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Does everyone have a bizarrely 1950s expectation of women who are married to a politician of any importance?

Zoe Williams
Saturday August 7, 2004
The Guardian

Clearly, I'm not talking 1950s expectation in a Stepford wivesy, "they have to make really loud noises in bed" type of way. You'd never in your life try willingly to imagine, still less dictate, that kind of thing. No, I'm talking about a standard of behaviour and decorum that hasn't been expected of a lady spouse since the days of Bewitched, when Samantha had to pretend not to twiddle her pretty nose if Larry was around.

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[ 07 August 2004: Message edited by: Davidbcalec ]

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But that doesn't even come close to explaining how the magazine Family Circle got Teresa and Laura Bush into some kind of bake-off, where they each submitted a biscuit recipe (biscuits! From a mature adult multimillionaire!), and readers could test each one and decide, I suppose, who to vote for on that basis. ("Well," they must deliberate, "his wife makes the best cookies, so he'll be in a better mood for his tax meeting!") You can see how it's cute; how it leavens the mood, and all that. But it's also irrational, senseless and, if I can use a really unfashionable word, bloody sexist.

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Then why didn't they ask John Kerry and George Bush for biscuit recipes? They're the ones running for president.

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Technically, prime ministerial wives can't do the "first lady" number, there being that Big First Lady ahead of them all the time. Mila Mulroney certainly thought that she was entitled: she didn't just show up at galas but commandeered a parliamentary office, with baby space, at public expense and had the chutzpah to argue that being first lady was a job and she was determined to have people respect her role that way (by paying for it, presumably). Fine, lady: earn it, and we'll respect it.

Are the prime ministerial wives who stay in the background being more principled or just more passive and traditional? It's an interesting paradox.

Now, she is obviously an intelligent person in her own right; and beyond that, it is true, as she argued, that the prezzie's wife has always been expected to take on considerable duties, especially as a hostess. So she made the claim, rather as had Mila Mulroney, that she deserved some status-recognition and a salary of her own. She got both.

Not only is that notion patently absurd, the thought of multi-millionaires engaging in such activities is insulting. Remember when Bush senior was flabbergasted at the supermarket checkout counter? He hadn't bought groceries for himself in decades. Along with bullshit stories about being the son of a dirt-po coal miner, and living in a one-room log cabin daddy built with his own calloused hands, these stories are part of the myth of a classless society. They are supposed to say to the ignorant "look, our millionaires are really just like regular folk. Why, looky there! GW is cutting brush on his farm! He's a hardworkin' man jes like you, so he feels yer pain!"

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Originally posted by ShyViolet417:
why were they asked to make cookies? well, i am from the usa...i can take a stab at this...basically, my understanding is that the men have the important job of being president/presidential candidate, whereas the women, irregardless of their achievements, are expected to just look pretty (best way i can put it) i remember back during when they were trying to pick the dem candidate, quite a few people raised a fuss because ms. heinz-kerry, rather than coming with her husband to his political functions, was (gasp!) doing her job (a pediatrician, i think). if it were reversed, do you think anyone would expect mr. kerry to rake time off to support his wife? of course not!!! the truth is, as much as i and many others, long for a female president, we will prolly never have one... why? becasue neither party has the balls to nominate a woman!!!! that's too much of a political risk and their candidate might not get put in office. i'd better stop now, before i really start going crazy...anyone care to tell me if i'm way off base here?

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Not really.

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Why doesn't "Hot Rod" magazine have a contest wherein the two male candidates drag race their pimp-ed out Chevys?

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skdadl: you're kidding, Birgineau (that git) is going to Berkeley? And he got an office and salary for his wife? I've never been so happy to not contribute to the alumni fund before!

edited to add: did find judy dean's (howard dean's wife for those of you who don't know) career, she is the doctor. i stand corrected!!

[ 08 August 2004: Message edited by: ShyViolet417 ]

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Originally posted by aRoused:

skdadl: you're kidding, Birgineau (that git) is going to Berkeley? And he got an office and salary for his wife? I've never been so happy to not contribute to the alumni fund before!

I only regret that Bob Pritchard didn't reveal his full and true corporo-asshole character until the year after I had to accept my bogus degree from his swollen, purulent hands...

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A man after my own heart! On both counts.

Cream Scones (aka Baking-Powder Biscuits)

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream, room temperature
1/4 cup currants

Preheat oven to 450F.

Lightly grease a baking sheet. Sift together the dry ingredients. Cut the butter into the flour mixture (with a pastry blender or knives) until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Whisk the eggs and cream. Using a fork, stir in cream mixture and currants, mixing until a sticky dough forms.

On a lightly floured surface, gently knead the dough 6 to 8 times until it holds together. Form into a ball. Divide in half; pat each half into a 3/4-inch-thick circle. Cut the dough into rounds with a 2-inch cutter and place on baking sheet. Brush the tops lightly with milk.

I'll bet they'd taste good with barberries, too. (Those are little dried berries that you can get in Iranian grocery stores.) But I think we'll make them without berries, because he's fussy about berries in stuff, unfortunately.

BTW, when you say "heavy cream" do you mean whipping cream? What percent is "heavy cream"?

[ 08 August 2004: Message edited by: Michelle ]

I don't think that I use whipping cream (35%). I think that either 18% or 10% would be ok -- obviously, the richer, the richer. (Which one of those is called "half and half"?) But I think that whipping cream would make them gummy.

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Originally posted by ShyViolet417:
i'm slightly confused by your comment though...do you think i'm way of base?? sorry, this is a topic that really gets me ranting...

[ 08 August 2004: Message edited by: ShyViolet417 ]

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I'm glad to know that. Ok: I shall write that down on the recipe: use 35%. Otherwise, I'll forget again. Bacchus, please copy.

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Originally posted by Bacchus:

Want a recipe for ... orange grand marnier cheesecake with an orange caramel sauce?

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I had always understood heavy dream to be heavier than whipping cream, as seems to be described here. I've never used it myself as it's not usually found in regular grocery stores, but 35% whipping cream works. I think it would make the scones nice and rich, not gummy. I just make the quikie T-Bisk ones myself due to the oft-remarked upon brevity of life, but I'll have to give your recipe a try skadl. It looks great.

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Originally posted by skdadl:

If Mrs Oldgoat runs for national office, are you going to do a Mila on us and demand a first-gentleman's office with child-care sub-benefits? Compensation for organizing the soirees and the amuse-gueules?

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I'll be a regular Olive Deifenbaker.

[ 09 August 2004: Message edited by: oldgoat ]

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Originally posted by Mr. Magoo:
y'know, frilly enough to be cute, but not so frilly as to be ostentatious, or "frillier than thou". That could be important to a Family Circle subscriber.

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"Frillier than thou" is, like, a serious problem for Presbyterians.

It comes from the lace jabot and cuffs of the moderator and the ministers. Those are the only spots of ostentation, of non-dourness, allowed in the church, so much is made of them, although not too much, as you say.

CRUST
11 whole graham crackers, broken
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
FILLING
4x 8 ounce -packages cream cheese,room temp
1 1/4cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 tbsp orange liqueur(grand marnier/triple sec)
5 tsp finely grated orange peel
2 tsp vanilla extract
FOR CRUST:
Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 450F. Grind crackers and sugar in processor until fine crumbs form. Add butter; process until crumbs are slightly moist. Press onto bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 1/2-inch-high sides. (though I used 10 inch and others etc)
Bake until set, about 12 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool completely. Maintain oven temperature.
FOR FILLING:
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Add eggs, liqueur, orange peel and vanilla. Beat just until blended. Pour filling into crust-lined pan.
Bake cake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 F. Bake until cake is puffed, outer 2-inch edge is set and center moves just slightly when
shaken, about 55 minutes longer. Transfer cake to rack. Run knife around pan sides to loosen; cool. Chill cheesecake overnight. Serve with Caramel-Orange Sauce.

Caramel-Orange Sauce:

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons orange liqueur

Stir sugar and water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves, increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 9 minutes. Remove from heat. Gradually add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in liqueur (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover sauce and refrigerate. Stir over low heat to rewarm before serving.)

Yes, I've had the best pumpkin cheesecake on the planet.