mardi 6 mars 2018
This Campaign Ad Captures Why Women Are Running in 2018 - and Will Make Your Heart Swell
As the only woman running against Paul Ryan in the 2018 race for Wisconsin's First Congressional District, Cathy Myers is an outlier. But in a deeply moving campaign ad featuring women of different races, ages, religions, and careers, she illustrates exactly why no woman running for office this year will be alone.
The ad, called "We Will Not Be Ignored," celebrates women in the many roles they fulfill: as leaders, workers, changemakers, teachers, mothers, and caregivers. "Nothing about my story is unique," Myers says as we watch her enter her classroom early in the morning. "We face down our challenges. We push forward when others dismiss us," she says, as more women and their voices join in the message. The video also calls to mind imagery from the Women's March, which Myers says was a pivotal moment in her decision to run.
"I love the idea that, as women, we have this shared experience. That when things happen, when life throws you a few curves, you just buckle down, you deal with it, and you fix the situation," Myers told POPSUGAR, adding that the spot reflects "women of all shapes and sizes, all races, all ages, all religions, [and] what we bring to the table, and why it is our collective power that is going to change things in this country."
Myers said the response to the video has been overwhelming; she says she has raised $150,000 in campaign contributions since debuting the ad earlier this month. (She is facing a Democratic challenger, Randy Bryce, in the primary.)
While Ryan is a longtime political power player, there are signs his popularity is waning in his home state. A recent story in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that his constituents are "more polarized than ever" over the Republican, and cites a recent poll that shows Donald Trump's approval rating in Ryan's district is also more negative than positive. "I think that over the past year that people have awakened to the kind of person he is and what he really cares about," Meyers said. "For a long time, I think he got a pass on things. People thought he was maybe a nice guy but didn't quite understand what their lives were like. That notion was so brought out into the open this year when we discovered what he would do when he had the presidency and power locked in . . . I think they are starting to rally against him and rally for change."
So, as the sole woman in the race, what kinds of reactions does Myers garner? "Women that are a little older than I am, their response is usually 'You go girl!" she laughed. "Because they get it better than everybody. Women are oftentimes overlooked when there is opportunity. Oftentimes, we are expected to take a back seat to less qualified men. But I think the trend right now is to recognize that women are ready to take their rightful place in Congress."
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