Angry White Women
Since it became clear that Hillary Clinton would likely bow out of the race for the Democratic nomination for president, the dominant narrative has been the angry white women who are holding back from Barack Obama. Some even suggest that John McCain can make a major play for these disaffected Clinton supporters. The problem with this narrative is that it is mostly wrong, ignoring history and failing to understand Obama's real challenge among women voters.
No doubt, there are some Clinton supporters who currently find it difficult to contemplate supporting Obama, but most of these women are highly engaged, progressive Democratic voters; it is difficult to imagine them ultimately supporting McCain, who has a career-long, anti-woman record.
In fact, Obama is actually doing better than John Kerry with women voters; Kerry won them by 3 points, and according to polling from Democracy Corps research, Obama is currently winning them by 6 points. Obama's improvement over Kerry comes among college educated and younger women -- the most progressive voters in the electorate.
Obama's real struggle is with white blue collar women voters -- the same group that challenged Kerry. Currently, Obama trails McCain among white women without a college education by 19 points, 37 to 56 percent; according to Democracy Corps, Kerry lost these women by the exact same margin, 40 to 59 percent. Some argue that Clinton solved this problem because of her performance with white older women in the Democratic Party. But not only is it a mistake to extrapolate from primary results to the general election, Clinton would also likely lose to McCain among white women without a college education, albeit by a smaller margin.
The key to reaching these women voters is two-fold. First, Obama needs to communicate with them about who he is, including his values and his life story. He and his family actually have more in common with these women than they know. Second, he needs to address their real economic anxieties. As I noted in the American Prospect in 2004, Kerry actually led George Bush with older white women when his campaign was talking about healthcare, retirement and other domestic economic issues. But when he allowed the issue terrain to shift to Iraq and security at the expense of his economic message, he lost ground.
The economic situation is even more tenuous for these women today, with rising gas prices exacerbating their financial squeeze. John McCain has a history of opposing the very policies that would help these women -- including opposing pay equity and raising the minimum wage -- and supporting policies that are unlikely to appeal to these voters such as tax cuts for the wealthy and privatization schemes for health care and Social Security.
McCain is not going to win over women who supported Clinton in the primary and Obama can certainly improve his chances of beating McCain in the general election if he makes inroads among non-college educated white women voters. He can do so by offering a personal narrative that reflects shared values and a family background that's far from the elitist he is alleged to be, and delivering an economic message that highlights specific proposals designed to help ease the daily financial pressures of white working class women.
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IMO ~ Angry white women may forgive their husbands - because they live with them and they have to (for the children), or get a divorce. Where does Obama fit into this scenario? They are not married to him. He, the DNC and some of the cable news media are the perpetrators to the dashing of their dreams and hopes to finely smash through that final glass ceiling - NOW.
So I truly doubt that they will ever get over this. There are just too many things done wrong toward Hillary, and womens' long awaited hopes for a female president (Hillary in particular) is something they will NEVER forget or forgive. This was Hillary's time and their time. Remember the addage about women's memories being like an elephant's - it's true, ask any husband !
Kelliko, the problem is Hillary was not , nor "Entitled to the Office. As for "wrongs" being done to Hillary, Hillary brought on those wrongs herself. Hillary wanted to resort to the old ways of politicing and the "Masses did not like it. Obama kept focus on "Change, in washington and Hillary has proven she is still living in the past. There are a lot of very Intelligent women in this country, other than Hillary Clinton. (more honest as well.
Her Iraq war-enabling vote. Cannot be stressed enough.
And, how pray tell, was it Hillary's time and "their time"? No one, no one is entitled to public office. There is voting process and there is a winner and a loser. The loser cannot say he/she is "owed" the office. How narcissistic!
I am ashamed that there is such narcissistic entitlement from H and Her followers. What a disgrace to the rest of us women.
If that were indeed true you would remember the issues that are important to you.
KELLIKO...
Your first line tells a lot about where you are coming from- Clinton can not solve these kinds of problems for you!! These are relationship problems with your husband or in your workplace.
The issues of Clinton are those of Obama- health care, childcare, war & etc......
You appear to be dealing with personal issues, not presidential ones- how very sad!
I find this headline very disturbing
I fear it puts them at risk of further stereotyping an possibly ostracism, especially older white women.Afte
After all, it isn't white women that have brought this country to it's knees- it might be better to look at who's running the country if you 're looking for guilty parties..U
Here we go again. Divide and conquer. Use an alledged slight to pit two groups against one another. While the instigators go laughing to the bank. If these women want to vote against Obama or not vote at all, then don't complain if McCaine gets elected. Go ahead, vote against your own interest.
John McCain doesn't have an anti-woman problem, he has an anti-freedom problem--as do both Barry Obama and Mrs Clinton. As do nearly all members of the House and Senate. They, one and all, need to read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It would also help if they'd read the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers.
If they can't do that, and can't agree with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, clause for clause, idea by idea, they should resign. We should not vote for any who can't.
Wow...seem
We have a set of laws that we have all agreed to but, other than that, there is no ruler in this country. You are pretty much on your own to make it. That's not saying that your fellow citizens won't lend a helping hand as long as you behave yourself and respect your freedom. Everyone all the way up to the President is just a public servant and their primary job is to protect our freedom. They have forgotten that. Feudalism is where we are headed thanks to government regulation.
I find very little difference between Barry Obama and John McCain. Neither of them understands the Constitution or agrees with it. Self rule.....n
ColHogan, you are a bright light on a hot, hot day! Indeed, the candidates we have aren't exactly frontier-style, innovative leaders. Of the three, however, I think HRC knows the most about who's truly running the show--shadow government figures--and how best to handle these folks to bring about preferred outcomes for Americans. Afterall, the folks that betrayed her are the same ones that once supported Bill Clinton for president; then, they decided to switch their support during D.C. house parties over the last year and one-half to BO. He's their new Ebony toy-boy! So HRC knows where the snakes are hiding and this gives her an advantage to create real change if she's so inclined. I truly believe beneath her often icy veneer is a true backer of democracy. She may come across as a bit shrill only because she's had to overcome huge challenges within a society factually still ruled by predominantly white anglo saxon males. So we'll see how everything plays out under our Plutocracy. I've sort of given up on the notion of democracy but someone may come along one day and truly restore it. Perhaps, the exponential will of the people will ultimately prevail once we are all broke! We'll soon find out...hang onto to your seat:)
Please don't make the mistake that because you are not getting as much push back from Hillary supporters who won't vote for Obama that they are small in number. For the most part they have abandoned sites like this one for their own.
Ten Points for nice, on the money observatio
Just because you aren't hearing from those who oppose really anything anymore no matter where you are doesn't mean "they" aren't out there making their own mark in history.. Just means they've taken the perceivable high road and are using their time otherwise, hopefully constructively, pro-actively rather than continuing energy and psyche wasting [mudslingi
Cyber hugs from North Georgia.. :)
Back at ya Cindy Sue! From Eastern Missouri.
WHY WOMEN ARE UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT - AN APOLOGY
hillary is unfit to be president not only because she is hillary, but especially because she is a woman.
just imagine: Madame President is in the middle of a national security briefing and has to dash to the restroom to sort out her period. or she's adressing a full house of congress, feeling woozy because she's having her period.
do female candidates always wear red at public functions because they're scared they're going to have their period? and you thought Lewinsky had a stain on her dress?
now the other option is to get a menopause woman into the white house. an overly-ambitious asexual technocratic robot like hillary with a shrill voice.
third option: get a hard-nosed, tough lesbian in there who can wage outright war, who digs mutually assured destruction, benchpresses more than navy seals - now who'd mess with a commander in chief that hard? - who rasps as hard as a mack truck and whose lesbonic braless partner would still be the first man in the white house. don't forget to pack them dildos on your overseas trips, Mr President. hail to the chief! lesbonic president with titanium balls clanging when she reviews the troops - and the lesboner's got some spares to hand out if you're short one (for guys) or if you're short 3 or 4 (for lesbians)
i think i've made a serious intellectual defence of why no woman will ever be fit for
I assume you either are attempting humor or are a knuckle dragging ... you get the point. Anyway since you're new to this board I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this is your attempt to portray the idiocy of the discussion - if this is the case - Do better, it's going to just get a whole lot of people all hot and bothered, without getting your point across.
Repug troll. Move along, people, nothing to see here.
I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive whatever woman or mother destroyed your view of females. I pray you can somehow find happiness on Earth and heal your broken soul.
Clinton portrayed the 18 million votes she received as if they came from mindless zombies who will only vote at her direction. The reality is that the overwhelming majority of these voters, including women voters, would gladly have voted for Obama if Clinton had not been on the ballot and will happily vote for him in November. That is certainly the case in traditionally Democratic states Clinton won, such as New York, California and Massachusetts. Indeed, a recent poll in California showed that Obama would have won the California primary if it had been held on the later date. Yes, there are some angry Clinton supporters who won't vote for Obama. But I suspect they number in the low hundreds of thousands nationally. Most Clinton voters, male and female, will vote for Obama once they've had a chance to learn how atrocious McCain is.
I've read these comments and it's shameful that so much is going on still with Hillary's lost. Suck it up and get with the program. If the angry white women wish to vote for McCain...s
Good for you for voting for him. Now you need to tell all the other Republicans to do the same. During the course of the campaign, a news report showed a white woman from a coal producing area saying she would not vote for Obama because his middle name was Hussein. How do we counter this racism and stupidity?
These so called angry women need to be angry with Mccain! have they forgotten Mccain at his rally where people called Hillary a BItch and he said nothing while they laughed and said he is beating Hillary in the polls. Let them go ahead and vote for Mccain. They are giving reason to stereotypes that Hillary's voters are stupid idiots. I have defended Hillary in many blogs but the comments by some of her supporters blaming Obama for everything instead of Hillary's poor run campaine baffles me!!!!
Link to Elizabeth Edwards analysis/discussion of Mc's healthcare policy:
http://thi
To all women, who are the nurturers and heart of the family:
Please read Elizabeth Edwards analysis/discussion of Mc's healthcare policy
http://thi
Obama is going to win this election and change this nation for the better! Hillary lost fair and square and I amongst other women feel it is an insult to blame the loss on sexism when she lost because of the mistakes of her campaine! Wolfson this weekend admitted that the campaine made many mistakes that were costly! Many of the women on her campaine do not agree with the sexism arguement and lastly, the DNC committee who had majority of Hillary Clinton Supporters voted for the split of Michigan and Florida even though they support Clinton but the Clinton supporters cannot even fathom this fact. All they do is whine that Obama did this and that. As a woman, you all embarrass me and do not represent me at ALL!!! Now Obama is working on paying Hillary's debt and you still give him no respect? Why don't the so called 18 million voters pay the 30million debt? How can 18 million people leave their beloved canidate in debt so that Obama would bail her out? So shameful!!!
Nice post. They keep preaching respect, and McCain HAS NONE for women. Plus, they have yet to show him any.
Barry Obama has never said anything about changing this nation for the better. Neither did Bill Clinton in his first Presidential campaign. They, both of them, simply promised change.
Bill Clinton unquestionably changed the country for the worse. He raised taxes. He applied the income tax to retirees on Social Security. He failed to nip the war with Islamic fascism in the bud, during any of several opportunities to do so--leading up to George Bush's nasty little (and unnecessary) war. That is to say, if Bill had tended to business during his eight years, Bush wouldn't have had any excuse to go to war. The World Trade Center would be still standing. Bush probably would've been a one-term President.
I'm looking for similar blunders from the inexperienced Mr Obama.
It's tradition that the nominee repay the remaining debts (it's been done before). As a Hillary supporter, I have contributed; it is important to know that some are not able to send even $5 to their choice of candidate. The Obama campaign made "$25 requests", however he had established a war chest even before accepting funds from the public. Senator Clinton's campaign underestimated in several areas (Senator Obama was not on their radar- and was not thinking of running for President even as late as 2006); she prepared more for John Edwards, Biden, or Dodd.
So one can say who's at fault, however saying that the race was 'fair and square' IS a stretch. The media delayed readily available information on the winning candidate versus the other; it made for a more difficult race. Factcheck.
http://www
This is interesting as well: http://www
My vote might be Obama's (not McCain!), but I appreciate the hard WORK that Hillary (and Bill) have done (with fewer vacations) for others. Yes they've benefited based on their tax returns being released (on time as Hillary said it would), but with 7 years after the White House, notice the %'tage of charity money given (average per year). Compare the %'tage with McCain or Obama (%'tage, not amount); who's the candidate that cares?
Thanks for the articles !
"the DNC committee who had majority of Hillary Clinton Supporters voted for the split of Michigan and Florida even though they support Clinton"
They didn't support Clinton...
patmancando,,,,the DNC committee, whom a majority were original Clinton supporters-
voted for the best interest of the Democratic party. They were team players and put the welfare of our party FIRST.
Steal? There are always close races...bu
they do know- who's in first and who's in second!!
As a college educated, older retired professional woman- the gender pioneering was never an issue with me or most of my peers. We felt woman were being treated equally and didn't see gender bias in the newsreporting. We felt these rebelious women were voicing concerns about issues already confronted and well on the way to being solved. We are independant, self supporting, married- but, equal- in our marriages.
Is it possible these disenchanted women- do not feel supported emotional or financially- in thier marriages or in the workforce? Clinton may have touched into their gender anger- but, Clinton could do no more to address their issues than Obama- healthcare, daycare...
Thank you and well said.
Dcmata, thank you for saying this because I do not understand what TRUE DEMOCRAT WOULD VOTE FOR MCSAME BECAUSE CANIDATE LOST? So shameful to hear Hillary supporters speak this way. I am a woman that supports Obama and if it had been clinton, I would support her. I wonder how many of these feelings may be straight biggoted but who knows...it is all so sad to see democrats behave like republicans and they are just eating all of this up!!!
Here here!
May I respectfully suggest that you do a little studing up on this issue, you may be cozy within your priviledged nest but many women are trying to make it on their own and the playing field is far from level. Just a wee bit smug aren't we. Are you really a women?
May I respectfully suggest that the playing field is far from level for people of color. White women have always faired much better than their black counterparts.
Hillary Clinton has never nor will she ever know what it is like to raise babies on her own and work at a job that pays less than what she needs, yet she is your role model. Hillary Clinton was born into privilege and has lived a rich life, yet you hold her up as a model of what women should identify with.
I guess i am just happy to vote for somebody for president, rather than writing in Mickey Mouse again. The Democrats and Republicans have come up with no viable candidate in the last 20 years. We have all felt cheated,one rich lawyer type running against another rich lawyer type, with no hint of what life at less than 50k is like. Change? we have heard this before, Health care too,but ,we are still between a rock and a hard place, The price of gas hasn't hurt everyone yet, because some still have a job. Vacation this year? Can't afford it! gas would cost more than the motel! i am sure i am not alone in this! Obama, has my vote but, i think congress and its old farts who don't like change will be an Albatross around his neck.
The threat to vote McCain should be seen for what its worth, traitors.
They are not real democrats at all!! I have a friend in the military and he told me that his platoon whispers about not understanding why they are still in Iraq. Majority of our soldiers are donating to Obama's campaine. That speaks volumes to me. These men have mothers and duaghters and sisters and they depend on us to make the right decisions not based on anger of Hillary not winning. This election is much bigger than that!! Democrats that threaten to vote for Mccain are shaming HIllary because that is not what she stands for. She wants to get this Universal healthcare plan up and running and Mccain wants NOTHING to do with Universal healthcare!!
you say that many in iraq will vote for obama yes some will vote for him but these that vote for him desire to come home to mommy and daddy through jimmy carter the 2nd obamas twin
Trying to push the Clinton/FDR wing out of the Democratic party should be seen for what it is hijacking!
MoMule, You've got to be joking. You couple the Clintons with the FDR wing of the Democratic Party? Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate who represented the FDR tradition. The Clintons turned their back on the FDR tradition way back. Hillary voted for the bill that made it more difficult to declare bankruptcy. DUH! Now who loved that one - seniors putting medicine costs on credit cards or Wall Street?
The angry women of the Hillary camp would do well to analyze their anger and if they are honest with themselves they will know that some of that anger should be reserved for Hillary herself.
Much has been recounted about the mistakes and blunders of her campaign and I won't recount them. What I will say is that anyone assessing this primary race might say that this primary was her's to lose. She became a runner up because --- a) her campaign was poorly conceived and b) Barack Obama is an exceptional candidate at an exceptional time in our history; Hillary was out-organized and out-of-sync with the times.
If I were a Hillary supporter, I would not be afraid to hold her accountable for her stuff, i.e., he mistakes she could have avoided.
At times like this, it's easy to reach for convenient scapegoats to mask our own failings.
Her camp didnt see past Super Tuesday. They thought it would be locked up by then. They didnt take plan for caucasus states, they thought they could win without them. Her camp managed their finances poorly.
And it was definitely hers to loose. The pundits who her supporters now detest, were calling her the nominee a year ago. She had the majority vote from most American democrats. She started using kitchen sink tactics and lost the vote of so many. No ones fault but hers, and the people she used to run her campaign.
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