusta National, like a Masonic Lodge, is a private members only organization. Why should it be forced to accept people who do not meet its criteria for membership? There have been too many inroads made into the private sphere by public power. I look upon this as a privacy issue. Will we be allowed to retreat from the world in any way, apart from a hall closet?

Worry on April 6, 2012 at 6:55 pm

I honestly have never wanted to join a country club. Although I am an MD, I do not play Golf. (Except miniature Golf with my wife and kids.)

People have the right, if it is a private club, to put up their little tree-house if they wish. Harvard, on the other hand, takes federal Money, and does not have the right to do this. But I have never heard of Augusta taking State money for anything. Therefore, they have the right to tell people to screw off.

Occam's Tool on April 6, 2012 at 7:01 pm

Real simple: NO BITCHES!

#1 Vato on April 6, 2012 at 7:08 pm

“Yes, “anyone’s better” than Obama. But that shouldn’t be the standard. It’s far too low and so low it’s hard to get worse.”

Well-stated, Debbie.

DS_ROCKS! on April 7, 2012 at 12:26 am

Complete facepalm moment here when I saw that out of Romney, and I expect a bunch of those in coming months. I also read a report that Rick Santorum joined the gutless “Me Too” crowd. Sad. Barack Obama is a clod that doesn’t have enough respect for basic freedom to keep from sticking his big ugly head into every minor dispute that has nothing to do with him. Romney is a panderer that doesn’t believe that the basic tenets of conservatism can stand for itself.

The most telling part of this…. so far I haven’t heard boo from the one individual with any remotely arguable claim in the matter. Ginni Rometty is an avid scuba diver that barely gives half a crap about golf. She appears to be a decent reasoned woman, took her husband’s surname, who quietly understands the right of a private institution to determine its own policies. Romney needs to follow the example of his fellow business leader, rather than joining the President who had to hide from even a loving press for most of a year after shooting off his stupid mouth about police that “acted stupidly.” In the end this nonsense isn’t about her. It’s about militant feminists that can’t stand that their destructive influence hasn’t oozed its way into every nook and cranny, and the gutless panderers that don’t have the slightest fraction of resolve to stand against them.

By the way, Augusta has all of 300 or so members, mostly crazy wealthy old men in their 70s. This is by no means an expansive club and they keep themselves small enough that plenty of deserving individuals don’t get the exclusive honor of being there. Even three-time major winner Ernie Els isn’t there this weekend – didn’t qualify and didn’t get an invite. He said that even if he did get an invite, he wouldn’t be comfortable playing there because he didn’t earn it with his play. If a great leader of the sport is excluded, who could care about a Martha Burk, or a Barack Obama.

That’s how it should be. What honor is an honor, if stupid political correctness demands that it is opened to everybody? Meanwhile, Augusta lives on proud as ever. Martha Burk even got sponsors to remove their support for a few years – they just aired the Masters with no commercials making for some excellent television. That was great fun to watch. I’ll be happy as long as Augusta proudly stands with its principle and Tiger Woods doesn’t win.

Brian R. on April 7, 2012 at 9:10 am

I find it a bit odd that Augusta hasn’t admitted women. I honestly don’t believe that this was originally Bobby Jones’ idea, but rather club financier and chief mover-and-shaker Cliff Roberts’. What most people don’t realize is that Augusta was founded for the winter pleasure of Northern plutocrats. Most of the original members were from the North. The male-only membership rule would certainly have rubbed true Southern gentleman Jones the wrong way, but the club needed Northern money to get started, and this brought with it certain distasteful Northern values.

Jones was one of the famous “Dixie Whiz Kids” coached by Scotsman Stewart Maiden at East Lake in Atlanta. The country club idea was completely alien to the Scottish view of golf. For Maiden, it would have been a game for farmers and tradesmen, men and women. Jones no doubt learned this along with his golfing technique.

Jones was great friends with many of the best female golfers of that era. One was fellow East Lake whiz kid Alexa Stirling, with whom Jones at played from a young age. Stirling went on to win multiple US Women’s Amateur championships. Jones was also great friends with Elaine Rosenthal, the first prominent female Jewish golfer. Jones, Rosenthal, Stirling, and whiz kid Perry Adair toured together and participated in charity events, such as for the Red Cross during WWI.

The idea that Augusta should be so exclusive really could not have been Jones’ vision. Sure, he wanted his privacy. He was the most famous person in the country before the emergence of Babe Ruth. However, Jones’ circle of friends indicates that he was anything but a snob.

All that said, I don’t think Augusta should fold just because Romney and Obama demand it. I just think Augusta’s policies aren’t in synch with what Bobby Jones would have wanted.

adam on April 7, 2012 at 12:24 pm

Obama’s minions will continue to have his them pull this stuff to have Romney take liberal and leftist positions. This PC statement by Romney does not help him with women, it hurts him with conservatives.

Concerned Citizen on April 7, 2012 at 12:25 pm

Mitt is going to have to pick his fights. This is not one of them. Whoever is advicing him needs to be replaced. I’m beginning to have doubts about Mitt. But then again, ABO!

OrlandoRican on April 7, 2012 at 2:33 pm

The problem is other than Newt Gingrich no candidate came out to say that the United States considers Israel a valuable ally by openly declaring America stand by Israel will come to its aid if Israel is attacked. Not even in ‘so many words”. Israel IS the canary in the coal mine. Unlike Vietnam if Israel falls the jackels of Hell will strike this country with impunity, drain us of our oil the life blood or our economy, and sadly we will deserve it for electing a clone of our present appeaser of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood, and ass kisser of Saudi Kings and princes. A quisling leader who has never mouthed 911 since his election.

Ron Wolf aka "Columbo" on April 7, 2012 at 4:43 pm

Another awesome post, Deb. I plan on attending a Mormon service in the coming weeks. I entered one of their temples or churches in Nauvoo, Illinois back in the 80’s. I look forward to what will be revealed to me this time. ThX again for this post.

Visteo on April 7, 2012 at 5:54 pm

I saw this and automatically thought of a nickname for Romney – “Moot” Romney. Had that name already been invented?

CornCoLeo on April 7, 2012 at 8:27 pm

I agree that Romney should have spoken up for the rights of a private club, and that he didn’t detect this issue relects poorly on him. But beyond that, this is not the fight to pick w/ the Libs. Better off critiquing Obama’s policy towards Muslims.

Infidel on April 8, 2012 at 3:39 am

I wonder being white if the New Black Panthers would let me join their organization!

John Bagnoli on April 8, 2012 at 11:44 am

Private clubs have the right to include or exclude anyone they want – even for evil bigoted reasons.

Having said that, people have the right to call them out on it if they believe a club is bigoted.

Romney didn’t say the gov’t should force Augusta to accept women as members, he simply said they should,period.

Many country clubs(even some today) still exclude blacks and Jews as members.Some used to have signs on the building that stated this.

There was an article about this several years ago that referenced a black man working his way through college at a swanky country club somewhere on the east coast. He said he was invisible to the “elite upper crust” members who in his presence shocked him by spewing vile anti-Semitic slurs straight out of the gutter.He was particularly disturbed that the people doing it were supposed to be the “pillars of society”.

Scott on April 8, 2012 at 11:49 pm

Debbie – I am no big Mitt fan, and I agree that avoiding the issue altogether, or a simple comment that Augusta is a private club would have been preferable to what he did say. However, look at the quote. He was not suggesting that Augusta ought to be forced by Big Government’s Politically Correct Squad to accept women, only that if he were a member, he would be infavor of changing the policy. And just as members of a private club can make their own rules, they are also free to change them. I don’t see this as quite as telling as you do. But it would be nice if more enlightened, conservative ladies like yourself spoke out in support of Augusta’s rights to free association under the constitution. After all, that is the essense of this whole brew-ha-ha.

Phil on April 9, 2012 at 8:01 am

I have been wondering for quite some time why it will make any difference whether or not I vote. There are no decent choices at this point. Not unless the delegates revolt and nominate a real Conservative.

Joel Harrell-Confederate Son on April 9, 2012 at 12:47 pm

I have no idea what is in Mitt’s Mind but the thought occurred to me that maybe he’s taking a page out of the liberal playbook and (paraphrasing)”campaigning to the left(instead of right)and he will govern to the right(instead of left)”. So by coming out and saying in ‘MittWelt’ he’d let women join Augusta, he’s defusing the lib argument and forcing them to move along to some other manufactured slight.
As others have said, he’s not the first choice but maybe the only choice.

BilboBaggins on April 9, 2012 at 6:16 pm

Based on the quote above, Romney didn’t say women *should* be allowed; he said he *would favor* allowing them *if* he ran the place. Big difference — the former favors forcing a private organization to change its ways from the outside, while the latter favors changing private policy as a member/officer. That’s in keeping with the idea of respecting the club’s freedom.

Dan on April 11, 2012 at 9:28 am

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