Tiffany Bond Profile picture
Aug 26, 2018 18 tweets 9 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
Hey #mepolitics,

Ready for a #SundaySoapbox?

Let's talk about why more women don't run for office.

In my experience, it's about attention...positive and negative attention.

Let me share some.

Warning, there may be some words you don't like here. We censor the ugly too much.
I'm going to stick predominantly to my experience here so I'm not generalizing. I would hope in Maine local elections women experience less of this.

Let's start with the bad attention.

It is almost every day I get some form of negative attention, often lots.

#SundaySoapbox
Yesterday, a really nice person put a post about me on reddit.

It was unsolicited, but appreciated. My campaign runs on fans.

Unsolicited but perhaps less appreciated, this was the first comment.

#SundaySoapbox #mepolitics

reddit.com/r/Maine/commen…
I very frequently happen upon or have forced upon me descriptions of supposed sex acts I have engaged in with others, &/or rather enthusiastic descriptions of what should be done to me.

I've already had the 1 photo I released photoshopped into a dildo emporium.

#SundaySoapbox
If you wonder why there aren't many photos of me, on top of not being a showy or attention-seeking person, I would prefer not to star in a series of pornographic memes.

Does it matter? What on earth do my looks (or how my breasts look) have to do with this job?

#SundaySoapbox
The unsolicited comments can also be a joy.

The emails/DMs I get are a festive tribute to what is wrong with politics and society.

Cunt is a fan favorite. I'm sort of meh on cunt. It only bothers me when used in front of my children, which of course it has been.

#SundaySoapbox
We are expected to take the abuse with dignity and grace. People feel entitled to say whatever they want to you because you are running for office and therefore subject to scrutiny of the public eye.

Can someone please tell me the policy cricism basis for abuse?

#SundaySoapbox
Traitor. Whore. Ruining it for *insert male candidate name*.

It would be dozens of tweets for me to give you all of the names that are popular. I'll spare you.

If we say anything, we're whiney, can't cut it, should leave it to the men.

#SundaySoapbox
If we seek attention for our good deeds or for press, we are also whiney, can't cut it, leave it for the men.

We are told to be patient, not be too pushy. Don't want a look like a bitch or undeserving after all.

#SundaySoapbox
I am running as an Independent, so I am at a disadvantage for coverage out of the gate.

Unfortunately, it's not just me. I've spoken to many women running in parties that have experienced similar.

#SundaySoapbox
You email, dm, @, write, call, beg to just have your name mentioned in a story.

Repeatedly you are told that if you get resources you will get coverage...and if you get coverage you'll get resources.

So what's a gal to do?

#SundaySoapbox
How about figuring out how to change fundraising to do several things at once?

1. Help a charity, share a campaign, get a tax write off

2. Shop at a small business, share a campaign, get great stuff, help local economy

#SundaySoapbox
bond2018.com/maineraising/
Getting the yuck out of politics AND helping communities?

That should be national news, right?

#SundaySoapbox
Ok, fine.

What about skills?

What if there is person running who legit knows how to handle these behemoth bills and demonstrates it? That should at least be a blip - lady in Maine reads bills for fun!

Nope.

#SundaySoapbox
This is a really bad job interview.

It favors the wrong candidates.

So what's a *society* to do?

✔If you see abuse, say something
✔Change the interview
✔Demand coverage of all candidates, even the boring qualified ones
✔Support us - with your voice, and $

#SundaySoapbox
To support me, support a classroom.

Scroll to the bottom and chip in a few $ to a classroom.

Don't forget to leave a note to let the teacher know I want schools to be funded, not ads.

#SundaySoapbox
Or go shopping!

Buy anything, from any seller, anywhere in the green.

Don't forget to leave a note to let the seller know I want money to go into small businesses and our communities, not ads.

#SundaySoapbox
Support qualified, ethical candidates.

✔RT, share, like
✔Tell friends offline
✔Write letters to the editor
✔Contact your favorite shows and ask them to cover us
✔Ask how we need help most

#SundaySoapbox

###

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Tiffany Bond

Tiffany Bond Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @TiffanyBond

Oct 7, 2018
Hey twitter -

I'd like to take my regularly scheduled #SundaySoapbox and do a last minute swap to focus on Susan Collins.

Let me preface by reminding you I am not running against Susan at this time, but I do have an election in a month that I could use support for.

#mepolitics
I am a constituent of Susan's. Ever since I have moved here I am astonished at how incredibly effective she is at harnessing people's hope and her words like a damn magician.

Though she is a consistent conservative vote, she is able to focus all eyes on her.

#SundaySoapbox
Let's be clear, Susan is a troll.

Susan is truly brilliant. Absolutely amazing. She captures the hearts and minds of moderates repeatedly despite pulling the football every time.

It's horrific for most constituents, and a blasphemy to representative government.

#SundaySoapbox
Read 14 tweets
Sep 21, 2018
It's not very frequent that I comment on a presidential tweet, but this is not ok.

Sexual assault is traumatic. For many the thought of even admitting it has happened to them keeps them from reporting.

Then the worry about having to beg to be believed.

#mepolitics
Then your family and community will look at you different.

Your behavior will be questioned, and even if you has zero responsibility, many will blame you for being a tease, wanting it, being irresponsible for choosing what should be a totally innocuous setting.

#mepolitics
Since folks have posting yearbook photos, here is one of mine.

Take a moment to contemplate how many unwanted sexual advances and sexual assaults I had to fend off in the school-sanctioned athletic uniform.

#mepolitics
Read 9 tweets
Sep 5, 2018
Hey #mepolitcs...Since I'm stuck for a bit, want to go with me on a journey?

Let's picture what the job and future elections looks like if I win.

Aka, what can you expect from a rep who does not perma-campaign.

#TWPSB
In this hypo traditional campaigning requires around $1+ million per year to get and/or keep a house seat (plus all the other energy you have to expend to keep the peanut gallery PACs happy).

Let's assume they're at it 5 days/week and take a couple weeks off per year.

#TWPSB
$1,000,000/50/5 = $4,000/day

Whew, that's a fundraising nut!

How much energy do you think it takes to rake in an extra $500 each work hour while doing important stuff like making laws?

That's more per hour than you make for the actual job. How would you prioritize?

#TWPSB
Read 12 tweets
Sep 3, 2018
Hey #mepolitics, I found my inspiration for a #SundaySoapbox a day late. It's a holiday, right?

I had someone compare me to @BarackObama last week and minutes ago I had someone reference hope and change.

Let's talk about hope and change.
Change I'm all for, we'll get back to that.

Let's start with hope.

I have to confess, I don't love hope.

Hope...can be kind of a dick.

It teases you.

You *think* something maybe, kind of can happen.

If you just hope enough it'll be right?

MUST. HOPE.

#SundaySoapbox
It's probably my family law background.

Too many really lovely people hoping for their partner, child, parent, etc to be the person they could be if that partner, child, parent, etc if they only changed, which of course they have no desire and/or resources to do.

#SundaySoapbox
Read 11 tweets
Sep 1, 2018
Hey #mepolitics - Ready for another round of #SeeMaineWithTiffany?

Who wants to guess where I was today?
There were many apples, a wagon ride and delighted bees.

#SeeMaineWithTiffany
The views were amazing!

#SeeMaineWithTiffany
Read 8 tweets
Aug 28, 2018
I've been asked this a lot - what is the benefit of ranked choice voting?

If you feel like politics keeps pushing far left or far right as candidates differentiate, RCV lets you pick the moderate with the back-up of "not the other one".

I made you a chart.

#mepolitics
Maybe you think of yourself as an independent, moderate, etc, and really don't love either party (but probably like one party less) - you can select me as your first choice, and still have the back up of another candidate if not enough people agree with you.
#mepolitics
In this race, folks who like Bruce probably don't like Jared, folks who prefer Jared probably aren't keen on Bruce.

A lot of folks would like (or find less annoying) someone who really isn't a party. With RCV, you can do that! It removes the risk of vote-splitting.

#mepolitics
Read 5 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(