Talk to Women for A Change

It is ironic that the Pennsylvania primary is being held on Equal Pay Day. That's the day in April every year when women's earnings finally catch up with what men made by December 31 of the previous year. The pay gap is still a stubborn problem, with women who work full time, year-round making 77 cents to a man's dollar. And, women are losing ground when it comes to how long it takes to pull even with men - a decade ago Equal Pay Day was April 11.

Hillary Clinton knows a thing or two about the issue, having sponsored hearings and introduced legislation on the subject. It's front page on her website, and it's a good thing that she's addressing one of the issues that consistently polls near the top with women. After all, females are the majority in both registration and turnout, and have the power to control any election.

The website is a direct appeal to Hillary's strongest supporters -- women old enough to have experienced enough discrimination at work to know the pay gap and the glass ceiling are real. But last Wednesday's final debate before the Pennsylvania primary showed us something else: Hillary is timid about speaking directly to or for women when she has the opportunity to reach millions of us on national television. It's hard to guess why -- there's no question she could harvest far more votes by getting back to her female base instead of tromping around in the political backwoods looking for white male hunters. If she must talk about guns, talk about the fears that women express about their kids getting shot at school, or getting raped at gunpoint.

The first viable female candidate in history, one that I know supports women, shouldn't be uncomfortable with "women's issues." And what about putting a gender lens on the concerns at the top of the marquee this year? The economy is now polling higher on the worry meter than the war, and women have a fundamentally different view of the economy than men. Not having enough money to gamble in the big casino, they don't worry as much about the stock market. They do worry about being the group with the lowest paying jobs and the fewest benefits. And oh yeah - a hidden fact in the mortgage crisis is that female borrowers were the primary targets of the sub-prime loan sharks, meaning women-headed households, primarily women of color, are losing their homes in greater numbers than other families.

Even though the war has slipped to number two, women are still more anti-war than men. Women also view the war's cost in terms of the loss of the social safety net, since adult females and their children are the largest group in poverty. Why not mention that? And looking toward the face-off with McCain in November, here's a surprising result uncovered by Lifetime Television in a poll last year: Republican women are slightly more anti-war than Democratic women. Combine that with the fact that there are millions of pro-choice Republican female voters, and a direct appeal to women seems like a no-brainer.

Senator Clinton did include "daughters" in the debate when talking about troop losses in Iraq, and loss of life due to lack of health insurance. But she didn't mention that the health care crisis affects women more deeply, because fewer have employer-paid plans. Almost 20% of the women in this country have no health insurance, and the numbers skyrocket for women of color, with 38% of Hispanic women going without coverage. That's a group inclined to vote for Hillary Clinton, but they need encouragement.

Don't take this as Hillary bashing. Call it Hillary helping. This is one seasoned feminist who's for her all the way. She can do it - she just needs to talk to women on their own terms and not shy away from being direct. Embrace us every day, as she's doing now leading up to Equal Pay Day and the Pennsylvania primary. (I know Obama doesn't talk to women either - but he's not one of us, and let's face it, we have lower expectations of him in that department. It's one place where he benefits from gender bias.)

Perhaps Senator Clinton fears the dreaded word "feminist," or doesn't want to be seen pandering to women. My question is why not? Women are her base. I say go ahead and pander. We support you. Stick with women -- it's a winning strategy.

Comments

[talkstocoyotes]

Wow - you mean all those 20-somethings who are telling us, based on their lifetime of experience, that "all the battles have been won" are wrong? Whodathunkit?

If this primary season has proved anything it's that hostility toward assertive women in general, and older women in particular, has been grossly underestimated. And racism and white guilt have been overestimated to the point of fantasy.

[ohmercy]

YAY you!

the belief these "kids" have that they aren't facing sexism has become almost farcical in this campaign. The divisive and venomous use of it against both Clinton and her supporters on so called Progressive blogs is a vivid reminder of how prevalent it is and the acceptance by the "girls" and young women as both sad amd infuriating as they seem to either be blind to it or are so blinded with Hillary Hate that they prefer to cater to the "boys" who are using it by both denying it exists while employing its tactics.

[Gibbons]

Maybe he doesn't lie but he has mis-represented the truth several times on the NAFTA meeting which he and the prime minister denied ever happened, when the memo came out they both said yes it happened but was not about NAFTA. Were they lying again? Fact check said no but gave no proof. He also said he never heard his pastor say anything bad about America yet they had a meeting where Wright said if you make it through the primaries you will need to distance yourself from me. Later he said if Wright had not left the church he Obama would have left it, he is very good about would haves such as the vote on the war in hindsight he says he would have voted against it,

[Gibbons]

I suppose when Clinton is elected president there will be a move among the testosterone crowd to roll back her salary.

[XYZ]

Is the thought of a Women President, empowering?

With Hillary's track record she will use you all up until she has no use for you, and then drop you like a used car, at the end of the ride. Just look at what she is doing to MoveOn a foundation that was founded for her Husband's impeachment issues, now that they disagree with her she tossed them out the window.

Why is it that women fall into this character judgment trap? Hillary doesn't care about the feminist cause she cares only about being president.

[Gibbons]

The thought of a woman president scares the S**t out of a lot of white males and of course most blacks are voting race which is their privilege since a lot of white women will vote gender.

[Gibbons]

You have just defined yourself as a chauvinist with your comment "why do women" grow up a woman president wont castrate you.

[ohmercy]

what is she doing to Move On?
She analyzed what her campaign is facing and how Move On factors into it.
She never said anything that could be remotely construed as "against" Move On. How did she throw them out the window? Did she issue a statement that she repudiates them for their _________. No. Obama is the one who throws his supporters, friends, family and pastor to the dogs which is very dissapointing. You people (and I use that term consciously to name a certain segment of Obama supporters) are consistently looking for something to use against Clinton or inventing something that isn't there.

Why not be pro Obama instead of anti Hillary. I see very little of actual PRO Obama comment posting. Maybe you aren't as rabidly for Obama as you are anti Clinton.

[PhDiva]

Hillary Clinton supports middle-class and wealthy white women. She does not support poor women or women of color. I'm a black woman and a feminist. I know the difference between somebody who supports all women and somebody who only supports women who are exactly like her. Hillary Clinton is the latter.

[maggieb]

And what exactly is the evidence to your claims? I am also black and disagree totally with inference.

[mildawalters]

The main reason Hillary cannot focus too much on stricktly women's issues is that she still needs more voters than just women to win. "Feminist-type" comments may turn off some of those neccessary white males - who may be the slim edge for her. After all, the main goal is to get Hillary Clinton elected, so I am quite willing to give her the space to deal with the battle any way she and her campaign staff deem best .

What I find very discouraging is the women in my age group (I am 73) who spout Hillary-hating propaganda and say they would never vote for her. None of them, however, have a specific cause for that hate. Where is that coming from????

[Boadicea]

It's coming from the way she has conducted her campaign.

For over a decade I have despised the way the Republicans have campaigned - using twisted words, inuendo, guilt by association, outright lies.... to destroy Democrats. Now, when I have an opportunity to vote against that destructive politics, Hillary, my first preferred candidate, is out there embracing it and going one better than Rove. How can I support that?

At this point, in my view, anyone who calls herself a feminist can't possibly condone Hillary's candidacy.

I sometimes imagine how different things could have been if Hillary had run as a real woman instead of as a man in women's pantsuits. The author of this article has a good point - Hillary could have done much better running with a woman's perspective, because this country is filled with male feminists now too.

But I disagree that Obama doesn't speak to women. He speaks to women every day with every word by the way he runs his inclusive campaign. He doesn't privilege the wealthy donors, he bases his campaign on the regular folks. He never minimized voters in states he lost. He considers that every single state and vote is important. He believes in reaching out to those we disagree with. He believes in listening to all sides.

These are all feminist values that Hillary has chosen to eschue. It was her choice, and I believe she made the wrong one.

[gayleg]

Obama speaks to women? How so, exactly?

[ohmercy]

BS.

To all of it.

The Hillary Hate started long before the race was down to the two of them and frankly Senator Obama is no better in his campaigning.

His surrogates played the race card. almopst half of his money comes from billionaires who are bundlking money.

Do not be taken in by framing.
The neocons framed how to think about Hillary clinton and the Obama campaign and the far left picked it up and ran with it.

I don't care who people vote for but they should do it without pretense, mischaracterization and hate.

It makes me suspect that the vote they are casting For someone is not nearly as strong as the hate they are expousing against someone.

BTW, how do you know he doesn't privelege his wealthy doners?
Have you ever gotten a personal email or visit?
I haven't.
Stop being silly, open your eyes and see the person not the ideal and that goes for Clinton too. Open your eyes and see the person not what people want you to see, not the demonic harridan that the haters present.

[talkstocoyotes]

***What I find very discouraging is the women in my age group (I am 73) who spout Hillary-hating propaganda and say they would never vote for her. None of them, however, have a specific cause for that hate. Where is that coming from????***

A desire for acceptance. Hillary-bashing is fashionable this year.

And, needless to say, uppity-wom­an-bashing is fashionable anytime. Some of the women buying into the hate rhetoric and the double standards are the same ones who, 30 years ago, were giving local newspaper interviews about their success in business that being careful to include the requisite coy reference to "not being a women's libber." Age doesn't always bring wisdom if you were an airhead to begin with.

[ohmercy]

Amen girl!

a need to show how hip you are.

[misspeach2008]

i think it speaks volumes that a missing story (nothing is posted) has over 600 comments posted, and there are fewer than 20 posts on a column about speaking to women's issues in this campaign. I'm not surprised, but sad.

[Boadicea]

The story has been there all along, go look again.

[halfdemhalfgop]

Thats why ABC should not be blamed for the debate the other night. Its what most people want to talk about. All groups from both the Dem's and Gop are the same. Give us the dirt

[onelovecandy]

Miss Peach is just goes to show there is more at stake here than women's issues. I would no more vote for Obama because he is black than I would for Hilary because she is a woman. In the eyes of a lot of women Hillary set us back mostly by sticking with Bill. I too was for her initially but soon cooled to the negativity of her campaigning.
Our politics should never be about black or white, male or female, democrat or republican for that matter. Who is the best person for the job. Period.

[maggieb]

Onelovecandy, how could hillary's sticking with Bill be any reason for you or anyone to think that set you back? What is setting you back is the notion that peol do not have the right to assess and resolve their personal situations for themselves. You dont need to rationalize your dislike for Hillary with such a flimsy excuse. I can no more choose for you than you for anyone else..."pro-choice" is should not only be a narrow spectrum through which some selectively view life. Hillary is free to stay with her husband as you are free to not vote for her, but be honest about your reason. Hillary is the best person for this job and it is intellectually dishonest to say otherwise.

[SLal]

I work with a few younger women in their 20s-early 30s who are completely oblivious to the "glass ceiling" in my industry. I heard women in my office openly laugh against a joke from a male office worker that was in completely poor taste, and was sexually derisive of women. I am shocked at how oblivious that women are to the fact of wage inequity and to the glass ceiling. The famous quote applies - in response to an up-and-coming young woman who dismissed the glass ceiling as a myth, the her mentor replied "just wait".

Young women are snoozing through this historical time, and accepting the spin that Hllary, while a competent leader, is "just not the right woman", they act as as though there will be a stream of other candidates in the future. They are following the pied piper in this Stepford-ish manner, waving Barack signs high and reveling in their use of the female power to do so. It's shocking, and completely dismissive of the efforts that others have made to create the forward progress that has been made to-date. Equal Pay Day reminds us of the stark reality, and how much further we have to go.

[SFreeborn]

I understand your frustration, but do you really think that in any historical sense that electing a former President's wife is a signal of achieving equality? Perhaps some young women want to teach their daughter more than what Hillary is offering.

I also think that these young women's families did not teach them what they need to know, if it is apparent that they do not know what earlier generations of women have pioneered. I'd say this calls for a new round of consciousness raising so that we get a woman candidate that embodies the feminist values that we so prize.

Finally, if in any way we can call Hillary Clinton feminist, it still does not excuse her adoption of the very patriarchal tradition of character smear, anything goes, or the win at all costs style of her campaign. While I do my best to teach my grandchildren a set of values that is inclusive, it isn't lost on the eight year old when Hillary lied about sniper fire. We owe our children a better quality historical figure. Can't we find a female Abraham Lincoln somewhere?

[SLal]

Thank you for your respecful disagreement. I know that this is a loaded issue for people.

I will, in turn, respectfully disagree with your request - Can't we find a female Abraham Lincoln somewhere? The answer is: probably not, but why should the bar be so much higher for women than it is for male candidates? We don't go around asking for the next Abraham Lincoln from our male candidates. Just competancy, and often, not even that. Let's not make the bar higher for women to make it impossible to achieve.

Also, when comparing the lie telling that Hillary has done to the lie telling that Obama has done on similar silly issues, such as his claim to be indepted to the Kennedys for bringing his father over to the US. Again, let's not make the bar different for a woman, because socially we accept lies better from a male than we do a female.

That's all - carry on :)

[TheEnticer]

are you saying smear tactics and lying are 'patriarchal' in nature? Isnt that sexist? Are you saying all men lie? Isnt that 'misoandryous '?

[texanna]

See, SFreeborn, you're very first sentence is so very typical of the misgyny rampant in this country and in this particular primary. You completely leave out Sen. Clinton's Senate for New York and refer to her only as a former President's wife. Now why is that? Why is it so easy for you to denigrate and insult as if the only reason she were elected more than once by the people of New York state is because she was somebody's wife?

[CynAnne]

... Excellent article, Martha. It truly bothers me to think of how virulently some men loathe Hillary, not for her record on issues, but the fact she's a woman in a position of authority. Consider how cutting the remarks of the right-wing pundits were when she dared to get emotional, but when Bu$h did the very same thing, they lauded his 'compassion'. And all one has to do is peruse some of the 'flamers' remarks right here in the threads of HuffPo to see the depths of their fear (and hatred of her because of that fear) of Sen. Hillary Clinton..! ;) ...

[edgeways]

I certainly agree that there are many men who dislike Mrs Clinton strictly because she is a woman in politics. I don't think, however, you can honestly say that all men, or even the majority, who dislike Mrs. Clinton are sexist, or do so because she is a woman. Even though I am a man I consider myself a feminist and it really saddens and angers me when I get painted a sexist simply because I do not support her, or feel she has run a particularly good campaign. The equivalent would be to say to every white voter who casts a ballot for Clinton is a racist, it is a stupid argument on either side. Yes, there are male sexists, and white racists, but I refuse to believe that the majority of either, males or whites are voting as such because of either -ism.

I have voted for many women running for political office, and one day I hope to vote for a woman running for president, but I am not supporting Mrs. Clinton in the primary for many reasons, none of which is because her adversary is male.

[Marrob]

HIllary "08" Obama can't win period!!!

[nomobull]

why because your vote outweighs millions of others

[misspeach2008]

I am appalled at the number of women who truly believe that Obama is better on women's issues than Hillary. A man who must meet and approve of his wife's new boss before allowing her to accept a job, who believes that abstinence education is the best choice while the number of young women with STD's is staggering, who thinks that having a child if you're unwed is "punishment", who is wishy-washy on Roe v. Wade, etc., etc. Every time an Obama supporter says we must back Obama if Hillary loses because of the Supreme Court, I say Obama can't be trusted with that any more than John McCain. I think that someone gave Hillary bad advice. She should have played her "gender card" by campaigning to the women. Real men would have applauded what she wants for their mothers, wives, and daughters. Women's issues are "family issues".

[lylo]

Wow. You get all that info from McCain's homepage, or what?

[edgeways]

I feel you are either not well informed, or are choosing not to be. I don't think Obama is necessarily better on women's issues then Mrs. Clinton, but I don't think he any worse.

Abstinence is one of the tools, not the only one, of what he was advocating, along with education, contraception and the right to have access to abortion services. Do you disagree that all of those are good to have as a package together? For some people abstinence works and should be given as an option along with other choices. Which is what he was talking about in regards to the punishment of an unwanted baby, if his daughters where in that situation they should have the right to choose to have an abortion. Are you pro-choice or pro-"life" becasue you are trying to slam him with both arguments.

Yes, Mrs. Clinton should have fired most of her campaign staff quite awhile ago, she did get bad advice, but was unable to discern that advice was bad. a positive family, health care, personal rights campaign would have been better. Ultimately, She was/is in charge of her campaign and the decision where hers. If this is how she would run the presidency how can we say it would be an effective presidency?

I recognize your anger and pain. I hope you feel better in the coming months and eventually can reengage in the process for the democrats in the fall.

[meileen]

Jeez. If she pandered to women, the press would crucify her about it. And Wednesday night was certainly not the 'primetime' for her to go out on a limb by pandering. (By the way, so much has been blogged here about the 50 minutes before issues came up. Perhaps if Obama answered the few questions directly rather than dancing around the issues, the timeframe would have not been as long.)



I like what Senator Clinton did yesterday in PA (intimate speaking with daughter and mom in tow), and wish she could do more of those get togethers. I'm sure some folks think it is cheesy, but I know she connects well in that type of environment.

[guatemalatimes]

Obama is the more “politically correct” candidate. Democrats have an epidemic of political correctness and lack of vision simultaneously.

Clinton is pragmatic and effective. She also is a women.
The US of A is seeing on of the darkest seasons of misogynistic media treatment and American males are certainly taking the opportunity to say what they really feel about powerful women, or women being in power. The average American male is less racist then they are “machistas”.

Is that what you call progress?
Very interesting sociological conclusion.

[LongTom]

"Clinton is pragmatic and effective." Any evidence of that?
The two most important projects she's managed--the 1993 health care task force and her 2008 presidential campaign--have been disasters snatched from the jaws of victory. In both instances, she had huge institutional advantages and she completely fumbled both of them. Nothing very pragmatic or effective about that!

[edgeways]

Or, heaven forbid, they could actually like him. You are being dismissive to an awfully lot of people. Most men who dislike Mrs. Clinton dislike this person. There are indeed sexists who wouldn't vote for Clinton just as there are racists who say Obama is an uppity ni**er. I wouldn't dream of calling yo a racist, even though you clearly dislike Obama, why should you call me a sexist because I dislike Clinton?

[texanna]

Maybe Sen. Clinton didn't appeal directly to women voters in the debate because she's tired of being beaten up as a whiner and her statements denigrated in the process. Sadly, I am pretty sure that I will be long-since dead before women will achieve equality in this country. Now why is that? Probably because there are millions and millions of men such as Gibbons that are surprised that there is a gender gap. I mean, it's not as if there has been a dearth of information out there about the glass ceiling or the pay gap. So typical of men, if something doesn't directly affect them they really can't be bothered.

[edgeways]

And the statement "So typical of men..." should be taken how? All men? Is that not sexist personified? The attribution of some specific behavior to an entire group? Because if all the men you know are like that my unsolicited advice is to find different men to hang out around. That is just as offensive as saying "So typical of women they don't care about...."

[texanna]

Alright, I'll modify, - so typical of so many men that unless something directly affects them they really can't be interested. Does that seem a more fair statement to make? Because, in my long years of experience of working with and dealing with men, that's been true. Tell me when was the last time that you made an effort to see things from a female point of view? Because, I can tell you that women constantly make an effort to see things from a male point of view in order to make our way through the male-dominant society that we've got.

[LongTom]

"So typical of women" to support a female candidate no matter how big a bullshit artist, nepotist, liar, fear-monger, race-baiter, and corporatist she is.

[texanna]

LongTom, first of all, I am not a Clinton supporter and I don't know why you lept to that assumption. Secondly, your second sentence is a perfect example of the level of mysogny that is so rampant in this country. Why do you feel so comfortable in tossing around those accusations? Why is it so completely OK to say and write those kinds of opinions about this woman? You might not like her policy positions or Senate voting record, both of which are so very similar to Sen. Obama's, but why not focus on that instead of the insults you tossed out here?

[LongTom]

"This is one seasoned feminist who's for her all the way."
Why? Just because she is the same gender? What the hell has she done to advance women's rights? Far less than most women in politics. You and other women are fools for supporting her. And what is a mother to tell her young daughter about Hillary as a role model? "See, if you marry a man and help him become president, you might get to run for president, too!" Or how about: "If you are applying for a job and don't have enough experience, just make it up!"

Hillary as a feminist is a joke. She's nothing but a political grifter and bullshit artist. She's using you. Wake up!

[TheEnticer]

Tom how long have you been a closet misogynist?

The answer to your questions "And what is a mother to tell her young daughter about Hillary as a role model? "See, if you marry a man and help him become president, you might get to run for president, too!" Or how about: "If you are applying for a job and don't have enough experience, just make it up!" "

Simple, if men can lie, why can't women? Old school feministas wont stop until a woman's right to lie is accepted and not criticized...
When Hillary was getting tough questions from the media, they were being misogynist and Hillary even complained in the debate ("why do I always get the first question, lets ask Barack if needs a pillow.. you sexist pigs") and now when Barack is saying media is bringing distractions Hill is going our calling Barack a "wimp".. wow.. talk about double standards.. But I guess they are ok.. as long as the woman wins .. we can all be certified as a truly progressive society by the likes of Martha and we can all sleep just a little bit better knowing we dont live in the dark ages..