Erin Maye Quade participated in a convention to attempt and secure her nomination for Minnesota State state senate while in active labor. She went into labor 4 hours before the event started.
She had contractions while giving her speeches and responses. She asked her opponent if he would be willing to suspend the convention and take the race to a primary but he declined. The delegates first round of voting was close enough to trigger a second round of balloting but Quade withdrew from the race so she could get to the hospital and give birth.
Maye Quade’s supporters feel certain that had a candidate been experiencing any other medical emergency — a seizure or heart attack, for example — the convention would not have proceeded.
“While we were in awe of her strength, it was actually horrifying to watch a woman go through this vulnerable experience with nobody with the power to do so stepping in and putting an end to it,” McBride said.
Clare Oumou Verbeten, a candidate for another state Senate seat, said it hurt her “to see this very public display of a Black woman pushing through pain.”
I cannot post links but this is quoted from the Washington Post article.
I watched the videos of her speech mid-contraction and she delivered her speeches so eloquently and did not miss a beat. Very impressive, and I hope she continues her journey because we could definitely use someone like her in a position of leadership.
@itsmaibirfday A living example of just how strong women really and truly are even as it illustrates just how inconsiderate and callous and compassionless men are..using that advantage to press their own cause.
I am proud of her strength and determination and heartbroken she had to do that.
I agree that it is beyond comprehension that anyone would use a laboring woman's pain to his advantage; however, I can't throw all men in the same category as this guy. There are many kind and compassionate men who would have responded in the same way we would have. Her opponent is clearly not one of those men, and that behavior will not bode well for him in the long run. I too hope she runs again!
@livingfree You are definitely correct... I should have said "some men". There are many very aware and good , kind men. I apologize if I seemed to bne "tarring them all with the same brush"
@enkasongwriter The deal isn't final yet, and it may yet fall through. There are several regulatory approvals that would need to happen, and those are not certain. Also, both Tesla and Twitter stocks are falling pretty quickly on the news, and Musk is attempting to leverage his Tesla stock holdings to complete the deal. If Tesla stock falls enough, he may not be able to use that leverage, and he doesn't have the liquid cash to fulfill his offer. There is also a $1B (yes, billion) penalty called a "break fee" for backing out of the deal (for either side), and while if Twitter backed out (not likely), they could write off that sum as an expense for the cost of doing business, for Musk, paying the break fee would fall directly on him, not Tesla, since he is making the offer in his own name. On the other hand, if Tesla stock continues to fall, he may find that it would be cheaper for him to pay the break fee than to proceed with the buyout under the current stock leveraging structure of the deal.
In addition, he may run into some serious issues of world politics and business economics. Much of the material for the batteries that Tesla makes comes from China, and China was completely rebuffed by Twitter when they demanded that Twitter censor Hong Kong news over the last few years. If Musk does finish the acquisition, China will likely make the same demands again, and for business reasons, he would be hard pressed not to agree. However, his selling point for buying Twitter is to restore unfettered free speech on the platform, and if he chooses to censor tweets or other information based on the demands from China, he will be shown to be a hypocrite. If he chooses not to censor, China could easily retaliate by embargoing the supplies Tesla needs for their cars. It's a sticky situation, and I'm not altogether certain that it will actually come to pass in the end.
First Chris Rock, now Dave Chapelle.
Last night Chapelle, who was on Stage at the Hollywood Bowl for the Netflix is a Joke Fest, was attacked by a 23 year old man with a knife shaped like a gun. Lots of concern about how the man got through security which is tight at the Hollywood Bowl.
Chapelle was ok.
Chris Rock, who performed earlier in the evening came back on stage with Chapelle on stage moments after the attack and joked: "Was that Will Smith?"
I put this here because I felt after Smith attacked Rock, we might get more of these incidents happen to performers on stage. I don't know where this "attack the comedian/performer" behavior is headed, it feels like a type of t "turning" happening.
https://abc7.com/dave-chappelle-attacked-tackled-hollywood-bowl/11817178/
@lovendures you know, I have not been a fan of how the whole Chris Rock and Will Smith fiasco has been handled. Two wrongs don't make a right. Both of them were wrong. What Chris did was not comedy, it was abuse. Verbal abuse is just as harmful and wrong as Smith's physical abuse. I hate the fact that only one of them was called out for inappropriate behavior. Both forms of abuse needed to be addressed in such a situation. It is sad that there are copycat attacks occurring.
@lovendures @cindy I think both of you are spot-on. The times have changed (maybe part of The Great Turning?) and that kind of mean, if it was ever funny, isn't so funny anymore. It is abusive. I think because it's found its way into our everything -- politics, social media, TV -- people feel both immune to it and tired at the same time. It's bound to change.
@lovendures - I 'm not sure I follow your thread, but I put a like on @Cindy's comment because I agree about Chris Rock' s joke. Where is the humor in making fun of someone with alopecia? Both men were unkind and inappropriate.
@itsmaibirfday I know Erin. She is young, on fire, and fierce. She is also charismatic and full of joy and compassion. She's been working with Unrestrict MN, a pro-choice organization, and given the news this week, I hope she continues to lead that fight if legislating doesn't work out for her. She has so much to give, and Minnesota is lucky to have her. Much of our female representation is a gift (Amy Klobuchar would make an excellent president someday.), Michele Bachman notwithstanding.
Again I ask, how can this country allow states to require more regulation for driving an automobile than for gun ownership?
AND seriously? MY MSNBC station is airing a local add right now for an Arizona fire arms company....That add has no business being air right now.
@lovendures maybe getting advertising for guns etc banned altogether could be a help. The school shootings don’t seem to shock people into doing something. It may have to be in small steps, like the advertising, bringing in stronger rules for ownership, less prevalent places to buy them, education and over time the culture will change. Small steps that can be gotten through over the gun lobby.
Everyone check in on your teacher/educator friends. We are not okay.
I took one of my anti-anxiety gummies last night and while sleep was quick and blessedly dream free, I still awoke this morning numb, tired, and exhausted thinking about how instead of meaningful change and policy, this will probably result in more lockdown/active shooter drills and yet another back to school "video" we'll have to watch in the fall on the stack of stupid videos we're required to watch at the start of every school year.
You know. The exact response we've had to every other school shooting since Columbine.
If I didn't have a pension and 10 years left I would leave this field today. Pack my belongings and pull out of the office and never set foot in a public school again.
Well? When are we going to regulate that militia?
@dannyboy Big hugs.... I have the same high anxiety, I have family and friends who are teachers..to endure for over 10 years now while still dealing with Pandemic issues and political restraints by GQP on books and what can be taught???? Prayers and thoughts ARE NOT ENOUGH... they mean nothing without action. Isn't it ironic how they think that children can handle owning guns but not reading books????? Can handle owning guns but not hear the true racial/racist history of our country? I asked some Republicans I know.... how can you support NO ABORTIONS FOR ANY REASON -the fetus - yet care NOTHING about those lives once they are born in to this world and can not even attend school without fear for their lives???? Your children? Were getting awards and recognition at their schools just like those 3-4th graders at school in the same as these children. Now? They are gone and we are mourning... are you GQP? Have you lost children? This has got to change....I don't know how.. but... it has to change!!!! I am at the polls voting every chance I get... but Lord..it feels way to slow making the changes!!!
I thought of you last night and knew this would be difficult . We often think about parents, family members, and all students when these horrific events occur. As well we should. But we must continue to keep our teachers front and center in our prayers and our actions as well.
Our educators are breaking. They continue to be expected to meet impossible expectations.
We expect them to risk their lives everyday. Be a first line of defense during a mass shouting. Teach unmasked children during a pandemic. Fill the needs of every individual student in their classroom. Spend part of their day and their summer working for free. Allow parents access to all of their lesson plans.
The list continues to grow which is why educators are leaving the teaching world at an alarming rate.
Yes, absolutely check in with your teacher friends. Show the educators in your life that you see them and you care.
Thank you for this important reminder.
@dannyboy - I can appreciate and respect the feelings you express Dannyyboy. Yet my thought is that we need people such as yourself in the teaching arena. We need to create a better environment for education that encompasses the students, teachers and our communities. Hang in there.