Full Transcript of Hillary Claiming Sexism Worse than Racism in Campaign
In a published article by The Washington Post's Lois Romano, Hillary Clinton briefly hit "sexism" in media coverage of her campaign as "deeply offensive to millions of women," but she went much further, as a transcript of the entire interview now makes clear.
Clinton criticized the "vitriol" from "misogynists" and said that the race factor was often discussed but not gender, adding "[E]very poll I've seen show more people would be reluctant to vote for a woman to vote for an African American, which rarely gets reported on either." She expressed amazement "that we would have a presidential campaign in which so much of what has occurred that has been very sexist would be just shrugged off."
She is fresh off a landslide win in West Virginia in which surveys revealed that race played a key factor, and that appears to be true, as well, in the results from Kentucky.
While some of the quotes have already surfaced, here is a full transcript of the Sunday interview sent to E&P this afternoon:
Q. One of the stories that has been well documented over and over again is basically how you've been treated by the media. Can you talk about that a little bit, because I get the idea that it's really pissed off a lot of women.
A. "I think it has. I think it's been deeply offensive to millions of women. ... I believe this campaign has been a ground breaker in lots of ways, but it certainly has been challenging given some of the attitudes that have been forthcoming in the press, and I regret that because I think it's been really not worthy of the seriousness of this campaign and the historical nature of the two candidacies that we have here. But I don't really stop to worry about it because there's nothing I can do about it."
Q. Are women going to be upset if you don't get the nomination?
A. I have more voters now than my opponent. I have more popular vote, more people voting for me.
Q. Counting Michigan and Florida?
A. According to ABC, and I think it's a fair way to total it up because my name was on the ballot they voted for me. But in any event, it's one of the closest races we've ever had and I think that a lot of people are deeply invested in their candidates, so there will probably be disappointment no matter which of us gets the nomination. And then it will be up to us to unify the party and make sure we are victorious in November against McCain.
Q. What's the scenario by which you could still win the nomination?
A. If people start asking themselves who's the strongest candidate against John McCain, because I believe I am.
Q. Do you think he can win?
A. Sure. I think he can win--I think I will win.
Q. But short of a scandal on his part do you see people coming to that conclusion?
A. I don't know, that's why we're not going to quit. We're going forward. We're going to give the people in the remaining elections the chance to vote, which I think is absolutely fair. And we're going to resolve Michigan and Florida, which has to be done sooner instead of later. And then we'll see where we stand.
Q. Do you think this has been a particularly racist campaign?
A. I do not. I think this has been a positive, civil campaign. I think that both gender and race have been obviously a part of it because of who we are and every poll I've seen show more people would be reluctant to vote for a woman [than] to vote for an African American, which rarely gets reported on either. The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable or at least more accepted. And I think there should be equal rejection of the sexism and the racism when and if it ever raises its ugly head. But it does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by comments and reactions of people who are nothing but misogynists.
Q. Isn't that how it's always been though.
A. Oppression of women and discrimination against women is universal. You can go to places in the world where there are no racial distinctions except everyone is joined together in their oppression of women. The treatment of women is the single biggest problem we have politically and socially in the world. If you look at the extremism and the fundamentalism, it is all about controlling women, at it's base. The idea that we would have a presidential campaign in which so much of what has occurred that has been very sexist would be just shrugged off I think is a very unfortunate commentary about the lack of seriousness that should be applied to any kind of discrimination or prejudice. I have spent my entire life trying to stand up for civil rights and women's rights and human rights and I abhor wherever it is discrimination is present.
Greg Mitchell is editor of Editor & Publisher. His new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq.
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I don't remember a time in the history of this country when a woman was lynched because she was a woman or out of her place. IF I am wrong on this, please correct me.
Hillary Clinton is a sore LO-S-E-R!
Yeah if someone can show me some picture of White women bieng lynched b/c they are women, beaten with a whip for not picking cotton out in the fields 18 hours a day - then I might concede that she has a point...un
Don't even go there. Men today STILL beat women, and sometimes even kill them, simply because they have a dim view of women. It's called domestic violence, and it's a serious problem. That's why there are things like restraining orders and programs to help desperate women escape abusive husbands.
Not to mention the whole porn industry and the illegal sex slave trade. Young girls in this country and others get targeted by pimps and disappear into what is called "white slavery." Boys too, but it's more prevalently aimed at girls.
Hillary obviously thinks that sexism is worse than racism or she and Bubba would not have s blithely and consistently played the race card. You know we're close to the end when this kind of self-pity and whining starts.
Maybe it's because I don't watch MSM, but I haven't seen a single thing said against women in this campaign season except by some female Clinton supporters who have stated that women are dumb who don't vote for Hillary. Tell me, have any of YOU heard anyone else say anything along the lines of "women are not fit for the office of President"?
What is Hillary basing her charge of sexism on? Or is it just another bandied "flag word"?
HRC says that sexism is worse than racism. I am sickened by these statements. I am a male of European descent. I am married to an African-American woman.
To say that sexism is as bad as racism makes me laugh. I agree that their is a glass ceiling in America for women and it is sad. The truth is that there is still a steel boot for African-Americans.
Looks look at the facts. Women are less likely to get the CEO job.
African-Americans are less likely to get a job.
Women are more likely to be harassed by a police officer.
African-Americans are more likely to be shot by a police officer or to go to jail.
Women are less likely to be paid as teachers for the service they provide.
African-Americans are less likely to graduate from high school.
Women are less likely to get a good settlement in a divorce hearing in front of a judge.
African-Americans get longer sentences in front of a judge.
I don't remember any woman being lynched in the south.
I don't remember women being forced to sit on the back of the bus because they where woman.
Hillary has brought out the worst in this country with her race baiting "Hard Working Americans, White Americans" and has proven everything that the Republicans had said about the Clinton's is true.
A sad but true assessment. We want these things to change. We believe in change. Yes we can.
Hillary Clinton is a reminder that women playing the sexist card will pay the price. Devoid of a real policy, or merit, she sees herself as being Jeanne d'Arc as opposed to caring about the country. Lacking dignity, She is devoid of class and devoid of any moral imperatives, "I was shot at in a war zone in Bosnia," etc. She lacks humour as do so many feminists.
A male candidate making those vile facial contortions or, in horse speak, with his ears flat back and the bit between his teeth, would be laughed at.
A candidate, is a candidate, is a candidate. Men don't run as a male candidates. Barack Obama hasn't run as a black candidate. So why should a woman run as a female candidate?
The day that a woman runs for high office without a spectral banner over her head saying, "Vote for me, you owe it to me, because I am your little female Yankee battler and (by inference) it's time you male chauvinist blokes out there gave a woman a break". If she had fronted up for an interview with a big corporation with that attitude; would anyone have hired her?
Lest anyone think I am anti-feminist Australia's Deputy Prime Minister is a woman which is terrific. And guess what? She is as well known for her sense of humour, as she is for her brains.
The fact that she very erroneously believes the treatment of women to be the world's greatest problem further enforces the impression that Hillary is so accustomed to using whatever victim role she can to her advantage that she doesn't recognize, or else doesn't care about, the worst international problems.
Only her victim mindset and personal bias keeps her from seeing how much Obama was attacked while she was handled almost as if with kid gloves. If she believes this campaign has been fraught with sexism, she needs to check her own behavior--because she's the one abusing sexist beliefs that women are weak victims to advance her campaign, just as she's the one casting race-based aspersions.
Hillary should already know racism results in more and worse discrimination because courts don't support claims of racism as often and well as they do those against sexism. In physical professions, emales are given decreased standards of performance, the cost of expectations of their incompetence, while blacks literally have to work harder or be seen as lazy or slackers.
Strangely, all the black females I know and see on the news believe racism is worse than sexism, as statistics and surveys demonstrate; but of course, they're just blacks, so why would Hillary care what they think or believe they have the reasoning capacity to make a decision based on facts rather than something irrelevant like skin color or gender?
So you actually believe that oppression of women is not one of the most pressing issues in the world today?
I have to laugh, excuse me.
Clinton states, "The treatment of women is the single biggest problem we have politically and socially in the world."
If that is her perspective, she does not deserve to be president.
I still suspect her use of that phrase "some women" means Hillary herself alone because she hasn't been treated as she thinks she deserves, despite what she's done. I really don't think there is anyone else in Hillary's world, if you know what I mean.
I know someone like that personally. He can not tolerate any other light in the room, and seeks to extinguish any potential competition for attention right away by using biting sarcasm in the form of jokes where his rivals are the punchline. There is much to admire about the man professionally, but as a person, he's nothing but an empty mirror of himself.
Misogynist is the most over-used word in the feminist lexicon. I know many men who are mad at their ex-wives but I never met a man who hated women in general although I know there must be some who do. That said, Hillary has no one to blame for her predicament than herself. I was an enthusiastic supporter of Clinton at the outset until she turned negative, nasty, Rovian and conducted scorched-earth campaign. I was looking forward to the emotional moment when a woman would be sworn in as president of the U.S. I don't know whether it was Mark Penn, Bill Clinton, Howard Wolfson, James Carville or Paul Begala, but going negative was the turning point and the biggest mistake of her campaign. I have talked with dozens of others who feel the same way. I used to jeopardize my relationship with my conservative family in the south defending both Bill and Hillary Clinton. Now, I have lost all respect for them. The Clintons let me down along with thousands of others.
I have met a misogynist or two in my life, but they are a rare breed. My father was one, so I think I know a bit about the subject. Hillary's complaint rings so hollow to my ears that I'm left scratching my head why the media is reporting her complaints at all. Sure, Hillary has been treated roughly. But that hasn't been because she's a woman, but because she got caught smearing Obama and lying about her experiences.
If the candidate were any other woman, would she have made those mistakes? Or if she did, would she shout "sexism!" when she was called on it? It's Hillary who has caught flak, and deservedly so, not "all women."
As usual, Hillary is 100% correct.
This is the most absurd thing I have ever heard of in my life....bu
Lets tell that to all those women who are dropping out of school in inner cities because of inequity
How about all those women serving unfair prison sentences due to the drug laws.
All those women that are unarmed being killed by police.
I forgot about the high unemployment by women.
It seems that we have lost something in this country...
I posted this on another thread which I can't find right now:
David Gergen said something very touching tonight on CNN. Very few of the pundits are addressing this race issue except to exploit it a la Pat Buchanan and Hillary Clinton et al.
Gergen said, and I paraphrase:
"Hillary Clinton has an opportunity to take the high road and say to her 'hard working *white* voters' that if they are voting AGAINST Barack Obama because of his race, that she doesn't want their votes."
I salute you for this David Gergen. It's no wonder that so many presidents of both parties sought you out to serve them well.
Too bad Hillary is more about Hillary than about helping to heal any racial divide.
Au contraire - she's exploiting this racial divide for personal gain of political power.
Very penetrating observation from Gergen raising significant questions as to why she hasn't done this. Cesca also called this out in his liveblog tonight.
It is the action, in fact, which Jon Edwards took in regards to race, stating outright that he did not want the vote of anyone who was casting it only to beat the black candidate.
Clinton dug her own grave on this, and while sexism is alive and well, you would think a candidate touting her "toughness" would pass at least one opportunity to play the victim.
As for her straw man (person?) argument, yes, women are treated dispicably around th world, but to compare America to countries where women are stoned by mobs b/c they were the victims of rape, or were talking to a man alone, well I really can't think of anything more offensive. We still have problems with gender, but we are not savages.
Finally, trying to compare which problem (gender/race) is more important shows exactly who she is.
So Hillary's husband bought her a political career. You could call that nepotism, or you could call it prostitution. If you were really feeling generous, you could call it affirmative action.
"The treatment of women is the single biggest problem we have poitically and socially in the world." Is absolutely true. But electing one woman President of the United States is not going change that problem all that much. In most of the places in the world where women are oppressed, the people don't give a rat's patoot which wealthy person, male or female is placed in charge of the wealthiest nation on earth.
Pulling out the plight of women as the "single biggest" problem is a bit disingenuous. Poverty is a huge problem, as are lack of clean drinking water; wars are right up there, as are the millions of people all these problems displace. None of those are gender-specific or gender-driven.
Let's stop exploiting the plights of these people for our domestic political consumption, shall we?
As a woman, I don’t respect women who cry and play the victim card.
All Hillary is trying to do is make black people argue with white women. Really, there is no way anyone can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that racism is worst than sexism and vice versa. She is not even trying to defend an idea; she just wants people to bicker and argue so that Obama will lose. let's not fall into her trap.
Barack Obama. President. 2008.
1-25-08 in an NPR interview Clinton said, “We have both said repeatedly that this is not about race, and it's not about gender”. http://www
2-7-08 in an interview with US Magazine, Clinton talks about her worst outfits ever! http://www
4-1-08, Washington Post, 2nd page, last paragraph: Hillary Clinton says, “You cannot as a Democrat win the White House without a very big women's vote.” http://www
I do think Obama is sexist in that he has treated her like a lady, including not slamming her on her Bosnia sniper lie during ABC's debate last month.
An interesting point, I think corroborated by her whining after the debate where many of the candidates attacked her.
At the time she was the frontrunner, and these were the same attacks she made on Obama once he became the frontrunner, only 100 times worse. How can you argue for equality when you at the same time say that it was sexist for opponents to criticize her? Hillary always wants it both ways and plays upon the worst in us to win.
Choosing not to exploit the fact that Hillary was caught lying is not the mark of a sexist. It is the mark of a diplomat.
Obama, diplomat, 08
The life of an Afghan woman has almost nothing in common with the life of Hillary Clinton. I find it disgusting that she would try to equate her life as a rich, white American to the life of a woman under Taliban rule--all to try to make an excuse for her failure. All she does is lie and manipulate, and the worse thing is that she is not even good at it!
Wow. Good observation. How does she manage to continue distorting the truth while, as you pointed out, she's not very good at it? Could it be possible that she hasn't been getting a dose of corrective reality that all of us experience every time we make an obvious "mistake" with our conception of reality? Maybe it's a case of "Who would dare contradict the pronouncements of Ms. Clinton?" in her inner circle.
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