Even though all of us wish it wasn't so, there are hundreds of examples just like those of the sexism that still survives in our political system.

I should call out each and every person engaging in that kind of reprehensible rhetoric, but I'm sure I couldn't ever come close to actually creating a comprehensive list.

I have good examples, though.

Take, for instance, the following letter to the editor that appeared in the Glenn Falls Post Star regarding freshmen Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand's recently announced pregnancy:

First of all, I must admit that I am a male chauvinist and that there are, thankfully, differences between men and women. There are many occupations suitable for women and their physical attributes. Carrying a weapon while serving in the Armed Forces and firefighting are not suitable lines of work for women to prove that they are physically equal to men. How many male police officers feel comfortable with a 100 pound female backup?

And now, I have to add serving in the U.S. House and Senate as an occupation that may not be suitable for women.

Ms. Gillibrand's current pregnancy makes a strong case for my opinion. Ms. Gillibrand was elected to serve her constituency, and while she is away from her elected office she cannot perform those duties. The taxpayers who were duped into voting for her will have to pay for her medical benefits. Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer, Ms. Gillibrand receives excellent health benefits, courtesy of her constituents. We will be without representation in Congress for a time leading up to and following the child's birth. There will be times when she and the new baby will visit doctors. You can add those days to the total that she will not be serving her constituents.

The current base salary (2006) for members of the House and Senate is $165,200 per year. I wonder if Ms. Gillibrand will do the right thing and reimburse the U.S. Treasury in the amount of $452.60, her daily salary, for each day that she is unable to perform her elected duties. For some reason, I doubt it.

I don't think this gentleman needed to predicate his remarks by telling us he was a male chauvinist, do you?

Yes, this man was attacking his elected official, which certainly is his right, but he wasn't attacking her for a policy position or for the fact she'd voted wrongly on some random piece of legislation. No, he's upset because she dared have a child.

You know, I doubt he'd ask his male US Senator or Governor to refund the state if they had to be out for prostate surgery. I'm just saying.

Also, I'd be surprised if the amount of time Rep. Gillibrand takes off post-delivery could ever compare remotely to the mount of time Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been away from the Senate running for President. (Though, I would love for both he and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) to pay the taxpayers back for each day they missed, but that's a different post.)

Probably the other biggest, flashiest shows of 19th century sexism in our current events happened just hours before New Hampshire voters went to the polls Jan. 8. For this one, there is even video:

A man actually had the gall to yell at the first woman will a reasonable chance of being President "iron my shirt." Hillary's response was perfect, and there isn't anything I can add to it.

The good news is, of course, these incidents are relatively isolated, and, for the most part, America has proven itself OK with women serving in elected positions. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, 86 women currently serve in the 110th Congress (16 in the Senate and 70 in the House, with three non-voting delegates from US territories, too), there are 76 women in executive positions at the state level, and that the number of women in state legislatures has quintupled since 1971.

Still, even with the numbers of women in elected offices quintupling, the percent of women compare to that of men in elected positions is still awfully small. Women make up only 16.1% of Congress, and only 23.5% of state legislatures.

So, why is this male elected official bemoaning the poor treatment and small numbers of women in politics? Because my member of Congress, Nancy Boyda, is a woman, my governor, Kathleen Sebelius is a woman, and my mom, Cheryl Croucher, served on my school board when I was in high school, and she's a woman, too. Each of these women are at least as qualified and as capable as the average man, and, quite frankly, are significantly more qualified than most men to lead their nation, state, and community.

I also write this because if anyone had ever yelled "iron my shirt" at my mother I would have punched them in the nose.

Our country is certainly different than it was in 1972 when Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-TX) made an honest-to-goodness run at the Democratic Party's nomination for President. Today, in 2008, the person who very well could be the first woman elected to the highest office in the land is derided in some circles because she's the establishment candidate. It's things like that that make Susan B. Anthony's ghost smile just a little bit, my friends.

"Modern invention has banished the spinning wheel, and the same law of progress makes the woman of today a different woman from her grandmother." -Susan B. Anthony

It isn't perfect yet, and every step forward for women-- and black and gays, too-- includes some pushback. The more things change the more they stay the same. But, ever single day it gets just a little easier to push against the glass ceilings in our lives, and every day the good works of people like Rep. Boyda, Gov. Sebelius and my mom make it easier for the next generation of female politicians to succeed.

Hey, even this guy tires to do his part, too.