Dominic Raab still thinks feminists are bigots

[Cwenthryth]

He was on Marr this morning, just catching up on it now.

Remember when he wrote “feminists are now amongst the most obnoxious bigots” (amongst other gems) in this article in 2011 Dominic Raab: We must end feminist bigotry?

Marr just asked him if he still stands by that statement - he just waffled about supporting equality/Maria Miller. He’s asking to be our Prime Minister, and didn’t think that might be a good opportunity to say “hmm, I did generalise a bit there didn’t I, perhaps that was slightly offensive” at least.

Not that I have any say in who the Tories choose anyway, but way to start turning off 52% of the electorate before you’re even in No10, Dom.

@RosaWaiting, well you might not have done but the poster directly before mine clearly did. Which is what I was responding to.

Ah well, then it probably will appeal to the Tory base.

Their view of feminism is probably more the lib fems in their wokeness.

The difference between that and GC feminism, and the TRA issue, will have passed them by.

Chariots oh sure

in this complicated world, I thought maybe I'd missed something - which would be completely usual for me

Stewart is, at heart, a Remainer. I can't see the party faithful being in the mood for that

They might after tonight's results.

Stewart is, at heart, a Remainer
He voted remain in the referendum, but he doesn’t think we should remain now - I listened to the whole of that ‘Beer & Brexit’ interview with him that that clip is from (it’s on YouTube) whilst I was cleaning earlier and he thinks it wouldn’t work to stay in now, he sketches out a future vision if we had a second ref and remained and he’s not favourable. He’s for a compromise deal that Labour agrees to - but then there’s a fag paper between him and a lot of Labour ideals anyway - there’s also a great discussion of ‘why are you a Tory?’.

Theresa May was a Remainer at heart, too, who decided to 'respect the referendum result', and tried to arrange a compromise deal.

Why does Stewart think he'll do any better? Brussels will walk all over him, like they did with her (and Cameron, another 'compromiser'))

As we've seen, the EU isn't interested in 'playing nice'.

As for last night's results, many grass root Tories and Labour voters voted either Brexit or LibDem/Greens (me included) to give the main parties a slap on the wrist in an election nobody cares about. Tories really REALLY fear a Corbyn government - it'll be a different story in a GE when it actually matters.

From the article:

Young British couples are tired of the equality bandwagon, dreamt up in the 1960s, pitting men and women against each other

1960s: fine for man to beat up his wife, no right to abortion or contraception outside marriage. Woman can be sacked on marriage. No maternity leave. No anti discrimination laws.

Most charitable explanation is that he is a complete idiot, but could anyone really be that stupid?

However, am quite willing to believe he supports Maria Miller’s policies on equality, because she doesn’t believe in sex based rights either.

I don’t think Raab understands much of what he’s talking about, is my charitable interpretation of things at the moment.

As to why Stewart might succeed where May failed - his background and approach appears very well suited to the task - very intelligent (Oxford graduate, Harvard professor, highly praised author), well versed in international relations (Iraq, Afghanistan, grew up as a diplomat’s child abroad). Most importantly he seems to be a pragmatist and more genuine than most politicians.

From what I know, I think Stewart would be the most sensible choice for the country. But that won’t be what most MPs will be basing their vote on - they’ll want the best for the Conservative party.

Most importantly he seems to be a pragmatist and more genuine than most politicians.

The problem is he will never be able to deliver the Brexit that Farage and Johnson promised, because nobody can. Inevitably some kind of deal will have to be made with the EU, but the ‘just shout louder at foreigners’ brigade aren’t interested in pragmatism.

At this point I think Johnson needs to attempt to sort out the mess he created. I can’t see another option.

I think Johnson’s perhaps too much of a wildcard for the PCP to support him, he couldn’t be trusted to behave himself and not completely fuck things up for the party at a future election by some massive faux pas or other. His shocking performance as Foreign Secretary showed he is no diplomat, they can’t risk him pulling a Boris in relations with the EU.

I can't see the Tory MPs putting Johnson through to the members' vote either.

I watched the interview, he wasn't talking about trans rights at all. He was talking about women. Every woman I know would describe herself as a feminist, and he sat there with his smug half-smile and didn't even attempt to backtrack on his words. He thinks feminists are bigots.

(I do question whether he knows what he's actually talking about because he's so very dim, but he must at least have advisors to suggest he probably shouldn't say that?)

Now he is trying to pretend he thinks that women are people www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/26/dominic-raab-defends-calling-feminists-obnoxious-bigots It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad. But I can understand why he feels oppressed. He is a white, straight male from the upper classes and we all know how tough life is for them. Poor little baby.

Jess Phillips on Twitter this morning referring to Raab having a NDA against a woman, anyone know what that is about?

As we've seen, the EU isn't interested in 'playing nice

EU isn't interested in abandoning 4 Freedoms for access to SM and CU.

And neither does the British electorate, by the looks of last night's EU elections.

The NDA is from before he was an MP, when he worked for David Davis. Don’t know what it says, but it settled a claim she’d made at an employment tribunal and paid her not to disclose information. Pretty easy to read into that.

Inevitably some kind of deal will have to be made with the EU
We have a deal.
It's the one most people voted for last night.
Staying in the EU.

Apart from ‘most people’ didn’t vote for the unequivocal remain parties last night, no matter how it’s spun. These elections were not a second referendum substitute, there’s no point massaging numbers and trying to make things look better - we have to face the reality we’re in and look beyond the realistic outcomes (I’m talking in terms of women’s rights, as we’re here on the FWR board).

NDA is from before he was an MP, when he worked for David Davis. Don’t know what it says, but it settled a claim she’d made at an employment tribunal and paid her not to disclose information.
Ah, so Raab is probably a sex pest then - good-o, quelle surprise. Honestly Tories, sort yourselves out! Or don’t, to be fair I think either way in 2 years time we’ll have a Labour government, probably a minority one if Corbyn stays at the helm, likely with a strong ‘progressive coalition’ of Lib Dem/Green/Change & nationalist MPs nudging them centrally. Brexit has fucked the Tories whatever happens, which I personally feel is good in the long run. Whoever is the next PM, they’re kidding themselves if they think they’re going to get anything done apart from muddle through Brexit one way or the other and then lose the next election.

Sorry, slight rant there

Is there a thread on here discussing all the candidates' attitudes to women and feminists?

Dominic Raab still thinks feminists are bigots
Raab is a brexist and tory.
He's just repeating party policy.

Raab is a bit like a heavily polished Thunderbirds puppet whose head turning mechanism doesn't work properly.

Is there a thread on here discussing all the candidates' attitudes to women and feminists?

I suspect the number of contributors to this board with any practical influence over the result is very low.

merrymouse my sphere of influence is indeed small, but having fact-based information to share with friends who might share etc etc, could sway some who do wield a vote. Plus, we all now how many journos basically harvest from here.

Stewart is, at heart, a Remainer. I can't see the party faithful being in the mood for that.
He's a decent man at heart, there's no doubt about that. But IMO he lacks the mental strength and bloody-minded toughness to be a leader of the current Tory rabble; Mogg, Boris and their mates would tear him apart. And if his idotic 2014 Hands Across the Border idea is anything to go by, his judgement isn't all that sound.

Actually, on reflection you are right Whenistheeasybit, there might not be many of us who can vote vote in the leadership election, but we will get to vote in the general election in at most 3 year's time.