Letters to the Editor
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Thanks AKA Smith...
I'm getting worn out with this whole line of argument. If one does not stop the boys in their tracks when they are being sexist and show some solidarity then they are going along with the boys. I really don't subscribe to this idea that the youth know best and when I hear a parent say my child brought me to Obama, I think to myself well, that person really has no stake in the kind of economic change that Hillary could bring.Neither parent nor child has been up against the kind of economic hardship that many people who want a proven leader have experienced. Just do a little homework on Obama's economic advisors, one of them has written papers on ending Social Security for pete's sake.Giving great speeches does not make one grounded in the economy.Obama thinks policy papers are boring.
As far as the war goes Hillary is no neocon, she is a realist. Obama came out against the war at a safe antiwar rally in a safe liberal district of Chicago. Since being in the Senate he has voted exactly as Hillary has in regards to Iraq. Anyone who thinks Obama will get us out sooner than Hillary or even McCain is engaging in wishful thinking.Anyone who thinks they are moral and also thinks we can just pull out despite the wreakage we have wrought and the lives that would be put in danger needs to go over and tell that to everyday Iraq people who are scared to death.No we are stuck over there for the forseeable future.
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KateTex, Show Me, etc.
I can understand anyone's anger and hurt at getting flamed or seeing someone they support trashed on-line, but is it really worth wishing John McCain on anyone? Because you are angry?
I can't count now the number of times that I (and others) have tried to encourage some civility on these debates, but apparently our calls have gone unnoticed. I actually have spent a fair amount of time in my own little circle of influence talking to people about the use of negative, sexist language against Hillary, but there is a difference in my assessment of the situation. I don't think this speaks to sexism in the campaign, but rather a certain level of sexism that has become acceptable in our society, much like blatant homophobia is given the green light.
That being said, I try not to blame the politicos directly for the language used by their supporters, especially if it is on line. Why? Well, people are generally on their worst behavior on line. Any number of them are republican trolls, or lying about who or what they are (how can you know, it's on line?) or they are just dissatisfied emotional vampires who get their kicks trying to stir crap up on line. The root psychology of it is beyond me, but I know it when I see it.
I'm sorry it's tainted your view of the whole process, and I hope that some time and distance will bring you some clarity, but I would like to ask you this; please stop assuming that women who aren't in Hillary's camp are somehow clueless and unaware of the effects of discrimination. It isn't accurate, it's belittling, and the "if you don't vote Hillary, you are clueless/sexist" argument holds no more water than the "If you don't vote for Obama you must be a racist" argument.
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@AKA Smith
You make some fair points but you go a bit too far. As the saying goes, you're a grown ass woman. If somebody calls you a nasty name, it's up to you to handle your business. You shouldn't blame others for not doing what you should be doing yourself. When someone called you a cunt, you should have told him/her to fuck off and then reported him/her to Joan & Co. Should they have jumped to your defense? Eh, it would have been civilized and good manners but some things you have do yourself.
Overall, the name calling and baiting have been ridiculous on both sides and since Hillary supporters are outnumbered here they have gotten the worst of it, but we should be careful to not generalize the nasty, and persistent, attacks by some to all "Obama supporters" or "Hillary supporters".
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@ KStone
persistent, attacks by some to all "Obama supporters" or "Hillary supporters"
If you will reread my post, you will see that I specifically did not characterize all Obama supporters.
Moreover, I do not personally care that certain people do not jump to my defense. It is not my defense that I am concerned about but rather the lack of feminist solidarity shown by women (young or old) who do not combat sexist attacks upon other women.
BTW, I knew you would kick BryanS in the balls for daring to call you sweetheart. We both know you are no sweetheart.
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@BryanS
Poor dear. Well, it looks like after you fainted from my shocking!!! use of the word nigger to make a point, you recovered quite nicely and avoided my point, and, it looks like you are back up to your usual tricks. Glad you're feeling better.
Anyway, the notion that you've mostly heard Hillary referred to as a bitch on an SNL skit or by her supporters is too absurd to comment on.
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Wow, I can't believe it AKA Smith. Shocked again.
First off, somebody in these threads called you a cunt? That's brutal and misogynistic and no woman deserves that. (My sister used to work on the trading floor and a broker called her a cunt; literally she punched him in the face, cussed him out and almost got into a fight with a dude.)
Second, I can say that I defended Hillary Clinton, a public figure, on these boards when posters were being sexist, but it was and is not my responsibility to come to the rescue of Clinton supporters who feel like they're under attack; I have too much of my own defending of myself to do. I hope you verbally ripped whoever called you a cunt, but, I'm sorry, it's wasn't my, nor Celia's, responsibility.
Third, to use that as an excuse (i.e., female Obama supporters not coming to the rescue of Clinton supporters when they felt they were under sexist attack) for not supporting women's rights (i.e., voting for McCain) is just plain ridiculous and, again I'm sorry to say this, anti-feminist to the core. Older women supporters who were concerned when Clinton got called a "bitch" voting for McCain because of the sexism Clinton experienced at the hands of Obama supporters is hugely ironic. I would never do that to my children, or your children for that matter. Or show me's children. I stand up for women everywhere.