Sunday Open Thread
And the emerging narrative on sexism
By Adam C Posted in 2008 — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
This is a Sunday Open Thread. I'll kick it off but noting that the last week has seen a continuation of a small narrative from the Democratic race: Sen. Obama as sexist. I doubt that's true anymore than "Republicans are racist." But that won't stop it from making headlines if a major issue happens. Right now it seems there has been a string of small incidents that some see as evidence of sexism:
* Calling a reporter "sweetie" in a condescending tone, which he apologized for any noted that it is a habit of his. I'm not sure talking down to female reporters is a good habit to have when he starts trying to win back Hillary supporters.
* When talking about Sen. Clinton, Obama has used calculated phrases like "when the claws come out" and "when she's feeling down periodically she launches attacks." Some Democrats see this as a calculated attempt to define Ms. Clinton as a "female candidate" and to play up negative stereotypes of women.
In sum, Jennifer Rubin describes this thusly:
had a Republican done the “sweetie” and “claws” routine, every NOW representative worth her salt would be on the air calling for heads to roll.You want double standards? Got ‘em right here. In this wonderful post-partisan, post-racial era, someone forgot to tell the liberal media establishment and their beloved candidate that sexism is passé.
If this is all they have, the argument won't get very far. But if Sen. Obama does or says something worse, then this list of small problems will explode into a narrative that "Obama is sexist." This is the same phenomenon that took minor issues (flag pin, inability to bowl, and not crossing his heart during the pledge) and made them well known after the Rev. Wright flap made stories on "Is Obama patriotic or anti-American" acceptable. If "Is Obama sexist" catches on, each of these quotes will haunt him.
« Dueling June Obama fundraising claims? — Comments (2) | Reinforcing the narrative: McCain on SNL. — Comments (9) »
Sunday Open Thread 5 Comments (0 topical, 5 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
I think this was taken before he gained some weight
What the heck, it was science fiction then, it's science fiction now.
___________________________________________
"You can't save the Earth unless you're willing to make other people sacrifice" - Scott Adams (speaking through Dogbert)
The drug cartels are declaring open season on police and army troop that are trying to bring some sort or lawfulness to Mexico. Most worrying the drug cartels seem to have the upper hand.
Drug Cartels to Mexican Police: 'Join Us or Die'
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356532,00.html
I promised I wasn't going to go there anymore, but there was an Event.
Rosarito is to the West, under Tijuana.
I have to agree, It's not very safe there...most Businesses have Private security.
The Border is a joke...Backed up all the way to the center of TJ..Daily
They are going to have to throw Major fencing down here real quick.
Also, one thing I like about McCain is when he looks you straight in the eye/is that "do you want a piece of me?" challenge.I like him! He drives me nuts!....streetwise
It's not just that Obama called a female reporter "sweetie". And, it's not just that Obama used code words like "claws coming out" and "periodically, when she's down, she lashes out to boost her appeal" in regard to Senator Clinton. Obama has been very dismissive of Senator Clinton in a way that one couldn't imagine him being with regard to a male candidate. For example, Obama told Clinton that she was "likable enough" during a presidential debate, he flipped her off during a speech, and he snubbed her by refusing to shake her hand at the State of the Union Address.
Furthermore, Obama's surrogates have engaged in some pretty sexist behavior. Jesse Jackson Jr. said, after NH, that Clinton didn't cry for Katrina victims, but cried for her hair, General McPeak (on stage next to Obama) said that "Obama wasn't having crying fits and finding his voice at sixty", and Rep. Steve Cohen, from TN, recently compared Clinton to Glenn Close's character from "Fatal Attraction" and said that Senator Clinton "should have stayed in the bath tub".
Anyway, it's too late for Obama. A large number of Clinton supporters (particularly women) think that Obama has run a sexist campaign, and has used misogyny in the media to his advantage. I suggest that Republicans use the perception that Obama and the media have been disrespectful of Senator Clinton to their advantage in the GE.
Below is a link from You Tube that was posted on The Huffington Post and Taylor Marsh that further explains how these women feel.