By Libby
Man, I really don't want to step into this but it just really bothers me. Yes, the blatant sexism in this Youtube is horrible. It's unfair, but so is the central message the video seems to be conveying, at least to me.
I'm hearing that I should be blaming Obama for not solving sexism. That he is unfit for office because he's failed to stand up against it strongly enough. But it uses mainly statements from surrogates, pundits and right wingers. The couple of direct statements by Obama were badly worded but Hillary has made equally awkward statements about him. Maybe I don't get around enough but I have yet to see those acknowledged by the heavily invested Clinton supporters nor have I seen the invested Obama supporters creating similar videos complaining about them.
And yes the graphics are especially disgusting but I've seen the same and similar ones circulating on right wing blogs for years before the primaries ever started. That's not Obama's fault. Further, even as the video decries these horribly unfair images, they use equally unfair images of Obama. There are thousands of photos of them out there and they deliberately chose the one with Obama looking disdainful. Isn't that still playing the equally bogus elitist card?
Sorry, this doesn't look so much like a defense of women or a outcry against sexism as much as it looks like a hit piece on Obama to me. I don't see what it hopes to accomplish. I loathe sexism and spent the greater part of my life trying to push back against it. But it seems to me if you want to demand fairness, you have to play fair yourself. This video didn't leave me feeling sympathetic -- just irritated -- and I support the feminist cause, however imperfectly.
Whoever made this video should take the advice Hillary gives at the end of the speech. Move beyond rhetoric, move beyond recognition of problems to working together to build the common effort to have the common ground we hope to see.
Good points all. I'd add that Obama dismissed at least a couple of those surrogates, in New Hampshire and Samantha Power, and that numerous bloggers supporting Obama have attacked the sexism. It's in the MSM where little discussion of the topic has taken place, but that's largely the same MSM that used to attack Bill relentlessly for BS reasons, with many of the same activists defending him as defend Hillary now.
ReplyDeleteObama had to stand up and tackle the race issue head-on, not depend on Hillary for that. I've waited for a similar frontal attack on the sexism from Hillary during this campaign and am genuinely surprised that other than a few comments here and there, she has not done so. As the video utilizes a speech she gave long ago that inspired women around the globe, I was expecting something similar, not from Obama, but from Clinton.
The misogyny and sexism is disgusting. I do not buy that Obama originated it, deliberately perpetuated it nor is now required to cure it.
And one minor point: I believe Tom Watson was cited in that video calling Clinton the most famous Democratic woman in history. Maybe my age is showing, but I don't think she yet surpasses Eleanor Roosevelt on that score.
Thanks Kevin. I'd agree it's a close call between Eleanor and Hillary, and maybe you would have to include Jackie O in terms of fame alone. But Hillary probably has a claim in that she's held office and is the first ever viable woman candidate for president.
ReplyDeleteI believe Obama cut Samantha Powers much too soon. She is one of the best and brightest young minds (she about 37 I believe) in the foreign policy arena. I understand why he did, so I hope she is brought back on board for the GE or given a position in his administration. I have read her extensively, and seen her on Charlie Rose several times. It would be a great loss if she were to remain in exile.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your analysis Libby. Good on ya! A lot of identity politics bullshit from this cycle can be blamed on DEMOCRATS. It really is a damn shame and I am glad this nomination process is almost over. A lot of Democrats are beginning to sound like WATB's and it is quite discouraging. No whining allowed! Someone was going to win the nomination and someone wasn't. It ALWAYS ends that way. I still recall right after Iowas and NH, but before Super Tuesday, the meme being that Obama wasn't tough enough, he was too soft, and that HRC was tough. Well HRC is tough, and so is Obama. They've both proven it. But one of them will not be the nominee. The HRC camp seems to be going to the anger stage right now. They know they've lost and its difficult to accept that the new guy beat the candidate with every advantage including having more money, an advantage in SD's, name recognition, and a former President campaigning for her.
Thanks for the encouragement GP. I don't think the anger is just because she apparently going to lose the nomination. It's legitimate to be angry about the sexism that contributed to the loss and I think some of it arises out of disappointment in losing the dream of the first woman president. As a woman I feel that and empathize with it. It would have been a great and beautiful thing to see it happen. I'm old enough that I may not live to see it and I fought for breaking the glass ceiling from back in the days when women weren't supposed to wear pants in public.
ReplyDeleteWhat I can't buy into is blaming Obama for it. I don't think it's fair to do so anymore than I would think it fair to hold Hillary accountable for failing to speak out more strongly against racisim. No one person can solve either problem.
Minor point: the video repeats the claim from the NY Post that Obama played '99 Problems' ("and a bitch ain't one") at his Iowa victory party. This is false. Video (x2):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.blogher.com/dont-believe-hype-media-and-truth-clinton-obama-and-jay-z-edition
Audio:
http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/music_for_obama_2
I agree with your take, Libby. The general rule, I think, is that we should speak out against BS regardless of whether it's our candidate or not. Clinton, Obama and McCain should all be judged on substance. Clinton has unquestionably been attacked on sexist grounds at times. Not challenging that is bad long-term politics, among other things. But those attacks also don't make her the best candidate, and Obama is not personally responsible for all of those attacks. There are plenty of feminists supporting Obama. There are also plenty of liberal bloggers, either undeclared or not specifically Clinton supporters, who have consistently criticized the sexist attacks on her, just as some Clinton supporters and plenty of undeclared bloggers have decried racist attacks on Obama.
ReplyDeleteI've written it before, but while race, gender - and let's not forget class and power - are important issues, our mostly shallow MSM will almost discuss them in very shallow, vapid, unhelpful ways, as gossip. And as Kevin noted upthread, it's the MSM I'm irritated at much more than any campaign.
If Obama had campaigned for Hillary, she would have won. Ya, that's it.
ReplyDeleteHillary, I don't know from rap music but thanks for the update.
ReplyDeleteBatacchio, I'm surely most irritated with the MSM for building the environment that fosters this mindset. I don't blame the campaign for this video, but I think it's not helping and I'm astounded that her supporters would promote it.
Skirkowski, I'd rather you not get into Clinton bashing. The point of the post is it's time to be looking for common ground, not more grounds for argument.
This is absolutely right, Libby. Melissa McEwan has done a tremendous job of calling out the vicious sexism directed at Clinton; this video takes that legitimate and necessary work and distorts it into a vile smear.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom. Lis rocks, doesn't she?
ReplyDelete