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

[dadw5boys]

What are all these women doing out here running around with shoes on.

Where are all those babies?

You see what happens when you let them out of the house.

Ah all that hard work keeping them in their place got for nothing.

What will a man do now with them running the show?

No more wars and everyone treating their fellow Americans descently how can we live with that?

[Necron99]

Margaret Thatcher. Eva Peron.

Purely biologically speaking: a uterus does make you slightly less likely to beat people to death with your own hands for disagreeing with you.

Beyond that, what it implies about your character, or a society you are helming is pretty much bupkiss.

[PAposter]

Not only are we running around in our stilettos, we're running the company!

Our children are right here beside us cheering us on!

Real men and women honor and support productive females!

Hillary Clinton supports Iraq and threatens Iran, she perpetuates hate and separatism.

She thwarts every effort and accomplishment made by women for the past century.

"dadw5boys" your position is weak and juvenile!

[tryharder2think]

Hellooo people - dad was being sarcastic!!!

Turn back on your funny meter...

Try harder

[dadw5boys]

Just twinkin you funny bone girl!

[jellinda]

Boy, Marie Wilson really doesn't get it... Cause and effect is a tricky thing, and if you start with a bad premise, it can take you lightyears off course... Marie Wilson doesn't get that people are criticizing Hillary, not because she's a "strong woman" (she's so-o-o-o strong, she'd NUKE ANOTHER COUNTRY TO PROVE IT), but because she a FAKE. It's be conclusively shown, time and time again, that she will say anything, do anything, align herself with anyone, in order to gain an advantage and win. That's not "STRONG", Marie -- That's the definition of AMORAL. It's pretty sad to suggest that if you are a certain gender, you'd be traitorous, or stupid not to vote for Hillary - that somehow, you're setting Sisterhood back generations. If we voted for her and she nuked the world, that would set the World back generations too.

[mutron]

No, no, nope, that's not it, I don't know who you are Marie Wilson and I don't have time to read your little bio, but you just don't get it. If you want me to vote for a woman you've got to come up with one who is better than THAT woman. I do my best to NOT vote for liars. Hillary Clinton is not a solution for this countries problems, she is part of the problem.

[wwja]

I have not talked to a single person who is not voting for Clinton because she is a woman. I am not saying these people aren't out there, but what's your point? So a certain percentage of the population is sexist. really!??! A certain percentage of the population is racist, too. Shocker!

What does this have to do with the policy differences between clinton and obama? what does this have to do with the difference in how they are running they're campaign?

get over it. and this is coming from a feminist.

[AbbieXHoffman]

Dead on! I also find it sexist that the Clinton critics crucify her anytime she points Obama's weaknesses with the convenient interpretation of his "new politics" mantra. Sorry but that new politics doesn't extend to that. No candidate in history has even been villified for being a politician, like our brave Hillary. That is what every person does when going for a job--pointing out your opponents weaknesses.

And for some reason she gets blamed for Wright and Ayers being in the media. She didn't bring them up--the media did.

[binarystar]

"That is what every person does when going for a job--pointing out your opponents weaknesses­."

I don't know what kind of interviews you go on but that sounds like a pretty pathetic way to get a job. Some of us point out our own strengths and qualifications.

[AbbieXHoffman]

It's what ever candidate to ever run for president has done and it's totally fair game. Oh wait. Kerry didn't do it and look what happend to him. Also if you like JFK, I am sure don't mind how he won the nomination--it was one of the most brutal primaries of the century and he took Johnson as VP after he clobbered him in the primary.

Pointed out weaknesses if fair game. She never brought up the Ayers or Wright thing--the media did and she was asked about it and commented on it.

[Melizzy]

Umm, she did bring up Ayers in the rigged debate on CBS. I hadn't heard of that before him. She also brought up Farrakhan, unprompted. And her little surrogate saying Obama wouldn't be where he is if he wasn't black? How about, Hillary wouldn't be where she is without her husband's last name? The uneducated are out there voting for her because of name recognition. Why is it that it's the uneducated supporting her?? Pretty clear. Educated people see right through the b.s. As for the premise of this blog item. It's ridiculous. Without the Clinton fund-raising machine she wouldn't have even made it into the Senate. She really hasn't done much without the strong support of her husband. That's why she didn't do what a strong woman would have done during the Lewinsky scandal. Left his ass in the dust!

[AbbieXHoffman]

Part 2

--Hillary was twice named as US top 100 Attorneys
--Hillary was named as one of 300 Women Who Changed the Word
--As a law student, Hillary represented foster children and parents in family court and worked on some of the earliest studies creating legal standards for identifying and protecting abused children.
--Following graduation, she became a staff attorney for the Children's Defense Fund.
--Hillary ran a legal aid clinic for the poor when she first got to Arkansas and handled cases of foster care and child abuse.
--She organized a group called Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
When she was just 30, President Carter appointed her to the board of the United States Legal Services Corporation, a federal nonprofit program that funds legal assistance for the poor.
--She ran a task force to improve education in Arkansas through higher standards for schools and serving on the board of the Arkansas Children's Hospital, helping them expand and improve their services. She also served on national boards for the Children's Defense Fund, the Child Care Action Campaign, and the Children's Television Workshop.
--She also continued her legal career as a partner in a law firm. She led the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, which played a pioneering role in raising awareness of issues like sexual harassment and equal pay. Hillary was twice named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.

What has Obama's done beyond the senate?

[AbbieXHoffman]

Part 1

Umm. the moderators brought it up and THEN she answered it. Don't blame her for it being in the media.

The only reason you think Ferraro said the ONLY reason Obama is where he is is because he is black is because you are a blind follower that can't use critical thinking skills and need the media to make you believe something. Ferraro never said it was the ONLY reason and you know what....Ob­ama agrees with her.

Obama acknowledges, with no small irony, that he benefits from his race. If he were white, he once bluntly noted, he would simply be one of nine freshmen senators, almost certainly without a multimillion-dollar book deal and a shred of celebrity. Or would he have been elected at all?

http://obama.senate.gov/news/050626-when_it_comes_to_race_obama_ma/

Educated people know a few things aobut Hillary (see below) and don't believe that Obama's new politics of reaching across the isle are new. Bill C did it and many before him and Clinton will too.

[Grunty1]

Did you just say it is sexist to point out lies?

[OtayPanky]

Marie Wilson: 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."

===

Let me help you out here:

===

I think that the media's continual attacks on Obama are symptomatic of deep cultural fear: that he is an extraordinarily visible black who refuses to "know his place."

===

Does that make any more or less sense?

Listen: In a historic primary, where both candidates come from formerly disenfranchised minorities, there will be some Neanderthal types who fault either or both of them for "not knowing their place".

That shouldn't be news to anybody. And yes, it's disgusting.

But equally disgusting is when either the candidates, or their surrogates, or their supporters milk that fringe Neanderthal reaction for all it's worth.

The media will do what the media always does: run hot and cold on any and all of the candidates, pouncing like vultures whenever they see an opportunity to create a headline - worthy or not.

That doesn't make Clinton a particular victim of anything other than her own mistakes and campaign mismanagement - starting as she did with a 20+ point lead in the polls, the biggest machine, and more money than God.

The future of this country will NOT be defined by anyone who insists on playing the victim card while their representative is in contention for the presidency.

[tsipos]

I am a woman who grew up on the 70s. Very much believed both then and now in women's rights. Hillary Clinton is a poor example in every way. She is running on her husband's resume not her own. She is manipulative and calculating in a manner that re-enforces the worst stereotypes about women. She has run her campaign ineffectively (remember how far ahead she was when this started?). She appears to be amoral -- anything to win. No pride here. I still waiting for a woman to run that I can support and will make me feel proud.

[teapartydude]

Oh please; let's get over playing the gender card.

[adept2u]

Could anyone imagine Margaret Thatcher even mentioning her gender. I'm sorry like Barack's race Hillaries gender isn't the issue. It's her neo-con attitude and pandering.

[barrista]

Feminism at its worst, trying to prop up a female candidate simply because she is female. It's vomit-worthy.

[ddoston10]

The press (print, cable news, network news ) who has made billions on this race is a bold face lie. It's the kind of analysis that only the most prejudice of person would make. It's the same kind of analysis that attributes one voice in the media to all voices in the media ... it's also the kind of thing that people who play the race card do.

Moreover, the race is not neck and neck. If this campaign were a 15 round boxing match, it would be idiotic to argue that because Hillary's has landed a couple of punches in round 13 that the previous 12 rounds where Obama won more votes, states, delegates and raised more money should be ignored.

The media has been openly rooting for Clinton and even has adopted her talking points ... elistist, out of touch Obama ... big states only matter ... white blue collar workers are the most important ... so your arguments do not hold water.

Your argment that the media is projecting to Hillary that she doesn't know her place is also ludcrious. It is Hillary who tells Obama he doesn't know his place when she openly advotes that he should sit an the back of the bus and give up his seat for the white woman when she offers his the VP spot. Hillary has done attacked Obama's man-hood, his blackness, his intelligence, his thoughtfulness, his hopefulness and most of all his supporters who must be drinking the Koolade

[readyfornewleadership]

Hillary is an embarrassment to woman.

Think Margaret Thatcher.

[Xspackle]

I also disagree with the author on this point. There seems to be an inordinate and sloppy conflation of women's general aspirations and this one woman's candidacy. I think women who make the argument that Hillary represents them all are making a weak argument, and in fact, are hurting their own credibility by doing so.

I am not a supporter of Clinton, I should say, but would argue that a more objective observer would agree that she has some serious credibility problems of her own, some serious questions of character (how she handled the women who were her husband's mistresses, or who accused her husband of sexual harassment and worse; the phony Bosnia sniper story, etc.), and her tendency to pander and triangulate which we're seeing if full putrid display now over this whole gas tax fiasco.

How this candidate should be seen as the avatar of all women is beyond me, and is seems to be coming from an outmoded view of feminism more energized by anti-male attitudes than anything else.

I believe that Clinton's candidacy will have positive results for an eventual female president, and expect that there is right now, a woman working her way up from obscurity to that office.

But Hillary Clinton is so deeply flawed and, I believe, so unfit (if one can stop seeing everything through the filter of gender) for the office, that she should not be seen as the One and Only.

[KarateKid]

That's real good......­vote for Hillary simply because she's a woman. Never mind her past that she tries to hide, never mind her lies, never mind her gutter tactics, never mind her conflict of interests, never mind her hypocrisy, never mind her pandering, never mind her authorization of the war (real sound judgment there), never mind her flip flop on the war she helped Bush authorize.

You give use the exact reason why women are not ready for the White House just yet. It's too bad, because many of us have daughters and would like to see a woman in the White House....j­ust not Hillary.

Don't forget, blind ladies, of Hillary's role on the Board of Directors of WalMart, that bastion of feminism. It's something she'd like you all gullible people to forget. Look what Walmart recently did to that poor lady who was struck by a truck and needs round the clock care but Walmart sued her for her legal settlement and she cannot survive without it. Where was your champion Hillary then????

[Teyshar]

SEX CARD. Is she affiliated with Hillary in anyway this writer? Because this is a Sex Card. if there is one for Race, then there is one for sex. But then who wants to take on 51 percent of the population? Hillary is a woman vote her because she is a strong woman. Look at people picking on her because she is a woman. I guess the media is picking on Barrack because he is black? No. That is why this article is a bunch of hooey. It is a way to say that Hillary is a great "woman". And then cry foul at any and all disparagments because they are all because she is a woman.