Globe & Mail: Call it what is is-- blatant sexism: HRC & BO adjectives used.to describe

[rodeodance]

A glaring double standard

For every 'presidential' and 'charismatic' bestowed on Barack Obama, there are 10 adjectives commentators have used to put down the way Hillary Clinton dresses, talks and emotes. Call this what it is – blatant sexism




http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080226.wltimson26/BNStory/lifeMain/home


A glaring double standard
For every 'presidential' and 'charismatic' bestowed on Barack Obama, there are 10 adjectives commentators have used to put down the way Hillary Clinton dresses, talks and emotes. Call this what it is – blatant sexism

JUDITH TIMSON

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

February 26, 2008 at 2:05 AM EST

Guess what they call powerful and strong women who support Barack Obama? Obamazons. And what about powerful women who support Hillary Clinton? In Hillaryland, they're probably too damn tired, mystified and disappointed to care all that much about cutesy names.

A week before the Texas and Ohio primaries, the political obituaries are already being prepared – perhaps still prematurely – on Ms. Clinton's presidential bid.

I wonder if they will include the ugly truth that sexism has played a disturbing role in this riveting primary campaign.

There are certainly legitimate reasons not to like Ms. Clinton, but that doesn't explain the very different treatment she has received in the media. While grown media men and women have swooned over Mr. Obama, confessing that he is so charismatic he gives them goosebumps, Ms. Clinton has been mocked, trivialized and denigrated in a way that should give every woman pause.
…………

Her laugh is a “cackle.” Her daughter Chelsea is being “pimped out.” She is only there because of her husband. She is “inauthentic” and manipulative, especially that time she cried in New Hampshire (and she didn't actually cry, by the way, even though anti-Clinton forces quickly had T-shirts made that said “Cry Baby” on them.)

When Ms. Clinton wasn't very occasionally showing her soft side, she was characterized as grating and aggressive. When she demonstrated how much she knew about so many issues, she was trying too hard to be “the smartest girl in the room.”

Young women rushed to loftily disassociate their perky post-feminist selves from a middle-aged female presidential candidate who is probably the most assured and knowledgeable woman any of them has ever seen running for high public office.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews even called Ms. Clinton an “uppity woman.” Imagine any commentator calling Mr. Obama an “uppity black” and keeping his job.
.......

[MadBadger]

1. Inauthentic and manipulative is Sexist?

[rodeodance]

3. who are they common descriptors for? --yes women

[MadBadger]

6. This is the problem when talking about racism and sexism. EVERYTHING is considered racist or sexist

Utterly ridiculous.

[rodeodance]

18. You say "Utterly ridiculous"!!---you don't even have a tiny clue-do you!!

[MadBadger]

20. Explain how I dont have a tiny clue

Stop with the only subject responses. Why dont you for once explain how in the world inauthetic and manipuliatve is sexist. Back up what you are saying for once!

[rodeodance]

21. you did not read my response upstream. and please stop with your lectures

. Explain how I dont have a tiny clue

Stop with the only subject responses. Why dont you for once explain how in the world inauthetic and manipuliatve is sexist. Back up what you are saying for once!

[ThatPoetGuy]

23. "Explain how I don't have the tiniest clue"

You're the guy who fawned over Sean Penn's brutal, woman-hating tantrum, aren't you?

Not the tiniest clue.

[MadBadger]

24. No Idea what you are talking about.

[MadBadger]

26. If you are going to make that accusation, you better have a link to back it up

And the person I was responding to said tiny clue, not tiniest clue.

[KittyWampus]

so Hillary was trying to feminize Obama by labeling him as inauthentic?

[SoFlaJet]

4. yes Inauthentic and Manipulative as well

as Hnmnf and SoFlaJet we're ALL friggin sexists for not supporting Clinton apparently now...it's become an ugly word too quickly tossed around here IMO

[jgraz]

48. It would be a bit easier to take if it wasn't such an obvious tactic of the Clinton campaign

Sadly, too many people on DU are susceptible to this kind of inauthentic manipulation.

[papau]

5. when it is an obvious lie and just an Obama smear/solgan - yes it is sexist

[anamandujano]

7. "Fairy tale" is racist. Nuff said.

[MadBadger]

9. See Post #6

[rodeodance]

17. You broadbrushed the issue in hoping to diminish it--no dice. It exists and is rapid.

[jlake]

57. Yes.

[babylonsister]

2. Isn't this a Canadian paper? Or English? nt

[papau]

8. Oh right - different moral/ethical standards and all that - doesn't mean anything in Boston

[babylonsister]

10. Did I say that? I'm just correcting the OP, or trying to. I haven't

weighed in on the topic at all. Get a grip!

[rodeodance]

12. DONE--thanks for heads up

[Darth_Kitten]

38. Canadian.........Canadian women don't take crap from anyone!

:rofl:

[rodeodance]

64. well, wish the USA could say the say--we try, but........

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

11. Great Article. Thanks!

[rodeodance]

19. nice to see it in the press--a few times at least.

[terrya]

27. Too bad it took a Canadian paper to print that article.

That's a very good article. :thumbsup:

[rodeodance]

30. I like reading foreign papers. they get to issues more often.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. you're going to love this photo.....

Chaslyn Stokes is moved to tears as she cheers for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton during a campaign stop for an early voter in Dallas. (AP photo by Carolyn Kaster / February 22, 2008)

[rodeodance]

14. how moving....

[jgraz]

49. What a cultist

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

50. glad you had your sarcasm button on;-)

[jgraz]

52. You know somebody woulda said that if she'd been at an Obama rally

Personally, I think it's great that we have candidates that people feel that strongly about. And it's not just Obama and Clinton -- Edwards, Kucinich, even folks like Biden and Richardson inspired some incredibly loyal followers.

I just can't see anybody being that fired up about McCain or Romney or Rudy. Paul was the only guy on the other side who had anything close to that kind of support.

[rodeodance]

56. yes you are right on about that----mccain----yuk

[trof]

15. Barak has BO.

<snicker>

The term "B.O.", short for "body odor", was coined by Lifebuoy for an advertising campaign. The Lifebuoy radio ad, parodied by several Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes cartoons, used a foghorn-type sound to create the "B.O." sound.

Beeeee...Oohhhhhhhhhh

[rodeodance]

16. the ugly truth that sexism has played a disturbing role in this riveting primary campaign.

I wonder if they will include the ugly truth that sexism has played a disturbing role in this riveting primary campaign.

[NorthernSpy]

47. so has race, but Obama has dealt with his challenges very differently...

Remember the "why do I always have to go first" comment at the Cleveland debate? Hillary had been asked for the first response for three questions in a row, and her reaction was to point out that this wasn't fair. Okay, but the debate was her idea, and answering any number of questions first shouldn't have been that big a deal to someone who wants to lead the country.


For contrast, think of Obama's remarks to the press about how Hillary was the champ, and he was the challenger, and how he was in it for the long haul because you can't expect to defeat the champ just on points. Someone here said that this comment summed part of Barack's appeal: he's aware that "the bar is higher for him, and he accepts it".


I don't think Hillary quite gets that, and I don't think many of her supporters do, either.

[libbygurl]

54. And who did the race-baiting? HRC always goes first bec. O just parrots what he says for his own...

...and then rambles on needlessly.

Re race in the campaign:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x341223

[rodeodance]

61. silly---the bar IS higher for Hillary just BECAUSE she is a woman!

[NorthernSpy]

67. in many ways, the bar is higher for Barack, and he accepts it without complaint...

He has one black parent. He has family ties to foreign cultures. He has family ties to Islam. He has a "scary foreign name". He can't ever let himself get angry -- an angry black man won't win much favor, especially if people get the impression that he's angry at a white woman. And he can't ever, ever complain on his own behalf -- blacks who complain are quickly dismissed as not being up to snuff.

No matter how much his opponent might get in his face -- and Hillary does seems to try to get under his skin -- he is very limited in how he can react if he wants to keep the audience's sympathy. He knows this.


But he stays positive. Obama makes it look easy.


People notice that and appreciate it.


That's the difference between him and Hillary.

[carlotta]

22. It's the He-Man Woman Haters Club

Anyone old enough to remember the Little Rascals and Spanky and Alfalfa's He-Man Woman Haters Club. Their motto was "Girls are the bunk". 50 years later and nothing has changed in this country.

From Keith Olberman, Chris Matthews, to almost the entire male blogosphere, there is nothing but 24/7 putdowns of Hillary. I barely know where to turn anymore.

[KLee]

25. Call me crazy....

I am a woman, and some of what is reported there, I'm having trouble understanding it as sexism.

Where is the part about what she wears in that article? How is a cackle related to a woman? How is being there because of her husband, President Bill Clinton, sexist? She was First Lady and with it came name recognition, spotlight, etc

How is inauthentic and manipulative sexism?

Men don't cry? My husband cries, I have uncles who cry on occasion? I've heard my brother called a cry baby when we were younger if he cried? Is that sexism? Babies cry, I think that's where that came from and it's not a gender issue. When kids cry, they get called a cry baby, boys and girls alike.

Grating and aggressive? That can apply to men or women.

uppity? I've heard men being called uppity before, it means snooty, someone who acts like they are better than you. What else could he have attached to it....Uppity Hillary...Uppity Candidate? She is a woman so he attached that. Men can be uppity too.

The "pimped out" comment did piss me off! That is sexist! Smartest girl also is sexist, but doesn't piss me off as much as someone being pimped out.


Sorry, I guess I just don't understand....someone explain this too me.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

28. wow I can't believe you as a women do not get it.

[MadBadger]

29. Ignore the bozo above

[rodeodance]

32. what Post is the bozo? you speak of?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

33. can't you find something else to occupy yourself with ...............

[MadBadger]

34. Nice job editing your post where you question if the person was really a woman

[Forkboy]

41. E.D. does a lot of that kind of editing.

I've seen many posts change suddenly.

[KLee]

36. Elsewhere....

Can't you as one feminist to another explain that or you would rather trade an insult?

[rodeodance]

45. same poster ---who above does not have a clue

[Darth_Kitten]

35. You really brought this around to talking about men, eh?

it's okay to talk about women and their experiences.

[KLee]

39. I know it's okay to talk about Women's Experiences....

Geez......Can't a woman ask what is sexist about those comments without getting attacked?

I happen to not share your view, if somehow you can explain it to me...maybe I would see it.

[Darth_Kitten]

42. Who's attacking you?

You don't learn the meaning of sexism from people explaining it to you, it's what you have experienced.

[KLee]

44. I get that about experiencing it.....

But how are the ones I asked about sexist?

You can't go around suggesting sexism without something to back it up...i.e. proof

How would Hillary prove it in a court of law? Is it public opinion? you would need that in a jury.

You all are being the judge, jury and execution when you make these statements...so as a feminist, I want to know what is so sexist about these remarks...maybe you might get me to speak out about it more....although I still would support Obama

Look, I know that Hillary has had some bad raps in this campaign, and I do not deny that there are those who wouldn't vote for her because she was a woman, etc.....

I haven't been here that long, did you all call these people out on this when she was winning? Or is it something that your doing now, trying to find any reason for the loss she has experienced this month?

[bigbrother05]

55. I agree with you also I don't see it

I posted below, where the author brought race into.

[snappyturtle]

51. I tend to agree with you. I, too, am a woman. Has Senator Clinton

been complaining about "sexism"? I haven't heard her say...maybe she has. Frankly, I think her campaign has more to worry about and so do we.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. Alright, what are some non-sexist synonyms?

For "inauthentic," "manipulative," "shrill," and "frustrated?"

It what way could a person point out those traits in Hillary without being a sexist?

[Peregrine Took]

37. Sexism, misogynism and ageism. She's getting them all. I'm really

shocked in this day and age, even among liberals and progressives. The rot goes deep.

[rodeodance]

46. I think she is. I also think it will be a long time before another woman runs for Pres.

[bigbrother05]

40. A glaring double standard

MSNBC's Chris Matthews even called Ms. Clinton an “uppity woman.” Imagine any commentator calling Mr. Obama an “uppity black” and keeping his job.
The author of the article, just brought race into it
uppity woman=uppity black
I will agree with another poster, I just don't see the sexist remarks. Afew maybe
Ignorance is blind

[Forkboy]

43. "cackle" , "pimped out", "uppity woman" - definitely shitty.

"inauthentic and manipulative" - not at all. It could apply to 90% of all the politicians in every party that has ever existed. It's what they do and what they are. :shrug:

[libbygurl]

53. Thanks for this, rodeo. K & R. And the flames will come, as expected. Truth remains biased on DU

...these days.

[rodeodance]

58. bias is probably a mild term. ha ha

[jlake]

59. K&R to expose the bias against Hillary.

[Occam Bandage]

60. “inauthentic” and "manipulative" are sexist? This is just laughable.

[rodeodance]

62. I am not laughing

[Occam Bandage]

63. I'd say you were being inauthentic, but apparently that's sexist now.

[rodeodance]

65. as I recall--that term was used frequently for Hillary for her emotive moments--as in

she is not crying. she is doing to get votes. her tears are phoney.
lets see if she will tear up just before the debate----on and on.

[Occam Bandage]

66. Yeah. It was used for Kerry, too, when he tried to pander and made a fool of himself.

[rodeodance]

68. ok fine. but i was referring to the tearing moments and other monents as such. Emotions

are not allowed for women-they get labeled as weak---not good for commander in chief ect ect. you saw the threads for that nonsense!

On the other hand, she cold and calucalating--she can't win on way for most folks!

[FlyingSquirrel]

69. K&R n/t

[barb162]

70. I've seen a huge amount of sexism in this campaign.

It's usually noticed when the talking heads concentrate on every stutter of Hillary's and there's never a word on Obama's stutters. Her laugh is a "cackle." So WTF is his laugh? What pejorative is used to describe his laugh? None. They concentrate on every move of hers and then find some way of looking at it negatively. They don't do it to him. If she smiles, it's a "phony" or "forced" smile. But nobody bothers analyzing his smiles. They want to put the "little woman" back in her place. It shows to me sexism is much more powerful than racism in this country. A long time ago Shirley Chisholm mentioned she suffered more from sexism than racism. I think what's happening to Clinton shows not much has changed.

Thanks for posting.

[Beausoir]

71. This is just the beginning. Just the beginning of the backlash against the filthy sexism of Obama.

We are not going to go away.