I'm Female and I Didn't Vote Hillary: How Hillary Clinton Failed to Represent Women

At the start of the Democratic primary I was a Hillary Clinton supporter. I was excited that we had an opportunity to have a woman in the top office and I felt as though she had the necessary tools to tackle issues of the economy, the war, education and health care. But then, by the end of January when it was released that Hillary turned down an offer to appear in Vogue Magazine, citing concerns that she would open herself up to criticism by appearing too soft and feminine, I had a change of heart.

"We were told by Ms. Clinton's camp that they were concerned if Clinton appeared in Vogue that she would appear too feminine," a Vogue spokesman said in a statement at the time.

This was a turning point for me in this campaign.

As a woman, I was so deeply disappointed by the reasoning behind her decision. She had worked so hard to build up an impenetrable wall of toughness around herself in order to appear strong enough to hold the highest office in the country, and she was afraid that a spread in Vogue would bring that crumbling down around her. The message that decision sent to all the women of this country is, that in order to be women of power we have to deny our femininity -- in essence the very fact that we are women. This is a notion that I completely reject, and from that moment on in the campaign, I rejected Hillary the candidate, as well.

As the state by state race to the nomination between Hillary and Barack went on, I continued to watch Hillary Clinton the robotic candidate going through her paces; her consistent messaging, her strategic fear mongering, the 3am phone call ad. Not only was she afraid to expose her femininity, but she was also unable to convey her humanity. While there was never any question in my mind that she was an intelligent, capable, shrewd and calculating candidate, I continued to wonder (and still do) who is she?? What really moves her? What is she passionate about -- really?? And apparently I was not alone, because the country was riveted by a rare uncalculated moment in her campaign, where in a New Hampshire coffee shop after a disappointing primary loss in Iowa, she actually showed some emotion. That moment helped her win New Hampshire. But one still had the sense that this moment was a mistake, a slip, and in fact, we never saw that Hillary again in the campaign.

Before the Saturday speech in which Hillary suspended her campaign, the question was raised on CNN and other networks: "Did sexism play a role in this campaign?"

Was there sexism in this campaign -- were sexist remarks thrown Hillary's way? Absolutely. However was it really the 'glass ceiling' that stopped her short of achieving her goals? NO.

As a professional woman, I know that a glass ceiling does exist in this country -- the facts simply wouldn't support claiming otherwise. There are still fewer women at the top of Fortune 500 companies than there are solvent airline companies. And it's a well-known fact, that women still make less than men for comparable jobs. I think we all know, especially those of us who are female executives, that the glass ceiling is firmly intact. Having said that, I believe and know through personal experience that women are completely capable of breaking through those glass ceilings. But we can only do it -- and we will only do it, with our femininity intact. How can others believe we are strong as we claim to be if we don't dare to be women -- just as we are -- in our attempt to fill these roles as leaders?

After years of a bobble head in the top office, this country seems to be asking for competent leadership and a new approach to solving our problems, which will require intelligence in the classic sense, as well as emotional intelligence. As far as I'm concerned, Hillary disqualified herself on this last point.

Unlike one of the main themes in her resignation speech, my contention is that Hilary didn't lose the race because she is female. On the contrary, I think she lost because she was unable to show emotional intelligence and selective vulnerability, for fear of appearing too feminine. This inability to show herself -- to show her humanity, her sense of empathy and ultimately her femininity -- was the glass ceiling of her own creation, a glass ceiling that she was unable to break.

Comments

[magnusreputo]

For me, she lost her humanity when she voted for war authorization just to look tough and improve her chances to be president.

[truthskr]

In an effort to take a breath for the Obama v. Clinton discussion, in which I am participating, I would like to direct our attention to McCain for a brief moment because, let's all face it, comparison to either Obama or Clinton, this guy is utterly laughable as a candidate.

Regardless of how we may all feel about Clinton or Obama, I would like for anyone on this thread to explain to me how McCain is a better candidate with regards to feminists values than Obama since, with folks threatening to either vote McCain or sit it out in protest, it is certainly a possibility that McCain may be president. It this what ANY of us wants? A guy who, aside from all of his disasterous policy stances, has referred to Chelsea Clinton in derogatory sexists terms, laughed when a supporter asked him what he/they were going to do about "the b*tch" Hillary Clinton, has called his own wife a c**t, won't accept a pro-choice VP, and has all but promised to seat a Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade?

Like it or not, Hillary is no longer an option and will almost certainly will not VP. So, for those of you who very passionately desire otherwise, it's going to be Obama (sans Hillary) or McCain. Please tell me what makes risking a McCain presidency worth it, and please make it any argument other than a run for Hillary in 2012.

[closetodemfection]

O is in charge of the pace at which HC's voters come on board.

You say she will almost certainly not be VP. Until we know this for sure, her supporters will not move en masse to enthusiastically embrace O. As long as there is some question about HC on the ticket, her supporters will remain hopeful and distant.

If and when O picks someone else and slams that last door shut, her supporters will really be able to move on. The polls will then show a true reflection of how many of her people will stick with the ticket and how many consider a vote for Mc Cane. Then you can argue with people about why they should not vote Mc Cane and they will actually be listening.

(Personally, I think the unity ticket makes the most sense. But I'm not here to argue the pros and cons of it.)

In other words, the sooner O announces his VP pick the better. I doubt the infighting will stop until then.

[vocalist]

Speak for yourself, backed by eighteen million votes is not a failure.
Let`s see, you would love to have a woman President but not this one.
You blew it, It ain`t happening again in our lifetime.

[JimR]

You must be very old, then.

[truthskr]

Agreed. Those of us in the younger set KNOW it will happen, and soon, and are happy to wait until it's a candidate whose legitimacy as a candidate isn't so compromised as the spouse of an ex-president, isn't tainted by "35 years of experience" (complicity) in the very system we want to see reformed, and isn't already bought and paid for by corporate lobbyists.

I very confident that we will have a number of great Democratic female candidates lined up in 2016 and I question those who think Hillary was our first and only shot. Really? Hillary is the ONLY woman capable? How depressing, because if so, that doesn't say much for how far we've come as women or how far we will continue to climb.

It feels very anti-woman to claim that there will never be another woman capable of, or up to, the very arduous task of running for the highest office in the land. If that's what you really believe, then you might as well admit that either sexism can not and will not ever be overcome, or that as women we truly are the lesser sex. I certainly concede neither, and do not know of any GenX or Millenial woman who feels this way. We feel that a female president is so imminent in our lifetimes that we can afford not to so desperately cleave to Hillary Clinton's candidacy as the last great hope.

[vocalist]

How old is old in your vocabularly?
Finished High School and went on to get my Masters. So, yes I am old particularly if you are still in High School.

[Moncar]

It appears Claudia is angling for her 15 minutes on Fox. Lately, Cavutto has been specializing in this sisterhood of women determined to elect McCain. And, here the usual fish are rising to the same old bait. Like alcoholics, some here can't pass a bar without taking a shot. Folks, the primary is over. Your man won. Now, all you're doing is hurtingt his chances with the 18 million who voted for Hillary by gratuitously pistol-whipping her after she's down. Unless you're a mole for McCain, when it comes to Hillary, zip it.

By the way, a regular on Cavuto is this very strange Harriet Christian. It would be a service if HuffPost blogged an investigative piece on who or what this woman really is.

[JimR]

"Now, all you're doing is hurtingt his chances with the 18 million who voted for Hillary by gratuitously pistol-whipping her after she's down. "

Yes, because all 18 million people who voted for Hillary march and think in unison, like an army of zombies. One phone call from Hillary headquarters, and they will march together to their polling places to vote for McCain. ONE PHONE CALL!

Oh, and not one of those voters grew disgusted with her "Kitchen sink" strategy and changed his or her mind about her. NOT ONE.

Give me a break...

[frustratedinohio]

It would only take about 5% of them to elect McCain.

[LaylaD]

You are SO WRONG....when Hillary showed emotions (her femine side) the press went heavy on her that she would be incapable of being in the highest office because she showed tears. Basically when it came to Hillary it was Damn if she did and Damn if she didn't. You call yourself a feminist and didn't stick up for the woman that broke barriers beyond our beliefs...SHAME ON YOU!!! sitting in your cushy job and blowing off what could have been the most amazing time in American History. I can hear all the suffragettes rolling in their graves at the audacity of American women today that blew off a female candidate in support of a male. Women have fought their enitre lives to be heard, and if we act too much like women we don't get the job...if we act like men..we are the bitch...so get off her case...you did an injustice to all females -- now your conscious will have to live with it.

HILLARY did more in the last 16 months than you have done in your entire female life.

[JimR]

Uh huh.

If Obama or McCain lied about sniper fire, you'd go ballistic, I bet. But if HILLARY says it, it's OK.

If Obama or McCain talked about obliterating Iran, you'd call them on it. But if HILLARY says it, it's OK.

If Obama or McCain referred to assassination while discussing an opponent, you'd be outraged. But if HILLARY says it, it's OK.

Such hypocrisy.

[frustratedinohio]

You know there are things that Hillary has done that we don't like, JimR. But we're not looking for a Messiah.

[generaldelivery]

"If Obama or McCain lied about sniper fire, you'd go ballistic, I bet. But if HILLARY says it, it's OK"

If Hillary called Barama a monster, you'd riot in the streets but if Brama does it it's OK by you.

"If Obama or McCain talked about obliterating Iran, you'd call them on it. But if HILLARY says it, it's OK."

If Hillary worshipped at a Church where racism was preached from the pulpit , you go crazy but if Barama does it, it's just fine by you.

Hillary made a bad mistake when she said on nation-wide televised debates that she was "honored to be on the same stage" as Barama. Addle-brained idealists like the Cult can never be appeased.

[oafishcad]

So yet another article to help elect President McCain. Could someone please tell me why Democrats so often work against their own best interests? Sure keep trashing Hillary and all those who supported her in the primaries. This makes as much sense as voting Republican. The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner. Stop it. Stop it now.

[JimR]

Stop with the childish tantrums and the portending of doom every time somebody DARES to criticize Hillary. Stop it. Stop it now.

[oafishcad]

Keep working for your Republican masters. I'd rather see President Obama myself.

[generaldelivery]

Thank you, JimR for demonstrating a childish tantrum and portending of doom for us to identify. LOL!

[statsguy]

Interesting post. I wonder, though, if you have any thoughts on Americans' view of a woman as commander in chief. She had a very difficult test there, which she met, though in doing so, may have lost your vote. The general election would have been very tough going for her had she not done some of this. The glass ceiling is real, in part because of expectations that women can't lead the military. So she set about trying to present herself (successfully) as ready to be commander in chief. In doing so, though, many liberals did not vote for her. It's sad, because men can present themselves in these soft lights yet still be assumed they can be commander in chief.

[readyfornewleadership]

Hillary lost. Don't overanalyze it. Think - Margaret Thatcher- the world is more than ready for a strong strong woman. It just isn't Hillary. Move on.

[frustratedinohio]

Claudia wrote another post here entitled: 2007, The Year of the Death of the Designer Handbag.

She started out her career by collecting Vogue magazines, so of course she didn't vote for Hillary because Hillary wouldn't do Vogue.

LOL, and here we all are trying to reason with her.

[vocalist]

No need to bother, Hillary Clinton, bowed out gracefully and still people are at it like a sledge hammer.
This is not a time for such insensitive articles , when Obama is trying his best to win some if not all of Hillary Clinton voters.

[brizzle]

This is the best line from the article:

"On the contrary, I think she lost because she was unable to show emotional intelligence and selective vulnerability, for fear of appearing too feminine."

Exactly.

[frustratedinohio]

Claudia and you wouldn't know emotional intelligence if it hit you with a Chanel handbag.

[JimR]

Hi frustrated, how are you? Still bitter, I see.

[rubyrubyruby]

Hillary didn't lose the nomination because she is female or because she didn't show emotional intellectualism (whatever that means) or for lack of selective vulnerability (whatever that means)...she lost because the DNC superdelegates suppressed democracy!

[truthskr]

Are you referring to the same SDs who, following Hillary's Super Tuesday loss, were Hillary's only remaining path to the nomination? And how, exactly, after Obama had well secured the elected delegate vote as well as the popular vote wins (under real metrics that actually DO include all votes including those in caucus states, as opposed to Hillary's only-those­-that-favo­r-me metrics), would it have been anything other than a supressed democracy if the SDs had gone Hillary's way with Obama already ahead by 150-200 elected/SD votes?

Funny, I seem to remember Hillary supporters arguing for months that the SDs were allowed to vote in whatever way they chose, using their own judgement as party leaders and being able to ignore Obama's otherwise insurmountable lead, after it became Hillary's only possible change of winning the nomination, of course. Well, guess what? They voted for Obama as they were both entitled and wise to do. Still, it's nice to see that your still promoting the revisionist rules rationale that bacame the calling card of the Clinton campaign.

She lost. It's done. If Hillary and Obama's postitions and their votes were exactly reversed, I think that we all know that you'd have absolutely no problem with the DNC rules or the SD vote result - rules, I might add, that were constructed largely by Hillary's advisors, Ickes and McCauliff, and were agreed to both verbally and in writing by both candidates.

[camanoone]

As long as you Obamaista ring kissers still view Hillary as the enemy you are doomed to lose. If you want to beatMcCain and the repugs in November you had better learn who your enemy is and start sliming him the way you did the Clintons. They are out Obama is in. The next target should be beating McCain. Not bayoneting Hillary. Shes done, out nada. Wake up!

[alexae]

I'm a longtime feminist female, followed the campaigns and issues closely, originally was very pro-Hillary, and was totally turned off to her by primary day.
This had nothing to do with traditional femininity or gender expression -- about which I don't care a whit. I think it's absurd, and sexist, to rate her for trad "girliness" or Vogue-hood (or to vote for a candidate based on gender only).
Rather: (1) I was repelled by her actics, for reasons others have noted here; and (2) She came across as overly controlled­/calculati­ng, phrase-parsing, and robotesque -- indicating insincerity and un-ease, and a Bill-esque "depends on what the meaning of 'is' is" mindset. I really tried, but simply couldn't trust her.
Then came the "misspeaks" and racialism (i.e., not "racism," but making race a chronic divisive undertone). Then she changed her identity and accent(s) to become Gun-Girl and the Great White-People's Hope. I could barely recognize her as the progressive NY senator I'd voted for in '00 and '06.
I was insulted by (a) the ongoing sexism claims, and (b) the implication that pro-Obama women were soft-brained, "charm"-su­sceptible, self-hating Kool-Aid-drinkers. (Heck, that _accusation_ was sexist!) Hillary was tanked by her own team -- via horrific management, by tone-deaf people who were stuck in some passe'-marketing timewarp. And real feminism includes free choice, and respect for all women -- not insulting the brains/femaleness of women who disagree with you.

[copernikus]

Holy smokes - this is EXACTLY how my wife feels!! I'm glad to hear that there are other women out there that feel this way.

[frustratedinohio]

This is exactly how a lot of women feel because the MSM ran this stuff on a 24/7 loop. The all negative Hillary / all positive Obama shows. Especially MSNBC. The media pick the president.

[candyc]

One of the Time magazine columnists said that Hillary ran as a man and Barak was more feminine in his general presentation. This really resonated with me.

As a 60 year old woman, I was completely turned off by her tough "commander in chief" "obliterate Iran"
crap, and her consistent WAR votes and support. Emotional intelligence, a caring heart, authenticity, empathy, and above all an abhorence of WAR is what I would hope for in a female candidate. Hillary shunned that. She didn't need to.

She should have NEVER tried to out -man Obama.

Her supporters might not have seen this, but it is absolutely where she went wrong.
(and Bill didn't help)

Yesterday, I saw the Clintons outside of Russert's funeral. They had their arms around each other.
She was smiling. She looked genuine. She seemed warm and real. I couldn't help thinking what a shame it was that she only showed that side of herself a few times in the primaries.

[frustratedinohio]

Why do you feel the need to tell us this now. I keep waiting for the Hillary bashing to stop and it just won't. She lost. It's over. Do you see her anywhere? Is she bothering you in any way?

You really need to think about why you are still talking about this.

[oafishcad]

Amen

[snarkopolitan]

When we stop hearing threats about making her VP or you'll walk, when we hear an admission of the possibility that O bama is indeed the legitimate nominee, is better for the country than Mc Cain and you will join us to go out and elect him, then it will be over.

She can't be VP if her husband won't disclose his contributors. Nobody can get around that. She didn't win the popular vote unless you discount all the caucus states and count the two states which she had agreed not to count. She helped set the rules herself. She signed a pledge to abide by them, and violated it.You don't get to change the rules just because you're losing. Nobody can get around that either.

And if you help to put McCain in the White House, her political career will be damaged, perhaps permanently. I'm not writing this to needle you; it's just what will happen.

[Zogtastic]

Why are we still writing about Hillary's primary campaign?

As an Obama supporter, I have to say this is completely unnecessary, not to mention how late it is.

There are 2 candidates left in this election: Obama and McCain. Any article criticizing what Hillary did in the primaries is counterproductive.

We have to admit to ourselves that arguing Obama is better than Hillary is a lost cause in attracting Hillary supporters and should not be the argument used to include Hillary supporters in the campaign. The argument should be why Obama is the next best choice for them, not why he always has been the best.

Clearly this article was not a unity article... but keep these things in mind going forward. That's what we're trying to do... move forward.

[oafishcad]

Exactly. Why do Obama supporters feel the need to prevent Hillary supporters from feeling good about supporting Obama? Why do they keep kicking them after Obama has won? Why are they working against Obama?

[realitycheck2008]

Seems they miss having Sen. H to beat up on.