Feminist Hero or ‘Just a Politician’?

[JimGinPA]

Two articles on the nation’s op-ed pages today try to explain to Hillary Clinton’s supporters why losing a presidential campaign is insufficient evidence that the candidate in question has suffered from a misogynistic backlash.

“Yes, there have been sexist episodes and comments. Yes, it’s infuriatingly more acceptable to make cracks about gender than about race,” writes Ruth Marcus in her column for The Washington Post ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052001567.html ). “But the notion that Clinton was the victim of unrelenting, vicious hatred because she is a woman — is it safe to call this reaction overwrought? Clinton managed to win more votes than any primary candidate in either party ever had before. It’s hard to square that result with the notion that her candidacy exposed a deep vein of misogyny.” She continues:

-snip-

On the op-ed page of The Los Angeles Times, Jonathan Chait takes up the same theme ( http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-chait21-2008may21,0,2243133.story ). “It’s highly unusual for a mainstream presidential campaign to persist for so long with no purpose except self-perpetuation,” he writes. “But many people don’t think of Clinton in normal political terms. She is viewed not as a politician, or even a person, but as a symbol of the strong woman.” He later adds:


-snip-

More at link

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/feminist-hero-or-just-a-politician/?ref=opinion



All 3 articles are worth the time to read IMHO.

[cliffordu]

1. K&R. Nice post. Poor Hillary.

[LisaM]

2. Hmmmmm.

I just read the lyrics to "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" (not for the faint hearted). I greatly appreciate this post, but I have to disagree with the author of the second article on "dirt-brushing-gate" or whatever you want to call it!

[Lilith Velkor]

3. Just a politician

I side with her because she is the enemy of my enemy. The fact that it pisses off misogynists is just yummy frosting on the anti-Republican cake.

[JimGinPA]

4. Who Is Your Enemy? She Sure Has Been A Favorite Of The GOP Lately

:shrug:

[Lilith Velkor]

6. Bullshit, they've been howling for her head for fifteen years now

A lot of them have joined the Democratic party so they can hound her out of politics.

A lot of liberals who used to know better fell for it, and are being played like a fucking orchestra. So it goes.

[JimGinPA]

7. So You're Not In The Least Curious Why All The GOP Pundits & Pols Are Promoting Her Now?

[Lilith Velkor]

8. They alternate between the two, the better to split the party

You all need to wise up.

[JimGinPA]

9. No, They Grudgingly Admit He's The Likely Nominee...

They promote her - that's a stark difference. They know she would galvanize the GOP voters, even the ones who don't care for McSame. Failing her winning the nomination, they are actively pushing her for VP, for the same reason, to drag down the Democratic party.

[Lilith Velkor]

11. Geez, I didn't know that 60% of African-Americans were GOP

Ya learn something new here every day. :crazy:

[JimGinPA]

12. That Post Makes Absolutely No Sense

[Lilith Velkor]

13. ...

http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Vote2008/story?id=4837828&page=1

Check the fifth paragraph.

[ShortnFiery]

5. HRC is a CORRUPT Politician as well as shaming our beloved gender.

:thumbsdown:

[Skidmore]

10. Add "newly minted pariah" to your list as well.