Talk:Lynn Woolsey

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[edit] Welfare

"Congresswoman Woolsey is the only former welfare mom in the House." First of all is this relevant? If it is, I think a better way to phrase it should be found. "Welfare mom" is hardly NPOV. Just a thought...

It's been reworded to the following: "Congresswoman Woolsey is one of two members of the House of Representatives to have been on taxpayer-funded government welfare; the other is Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D, WI)." While I am no fan of Woolsey, I don't think this comment belongs where it has been placed (in the Race for Congress section). It might have a place in the article (although it should be included only in a discussion of her positions on welfare or welfare-related legislation), but definitely not where it currently is. 71.131.190.236 01:48, 11 August 2006 (UTC)
I've moved the comment about her former welfare-mom status to the "Personal life and early career" section, with a link to her House of Reps Website. I deleted the redundant and possibly inflammatory description of welfare as "taxpayer-funded government." I think most people know how welfare is funded—and by whom. I put back in the comment about being a "former welfare mother," since the phrase, however unflattering some may see it, is from her own site. 71.131.190.236 01:48, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

Really I don't think any of this page can be discribed as NPOV. 2/3 of her history section is devoted to the Stewart Pearson scandal in very charged and misleading. The theme within the section talking about her campaign record seems to be saying she won by default. The section is again misleading in saying she was the only Sonoma county canditdate when the 6th district also includes Morin county. She did after all recieve more than 72% of the vote in winning her 7th term in congress. I don't see how this entry can be fixed without a total rewriting of the entry from someone who is not bias in the matter.

[edit] Does giving Cindy Sheehan a pass belong in the article?

Several users believe the Lynn Woolsey article should contain a paragraph detailing that Woolsey chose to give her guest pass to the State of the Union speech to Cindy Sheehan. Is that significant in any way? Should we go to all the articles of Members of Congress and detail all their guests? I can't see how giving the guest pass to Cindy Sheehan makes a political statement. The fact that Cindy Sheehan was Woolsey's guest is well detailed in Sheehan's article, as it should. --Asbl 11:39, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

I think a mention that Woolsey invited Sheehan as a guest to the State of the Union is warranted. The event garnered international press coverage and was the subject of extensive political discussion. Woolsey initiated the event by inviting Sheehan. Moreover, the Woolsey article has an Iraq position section. The fact that Woolsey invited Sheehan relates to her position on Iraq. Woolsey is a critic of the Iraq war and so is Sheehan. Any person with a modicum of political tactics would say that Woolsey was in fact "making a statement" vis-a-vis Iraq. The fact that Sheehan was arrested and later cleared of any wrongdoing and the national attention given to the story further underscores the importance of a mention.RexRex84 21:15, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

Sheehan may be mentioned, but we should not speculate on the meaning of the invitation. We should omit the clause, "Woolsey further underscored her position vis-a-vis Iraq..." -Will Beback 21:56, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

I think that is fair then. I am just saying that a "mention" is warranted.RexRex84 22:46, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

There is no doubt that the story about Sheehan's incarceration should be covered in the Cindy Sheehan article. I don't see why it needs to be covered here in the Lynn Woolsey article. Giving Sheehan a pass is not a protest of the war. It just says that Woolsey was friendly towards Sheehan, which I am sure lots of representatives and senators are. I therefore still think we can leave this out of the Woolsey article. --Asbl 23:55, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
Mention moved to controversy section from iraq section. There is no doubt that Woolsey became the subject of criticism and controversy once Sheehan was arrested and it was learned that Woolsey supplied Sheehan with a ticket. The mention is written in NPOV format (intended) so as not to speculate about intentions.--RexRex84 06:47, 22 February 2006 (UTC)
Who exactly criticized Woolsey for giving Sheehan the ticket? --Asbl 16:00, 23 February 2006 (UTC)
Mention edited with citation regarding Woolsey's motives for giving ticket to Sheehan. As quoted by CBS news/AP, Woolsey indicates she was pleased with Sheehan's anti-war activities and ticket was given at an anti-war event. That said, it will remain in the controversy section, and not Iraq section for now.--RexRex84 21:06, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Nothing in the CBS News link indicates Woolsey was criticized for giving Sheehan the ticket. I maintain Cindy Sheehan does not belong in the Lynn Woolsey article (but the reverse is not true, Woolsey belongs in the Sheehan article) --Asbl 21:20, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Very well, then I suggest the mention be amended to original. The CBS article does in fact speak as to why Woolsey gave the ticket to Sheehan and the context in which it was given. Woolsey's own words state that she was pleased with Sheehan's Iraq position and Woolsey gave her the ticket at the CODEPINK meeting. The very fact that we are going back and forth on this issue seems to suggest that it is in fact a "controversy." I now suggest moving the mention back to the Iraq section. That said, numerous political commentators and reporters have spoke at against Woolsey or raised the issue of the relevant "controversy." When I have more time, I can get the proper citations for you. Bottom line, there is little doubt that a mention is warranted.--24.244.137.104 23:25, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Stewart Pearson controversy

I think we can report about the controversy without going into the details of the rape. I think the details of the rape would only be justified if she had commited the rape. For those who insist on writing all the horrific details of the rape, they can open up an article on Stewart Pearson. --Asbl 07:53, 20 February 2006 (UTC)