Hillary and Sexism

I was just listening to a couple of talking heads face off on Talk Of The Nation about the Democratic primary. I don't remember their names at the moment but the woman just had an Op-Ed published arguing that Hillary should stay in the race. The male talking head did not disagree. Where the big dispute came was over the misogyny being directed at Hillary. The woman made a big deal out of it essentially saying – although she said she didn’t – that Obama isn’t getting the same level of hate directed at him. The male talking head quickly, and rightly in my mind, pointed out that as a black candidate that Obama was surely having his own moments of dealing with hate.

They took three calls that I heard. Two of the callers were women and both cited the misogyny as well. A point was strongly made that older women had a vested interest in Hillary. The talking head and the two callers pointed out two incidents: protester at Hillary’s campaign events holding “Iron My Shirt” signs and Obama’s comment in the N.H. debate, “You’re likable enough, Hillary.” I’ve always thought the “Iron My Shirt” people were asshole cretins. However, when I heard Obama’s jab in the debate was a great zinger. I didn’t view the comment as sexist.

Over the weekend Mom and I had a brief conversation about Obama and Jeremiah Wright. Mom thought the comments were wrong but made the point that people have to “look at the culture it comes from.” I quickly responded that people need to give the same criticisms to white preachers such as Robertson and the others. The conversation ended at that point.

Listening to the Talk Of The Nation show reminded me of some of the stories my mother has told me over time. Without going into detail she’s faced a lot of sexism and misogyny in her career. She’s had to fight for a lot of what she has earned. It never really dawned on me until this afternoon that she might be supporting Hillary – and I don’t know that she is – because of her life experiences. And obviously, not just her but others as well.

Through the stories she’s told me, the things she’s taught me I have always tried to stay aware of sexism in society. A girlfriend I had about 5 years ago (damn, has it been that long) was a drummer in a local rock band. She described her issues with trying to break into the rock-n-roll scene as a woman, and especially a woman drummer. It reinforced my understanding of the issues. Just this weakened, Mom and I were watching a show and one commercial that was played a couple of times was for some dietary or over the counter medical product. The ad featured a man identified as a “Dr. So-and-so” and pretty blond woman that gave her name but no professional affiliation. Dr. So-and-So described how the product worked and the pretty blond asked stupid, leading questions. The second time it aired I made the comment about the stereotypical dumb blond. Mom said, “I thought it was just me seeing that.”

The point is, I think, that as a white male, I’m fairly aware of the issue. I think at times people are too sensitive to perceived slights to their sub group (be that women, African-Americans, Catholics, or what have you). From that stand point I still don’t see Obama’s N.H. debate comment as sexist but in retrospect I can see that some might have. Just as white people don’t always recognize some of the subtler forms of racism, men aren’t going to recognize all the subtler forms of sexism.

I’m an avowed supporter of Obama. He and Hillary share many, many policies and I support most of agendas of both candidates. For me there are two big differences between the candidates that are the flip sides of the same coin.

First and foremost, Obama inspires me. He makes me believe that there is a better future to be had. And I see this inspiration played out in others. In friends that are cynics and are devout goppers feel it to varying degrees. Plus there is a plethora of evidence that his inspiration is contagious to multitudes of others. In every primary and caucus that he has competed in to date he has been able to close gap that Hillary started with and in a majority of the cases over come it and win.

Second, I believe Hillary is the ultimate poison pill. The country is fairly tired of the goppers so it may not be fatal but Hillary has a much larger hill to overcome than Obama will. In polling terms, the floor of her negatives is higher than Obama’s and the ceiling to his positives are higher than hers. Is this Hillary’s fault? Partially, yes. She has been grating at times. For a long time she projected an air that the nomination belonged to her, that it was hers by right. She has had a hard time with the truth (we landed under sniper fire) and she has attacked Obama in ways that would make Karl Rove proud (McCain and I are ready on day one, Obama will not be). But on top of all that there is a large amount of Clinton Derangement Syndrome left over from the 1990s. Many of the cynics and goppers I know that feel the Obama inspiration loath Hillary (or Billary as they say). This will not be over come. These people, for rational or irrational reasons, are going to hate her and either vote for McCain or not vote at all.

In the general election, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR Johnny McStraighTalk! I won’t do it! I will not vote for another gopper until they fully divest themselves of the religious right. Not when any gopper is likely to nominate another Alito-like member to the Supreme Court. If Hillary wins the nomination I will vote for her.

But I want Obama to win. I think he’s The Man!