Sexist crap is hurting Obama, and the party

[democrattotheend]

I have noticed several posts in the past few hours that refer to Hillary Clinton as "Bill's wife" or "Mrs. Bill Clinton". This is the kind of sexist crap that belongs at Free Republic, and as an Obama supporter, I am embarassed to see fellow supporters here stoop to that level. Hillary Clinton may not be my first choice for the nomination, but to belittle her accomplishments by making her nothing more than "Bill's wife" is insulting to me as a woman, and I am sure most women of all political stripes feel the same way.

I'm a hardcore Obama supporter but stuff like that almost makes me want to see women stand up for Hillary and keep her in this race, just like the way some Clinton surrogates and mostly the media focus on the white vote as the only valid measure of support almost makes me want to see black voters stay home in the fall if Clinton is the nominee to prove they can't be taken for granted.

This is the kind of crap that not only is at odds with our values, but it makes Obama look bad and pisses off Clinton's supporters, making it harder for them to unite around Obama if he gets the nomination. Like it or not, what we do here reflects on our candidate. I know it's stupid, but people can't help but be influenced by what they read from people who support the other candidate. I have said a thousand times that I will vote for the Democratic nominee no matter what, but sometimes a Clinton supporter here makes me so mad that if the election were today and Hillary were the nominee I'd be tempted to withhold my vote. It certainly tempers my enthusiasm about volunteering for her if she gets the nomination.

My point is, we all need to stop going out of our way to piss off supporters of the other candidate and think about how our comments reflect on our candidate before we post them. I believe that for the most part, Obama has taken the high road in this campaign, but you wouldn't know it from the way some of his supporters behave here. Referring to Hillary as "Bill's wife" is just the latest offensive of many insults I have noticed, and it needs to stop. We will never unite this party in the fall if we continue alienating people with sexist crap like that.

P.S. Before Obama supporters start posting about below-the-belt crap from certain Clinton supporters, I don't disagree that there has been plenty of that. But as an Obama supporter, it's not my job to care what they do. If they want to make to make her look bad, that's their problem. There are plenty of reasonable Clinton supporters who should be calling them out for it. I am concerned about how our behavior reflects on our candidate, and even if some Clinton supporters are obnoxious, that does not make it okay for us to post sexist crap that should never be considered acceptable by Democrats.

[Cant trust em]

1. It's always nice to see an Obama supporter who isn't blinded

thanks for your fairness.

[Skidmore]

3. Don't be so hasty as to blame Obama supporters for what may be

the work of disruptors. I strongly suspect that the more inflammatory posts from both sides are made by disruptors or the denizens of FR.

[ms liberty]

10. I agree ... n/t

[democrattotheend]

12. I think you are right

I am convinced that there are Republicans here pretending to be supporters of both candidates to make us hate each other. But some inflammatory posts come from people who have been here for a long time.

[Cant trust em]

28. I'm not blaming Obama supporters. I'm one of them.

I'm just saying that it's nice to see someone who sees both sides. Balance is good.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

You just couldn't resist, could you?

Talk about missing the point of the OP.

Shame.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

2. I AM VOTING FOR BARACK OR HILLARY IN THE PRIMARY

AND I WON'T TELL WHICH.

AND I AM VOTING FOR BARACK OR HILLARY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[depakid]

4. "...crap that belongs at Free Republic."

Seems to me there's a lot of that on GD:P. Most of it can be traced to a select group of about 20 posters or so....

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

5. agreed. no sexism. thanks for the post.

[mindfulNJ]

6. I agree

As a Obama supporter also I totally agree. No need for this kind of gutter politics from our side...let's stay on the high road.

[SeattleGirl]

7. Thank you!

Obama supporter here too, and when I see that stuff, or worse, it turns my stomach. Making an argument FOR Obama does not have to include sexist insults against Hilary Clinton.

[myrna minx]

8. Hear hear. n/t

[DarienComp]

9. Agreed, and you'll never hear me refer to Hillary as "Bill's wife"...

I do, however, think that it's totally fair to question whether one's experience as First Lady should count as "executive experience".

[democrattotheend]

11. Sure, that's fair

As long as you don't act sexist about it (saying "all she did was host tea parties" or something like that).

Personally, I think it's certainly valuable experience, and I take exception to those who say that her role was purely ceremonial. But I think some of her experience claims are embellished, and I have also been saying for a long time that Obama should point out that she never sat in on security briefings or had to make national security decisions.

[DarienComp]

19. agreed on all counts.

:toast:

[Writer]

26. OMFG - THANK YOU.

To say that she, as the First Lady, just sat around the White House decorating and attending luncheons is despicable.

If Senator Clinton does not gain the nomination, I think in a year or more we are going to look back at the gender politics surrounding her campaign with a very regretful eye, especially when measuring that against the racial politics surrounding Obama's campaign. Are we ready for a black president? YES. Are we ready for a female president? NO.

This entire primary has been a nauseating crash course on identity politics - identity politics that have fomented homophony to the point where I don't think we can even identify true examples of racism and sexism in this race anymore.

And women? After feeling my stomach churn when watching promos for NBC's "Lipstick Jungle," a few thoughts came to mind about modern concepts of feminism. During Hillary Clinton's 20's and 30's, feminism meant achieving an equal standing with men in the public sphere. It meant that womens' ideas should be respected on the same level as mens' ideas. However, men do not respond to womens' minds as much as they respond to womens' sexualities, and over the last few decades young women entering the workforce began to equate power in the workplace with their own sexual power: something a few sociologists have labeled "lipstick feminism." "Sex and the City," "Desperate Housewives," and the like all explore these themes. It's like Dynasty redone for the corporate world. A woman gets ahead not only by being smart, but also by turning her managers' heads... but never put out. Nope. You're only supposed to use men. After all, they're using you too, right? (Damn those men. Who needs 'em?)

So does sexism surrounding Clinton's campaign derive from men? Hardly. I think it derives from women. Hillary Clinton isn't sexy enough, it seems. She's not willing to hunch over and show a little skin while discussing health care reform. She's a dyspeptic relic. If only she sported a pair of Manolo's, and rolled her eyes a bit more at her philandering husband, would she ever win over the modern feminist. But for now, we'll just wad up this brilliant and capable woman and toss her in the trash. After all, Obama's much better looking, isn't he?

[Sinistrous]

13. Hell. I got called today out for using "Mrs. Clinton" in a post.

That is a crock, since, for some time, I have been using the slightly more formal "Mrs. Clinton" and "Mr. Obama" in referring to the candidates, instead of the faux familiarity of using their first names, which I consider truly demeaning.

[still_one]

14. as an Obama supporter I agree with you, but I am also outraged when so-called Democrats

say they won't vote for the Democratic nominee if it isn' THEIR canidate, and that is unforgivable in my book

[democrattotheend]

Me too

It's like cutting off the nose to spite the face. Clinton and Obama are so similar on policy that it seems ridiculous to me that people who support one would not support the other.

[still_one]

23. we are on the same page. mccain is the enemy

[papau]

25. Funny - "that is unforgivable" thought was rare when it was Obama folks won't vote for Hillary

[still_one]

30. I don't care who it is, I will vote for Hillary if she is the nominee, but I

understand your point, the sword has cut both ways

I also believe the MSM is complicit along with repugs trying to agravate the disunity among us

In my optimism I believe 99% of the Democrats will vote for WHOEVER the nominee is

[phrigndumass]

15. Yes, show respect., and you will receive respect

It's Senator Clinton, not Hillary or HRC or Mrs. Clinton.

It's Senator Obama, not Barack or "Barry" or BO, BHO, etc.

A person who doesn't show respect, doesn't deserve much respect or credibility, imho.

:thumbsup:

[democrattotheend]

18. I use first names sometimes

I don't see anything wrong with that. Especially since one of the candidates uses her first name on her signs and bumper stickers.

[Cha]

16. Yeah, leave that to hilary.

[lumberjack_jeff]

17. Thank you, very well said. n/t

[guidod]

20. Great Post. I agree...

Obama is my candidate, but Hillary definitely has my vote if she takes the primary. IMO, we have a lot to lose, as democrats, if we don't take over in the White House. I'm 60 years old and this is the most important election I have ever seen. We have to vote dem no matter who the candidate is.

[Adelante]

21. Something's got to give, that's for sure

Both the sexism and racism, I hope.

[hfojvt]

22. Cassius Clay changed his name to Mohammed Ali

Joe Frazier kept calling him Cassius. He was asked why he did that, and he replied:
"Because it makes him mad."

[tishaLA]

24. part of it is a response to the "Barry"

"Barack Hussein" etc posts, undoubtedly. I agree it's ridiculous, but I take it with a grain of salt in here since virtually ever slander possible against Democrats seems to be allowed.

[ms liberty]

27. Bring back civilized discourse!

I do think there are disruptors trolling (or trolls disrupting!) on both sides, ramping up the slimeage. They've been much worse this primary season than the '04 election, IMHO. This primary season has been intense and long, and fractious. There is a lot at stake this time...you know, like life, the universe and everything. We all know that this election is probably the most important one we'll ever see. We've been living in Dubya's Amerika for almost eight years, so we're already stressed to the breaking point.
There are good DU'ers on both sides of this primary battle, and I'd like to see us come out the other side able to come together behind the nominee, whomever it may be. I'm voting for Obama in the primary, but if Clinton is the nominee in November, I'll vote for her. The Democratic party must win this Presidential election, and must gain seats in the House and Senate. We have to turn this country around.

[cbayer]

29. I think you speak for a lot of people and highly recommend your OP.

I am seeing more and more people, particularly women, who are just slowly seething over the sexism they see in this race. It would be a mistake to underestimate the power this group has over the eventual outcome and wise people, who wish to see Obama elected, would do well to heed your advice.

[Goat or Panic]

31. I love

Senator Clinton and I love Senator Obama and I will proudly vote for whomever the Democratic nominee is in november.

That is my pledge.

[WhiteTara]

32. Calling workers at a factory "Sweetie"

is a bit on the demeaning side, Si? Or "Periodically (pregnant pause for emphasis) Hillary blah blah blah..bit on the demeaning side, Si

[JoFerret]

33. sexist crap is

crap.
and sexist.