NOW issued a press release yesterday announcing it will “Closely Monitor Kagan Hearings for Sexism.”

No doubt, women running for higher office or seeking confirmation on the Supreme Court face challenges men do not.  Do they wear pant suits or skirt suits? Are they pretty or plain? Are they married? Do they have children? Who will take care of the children? And, on and on. In fact, it’s fair to argue that there is no place where the question over women’s proper role in society is more apparent than in political life.

So, my first question for NOW is where were you when Sarah Palin was being skewered by the press?  I don’t remember any press releases urging the media to lay off the Governor. In fact, as I recall, NOW helped fuel the sexism fire with some pretty nasty comments of its own.  According to a report in Politico, one NOW spokeswoman remarked of the Governor: “She’s more a conservative man than she is a woman on women’s issues. Very disappointing.”

Very disappointing, indeed, NOW.

But, I digress. When it comes to Kagan, I wish NOW would stop beating around the bush. NOW is threatening to call sexism on anyone who challenges their radical feminist agenda defined by “protecting women’s reproductive rights, ending gender-based discrimination, promoting racial equality, and recognizing the right to privacy for all, including the LGBT community.”

NOW claims that Kagan will stand for “equality and fairness.” Yet it’s clear they support her because of her liberal principles. In fact, they argue her background working as deputy assistant to President Clinton for domestic policy and then as deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council, as well as her current role as Solicitor General in the Obama administration, makes her prepared to serve as impartial body on the Supreme Court.

If Kagan is confirmed, it will be her job to adhere to the rule of law rather then the rule of (wo)man. But maybe that’s just sexism.