If Hillary doesn't win the nomination, it will NOT be because of sexism.

[beachmom]

As a Gen X woman, I know how far women have come and how much farther we need to go. 2008 is an amazing year for women. Hillary Clinton is the first woman with a real shot for the presidency, and no matter what happens, her name in her own right, will be in the history books.

What I find disturbing is that people are now beginning to blame her losing streak or possibly an ultimate loss on sexism. Sorry, but that dog doesn't hunt. Hillary Clinton has had every advantage in this primary season: the name, the money, the institutional Democratic support, allies in the media, not to mention a former president as her husband. It is now conventional wisdom in the media that she is a good debater, and is smart, knowledgeable, and tough; for nearly a year, the media called her inevitable. I have spoken with many non-bloggers who had nice things to say about Hillary from stories they heard in our media. This is not to say there aren't idiots on TV or in the blogs, but they have little influence on the major themes transmitted to the masses.

So what has been the negative Hillary story? Lack of a plan after Super Tuesday. Not being able to compete with Obama's small donor fundraising. IF Hillary loses, it will be for those reasons. Not only that, these are the main stories that a typical news viewer in America will have heard. Most people don't spend hours on the blogs or watching the "gas bags" on cable or the Sunday shows. They just get the headlines and a few snippets of what is going on. And I can assure you: sexism has NOT played a prominent role in this campaign. Suggesting it has is not the truth and it cheapens the real sexism that still occurs in this country.

If Hillary loses the nomination, it will be because of mistakes made in her campaign and facing a very talented politician, Barack Obama. Please don't turn her into a victim. That is sending the wrong message to young women and girls everywhere.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. Poor argument... she had "every advantage" but lost anyway, so it can't be sexism?

Sounds exactly like sexism, the way you lay it out.

[beachmom]

2. She made mistakes in her campaign. That's not sexism. That's called being human.

And it is very telling that her downfall in your mind HAS to be sexism. Not taking responsibility for mistakes she made.

[samdogmom]

34. Perhaps this article will give you a little insight into what went wrong for Hillary:

http://www.observer.com/2008/micro-mark

[jgraz]

3. Hillary began this campaign with a commanding lead in every demographic

Where is the sexism? :shrug:

[stellanoir]

4. Here is a message for young women.

As a fanatic for Tudor history I keep being reminded of how Queen Elizabeth the first's leadership was so enhanced by the caliber of most of her advisors.

OTOH Mary Queen of Scots really was surrounded by duplicitous, conniving, power mongers. That lack of discernment cost Mary her head.

Just saying.

Bozo alert. Bozo alert. Bozo alert.

[Debi]

5. Your response is educational

Thank you. :hi:

[Mojambo]

14. Good post. Very relevant observation. n/t

[papau]

6. you just about defined how sexism works - all the reasons to promote but a media that lies/smears w/

a male that lies smears and the media covers for him and even tries to sell the Clinton's are racist implications of the Obama lie - so she doesn;t get the job.

What the hell do you think is involved in sexism if it isn't the above?

[washingdem]

7. She ran a terrible campaign and Obama ran a great one.

[papau]

31. we agree "Obama ran a great one" but w/o the media help and the left hate blinding it to truth it

would not have been enough.

[BlackVelvet04]

8. Yes it will be because of sexism. n/t

[beachmom]

10. Well, that is really pathetic. So having a yahoo like Penn running her campaign

is NOTHING? Having no ground campaign in caucus states is nothing? Having your message "I am inevitable" crash and burn is nothing? Having no plan post Super Tuesday is nothing?

[Carolina]

29. sexism is a convenient excuse

for her votes (IWR, Patriot Acts I & II), her poor campaign, her CHOICE of campaign managers and advisors, HER ASSumptions about her experience, leadership and inevitability.

Everywhere you turn, she has been WRONG,

It's not her gender, IT'S HER

[gabeana]

9. great observation

[Barack_America]

11. Of course it's because of sexism...

Mark Penn is clearly sexist and that is what lead him to run such a shitty campaign on her behalf.

Actually, you know, I meant that sarcastically, but there might be something to that. It would explain the campaign's fuss and fret about how to "present" a woman candidate. Um, how about letting her be herself? It's almost as if their own misgivings about their female candidate were projected onto the country, which I think had actually been ready for one.

[stellanoir]

12. No it's not because of sexism

See post #4.

[Barack_America]

18. I don't think you understood my post.

But that's okay.

[malletgirl02]

37. Mark Penn

i think your right about Mark Penn. It is explains a lot of things.

[ginnyinWI]

13. on the contrary, she got away with stuff because she's female

Could a man have gotten away with the tears? Could he have continually blamed everyone else and made excuses for whatever went wrong? Could he have done those rants at rallies and not be laughed at? Or done the angry rant about the flyer and not be thought crazy by everyone?

I think she's gotten quite a few breaks, and still couldn't do it.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

15. Interesting definition of "got away with"... she's losing

[ginnyinWI]

40. yes, that's true

I'd just like the media to recognize the uneven way they cover it. The people do know better, sometimes.

[rodeodance]

16. Saying the sexism plays some role-not all, is NOT saying she is victum for heaven's sake.

[ProSense]

17. Race is playing some role too!

Do you believe sexism is playing a bigger role than racism?

[AGirl]

19. yes, in this presidential race, definately. Obama is half white, Hillary is all woman.

[ProSense]

20. Sheer idiocy! n/t

[AGirl]

21. meh. your opinon.

[ProSense]

23. What gave it away? n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

25. and you offer what???- other than your opinion.????

:shrug:

peace~

[Major Hogwash]

26. February is black history month. Did Hillary learn any lessons this month?

You can bet your bottom dollar Bubba did!

Half white? Is that supposed to mean something to the rest of us?

[AtomicKitten]

22. I am quite frankly turned off by her behavior.

In my eyes, she is the antithesis of feminism. She exemplifies the very worst of the chauvinistic stereotype of women with her incessant sniveling and whining as well as what appear to be rapid-cycling mood change outbursts. She is very un-presidential in her demeanor.

I oppose her on her policies, not her gender. I would love a woman president, just not this woman.

[Bluerthanblue]

24. Your words a very true and wise- expect to be flamed to a crisp-

have your woman-hood questioned, and your motives twisted into knots.

But also know, that there are those of us out here, who appreciate knowing we aren't the only ones who see this the same way as you do- And don't feel the need to destroy others along the way.

Thanks for having the courage and elequence to post this.

I'm a woman myself.

peace~

And thanks again.


:hi:

[COFoothills]

27. Of course it's not...

...but sometimes people have to have something to blame.

It will be because they ran an awful campaign. Wrong strategy, wrong decision making, wrong time and place...just blew it.

She came into this with every advantage. Money, organization, the schedule being basically rigged for her to swamp everyone else early and lock this up on Super Tuesday. Didn't work.

It was hers to lose in every way. It was a choke-job of epic proportions.

[Cha]

28. Thanks, beachmom...very

well written. I never did get the poor hilary is being picked on 'cause she's a woman. The whole campaign starting in Oct, 2002 was about portraying her as "Tough" and that didn't work out so now it's the sexist angle? She's had so many advantages and keeps blowing them daily.

[Skidmore]

30. Hillary will lose because of this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4764865

And, if the Democratic Party is not careful, she will take it down with her.

[apocalypsehow]

33. Very interesting link, I read the OP. Definitely on to something!

:thumbsup:

[Carolina]

32. great post

Sexism is a convenient but truly erroneous excuse.

Her failure is because of her votes (IWR, Patriot Acts I & II), her poor campaign, her CHOICE of campaign managers and advisors, HER ASSumptions about her experience, leadership and inevitability.

Everywhere you turn, she has been WRONG,

It's not her gender, IT'S HER

[Mme. Defarge]

35. As a "boomer" I have to say

congratulations for nailing it. And I especially appreciate this insight: "Please don't turn her into a victim. That is sending the wrong message to young women and girls everywhere."

[sendero]

36. I've said it 50 times...

.. but again won't hurt. HRC is losing because of her weak position on the Iraq war.

Yes I know that McCain is going to make the war the centerpiece of his campaign. But I don't think it is going to work.

Whether her refusal to commit to working to end the war was triangulation, catering to interests she is heavily beholden to, or just her judgment, I believe it cost her a lot.

[Yael]

38. Your points will fall on deaf ears of those who refuse to listen

But brava to you. Well done.

:toast:

[eridani]

39. That is no fucking EXCUSE for the sexism, however n/t

[Armstead]

41. Thank you for a good post

[RunningFromCongress]

42. It will be because she ran a shitty campaign and didn't plan for a real competition. Period.