How Dare You!

We need to talk. How dare the leadership of the Democratic Party turn on Hillary Clinton! How dare they betray Bill Clinton! How dare they not speak out when Hillary is disrespected by words like bitch, whore and the "c" word! How dare they allow them both to be smeared as racists, playing the race card! Where was Howard Dean ? Where was Nancy Pelosi ? Where were Hillary's colleagues in the Senate when the Clintons were being so unfairly accused and denigrated? The Democratic Party has a lot to answer for. If we had stood as a party with one voice and said, "no", we will not allow one of our own to be so disturbingly maligned, we would now have a unified democratic party electorate at the end of a virtually tied primary race. Instead we are deeply divided. Now, since the party's leaders have chosen again and again not to speak up, I will.

I am a Hillary supporter and along with millions of Democrats throughout our country , I have been outraged by how the media have treated her throughout this primary season. But what is most disturbing is how my Party has stood by and allowed the demeaning and dishonest attacks on Hillary to continue. This is not the party I thought I belonged to. This is not the party that espouses fairness, justice and equality for all. This is not the party that elected Bill Clinton President in 1992 and 1996 and Hillary Clinton as Senator in 2000 and 2006. That party knew that it had benefited enormously from the Clinton administration as well as the incredible accomplishments of one of the most activist, hardworking First Ladies in our history. That Party stood proudly by a president who many called the first black president because both he and his wife had demonstrated a lifelong commitment to civil rights and human rights.

Imagine if Democratic leaders had done what Hillary did when President Bush associated Barack Obama with terrorism in his much lauded speech in Israel. Remember, Hillary gave a heartfelt statement that Barack was one of our own and she would not stand by and allow him to be so denigrated ?

Women are outraged. We are still fighting for her, and we are ashamed of how our candidate, a woman who has devoted her adult life to serving others, a woman who has been a distinguished First Lady, a woman who has helped her colleagues pass legislation and win races in their own states, a woman who has stood up for all of our rights, has been treated not just by the media but by her own Democratic Party. Throughout all this, Hillary has maintained her focus, her message and her dignity. This is truly courage under fire. This is what it takes to be a great president. It is not over until the lady in the pant suit says it is and I and millions of others are with her.

Comments

[shawnaNaustin]

Wow, I really was waiting for the punch line after reading this post. When has Hillary been called a "b#$#", the c-word, or a whore? Is Iscol SERIOUSLY suggesting that the DNC speak out against comments in the blogosphere? And call me crazy, or tell me I'm drinking Kool-Aid, or whatever you want to say, but I thought it was the VOTERS, and not the party officials, who decided the nomination. (And no, I don't just mean the voters that live outside of caucus states.) I really do feel for Hillary supporters, because I know how strongly they support her, and it must be disappointing that enough American voters don't agree that she's the best candidate. But funneling all of their "poor me, I'm a downtrodden woman" crap into the DNC and the Obama campaign is just disingenuous. I'm a white woman for Obama, and I don't mean anyone any harm. I'm just voting my conscience.

[Speakchic]

LMAO!

[z1scout]

Dear Jill Iscol,
Thank you for writing what I have been thinking but unable to put into words like you have.
I am fully prepared not to vote should Obama be the Democratic nominee.
It will be the first time I will not exact my constitutional right. Why, because
there is a much larger issue here than partisanship. It's citizenship -- citizenship for both sexes.
My discontent here is why a capable, qualified, experienced, industrious
woman who is whetted for this nomination is being shunted aside by her party,
belittled by the media and vilified by the adolescent-male-mentality
blogs, for an unknown guy with an embarrassingly thin resume who
struts around blowing hot air. I simply will not aid and abet this
wholesale insult to the first ever viable woman candidate as well as the insult to all women.

[thesimulacra]

"My discontent here is why a capable, qualified, experienced, industrious
woman who is whetted for this nomination is being shunted aside by her party,"

Because she lost the primary and we need to move on to the General Election or it won't matter WHO the nominee is because they'll both lose. "The Party" didn't "shunt" her aside AT ANY POINT AT ALL EVER until it was clear she could not win. Didn't you even notice that she was winning in the superdelegate counts all the way up until just last month? Those are members of the Democratic Party, those are hundreds of elected Democratic officials and important Democratic Party members, all who were supporting her even as it was becoming clearer and clearer that she would not win the primary.

Are you so blinded by your own lust for a female President that you need to rewrite history like this just to justify your anger?

[z1scout]

As I wrote in my previous posted comment, I am embarassed at remarks made by Obama supporters. Blinded by...lust for...justify your anger.....
The fact is the common people like you and I get nothing out of this nominating process. It is the superdelegates and other party members who get the spoils of victory. Why do you think they either changed or are supporting Obama. There is a lot to the party politics and there must be a lot in it for them. Not much for us, so lighten up on your anger.

[USMAMule]

She isn't "being shunted aside by her party," she was shunted aside by the voters. Even if you count Michigan and Florida, she still trails in both votes cast and delegates won through the primary season. The democratic VOTERS don't want her to be their nominee. Listen very closely: Hillary lost because of HILLARY and the terrible campaign she has run. The poor financial management, the appeal to racists if they would only vote for her, the praise of the GOP nominee while saying Obama was nothing but a speech, taking credit for Bill's accomplishments while distancing herself from his failures, touting her failure on health care as experience and on and on are FAILURES of Hillary Clinton, not sexism on the part of the Voters or the DNC, not because of sexism.

And By the way, if you compare resumes in elected office Obama's record is both deeper and longer than Hillary's. True he doesn't have as many years on the public stage as Hillary but that is due to the fact that he is ten years younger than she is

[cnobody]

Hillary has said she will support Barack in Novemer. You seem to trust her judgement on other issues, will you trust her judgement when she stars campaigning for Obama? Hillary knows that the Democrats need to win in November. Please follow her lead and vote Democratic this fall.

[kadene]

Quit whining on Hialry's behalf; she's done enough of that already.

The Clintons have squandered whatever goodwill they had in the electorate by the nastiness of their campaign. The lying, low-bite behaviour has done nothing to endear them to the undecided voters or even to registered Democrats like me. I once supported them both and sincerely believed she would make a viable candidate for POTUS. But the scheming acts of desperation that has characterized her campaign have been revealing. I still can't get over how she could fabricate the Bosnia story and still expect us to fall at her feet.

And quit talking about her being disrespected; How dare Bill make that claim! She showed us years ago in the White House that she is immune to that!

[sbrage2000]

The recurring theme I hear amongst Hillary supporters is that they are upset and offended that a "viable female candidate" has been denied her rightful place in history. Fact is, it was a fair fight and she came damn close. Obama faced just as many obstacles with his race so it's not like you can say Hillary got ousted by the White Male Establishment. Unfortunately, as noble as her efforts were, she lost. Stomping your feet and whining about it and crying sexism only undermines the chances of the next woman who runs.

[Dangler]

Good joke, but where's the punch line?

"..... and pull my finger!"

[nickyhartzell]

Beverret on Obama: "Not standing up to the treatment Hillary has received, disenfranchising MI and FL, trying to shut down the primary prematurely, throwing sizeable segments of the Dem base under the bus, etc. -- yes, I call that being "disloyal". What do you call it? Someone else: "Obama ran a dirty campaign." Are these people on drugs? I've never heard such a senseless buch of hooey in my life. "Bussing out of towners to caucuses" ?? I believe the tone of campaign supporters is reflective of their leader. These are out and out lies, to suit your cause. Obama did not block the MI and FL revotes. The states themselves said they could not afford a re-do. He is now coming to a sensible bargain about what to do with these states, that Hillary agreed herself should be "disenfranchised" for breaking the rules. You spin and you manipulate truth and you lie, on and on. Just like your candidate. God bless America, and save us from truth-perverts and bullies.

[Gemma08]

'sensible' is not in the vocabulary of Hillary Clinton, her surrogates or her supporters.

[cadbury]

Sorry, you're wrong on this one...Obama DID block revotes in FL and MI even though various political entities offered to pay for them.

[badtimes]

I don't think you're correct, but I could be mistaken.
Can you supply some sources for this?

[swanky]

Right on. I think that the fix has been against her from the start. The Dems and Obamas got "99 Problems". What worries me is the message this nominating process has sent to the country, and why I think we will lose in November - it says that our party's liberal ideals of meritocratic equality have been cast aside in favor of an "American Idol" approach. Furthermore, the fact that it has been open season on Hillary, using the colorful language you included in your brilliant post, and not on Obama in a similar manner says to me that the black community has attained its well deserved place at the proverbial table, and that women have not. Even though he is overmatched by her intelligence, experience and work-ethic, he is deemed to be a better candidate. I think that the hubris of the Democratic party has reached it's peak and we're gonna get the smackdown we deserve. And when the liberal-fascist wing of the party goes 0-3, there's gonna be a bloodletting, and I think our real candidate will stand up and save the party. I am a Hillary supporter and I am not voting for Obama. Why? Spite!

[shawnaNaustin]

That's right - let the true Republican in you come on out. It feels good to be yourself, doesn't it?

[sbrage2000]

Since when has American politics used anything but an "American Idol" approach? It was a contest. Your team lost. Why does it have to involve a conspiracy? And you should definitely re-consider throwing away your vote out of spite. There's a lot at stake this time around. Your "revenge" vote will feel good in November, but a year and a half from now "I told you so" isn't going to ease the pain.

[thesimulacra]

I believe in "meritocratic equality", that's why I'm voting for the one candidate who has opposed this terrible war from the beginning!

[Thevail]

Did you just honestly call any democrat who doesn't support YOUR favored candidate a "liberal fascist"?

And for the record, the Hillary supporters are the ones having trouble with a "meritocracy". Remember why you're mad..He's winning.

And for the record..I was at a rally in Seattle where someone screamed the N-word, and I assume that it's not the only time it ever happened. I can't imagine that his weeks of campaigning in Pennsylvania were all smiles and roses either.

The difference is that Obama's not a whiner..so every insult doesn't end up front page news the next day.

The democratic party has faced TWIN GUNS this time around, racism and sexism. But I don't think either one is worse. They both just suck. But if you thinkthat the entire democratic party is sooo sexist, then why did all the older white guys get their butts kicked? I mean they would be the obvious choice wouldn't they.

The media has been mean to HRC, but then she did LOSE 11 in a ROW..the media tends to really go after stuff like that whether you're male or female. But honestly..if I have to hear.."Why can't Obama close the deal?" one more time...while HE's WINNING, I think I'll scream.

[tlily]

Spite. Well, at least you admit it. It’s unfortunate that so many ardent Hillary supporters fail to see the big picture, and have allowed themselves to fall victim to the heat of the moment and lose their sense of reality. For your sake as well as the sake of the country, I hope that by November you will come to a different conclusion and support whichever candidate better represents the direction you’d like to see this country take.

[LeeFromVA]

Hillary who?

[UnfuzzyMath]

I second that! I suppose by "This is truly courage under fire.", Ms. Iscol is undoubtedly referring to the sniper fire in Bosnia! ROTFLMAO

The best approach right now, which Senator Obama is wisely following, is to just ignore her ... "brush her off". It will all be over very soon and some sense of sanity will return to the election process.

[AshevilleVoice]

This is precisely what the voice of white economic privilege sounds like.

'We need to talk' translates as 'you need to get with my program.'

This is the voice that has reduced the innovative and once revolutionary women's movement to a power struggle where white privilege and class privilege rule. Equality means that rich white women are just as good at upholding patriarchal, imperial values as rich white men.

[syrupcore]

Still think that if the delegate numbers were flipped, obama supporters would be yelling about the absurd amount of racism in the coverage of the obama campaign. Since he and his supporters are winning, he/they don't have to (but they should and so should the author of this post). To be sure, there is rampant sexism in todays news media (and my god, the blogs are just ridiculous) but it's narrow minded for Clinton supporters to not recognize that the other democratic front runner faced his own uphill battle in the white male run corporate media.

I'd also note that democrats have done nothing but flail since the first Clinton presidency. He did nothing for the party. I'm but an armchair pundit but it seems to me that Bill Clinton won the white house by moving to the center, not the left. Lesser democrats (and I mean lesser politicians) tried to do the same because it worked so well for Bill. Thing is, they failed repeatedly because they are not Bill Clinton. Dems have been loosing down ticket elections for 16 years, badly.

[sbrage2000]

There was rampant sexism in the worlds of Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi. And yet, somehow, they prevailed swimmingly. The fact that Hillary cannot overcome the sexism (and more importantly, uses it as a crutch) is just another indication that she isn't ready to lead this country.

[coollbreezz]

I'm from Little Rock.. The people here in Arkansas have known about Hillary's and Bill's dirty tricks for decades. They are wolves in sheep clothing. They destroyed the welfare program that was a safety net for the poor, they deregulated government controls on big business, gave pardons to terrorist, thieves, drug pushers, and child molesters. (Clinton issued 140 pardons as well as several commutations on his last day of office) (January 20, 2001).[12]) The Clintons wrote the book on corruption.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n41_v11/ai_17510914

[BronxRobb]

Please do not portend to speak for women as a collective. This woman does not support Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton's campaign, Hillary's hysteria, Hillary's math, Hillary's divisiveness, Hillary's haughtiness, or Hillary's refusal to go by the rules.

I have never liked Hillary Clinton! My beef with Hillary developed with her first United States Senatorial bid (daggers to you, Charlie Rangel, et al!). I have no appreciation for her carpetbagging her way into the Congress. That darn Charlie Rangel! In 2000, Rep. Nita Lowey had already begun campaigning for the senate. Rumor has it that Charlie and them went to her and said that they (no, I don't know who "they" is) wanted that seat for Hillary, and that "they" would raise $1million for her to withdraw. The money was raised and Lowey no longer competed for the United States Senate. Now, in politics I do not subscribe to the ideology that one should wait his turn to run for office. If you feel that you can do the job, go for it! But I was very unsettled because she just showed up. In the primary election, I voted for Charlie King, a guy from Harlem. She prevailed in the primary, so in the general, I wrote in Charlie King.

I broke this news to some of my feminist friends several months ago, adding that I relish the fact that I have never voted for Hilllary, realized that I don't like her, and will NEVER vote for her in the future.

[z1scout]

Wow, you're a real patriot. Supporting a lightweight resumed neophyte over a champion will keep the Republicians in the Whitehouse. Additionally, if you are a New Yorker, remember Mayor Dinkins? I have great respect for the man, but he was not a good Mayor. Interestingly enough, New York has not seen a Democratic Mayor since. We are about to relive history nationally, should Obama win, I doubt I will see another Democratic in the Whithouse in my lifetime; I don't know about yours?

[thesimulacra]

What exactly makes Hillary a champion? Name one significant piece of legislation she has passed in her career in the Senate. Name one instance in which she used her experience to pass the Universal Health Care that she so desperately demands. On the other hand, Barack Obama has THREE significant pieces of legislation (nuclear non-proliferation, climate change and electoral reform) with his name on it either already passed through Congress or on its way. In his time in the Illinois state legislature he was absolutely instrumental in passing the state's comprehensive health care bill, which he got passed with both a Republican state congress AND a Republican governor.

You can't just say she's a champion and have that utterance make it so.

[Thevail]

See, while the original post was smug...and asserting an opinion
You're just as smug..and trying to assert facts.

Everyone has the right to their own opinion, no one has the right to their own facts.

[sbrage2000]

Hillary is a champion? Are you kidding me? If we're going to push for a female president can't we at least pick someone who climbed their own ladder instead of riding their husband's coat tails? Face it, if her last name wasn't "Clinton" she'd be a non-event.

[badtimes]

Bloomberg only ran as a Republican to improve his chances. He switched parties.

[MandyW]

I was also upset at how cavalierly Clinton shoved aside Lowey (then a Congresswoman with 12 years experience), when she decided that the New York Senate seat best suited her ambitions. Clinton didn't seem to have the slightest compunction about shattering somebody else's feminist dreams (since Lowey will be 69 in July, 2000 may well have been her last good shot at state wide office).

Ironically, if Clinton had just been a tad more patient, in 2004, she could have run for the Senate from the state where she grew up. She'd probably now be the junior Senator from Illinois, and this Presidential nomination contest would have been the coronation to which she feels entitled.

Perhaps Gilbert was wrong, and justice really DOES exist outside of theatrical performances -- and God has a wickedly ironic sense of humour ,

[fredfep]

Hillary's supporters are deluded.

To use hyperbole (seems to be what Hillary and her supporters love to espouse), let's take Eva Peron. If she were a dictator who really wasn't so good for her country, whether the criticism was gender-neutral or sexist, would that matter in the end. If they immaturely made fun of Hitler's accent or his moustache, did this mean he wasn't a bad guy?

Hillary had no real experience, perhaps experience really isn't much important as McCain really has no executive experience, no economic experience except in ripping off banks and gettin away with it, no foreign policy experience outside flying a squadron, yet this seems to matter not at all to the media, the politicians or the public.. But her supporters still think she is "vetted," "ready," and all the other made up nonsense she thought were the points to make when she had few others.

All the candidates are lacking but Obama is not all the horrors McCain and Clinton like to foist on him, and the media like to glom onto. At this moment they seem enthralled with McCain as they once were with Bush, they learn not one lesson. If theyd id they would stop idolizing Reagan who left killing fields all over Central America as his legacy.

[marymansour]

Excuse me, mam! The media has been on Hillary's side until her remarks regarding her opponent became so egregious that even they couldn't comply.

[AtlantaBill]

Good Morning JIll - Let me begin by stating up-front that my intent is not to personally insult either you or Sen. Clinton. I do however want to say that we Obama supporters feel just as strongly about his candidacy as you feel about Hillary's. Your suggestion that "We would now have a unified democratic party ..." only if voters had chosen your candidate exhibits a form of simplistic reasoning that frankly baffles me and I suspect many others. Being president is not an entitlement as so many of the Clinton supporters seem to think. To the contrary, winning the nomination to run for president must be EARNED by competing and winning a plurality of the delegates. Sen. Obama leads in the one metric that counts and is poised to become the nominee following next tuesday's contests. I am certain the SDs will agree and will award the nomination to Sen. Obama. Sen. Clinton and her supporters should act like grown ups and accept the obvious. The Jr. Senator from IL will be our nominee.

[plantsman]

Hillary has been pretending she determines reality for some time now. Unfortunately, most of us do not care to live in the world where Hillary is the autocrat.

[bbbear]

Wow! You absolutely nailed that one!