On a smarter planet, Augusta membership wouldn’t be an issue
For a decade now, IBM has been one of three main sponsors for broadcasts of the Masters golf tournament, which begins a week from today. IBM technology helps to run the tournament; IBM hosts a hospitality cabin near the 10th hole for its clients and guests.
Reflecting that long and close relationship, the last four IBM CEOs have been invited to become members of Augusta National, a highly sought honor. (The Washington Post puts the number at the last eight.)
Last October, however, IBM CEO Sam Palmisano announced he was stepping down and named as his replacement a 53-year-old by the name of Ginni Rometty to replace him.
That would be Ginni, as in Virginia. And as we all know, Augusta National has yet to welcome a woman to don its exalted green jacket (it welcomed its first black member in 1990).
Ten years ago, when Martha Burk tried to strong-arm the club into inviting a woman to join its exclusive membership, club leaders resisted, insisting that any changes in its membership policy would be made in its own time, without outside pressure. Rometti’s ascension to the head of IBM offers Augusta National a natural, organic opportunity to take that step, a step that it should have taken sometime in the previous century.
Conversely, refusing to take that natural step with a corporate ally as prominent as IBM, with a candidate such as Rometti who has earned the perks that traditionally come with her job, would make the absence of women all the more glaring.
– Jay Bookman
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543 comments Add your comment
Towncrier aka William
March 29th, 2012
8:32 pm
“Well, if you’re waiting for the missus to sing you’ll be waiting alot longer than June. She’s tone-deaf and she can’t read neither.”
Really. Ginsberg?
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
8:33 pm
Do ya’ll REALLY think the oil companies pass those subsidies back to the consumer? Really?
F. Sinkwich
March 29th, 2012
8:33 pm
“I don’t care about an “O’Bozo’s” budget, Sinkwich.”
Me either. It’s crap. Glad you saw the light.
dcb
March 29th, 2012
8:37 pm
Josef – good point and I only wish it was true. But what about those situations that place quotas on the numbers of minorities required to be, for example, accepted to colleges or employee ranks to qualify for federal funds – just two examples. Qualifications go out of the window when dealing with numbers.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2012
8:39 pm
I answered your question, Jay, now answer mine. Why is the congressional black caucus ok but Augusta National has a “previous century” step it needs to take?
Towncrier aka William
March 29th, 2012
8:42 pm
“I answered your question, Jay, now answer mine. Why is the congressional black caucus ok but Augusta National has a “previous century” step it needs to take?”
I have actually heard or read (even here) where some liberals think that, because whites are in the majority and “exercise power” over those in the minority, there needs to be two standards.
Recon 0311 2533
March 29th, 2012
8:42 pm
Redneck,
That’s okay you have plenty of time to teach her to holler out, hear ye, hear ye…the Supreme Court Of The United States has ruled against the “Affordable Health Care Act, AKA Obamacare” or something like that. Have a good evening.
getalife
March 29th, 2012
8:43 pm
filky,
You lie about cuts.
You can’t even cut big oil welfare.
josef
March 29th, 2012
8:47 pm
dcb
I’m inalterably opposed to quotas…coming as I do from a background where quotas were used to limit that access. Here is where I can tangle with my fellow liberals big time. Quotas are simply not the way to go to broaden access. It’s a feel-good quick fix and once the quota is met, to hell with the more highly qualified minority member whose application came late. I’m not sure how to change the culture surrounding this, but mandates do leave a sour taste in the mouths of many.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2012
8:48 pm
The last thing the black community leadership wants is for decisions to be made based on merits. They’re going to hang on to the quota garbage as long as it keeps putting dollars in their bank accounts.
And before the moron Jamvet gets on his “every white conservative is a racist” soapbox, my company has about 150 employess and 95% of them are black. If they show up on time, do their job, and treat our customers professionally, I couldn’t care less what color they are. If they can’t do that they’ll be working elsewhere next week(regardless of their skin tone).
Oscar
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
Does anyone care what Augusta National does. And if so, why.
One comment thought. Augusta is exampt as a private club because they invite on a personal basis, and they are not a commercial club where people meet to do business. That is the distinction between a pribate club that cna discrimate and a commerical club or trade union that cannont. If they issue the lady an invitation because she is CEO of IBM that kills there argument that they are not a commerical club with people there for business purposes.
josef
March 29th, 2012
8:51 pm
dcb
See RB at 8:48…how DO you change that line of thought?
F. Sinkwich
March 29th, 2012
8:56 pm
“You lie about cuts.”
Thanks for your comment, getalife.
What lie?
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:00 pm
If the goal and work ethic of every 99 %’er was to be a 1%’er, this country would be a much better place. I understand helping the helpless ( mental or physical). but creating a system to financially reward high school drop outs having kids out of wedlock and increasing the payout with each kid, who will never get out of poverty, is just dumb.
getalife
March 29th, 2012
9:00 pm
No defense cuts, no corporate welfare cuts and more tax cuts will never address our deficit cons.
Scalabrini Ortiz
March 29th, 2012
9:01 pm
Augusta National is a useless anachronism that does not represent most Georgians. Spare me the laudatory talk about the majesty and tradition of this place. As far as I’m concerned, its all too antebellum for my taste. And the green jackets are ugly and poorly-tailored.
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
9:03 pm
I’m totally opposed to racial quotas. They may have had some role in the past due to the so-called “glass ceiling” which, at one time, was a real concern. And for the record, I’m opposed to legacy admissions and the good ol boy network as well. And I’ve had a couple of Asian kids tell me they felt they had to be head and shoulders above everybody to get into colleges, med schools, etc. But you will always have claims of bias one way or the other as long as there is an interview or some other subjective criteria. If you’ve got a lousy personality you’re gonna have trouble getting ahead in most fields.
Recon 0311 2533
March 29th, 2012
9:03 pm
I’ve competed with IBM and I’ve worked with them in the course of my career. In the latter relationship they can put on one helluva shindig and they know how to market. Selling can sometimes leave them vulnerable and recognizing that sometime weakness allows the opportunity in my former relationship to eat their lunch and supper, but that’s only learned through the school of hard knocks.
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:03 pm
THE only reason it’s an issue because it’s America, and some people can do what they want without being told to make if fairrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and opennnnnnnnnnnnnnnn to everyoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I love it. When will everyone have a house in Malibu?
Towncrier aka William
March 29th, 2012
9:04 pm
“See RB at 8:48…how DO you change that line of thought?”
Let’s look at a different scenario (about which I know a fair amount): basketball. Should the NBA have a quota for white players? I don’t think so. The reason 80 or more percent of the players are black are not hard to discern. You don’t have to be a track star to be a great basketball player; Larry Bird proved that. The reason black players are generally better is because they, out of a strong desire and interest, put in a whole lot more time becoming that way. Most players do not get great in a few years time (though there are examples of both white and black players doing this, but they were already exceptional athletes in a different sport like soccer). Time and effort.
What, in part, needs to change is values. For some or even many blacks, pursuing an education is “being white”. I learned that, of all places, from Travis Smiley. Such an attitude is self defeating. Conversely, I have read that white basketball players give up on the game for the opposite reason. Again, self defeating.
Soothsayer
March 29th, 2012
9:04 pm
“[M]y company has about 150 employess and 95% of them are black.”
I didn’t know there were 150 Black people in Gwinnett County.
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
Ortiz……………..useless……………..look in the mirror. Stay away and your “taste” won’t be disturbed.
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Bias? Try being a white Southern white male about 50.
PatDowns
March 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
What all you gleeful pundits and envious bloggers either don’t get or fail to acknowledge…Rometty got to where she is by playing by the rules – and succeeding – in an overwhelmingly man’s world. She and Augusta National will work something out.
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
PatDowns…………..I hear they need some help with the egg salad.
TaxPayer
March 29th, 2012
9:12 pm
How much will the debt ceiling be increased under the Paul Ryan budget proposal?
Recon 0311 2533
March 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
How will the debt ceiling increase or has increased under the Democrats no budget.
Towncrier aka William
March 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
Gn all…I’m out.
Scalabrini Ortiz
March 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
JB-thanks for the great advice! Why didn’t I think of that? What an intellect!
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
TaxPayer
March 29th, 2012
9:12 pm
How much will the debt ceiling be increased under the Paul Ryan budget proposal?
Depends on how much the missile defense system to protect Poland that some conservatives seem to want will cost.
Recon 0311 2533
March 29th, 2012
9:18 pm
Ummm, left wing Democrats don’t like Pols. Oh well, Taps y’all…I’m out.
Adam
March 29th, 2012
9:20 pm
So, just for the record, all 2000+ pages (if it’s even that much, seems like there’s a new number on here daily) were read and negotiated for over 8 months. If someone didn’t get a chance to at least read most of it, as well as any amendments, I am surprised.
Josef
March 29th, 2012
9:20 pm
Towncrier
That basketball one has to do with what I was saying about access…there is a place that Black men did gain the access and the dream machine is at work. In my own job I have to go up against the soccer dream with my little Latino boys…if they would put as much time and effort into their geometry or social studies…but the dream machine is not at work there…our priorities are warped and twisted…
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:21 pm
Ortiz, looking at your moniker, I’m guessing you might be of some ethic background. Maybe not, but if so, protecting and preserving one’s heritage might seem important to you, right or wrong of how the rest of the world see’s it? Maybe not?
TaxPayer
March 29th, 2012
9:22 pm
Paul Ryan’s 2013 budget proposal is only 215 pages and the bulk of it is a re-print of his 2012 proposal. Even Scalia could read that much. Why don’t Republicans know what’s in it?
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
9:23 pm
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Bias? Try being a white Southern white male about 50.
JB, I would imagine you are much more likey to be descriminated against for being 50 than being white. It’s illegal but it happens.
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
9:25 pm
Hey taxpayer, is that proposal in final bill form? I tried to find a copy but it wasn’t that easy and about 10 minutes of looking didn’t produce a result.
JB
March 29th, 2012
9:26 pm
Ask the National media about white southern males. About the only group left that folks don’t run to and protect. Fair game. Anyone see the John Stewart hit job a couple of weeks ago. Everyone had a good time yuking it up
Josef
March 29th, 2012
9:26 pm
JB
Forget the white, male and 50…just Southern is sufficient…but I’ve already been fatwa Ed hereabouts on that one…but there are some things you’ll never get people to see…
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
9:29 pm
Josef, do those kids parents feed the pro athlete dream? Some kids seem to be trying to fulfill their parents dreams.
Josef
March 29th, 2012
9:29 pm
I don’t know if the AJC still does it, but in the past they have run help wanted classifieds in which “no Southern accent” was a job requirement…
Josef
March 29th, 2012
9:33 pm
Don’t forget…
Yes, they do. An interesting thing though. One of our fathers is a somebody in soccer circles…he takes the time to coach our kids, and not in the sport Buthelezi math and reading.
Augusta, GA
March 29th, 2012
9:35 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8IqkRbxcTA
Josef
March 29th, 2012
9:35 pm
Damn iPad! That’s “..but in…”. Sssheese!
Scalabrini Ortiz
March 29th, 2012
9:39 pm
JB –
I’m as white and male as you are, and maybe around the same age (I’m 54). The laudatory crap about Augusta National still makes me sick to my stomach. If being proud of one’s heritage involves excluding certain groups based on their gender and/or ethnicity, please count me out.
Dems_R_Idiots
March 29th, 2012
9:45 pm
February = black history month
Black Engineers of the month
Latino Teacher of the year
Let’s discuss this garbage.
progressive
March 29th, 2012
9:45 pm
Of course a private club for the most part has a legal right to deny membership to women and black people.
But that doesn’t mean it’s right to do so, and it certainly doesn’t mean that those of us who think such discrimination is wrong shouldn’t say so, especially since it comes in the wake of a history of (illegal) virulent discrimination against women and black people.
People have rights to do many stupid and wrong things. That’s good, because they might then learn how stupid and wrong those things are, and change.
Dems_R_Idiots
March 29th, 2012
9:46 pm
How about getting more whites in the NBA???
1027 days (Obama) + 730 days (Hillary) formerly known as Soothsayer
March 29th, 2012
9:47 pm
I can just see a female member of Augusta National: “why don’t they make them little ball thingies bigger! They’s so hard to hit when they’re small like that!”
Doggone/GA
March 29th, 2012
9:48 pm
“How about getting more whites in the NBA???”
Easy. Find some good white players. End of “problem”
Dems_R_Idiots
March 29th, 2012
9:48 pm
I was denied entrance into a private bar/club in Parker County, TX because I was not a member. Know what? No big deal – I took my money elsewhere.
Gotta love the moron at Alpharetta High School who does not think that there should be a male king & female queen for this year’s prom.
1027 days (Obama) + 1460 days (Hillary) formerly known as Soothsayer
March 29th, 2012
9:49 pm
Oops! Cut Hillary’s term short by a couple of years!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
9:51 pm
JAY @ 8:13
That’s not his job to read the whole thing especially since there was no severability clause. It’s not his Constitutional duty to pick and choose as that degrades our three branches of government.
The Democrat controlled Congress screwed up and they will have to go back and do it right.
297 days (Obama) + 1460 days (Hillary) formerly known as Soothsayer
March 29th, 2012
9:54 pm
Damn! I don’t know what I’m thinking about!
1027 days (Obama) + 1460 days (Hillary) formerly known as Soothsayer
March 29th, 2012
9:56 pm
Had it right the first time! Damn!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
9:58 pm
Headline: “SLAVE TO THE APPLE!
“Audit Faults Supplier in China ………. 60+ hrs week, 11 days row”
Heck, that’s nothing !
During my civil service career it was common for me (us) to work seven days a week for five or more weeks without a day off – zero – especially during a campaign year. In addition, my overtime record for one month was 220 hours !
So what’s the big deal ?
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
9:58 pm
Doggone,
Nobody thought much of Jeremy Lin….. until he was given a chance. Sometimes I wonder if pro sports is as unbiased a meritocracy as many think. And don’t forget, the 2004 “dream team” only won the bronze medal. Pretty weak since it’s an American sport at it’s core.
Doggone/GA
March 29th, 2012
10:01 pm
“Sometimes I wonder if pro sports is as unbiased a meritocracy as many think”
Of course it isn’t. How many WOMEN do you see in the NBA?
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:02 pm
Headline: “SLAVE TO THE APPLE!
“Audit Faults Supplier in China ………. 60+ hrs week, 11 days row”
Yeah, that’s not all that impressive. Hard but doable.
Doggone/GA
March 29th, 2012
10:02 pm
Didn’t realize it was this late. Gotta hit the hay. Nite all.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2012
10:02 pm
Anybody else notice when Jay gets challenged he dissapears?
JamVet
March 29th, 2012
10:05 pm
Let’s discuss this garbage.
Let’s not, troll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e4kDXsM6lk
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:07 pm
Ooooops !
Taliban captured in Drag !
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2122130/Chief-army-officer-Afghanistan-orders-guardian-angels-protect-U-S-troops-insider-attacks.html
Obama is over
March 29th, 2012
10:07 pm
OOPS Spike Lee had to settle with the couple he falsely tweated the Zimmerman address on according to the AJC. Any other race baiting topics you can think of?
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:08 pm
But Scout,
Scalia made reference to the “cornhusker kickback” during the arguments. Well, the “cornhusker kickback” didn’t even make it into the bill. He should at least know what he’s talking about and really should be embarassed about making such a huge gaffe IMO.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:08 pm
Don’t Forget:
Coal miners probably do more than that.
JamVet
March 29th, 2012
10:09 pm
RB, if you have children, and they are killed, I wonder if someone is going to tell you to quit whining when you grieve for them.
If there is karma in this world, I hope so…
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:09 pm
Don’t Forget:
I think that shows you how he’s going to vote. He DON’T CARE what’s in it because I’m betting he’s going to throw the whole thing out the door !
ld
March 29th, 2012
10:10 pm
Jay:
The planet’s not stupid; however, many people infesting it are.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:10 pm
RB from Gwinnett :
He won’t even debate with me.
He just says “rabbit hole” or some other lame excuse.
ld
March 29th, 2012
10:12 pm
RB:
Jay likely disappears because he sets his own hours and can.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:13 pm
Doggone:
So far ……….. professional sports is the only occupation where you actually have to pass a for real physical test for what you do.
For example, firemen and police officers used to have to pass certain physical tests but those were thrown out to allow for women in general (rather than a rare exception). The result is that you have “ok” women in those accupations but not the “best”.
It would be like mandating that each NBA team “have” to play one woman all the time.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:14 pm
Excuse me: occupations
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2012
10:14 pm
Sooth, my business includes other counties besides Gwinnett, but thanks anyway.
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:16 pm
Scout, I get plenty of days off but my work weeks are usually around 90 hrs. It’s not physical but I’ve had 24 hour call responsibility for a week at a time. Not getting much sleep isn’t good when you think for a living. Can’t imagine how tough a coal miners job is though.
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:18 pm
Scalia’s vote was never in question IMO, it’s Kennedy and maybe Roberts that will be the swing.
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
10:22 pm
A. Jay’s been reading Bloomberg.
B. Someone doesn’t have tickets to the Masters…..
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
10:22 pm
oh. and boom.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2012
10:25 pm
Jammie, you need to learn how to read an comprehend the conversation. Your understanding of what was said is apparently severely skewed by your bias. You have a problem dude. Get some professional help.
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
10:30 pm
RB. He’s unhinged.
The article Jay read.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-28/golf-s-masters-facing-male-only-dilemma-with-new-ibm-ceo.html
Adam
March 29th, 2012
10:31 pm
RB: Jay gets challenged all the time, whether he’s here or not, and I do see him responding. Him responding to people is somewhat uncommon, and it’s usually a con he responds to.
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:32 pm
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) described his endorsement of Mitt Romney last night as motivated primarily by an interest to end the GOP campaign, and avoid a messy fight at the party’s summer convention.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement there.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:33 pm
Don’t Forget:
My dad was a coal miner when I was young.
getalife
March 29th, 2012
10:38 pm
rb was a loyal bushie marching lock step as w collapsed our economy.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2012
10:39 pm
Adam, he only responds when he thinks he has something on somebody. If you point out how stupid his posts are, he dissapears. Over and over and over.
barking frog
March 29th, 2012
10:39 pm
Scout,
Didn’t know you were
a coal miner’s
daughter….
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
10:40 pm
RB, I couldn’t get Jay to answer a yes or no question. That says it all.
Jay wouldn’t do well in a municipal courtroom. Much less the Supreme Court.
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
10:41 pm
coal miner’s
daughter….
haha. very funny. sort of.
getalife
March 29th, 2012
10:41 pm
gop caved on appointees.
Our President is kicking gop booty.
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:41 pm
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley could soon be indicted. Charges are said to be about tax fraud.
A highly ranked federal official has also privately confirmed rumblings of an investigation and possible indictment of the governor, though the official was not aware of the specific timeframe.
Yesterday, Palmetto Public Record exclusively reported that the Internal Revenue Service has been investigating since March of 2011 the Sikh worship center run by Gov. Haley’s father. At least five lawsuits have been filed against the Sikh Society of South Carolina since 2010, alleging that the group bilked contractors out of nearly $130,000 for the construction of a new temple.
Gov. Haley is reported to have managed the temple’s finances as late as 2003, and our sources believe any indictment would center on what happened to the missing money.
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
10:42 pm
“gop caved on appointees.”
If Obama wins re-election, they’ll get the knives out.
Obama is over
March 29th, 2012
10:43 pm
Don’t forget @ 10:32
oops SCOTUS shutting down Obama’s signiture achievement. not exactly a rin
ging endorsement there.
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
10:44 pm
don’t forget. drop a link for that or pipe down little one.
They BOTH suck
March 29th, 2012
10:46 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/03/29/on-a-smarter-planet-augusta-membership-wouldnt-be-an-issue/?cp=8
They BOTH suck
March 29th, 2012
10:46 pm
uh oh
http://www.businessinsider.com/report-south-carolina-governor-may-be-indicted-on-tax-charges-2012-3
getalife
March 29th, 2012
10:48 pm
No if jm,
When.
They BOTH suck
March 29th, 2012
10:51 pm
http://www.thestate.com/2012/03/29/2213471/haley-denies-connection-to-probe.html
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
March 29th, 2012
10:51 pm
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
Do those numbers mean anything?
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:54 pm
lol jm wants a link omg now thass funny
They BOTH suck
March 29th, 2012
10:55 pm
It is funny, but it became very silent when one was produced