Chimpygo...Many, many people assume that if you point out the sexism on these letter boards that you must be a rabid supporter of Senator Clinton. I am not. I am profoundly disturbed by her recent comments about obliterating people.

I want to see a democrat in the White House because I believe that the Republicans are literally destroying the planet. We cannot endure or survive another four years of such horrible leadership. I think either of the two candidates will be light years better than John McCain.

Therefore, I will try to muster up enthusiasm for whoever the candidate is...I believe my children's future depends on it.

I think we have seen a tremendous amount of racism, and blatant anti-religious sentiment directed against those who practice Islam (with the persistent efforts to try to tie Sen. Obama to Islam). Those are the tactics of the Right.

What is disheartening to me is to hear those who claim to be part of a "new" paradigm, a transformative movement, a different type of politics...to deny the sexism that has been directed against Sen. Clinton.

I think there are loads of feminists/leftists/good people are are not sexist and who are not supporting Sen. Clinton. I don't think Sen. Clinton is trailing in the election solely because of sexism. I see that conclusion jumped to constantly on these boards.

But there are a bunch of people who are writing letters to Salon who think it's okay to attack Sen. Clinton as a "c*nt", suggest that she and former President Clinton are "pimping" their daughter, who call her Shillary or Billary, in the horrible style of Maureen Dowd (whose cynicism and mean spiritedness make her a chore to read). It's just not okay to dip into the deep well of sexism to oppose someone -- it's not okay to call Ms. Walsh an "ignorant s***t". And why CAN'T she be called Sen. Clinton rather than "Mrs. Clinton?" What's to parody in suggesting respectful, parallel terms of address?

(And no, I don't support nasty personal attacks on Sen. Obama either)

I don't think you can call yourself a progressive unelss you are willing to oppose ALL kinds of oppression - including those against women and girls, and people with disabilities, and transgender people, and native and indigenous folk and people of color, etc. etc. etc.

If we want to create a new paradigm, we have to stop name calling -- and we have to stop being sexist, racist, and all the rest.

Susan McGee

I want to expand upon my point about resistance. If we forget resistance, and the honorable struggles for resistance in the United States, we'll be overcome by despair, and not want to struggle anymore.

Yes, the Magna Carta gave rights mostly to the Barons, but it also gave a few rights to peasants. Yes, the to vote in Greece, you had to be a citizen, and a male (but you didn't have to own property), and yes the U.S. excluded women, African Americans and Native Americans from the franchise.

Yet, EACH of these documents established the IDEA that voting rights existed, and piece by piece, we have expanded voting rights in the Untied States. These documents established the IDEA that every human being has value and is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Women didn't get the vote until 1920, and Native Americans until 1924, and African Americans couldn't really vote until the 1970s, after fierce struggle, but the struggles of all these people (and their allies) are bearing fruit.

The world MOSTLY acknowledges global warming. Cigarettes are understood to be dangerous to your health. We ARE winning -- but we won't keep winning if we give up and ONLY focus on the negative aspects of our country. I consider myself the heir of those in the labor movement, and the civil rights movement, and all the resistance efforts...those people were Americans, too! I'm fighting the best I can against the injustices perpetrated by the government in my name.

Susan McGee

And thanks to you for your thoughtful contributions....

I voted in the California primary. I don't vote again except in November when I will be voting and working for either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton.

Susan