The “Invisible Women” know that they are “Not Invisible” to Hillary Clinton and that is what draws them to her candidacy:
Much has been written about how boomer women have rallied to Hillary’s cause (she won an impressive 67 percent of the white women voting in Ohio; they were 44 percent of the total). It’s fashionable to write off this core element of her base as rabid paleo-feminists fighting the tired old gender wars of the past. But Hillary’s appeal to the boomer gals is wider and deeper than that. Cynthia Ruccia, a grass-roots political organizer in Columbus, told me that in these last beleaguered weeks, women started showing up in waves at Clinton headquarters—women who told her they had never volunteered in a campaign before. “There was just an outpouring about the way she was being treated by the media,” Ruccia said. “It was something we hadn’t seen in a long time. We all felt, as women, we had made a lot of progress, and we saw this as an attack of misogyny that was trying to beat her down.”
It’s a revolt that has been overdue for a while and has now found its focus in Clinton’s candidacy. In 1952, Ralph Ellison’s revelatory novel, “Invisible Man,” nailed the experience of being black in America. In the relentless youth culture of the early 21st century, if you are 50 and female, the novel that’s being written on your forehead every day is “Invisible Woman.” All over the country there are vigorous, independent, self-liberated boomer women—women who possess all the management skills that come from raising families while holding down demanding jobs, women who have experience, enterprise and, among the empty nesters, a little financial independence, yet still find themselves steadfastly dissed and ignored. Advertisers don’t want them. TV networks dump their older anchorwomen off the air. Hollywood studios refuse to write parts for them. Employers make it clear they’d prefer a “fresh (cheaper) face.”
The “Invisible Women”…
We’re the ones who fought the battles for the Equal Rights Amendment for decades only to see it not be ratified and be made part of the U.S. Constitution.
We’re the ones who remember when “women’s studies” was not offered at colleges and universities across the nation.
We’re the ones who remember when women sportscaster’s weren’t allowed in the men’s locker room.
The list goes on and on. For many of of the “Invisible Women,” her scar tissue is our scar tissue. And some look deep into their souls and suddenly realize “I am Hillary.”
Sadly we are “Still Stuck In Second,” and the “double standard is alive and well; it’s just more nuanced.” And here’s the rub that progressive men in the Democratic Party who are among those weilding the sexist memes against Hillary Clinton should remember, “Make no mistake about it: if we’re going to continue to have elections that excite and engage, we need the women.”
We need the women. The women in politics give the “Invisible Women” hope. It’s not the hope that floats from pictures of change sung on speeches filled with rhetoric — no it’s the hope that “Invisible Women” can hold on to because they get that Hillary Clinton she’s and hear’s them. They get that she’s listening. And that’s something that Barack Obama hasn’t told them.
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[...] The Democratic Daily added an interesting post on The Invisible Women [...]
[...] The Democratic Daily created an interesting post today on The Invisible Women [...]
Thank you. I am one of those boomer women and you have said it all.
It’s a shame that American political decisions are so subjective and emotional—because by any objective, logical standard, Clinton is far more qualified to be President than Barack Obama. Clinton is superior to Obama in terms of experience and intellect; she will be a Commander-in-Chief who commands immediate respect, something that is difficult to the point of impossibility to say about Obama.Dennis Kucinich is more qualified to be President than Obama. There’s no need to take shots at Obama’s middle name in order to defeat him: all one has to do is look at his limited accomplishments in the Senate, his undistinguished track record in the Illinois Legislature, his connection to a radical, race-baiting church and his link to scandal-scarred financier Antoin Rezko. Some politicians make good Presidents in theory. Obama doesn’t even pass that threshold. Obaman has skillfully exploited anti-Bush sentiment to become a political rock star—but has yet to truly appeal to those who will make their electoral decisions based on something besides Bush-loathing.
I see that the TV media finally has started thinking that Clinton is the better candidate than Obama after bashing her since Jan 1. Also notice that all the Afro American commentators side with Obama all the time. How racist can you get ?CNN specially is anti Clinton. Donna Brazille, Kelli Goff , Roland Martin, Dan Lothian and Amy Holmes ( who is supposed to be representing the Republicans) always talk against Clinton. Similarly Gwen Ifill ( another Afro American) on PBS and Meet The Press always talks against Clinton. Shame on you all. 50% of the commentators on CNN are Afro Americans and are 100% of the time talking against Clinton.These are the same commentators who would not have any jobs if they were not Afro Americans. Obama should not be made President because he has only 14 months experience in US senate out of which he spent 14 months running for presidencyExecutive Level experience is what is needed. and to be president national level experience is what is important.. Obama has none.. Hillary was Governor’s wife in Arkansas for 8 years and later for 8 years’ President’s wife. She was not just a housewife. Being an attorney herself and a smart politician she was constantly advising Clinton and was his right hand person. Bill was named the best Governor and he was the best President with no deficits and strong economy under his administration and you have to give a lot of credit to her as well.
Mr. Obama, It takes sacrifice to make great progress and a revolution . You have to think of the country and not your own interests. You have to think out of the BOX. Kennedy laid down his life so that Civil Rights legislation could be passed , under which you got admission to Harvard without which nobody would even elect you a senator in ILL. Martin Luther King laid down his life for the same reason. Gandhi was shot dead but the Hindus & Moslems now live in Peace in India because of his sacrifice. Speaking on Mahatma’s death Einstein had said, “Tomorrow, the world may not even believe that such a man ever existed.” Anwar Sadat and Yitzak Rabin sacrificed their lives so that Israel & Egypt can live in Peace. Jesus Christ lost his life on the cross for all of us. You have 14 months of experience in the US senate out of which you spent 14 months running for presidency.This is too little experience to become the President of USA & the most powerful person in the world. It is about time to make sacrifice to unite the Democratic Party and wait your turn 8 years from now. Vote for the DREAM TICKET !!!
Yes, “real hope” for “Invisibile Women” is a female in the Oval Office!
I am a woman in her late 40s who graduated from high school in the late 70s. I am keenly aware that i benefited from the work of women who came before; they gave me choices. It became okay for me to pursue a career, any career, or not. I believed myself to be equal to any man. I heard that adage that I would always have to work twice as hard as a man to get half the recognition, so I did. Yet I would learn time and again that I often made less than my male counterparts.
You see, a lot has indeed changed, but so much remains the same. To call it misogyny may be too harsh, but sexism is alive and well, and I recoil when I see young girls accepting it. I recoil when I read of mothers my age getting boob jobs or encouraging their children to get them. I recoil when I see smart women playing dumb to be more attractive to the opposite sex.
Sexism is alive and well when a woman is forced to choose between motherhood and career, but a man never has to choose between fatherhood and his career. I recoil when women talk about men being inept when it comes to child rearing or housekeeping; I can’t help but wonder if these same women are teaching their sons how to cook and clean as they do their daughters.
Sexism is alive and well when the media thinks it’s okay to discuss Sen. Clinton’s hairstyles, cleavage, voice, her ankles, her wrinkles, and other physical attributes. And I recoil when, instead of being outraged, women join in the conversation.
If 9 out of 10 white Democrats voted for Hillary Clinton, the media would scream that racism is at work. When 9 out of 10 African Americans vote for Barack Obama, it’s “identity politics” that’s at work.
Nine out of 10 women in the Democratic Party are NOT supporting Hillary Clinton. I’ve heard numerous reasons: “she’s a Clinton — it’s time to put an end to the political dynasties.” “I’m ready for a woman president, but just not this woman.” “I liked her, but she should have left Bill; she stayed with him only to advance her political career.” “She’s cold and calculating.” “Having been first lady doesn’t make her more experienced than Obama.” And so on.
When my husband asked me if I was supporting Hillary only because she’s a woman, I told him that given two equally qualified candidates, I would definitely choose the woman over the man. I know that women can juggle like no man I know. I know that women can be caring and tough at the same time. I know that it is women who hold up their families when their worlds start to crumble. It is they who are more likely to swallow their prides to do what is needed to make sure their children are fed and clothed.
Choosing to support Hillary Clinton was tough for me when Joe Biden and Chris Dodd were running for the nomination. But choosing Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama is a no-brainer. And I didn’t even have to play “identity politics.”
I’m a “middle aged boomer woman” who did what I always do during an election. I took a good look at the issues to see where the candidate are. Even if campaign promises aren’t fulfilled, you at least can get an idea where the emphasis will be.
Edwards was good. Hillary was good. Obama, not so much once you get past the rhetoric and the teleprompter speeches.
Gotta tell you though, it was the Hillary bashing that got me not only voting for her, but sending contributions. It’s all a good reminder of how far women still have to go, and why so many women and their children live in poverty.
[...] The Invisible Women The “Invisible Women” know that they are “Not Invisible” to Hillary Clinton and that is what draws them to her candidacy: “Much has been written about how boomer women have rallied to Hillary’s cause (she won an impressive 67 percent of the white women voting in Ohio; they were 44 percent of the total). It’s fashionable […] Technorati Tags: Clinton Campaign, Boomer Women [...]
I am one of these women and say “amen” to everything in the article. It reminds me of the old saying (that I live every day at work)–a woman has to do twice as well as a man to be considered half as good.
Sadly, the more things change…
I agree with all of you wholeheartely. I am 52 and am an avid supporter of Hillary’s. The more the media bashed her the stronger a supporter I became . I have donated money to her campaign and I have volunteered a lot of my time to her making phone calls ect…I consider myself one of those invisible women! If Hillary Clinton does not get the nomination, I will not vote for the incompetent Obama. I will vote for John McCain. I urge all of you women out there to protest and not vote for Obama. Maybe we should start a petition and send it to Dean and the DNC. By the way, this is the first time I have ever been involved in a political campaign ever!
When I was 14, I was obsessed with basketball. A few weeks after my family moved to a new neighborhood in a new city my younger brothers and I started up a street game with some of the older neighborhood boys. After about 30 minutes, one of the guys smacked me in the face and shoved me to the ground and said, “If you’re gonna play like a guy I’m gonna treat you like one!” Of course that’s not what his aggression was about. He wasn’t hitting the other guys playing b-ball that day. The reason I got his punch and shove was because I was a GIRL who played as well as, if not better than, a guy. If I’d been a boy and played exactly the same way, he would not have been compelled to punch me. I see all the BS being flung at Hillary as the exact same thing. If Hillary were male, this would be a much more tepid race. I truly believe the traits Obama’s supporters attribute to him are “fairy tales” that originate more from a rejection of a female who has the potential to be the most powerful person in the world than from anything BO brings to politics.
The waive is coming Obama, so you better duck!!!! We are the silent oppressed majority and it is Clinton who sees and hears us. It’s our turn now and with Clinton we finally have a voice.
I am a 45 year old legal services attorney here is New York. Clinton is my senator and as the exit polls showed on the first Super Tuesday, we are pleased to have here. It is clinton who understands us and I have no doubt that she will advance our agenda. And yes, contrary to the pundits, I am well educated and still earn less than my latino husband who has less education than I do.
It is clinton, not Obama, who understands the feminization of poverty. I am the daughter of a single mother who had seven children. Most of us were born before women had legal access to birth control. We lived in dire poverty, where most of my siblings still remain. Clinton understands that gender equality is the key to lifting all people of all races and venues.She gets it and Obama doesn’t!!! But just the same, she has been targetted my the male establishment for the most abusive campaign in politics that I have ever seen!!
We have witnessed for months now how the media and many members of the male democratic establishment have relentlessly bashed her for no legitimate reason. It’s in our faces every night on all the major networks. It angers many of us and is very painful to watch. Many of us can’t help but feel for her, in part because we know that it is directed at all of us who dare succeed, and that she is taking the hits for all of us. It’s disturbing to witness how much they still hate us. We watch them rip her apart no matter what she does or says. It’s obvious that it is her gender, not her policies or what she says or does that provokes this hate.
For many years now we have continued to vote for democratic men who do nothing to advance our cause. But we faithfully vote for them anyway in hopes that at the very least they will maintain the staus quo. Roe v. Wade is continually hanging by a thread, the equal rights amendment is dead and there are no teeth in the pay equity laws. And eventhough we are entering colleges in greater numbers than our male counter parts we still earn significantly less in the job market. Meanwhile, the male democratic eshablishment continues to arrogantly take us for granted even though we represent the single largest voting block in the democratic party.
In the past two hundred years it seems as though the only significant piece of legislation that we have realized is the franchise. I encourage all me sisters of all races and party affiliations to back Clinton in the upcoming contests. She is the one who speaks for us and she has shown unparalleled intellect, competence and strength of character. She stands there and takes a relentless beating, but refuses to give up regardless of how hard they pound her, and on some level we all know that her doing so is to our benefit.
If the male democratic establishment robs her of this nomination as so many are trying to do, I for one will not vote for Obama. I will get a paper ballot and write her name in protest or I will vote for Relph Nader. Furthermore, I will encourage and organize other women to do the same. We have to stand up and hold the male democratic establishment accountable and make it clear to them that they no longer can take our votes for granted. We have earned the right to equally participate in the democratic system, and that includes running for the highest office of the land!!!!!
Wow — I am a gen Xer with a mother who is a boomer…I will never underestimate what those women before me went through and what they have done. Hillary is my hopes and dreams that all the invisible women of this country are seen and heard.Hillary 08/12! Thank you for this article.
Thank you all for posting such insightful comments. (As a 40 year old male, I did not have to experience the challenges of sexism in America, but having read these comments, I am certainly now more aware of it.)
I’d like to offer a slightly different perspective. I see this race framed in a different way– not based upon gender, or race, but “doing” versus “talking.” We have two presidential hopefuls with vastly different personalities and resumes. Hillary, who is hard working, detail oriented, and interested in accomplishing tasks, and has a huge track record: just look her up on wikipedia, and see the incredible body of work that she has accomplished. (As an example, look at how she is *still* working hard to promote universal health care)
Obama, on the other hand, seeks to “inspire” and lead with “broad strokes.” Ironically, he claims that he is “Change we can believe in”, but hasn’t voted substantially differently from Hillary during his brief tenure in the Senate. He repeats ad nauseum about how he “didnt vote for the war in Iraq.” Well folks, he couldn’t!! He wasn’t in the Senate at that time! It’s a claim that you or I could make. He doesn’t have much of a track record, and I never hear his team promoting all the good work he did while in the Illinois legislature.
You can even see this personality difference in the titles of the books that these candidates have authored: Hillary’s “It takes a Village”, and Obama’s “The Audacity of Hope”. She wants to work together as a community, and he thinks that hoping for change will somehow make things better. Based upon his campaign rhetoric, his book would be more aptly named, “The Audacity of Hype”.
I want to see someone in the White House who’s capable, competent, and intelligent. It’s very obvious to me that Hillary is this person– she’s intelligent, hardworking, share the values that I believe in, AND has ACTUALLY done something! I can only hope that the American people wake up and see through this hyperbole being pushed at us by the Obama campaign. Call and write to your local Democratic legislators, etc (“super delegates”) and tell them to vote for Hillary! She needs the SuperDelegate votes to win!
I would certainly vote for Hillary over McCain, but given the choice between Obama versus McCain, I would easily vote for McCain. I don’t think I could stand four years of the “Audacity of Hype.”
Thank you Peter,
Your perspective is right on target. Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused in the mist of all the sexism. My instinct is to fight!! I feel the need to defend my own! But at the and of the day, its about which candidate will do more for all of us and which one is more electable. I dare say Hillary is that candidate.
Kendall,
You’re right, Hillary *is* the candidate that is more electable (and more qualified!)– In the last two elections, it has been Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004 that have decided the election. Guess who won those two states in this primary?
The other point on electability I’d like to make has to do with these “open primaries” that the Democratic party seems to favor (much to my annoyance.) Why would you possibly want a registered Republican to vote and decide who your candidate should be? In states that traditionally voted Republican, many Republicans have voted for Obama. They do this not because they are so enamored of Obama, but because they dont want to Hillary to be nominated. However, when the general election comes, they will vote for McCain. This kind of “open primary” scheme (and proportional delegate assignment) forces candidates within the Democratic party to drain their resources fighting each other, while the Republicans can continue to accure resources. And don’t even get me started on the whole dismissal of the Florida and Michigan primaries.
Anyway, sorry to leave the thread about gender bias.
I am 48 years old. I served our country while on active duty in the USN. I was told many things before going to my first duty assignment like they will just make you a typist, you will never run a shop and the like. Sexism was alive and rampant in the Navy.
I did eventually run a shop at my last command. I even served on 2 different ships. I made 6 month deployments away from my 2 young children just like men did. I was no different except that my uniforms buttoned on the opposite side from the guys.
I was subject to sexual harassment in the workplace while I was in the Navy. I had to actually go beyond by division officer to my department head to get the offensive materials removed.
It is time for all the nonsense to stop. I want a woman in the White House. I want Hillary Clinton because she is the most experienced candidate. I want her as our next president because she truly cares about military veterans and she truly cares about all Americans.
We are so very fortunate to have such a strong lady running for president. Hillary Clinton can get the job done and on time.
Peter,
Thanks! I’m well aware of the reality of your second post and have written quite a bit about it on Clinton’s website and others. I agree with you and would take it a step further! I know that the sexism and racism are the pretext of this campaign season sponsored by the corporate media in an effort to divide the democratic party to ensure that McCain the white house, so they can continue to profiteer off Iraq, keep their tax cuts and to continue to make billions off nuclear energy, rather than going Green.
It just is so frustrating how the party leaders seem to be falling for it and lining up behind Obama for the most part. I think to myself that if I can see what’s happening, why can’t they? Is it because many Dems are in their pockets too? Are we doomed?Does Nancy Polosi really want McCain to be president?
The demographics are clealy behind Clinton! It baffles me how they all flock to Obama. He clearly can’t win!!!! The male democratic establishment has to know that the largest democratic voting block in the country is white women, which clearly gives Clinton the edge. If the party would get behind her is would be a landslide. Are they afraid of being called racist? I am so frustrated about this! Our own party is sabotaging us!!!!!! It’s no wonder we keep losing!!!!
Kendall, I agree unreservedly with everything you’ve said. It’s incredibly obvious to you and I that Hillary’s the right choice. But the media had decided differently. They are in VERY large part responsible for the meteoric rise of Obama. Prior to this election cycle, outside of Illinois, he was a relative unknown. His speech at the DNC in 2004, I hear, was impressive. Other than making great speeches, he has accomplished nothing. How do you get to be the front runner in this race without doing anything? (Every other candidate in this race has done more than him!) The free and adoring media coverage has helped him immensely. The media, and their superficial Hollywood brethren, support Obama because he is new and so “inspirational.” (By the way, I found it wickedly ironic that Robert DeNiro is supporting Obama– did anyone ever see the movie “Wag the Dog?” DeNiro is actually doing it in real life!! Now *there’s* an example of life imitating art.)
No one in the media has asked the tough questions of Obama, such as “Why do you think you’re more qualified than Hillary? and “What have you done to deserve the keys to the White House?” (But then again, this is the same pack of sheep that called the invasion of Iraq “the liberation of Iraq.”) They continually accept the same tired, vague answer of “We need change.” Well, DUH!! I could have told you that 8 years ago!
We have an expectation that the media present fair and unbiased coverage, but actually they are more interested in money. And nothing drives up ratings like a close race, right? (Also, the media does have to report to their corporate masters, who are so obviously Republicans)
While I don’t judge people by their race, it’s evident that they do. Geraldine Ferraro is right– there’s no way that Obama is where he is if he’s “white.” But of course, the Obama campaign has been waiting to leverage the race card, labelling anyone who dares to utter this obvious truth a racist. As a country, we’ve gone way too far overboard with this political correctness crap, and the Obama team is using it to their full advantage.
If Hillary were black, I’d vote for her. If she were red, yellow, or plaid, I’d vote for her. To me, it isn’t about her color, or her gender, but her qualifications. If you were a hiring manager, and both of their resumes came up on your desk, who would you hire? But apparently, the party leadership (Kerry, Kennedy, etc) doesn’t agree with me. They want to support a candidate that can’t win a key swing state. They think it’s ok to ignore millions of voters in Florida and Michigan. The Republicans, although I don’t share their philosophies, at least know how to run a campaign.
I’m no boomer — I’m only 42 and my grey hair’s just getting started. But I’ve dug my heels in on this one, and I am 150% Hillary all the way. Sometimes I think that’s because of my own background despite my (relative) youth — as a woman with a master’s degree in the hardest of hard sciences, I was exposed to more — and more vicious and gleeful — workplace and academic sexism by the age of 25 than msot women are in a lifetime. I never had that happy little bubble of “we’re all equal now.” The gloves came off VERY young for me. I never got to wallow in the fairyland that too many younger women are in now. I dented my head on that glass ceiling VERY YOUNG.
Besides, she is so so SO SO SO much more qualified that it’s absolutely effing PREPOSTEROUS that this race isn’t a runaway for her. The ONLY reason Obama is still considered even a vague contender is because he’s “only” up against some old lady, and who cares about them?
I DO. I’ll be one someday, and goddamn it, I want one in the WH. One who isn’t a thatcher clone, one who actually disproves my own bitter belief that the only woman who could ever get elected in this country was one to the right of Genghis Khan. I never in my LIFE expected a pro-choice Democrat woman to have a chance like this, and I will fight tooth and fucking NAIL for her shit.
I remember that old saying that a woman has to be twice as good as a man to be thought half as good. Screw that — Hillary is a THOUSAND TIMES better than Obama, and she’s still neck and neck in the eyes of many. That’s an effing OBSCENITY, and I’m sick and tired of it. Eff that garbage — that woman was BORN to be president and has the chops for the job more than any other candidate I’ve ever known. It’s an effing OFFENSE AND OBSCENITY that she still has to fight that effing hard to be taken seriously.
And if she’s not, then what the eff hope do the rest of us women have? If you can be that obviously grossly qualified for the job above a guy who has nothing but nice speeches and barely ANY other eapplicable experience, and YOU STILL DON’T GET THE JOB, the eff it. It’s not our goddamned game, and it never will be.
WOMEN WAKE UP! Especially the ones who think it’s all over and “it’s not really that bad” and that they’re the special little snowflakes who won’t get the same treatment. You will. YOU WILL. Unless you fight like an em-effer against it.
Nick: … “she’s a Clinton –
it’s time to put an end to the political dynasties.”
Funny how those same people are so quick to gloat over Ted Kennedy’s Obama endorsement — I guess dynastic politics is okay when it’s on their side.
Kendall: ITA about remembering your roots. I am also a professional woman earning a professional salary (although I haven’t compared it to a man’s; perhaps I don’t want to).
But I remember my roots, firnly set in the blue-collar working class. I didn’t get the back brace I needed or the dental care I needed, and now I’m two inches shorter than I should be, and I’ve put thousands of dolalrs into my mouth digging myself out from under the rubble of my youth, and I still have a crooked smile. And at least I can afford to dig out! Lots of people can’t — and I’m one lost job away from it myself because I have no family wealth to fall back on.
My roots are in the working class, and I will NEVER forget that. Ever. I vote blue-collar, I vote working class, I vote for labor unions. I want to remind the media of that sometimes — don’t let the advanced degree and the paycheck fool you, fellas. By all rights, I should be voting Obama, but I’m not. With two Depression-era parents who worked multiple jobs to keep us all afloat, I’m not stupid enough to “believe” in hope. I want PROOF. Don’t ask me to “believe” you — show me why you get my vote, or STFU.
Dear Peter,
Thanks for the sincere and intellegent dialogue. I agree that the corporate media has totally wagged that dog!! I cry at night over the consequences and find that my own freinds can’t even find their way clear to the obvious! Thank you for listening and communicating. It’s nice to talk to someone who isn’t all caught up in the hoopla!!! I appreciate that you are someone who can see the forest for the trees. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the identity politics as my first blog here indicates. Thank you for grounding me and encouraging me to see beyond my own passions.
The media is evil and I know that the race and gender politics that they are playing has nothing to do with anything, but is rather an effort to divide and conquer the dems this cycle.
I see that Clinton is trying her best to stay above the fray and to appeal to all of us!!! I fear that the corporate media is winning and I too may have fallen pray!!! I care too much about our country to drop the ball. I live in New York and will spend at least two of my upcoming weekends in Penn. to campaign for Clinton.
I know in my heart that she is for the people, all of us!!!! I understand what is going on. I watched the same corporate media pound the drums of war and then 3 years later blame it all on Bush. I am smart enough to know that he didn’t do it alone!! I just fear that the people will fall for Obama just as they did for the Iraq war. I am so afraid that Clinton will lose the nomination, and then of course Obama will lose the general election, and we the people will be screwed again!!!!!! Do you have any suggestions for those of us who are paying close attention? I feel like I’m pulling my hair out.
I have a young daughter and fear for her future. Has rome really begun to fall? What can we do? I pray that there is some common wisdom that will prevail, but I don’t have a lot of faith in that prospect. My instinct is to keep fighting and hope that at the end of the day, our labor will bare fruit! That is why I will continue to campaign, blog and contribute to Clinton’s campaign. Please send me good news!!!!! I need an uplift. It’s been hard to maintain a positive attitude. it just seems like a losing battle. Please cheer me up!!!!
Sincerely,
KendallJ
Dear Janis,
Here, here for our working class roots, I too refuse to forget where I came from!!!!! I like my wine,and I scratched and struggled for my education, but at the end of the day I’m a gritty cursing working class gal!!!!! I believe in unions and organized labor. I know what its like to be homeless, jobless and hungry. That’s why I do what I do!!!! May my mother and her working class parents rest in pease.
Obama with his bull shit offers nothing. I’m too old and clever to fall for his sweet talking rhetoric. Hillary is my candidate, in part because I have lived long enough to see her accomplishments and I know how important it is to have a fighter like her in the peoples corner!!!! Hillary is a scrapper, like a Youngstown street fighter. She won’t give up and they can’t keep her down. She just keeps coming at them, like Kelly Pavlick!!!! That fire in her belly for all of us, is the true grit we need against these corporate powers.
I’m a laywer so I understand that you go into a battle with the best intentions of getting everything you can for your client, but at the end of they day, if you get what they need you are victorious. Obama thinks hope floats in thin air! That’s a lot of bull shit! Hope is only the first step towards change, not the last, or the one you can hang your hat on. You need hope, plans, intellect , experience and the grit to fight for it. Hillary has the whole package! Obama is still in grade school!!!
It’s a no brainer!!!!!
Hi Kendall,
Thank YOU for posting such enlightened and heartfelt comments! I do truly feel better knowing that there are people like you out there that support Hillary as passionately as I do! And thank you for contributing to her campaign, and for working on her behalf in Pennsylvania. (I would do the same, but I live in Northern California, and it’s more difficult for me.)
Don’t despair– I felt pretty disgusted with the whole process during February, but I think Hillary has gained some much needed momentum, especially after Texas and Ohio. In the meantime, there are things that we can do, (and I KNOW that you have done this), but I include them for readers that may not have done so:
A) Superdelegates: Despite the propaganda promoted by the Obama campaign, this race is not over, and neither candidate will likely have enough pledged delegates after all the primaries to win the nomination. Thus, the decision will depend upon the judgment and decision of the superdelegates. Thus, I encourage all Hillary supporters to write impassioned letters to these superdelegates:
http://delegatehub.com/contact/
Note: Don’t be fooled by the copycat site: http://thedelegatehub.com, which does not identify itself, but has the dubious claim at the bottom:
“We shall not be Swift Boated by anybody, including Hillary Clinton.” This website comes from the same group of people that claim to promote the “politics of hope.”
B) Contribute: Hillary needs our money to overcome the financial support that Obama enjoys. He is able to access huge mailing lists from Senators Kerry and Kennedy, by virtue of their misguided support. (Prior to this election cycle, I’d never contributed to a campaign before, but Obama has been so “inspirational” that he’s inspired me to contribute to Hillary 5 times.) Click below to contribute:
http://hillaryclinton.com
C) Call and campaign on Hillary’s behalf (see the hillaryclinton link above). You never know how calling someone to dispel some of the myths and lies promoted by the Obama camp might affect other people that they know, and thus propagate the truth.
Kendall, hang in there. There are a lot of people I know that are supporting Hillary, but just aren’t as vocal as the Obama supporters. I’m an optimist. I think there will be a resolution to this Florida/Michigan mess, and that Hillary will eventually emerge victorious. Thank you again for doing all the things it takes to help her get elected, and thus bringing this country back on track!
Best,
Peter
Kendall, the thing that scares me is that, if Hillary loses, it wno’t matter for women whether Bush — oops, McCain or Obama wins. WE WILL LOSE. Becuse of watching a high-profile, incredibly well-qualified woman lose publicly, it won’t matter. Men will get drunk on having stuck it to a high-profile, talented woman, and women EVERYWHERE will suffer for it. Black men are still, when push comes to shove, men, and men stick together. But if one of us loses, they will be so gleeful and so over the top with delight at having beaten out a bitch that we will all suffer.
I’d like to rub Susan Sarandon’s stupid face in that one — she’s in an industry that is highly sensitive to public mood, and she’s over 50. If Clinton loses, Sarandon will never work again. “People just don’t want to watch movies about old women, Susan. Sorry. But we’ve got a role here for you where you’re playing Robert DeNiro’s mother, is that okay?”
I study some international politics, and a major area of concentration for me is Welsh politics. They played the same stupid game in 1979, voting against the formation of a government by and for them, the first vote on Welsh devolution that would have created an assembly way back in 1979. They thought they were playing the old “we’re all equal now!” game, too. They thought they could pretend they were British, and they were dumb enough to think that a “no” vote would send the signal to the London government that they were team players, and they were all past that Welsh-nat nonsense. So they voted no — many of them went so far as to cheer their national rugby teams while wearing team-colored scarves, with a “Vote no” button on them! (Shades of, “I’m a feminist, but I’m not voting for Hillary!”)
You know what happened next? Thatcher got in. Do you think she cared one whit for the “We’re all British together, aren’t we?” vote of the Welsh? How do you think she heard that “we’re team players” signal? She read it as a sign of submission. And she destroyed the Welsh economy. Thousands and thousand and thousands of people out of work, mines and quarries numbered like grains of sand closed one after the other.
Welsh unemployment skyrocketed. They may have tried to play the game and pretend they didn’t need to stand up for themselves, but they got slammed in the face with the truth: oh, yes they did. You can stick your fingers in your ears and pretend “we’re all equal now” all you like, but if you send what is read as a signal of submission, you will pay for it.
And I will pay for it. And every woman and girl alive in the US now will pay for it. If those damned stupid women throw this election, I will gloat in their faces over it, as well as I can frmo the unemployment line, because we will all pay. Any woman stupid enough to think otherwise, that her special-little-snowflake ass won’t catch the shit, is dreaming.
Well, the Welsh needed to get their faces rammed into it. Maybe we do, too. They woke up eventually — we may yet.
You know another thing that this really is illustrating to me? The worthlessness of the word “feminist.” There’s an awful lot of them that don’t get it, and an awful lot of those supposedly oh-so-terrible “I’m not a feminist but” women who do.
A lot of self-labelled “feminist” women seem to think that the word is like some Christians use that word: they slap it on themselves and automatically become above reproach. I’ve heard it — “I’m not unethical! I’m Christian!” Now it’s, “How dare you accuse me of being against women?! I’m feminist!” Well, pin a medal on your ass.
Neither people seem to realize that being one or the other doesn’t automatically give you a get out of sinning/sexism free card. they just mean that you can be expected to have subjected your opinions to more scrutiny than others, and that you can withstand that same scrutiny.
But that’s not how it’s being used in either instance. I’m a Christian or I’m a feminist means I’ve gotten an automatic stamp of approval on anything and everything I do, so outta my way.
It really does indicate to me that the word really is useless. Don’t slap a label on yourself and tell me that you’ve done it. SHOW ME. TELL ME what your opinions are. PROVE TO ME that you’ve learned from them. DEMONSTRATE. Let your actions speak.
My mom always says, “Don’t tell me your a Christian. If you are one, I’ll be able to tell myself.” It’s the same thing here — I don’t care if you call yourself a feminist. If you’re one, I’ll be able to tell. And if you’re not, it won’t matter what word you use to describe yourself.
Dear Peter and Janis,
Thank you both so much for your thoughtful and uplifting comments. I’m in a hurry today so I can’t write long, but I did want to say just a few things
Peter,
Thanks for the info and the uplift! My problem with the media is their power of perception and persuassion. They have been lying about the deligate count, as well as the candidates. When this latest video of Obama’s inti-white pastor came out, CNN immediately went into damage control mode trying to down play it’s significance and was giving Obama tons of air time to denouce this guy while only asking soft ball questions. It was as if I were doing a direct examination of my own client at a trial. As a lawyer and a director of litigation, I tell all of the young attorneys I train that its not what the truth is, but what you can persuade people to believe. The OJ Simpson trial is a case in point! Maybe I’m over sensitive about the media impact of this campaign because I understand the power it holds. This doesn’t mean that I think this race is over, because I also understand the good will the american people in general feel for the Clintons.
Those of us she were old enough to remember, know that Bill Clinton was the best president for the people in 35 years. I hope that they carry that one sentement into the polling both with them in these upcoming primaries.
Another interesting thing CNN is doing today is to keep running the Farerro story and pounding this false notion that she is a racist and therefore so is Clinton. They are all so bold about their bias. I heard Chris Matthews say the other day that he thinks Obama will catch up to Clinton in Pennsylvania because he has 6 weeks and 4 networks helping him! Can you believe it? He actually was that bold and confident enough to say that on national television!!!! The news has become a fascist arm of corporate control. The Republicans over the last 30 years have dismantalled the anti-monopoly regulations of the FCC, so now there are only a few corporations who own all the major news ouitlets!!!! The problem is that there is no longer any diversity of information or opinion. Its very frightening. I remember when Clinton got a little emotional before the New Hampshire primary. I think back to that, and although her words were not explicit, I can’t help but think that what she was talking about was this kind of systematic corporate takeover. In my lifetime, I have witnessed this ecceleration of corporate control, I can only imagine what she, in her lifetime with all of her knowledge and governmental experience, has witnessed . It just blows my mind!
I wish someone could tell me that the american poeple have learned their lesson about the media and have chosen not to trust them after the media run-up to the Iraq war!! I think that for many people that’s true. The question is whether enough people have learned this lesson! I’m keeping the faith and fighting the good fight!!!!! We all must Sorjourn on!!!!!! GO HILLARY 2008!!!!!!
Janis,
Susen Serandon is one of those limosine liberals who doesn’t give a rats ass about whether poor people have healthcare, jobs, pay equity, fair student loan interest rates or whether their homes are being foreclosed on.
She is wealthy, and these issues are not even part of her consciousness. I’m sure she has healthcare and no bank is forclosing on her mansion. So what’s left, that friggen Iraq war!!!! She can’t get over Clinton’s war vote!!! Additionally, she has to obsolve her wealthy white guilt, so it makes sence to her to vote for the black guy regardless of whether he is worthy!
Most people don’t know the truth about poor people in America! They don’t realize the the majoriy of people living in poverty in this country are single white mothers!!!! The T.V. only shows poor people who are black!!!! And although blacks are disproportionately poor, Latinos are poorer and women of all races encompass the poorest.. One of the things I love about Clinton, is that she gets it, cares about it, and her pay equity proposals prove it!
But back to Serandon, this is why its so easy for her to vote for Obama. She obviously doesn’t understand that the real issues for equality are about economics. I’m sure she knows that male actors make more money in show biz and that older women get shoved out and denied roles, but she is already privilaged more than most americans regardless of race or gender, by vertue of her economics.
So its easy to understand how she could forget the real issues in the lives of the little people and focus on the big celeberty issues of the day. For people like her, the Iraq war has defind this election, and when you throw a black man into the mix, it can make her feel good about the other things without having to think very much about it.
I’m not religious so I really don’t have much comment in that regard, but I agree that if Clinton loses this nomination it could set women in this society back another 50 years. We saw this before when many white women worked hard to help black men get the franchise with the hopes that they would get it too. When both white men and black men turned on them, it took an additional 50 years before we got the right to vote!!!! This
election carrys with it very similar echos, particularly when we see so many of the white male democratic establishment line up behind Obama!!!
I too fear that History will repeat itself. But, I can say this. There are differences. For one, women do have the franchise and can play a significant role in this election and our own futures. If we vote for Clinton in large enough numbers she could win, as we saw in Ohio.
Secondly, men have come a long way and are much less sexist than they were 100 years ago. Millions aren’t sexist at all and do understand that all people are created equal. Many of them are supporting Clinton for the right reasons and are not ruling her out based on gender.
Its interesting to me to follow the demographics from one reigon of this country to the next. I think that in some reigons sexism is still more previlent than others. I wish there were more analysis on gender and race in these mountain states where there are almost no black populations, but they voted for Obama. I suspect in these states that sexism is real and alive on a daily basis, where racism is a distant after thought that most people don’t encounter because they live in a reigon that it so prodominately one race, white. Another issue is whether rebulican crossover voting with the intent to knock Clinton out, has played a significant role, and thereby iliminating the race issue. Especially, if these same people fully intend to support McCain in the general election.
All I can say is keep the faith, continue to support Clinton and do all that you can to help her get the nomination and win the general election.
Sencerely,
KendallJ
I understand that it’s probably only a campaigning ploy. And I understand that she gains more votes by it than those like mine that she loses. However, this “tough” foreign policy image that she is projecting is the one thing that I find to make Sen Clinton less appealing to me than Sen. Obama.
Trying to get the world to feel better about all of us tackling big problems together is not only Job One of the U.S. President in my book, it is an issue important enough that even if it is the only thing that Sen Obama seems to hold more promise in (and it really is) it’s enough to make me think that it’s worth taking the chance this time.
Darrel,
Its important to be strong on national security. Whether you like it or not , we do have enemies!!! Tough is good, but you also have to be fair and diplomatic. Obama is weak!!! And frankly I his support for his cousin in Kanya who ran on a platforn of sheria law should make all americans take pause!!! If you don’t know, sheria law imposes slavery on women and the fact that Obama supports Odinga should make us all take pause!!!! That would be like Clinton campaigning for David Duke! I did this research on the net.
We just don’t know enough about this guy and the news favors him and won’t tell us. I think that they are saving the dirt on him for Jon McCain. Their corporate owners want a republican!!!! Vote Smart. Vote Clinton. She’s not perfect, but she is the better of the too. Besides she’s more electable. If he can’t beat her in Florida or Ohio and he is our nominee, we are screwed.Those states always determine the presidency!!! John McCain will hammer him in those states just as Hillary did.
VOTE SMART, VOTE CLINTON. DON’T YOU WANT A DEMOCREAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!
Darrell, Hillary Clinton is VERY well-liked overseas, as is anyone with the surname “Clinton.” Trust me, they are pulling for her like mad. And again, Clinton just shows that she’s actually walked the walk instead of simply talking a good game about it.
I simply can’t stop thinkingabout Obama talking a big game against the Iraq war before becoming a senator, and how quickly he fell into line and voted in lockstep with the establishment afterwards. He voted to continue fundingthat war twice — and that was AFTER supposedly making such a “brave” stand against it!
Now, no one can be proud of having voted for that monstrosity of a war. But given that Obama’s made so much hay about not having voted for it (which is incredibly disingenuous) and then turned around and immediately let his brave rhetoric lapse and completely reneged on any promise to do anything differently once he was elected … and it just doesn’t give me any confidence that he won’t do exactly the same thing. He shows no promise given his past track record.
Clinton voted for that damned war — just as Obama did once he actually had a career to risk. And no one can be proud of that vote. But she has shown much, much more ability to get it done when necessary.
Obama talked a good game against Iraq before he had a career in the Senate. He gave great speeches — and once he was elected,it was business as usual. Demonstrate to ME, if you can, that he won’t cave in the exact same way if he’s elected now, that his high-flying words won’t turn out to be so much hot air, just like they were now.
Again, no one can possibly be proud of having voted for that misery of a war. But if you think that that is a big differentiator between Obama and Clinton, you are DREAMING. More than that, you are taking a chance that is far too large to take on a guy who has already proven once that he’ll turn his back on his noble words once he has a position to risk. PROVE to me that he won’t do the same thing twice. I’m serious –I’m putting you on the defensive. If you want me to support your guy this fall, prove to me that he won’t cave twice in a row. Prove it. He’s already reneged on his pretty promises once about that war. PROVE to me he won’t do it again.
Clinton, we know. We know what she’s done, we have a record to judge her on, warts and all. Obama? The only reason he has no massive fuckups in his past is because he has no past. He’s like the Mirror of Erised — empty and thus able to show you whatever you want to see most when you look at it. He reflects back to you an image of your own fondest dreams … but a mirror only reflects because it contains nothing in and of itself.
What a beautiful change it would be to have an American President visit places like Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, etc. and do so without any “preconditions”.
The entire Latin American community faulted Colombia as the aggressor in it’s attack on Ecuador. Sen. Clinton faulted Venezuela and Ecuador for moving troops in response to this aggression.
Um, I’m sorry, but did anyone else hear an echo?
Some historical perspective about voting rights. In 1870, the 15th amendment technically removed barriers to voting but communities still found ways (Jim Crow laws) to keep blacks from voting in any meaningful way. It wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that blacks really had a full and fair opportunity to vote.
Darrell,
You say that it would be a “beautiful change” to have someone meet with leaders of Iran, etc… without preconditions.
Hmmm.. Didn’t Senator Obama *also* say that he would be willing to bomb Al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan without alerting and consulting Pakistani leaders?
These two comments seem logically inconsistent. How could you be willing to speak directly with dictators of foreign governments but also be willing to bomb other countries that have actually committed to working with the US to erase the terrorist plight?
My take on Obama’s response about bombing Pakistan is that he is saber rattling, in an effort to appear “strong” on foreign policy. I’m not convinced that he has a coherent foreign policy plan, just as I continue to be unimpressed with his mandate-less “universal” health care plan.
Obama’s plans seem ill-conceived, probably due to his lack of experience. That’s why I’ve been arguing that he’s not the right choice, Hillary is.
Jessica,
You are absolutely right about the Jim Crow laws. Also, there were recent efforts to suppress black voting, in the voting fraud in Florida in 2000. Blacks were disproportionately disenfranchised in the Florida 2000 election. Furthermore, Jim Crow laws were regional in large part, but were alive and well right up through most of the 60s.
The point I was making about the womens’ franchise in this country is that the 15th amendment of the U.S. constitution gave black men the right to vote before women of any color. That’s a historical fact!!! Its true that racist cummunities denied blacks their voting rights. But it is also significant and says a lot about sexism and misogyny in this country, that women got that constitutional right 50 years later. The U.S. Consitution is the supreme law of the land and has the broad reaching jurisdiction over the entire country. To deny the significance of this is to deny the truth about sexism in America. America is sexist and its important to recognize it.
I could list many ways in which women are discriminated against, that black men are not. I could also list ways that black men are discriminated against that white women are not. Its not a contest, and if you think that women don’t suffer discrimination for being women, watch the movie North Country. It’s a true story about gender job discrimination right into the nineties. If you look at federal legislation regarding civil rights, you will find that women were included in those catigories to be protected at later dates than were men of color, particulary in employment, some areas of education, hate crimes, etc…..
Furthermore, the 15th amendent denies any state from descriminating or abridging ones rights based on race!!!!! It doesn’t say gender or sex!!!!! Today, the federal case law flowing from the 15th amendent grants a higher standard of scrutiny for analyzing race descrimination than it does gender. In many ways our country is very sexist. Sexism is older than racsim and is in many ways more ingrained.
Both people of color and all women have suffered in this country and I for one do not deny that!!!
What I see from the media and much of the male dominated democratic establishment, is that the good old boys have chosen their brothren over a women. The have chosen to denounce racisim but, continue to openly practice sexim.
This notion that the Obama campaign keeps spinning that Clinton is somehow so much more privilaged than Obama is hard to swallow, particulary when all I hear on T.V. is male commentaters attacking her in the most sexist ways. Watching them tear her apart for know legitamate reason is a big problem for many of us women. They are clearly sexist and no one says anything. When Ferraro trys to make the point that Clinton is being treated badly due to sexism and that Obama is benefiting from male privilage from the media, her statements are taken out of context and she is called a racist. It’s rediculious. The good old boys clearly picked a brother over a girl!!! Its plain as day and I’m glad Ferarro pointed it out!
Kendall,
Regarding the issue of demographics that you brought up, I have this suspicion (can’t prove it, of course), that wealthy Americans seem to support Obama more because they have the leisure time to watch more TV, and thus are more influenced by the media. (And, as you and I have argued, the media is less than unbiased!)
Janis,
Bravo! Love your comment about the Obama-Mirror. He has certainly capitalized upon the country’s great thirst for change. It’s easy for him to seem like the right choice– he says what everyone else says, and he hasn’t made any mistakes. Well if you don’t do anything, you don’t make any mistakes!
Janis,
Well said about Obama’s bull shit!!!! He’s all show with no tangable substance. I’m with you, at least we know Clinton. Furthermore, like you said, the Clintons are loved abroad and she could really help us mend fences with our prior allies!!!!! I noticed too that they are pulling for her.
I think the echo left!!!!!!
Peter,
I think he definately has made mistakes, like the spiritual adviser he just denouced. You know the one that married him and baptized his children. Yah, that one who is all over youtube ranting racist and anti-american hate. I think his name is Wright. He was Obama’s pastor for 20 years in the church he suppossedly attands on a ragular basis and never heard one of this rants before. Just like the mirror, poof the image is gone.
Did you see CNN go into damage control on that one. Today, in order to run from the subject they started in on calling Ferarro a racist again!!!!
Kendall,
Glad to see you back to your old feisty self!
When I said Obama had “made no mistakes”, I refer, of course, to the ones that he claims Hillary made that he did not. (most prominently, voting for the Iraq war) He conveniently forgets to point out that he wasn’t sworn into Congress until 2005, 3 years after Congress ok’d the invasion of Iraq, and thus didn’t have the opportunity to vote for or against the war. It’s very convenient to be able to say you didn’t support something after the fact when you weren’t in a position to make a decision! What if the justification for the Iraq war hadnt been falsified, and Iraq was really supporting Al Qaeda with WMD? Would Obama then be saying that he, too, DID support the war?
While we’re on the subject of Obama’s mistakes, one other fairly large mistake that I think he is making is that he continues to bash Hillary, which really irritates me. How someone with his negligible experience can bash someone with Hillary’s breadth of experience is appalling. His comments regarding Hillary of late are really showcasing his arrogant and mean-spirited character. I can only hope it’s not too late.
Kendall: My primary concern with your post I responded to was that you suggested that black men were part of the oppression of women–that somehow they had the standing to oppress anyone:
When both white men and black men turned on them, it took an additional 50 years before we got the right to vote!!!!
I thought that stretched reality a bit. You’re right that women, technically, didn’t have any chance to vote until later than blacks and that does show a deep entrenchment of sexist attitudes. There’s still some way to go to make inroads in societal and institutionalized sexism and racism–no doubt about that.
While Hillary has been subjected to some sexism by some members of the media, to suggest she had absolutely no advantage coming into this race ignores the vast popularity among democrats (including myself) of her husband, and indeed her tenure as first lady, not to mention a huge network of donors, supporters and local and state party leaders developed over the last 15 years. She deserves credit for helping to build this network and does not deserve all of the critique she’s been pegged with. To me, those who engage in irrational Hillary-hating are lame and destructive. It also makes it harder for other people to legitimately question her record because they can be lumped in with the first group. In a weird way, it’s an advantage because anyone who doesn’t support her is either sexist or a self-hating woman and can be ignored.
Finally, your point about the Ferraro thing is missing one important part–she claimed Obama’s advantage was as a black man, not just as a man. Had she made the point you did, she would have had an easier case to make.
I have conceded the point that Sen. Clinton has better proposals on domestic policy, and that both candidates go to lengths to appear unduly militaristic.
My only point is that I see unlimited potential for good in a broad planetary dialogue and only Sen. Obama is even talking about going there. My world view says that this issue is the only make of break one for me in this election cycle.
Darrell,
First of all, I dont think the US is responsible for supporting universaI dialog. That’s the role of organizations like the UN. That said, I dont think Hillary is opposed to a “broad planetary dialog”, as you put it. Neither am I. They differ in the ways that they would do it. Hillary would start at a lower level, and then build up the dialog. Obama would meet directly with these other people. Why would you want to lend instant universal credibility to someone that oppresses their own people, or spews anti-US vitriol? The US has a long history of supporting dictators, and not doing very well by the people in their countries– remember the Shah of Iran and the ensuing chaos? Why not set up diplomatic channels slowly, to gauge the true intent of these people? I think that’s a much more prudent approach.
Others may call Obama’s approach idealism, but I call it naivete.
Jessica,
This notion that black men never enjoy male privilage over women is a misnomer. They don’t have as much privilage as white man in this society, but they do enjoy male privilage.
If you do not believe that black men turned on women with regard to the franchise as a compromise position to secure it for themselves, you need to read a little Fredrick Douglas. So its not a stretch!!! Whether they got what they bargained for is another question, and I agree with you that they didn’t.
The notion that one cannot be privilaged in one way while being disadvantaded in another represents a complete oversite and simplification of the details! There are many shades of gray on the world stage and seldem does only one factor tell the whole story.
In regard to Clinton, any advantage that she started with has been completely destroyed by the media for months now, and there is no sign of them letting up!!!!! They clearly are going out of their way to destroy her!!! They have been unfair to her at every turn, and yes Obama is benefitting from it. What Ferraro was saying is that male privilage is trumping race in this presidential nomination contest!!! The way the media and many in the establishment have acted, there does seem to be something to it. Most of these attackes are clearly sexist in nature.
Davis Shuster from MSNBC said that Clinton was pimping out her daughter becuase Chelsae was working on her mothers campaign and he only gets suspended for a few weeks. Imas says “nappy headed whores” and he gets fired immidiately, as he should have. If someone at CNN or MSNBC said that Obama was pimping out his wife Michelle by having her work on his campaign, do you really think that person would have a job!!!! Give me a break!!!
As far as Clinton’s record goes, they have combed it thoroughly. These people have savagely been chasing the Clintons for 15 years, and if you think for a minute that they are doing her a faver and holding back the dirt, you must not be watching the news. If they had any real dirt, I doubt they would be whinning about her taxes!!!!!!
This is a thought-provoking post. Relevantly, there is a growing consensus among experts, and in the media, that Obama is not a Boomer, nor an Xer, but instead is a member of Generation Jones (born 1954-1965, between the Boomers and Xers). Just in the last month or so, several top media outlets, including The New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, and NBC, have all made the argument that Obama is specifically part of Generation Jones. I also heard a panel of generations experts recently on a national radio show discussing this specific issue, and four of the five experts conlcuded that Obama is, in fact, a GenerationJoneser…that his bio and political worldview closely match the GenJones archetype.
Darrell,
That willingness to charge in without preconditions shows Obama’s inexperience in foreign policy! There are a lot of countries that are angry at us right now and Obama’s nievity to think that just because Bush is gone that these same countries are ready to kiss and makeup, shows that he is not aware of the dangers such an approach poses.
Obama still has a lot to learn!
Hillary will practice deplomacy, but she will first re-build connections with our allies who can help us work more efficiently toward diplomatically resolving our probloms with our enimees. She’s definately the right person for the job. And don’t think having Bill hanging around isn’t a big bonis for the country. He is loved abroad and could help Hillary expedate this process so the we can move our country forward and get past the horrable Bush administration!!!!.
Peter,
I know what you mean about hoping that its not too late!!! Florida and Michigan have to be resolved!! If they re-do those states Hillary can win. If they don’t, here goes another stolen election!!!!! If they fuck this up see how many of these assholes will be fired in the fall.
Nancy Polosi and Howard Dean really need to focus on who is electable and in order to do that they need to re-due Michigan and Florida so a fair result can be obtained. If they disenfranchise Florida again, we might as will kiss it good bye in the fall!!! Those people down there have been screwed enough!!! And they are always teeter taughtering anyway. We need to turn it Blue and with Hillary there is a better chance than with Obama. Those Seniors down there from the North East are not going to vote for Obama rather than McCain!!! Hillary at least offers them a reasonable alternative!!!!
I hope these superdelegates are paying close attention to the dirt coming out of the Obama camp that the Obama news media is having trouble containing. Youtube, it’s a wonderful thing!!!!!! Without youtube we might not have heard about Pastor Wright until the general election!!!!!!!
And Ohio, please!! Hillary picked picked up 66% of the white female vote there and is poised to pick up at least that much in Pennsylvania next month,. I’m sure that if Hillary is not the nominee half these gals won’t even come to the polls in November.
I can just see it, a Duckakus type humiliation!!!!! The world will be watching in bewilderment!!!!
There are a lot of countries that are angry at us right now and Obama’s nievity to think that just because Bush is gone that these same countries are ready to kiss and makeup, shows that he is not aware of the dangers such an approach poses.
There’s also the issue that this whole idea that we can just schizophrenically shift leaders and suddenly everything’s all better just ticks me off. That’s one of the big problems Europe in general has with the US — we say one thing and six months later, it’s all wiped clean. That was a big part of why they were pissed about how easily we ignored the Kyoto protocol. We SIGNED the damned thing, and suddenly we just do a 180 and decide not to simply because someone else is in charge? It’s obscene.
The US is like the abusive husband who beats the snot out of you when drunk, and then he sobers up and hands you flowers and expects total absolution. Bite me — we need to WORK for absolution, and even then we don’t really deserve it. I want someone who’s prepared to EARN the trust of the world we so thoroughly fucked over. The idea that we can just switch the guy in charge and suddenly expect everyone to lurve us again is disgusting.
This despite the fact that I used an obviously girl-flavored metaphor and thus my entire argument can be safely completely dismissed as a mere figment of “identity politics.” (Anti-HRC types aren’t quite as subtle as they like to think they are.)
No, the U.N. has to be replaced, and we need a new body that doesn’t allow membership by anybody but modern democracies. Then we need a U.S. President with the guts to tell these other people to their faces why it is that they don’t qualify to be treated like adults. The caliber of conservation that needs to happen can’t be conducted by anyone below the top job.
We don’t have alot of time to slap this planet into order. We either all start coming together fairly quickly (no more than 30 years, I believe), or we all start to sink seperately.