Let’s see if anyone follows Carly Fiorina’s lead earlier tonight in the ad hominem remark. In the undercard debate, Fiorina made a pointed — and to many, tasteless — comment that “Unlike another woman in this race, I actually love spending time with my husband.” Bill Clinton’s impeachment for lying under oath followed the Monica Lewinsky sexual revelations. Comments like this are crass. (The term “below the belt” was the first phrase that popped to mind.) But they also come at a time when America is grappling with what makes for a healthy relationship. The research on marital happiness includes studies on what social scientists call consensual non-monogamy, or (CNM).
CNM is one term used to describe relationships where one or more people have sex outside the marriage, but have an agreement that this does not violate the bounds of the relationship. An article in theJournal für Psychologie stated, “Our recent studies with United States samples have demonstrated that approximately 4% to 5% of people are currently involved in CNM relationships.” It also breaks down the numbers by gender and sexual orientation.
I have no idea what Secretary and President Clinton do or don’t have as an agreement. It’s not my business. But Fiorina’s words should be taken not only as a crass attention-getter, but also a moment to assess how our social norms do and don’t conform with our lived behavior.
Even A Strong Economy Leaves Opportunities For Republicans
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Obama said the U.S. has “the strongest, most durable economy in the world.” Bet on hearing a very different description of the U.S. economy on stage tonight. During the “undercard” debate earlier this evening, Republican candidates hammered Obama over falling male employment rates, lost manufacturing jobs and the shrinking middle class.
Obama’s boast wasn’t wrong. At a time when economies around the world are in or near recessions, the U.S. has been a beacon of strength. We’re in the midst of the longest stretch of job growth in history, and despite some severe stock-market jitters to start the new year, most experts still see the American economy as being on firm footing.
But Republicans aren’t necessarily wrong in their criticisms either. The middle class really is shrinking; incomes really are stagnant; and inequality really has grown. Many of those trends predate Obama’s tenure, and some, such as the decline in manufacturing employment, have at least partly reversed in recent years. But whether or not Obama caused the problems, it’s fair to say he hasn’t solved them.
The delicate balance for tonight’s candidates is that past Republican presidents didn’t solve those problems either. That’s an especially big challenge for establishment candidates such as Marco Rubio, John Kasich and, especially, Jeb Bush, whose brother was in office when the last recession began. But while Obama (and the eventual Democratic nominee) can brag about falling unemployment and steady growth, the economy gives Republicans plenty of openings too.
I have no idea what Secretary and President Clinton do or don’t have as an agreement. It’s not my business. But Fiorina’s words should be taken not only as a crass attention-getter, but also a moment to assess how our social norms do and don’t conform with our lived behavior.
Even A Strong Economy Leaves Opportunities For Republicans
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Obama said the U.S. has “the strongest, most durable economy in the world.” Bet on hearing a very different description of the U.S. economy on stage tonight. During the “undercard” debate earlier this evening, Republican candidates hammered Obama over falling male employment rates, lost manufacturing jobs and the shrinking middle class.
Obama’s boast wasn’t wrong. At a time when economies around the world are in or near recessions, the U.S. has been a beacon of strength. We’re in the midst of the longest stretch of job growth in history, and despite some severe stock-market jitters to start the new year, most experts still see the American economy as being on firm footing.
But Republicans aren’t necessarily wrong in their criticisms either. The middle class really is shrinking; incomes really are stagnant; and inequality really has grown. Many of those trends predate Obama’s tenure, and some, such as the decline in manufacturing employment, have at least partly reversed in recent years. But whether or not Obama caused the problems, it’s fair to say he hasn’t solved them.
The delicate balance for tonight’s candidates is that past Republican presidents didn’t solve those problems either. That’s an especially big challenge for establishment candidates such as Marco Rubio, John Kasich and, especially, Jeb Bush, whose brother was in office when the last recession began. But while Obama (and the eventual Democratic nominee) can brag about falling unemployment and steady growth, the economy gives Republicans plenty of openings too.
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