State Senator Victoria Steele (D-Tucson) treated legislators and constituents to poetry and music at the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday. Steele felt compelled to do so after her fellow Tucson legislator, State Senator Vince Leach (R-Tucson), criticized Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson the day before for Jackson’s inability to define “woman” during her Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Steele considered Leach’s question to be “audacious” and in need of a response. Since it wasn’t feasible for Jackson to speak for herself, Steele stepped up to the plate.
With a giggle, Steele began to recite poet Maya Angelou’s poem, “Phenomenal Woman.” Then, she began to sing the 1971 hit “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy, which she explained was offered “just in case there was any doubt” about her definition of a woman. Unlike the poem, Steele cut short her song to perform only the first verse and chorus.
“And that, my friend, is a woman,” concluded Steele.
According to the science, Steele’s remarks didn’t answer the question. A woman is an adult female human. A female human is determined by the two XX sex chromosomes that arise at the moment of fertilization. For males, that’s the XY sex chromosomes. According to the greater scope of nature, females have the ability of bearing offspring and/or producing eggs in ovaries. In the case of humans, females produce eggs and have the ability to carry and bear children after reaching sexual maturity.
It appears that Steele prepared a whole day to respond to Leach’s remarks on Tuesday. Leach said it was “troubling” that someone like Jackson was appointed to the highest court in the land.
“What is to be questioned is a system which puts to the bench of the United States Supreme Court someone that can’t answer a simple question: what is a woman?” said Leach.
During a confirmation hearing, Jackson was unable to answer a question from Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) asking her to define the word “woman.” Jackson said she couldn’t answer because she wasn’t a biologist.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
State Senator Victoria Steele (D-Tucson), minority whip, voiced opposition to the recent threats made against Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, but records don’t show her speaking out against any of the multiple threats made against Senate President Karen Fann this year.
“I’m so sorry you are the target of so much sick, hateful behavior,” wrote Steele. “Please, please Katie, be safe. We need you.”
I'm so sorry you are the target of so much sick, hateful behavior. Please, please Katie, be safe. We need you. https://t.co/ESmH3c9yul
AZ Free News inquired with Steele about not speaking out against the death threats to Fann. Steele didn’t respond by press time.
Steele has spoken out against other threats to Republicans before. Last December, Steele condemned death threats against Governor Doug Ducey.
Hobbs’ office received multiple voicemail threats from supporters of previous President Donald Trump. The callers told Hobbs she would hang or be executed in another way for treason. The secretary of state submitted two of the calls to the FBI. The men behind the call were unapologetic, according to interviews they had with Reuters. Reports showed that FBI agents visited at least one of those men for other threats he’d made in calls to other elected officials, giving him a warning and instructions on how to lawfully express grievances – they did not arrest him.
Fann received death threats for a different reason: her leadership and support for the Cyber Ninjas audit.
“You are a completely worthless human being and an evil s**t. And you will die very soon. It will look like an accident. I’ve done this before. I have killed people,” wrote one anonymous individual. “I will kill again. I will kill you. Sleep well.”
Even those critical of the audit on the Republican side have received threats. State Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R-Scottsdale)received email threats in early September after she signaled that she no longer supported the Senate’s audit.
“Listen up you s**c b***h, you have one chance to give the American people the Audit report or were [sic] coming from [sic] you, we know where you live, we know where you get your groceries, and we know where your family lives. You better do the right thing or your [sic] going to feel the consequences. Do you understand? We the people are no longer willing to play….”
Got this yesterday. It’s been sent to law enforcement. My family’s safety is my #1 priority & I will NOT tolerate anyone going after me or my family. Due to misinformation & the unmet expectations of the public surrounding the audit, threats like this will unfortunately continue. https://t.co/wjlNeaSeMdpic.twitter.com/bZhKi9He0l
