The Loud Silence Of Feminists

[babylonsister]

The Loud Silence Of Feminists

By Mary C. Curtis
Saturday, June 21, 2008; Page A17


Michelle Obama has become an issue in the presidential campaign even though she isn't running for anything. An educated, successful lawyer, devoted wife and caring mother has been labeled "angry" and unpatriotic and snidely referred to as Barack Obama's "baby mama."

Democrats, Republicans, independents, everyone should be offended.

And this black woman is wondering: Where are Obama's feminist defenders?

It's not as though they're out of practice. In 1992, Hillary Clinton was deemed too assertive and not first lady material. Similar, and worse, claims were made this year. But just as you didn't have to be for Clinton to decry the sexism in the coverage of her campaign, you don't have to be an Obama supporter to defend Michelle Obama against similar treatment.

So I want to know: What does Gloria Steinem think? She was out front with her support of Clinton, promoting the importance of a female president. She has even endorsed Barack Obama. What's her reaction now that the knives are out for another strong woman?

How about Geraldine Ferraro, the former vice presidential nominee whose racially tinged denunciations of Barack Obama sparked a media firestorm?

Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, has said: "We're going to keep watching because we think Michelle Obama will be the recipient of the same kind of attacks that Hillary was."

A feminist ray of hope.

The campaign against Michelle Obama -- who went on "The View" this week to prove her everywoman bona fides -- has not caused a rift between black and white women so much as it has exposed it.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/20/AR2008062002209.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I think many of us here on DU have been upset about her portrayal and treatment

[BlooInBloo]

2. Race trumps all for white folks. Women are no better in this regard than men.

[roseBudd]

3. I agree, read the comments that accompany this article

[mrreowwr_kittty]

7. I loved the one that called Michelle "ghetto trash" AND "elitist" in the same paragraph.

:crazy:

[Warpy]

6. Your brush is a little broad, Binky

There should have been a "some" in there.

[BlooInBloo]

8. I prefer giving people the opportunity to utter braindead cliches.

[provis99]

9. yeah, the feminist movement had problems in the 70's

It was seen as a white women's movement, not a women's movement. I remember a feminist professor shouting how "blacks" had betrayed the women's movement when black men got the vote around the turn of the last century, but white women didn't.

[BlooInBloo]

10. Heh. "It was seen as..."

:rofl:

[DURHAM D]

4. Mary C. Curtis is ignorant.

Gloria Steinem has already spoken out in support of Michelle several times. This article is a crock...and Mary is a crock.

[babylonsister]

5. She has? Do you have a link? I just googled and didn't find anything. nt

[babylonsister]

13. Still waiting for that link... nt

[DURHAM D]

15. Can't link to a tv show.

She has been on CNN at least twice on this subject. I don't remember where else I watched her prepare the audience (weeks ago) for the MSM misogyny attack on MO.

I know this doesn't fit your personal narrative.

[AmyDeLune]

16. Found a video link here--

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/09/steinem-deconstructs-clintons-loss-has-advice-for-obama/

...but I am at work and can't view it, so I don't know if it's one of the ones you're thinking of.

[MaraJade]

11. If the National Organization for Women is

watching out for Michelle, then you may safely rest assured that major numbers of feminists are on top of this.

After all, they were too late to help Hillary, and they are left stinging for that. Rest assured that they
will not drop the ball this time and sit silently while another woman is bashed and trashed.


("Baby's Mama," --- WTF! :grr:)

[Demit]

12. Mary C. Curtis is probably too young to remember the 60s, and the Black Power movement, but I do

And I remember black women's complaints then about being lectured by the male leaders in the movement—to take their place, to wait their turn, not to dilute the momentum of the black movement with wanting to simultaneously work for black women's concerns. The men felt they were more important, and the sisters had to stand in back, subordinate their concerns to the movement as a whole. Just another perspective on the topic, that I think is interesting to know.

[elleng]

14. 'Feminists' have the same qualities as Dems;

LOTS of opinions, on lots of issues.

CAN'T HERD FEMINISTS!