Up until recent memory there was stil an active effort utilizeing terror and violence to keep african americans from participating fully in democracy.

During this same time I do not know of a similar effort to prevent women from participating. While it is true social pressures and sexism kept women out of many positions and opportunities in our society, such pressures were rarely meeted out with the very real threat of death.

If there is a greater comfort with sexism in this country than racism, it is likely because said sexism has a very limited effect on people.

Honestly, calling Senator Clinton and unpleasant name has at worst the conotation that the person using the term is an idiot. Utilizing a similar racial term against Senator Obama carries with it the reminder of what has happened to those black men who stood too tall in the past.

In the end sexism is more prevelant not because it is benign, but just because racism is so much more horrific. Because she is an affluent white worman; that a man might use an easy slur against Senatory Clinton shows himself a fool more than she, and I don't think anyone would deny that. The case is never the same for an African American in this country, and those gnashing their teeth at this fact should keep that in mind.

I've nothing against the human form, but long ago grew out of the adolescent drooling over pictorals that seems to drive most mens magazine sales. Playboy's fiction and political commentary have kept me interested long after I finished with the pictures as a young man.

As to sexism, have I felt it first hand? Nope, but I've never been lynched either, and yet I understand the very real fear that many have that such a pass time might return to fashion with next seasons falling hemlines.

The comparison between the two issues, of racism and sexism is laughable, especially when one complains that one is more common than the other.

Hillary Clinton, is a competent wonk, and against a differnt candidate I'd have been more than happy to support her. However, the activities of her followers, and the ignorance of articles like this, make me loath to do so. If she does win this nomination through the arcane rules of the Democratic Party, then I will vote for her and happily so, given the alternative is an unstable man who speaks of war with flip concern to its real costs (despite having experienced these costs himself).

I don't hold Senator Clinton personally responsible for these ill passive aggresive attacks on my prefered candidate and his supporters, any more than one should hold Senator Obama responsible for the less then tactfull words for Rev. Wright. But one can rest assured that the constant effort to tear down a fellow party member through these attacks only serve to aid Senator McCain.

"Wow... I'm assuming you are a man, because if you were a woman it would be much more difficult to discount the effects of sexism that women deal with on a regular basis."

-- fietsdief

Likewise I'll assume you are a white person, with no real understanding of what actual opression really is. You know, where someone comes to your home and shoots you because you did something that they disapproved of in a social situation like, voting, or perhaps applying for a job at the wrong plant.

The issue isn't if sexism and racism both exist, they both do, though I will grant that sexism is spoken of in much more friendly terms in our society. My point was to explain why that is.

Senator Clinton will likely never have difficulty catching a cab, nor driving herself through Washington. While I doubt Senator Obama will necessarily have this difficulty either the reality of their experiences is so differnt that to compare the two issues shows ignorance.

Sexism is the result of pasive social pressures often reinforced by women themselves (such as those that would cast Senator Clinton as a Damsel in Distress). Racism has been in recent memory enforced by terror and violence, and has been defended on the floor of the Senate well into this last century.

o.k...your example of sexism in the world today is the existance of the forced sex trade.

My example of racism is that of hooded men killing African Americans for exercising their rights.

Let me put it to you this way, I'd say there is a better than average chance that some man in a hood will put a bullet in Mr. Obama long before some one kidnaps and forces Ms. Clinton into the sex trade.

Discussions of opression should be framed not by the real existance of both types of violence but whether or not said discussion of violence truly applies to persons in question.

Ms. Clinton is a very wealthy powerful white woman. Sexism didn't keep her out of the Senate and it won't be the cause for her loss in the nominating or presidential contest. Mr. Obama however faces the very real actions of racists both open and hidden to bar his further actions towards the presidency and to cut short his term if he should achive his goal.

But then again I'm likely one of those starryeyed Obama followers whom you can feel free to dismiss as a misogynist.