Women Candidates Have Fun Hobbies Too, They Just Don't Get to Talk About Them

[demmiblue]

Did you know that Beto O'Rourke was in a punk band named Foss in the 90s and that Pete Buttigieg taught himself to speak Norwegian, basically for fun? Chances are, you might, because male candidates are routinely covered as both serious contenders and as multi-faceted human beings. Groundbreaking!

But what if—stay with me—I told you that the women candidates vying for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination also had fun hobbies and vast intellectual curiosity? And that these charismatic qualities are lurking just beyond all of the narratives about their nebulous "likability" and totally offensive efforts to remove Al Franken from Congress for groping a woman?

In the spirit of covering women candidates for the "rock stars" they, too, are: read on for 19 colorful character quirks and staggering academic achievements of Sens. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand and Amy Klobuchar. Two of them even have dogs!

There's much ado about Beto's worship of legendary punk band Fugazi, but what of Warren's affinity for Dolly Parton? She launched her 2020 run to the sweet sounds of "9 to 5."

Harris also listens to music—shocking, I know. Her 45-track Black Music Month playlist, created for Huffington Post in June 2017, included A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill, The Notorious B.I.G., Childish Gambino and Andra Day.

The media loves a politician who works out. Look no further than Gillibrand, who has run two marathons and plays on the congressional women's softball team.

Sen. Klobuchar enjoys hiking and is a barre-class devotee. (“It’s a reminder that we must all be humble," she told Vogue, "because I’m like the worst in the class.”) She has also accompanied her dad, Minnesota newspaper reporter, Jim Klobuchar, "on epic bike rides that helped her get to know Minnesota’s scenic beauty," according to one review of her book.

https://www.vogue.com/article/2020-women-candidates-quirky-hobbies-intellect-too?mbid=social_onsite_twitter

[RLG]

1. Double standard, anyone? n/t

[LongtimeAZDem]

2. I don't know Biden's hobbies either; this article is a rant in search of a reason to be butt-hurt

[demmiblue]

3. Naw (but thanks for the kick). n/t

[Andy823]

4. Good post

We have some great women running, and I think they should get a lot more coverage.

[Andy823]

5. Kick nt