So for all the charges of sexism, the Clinton team has made the election about gender

[burythehatchet]

It is sad and ironic that for a woman who has been a public figure fighting for equal treatment for women had managed to make this a referendum on gender.

The weepy moment, the obvious plant at her event who had the sexist sign he was holding up (the invisible hand of Rove), the caressing of Chris Matthews face, the "boys are beating up on me" schtick, are all designed to elicit the female solidarity sentiment.

My preference is that neither of the three drop out until the end. I want this debate to continue as long as possible. But dragging the nomination process into a gender based framework is not helpful to anyone.

[ellacott]

1. I agree

People have been so quick to condemn any discussion of race in this campaign but it's ok to bring up gender.

[LostinVA]

2. Oh brother

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. You must have meant Sister n/t

[hayu_lol]

7. The so-called losers in NH, they are the supporters--whoops--the surrogates...

who look for falacious reasons to blame for their candidates recent loss. If it ain't this, then it's that. Poor me, my poor candidate fell because of...name your act here....

Hillary won in NH. She lost in Iowa. She won in NH because she got more votes. She lost in Iowa because she got less. What is so hard to understand with this?

Who knows who will win in the next one?

[burythehatchet]

9. I support JE, did you read anywhere that his loss is tied to what I stated?

or we just dealing with a synaptic challenge?

[Raejeanowl]

8. I'll Second That One

Maybe she just should have stroked her beard thoughtfully instead? And perhaps this is necessary: :sarcasm:

[Evergreen Emerald]

4. More bullshit: "she stole the election." "She played the gender card"

Just because women voted for her, does not mean they voted for her because she is a woman.

When someone suggested that Oprah supports Obama because he was black--and they were vilified.

Where is the vilification of this thread? It is sexist to assume that when a woman gets female votes, or shows that she is human, she plays the gender card?

BS.

[Skwmom]

5. Divide and conquer.

Hey, so far that strategy has just done wonders for our political process and the country. Four more years of bitter partisanship. Wow - I just can't wait.

[DangerDave921]

6. women

My wife is a smart cookie, but she has admitted to feeling drawn to Clinton because she's a woman. And also drawn to Obama because he is young, charming, hopeful, and because Oprah likes him. It's not policy; it's emotion.

Some will accuse me of being sexist, but I do think that women have a greater tendency to vote based on feelings than men. Not an ironclad rule of course, but a tendency. So if Clinton can get the sympathy feelings going, it could do a lot to get the women voting for her.

[Raejeanowl]

10. Let Me Tell You A Little Secret, Dave

You may or may not be right about original preferences based upon gender identification, but when an uncommitted voter who doesn't even LIKE the broad (me) starts feeling protective and supportive because of the predictable SHIT she is being subjected to, simply because she is female, you may be on to something.

With or without her playing the "sex card" (oh yeah, like she needs to), sexism might actually succeed in causing a backlash in Clinton's favor.

[DangerDave921]

11. excellent point -- I'll take it further

Obama and Hillary are in tough positions in terms of attacking the other. If Obama or the RW"ers start attacking Hillary, it could very well engender even more sympathy for her and backfire. Women may get pissed that a fellow woman is getting attacked.

The flip side is also true -- how can Hillary attack Obama without looking like she's attacking the black guy? Whether you agree with his views or not, Obama is a huge story in terms of a black man in America getting to this level of national politics. If Hillary is too harsh on him, it could also cause a feeling of sympathy on the race issue.

Race and gender all in one race -- How Exciting!! I'd love to sit in on their respective strategy campaign sessions!

[Raejeanowl]

23. Another Thought

This is just one of my pollyanna tangents.

Ain't it grand that we are living in an America where finally, FINALLY, despite all its problems, a woman and an African American are the (Democratic) front runners for the land's highest office?

It kind of takes my breath away that I am seeing this in my lifetime.

[cali]

15. bwahahaha

yep. that's blatantly sexist. Try saying: I do think that African Americans have a greater tendency to vote out of ignorance. Or everyone knows Latinos are more emotional and tend to vote on that basis.

Do you have any evidence for your sexist claim? No. Then you're just making your statement about women based on your FEELINGS. And you don't seem to have the critical thinking skills necessary to see the irony. How amusing.

[MethuenProgressive]

12. She's decided to fight against the disgusting sexism - and she gets sneered at?

You expected her to just shut up and take it?

[William769]

13. Excuse me, she didn't make it about gender the voters did.

[Essene]

14. Of course she's using the "gender card."

She's basically even defined her gender as "change."

That isn't pulling a gender card? She flat out suggested that her gender makes her an agent of change, when in the debate and trying to cut down on Obama's slogan.

She pandered so much in NH... it's comical.

Crying about her own campaign hardships? lol

Imagine if Obama "pulled the race card" in the way she's pulling the gender card. Imagine him saying implying that being elected to the White House as a black would count as meaningful "change." Imagine him crying about his hardships as an african-american in the campaign. Imagine him pandering like that. He'd be destroyed.

The backlash may not be huge among democrats, but this is all fuel for the GOP to further destroy her in a general election.








And expect more of the obnoxious "iron my pants" comments because of her doing so... (YES, i think her pandering and playing the gender card INVITES that kind of non-sense just like Obama would invite racist outcries if he started playing the race card in the same way)

[Skinner]

16. What's that old saying? Oh, yeah...

"All's fair in love and war." And politics.

Yes, Hillary Clinton succeeded in reminding voters that as a woman she faces challenges the other candidates don't. And yes, that appeals to many voters, including some women and some men.

She's running for the presidency of the United States, and like all the other candidates she would like to win. Her earlier message was clearly not working, so she has changed her approach and now she seems to be connecting with voters. I say good for her.

But let's not kid ourselves: This election was already "dragged into a gender based framework" whether Hillary Clinton wanted it or not. There are large numbers of people out there who do not like her. Oh, yeah, I know -- it's not because she's a woman. Certainly not! It's because she's shrill and polarizing and a you-know-what and too cold and maybe a lesbian and her voice sounds funny. But not, ABSOLUTELY NOT her gender that's the problem. My god, did you see the pantsuit she wore the other day!? And her hair! And what's up with her husband showing up at all her events? She should have divorced that creep when he cheated on her. (Oh, wait, except I really like that creep and would vote for him in a second -- he's more of a lovable rogue, really.) But she should have divorced his ass anyway!

[Egnever]

21. Her gender is one of her only positives for me

Its her Votes for war and continued warmongering that make me hate her.

[goldcanyonaz]

17. Some of the Dems here are now using the RW Phylis Schlafly talking points?

[DangerDave921]

18. back off

I think the term "talking points" is a grossly overused phrase. I've seen it directed at myself too. That term implies lack of thought, lack of truth, and lack of merit. In other words, it's nothing but propaganda.

Believe it or not, a fellow DU'er may disagree with you and cite their reasons for doing so. Just because some RW'ers might make the same argument does not mean they are simply citing talking points. Calling them Talking Points is really just a way of avoiding having to respond to the actual argument.

[suston96]

19. Whatta bunch of bull.....

It wasn't Hillary that made it about sexism, it was the women themselves. Pay attention. A whole bunch of women were pissed at the treatment Hillary got from the media and from Obama himself: "You are likeable enough, Hillary"? Without even looking at her?

No, friend, here is what happened: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/09/AR2008010903855_pf.html

"Clinton's Campaign in N.H. Touched Chord With Women

.........

In the four days between the two elections, her campaign and its allies were knocking on doors, working dozens of phone banks and aggressively hitting Obama with new attack lines -- implying in direct-mail fliers, for example, that the staunchly pro-abortion-rights Obama was less than committed to that issue and hinting that he favors raising taxes on the middle class."

Read all about it. Learn something about raw politics. It was about old fashioned politics, but this time by women - all women....about women....about themselves......

[sandnsea]

20. Let them run with the sexism, run and run with it

until it backfires on them. That's the only way. Just shut up and let them run. :hi:

[Little Star]

22. Oh, stop it!!! There is no such thing in America!

[Sparkly]

24. Bull. SHE didn't create a "gender based framework."

She got teary -- that's a human thing. The way it was treated by OTHERS was a "gender" thing.

The sexist signs were not her campaign's doing.

She put Matthews down, deservedly so.

If people are attacking her, she has a right to refer to it, just as the others do -- this is nothing new!