After patiently viewing news show after news show, I can finally stand the criticism no longer! Am I the only one offended by the sexist commentary and criticism surrounding Hillary Clinton's campaign? And as a feminist, am I somehow turning my back on my core beliefs by supporting Obama rather than Clinton?
I am not saying that critizing Clinton's campaign or her perspectives is inherently sexist. In fact, I think it is important to criticize political figures and policies. What I am implying, is that the majority of media criticism towards Hillary seems to stem from gender-related issues rather than her political perspectives. Discussions about the unattractiveness of her clothing, her "masculine" hairstyle, and other unimportant physical details flood the media. Does this focus on the petty and trivial serve as a means of promoting sexist stereotypes? Lately, I feel as though the media's focus on vain issues surrounding Hillary's appearance and campaign is a way to devalue her beliefs as a political figure -- they will not let her be a politician without reminding us that she is first a woman.
It is a shame that today, in 2008, we are still taught -- often on an unperceived or subconscious level -- to categorize and criticize other humans based on their gender. As a voter, I support Obama, but at what cost to my own values? Does my lack of political support towards a female candidate imply that I have somehow set aside my feminsit beliefs to conform with pervasive gender roles? Have I joined the media and the rest of the country in saying: I'm ready for a change . . . But let's make sure the next president is a man! (We're not ready for real social change).
Are there any other Obama supporters out there who feel the same way? Should I abondon my political beliefs to support my feminist agenda? Or should I abondon my feminist beliefs to support my liberal political beliefs? And WHY do I have to choose between the two?
6 comments on "THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL"
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Surprise, surprise! All of this sexist and racist bomb throwing we are now witnessing is the product of Leftist bigotry. You've guys have got one another so divyed up into islands of victims and haters that your intollerance can no longer be disguised. It was a fun game when you all had just one single target - white men (whether straight, relgious, wealthy or none of the above) - but now you've turned on one another. Those of you who have real intellgence and not just the smug certainty of elitist fraternity (in your case, of course, it would have to be sorority since feminism is your brand of bigotry) you will look within yourselves and recognize that your frantic insistence on fainess and equality has breed anything but.
Really? I guess that is why every republican voted against the Ledbetter act huh? Because they are not bigoted at all. Maybe they just feel as McCain does, that women need more education to compete with men, because their brains are not up to par?
Love the I'm Rubber you're Glue arguement. Haven't heard that one in years...LOL
I see you have met "nobull". He's kinda locked in his "I'm Rubber you're glue" mentality of bigotry if you noticed...LOL
Personally as a liberal, I don't really see where Hillary is the "feminist" candidate. I mean the experience she boasts is the product of where she got thanks to who she married, and not necessiarily her own efforts. That is how I see it at least. Her attempts to characterize Obama as an "elitist" are humorous at best, considering her education at a private girls school (if that private girls school is not a "reform school" you are probably an elitist yourself).
If the corporate media actually discussed the issues, McCain would have the popularity of our cheerleader in chief, and the corporatists couldn't stand for that!
See below.
I'd say we're both glue - or at least you're becoming as gluey as I have been for the last four decades. You will soon have to deal with being called a bigot out of hand as more and more people realize that; 'Hey, these Lefties are more bigoted than Righties by a ton.' You aint gonna like either.
Although you are one of the most Leftist bloggers around these parts the extent of your bigotry only goes so far. Sometimes you're just expressing an opinion based on reasonable observation. There is a difference between opinion and bigotry. Where a person draws his lines of judgment on the subject determines his reasonability - or to put it in liberal terms - his tollerance level. I.e., you don't see Clinton as the feminist candidate? Why not? Virtually every feminist does. What are you? Some kind of sexist?
There will be no escape from the charges.
I actually have experienced some of it to be honest. I had a big time being attacked for what I wrote by other liberals on the Daily Kos a couple weeks ago for stating that I thought Hillary wasn't a feminist candidate and saying that Randi Rhodes statement that Hillary and Ferraro was a Wh0re was not over the top. To me, free speech should be free speech, but I was honestly quite stunned by the number of "progressives" and liberals who said she not only should have been suspended but fired or censored.
Of course, the Kos is all a mess right now, due to the Hillary/Obama divide. Although I have heard, and listened to the criticisms of Obama by people on the right and republican friends from Illinois like Whereabouts on here, I feel torn in that he seems like the "lesser of the evils" in my mind. McCain will continue the policies Bush has placed, and we see where that has taken us. Hillary, while better than McCain, has run a very negative campaign and been caught in MANY lies and down right projections that she has claimed came from Obama but ultimately turned out to be from her. Plus NAFTA and the Telecommunications deregulation act of 1996 was her husbands doing. Plus, what I wrote above is some of my thoughts on her. So to me, Obama, while not the optimal candidate in my mind, is the "lesser of the evils".
Hey, you once said you wanted some insight in the liberal mind. There you go, but I doubt now I am the optimal liberal for you, since I p1ssed off over 20 Kosians in under 2 hours...LOL.