Like millions of Americans , I was glued to the Olympic Games over the weekend . I loved , simply loved , Ashley Wagner 's strong , athletic performance on ice to one of my favorite songs from Pink Floyd . Truth told , I loved her pre-competition comments more . She told NBC , `` People see figure skaters as these pretty little porcelain dolls that you put up on a shelf . But I am not a soft skater , and I do n't want to be . I am strong ; I 'm powerful ; I 'm athletic . Most importantly to me I feel like I 'm a woman out on the ice . '' Powerful . Athletic . A woman . Beautiful words in a world that denigrates female power by using phrases like , `` man up , '' `` girlie men '' and the `` feminization of our culture . '' And , I might add : What is wrong with that anyway ? Last time I checked , roughly half our culture was already as such . I simply do n't equate `` feminine '' or `` girly '' with `` weakness . '' But , plenty of others -- men and women -- do . Conservative Fox News analyst Britt Hume recently blamed a `` sort of feminized atmosphere '' for New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie 's woes . It seems , in Hume 's mind , our overly sensitive culture can no long abide a `` masculine , muscular '' guy like Christie . Arnold Schwarzenegger urged the crowd at the Republican National Convention in 2004 to support free enterprise and to not be `` economic girlie men . '' Yes , he was capitalizing on his Hollywood image , but the phrase drew a standing ovation . Even strong women inadvertently slam female strength . Sarah Palin urged the GOP to `` man up '' in 2010 and support Tea Party candidates . Why did n't Palin shout , `` woman up ? '' I know , I know . I 've used the `` man up '' slam too . It 's fun , cutting and effective . But , upon further reflection , is it ? I love my friend Kelly 's story about `` girlie men . '' Nine months pregnant , and standing in line at Dunkin ' Donuts behind two male construction workers , she overheard one of them say to the other , `` You 're such a girl . '' Kelly , exhausted from getting up at 2:30 a.m. to arrive at work on time snapped , `` Then I 'm sure he 's stronger than you . '' I do n't mean to pick on Republicans , but perhaps the use of `` man up , '' `` girlie men '' and `` the feminization of our culture '' are hurting them needlessly . According to a new CNN/ORC poll , a majority of Americans , and women in particular , do not believe the Republican Party understands the problems and concerns of women today . As Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state told CNN : `` When you look at our position on issues , a lot of times ( a ) majority of Americans agree with our positions . But it 's the way that we talk about it that does n't resonate , and we have to do a better job . I think it 's fair to say there have been some comments which are offensive and they 're not representative of the entire Republican Party . '' Which brings me back to the Olympics . For the first time ever , women will compete in ski jumping . They 've been petitioning to compete in the Games since 1998 . If you 're wondering why it 's taken 16 years , a hint : According to The New York Times , the president of the International Ski Federation , Gian-Franco Kasper , told NPR in 2005 that ski jumping `` seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view . Silly manly man .
Carol Costello says Olympic skater Ashley Wagner calls herself a strong , athletic woman . Costello : " I think that is the most important thing to remember about women in sport - they are not just athletes but also people who have been through some of the toughest things life has thrown at them and still What 's wrong with feminine ? The GOP should beware of comments like this , she says . Costello : In 2005 , ski jumping was not `` appropriate for ladies '' ; finally they 're competing .