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Obama says Augusta National golf club should take women | Obama says Augusta National golf club should take women |
(40 minutes later) | |
US President Barack Obama thinks women should be allowed to join Augusta National, the male-only golf club that hosts the Masters golf tournament. | US President Barack Obama thinks women should be allowed to join Augusta National, the male-only golf club that hosts the Masters golf tournament. |
The president's "personal opinion is that women should be admitted", White House press secretary Jay Carney said. | The president's "personal opinion is that women should be admitted", White House press secretary Jay Carney said. |
He added that it was up to the club in the US state of Georgia to make changes to its membership policy. | He added that it was up to the club in the US state of Georgia to make changes to its membership policy. |
The new female IBM head was not invited to join, even though the firm's last four chief executives were all asked. | The new female IBM head was not invited to join, even though the firm's last four chief executives were all asked. |
Throughout its 80-year history, Augusta National has permitted only men to become members. | |
The exclusion of Virginia Rometty, chief executive of IBM, from the all-male club gained attention since the giant technology company is a major sponsor of the club's annual golf tournament. | The exclusion of Virginia Rometty, chief executive of IBM, from the all-male club gained attention since the giant technology company is a major sponsor of the club's annual golf tournament. |
'Long past' | |
IBM declined to comment, but noted that Mrs Rometty plays golf occasionally. | |
"We're kind of long past the time when women should be excluded from anything," Mr Carney told reporters on Thursday. | "We're kind of long past the time when women should be excluded from anything," Mr Carney told reporters on Thursday. |
The BBC's Steve Kingstone says it is a statement that Mr Obama hopes will play well on the campaign trail. | |
Polls already give him a significant lead among women voters over his likely Republican opponent, Mitt Romney. | |
Mr Romney also endorsed the idea on Thursday. | |
"Well of course," he told reporters after a Pennsylvania campaign stop. "Certainly if I were a member... of course I'd have women in Augusta." | |
The chairman of Augusta National has said the club should be allowed to make its own decision on the matter. | The chairman of Augusta National has said the club should be allowed to make its own decision on the matter. |
But correspondents say Augusta National's all-male policy could conflict with the non-discrimination goals of many sponsor companies. | But correspondents say Augusta National's all-male policy could conflict with the non-discrimination goals of many sponsor companies. |
The last time Augusta National's membership policy came under scrutiny, the club stood firm and hosted its golf tournament without sponsors for two years. | The last time Augusta National's membership policy came under scrutiny, the club stood firm and hosted its golf tournament without sponsors for two years. |
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