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Hey #mepolitics, Ready for a #SundaySoapbox? Let's talk about why more women don't run for office. In my experience, it's about attention...positive and negative attention. Let me share some. Warning, there may be some words you don't like here. We censor the ugly too much.

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Yup. For Female Candidates, Harassment and Threats Come Every Day nyti.ms/2odrDs9

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I'm going to stick predominantly to my experience here so I'm not generalizing. I would hope in Maine local elections women experience less of this. Let's start with the bad attention. It is almost every day I get some form of negative attention, often lots. #SundaySoapbox

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Yesterday, a really nice person put a post about me on reddit. It was unsolicited, but appreciated. My campaign runs on fans. Unsolicited but perhaps less appreciated, this was the first comment. #SundaySoapbox #mepolitics reddit.com/r/Maine/commen

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I very frequently happen upon or have forced upon me descriptions of supposed sex acts I have engaged in with others, &/or rather enthusiastic descriptions of what should be done to me. I've already had the 1 photo I released photoshopped into a dildo emporium. #SundaySoapbox

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If you wonder why there aren't many photos of me, on top of not being a showy or attention-seeking person, I would prefer not to star in a series of pornographic memes. Does it matter? What on earth do my looks (or how my breasts look) have to do with this job? #SundaySoapbox

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The unsolicited comments can also be a joy. The emails/DMs I get are a festive tribute to what is wrong with politics and society. Cunt is a fan favorite. I'm sort of meh on cunt. It only bothers me when used in front of my children, which of course it has been. #SundaySoapbox

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We are expected to take the abuse with dignity and grace. People feel entitled to say whatever they want to you because you are running for office and therefore subject to scrutiny of the public eye. Can someone please tell me the policy cricism basis for abuse? #SundaySoapbox

3:36 PM · Aug 26, 2018

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Traitor. Whore. Ruining it for *insert male candidate name*. It would be dozens of tweets for me to give you all of the names that are popular. I'll spare you. If we say anything, we're whiney, can't cut it, should leave it to the men. #SundaySoapbox

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If we seek attention for our good deeds or for press, we are also whiney, can't cut it, leave it for the men. We are told to be patient, not be too pushy. Don't want a look like a bitch or undeserving after all. #SundaySoapbox

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I am running as an Independent, so I am at a disadvantage for coverage out of the gate. Unfortunately, it's not just me. I've spoken to many women running in parties that have experienced similar. #SundaySoapbox

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You email, dm, @, write, call, beg to just have your name mentioned in a story. Repeatedly you are told that if you get resources you will get coverage...and if you get coverage you'll get resources. So what's a gal to do? #SundaySoapbox

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How about figuring out how to change fundraising to do several things at once? 1. Help a charity, share a campaign, get a tax write off 2. Shop at a small business, share a campaign, get great stuff, help local economy #SundaySoapbox bond2018.com/maineraising/

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Getting the yuck out of politics AND helping communities? That should be national news, right? #SundaySoapbox

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Ok, fine. What about skills? What if there is person running who legit knows how to handle these behemoth bills and demonstrates it? That should at least be a blip - lady in Maine reads bills for fun! Nope. #SundaySoapbox

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“#ReadtheBill” twitter.com/i/moments/9666

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This is a really bad job interview. It favors the wrong candidates. So what's a *society* to do? ✔If you see abuse, say something ✔Change the interview ✔Demand coverage of all candidates, even the boring qualified ones ✔Support us - with your voice, and $ #SundaySoapbox

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To support me, support a classroom. Scroll to the bottom and chip in a few $ to a classroom. Don't forget to leave a note to let the teacher know I want schools to be funded, not ads. #SundaySoapbox

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Twitter - have you seen this? There are 563 projects in Maine from teachers needing supplies and support for their children. Let's go on a mission together. I'm going to do #MaineRaising one-by-one and have us see if we can fix this. #mepolitics donorschoose.org/donors/search.

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Or go shopping! Buy anything, from any seller, anywhere in the green. Don't forget to leave a note to let the seller know I want money to go into small businesses and our communities, not ads. #SundaySoapbox

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Support qualified, ethical candidates. ✔RT, share, like ✔Tell friends offline ✔Write letters to the editor ✔Contact your favorite shows and ask them to cover us ✔Ask how we need help most #SundaySoapbox ###

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