It's a sure sign of trouble when a writer interrupts an argument to apologize for invoking a cliche. So it is a mystery why Rebecca Traister did not delete her reference to Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus in her Salon.com article seeking to explain "Why Clinton voters say they won't support Obama." (Instead, she parenthetically apologizes, "yes, I'm invoking [the pop-psychology book]; address your letters of complaint to rtraister@salon.com.")
Traister's reliance on a worn-out self-help cliche is not just an example of uninspired writing -- it is one of the most egregious examples of how the press is substituting assumptions about Obama's problems with Clinton voters for actual reporting. Traister trots out Women are from Venus as a way to assert that Clinton supporters holding out are Obama are women who "want to air their grievances and let their opponents know where they're coming from." Now, there are undoubtedly many women who are upset at Clinton's defeat, though I'm sure they'd take umbrage at the suggestion that their continued disappointment is the result of not "being heard." However, the evidence suggests Obama's main problem with Clinton voters has little to do with gender. Perhaps that's why Traister is resorting to such cheap -- and, frankly, demeaning -- rhetoric.
A piece accompanying Traister's by Walter Shapiro -- who accepts Traister's gender premise but argues that Clinton women will ultimately "come home" to Obama -- grounds their discussion in last week's Washington Post/ABC News poll. The Post/ABC find that 24 percent of Democrats who supported Clinton in the primaries say they now prefer McCain over Obama, while another thirteen percent are threatening to stay home altogether. But Shapiro and Traister overlook this crucial paragraph from the poll summary:
Obama is not disproportionately weaker among Clinton supporters who comprised her core groups, such as women, seniors and working-class whites. Instead he's losing those who value strength and experience over change, who doubt Obama's qualifications and who see him as a risky choice--mirroring his challenges among all adults more broadly.
In other words, Democratic women aren't deserting their party because of a defeat dealt to their gender. Rather, Obama is losing voters in his own right amongst some voters who are comparing his resume with the much-lengthier one of his opponent. Once we stop viewing the Democratic contest through the identity-politics lens, this isn't all that surprising. Some voters perhaps cast their ballot for Clinton solely because of her gender, but the vast majority valued her qualities as a candidate. Certainly, the one she touted most is exactly what these Clinton supporters say they prefer about McCain: experience.
Perhaps, as Treister caricatures, stories of "grumpy old ladies still hung up on Hillary Clinton" make for more entertaining prose than a dull report on how some blocks of voters are worried about job qualifications. That may be why reporters are so readily accepting this story line. And, if Treister is representative, they're doing reporting that can only confirm what they think they already know. She says she based her piece on "interviews with women at Clinton's June 3 nonconcession speech and her June 7 concession speech, and on comments I heard from some attendees at an EMILY's List conference a week after Clinton bowed out."
In fairness, Senator Clinton's concession speech was a powerful hint to reporters like Traister pointing them in the gender direction. Her June 7 speech was a major rhetorical pivot. After a campaign that carefully avoided focusing on her gender, Clinton wholly embraced role as a feminist champion. She may have lost the nomination, but she claimed a victory for women by making "eighteen million cracks" in the White House's glass ceiling.
But before she was a feminist hero, she was a blue-collar insurgent. And before that, she was the establishment heir-apparent. Clinton was -- is -- all those things, and there are women, union members, and inside-baseballers who are disappointed at her loss. Some may in fact be so angry that they will not support Obama, though, as Walter Shapiro notes, history suggests they will likely put their resentment aside as November approaches. But regardless of whether they vote Obama or McCain, polling shows these are not the blocks of voters Obama still needs to win over.
Men may be from Mars and women from Venus, but the data is here on Earth.
I recently encountered two types of HRC supporters. One made sense and MADE me understand her disappointment. She didn't spend time talking about how unfair the process was (Bill Clinton told us don't play politics if you can't stand the heat) she showed me where she thought the press was unfair to HRC- Okay I can respect that
THe other spent time saying crazy things like..Obama was mean to her, he didn't show her respect (as though she didn't take cheap shots at him). I got so angry, I walked a way wondering why try.
People, either get with the change ( and make some change yourself) or leave the party and leave us alone!
We have a nominee and a new race to win. Everyone who is not on the bus to an Obama victory in November needs to be quiet because there will be a winner and loser here as well and we'll all be in a mess of trouble if McCain is the winner!
Hey Becky,,,,its time for you to get over your self Absorbedness....and for once,,,,use Wisdom !
Exactly! I've heard both CBS and CNN repeating that bulls**t as if it's a real question. I'm sick of these asshole broadcasters!
Wisdom ?.....The Trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight.
Well Becky,
Instead of you wearing your emotional state on your sleeve,,,,,I suggest you,,,Apply Pure Rational Intellect when you arrive at your decision making, pertaining to Issues other than Sore Losing, Hate Mongering, Counterproductive, Ill Conceived Rhetoric....As far as you, yourself trying to portray Wisdom ?.....Read your Profile,,,,,and Newsflash !....No Wisdom Present there....Only Bitterness.....But hey,,,,You will Vote John Mccain ?...Well, It strenghtens my point even more.....Theres no Wisdom in your Irrational Behavior....( The Country is headed for a Major Meltdown, Job Losses, Economic Failures, More Mortgage Forelosures, etc...) and Your insight is for 4 more years of the same if not, potentially, worse current conditions ?...Its Transparent, Your Wisdom is to blame for the Past years...when it all started.....all because You had no apparent Wisdom.
Beating My Elders into the Ground ?
No,,,Becky,,,,,its just the Truth !!!......and quite the opposite....You cant handle the truth !....and will say anything to spin the truth to justify your irrational behavior by any means because of your bitterness and your refusal to emerge from your Aged Generational Era....plain and simple.
As far as the Future is concerned ?....Time for you and the likes to step aside and let the New Generations Take over,,,,Because as previously demonstrated by yourself and comments ?...Your Poor Decision making Has Failed US,,,,,,Big Time !...and youre no longer Pertinent...
Aside from that, I sincerely doubt that most women look at Hillary as a role model and/or cracker of glass ceilings. Probably most older women do, but it seems unlikely that many of the younger generations are going to feel as if Clinton represents them--not when she's most famous for being the wife of a former president, and more tangentially as creator of a botched healthcare reform effort, constant user of horrible judgment, calculating ambition-before-nation politician, and Nanny State advocate.
I don't think most young women will be holding up a candidate who whined and wielded bigotry and attacks untoward for supposed members of the same political body. I don't see somebody who played to all the sexist and racist opinions finding herself adored by generations of women raised to believe they don't need help to stand with the men and certainly shouldn't beg for special treatment.
The myth of Clinton and her "18 million votes" has been cracked opened as a spin, not only by there is no money coming from those 18 millions but also by recent polls showing Obama gained favorable ratings in those blocks of voters that Hillary claimed to be hers. He is now polled to win VA, PA, OH, WI and tie in Nevada. As before, whenever Obama has the chance to campaign, voters know more about him and support him. The older women who are sticking with Hillary as if she is the only one who is fighting for their rights are misinformed and living in the past. Women are now get to the top by their own ability so they don't see their gender as hindrance. They got to the top despite not having a husband as an ex-president to push for them as in the case with Hillary.
Obama's messages of unity and equality resonate with voters and his policies are not much different from Hillary's. That's why he won and is winning.
Women are not a weakness, but a strength, for Obama and he most definitely does not need HRC on the ticket.
Check the progressive blogs -- they're seething.
But you would like for it to be so.
Not.
We know McCain is not the one. We know better. Do you?
As a potential husband, I would advise my daughter to drop him immediately. This guy has little staying power.
Being a law professor is not a full-time job?
Practicing law is not a full-time job?
Being a state senator is not a full-time job?
Well, I guess if that is true, I've never held a full-time job, either. And neither has almost everyone I know.
woman was a bonus, but that is not the reason I supported her. However, watching her get dismantled by the media on a daily basis was outright disturbing. I could understand some
criticism, but what she got was fully focused denigration.
Unfortunately, I don't find that Barack Obama has even 1/4 of Hillary's outstanding qualities.
John McCain is also a tough sell for me, but I know who John McCain is, and to me, if I have to choose between the two, it will be John McCain.
If this is your definition of "smart," I don't want any part of it.
Clinton has served on five Senate committees: Budget (2001–2002), Armed Services (since 2003), Environment and Public Works (since 2001), Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (since 2001) and Aging. She is a Commissioner of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (since 2001).
Her alleged experience and strength led to her to vote to authorize an invasion of Iraq. So I guess it makes sense you would gravitate toward McCain.
MSM loves keeping a controversy alive because that's what drives ratings. Still, the facts on the ground are the facts. How about we focus on defeating McPander?
BTW, women ARE a minority in America...not in the sense of how many of us there are, but because a minority is "a group having little power or representation relative to other groups within a society". Anyone who's not a white male is a mintority in America...which is why women qualify for business loans based on minority status.
Instead he's losing those who value strength and experience over change, who doubt Obama's qualifications and who see him as a risky choice.
That's exactly my problem with him.
Im from Generation X,,,,,,and The Big Difference Between Us and The Boomers Parents......is,,,,,we can Co-exist outside of the Box,,,,,whereas,,,,,,Boomers Parents,,,,(Not All,,,But Most )...,have the hardest time adapting to change and also unintentionally hinders self evolution into the present day and age....they also have the hardest time letting go of the most minute iotas that might be a part of their lives as they knew it and know it....( they always will....we cant change that...) what we can change is how we talk with and to them.....( You see,,,I have a similar situation with my Grandparents of that era....Both of them, along with Elder Relatives )...I tried reasoning with them,,,,and may have made some headway,,,,but theres always a fallback that needs constant attention and explaining...which I dont mind at all....No complaints here !....So having mentioned that ? I think its fair for me to make my assertion here regarding it......Its more About The Aged Generational Voting Bloc that is...Sticking to their Familiar Zones.
When you factor in the independent support FOR Obama, Bush fatigue, and McPander's missteps and lack of GOP support, this race isn't even going to be close.