Despite his penchant for saying "sweetie" to shut women up, Barack Obama does seem more likable than Hillary Clinton. But so what?
The press loved frat boy George W. Bush and hated nerdy Al Gore eight years ago. And look what we got? Endless war, economic meltdown, torture, a bigoted Supreme Court, the destruction of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, a desecrated planet. Will Americans never learn that who they think is a "nice guy" is no reason to elect a president? Apparently not.
At this very moment, right wing swiftboaters are vetting Barack Obama's life to see how they can smear him if he becomes the candidate. Real estate deals, sexual peccadilloes, pastors -- you name it. They're on his trail. One good thing about Hillary Clinton is that the vast right wing conspiracy has been at her for sixteen years and nothing they came up with has stuck. Not Whitewater. Not witchcraft. Not nothin'. All they got on her is her husband -- the sex-addict who was a great president.
You'd think that would make her electable. After all, she is not Bill. You'd think that would make her a better candidate. But shut my mouth, Americans don't vote pragmatically. They vote emotionally. And the devil you know is always inferior to the angel you don't know. Barack is currently that angel. How long he'll keep his wings is anyone's guess.
So here we go again. NARAL loves the new boy on the block -- even if HRC was there at its founding. So does John Edwards. And Ted Kennedy. The fact that Barack has little experience makes him the hot new ingénue, whereas Hillary is old like your mother.
The truth is we know about her -- and we know very little about Obama. That alone makes her detractors scream: Get Out! Off the stage with you! Give us that hot new boy! Give us that sepia Brad Pitt! Old women are so over!
OK sweetie, we'll step aside. Watch your own cauldron bubble. You're in a heap of trouble -- and you don't even know it.
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Erica, you need to pick your targets better. Who is worse, Obama who called a reporter "sweetie" or McCain who called his wife a "c**t"? Your compass is way off if Obama is getting your goat.
I like her reference to swiftboaters. The swift boaters simply told the truth. That's all that will have to be done about either of these two clowns, tell the truth about them. To "progressives" that means smearing.
"Endless war, economic meltdown, torture, a bigoted Supreme Court, the destruction of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, a desecrated planet" Then she says the press loved the frat boy George W Bush?
You libs are becoming delusional.
"Endless war, economic meltdown, torture, a bigoted Supreme Court, the destruction of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, a desecrated planet" Huh???
What planet is this chick living on or is this a 2013 after Barack is elected?
Have to add one more thing about this "old guard" vs. "new" debate. There's no doubt that there are as many different feminisms as there are feminists--but to suggest that Erica Jong is saying women must support Hillary because she's a woman is to imagine that the only ideas any of us have about gender simply boil down to being "pro" or "con."
I think it's safe to assume that most Americans agree on that basic point: men and women are equal, neither inherently good or bad. So of course, men and women both should vote for whichever human they prefer.
But what I hope pieces like Jong's--and the many others that discuss the way gender and race ideologies have influenced the election--encourage is a debate that goes beyond the basics. Why not ask what's going on when someone gripes about Hillary's voice, or kvells over how "well-spoken" and "articulate" Barack is? Those, by now, are gimmes. But it can certainly only serve us all well to keep our eyes and ears open to similarly-influenced notions in the future.
Jodi
What she's trying to point out, and what so many of us have seen during this campaign is that
That is so very sad. I used to admire Erica Jong very much, but with her blinders firmly on, she sees only a piece of the picture. I hate seeing this happen to staunch feminists of the older guard. I'm no spring chicken, but I can still change my mind, see a bigger picture, and learn a thing or two. So can you, Erica, if you'll unglue those blinders. Obama is simply a better candidate. Clinton's timing was terribly unlucky. In a different election she'd have won, but in this one ... we're going to get someone even better!
Exactly my thoughts. This is more about the old guard vs. the new feminists
I do agree, that calling a women sweetie if you don't know her, might seem a bit sexist, afterall Obama would not have called a man reporter sweetie. Who knows how men think, or better
yet don't think, he wasn't thinking, he just saw a women, like his wife or daughters asking him
a question, I'll bet he calls them sweetie all the time. He forgot he was in a public forum, with
lots of critics around including the reporter who he called sweetie. He did apologize, this is small
potatos, compare to what the GOP are going to try to accuse him of.
I hope he has his come back, he is going to need it. I would never vote for a Presidential candidate because I thought he was a nice person, as Edwards said was the reason he was, even though
he didn't agree on one of his key issues Healthcare for all. I don't agree with Obama on many
issues, like immigration reform, or the fact he is against NAFTA, but voted for Peru to become part
of NAFTA, before NAFTA can at least to be looked at for reforming. We have more drugs coming
across the Mexican border than we ever had, clearly we really need to get rid of NAFTA, but reform
is the next best thing.
Sweetie is sexist? Then the young lady (that I didn't know) who wrapped my bags as the deli who called me sweetie and honey is surely sexist! Or, maybe not! Maybe it depends on the situation and the culture of the persons involved. And no, I wouldn't call another man sweetie, honey, or darlin' either! -Maybe buddy, bro', my man, or as I address my students, cap'n, coach and champ. I think y'all aught to relax with that simplistic ideology; Americans need a little more affection between us, and darlin', sweetie, and other terms of endearment can help the wheels to spin a little smoother, particularly in public places where some civility and sweet talk helps.
About Erica, well, she's not being objective here, since she's a Hillary supporter. I wish folks would just pay attention to the real issues and not make a big thing out of lapel pins. And as far as ministers go, I can think of slews of them whose morals and mouths are questionable. Why, look at Rev. Huckabee's pointless yet provocative gun remark last week!!
A-women, sistah! Can you just imagine when this paper tiger goes up in smoke or down in flames how UPSET the Obamaniacs are going to be? Lordy, Lordy. Here they sat around all this time "Waiting For The World to Change," and the Hope Pope tells them he's gonna change it. Whoopee! They knew it would magically happen just like that. Oopsie! Look who can't change the world and reinvent politics. B.O. will make Carter look like a success as president if he ever makes it to the white House. Talk about someone who is in this race for his own self aggrandizement! Wow! His father ditched him. His mother dumped his. His grandparents were not so fond of blacks. And his wife wears the pants in his family. (watch the early interviews before they sanitized her - or tried to!) This Smooth Operator will be revealed sooner or later. God help us if he becomes president. Maybe his inevitable immolation is what it will take to vindicate Hillary and Bill Clinton. Too bad he reached too far, too soon. Hubris has its price.
But she was the 'inevitable' nominee. This was all going to be over by Super Tuesday, remember? Not to worry. She was going to be the next president because it was 'her turn.'
This time the Clintons and their campaign misjudged both the competition and the mood of the electorate. Many people are sick of the 'politics as usual' dynasties and 'low road' tactics.
They ran an inept, unsympathetic, artless campaign, and, even with the assistance of 'operation chaos' Repugnantcans, were edged out by a clever rookie.
I think you, dishwithdi, after some time passes, will come to realize that you have badly underestimated Senator Obama.
And you, Ms. Jong, a woman I have admired for many years, will find that this campaign has been far less about sexism, feminism, racism or any other 'ism' than you currently believe.
I am sorry you are so bitter and angry. But I've come to expect that from Hillary supporters.
It is interesting to see how the Clinton supporters handle defeat.
May all you righteously outraged women know gajillions of folks in the swing states and convince them to vote for Obama! I lost faith in the electorate's instinct to vote their own interests the last election. I hope for all our sakes they learn the lesson now.
That said, I'll always believe we'd be watching a different story had Hillary been a man--any man. Her successes as a Senator would have made a Ted Kennedy pause or an Oprah hesitate or a John Kerry count his chickens. All the early money that in any other (male) candidate would have made the party establishment salivate, in Hillary Clinton got the collective hackles up and brought the egos out for the wounding.
For her part, Clinton was simply foolish enough to take conventional wisdom as wisdom--and for that, she was punished.
I don't doubt she and her supporters (like me) will be blamed for an Obama loss in November should it come to pass; but I'll never doubt the truth of it. This was the Democrats' election to lose, and had they had a modicum of faith in Senator Clinton, they might have won handily.
If there's any justice, Obama will win the election in a landslide, and then in good "turning the page" spirit, refuse dinosaurs like Kennedy and Jimmy "I'm the last best hope for Middle East Peace because I said so" Carter a seat anywhere near the table--unless it's near the mahjong board by the pool ...
Jodiiyse says: "This was the Democrats' election to lose,and had they had a modicrum of faith in Senator Clinton, they might have won handily".
I disagree. This election period is for the Democrats to win. Remember, Hillary had the majority of support from all of the groups. She had a good number of superdelegates endorsement early on, and she was perceived to be the inevitable nominee. There are still 3 remaining contest to go, before a nominee is selected. Inspite of "'Operation Chaos", lets see who becomes the nominee.
Obama candidacy offers an opportunity for change in how Washington is doing business every day, the war in Iraq to be ended, a serious focus on the economy. We can elect an bi-racial candidate or a white female as our next president because the alternative is not an option for a democrat . The people who support Hillary and Obama, for the first time in history, have an opportunity to vote for a bi-racial man or a white woman. We are not going to blow this opportunity and turn this power making responsibility back over to the white men(republican party). If we do, the democratic party will be a joke to the republican party and to the world. Look where we were forty years ago. Where will we be, in forty years if we pass up this event in time and give our vote back to the republicans.
"Her successes as a Senator"
What successes would those be?
Have you actually compared their records in the Senate? You might find it illuminating:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633%3Chr
What a bitter, victimized bunch of women these old gals are. I'm almost 60, and I've never minded being called sweetie, hon, or anything else that indicates affection. Men have helped me all through my career, mentored and supported me, often more so than so-called 'feminists.' . It's a grim world when exhibiting signs of humanity is seen as patronizing.
RIght on!
Yes, Maggs, I too have found more true feminism among men than women. There is a fundamental difference between seeking, and actively working for equality among the genders than seeking, and actively working for superiority. These bitter, victimized women seek the latter.
Really? Well what planet do you live on, maggs, and where do you catch the spaceship to get there cause, doll baby, I want to live where YOU live. Where I've been for 56 years there was lots of men beating their wives, cops refusing to arrest them because they beat their wives too, and if they ever got hauled into court the judge went easy because he smacked his wife around too. Lots of infidelity. The drunken dads driving the babysitter home always copped a feel. There was also some friendly child molesting going on in the pool at the country club and some flashers on the golf course in the bushes by the 7th tee. Don't even ask me about my priest! And that's just the important rich white people I knew. I saw a black man lynched for being out after curfew. I had a gun pointed at me twice for dating a black man. I got chased around more than one casting couch as an actress, got hammered by a couple of nasty pre-nups by my husbands and I still only make $.73 on the dollar compare to the fabulous guys I know. But I am a sweetie - when I am in bed with someone I love. Just not during an interview on national TV when someone is blowing me off and doesn't want to answer my question. But, hey, that's just me.
you need to turn off the Daytime TV, I think...
Well, sweetie, sounds like you live in a pretty crappy town. Hating on men and blaming them for all your problems, though, doesn't change things, does it? There are plenty of women out there beating on their children and their partners. There are plenty of women out there who torture their children and pimp them out so that they can get attention and feel better about themselves. There are plenty of women out there who are racists - we've seen quite a few during this election cycle. There are plenty of women out there who are a**holes. This country is full of them. So, sorry you've had a crappy life, but don't punish the rest of us for it.
You're not the only one with story, "sweetie", the difference between you and me, is I'm not going to make my decisions based on what men have done to me in my life. Stop projecting other men's indiscretions onto Senator Obama.
we are making decisions on the facts.
obama is an inexperienced young man. when he doesn't have a teleprompter or notes in front of him, he stammers or worse calls grown women, whom he doesn't know, "sweetie," refers to those who don't vote for him as "bitter" and thinks he's been in 57 states with one more to go.
he reminds me of W more and more each day.
he and his supporters, like W before him, have had no trouble impugning hillary and bill clinton with the scurrilous attack of being racists. like W before him, who claimed he would unite us, obama has split us more than ever.
although he doesn't have the guts to campaign in KY (i guess cause he needs to solidify his support in Oregon, right?), he runs ads with crosses and sitting in a pulpit and quoting scripture. spare me the mixture of church and state -- the deadliest mixture in politics.
he's not running to repreresent the entire country -- just those parts that swoon at his empty rhetoric.
Yes we know Hillary. That's why we like Barack Erica. Go back to the Italian Riviera where you go every summer to complain about how difficult women have it. And besides, so what if she helped form NARAL? We're not allowed to vote for whom we think is the better candidate - and more honest, honestly?
Guys, raise your hands if you have never been called "sweetie" or "honey" by a stranger in public.
Look ma, no hands.
"Look ma, no hands."
Jeez, your ignorance of the facts is breathtaking.
I, a 'senior gentleman' have been called 'honey,' 'sweetie,' and other overly familiar names in public by strange women of every age, shape and race countless times in my long life.
Often these are food servers, sales clerks, barbers, cashiers and the like who may have been fishing for tips, but not always. I was frequently annoyed by the uninvited familiarity but never took overt offense or jumped to the unwarranted conclusion that these women were being demeaning or sexist.
It's always advantageous to know what you are talking about in a discussion of this type rather than simply assuming what the experiences and reactions of the opposite sex may be.
Catch a clue.
several
I apologize. I misread the 'never' in your post as 'ever.'
My bad!
really, male reporters asking a politician a question, raise your hands if you've ever been called "sweetie" by a politician whom you were asking an important question. brokaw, cronkite, olberman, dobbs, blitzer, any of you ever been called "sweetie"
no, i didn't think so. how about when you asked a perfectly important question of a politician who was touring an auto plant .
Q: what are your plans, mr. obama, for helping the autoworkers who are losing their jobs.
A: not now, sweetie?
yeah, male reporters are treated like that every day.
ha ha that's great. point taken! well said!
hands raised! On several occasions. What else ya got?
Never realized "Sweetie" was a denigrating term... or I might have been insulted when the young lady in the McDonalds Drive-Thru window, the teller at my bank and two waitresses called ME "Sweetie" this past week.
Here I thought they were being NICE because they liked my Mercedes roadster... none of them called me "Sweetie" when I was driving my old Firebird!
Shame shame shame - being of a certain age and a member of the intellectual elite u know that one of the worst insults to a black man is to call him "boy" and to add insult to injury u compare him to Brad Pitt .
that's the point. calling a grown man, "boy" expresses the same disrespect that calling a grown woman "sweetie".
"boy" is beyond insulting-- it is almost as bad as the N word.
"sweetie" is a term of affection, and used every day by one stranger kindly addressing another. However: it is inappropriate and condescending to use the term in a professional context. Obama should not have done it and we should not defend him on this point.
He's not perfect, but he knew exactly what was going on in Iraq in 2002-- he called the factions and the problems exactly as they played out. McCain still has no idea what's going on over there (he doesn't understand the alliances and the factions). That is why it is so important that we get behind Obama, lives are at stake. The legitimate struggle against insidious sexism is valid, but not a reason to dismiss the only candidate with the credibility to resolve our conflict in iraq.
No, the use of "boy" is much more derogatory in this case because of the implied racism. Ms. Jong is much worse than anything she is railing against.
Sweetie!!?? I would love for him to call me sweetie and I am 66 years old. By the way, he had a mother, grandmothers and sister, wife, daughters, just as my son does who is the same age, guess what , they both get used to calling their girls sweetie, just a slip, means nothing. I am sure hew would rather be discussing more important things like American health care etc.............
their girls?
this is a reporter asking an important -- not a fluff -- question. besides this photo-op, sen obama, what exactly are your plans for helping the struggling auto workers (not a quote).
there is no objection to him calling his wife, mother, and girls "sweetie.' but it is incredibly disrespectful to call a reporter that -- male or female.
Posted May 16, 2008 | 10:01 AM (EST)