How Are Hillary's Feminist Bona Fides Effected By Bill's Continually Coming To Her Rescue ???

[WillyT]

Call it good cop\bad cop, call it a partnership, call it Fred & Ginger for all I care...

I mean we've all seen this dynamic in our lives.

Husband comes to the rescue of his woman.

Reports I'm reading, have folks in the Democratic Party, and even within the HRC Campaign itself pulling their hair out over this.

Not trying to be totally snarky, just a tad snarky, but seriously...

Do these tactics by Bill help Hillary in the long run?

:shrug:

[mondo joe]

1. Non issue. He's not doing anything other spouses don't do. I don't know why you think feminism

means holding women to a DIFFERENT standard than men.

[WillyT]

4. Well... I've Always Thought It Meant Women Standing On Their Own Two Feet...

without the need for their men coming to their rescue.

If I try to step into the middle of an argument my mother, my sisters, or most of the women I've know and respected are having, I'm told in no uncertain terms to butt the hell out.

They tend to want to handle the heat themselves, and are not likely to countenance male "protection".

:shrug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. edwards wife campaigns for him, why should HRC's? feminism isnt holding a woman to absurd

standards that you dont hold a man to.

[mondo joe]

10. Then you think feminism means holding women to a different standard than men.

What a bizarre notion.

Hillary isn't getting "male protection". Her life partner is by her side, same as John Edwards and Barak Obama.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. I would be interested in what the conversation would look like were he to sit on the sidelines and

not vigourously campaign for her?

Would it be something along the lines of..."How great can she be if her own husband won't campaign for her?"

:shrug: MKJ

[WillyT]

16. There Is NOTHING Wrong With His Vigorously Campaigning FOR Her

As in affirmatively.

But... these do not seem to be such affirmative actions.

Leading Democrats To Bill Clinton: Pipe Down - Newsweek -> http://www.newsweek.com/id/96385

Bill Clinton As Poll Watcher -> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/19/bill-clinton-ignites-ruck_n_82327.html

A Clinton Win In Nevada Ends On An Ugly Note - Slate -> http://www.slate.com/id/2182355

:shrug:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

33. And, again, if he didn't campaign for her, you'd see the mirror image of these articles:

Leading Democrats to Clinton..Show more support.

Pol watchers wonder why Bill isn't there.

Would Clinton have gotten more delegates if her husband had been more visible?

MKJ

[Solly Mack]

3. Can't say that I have seen that "dynamic" in my real life

[WillyT]

6. You've Obviously Never Been A Bartender, LOL !!!

Believe me, it happens all the time.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. its a non issue. in most elections women come to the rescue of their husband, showing their softer

side to the american public. however this time we are seeing a completely different spouse because the role of the spouse in male form is different.

i think this is a far more of a public not having seen a male spouse and their role in an election, than anything else.

[tularetom]

8. It isn't feminism, it's Bill Clinton's ginormous ego

he's been reading his press clippings and taking them too seriously. He thinks he can sell iceboxes to Eskimos. and he's getting pissed off that not everybody is buying his bullshit.

He was a good president on balance but he has tarnished his post presidential name with his association with daddy bush and some of the intemperate comments he has made during this campaign.

If Hillary gets the nomination he'll probably shut his piehole or at least tone it down a bit. Won't want to say anything that would offend his republican buds, ya know.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

9. I'm a feminist. I don't think Hillary represents feminism at all....

... she doesn't vote that way, and she doesn't much stand for those at a disadvantage. She speaks only in generalities and nothing else. Nothing specific.

[NoodleyAppendage]

11. GREAT QUESTION. She plays the victim for votes and has Bill come to the rescue often.

Aren't we supposed to believe that she's a "strong woman and leader?" How does that jive with the incessant rescue attempts by Bill?

J

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. how does she play the victim?

[NoodleyAppendage]

20. Clinton wasn't polling well because their internals showed people thought she was hard and uncaring.

And, as if on cue she sprouts some crocodile tears to "warm up" her image and the older female voters bought the act.

Go ahead and vote her, but don't come crying to me when she gets her ass kicked in the general election. She will LOSE and deep down in your heart you know that's true. Repukes will show up at the polls to VOTE AGAINST HER and not necessarily for their candidate and many Dems (myself included) will not vote for her. These two FACTS are a lethal combination when the poll margins are close to 50/50 in any match-up between her and the Repuke candidates.

[mondo joe]

13. Is it any different when Elizabeth Edwards comes to John's defense?

Haven't nominees spouses ALWAYS campaigned for and with their husbands?

[wuushew]

17. No, Dean's wife wanted nothing to do with politics

Being a doctor is a far more noble endeavor than First Lady.

[mondo joe]

18. That was her choice. But the norm is that spouses are out there defending their husbands.

Does it make John Edwards a wimp or something?

[WillyT]

23. Oh Please... This Is The Ultimate Candidate's Spouse On Steroids !!!

He's the last elected Democratic President of the United States, the titular head of the Democratic party, still gets 24\7 Secret Service Protection, has the phone numbers of every head of state, and every power broker in this country...

And you say he's just a loving, supportive spouse just like Elizabeth Edwards???

Please...

:wtf:

[mondo joe]

26. So what? Is there supposed to be some standard that if you're a highly effective

advocate you're not supposed to do it?

Bullshit.

[Perry Logan]

14. I think everyone's enjoying Bill's activities except the PPWH's*.

*People with their Panties in a Wad about Hillary. But they're a dyspeptic lot.

[LeftCoast]

15. Feminists believe he's defending her. Sexists believe he's rescuing her.

Silly post.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. feminists also believe that the spouse of all politicians campaign for them

and holding her to a different standard is sexist

[LeftCoast]

24. That's true!

Good point.

[undeterred]

19. This is like your kid playing basketball

and you go to the referree and argue about every single call, not just with the referee, but to the entire audience. You used to be the school principal.

[mondo joe]

21. I expect any President to support the nominees and candidates of the party.

I also expect ever spouse to campaign.

I have zero problem with Kerry endorsing Obama, and zero with Bill Clinton supporting Hillary.

[undeterred]

30. Then Bill should get involved whenever Obama is upset

or Kucinich or Edwards, not just for Hillary.

[mondo joe]

36. And if Obama or Edwards is the party candidate, I expect he will.

But the nominee he's rooting for is Hillary. Just as the nominee Kerry is rooting for is Obama.

In any event, what a past president should do has NOTHING to do with Hillary's feminism.

[undeterred]

40. Kerry is rooting for Obama, not Edwards.

[mondo joe]

42. Doh! Thanks! Edited.

[Evoman]

25. That's what your fucking spouse does.

Support you. It's not a feminist issue at all...it's a spousal support issue. Wasn't Howard Dean beat up because his wife wasn't interested in helping him campaign?

Why is it the opposite with Hillary?

Look at your double standards people...look at your expectations. Look inside and see your biases.

I'm no Hillary fan, but damn you people are transparent as fuck.

[mondo joe]

28. The OP might as well ask "aren't feminists supposed to hate men?"

It's a very bizarre idea of what feminism is.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. no shit. this is peggy noonans argument reiterated on DU.

how overly stupid can people be?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

35. oh god, please don't ask that...

I dread seeing your question answered. :scared: MKJ

[Evoman]

37. I'm Canadian. And as such, I couldn't really give a shit who wins

as long as I think the Pres won't attack the nice fat oilfields we have here.

So I see the back and forth bullshit pretty damned easily. It's ugly and it's intellectually bankrupt.

Stupid indeed. It does seem weird that people really listen to the propoganda, even after they are aware of it.

[Solly Mack]

39. Thank you

[lumberjack_jeff]

45. In a campaign, the expectation is that the candidate directs the campaign

And the spouse sings from that hymnal. They are not there to be knights in shining armor protecting their spouse.

The elected leader is supposed to be the protector (of the constitution, and to a lesser degree, us).

This is a unique situation. No one else has ever run for president with an ex-president as a spouse.

[Darth_Kitten]

27. I dunno.....maybe the Feminist Bona Fides are all individuals.....

who have their differing opinions about Bill and Hillary. I dunno.....maybe they are just like any other free-thinking people......

[UTUSN]

31. Uh, same as HER coming to HIS rescue?! n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

32. she doesn't need recueing nor does she send Bill out do it

[WillyT]

41. I Agree On Both Counts... Yet There He Is Doing It...

Please see post# 16.

:shrug:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

44. exactly! so is every other candidates spouses out doing the same...

some people need to get a grip and stop spouting rightwing talking points for them here on DU....jays'us h christ!

[BlackVelvet04]

34. How are John Edwards bona fides affected

when Elizabeth comes to his defense?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

38. especially when her husband last year said he had trouble deciding whether being gay is moral or not

and this year, his wife and kid are for gay marriage.

i mean c'mon, they all have their spouses involved to say things they cant.

[BlackVelvet04]

43. Exactly....

but Elizabeth is revered for helping John. I don't get it. Well, yes I do, it's called double standard.

[Little Star]

46. Or when Theresa Hines Kerry came to John's rescue. It's

what spouses and family do. What, only wifes can come to the rescue of their husband and men should shut up when their wife is attacked?