Yep. He said it: “binders full of women.” I know. It’s not the most important thing discussed in last night’s debate, but it sure is the most memorable. Memes of the phrase are sprouting heads like a hydra on Viagra (deliberate mixing of metaphors, there). But people, please, how can I not go here, especially since the Mittens did it first, although not in the way that he claims (fact: he was presented with the binders full of women by a caucus, didn’t ask for them; see details below*).
*According to political writer David S. Bernstein of the Boston Phoenix:
“What actually happened was that in 2002—prior to the election, not even knowing yet whether it would be a Republican or Democratic administration—a bipartisan group of women in Massachusetts formed MassGAP to address the problem of few women in senior leadership positions in state government. There were more than 40 organizations involved with the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus (also bipartisan) as the lead sponsor.
“They did the research and put together the binder full of women qualified for all the different cabinet positions, agency heads, and authorities and commissions. They presented this binder to Governor Romney when he was elected.”
Lola's Curmudgeonly Musings 