"But apparently not. Something about the way Clinton was treated, something about the noise made by media assholes and fringier Obama supporters has made some people so angry that they are prepared to let murderers, torturers, and ideologues prepared to wipe their ass with the constitution remain in power and continue to trash America at home and abroad. That is a deep and powerful anger, and rather than trash it, I think we need to understand it, reach out to it."

This was a very important quote from a poster responding to AKA Smith...

There are many kinds of feminists. One group is dedicated to equal rights for women and to improving the status of women.

Another group is for transforming society and for getting rid of all the isms. We're really quite different, but there is a lot of overlap.

As someone who believes that society must rid itself of racism and homophobia as well as sexism.......I STILL REALLY REALLY wanted a woman to be President. It touches something visceral inside me, the girl and young woman and older woman who was told that a woman couldn't be president, that women couldn't be lawyers, engineers, soldiers, doctors, etc. etc. that all we could be was wives and mothers (and maybe domestic servants, secretaries, elementary school teachers). It is that part of us that Hillary Clinton touched. Yes, we are incredibly angry. We're tired of being discounted. As an old white woman, I am furious that I am being written off as not important, or not valuable. My voice, my life, my experience and my vote COUNTS..and I am enraged at the treatment women like me have received from the media, the public and from Obama supporters on this board.

Sen. Clinton is no radical feminist, she's not part of the left wing of the party (nor is Senator Obama). Neither of them are against the excesses of the State of Israel. Neither of them has endorsed gay marriage.

In order to win the presidency of the U.S.A., a candidate has to be closer to the center, and in fact, both of them are, and their policies and programs are quite close.

But Senator Clinton touched that part of all women that are tired of being slandered, dissed, laughed at, ridiculed, and ostracized. It's astonishing how much of the rhetoric and attacks against Senator Clinton were based in "whore" terminology....or in castration fears (the nutcracker)...or in blaming her for staying with her philandering husband (just as battered women are blamed for staying with their batterers, rather than their batterers being held accountable for his violence and terrorism ...) or just plain old sexist namecalling (cunt). It's the same old, same old, slander against women who are strong, powerful and assertive (she's shrill..shrillary). She can't be important apart from her husband (Billary). It's disheartening how the male (with female supporters) left wing progressive left embraced the right wing rhetoric about Senator Clinton. It became OKAY to use sexist slurs against her (and her supporters on this board) because you didn't like her OR you objected to her votes or policies.

Frankly, I saw a lot that I didn't like in Senator Clinton's campaign. I wish that she had taken a clear anti-racist stance (as I wish Senator Obama had spoken out agains the media's sexism). Her comment about hard working white people was awful.

I was terribly disturbed about her "obliterate Iran" statement.

I had not planned to vote for her at all because she didn't oppose the war against Iraq.

Yet, I still was disappointed when she lost.

I think the same thing happened for African Americans who were initially supporting Senator Clinton. They suddenly realized that there was hope for an African American to be elected president, and this touched something deep inside them that yearned for a Black person to be president, to be in charge, to have prestige and power.

So, what I want to say to those such as AKA Smith is..

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. You will not hurt the sexists and misogynists by staying home or by voting for McCain. McCain will mean another four years of policies that not only are designed to make multinational corporations richer, to destroy the environment, to prolong war, and to hurt poor and middle class people. A McCain administration would also mean more homeless people, including women and children, less support for programs designed to prevent domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, gutting of birth control and abortion, cutting child care and Head Start,

cutting funding for education, etc. etc. etc. All of these things will hurt women. If you believe in Senator Clinton -- follow her advice - work your heart out for Senator Obama.

Many feminists I know have been supporting Obama from day one.

I (who voted for Senator Clinton in the California primary) have always known that I would be working for Senator Obama were he to become the nominee.

We must defeat McCain.

Yes, WE CAN!

" Please Become a Republican!

I hope that the lunatic, delusional, fanatic feminists led by Joan Walsh and also the racists that backed Clinton will vote for Nader or McCain, and I wish them well, hoping they become happier.

I for one, believe the democratic party will be better off without them.

-- antineocon"

Okay, antineocon, what is a lunatic, delusional, fanatic feminist? Someone who believes in equal rights for women?

Someone who believes in the historic oppression of women?

Someone who has noticed the misogynist attacks on Hillary Clinton?

So, is everyone who backed Clinton a racist? or only some?

You'd like 18 million voters to vote for Nader or McCain?

Then, you'd happily be in a male only democratic party with a republican president?

Please, do tell....