An Army of Women

In this week's Gallup Poll, national Democratic voters continue to be evenly split, with Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each receiving 47% support for the party's nomination. Yet despite this neck-and-neck race to the partisan finish line, as Eric Boehlert recently surmised, the press has been pushing relentlessly to get Clinton to throw in the towel and rescind her claim to the nomination. As the race for top democratic billing remains cloaked in ambiguity, I've been thinking more and more that a decisive win for the nomination is only a piece of the victory pie. And this may be the very reason why large swaths of the press are so diametrically opposed to one more day of Hillary.

Boehlert notes that numerous precedents exist for nominees to continue to duke it out until party conventions: Reagan and Ford; Kennedy and Carter; Hart and Mondale. Yet the media has never pressed a nominee to exit the race with such passionate insistence as they have with Clinton. And whereas Reagan was touted as a "resilient fighter" for his persistence, Clinton is painted as an "arrogant" and "selfish egomaniac." Why such a vehement disparity of descriptors? Is it the case that so much ambition in a woman is simply too much for American sensibilities to bear?

I think that the media's continual attacks on Clinton are symptomatic of deep cultural fear: that she is an extraordinarily visible woman who refuses to "know her place" - and that her refusal to give up her claim to power might be a rallying cry for a new wave of feminist fury. If we forget the delegates, the caucuses v. primaries, and the battle over Michigan and Florida, we see that a major win has already been had by and for the women of our nation through Clinton's candidacy. And many Americans might be afraid of how far this momentum will take us.

Never again will it be questioned, or a poll commissioned, on whether women are qualified to be president.

Never again will there be a presidential primary, I predict, without a woman - or hopefully several women - candidates.

And never again will there be any room for discussion about whether a woman can be tough enough to serve as our Commander-in-Chief.

The candidacy of Hillary Clinton has changed the political landscape forever, and has reinvigorated the political aspirations of women from all walks of life. To many, this "army of women" is a scary thing indeed. And who knows how far it will go if Hillary wins the nomination - or the presidency.

Whether Clinton has been the "perfect" candidate is not the issue at hand, and as the president of a nonpartisan organization, I am less concerned with Clinton-the-candidate than I am with what her candidacy represents. Her campaign tactics, voting record, and political maneuverings are up for debate. She may or may not win the nomination. But what she has already, and decisively, won has been a victory for all Americans, male and female, of all races, young and old: Clinton has broken a barrier for women in political leadership. For that, we are the collective inheritors of a great victory. And yet, this win is offset by what it continues to reveal: our deeply embedded cultural fears of politically powerful women.

Follow Marie Wilson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/twhp

Comments

[terraprieto]

The Kentucky Derby was held today, and won by Big Brown.

Hillary Clinton had backed the filly in the race, Eight Belles. She came in second place. Tragically, Eight Belles collapsed after crossing the finish line and was euthanized on the track.

Drop out now, Hillary! We don't want to see you collapse and die after crossing the finish line in second place.

Concede now, Senator Clinton. We women care for you and you health.

[londongal]

I disagree with your post. You say "the press has been pushing relentlessly to get Clinton to throw in the towel and rescind her claim to the nomination" -- they have been doing the opposite and giving Mrs. Clinton every opportunity to spin her case for going on to each and every primary.

You also assert that, "Reagan was touted as a "resilient fighter" for his persistence". Again, the same HAS been said of Mrs. Clinton by media pundits who have labeled her "a fighter"and "tenacious", and admiring the fact that she "refuses to quit". So please, stop making it sound as if she's not getting a fair shake in this process. As far as I can tell, she really is!

[Rianna]

Oh stop with this woman thing. I am a woman, and totally annoyed with Mrs. Clinton. She is an embarrassment to all women. It is unfortunate, that the first woman to get this far in a primary, has turned out to be an outright liar, with no sense of decency. She cares only for herself, and does not give a hoot about the party, or her fellow Democrat. She has turned into an ugly street brawler, who will stop at nothing, and say anything to win this primary, even endorse the Republican nominee over another Democrat. Mrs Clinton. The Democrats cannot afford to have a divisive, vindictive, liar, as their nominee.
The Republicans hate her, and she has done an excellent job of p.o. many Democrats with her Rove like tactics.
This is not the woman candidate, any woman can feel proud of.

[Kordo]

I hafta agree with Rianna. Clinton and Obama have indeed demolished the last "glass ceilings" to the highest office., but pride in their success requires honesty about their means. Hillary's tactics are not "up for debate", they are repugnant and, notwithstanding her mythical ability to deceive, blatantly obvious. Marie, if she somehow (legally) gets the nomination, I'll vote for her. But I'm never gonna trust her again. Sorry.

[4wehttam]

I agree. I have absolutely NO RESPECT for this woman whatsoever. I started off feeling proud to finally have a woman run for potus, until she showed her true nature. My mother always said she didn't trust that woman, but I always defended her until after NH. She is making women look back by her very antics. Her say anything, do anything tactics to gain power is disgusting. She turned something beautiful as a woman being able to be potus to something I am ashamed of as a woman.

[rebeccaj]

You make me so upset I am not even going to say anything except that I am a woman and I think you are full of crap.

[OriginalScreenName]

Well if I was simple minded enough to believe that all women were like Hillary, I'd be putting a few more barriers up. Good thing I'm not, and that I'm hoping that women finally start evaluating Hillary on her merits and not her womanhood - because the fact she's a woman is the only thing left she's got going for her right now.

And you are dead wrong that the polls are going to stop because of Hillary's candidacy. Until a woman is actually president, the polls will continue. Until a woman is actually president the glass ceiling will remain. How many black candidates have we had, yet the polls still continue about race. As sad as that is. She's changed nothing - and perhaps made things worse.

[KMan1]

What annoys me the most about these clams is the idea that there are women who really believe that HRC is the best that women have to offer. Why should our expectations be so low? Why should we settle for a candidate that has aligned herself with an inept and dirty campaign? Why should we settle for an untrustworthy candidate to represent us? Do you really think this is all a female candidate has to offer? Well I don't think so because unlike you Mrs. Wilson, I expect much more from my sisters.

Not this times, not this woman.

[ghop]

I'm a woman and I'm supporting Obama. I agree with you that some of the media coverage of Hillary has been misogynistic, just as some of the media coverage of Obama has been racist. But the reality is that competing for the title of "biggest victim" is a contest that nobody wins.

I have never seen Hillary as a feminist icon. Sure, she's tough, but she also has thrown other women under the bus when defending her husband's sexual harassment. Sure, she's in the Senate, but do you honestly think she'd be where she is right now without the advantages and name recognition given to her by Bill? She has had a former president fund raising and stumping for her, for goodness sake!

If either of these candidates end up wining the national election, the game will be changed forever. People will not assume that they shouldn't vote for a woman or a person of color because they won't be a viable candidate.

[genia]

Oh Please.... I am a woman. I am in my late 40's. I started out a Hillary supporter, I then was embarrassed for women everywhere. Good women don't lie and cheat to get what they want. She embraces the role of the victim, hell...she plays a different role just about every day.
Good woman? This is a woman who has, in the past, been attacked. Yet she chooses to use the same tactics on her opponent.
I have no respect for her...not as a woman, not as a politician, not as a democrat.
It has gotten to the point where just the sound of her voice is enough to make me turn off the TV for a day or two.
If the media has been tough on her.....I'm guessing they know her and don't think much of her.

So...please.......stop insulting my intelligence.

[edtastic]

Would Obliterating Iran make women proud. Do we have special nukes that only kill the men? As much as you feel oppressed by being a women, the media does not dislike her because she is a women. Hillary has always had a duplicitous quality to her that the average person can see through. She had to have the quality to be married to a womanizing politician. Women can be some what proud of Hillary but I am sure they can find women to be more proud of. Our Current President is a Male and I am NOT PROUD OF HIM. Take pride in those who do well, and maintain a level of dignity and respect for themselves and others. Do not distribute your support by race, gender, geographic origins or otherwise. The great women of this world dont need to be defended they are celebrated by all. Hillary NEEDS DEFENDING just to excuse her evidently artificial nature.

[aliceblue]

For ten million dollars Penn scripted Hillary with a
cheezy Freudian Phallic Woman campaign. It reads
'Hillary has testicular fortitude, Obama is a pansy.'

After her Ohio win Hill came onstage, arms erect,
and shouted 'I'M STILL STANDING!' (screams and
chanting from the crowd). 'I was down but now I'm
STANDING UP!'

Hundreds more results like these:

I'm asking you to STAND UP for me for one night and
I will STAND UP for you throughout this
campaign. STANDING UP for our values ...


Hillary STOOD UP for universal health care when
no one else would. Hillary spent 35 years
STANDING UP for people. As president, she'll
STAND UP for ...


Hillary Clinton STANDING STRONG for you - Opinion
Apr 15, 2008 ... America needs a leader with the vision
... We'll STAND UP for women's rights . . .


STAND UP For HillaryIt’s time to make a STAND in Texas.
It’s time to STAND UP FOR HILLARY. ...

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON PRESIDENT-2008:
Texas Women are STANDING UP for Hillary ...
Watch the video, STAND UP, and let's make this
commitment -- to each other . . .


Bill Clinton fires up Hillary supporters Mar 31, 2008 ... Clinton,
greeted by a standing ovation, said ..... she will have
the backbone that God gave her to STAND UP for our
great country ...

[mamak]

I'm 35 male and I DON'T like Hillary for her lies and blatant disregard for the American public's interest. She, Bill and her honchos are only in it for themselves. I'm not against women in any position. Gender should never be an issue in any job or position.

Hillary fails in her character NOT by her gender. You in your writing are trying to change the subject from incompetence to gender biasness by the media. That is hogwash and load of bull.

I cannot in any conscience support her OVER Sen. Obama. But if she ends up as the nominee then Democratic Party MUST win. Only then will I change my support.

[beastmode]

I can appreciate where you're coming from, but for the most part Hillary just hasn't faced the media scrutiny you're describing. I think the race has moved on from qualms about gender insecurity - and Hillary is probably responsible for this. And that's probably the best thing there is to say about her candidacy at this point.

[qwr]

"And never again will there be any room for discussion about whether a woman can be tough enough to serve as our Commander-in-Chief. "

This is precisely the problem. Clinton thought that she needed to be another Thatcher, because she was utterly devoid of imagination. And so she talks about obliterating Iran. It is beyond disgusting that people like Marie Wilson cannot take into account that between 200,000 and 1.5 million have died in Iraq. If that's the price for a woman candidate, it is too high. I predict that when a Dem woman comes up next, she will be a good, ethical, moral candidate. Clinton is neither.

[Rockerbabe]

Nice post Ms. Wilson; You are right! I has been awhile since I heard positive comments regarding Senator Clinton's candidacy.
There has been a hard core press to get her out of the race. If a male candidate with her winnings were running, this full press would not be occurring. In fact, he would be encouraged to continue to fight to give the people a voice and a choice. Whether she looses or prevails has everything to do with the remaining state primaries, as it should be. ALL Americans who choose to vote in the primary season should have a choice of candidates, even if one of them is a woman.
The fact that she is a woman scares a lot of people, mostly other women, I think. Her loudest critics seem to be women. Senator Clinton is resilient and I hope she remains so until the very end of the primary season. Win or loose. I want her to ram this campaign down the throats of the DNC, the chicken little types, the pundits and all the naysayers alike. Just to prove a point; mainly that women can and will be a force to be reckoned with in politics. The boys' club after this spring, will no longer have a stranglehold on the Presidency and just maybe, we can finally get back to be Americans- decent people who are proud of their government and its actions.

I will be proud to write-in her name for President in November.

[editorjuno]

How "proud" will you be when you and others willing to toss away their votes bring us another term of misogynistic (not to mention racist, murderous, and corrupt!) GOP hypocrisy? I'm no admirer of Senator Clinton or her campaign tactics, but I'd certainly vote for her if she was on the ballot against the disastrous Senator Grandpa McGaffe -- and I challenge you to do the same if Senator Obama becomes, as is much more than likely than not, the Democratic nominee.

Thanks in advance for considering my suggestion.

[MCANTI]

I am a father to a daughter, son to a mother, nephew to fourteen aunts (no uncles), and brother to four sisters. I have lived a life well versed in the struggles of women in this country. That being said, i find your argument almost totally devoid of reason, or reality. If Hillary Clinton were anyone else, she would have been forced out months ago, or more reasonably, if Hillary and Barack's roles were reversed, Barack would be under such a whithering attack right now, that it would likely end his career. If you are going to make statements in public, at least try to make them realistic in some fashion. Please, lets raise this discourse to an adult level for once.

[ByersL]

She does scare us, but not because she's a woman--it's because she's a Republican running as a Democrat, I"m a 52 year old feminist, who has a LOYAL husband, 3 teenagers and a couple of dogs. I am also white and wealthy. You want her to ram the campaign down the DNC's throat? Well I want to ram HER down the toilet, where she belongs. She condemned those very women her husband assaulted or had sucking his you know what, to years of humiliation because she protected and lied for him . She cheated with Whitewater, Travelgate, Vince Foster, and other scandals I don't want to return to. We can't STAND her in DC and will sit out the election, along with the African American community and young voters, if she steals this election, which she intends to do. I don't know how any self respecting woman, including those female Senators, can support her candidacy. Chris Matthews was right: the ONLY reason she is where she is, IS because people felt sorry for her because her husband humiliated her in public. I supported Bill for two terms and through thick and thin, and I do NOT ever want to see that man in the White House again. It's bad for women, bad for feminism, bad for Democrats and bad for the new type of government that we so desperately need. Where is the vast right wing conspiracy? they're propping up Hillary, haven't you noticed?

[JamesInDenver]

I'm so sick of hearing this crap. My dislike for Hillary has nothing to do with her sex. If Bill Clinton were running I would be just as sick of him as I am of Hillary. Enough is enough, integrity and character are important, we don't need another damn Clinton (or another Bush) in the White House.

[nton]

not this liar wannabe Republican woman who is riding her husbands coattails, perhaps another.