Where’s Hillary?
July 7, 2009
by Amy Siskind
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On the world stage: Where's Hillary?
Remember Hillary Clinton? Ya know, the woman that is Secretary of State. Has anyone seen Hillary lately?
Well I for one can’t seem to find her. And I’ve looked all over the world stage. And I’ve searched all over the press. Can hardly find a mention of our Secretary of State’s whereabouts.
The folks over at HotAir report:
Week-by-week, world event-by-world event, the public humiliation of Hillary Clinton is taking place right before our eyes.
In more modern times, names such as Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance, James Baker, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, and Condolezza Rice loom large in our psyche and history. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? Who? Possibly the most marginalized Secretary of State in modern times.
And it’s true – with all the crises going on around the world, do we even hear Hillary’s name? Obama and Biden are off globetrotting and where is Hillary? What have they done with her (Hat tip to FreedomFairy for the graphics – prizes given for finding Hillary)?
Do I sense a pattern here? Are the most powerful women politicians being silenced? Does our country allow such a high level of sexism to exist that ultimately women politicians get put in their place?
Hillary was subjected to incredible sexism during the presidential primary, yet few spoke out. So lo and behold what happens? The sexism and misogyny breeds underground – fed by the media and our silence. And when it springs back up above earth, the roots are that much more invigorated and strengthened such that yet another victim is claimed.
And yeah, yeah if you read some of the comments on the blogosphere, we should NOT be defending the “other” victim. Sarah Palin is actually, don’t say this out loud – whisper, not a Democrat. Shh…told you. So The New Agenda gets attacked on our blog for having Sarah Palin’s back. And instead of being Clinton dead-enders, apparently we have now evolved to “new agenda/Palin supporters” (according to a NOW National Board member), or “pro-life feminists”.
But what these short-sighted folks seem to be missing is that sexism knows no bounds. It impacts all women and our daughters. Speaking out about it on a case by case basis is simply hogwash. And I’ll say it right here, right now – history will judge. Those folks who stood silent while a woman and her children were subjected to the worse kind of sexism, will be judged harshly. Any woman who considers herself a “feminist” or “women’s advocate” or whatever who thinks it was okay because of policy differences – SHAME!
Meanwhile, back at the White House, where’s Hillary? I’ll tell you. She has no power. She went through a year of the most vicious personal attacks, took a back seat job, and now is silenced. As HotAir writes:
If Hillary’s loss in the primaries was a body blow, being Secretary of State is like being bled by leeches. Hillary seems to know her political persona is being bled dry, but she feels no physical pain.
Well I for one feel her pain. In tribute to Hillary, we started The New Agenda to have her back and the back of others. And I always suspected that when Hillary got a chance to show her stuff, she would outshine her former opponent. As I said to some friends a few months ago – watch out – Hillary’s approval ratings are skyrocketing over Obama. Sure enough, he silenced her.
But The New Agenda is committed to changing things. We are here to have the back of all women – including recently Sonya Sotomayor, Nancy Pelosi amongst others. And if you are not in the battle to defend all women, then move over and get out of the way. We tried your way – it didn’t work – now we are trying ours!
We’re going after the roots of sexism and misogyny, buried deeply in ignorance, bias and darkness. And if you care to join us, grab a shovel and pitch in. And if you can’t see through the fog of your own limiting ignorance, then simply step aside!
- caught a brief blurb on CNN about VP Biden making some announcement about a shift in US attitude towards Israel and Iran, the point being it should have been our SOS Hillary Clinton doing this. To add to your point of grass roots support for women in general and TNA’s opposition to sexism and inequalilty regardless of who the victim is, I don’t agree with a number of Hillary’s political views but she was and is being trashed. She is fully competent, qualified, experienced and more than capable of being our SOS. I don’t understand this either and it is wrong. She hurt her arm(s) and I am hoping that perhaps has had some impact on this, I don’t know, perhaps she is having pain and a lot of rehab to do.
Amy-
Thanks for speaking up for All Women.
You stated that “we let obama silence Hillary” as if it’s over! If we are an action organization, I would like to know what visible plans there are, if any, to bring our displeasure out of the blogsosphere and onto the streets to say, in effect, “we’re not invisible, and neither is Hillary”. Stop silencing her and us NOW!!!. As brave, determined women before us did-a few a day, walking with signs out side of the White House and the State Department…EVERYDAY until it Changes. Nothing will change, if we simply stay here, no matter how well intentioned.
I have attended various “protests” over the past year and have heard paassionate speakers, such as yourself in DC speak out about all of these injustices done to Hillary and the women and men of our country. However, the CROWDS were frankly just not there. Therefore, our challenge is to DO THE WORK to get people out of their home, state and comfort zone to demand the change.
Sorry for rambling. I would simply like to know if their is a plan to take action regarding your question regarding their silencing Hillary, and thereby all of us ?
Thank you again.
The example that has been made of Hillary Clinton has a clear message for all women to read:
“Do not get too uppity, or we’ll silence you too.”
What a terrible shame for us. And our daughters.
O/T, wanted to highlight Peter Daou’s wonderful post in the HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....26518.html
I’m linking there so Huffpo knows how popular Daou is. .
Also, a suggestion – could TNA have a section where good news/posts/articles can be nominated by readers, and we could vote or click-through? like the ’share’ function on facebook?
[...] Amy Siskind has another question: . . . with all the crises going on around the world, do we even hear Hillary’s name? Obama and Biden are off globetrotting and where is Hillary? What have they done with her? [...]
Maddie wrote, “Thanks for speaking up for All Women.” and I say amen to that.
The State Department has a website with her daily public schedule. Did you not think to check there? Today she’s meeting with the ousted president of Honduras.
Just because you haven’t been paying attention doesn’t mean she’s marginalized.
Amy, I agree, we tried it their way and not even the VOTERS were protected or their votes. I do think Madeleine Albright got more respect as the first woman SoS.
Joe Biden is running around saying anything and everything, which just reminds me of how Hillary was not only denied a ROLL CALL VOTE FOR POTUS, but also one for VP. Had the later not been blocked we wouldn’t have Joe, OH NO what did he say now, on the loose.
We Must Divest From Misogyny, Our Very Lives Depend On It!
John, I disagree. It is not the VP’s job to announce in affect that what Israel decides to do with regards to Iran is essentially their own business – that is clearly a duty of the SOS – this is a major issue with immense ramifications in world affairs that she was kept out of. We can only conclude is was intentional and intended to not reinforce the poor reception Obama is getting in Russia.
“I do think Madeleine Albright got more respect as the first woman SoS.”
If you would do the slightest bit of research instead of just making assertions, you would discover:
1.Madeleine Albright endured fierce criticism when she was SOS, and
2. Her qualifications to be SOS were quadruple, at least, Hillary’s. Not to take away from either Hillary’s brilliance or capability, and I think she is doing a good job. But Albright became SOS after getting her PHD in international relations, serving under Brezinski on the NSC, as a research scholar for the Woodrow Wilson Center at the Smithsonian, and as Ambassador to the UN. She is fluent in four languages and has good comprehension in two more. The resumes of the two SOSs are not comparable.
This misplaced Hillary worship is embarrassing, to women, to Hillary Clinton, and certainly to yourselves. Hillary is doing well despite her resume being, frankly, THIN for her current job. Eight years of being first lady vs twenty-odd years of solid experience? Please. Have some respect for OTHER women with careers.
I read a report last week, can’t remember the source, that suggested Obama’s close sycophants are concerned about her “success.” God forbid our SOS should be successful on behalf of the country! No, what’s more important is Obama’s image and ambition. Hillary, however, understands that it’s a marathon, and she is busy working away. Remember Maya Angelou’s words: Rise Hillary Rise. I just hope that she doesn’t get dragged down by Obama’s messy policies.
John Cain – I took your advice and visited the State Department’s website. I found on the front page a giant picture of Obama in Russian – I also found a half a dozen other stories, none of which mentioned SOS Clinton. I did manage to find the daily briefing which mentioned that the US has joined in the OAS in suspending Hondurus, no mention of Clinton. I also found out that she’s in the office and attending meetings today. But no, she’s not being marginalized!
fif, if you can’t see that “I read a report last week, can’t remember the source,” says to the reader: “ignore this: writer is talking out of nether end.”, than there’s no help for you.
Denise:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/...../index.htm
Not terribly difficult.
Denise, how on earth did you miss the giant section of the website on the secretary herself? And as it’s Clinton’s website, wouldn’t all editorial decisions be made by her staff? Secretary Clinton takes diplomatic meetings, meets with her advisers, and advises the President. What else exactly do you think the SoS should be doing?
Does it even come to your minds that Secretary Clinton has been laid up of late with a fractured elbow and resulting surgery? She had to cancel trips and appearances.
Today she is meeting with the President Zelaya. Not marginalized – just injured. Stop blaming misogyny on every perceived ill.
Denised: there are three pictures in rotation on the main page, but if you look to the right, you see under “quicklinks” that “Secretary Clinton remarks “are at the the top.
There is additionally a story about Venezuela, but it doesn’t have a picture of HRC, true.
If you only look at pictures, I suppose you might have cause for complaint. But I suggest that you went to the site hoping to see signs of marginalizing that don’t exist. And your trying to turn an effective Secretary of State into a victim does her no good, nor women, nor anybody.
Wow – Purple Pose and gimmeabreak and John Cain – so nice to see all these new faces. We’re sure that you are here as we are to improve the lives of women and girls.
Fact of the matter is that the press is covering two stories on the international stage – President Obama in Russia and Joe Biden in the Middle East. Hillary is our SOS and she should be at the forefront of international relations – that is her job, no? That is a rhetorical question which you need not answer.
Oh, no problem, Amy: you seem to be obssessed with press coverage, rather than what is actually happening at State. Latin America has historically gotten little coverage by the press, and this is once again the case. Are you downplaying the importance of a situation where the UN Secretary General and the democratically elected head of state of a country were involved?
Whenever the President travels outside the country, it gets more coverage than the SOS. Like it or not. This is not confined to this administration: do you think the press followed Albright when Bill Clinton was traveling?
You yourself are trying to paint Clinton as marginalized, to suit your victimhood meme. It takes power away from her. That’s a weird sort of feminism.
Ain’t no victims here Purple Rose.
If you stick around past today, you might actually learn a thing or two….
Or maybe not….
Other than petulance, Amy, have you any response to my criticisms? “Ain’t no victims”? I suggest that painting a powerful woman who is doing a good job as being a bit of flotsam who can be kept under the President’s thumb is painting her as a victim.
I have read a number of your posts, and I learned quite a lot. I learned that you’re willing to dispense with issues that are vital to women and girls, like reproductive rights, and call that feminism. I learned that you actually think that Sarah Palin’s resignation was “a dark day for America”, instead of the ultimate demonstration that Palin should never have been within hailing distance of the White House, and that you let your daughter think that sexism brought Palin down, rather than Palin bringing Palin down.
The arena of politics is tough. A thick skin is vital, whether you’re male or female. Hillary could, can, and does take it. Palin couldn’t. She isn’t, nor ever has been, a patch on Hillary, and deserved to be labeled wilfully ignorant and crazy. She’s been quitting rather than working most of her life. She went to five different colleges. She quit her job as mayor, she quit her job on the oil and gas commission. She is not anybody I would hold up to my daughter to emulate.
Perhaps you should try doing some research past your comfort level before blindly following someone because she’s female.
You might learn a thing or two. Or not…..
The SOS is under the President’s thumb in any way he wants, nice, indifferent or marginalized or even fired. SOS serves at the discretion of POTUS, always. How many trips did Condi Rice make to Israel and how many press conferences were there? Iran with its internal strife at present and its nuclear ambitions and the aggressive military capability of Israel makes this Iran situation critical and huge and it simply is not VP duties to be making the announcements he did. I don’t quite make the transition from being marginalized to being victim nearly as strongly as some but it fits the male domination pattern of political behavior in the US no matter how you cut it or spin it.
Neither Palin or Hillary are down for the count. “The public humiliation of Clinton is taking place before our eyes??” Give me a break. I’m sure the misogynists in the country would like to see them both shaving their heads, binge drinking, and being hauled off to jail or rehab in handcuffs, but it ain’t gonna happen. Hillary is the Sec of State, one of the highest ranking positions our country has to offer and Palin is about to go viral. These two women have already kicked some serious ass, they aren’t fragile flowers forced to submit to public humiliation, they are warriors and women, and like Maya Angelou says, like dust, they will continue to rise.
Purple Pose, in defense of Sarah Palin, it seems to me you maybe hold women at a bit of a higher standard than men. She goes from small town mayor to a high paying job to Governor to only the 2cd woman VP candidate in our History and now she hasn’t specified what her exact plans are and she is nothing to emulate because she quit some jobs? that’s a bit harsh. She is threatening, very much so, to the male domination of US politics.
What is with this constant attempt to convey “victimhood” on women as whole? Hillary Clinton is one of the toughest and most accomplished women on the national scene and instead of praising her role she is cast as a victim simply because she is serving under Obama. She may have not had an easy climb to the top, but she got there and turning her into some helpless victim, give her the credit that is her due.
As for Palin, she too is going to benefit mightily when it comes to bulking up her bank account. A woman of few achievements, plucked from obscurity with little or no experience on the national stage, who has not stepped into the role as “victim”? Believe, this lady is going to cash in big time, perhaps even have her own tv show to display her rambling thoughts and theories to a nation consumed with “victimhood”.
Hillary is tough, smart, and well versed on the issues. Sarah, no so much. But wise in the ways to keep that spotlight burning on herself regardless of the deficiencies. No “victims” here.
“it simply is not VP duties to be making the announcements he did”
You must not remember that the vice-president’s role was expanded during the Clinton administration, with Gore playing influential and prominent roles in both trade and foreign relations: NAFTA, China policy, and Eastern Europe.
Obama chose Biden for his Foreign Policy chops. Biden and HRC are not rivals but in fact friends; this attempt to turn the State Department into the high school lunch room is purely embarrassing.
goesh, would you hold up to your child as a standard-bearer a man who went from college to college to college to college to college, then quit virtually every job he undertook? Who informed the state of which he was governor that he was stepping down because “it was better for the state?”
That may have been the first statement by the governor, btw, with which I agreed.
Amy, as it stands, you have no proof of Secretary Clinton’s marginalization other than a post from the blogger who thought Obama was a Communazi for liking spicy mustard and your own misinformed notions of what the Secretary of State does. I don’t know where you got the idea that the SoS was somehow a Co-President for foreign policy. Nor do you seem to realize that the Secretary’s diplomatic dealings are often intentionally hidden from the press.
You seem to think the SoS’s job involves mostly grabbing headlines. This is not at all the case.
It astounds me that all this emotional support for Palin and her policies overlooks the simple fact that she has gone on record and pubicly said she would like to see Roe v Wade abolished and the role of reproductive rights be returned to the states who are now busy chipping away most of those rights as we speak.
She is also against abortion when it comes to rape victims and inserts her religious beliefs into most statements thus overlooking again the separation of church and state. Unbelievable.
And stepping down midterm, is this supposed to be a “model” of behavior for women? Come on.
Wow, I do believe I am watching the spectre of woman-bashing-by-other-women unfolding right before my eyes…amongst commenters I’ve been reading and respecting for a while now across the PUMAsphere. It is sad to see, because we really will never get anywhere at this rate. This issue of pro-choice/pro-life is going to be the death of us advancing as a gender. It makes me SICK that we can’t get past it.
I heard or read (that’s not a joke) last week or earlier, that our SoS shattered her elbow and required hospital treatment. Has anyone else heard it? Please write with a “yes”, or I will worry about dementia messing with my recall.
LJSNAustin,
Despair not. This is not women-bashing-other-women. These are first time viewers that are coming here because we dare speak out for Hillary and have her back. They are all NEW and just here to cause trouble.
They will soon get bored on move on to the next thing. The New Agenda, however, is just warming up. We are here to have the back of Hillary Clinton!
Get used to it!
I’m more sad at Pat J, who I do not think is new. Purple Poser and John Cain, yes, definitely new. Pat, do you not think what you’ve written here can be construed as Palin-bashing??
Yes Marjorie – you are correct – a few weeks ago.
You’re declaring Hillary to be marginalized based off nothing! How exactly is that having her back? If anything you’re selling her short to suit your own ends.
Much of the MSM is despicable to begin with. Much of what transpires in the blogosphere for dialogue and discussion is junk. But continually casting women as “victims” is foolish and defeats the purpose IMHO.
The two women you single out are not “victims” in the true sense of the word. Abused women, women worldwide at the mercy of their governments and religious practices, women who are reluctant to report rape for fear of not being believed, women overburdened in bearing children they may not want, these women are victims.
Both Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin have each overcomem
in their own ways the opportunity to state their case. They have each been allowed to express themselves and seek to elevate their status one way or the other.
Admittedly they have each suffered from sexism by a slimy press that is inexcusable. But they were each aware of the pitfalls going in. Whether or not one can agree with their positions, credit must be awarded to them for putting themselves on full view.
I would seriously doubt, particularly in the case of Hillary Clinton, that they each see themselves as victims. Not by comparison to those who actually are.
LJSNAustin – PatJ is in the same boat – new viewer today. Most likely here to cause trouble. Take it as such.
You do not have Hillary’s back, Amy– you insult her, and women, when you fly under the false flag of “feminism” with your agenda, which turns out to be mere grievance farming.
You don’t address any of the legitimate points put out there in opposition to your baseless supposition that the Secretary of State is being “marginalized.” Obviously, if your opinion were more general, it would weaken Clinton both as a viable political entity and in her current position.
Luckily, though, your opinion isn’t shared by anyone of influence.
K, thanks Amy.
“Sure enough, he silenced her..”
Amy Siskand, I apologize for laughing at this comment, but the idea of anyone succeeding in silencing either Palin or Hillary just makes me laugh. Half of this country can’t even stand in their presence without needing to wear a pair of Depends. Even Karl Rove was turning pink and sputtering the other day.
While pundits continue to twist their knickers, stricken by cold sweats as they try to figure out what devious plans Hillary and Palin are plotting, those two gals are going about their business. Our SOS just finished a meeting with President Zelaya about the Honduran situation and Sarah Palin has gone fishing for salmon. No doubt she’ll come back refreshed and ready to fry a few two legged fish of her own.
Thank you, Amy.
An item dated today in HP puts Hillary in DC meeting with Zelaya re: Honduras crisis. As all of you know, the crisis stems from a military takeover and an ousted President. Honduras has not had a military government in some time. Could El Salvador’s recent election of a moderate-to-left President be considered a threat to the power of the Honduran mililtary leaders?
I am sorry you wish to see it this was as it was not my intention.
I just believe that as long as women continue to see themselves constantly referred to as victims, they will always remain in that role. I clearly recognize that this is misogyny out there, alive and well.
But victimization does not advance the cause. If you see this as being a “troublemaker” then there is nothing I can do to refute that statement that will satisfy.
Mine is just another point of view that apparently is not welcomed.
I am not sure with my disagreement toward Sarah Palin’s policies equates with Palin bashing?
Call me a trouble-maker if you wish, Amy. You’re developing a national voice and that voice will bring opponents to hackery. On the other hand, brava for allowing these comments to stand – that had not been my previous experience here.
Do you truly believe that SoS Clinton would ALLOW herself to be marginalized?? I’d sooner believe that she’d cleanly remove Obama’s balls with a withering glance after first dismissing him with a barrage of well-placed invective.
Palin is a whole ‘nother story. The comparison of that ill-educated, soon-to-be-ex-governor to Hillary Clinton is just embarrassing. Palin couldn’t shine Hillary’s shoes.
An article by Faith Smith on Steve Clemon’s Washington Note site indicates the significance of Secretary of State Clinton’s “high level talks” with Zelaya and suggests “major action by the United States will most likely follow Clinton’s meeting with Zelaya.”
Sounds big time to me.
(I posted this comment previously on td.)
td, this was great, as far as it went. But I am left with the same feeling I get after reading similarly passionate editorials against sexism by Amy Siskind of The New Agenda. That is, until BO is pointed to as the enabler of this national epidemic of misogyny, nothing will change. Why should it? His conduct toward women throughout the campaign personified what you and so many others of us rail against. Yet, he was voted into the WH. Who could ask for anything more? We need to keep writing, when he played “99 Problems and a Bitch Ain’t One” at his victory celebration in IA, which he attended with his wife, Michelle, he meant that for her. After all, look how successfully he got her to sublimate herself for him, speaking only those words his people scripted for her and stifling her emotions for the sake of her husband’s campaign. And when he belittled HRC’s campaign rhetoric by pointing out “periodically” “she is feeling down,” he was ‘embarrassing’ his daughter, Sasha, entering puberty, for disclosing on national t.v., he embarrassed her. When he flipped the bird after losing a debate to HRC, he was saying, FU to his daughter, Malia, who mimicked his constant talking on national t.v., opening and closing her hands while saying, “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” With his comment to the waitress – ‘I am not being fresh, that’s my cell phone vibrating in my pocket’ – and surrounding himself with men who simulate sex, in public, from Rev. Wright (”riding dirty”) to Jon Favreau (fondling cardboard HRC’s breasts), he reduces women to sex objects, lashing out at his mother for abandoning him to her men, making him feel unwanted and unloved. You get the point.
Re: SoS Clinton and Zelaya: Several Central American countries-El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala-have had elections over the past 25 years (+/-) overthrowing vicious dictators. If Honduras falls prey to a military coup, it could destabilize the region-or at least encourage the militaries in the region to take action.
Our SoS is handling a delicate and significant political situation. I am soooo pleased she is the SoS. Remember Reagan who, when referring to Nicaragua under the Sandinistas painted the country red on the map he used? And told the people of the US that the “communists” could drive right up across Honduras and through Mexico to attack the US?
“I am soooo pleased she is the SoS”.
I have to agree with you there!
Honduras, hardly a world player that can crash stock markets and scramble military forces from any number of nations – rather light weight duty for the SOS to be meeting with an ousted leader to hold his hand, wouldn;t you think? What is Uncle Joe gonna’ say if Israel conducts another massive tactical air drill and Iran deploys some more of its fleet? He does not implement policy, so get over it, the SOS can and does and she has been kept out of it. That is being marginalized for what ever reason is behind it.
The strength of TNA is slowly growing, rather obviously – it seems NOW is a bit slow in mustering their ‘troops’, must have something to do with that decline in numbers from 500K to 60K, eh?
Purple Pose, quitting jobs to move up is hardly considered a failure by any standards. From small town mayor to VP candidate in such short order, the GOP can hardly be that stupid to have gone with her and look at the percentage of popular vote she and McCain got. I would still be selling carpet cleaning from the job I had my senior year in college if such logic and natural inclination of upward mobility is denied or made a gender issue. The hysteria and fear over Hillary and Sarah is so evident and like TNA, they are not going away.
Purple pose. Yes Obama remained a US Senator, earning a paycheck but preforming no work,(unless running for PTOUS is a US senator’s job) abandoning his constituents in the process ( to use the words they have imposed on Sarah) and they he too resigned to move on.Romney spent 500 of his last 700 days in office collecting a paycheck but running for Prez-Seibillius,Napalitano and Chu all resigned as did HRC- all to move on and history is replete with countless others who did not serve out their full term or who ran for higher office while collecting a paycheck for lower offices and ignoring the duties therein imposed,. In fact the only other Pol who resigned prior to seeking higher office was Dole. To me this is honorable and the high road- so why is only Sarah a quitter? As for HRC, I predicted she would get buried in her job and should not have taken it-Speaking to a desposed Pol who wants to be dictator for life , is an ally of Ortega and Chavez is not the same thing as working on the middle east issues or going to Russia with the prez- it is double A ball and not the majors.
Wow. I have never seen such a troll infestation at The New Agenda.
Obamaland really does have it’s panties knotted over something, doesn’t it?
Wonder what’s eatin’ ‘em now??
Fif
Here’s a link to the article about the worried White House sycophants. (The ones besides the three “guest posters” with the same IP address.)
http://turcopolier.typepad.com.....et-al.html
Purple Pose,
I have no comment personally about whether or not HRC is being marginalized. But, MSNBC seems to be floating the idea. A few of the misogyny boys were gloating over their perception of it the other night.
Furthermore, on Palin, I totally disagree with most of her politics and I personally would not vote for her in part because of her positions on reproductive rights. But I think both Clinton and Palin were victimized by a dangerous level of sexism. When a women polititian is referred to on a national news outlet as being a bitch, menopasal, accused of pimping her daughter, having a split personality, being a nagging ex-wife, castrating, slutty, etc…OR when news men are talking about “taking HER into a back room, and when HE’s done, only HE comes out,” any fair minded person can only conclude that sexism was afoot.
You see, if Obama was called the N-word, or referred to as a shoe shine boy, or stereotypical comments were made about him that soley stemmed from a racial bias in national news, maybe you would understand. If white commentators referred to taking him “out back in the woods” and only the white guys come back, people would assume that they were referring to lynching him. And If that happened all hell would break loose. I have no doubt that poeple would be fired as they should be for such bigotted comments. In the same way, when male news commentators talk about taking a woman in a back room, it implies rape and should offend everyone regardless of the politics of the woman to which they are referring. But We saw this behavior persist unchecked against women polititions regardless of their politics.
The point here at the new agenda is that there is a significant gender bias against women who dare reach for political power. The higher up they go, the more viscious the sexist attacks. Unfortunately, most of the sexist treatment of both Palin and Clinton this past year came from the left. Many of the same people claim to support women’s reproductive rights. Unfortunately, we learned that there are many pro choice misogynists on the left. As a die hard lefty myself, it was a hard pill to swallow. I felt like a 10 year old kid who was abandoned in a public service station by my parents.
So I have no problem fighting against the over the top sexism that has been a daily staple in the media towards Palin. I’m not defending or supporting Palin’s politics by objecting to the sexism. I’m fighting for equality so when the next woman is in either Clinton’s or Palin’s position, the media won’t get away with engaging in a mysogyny fest. You see, its about opportunity for our daughters and women as a whole, not about sharing Palin’s political perspective.
I agree with you that reproductive rights are a cornerstone to women’s equality, but it is only a peice of puzzle. EQUAL TREATMENT AND OPPORTUNITY are also ESSENTIAL to achieving EQUALITY. I won’t trade one for the other. We must have both!!!!
Purple Poser
I think that Amy is more than capable of holding up the right role model for her daughter. Sarah Palin has done more for the state of Alaska in her half a term than most govenors do for there state in 8 years. As a life long authentic liberal and soon to be ex-democrat I find her policies to be most progressive. The Alinski tactic of enless ridicul is the only thing that the neo-elitist liberals can come up with to attack her with. I have yet to hear one of these patriarch enabler Palin bashers refer to any policy she has enacted as governor. The attacks are always personal, never substantive.
No strategy for running for president can be a model for her. After all she is a woman, and have we not learned that there is a completely differnet set of rules for running against a woman. I cannot remember anytime in my life when an enormously sucessful public servant was systematically driven to near bankruptcy by 15 bogus ethics charges, constantly slandered by the Obama media and endured the disgusting kind of abuse that she and her family has. It was indeed far worse than what Hillary faced and that was bad enough!
I volunteered for HRC and fought with everything I had for her. Ultimately she broke her promise to me to never give up, and gave in to the will of Obama. What Sarah Palin did was not in anyway giving up. She left her office in the capable hands of her dept. Governor, someone who will be free to govern the state of Alaska like she has without the constant distraction and cost to tax payers.
I guess you might not understand how $500,0000 in legal bills could affect a family with a disabled child. I think that the Obama-mafia understood it very well. What a disgrace to the party that was once for the people. The now Elitist FED Loving, Goldman Sachs bolstering, Shar-iah compliant democrats have taken down another woman. But this one will be back and without the sulfer stench of Obama on her.
HRC campaigned for Obama and decided not to fight for us in the senate any more. She most definitily has been marginalized as SOS. I knew Obama would do it, after all to him she’s just a girl.
Who are these people of influence you speak of Purple. Perhaps the people at the FED, Goldman Sachs, or maybe just George Soros. Amy has had plenty of influence and if it were not for her and The New Agenda I just might be stuck with Chris Mathews as my next PA Senator.
The democratic party is dead.
Long Live Sarah!
Meanwhile, back at the White House, where’s Hillary? I’ll tell you. She has no power. She went through a year of the most vicious personal attacks, took a back seat job, and now is silenced.
Amy, I’d say hold your fire for now. Sometimes it’s wiser to be low key…especially when your boss’s ratings are diving. Worry not, my fine feathered female friends. The women are waiting to emerge and they will fly…I can smell it on the wind…
Here she is talking about Honduras if you’re going thru withdrawal:
http://www.state.gov/video/
SYD, to me it is grass roots democracy and activism , strongly so,when so many divergent opinions come slamming in – this site remains quite civil IMO, well managed and very proactive with lots of non-commenting readers nodding their heads in agreement and talking with friends about the issues being discussed here.
PatJ: She is also against abortion when it comes to rape victims and inserts her religious beliefs into most statements…
True, but most politicians throw in a “God Bless” or such in their speeches…
I think in Palin’s case, her spirituality is never left at the door. It’s an integral part of who she is. Same as her integrity and fiscal responsibility and guts.
As for her views on abortion: As far as I know, she has not inserted her view into legislative changes. She speaks about her view, but I don’t think she’s changed any laws. Correct me if I’m mistaken.
SYD
Now that the election is over and they’re beginning to realize that they were used like the tools that they are, the idiots at Rumproast have nothing to do but hijack threads on blogs that make them nervous.
http://www.rumproast.com/index.....mper_room/
Purple Pose is none other than the tiresome uber-tool Betty Cracker.
So incisive is her commentary that Betty Cracker has been interviewed on CNN and Fox, has written articles for Salon, Huffington Post, and the Daily Beast, and was the subject of a profile in Bitch magazine.
In addition, Dr. Cracker is a senior research associate at CUNY. Her Ph. D. dissertation was adapted into the book “The Sullivan Institute/Fourth Wall Community The Relationship of Radical Individualism and Authoritarianism”.
Oh wait…that’s Amy Suskind’s resume!
Betty Cracker is actually a contributer on a couple of blogs that no one reads. She day jobs include hijacking threads and trying to be funny.
She spends her nights wondering why boys don’t ask her out more.
Her alter ego is Tammy Pierce.
For anyone who truly uses choice as their main issue- what about Harry Reid -Democratic Majority Leader- Harry actually tried to pass a bill to ban abortion in Nevada? Tim Kaine, Obama’s pick for head of DNC-very pro-choice-
Obama’s Inaugural preacher- Rev. Rick “abortion is like a holocaust” Warren?
Sarah Palin never once injected her personal views on choice or abstinence on the electorate of Alaska- She even just appointed a pro-choice federal district judge- So many lies abound about her- what a travesty-
Palin appointed a pro-choice judge to the Alaska Supreme Court because she didn’t have an option.
http://www.washingtontimes.com.....ro-choice/
So many lies, indeed.
Poser -” serving under Brezinski” … as if that is suthin’ to be proud of. Barf.
Bethoven queen, as gov, she governed from the center and up to the election enjoyed over whelming support by the Dems. Then the word from DNC came out- be the party of “no” in alaska, oppose everything- make her look bad- er term a failure-file lots of complaints against her, run her into the ground. She remains a centrist in her governing style and has never injected her beliefs into her governance. She appointed a pro choice supreme court female justice,
She also tried to appoint a horribly racist, sexist, and homophobic person as AG of Alaska–someone who made crude jokes about women and told a black girl to stop whining when a white student at her school and made horrible remarks about the native population of AK and made a KKK statue and who called gay people “degenerates”–that was someone she was trying to appoint to a major position of power. Even a lot of Republicans voted not to confirm this guy.
If you’re fine with that, okay. But for the sake of honesty you should mention that alongside the pro-choice appointee.
“I volunteered for HRC and fought with everything I had for her. Ultimately she broke her promise to me to never give up, and gave in to the will of Obama.”
So, Palin’s a hero for quitting her job as governor because she “doesn’t want to be a lame duck” (so all governors should quit in the middle of their last terms? Logical.), but Hillary is a traitor because she, what didn’t fight Obama on the floor of the convention and decided to become SoS and do good in the world?
That’s some interesting definition of “hero” and “role model” some of you are using.
Since the Fourth Wave of the New Agenda was so successful in hounding David Letterman off the air for his jokes, I wonder if you might be willing to take up the cause of ousting two radio jocks in Alaska who referred to a prominent female politician as a “cancer” (the woman is a cancer survivor) and a “bitch” and also implied she has a fat ass, while another prominent Alaskan politician — the governor — sat by and giggled her approval.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_23HhsKOQQ
Surely this seems like something you’d want to tackle, right?
Kathyrn, Hillary quit and then, at least in the opinion of this Hillary supporter, gave up her principles by campaigning for Obama. Of course she needed to endorse him. But did she need to make over 60 campaign appearances for him? I think this is what the commenter was referring to.
Palin is quitting, but I don’t see her giving up her principles. I agree her lame duck explanation was lame. But I believe she had no other choice with the frivolous ethics complaints bankrupting her and taking up the majority of her and her staff’s time. What would you do in her shoes?
I too was a strong Hillary supporter. I campaigned for her in four states, all of which we won. I produced a video attacking Obama and wrote letters to all the superdelegates. What I am about to say is reflective of those experiences.
It is a mistake to place your entire argument of sexism. The problem with Obama, and with Bush is broader than that. Would you support Obama in 2012 if he appointed Sebenius as vp? She is a woman, but she is also corrupt.
You need to rethink the proposition. We need a leader who is not Bush, and is not Obama. We need a third way. This third way would reflect certain core priciples including drawing a moral equivalence between racism and sexism.
Hillary has made some bad decisions along the way. One must never elevate party over country. However, I believe she can redeem herself if she gets out. That would rebut all the criticisms that she should have divorved Bill, not supported Obama, never joined his administration. It would allow her to reclaim her position as head of a social movemen, and restore her image as a war goddess rather than a lackey.
I think it is a mistake for her to play the Morris strategy of being loyal until he implodes–if that is what she is doing. I see the subtle distinctions she is making between her position and Obama. But as Justice Cardozo once observed about an arcane point of evidence: discrimination so subtle is a feat beyond the compass of ordinary minds.
To be clear, I want Hillary as president in 2012. The only way that will happen is if she can regain her voice as she did in the primary. It is a decision only she can make.
Maaaaaarginalized!!
Hillary has saved the world from its worst crisis – there is mediation going on in Honduras! Hail great Obama for unleashing such a major talent to ease such a crisis while N. Korea missles, bloody rioting in China’s energy rich provence, Iranian nuke ambitions and internal crisis all simmer away on the back burner and the sharp claws of the Israeli Defense Forces remain exposed facing Iran!
CIA fact book says about 50% of Hondurans are below the poverty level, subject to all kinds of natural disasters, dependent on the USA for trade, they have a military of sorts but the CIA had no need to list numbers, a budget of 2.6 billion, no energy reserves, 27% unemployment, they do export bananas, 2.8 million person labor force, population 7.797 million, a little bigger than Tenn. they’ve got 821,200 telephones down there and 424,200 internet users yet they do have 12 airports with paved runways, as of 1997 the last CIA entry for the number of TV stations they had the count was 11 – thank you Obama for sending in Hillary to prevent the whole Western hemisphere from being destabalized! She ought to do like Palin, resign and tell the world she has better things to do with her talent and energy. she ought to go independent, the Woman’s Party, shake the hell out of the whole nation, rattle teeth and cause men to pee their pants and mysogynysts to grab at their crotches out of sheer terror – you’d be surprised at how many guys would vote for her just to pay back the worthless bums we’ve got in office now, out of sheer spite I tell you!
I consider myself a women’s advocate, am a first time writer, am very critical of Obama but am generally confused by the discussion on this web site.
First, I applaud HRC and believe she is an intelligent and strong women. However, listening to many of you, she must also be a sellout, or less than intelligent to join Obama’s administration? Couldn’t it also be that while she disagreeds with some of Obama’s policies, she does believe in the general direction he wants to take foreign policy and wants to play a role in solving the world’s pressing foriegn problems. It’s like if you are a women and support Obama, you are really not a women’s advocate and then it is okay to attack you (even though the New Agenda is supposed to support women)
Second, isn’t it possible to agree that HRC and Palin have experienced enormous sexism and mean spirited attacks but also believe without being a sexist that Palin’s political and educational background make her unqualified to seek the highest office in the land. Objectively, when I view Palin’s background, I see a person that hasn’t finished much but simply been an opportunitist.
Generally, I just think it seems hypocritical to generally support women’s rights and then think some women are less than intelligent or sellout just because they want to be part of an Obama administration or support his policies.
LVL,
Welcome to The New Agenda.
Our organization is inclusive. Folks have all sorts of different points of view.
I personally am glad that Hillary took the SOS job. I think our country greatly benefits from having her there (and hopefully she is utilized more fully than it currently appears). I know how hard it would have been for her to return to the Senate and face so many that had betrayed her and the “unwelcome” she got about participating in the health care legislation before she got the SOS nod. So that’s my POV.
LVL, you are right that not all criticisms of Palin are sexist. And thinking that she is unqualified based on her background can be a reasonable argument.
In my opinion, Obama is similarly unqualifed and opportunistic. The only difference is the Ivy league education. Why was he considered qualified and not Palin? Is it the Ivy league education or is there some sexism involved (not by you, but from people who think Obama is qualified but not Palin). Why does she seem less qualified even though they have similar experience? It probably has some to do with classism, but in our society in general it is not uncommon for a man and women to have similar backgrounds and for the man to be given more respect and seen as more qualified for a job. It happens in my profession all of the time.
Amy, thank you for the welcome
Nat, I agree that Obama’s achievements are light, however, I will give him credit for completing his education at an IVY League school and communicating policy positions very well. It is not just that Palin doesn’t have an IVY league education, it just appears that she bounced around from school to school. Honestly, she also isn’t very articulate. Now, this does not make Obama better than her or her views less than worthy, I just think she is not the person I want with their hand near the button.
Now, I definitely have my problems with Obama. He simply hasn’t been an aggressive advocate for women’s right. In fact, he is really middle of the road on everything.
But, I think what Palin represents – “the every person” who endores through hardships, fights for the little guy and advocates for women – is really not who she has been. I also am less inclined to take to heart her complaints about the media when early in the primary season she suggested HRC was weak for complaining about the media. Having said all that, the way the media has sexualized her, made fun of her kids and demeaned her is unconsciousable. I truly feel for her but would not vote or advocate for her. I guess I may be torn regarding her.
Sorry for the confusing post.
LVL:Yes obama graduated at an Ivy league college, spent some time as on organizer and back bencher in Springfield, spent 2 of his three years running for the senate and speaks well but he had no experience or qualifications for the job and that is key. H.e two thus bounced around as he self promoted himself. Palin graduated college, but not ivy league( I am not an elitist myself, State University was fine for me), sat on a state energy commission, mayor of a city and governor. IF he was qualified( and I dont know that he was but you said he was so for argument sake lets accept that he was) SO was she. Your views of failing to support a woman and being mesmerized by a articulate Ivy League man, if they are accepted by the majority of women, will doom your attempt to have a woman president forever.I would suggest that you should unify with other women and vote gender- not school or masculinity- and if you do be it Palin,HRC or someone else there will be a woman president.
The difference has little to do with education for many people: Lincoln, after all, was largely self-educated. You don’t need to go to Harvard to be brilliant and capable (although if you graduate from Harvard in the top 10% of your class, that does indicate that you are very intelligent).
Hillary and Obama, whether or not you agreed with their positions or how they played the political game, were able to articulate and explain the issues at hand and their proposals for dealing with them. They demonstrated this understanding in hundreds of interviews, town hall meetings, etc. That’s not to say that they never had their verbal stumbles–both did–but it was very clear that they understood what they were talking about. Palin was inarticulate and appeared to know very little about the topics she was discussing. Frankly, she appears to know very little about most important national and international issues, and even worse, she appears uninterested in learning about what she didn’t know. That’s why she reminded many people of Bush–intelligent, perhaps, but completely incurious. The thought of having someone like that in office, male or female, was not appetizing.
It’s not a matter of education: it’s a matter of intelligence and knowledge.
I find it sadly hilarious to see some people hear dismissing Hillary for having joined Obama’s administration while holding Palin up as a hero for their daughters.
Also: I do think that the media’s coverage of Palin was at times sexist, just as it was for Hillary (and it was at times racist with regards to Obama–even those of us who don’t like him should admit that).
But had one of Obama’s daughters been a pregnant teenager, yes, that would have been a major topic of discussion and probably the object of some distasteful jokes. Chelsea was a target when Bill was president, Malia and Sasha will probably be targets at some point. Politicians’ children should be left alone, but they often aren’t, and that’s not unique to Palin.
*hear* should be *here*
Sorry, it’s late.
For what it’s worth, Larry at NQ has a flattering answer to your title question Where’s Hillary with ” Hillary Rescues Honduras”
http://www.noquarterusa.net/bl.....more-27561
I tend to disagree she is being marginalized. As her arm heals and she gets back to normal, I’m sure she will be as busy as she was before her accident.
Yes bluelady – saw that.
We have asked for cross-post permission.
[...] we don’t want to jump and take credit, but we do know that our blog piece questioning Where’s Hillary had drawn quite a bit of attention around the blogosphere. As SYD noted, our blog had a rather [...]
Amy, Did u see this article that came out last year referencing you?
http://www.tnr.com/politics/st.....0e0f19eced
some people agree or don’t agree that Obama and/or Palin are articulate. Both are certainly articulate to communicate their standpoints.
The major problem with Obama is that he has changed his standpoints significantly around. and promoted opposing views, later to explain that would happen during a primary. so there are trust issues. I to this day cannot decide on any statement whether he is telling what he believes. in contrast Palin is genuine and consistent and like a lot of her standpoints. I am prefering to listen to her direct and not filtered and edited interviews like the Couric and Gibson ones, which should enrage every woman with some self respect.
Wow, KendallJ, thank you for putting it so well in your last comment. Your statement should become a public service announcement.
Yes Ginger,
That is an old article from over a year ago – pre The New Agenda.
I spoke out at a rally about the sexism in the Democratic Party towards Hillary. Michelle Goldberg interviewed me and wrote that horrific article. She more recently had her mea culpa moment in a DB article about how wrong she had been about Hillary.
Here’s a link to the speech that the article references:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiYxQbae48s
Clinton is a politician and has to get along to stay in the game. Grassroots activists can be more honest and we feel attacks on her and her supporters because for us, politics is not just a job, we can act on our principles without any cost. The most trustworthy grassroots activist are those who act on principle.
I’ve only listened to one full speech by Obama because I knew right away he does the exact opposite of what he says. I distrusted Edwards for similar reasons. You just can’t go to DC and enact purely progressive policies without coming up against lobbyists, etc. Palin and Bush are smarter and more competentvfir what it’s worth. Look at what she did on Alaska. She took on the old boys club and won. How many politicians do that? McCain? Bush spent every week of his presidency enacting right-wing policies and hoarding the money for his Republican friends. That’s competence. Obama has the White House, Congress, Senate, the good will of the world and can’t get us universal health care and gave 12 trillion to the bankers and housing industry that caused the global financial crisis. Who’s dumb and incompetent?
I don’t care what politicians say or how they say it, I watch what they do. If Obama can enact progressive or even liberal policies, he can be a successful President.
On the topic of qualifications for President, here they are:
“No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.”
Sarah Palin qualifies.
Now, on the question of intelligence, perhaps we should have an intelligent conversation about it.
Which of these intelligences do you think we need in a President?
Linguistic intelligence (”word smart”):
Logical-mathematical intelligence (”number/reasoning smart”)
Spatial intelligence (”picture smart”)
Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence (”body smart”)
Musical intelligence (”music smart”)
Interpersonal intelligence (”people smart”)
Intrapersonal intelligence (”self smart”)
Naturalist intelligence (”nature smart”)
(from: http://www.thomasarmstrong.com.....ences.htm)
And back to the old-fashioned view of intelligence: do you think that there is a correlation between a leader’s IQ score their ability to maintain peace and avoid starting wars that kill us, and their ability to lead a government that doesn’t destroy the environment?
I keep hearing this comment: Sarah Palin is so stupid, I don’t want her to have her hand on the button.
Really? So if let’s say she was so stupid, the suggestion is that stupid people are suicidal? Or homicidal? I mean what does that even mean, other than a demeaning remark against a powerful woman?
[...] But as Hillary’s poll numbers continued to rise, something rather strange started to unfold: Hillary went missing. She gradually became less and less of the spokesperson that our country so surely needed on international issues. There was barely an utterance of her name in the media as President Obama and Vice President Biden trekked around the globe working on international affairs. Until finally last week the blogosphere started to ask: Where’s Hillary? [...]
[...] But as Hillary’s poll numbers continued to rise, something rather strange started to unfold: Hillary went missing. She gradually became less and less of the spokesperson that our country so surely needed on international issues. There was barely an utterance of her name in the media as President Obama and Vice President Biden trekked around the globe working on international affairs. Until finally last week the blogosphere started to ask: Where’s Hillary? [...]
[...] week, we asked Where’s Hillary? The story started to spread around the [...]
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