Letters to the Editor
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White woman voters betrayed Obama when it really mattered...
so much for the myth that white woman are different than thier counterparts. In NH a state in a region as segregated as any in the country white woman voters lacked the courage to break away from the coatails of thier spouses.
It is really not that much of a surprise when you give it some thought white woman in the pecking order of our country's lineup designed by their soulmates also have and continue to leverage the advantages of being privledged whites.
The very idea that a person like Obama who has deliberately avoided being the sterotype Black male that allegedly scares off good white folk could not convince white woman to break from thier gender alliances with a has been white candiate (defined by her husband and living in his shadows a carpetbagger from NY) is sad and a lethal mistake for white woman and our country.
White woman voters had a chance to make a difference yet instead they did what they have always done stayed in their place impotent when opportunity stared them in the face. No surprise these white voters lied to the pollsters and the media they had good role models..
-- Thr
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@swilldog,
my point is that resentment is a potent emotion, and a powerful motivator in voting behavior. For most of our history, women have not been viewed as worth pandering to or playing to by our politicians.
We don't yet know what the dynamics were in NH, but I hope that a backlash against the media's treatment of Clinton was a factor - because it will be a cautionary tale for other politicians. I want those bastards to earn my vote with a platform of decent health care for all, pensions for all, a decent education for all, out of Iraq, etc. That's how they get men's votes, and white people's votes, and Southerners' votes - by pandering to their desires.
My heart wants to vote for Kucinich but my head says go with Edwards.
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@leftychris/"Anonymous"
For those of us who are too dumb or just don't have time to read your book:
Why?
I'm asking in all sincerity. Please try to answer in just a sentence or two.
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Another Recent Hillary Convert Here
I have been firmly in the undecided camp, with some interest in Richardson for his experience and Edwards for his anti-corporate rhetoric. Like many other young feminists, I had no intention of voting for Hillary because she is a woman, even as the thinly-veiled, misogynistic circle-jerk became increasingly difficult to tolerate. I was forced to re-evaluate this stance as I witnessed the media reaction to Hillary's show of humanity.
The media response to Hillary's emotion prompted my realization that not only do women continue to face very real barriers, but that I owe Hillary and women like her a debt of gratitude for continuing to break those barriers down. More importantly, the media treatment of Hillary made it extremely evident that she has had to fight twice as hard as the other candidates for her successes, making those successes all the more impressive.
The saying about Ginger Rogers doing everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels, can't help but come to mind, and given the current state of our country, that's the kind of person I want in office the day George Bush leaves.
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Hillary and Gore
Too bad people (both men and women) didn't get angry with the media and sympathetic with Gore when much, much worse was done to Gore in 2000 and before, when Chris Matthews was referring to him as Bill Clinton's "bathtub ring" and "not even looking American". Watch out if you try to do it to a woman.
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@bernbart ("Her conduct just reinforces all the stereotypes about women.")
Her conduct? Whatever do you mean by this? The crying? Being a bitch? What do you mean? As far as I can tell, she has conducted herself over the last year like anyone else running for high political office. She's worked damn hard, she's smart, she's pandered a bit, she's getting tired. What stereotypes are you referring to?
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The witch ain't dead, and chris mathews ets
Yes white women rallied around Hilary which is expected. While a great admirer of Gloria Steinen, her comment on Barack Obama's qualifications to run for president is typical of white women of her background. What quailifications did Hillary have to run for United States senator other than being humilated by her cheating husband. The women's movement has always been about white women, particuarly upper class ones. While they pretended to empathize with people of color it was always a sham. They were with people of color provided it ultimately benefited them.
White women expected people of color to follow their lead, but never the reverse . I am a professional 50 year old baby boomer, women of color, and yes feminist. However, America has never let me forget I am black before anything. Gloria's comment demonstrates why the feminist movement really never resonated with the average black women. Her comment clearly demonstrates her underlying disdain that a black man would receive better treatment or be preferred to the white woman.
I am glad Hilary had her white sisters to carry her forth to victory in New Hampshire ,but it's whole new ball game in South Carolina. Remember there's no crying in baseball and never underestimate the power of black women. Can we say Oprah!!!!!!
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Non Hillary voters UNITE to crap on mainstream media
I am one who will not vote for Hillary Clinton - what did the Clintons do to deserve this from a life long Democrat? Remember, don't ask don't tell? the shameless treatment of Lani Guineer and Joycelene Elders to appease the right? end welfare as we know it? the signing of NAFTA, BAFTA? and the right leaning agenda goes on and on, like signing the communications bill that consolidated the media and completely eradicated fairness in reporting. Hasn't that come back to bite their sorry arses. They willingly paved the way for George II to unleash a reign of fascism full throttle.
So I found myself rooting for a Hillary win last night and took great pleasure in watching Matthews squirm, trying to talk his way out of the dung pit he had dug. I found a new respect for Brokaw as he tried to caution the media against influencing the vote.
Here is my hope. That the American people turn on the pundits and send them to gas bag hell and learn to separate the wheat from the chaff. Hillary and others should make the media an issue as they fight their way to the White House.