The Battle of the Sex-ist between John McCain and Bill Clinton
I'm not sure who should win this week's award for Biggest Sexist in Politics. John McCain or Bill Clinton.
For that matter, we might also want to consider Pakistan's new president, Asif Ali Zardari, for the greeting he gave Sarah Palin when he first laid eyes on the 44-year-old hockey mom during their brief meeting yesterday at a New York hotel.
As the Los Angeles Times reported, the Pakistani leader swooned that Palin was "even more gorgeous" in person than he had imagined.
"You are so nice," Palin said demurely. "Thank you."
At which point, obviously sensing the gravity of the moment, a Zardari aide requested that the two new friends do a photo-op and shake hands.
"I'm supposed to pose again," Palin said coyly.
"If he's insisting," Zardari said gamely, "I might hug."
Unfortunately that's where the account of the photo-op ends so I can't confirm the hug.
Other than this knee-jerk (jerky?) diplomacy, you're probably wondering if they talked about anything foreign. Like, say, Pakistan's apparent problem with U.S. helicopters straying across its border with Afghanistan. Or the suicide truck bomb that destroyed the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad just the Saturday before, killing more than 40 people and wounding at least 200 more. I guess, as with most things McCain, we'll have to rely on hearsay or, in this case, the word of Palin's foreign policy tutor. The only print reporter permitted to hear her grave discussions with world leaders got nixed at the last second by the campaign.
Still kudos to Columbian President Alvaro Uribe, who didn't seem quite as smitten by the Alaska governor's looks. Maybe that's because he's from a much warmer climate where they don't appreciate the value of field dressing a moose or the idea that because you can see Russia from your state that you have awesome foreign policy credentials!
Which reminds me. As someone who has been to Mexico frequently and used to sneak across the Tijuana border with her high-school friends to drink, I'd like to apply for Ambassador to Mexico or Drug Czar.
But back to chauvinism. I'm not the only female reporter who's irate about the treatment our Republican v.p. nominee has been suffering at the hands of boorish male politicians. (Insert name of John McCain here.) Earlier this week Campbell Brown scolded McCain good for not treating Palin with the same dignity and respect he'd reserve for a male candidate by keeping her from the press. Not even letting her speak! What's he afraid of? Right on, Campbell!
In a week when middle-class people who'd lost their homes were being asked to save millionaire CEOs, this was the sanest thing I heard. As Brown pointed out, Palin is not only a "strong" woman but she's from Alaska, for god's sake! Surely, a gal who doesn't blink when it calls for shooting wolves from helicopters can handle a few city-slicker-reporters? Ya think?
Naturally I couldn't wait to see Katie Couric's interview with Palin.
Unfortunately the governor couldn't answer the one question about her running mate that I hoped (prayed?) she could. And that was to provide specifics on McCain's 26-year record curbing greed on Wall Street. When Katie couldn't get a straight (coherent?) answer from Palin the first time, she kindly gave her another chance. No go.
"I'll try to find ya some and bring 'em to ya!" Palin offered the CBS anchor helpfully, as if she were going to rush back to Wasilla to unearth some of Alaska's famed gigantic produce.
At least now we know the reason McCain won't let Palin roam too far from home.
As for Bill Clinton, did he not see Brown's speech? I guess not. Because on "Larry King Live" last night he gushed about Palin in the worst way. Praising her as if she were Hillary's soul mate. Never mind that the two women don't agree on anything, as "Saturday Night Live" pointed out in a hilarious skit on Clinton and Palin. Or that we have a pretty big election at stake and that Clinton sometimes has trouble saying the guy-who-beat-Hillary's name. (Psst! It's Barack Obama!) When King showed a clip of Palin complimenting Hillary for blazing the trail for her, the still-grieving president looked like he was going to cry.
"They like families that hang together," added Clinton of Palin's appeal to rural voters. "She and her husband and their kids come off as gutsy and real. I find her an appealing person."
And he doesn't think it's a "productive" use of "an ex-President's" time to criticize the inexperienced v.p. candidate.
I wonder if he would be so forgiving if Hillary and not what's-his-name had been the Democratic nominee?
Follow Mona Gable on Twitter: www.twitter.com/monalg
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I'm surprised nobody is really talking about one of the cutest Palin clips around -- the adorable one with her parents who are just as proud as they can be about their spunky little daughter, who "can do anything she sets her mind to." I could not imagine the same kind of interview taking place if Palin was a man. I think the bar has been set incredibly low because Palin is female. This nomination of Palin would have never happened if she was male. No one would think her ignorance or missteps were cute or amusing. I'm sorry, GW Bush was not this bad.
Actually, Clinton did what critical thinkers do, which is dismiss ad hominem attacks and do what a lot of people on the left are unwilling to do--acknowledge her charisma--her gritty, family, working class, small town appeal, and then slam every political position she has as being retrograde for many people who might also find her compelling. That's Clinton--why they call this Oxford educated politician, Bubba. Younger white working class women (and men) from small towns and Christian backgrounds that are going for Palin are not going to be convinced by the personal drumbeat against her, which sounds an awful lot like condescension and which they internalize as attacks against themselves. But they may after the past 8 years vote more in their own interests if they can be shown that voting for a Democrat would do so.
It's getting clearer and clearer that the marriage of ambitious convenience between McCain and Palin may find Mrs. Palin a bit disillusioned, while it's clear McCain already doesn't really hold her in much esteem, except as a trophy candidate. And one wonders after that meeting with the new Prime Minister of Pakistan what Mrs. Palin thinks about him wanting a little grope with her, at a time when US troops are crossing uninvited over into Pakistan and the Pakistanis are firing at our troops, brothers at arms with her own son, albeit in a different theatre of conflict.
Thanks. I tried to make this same point, but less articulately and with more swear-words. I was deleted for my troubles, so I'm relieved to see it stressed that Clinton is appealing to the undecideds who by definition see the appeal of both sides but need to be led to think practically..
the point that is being made is interesting. the problem is not so much the message as the messenger. if he is astute enough to see this, he should be astute enought o realize he is not the appropriate messenger. that's the problem...
Well, working-class people should be concerned that Palin seems to be enhancing the stereotype of the illiterate, ill-educated, closed-minded, small-town "bubba" or "bubbette".
She's quickly becoming the butt of jokes and the condescension is growing.
It amazes me that Bill Clinton can not see by now how obvious he is in his downgrading Obama...everyone else notes this. In fact right of center folks now suggest that he actually thinks McCain would be better for the country than Obama (see Roger Simon).
Bill: note thisl. If Obama loses and your wife runs, I will not vote for her in retaliation. And I like Hillary. I just don't want to see my nation under the GOP (a guy with PTSD and unreleased in full medical records), and his Alaskan huskie.
I think Campbell Brown was very clever. She was baiting the McCain campaign by saying if they suddenly believe that a female can actually be qualified to be vice president then prove it, let her be interviewed. Because if they don't let her speak, then that's just proof that all McCain and company really believe is that Palin is just a pretty face.
After seeing Sarah handle herself with Katie, I think Campbell might need to revise her assessment. Perhaps, the candidate needs the kid glove treatment.
I really felt for Couric in that interview. Not only did she have to keep a straight face, but hearing Palin gush inanities must have been as difficult for her to take as it is for Hillary.
Say what you want about Couric as an anchor, but she is certainly qualified, and he lack of ratings success may relate to hard-to-shake prejudices some viewers have about traditional gender rolls. When she spoke out about sexism toward Hillary, she may have been projecting her feelings about the way she has been treated.
And then Sarah Palin comes along and by her example, gives legitimacy to anything an sexist has ever said about women in high-authority jobs. How painful it must be for Couric to see this nitwit spouting these inanities and still somehow being taken seriously by some voters.
Her ignorance is shocking to see on TV. Imagine being in the same room when she's rambling like that.
I don't think that Campbell was actually being truthful. I think that the whole point is to goad McCain into letting Palin talk to the press, so everyone will see how ignorant she is.
In my woman's opinion, Katie's ratings have nothing to do with the fact that she is a woman. Bottom line, she is just not as good as her male co-workers. People have never made excuses for Barbara Walters because she is an excellent journalist. If Katie wants to play with the big boys and get some respect, she needs to step up her game.
For example Rachel Maddow, who is new on the scene, is getting better ratings than her male counterparts because she is, dare I say it, BETTER.
This is one reason why we women will never be considered equal. We scream discrimination when there is no discrimination present (ex. Hillary). If we ever want to be taken seriously, we need to pay our dues and do our jobs just as well or better than our male counterparts.
If you take a minute to examine Clinton's strategy, you'll see that what he's really doing is splitting the Republican vote. Republicans who are close to center are just as terrified of a McCain presidency as the rest of us. By acknowledging that Palin is a draw to Republicans (because face it, they are drawn to her), Clinton can then say, but she comes along with four more years of Republican policy. So, admire her, but vote for the better candidate. (Which we all know--and Clinton doesn't have to say--is Obama.) He's urging those kinds of Republicans and independent voters from the center to the left. Yes, towards Obama.
It's subtle. Perhaps too subtle for stark raving mad Obamaniacs to recognize its utility. But Clinton is no fool. He's doing what he has to do to win this election.
He's doing what he has to do to make his wife (and himself) viable candidates in 2012. Any sane student of politics knows what the Clintons think is going to happen over the next four years. Their banking on Obama "failing" to fulfill his pre-election promises, which he will do though no fault of his own owing to the incredible, thousand-year mess the Republicans have created in eight years.
During the 2009 primaries (yes, they will get started that early), expect to see both Clintons out campaigning feverishly for themselves, subtlety reminding people that they weren't all that enthusiastic about Obama in the first place.
The Clintons do subtlety very well, as you've stated.
No, this is a politically naive analysis of the situation. Clinton is the only Democrat who has managed to get elected to the highest office in, what, thirty year. Of course we should listen to what he has to say about how to succeed where others have failed.
Obama supporters make a very grave mistake when they mistake the other guy's supporters for imbeciles. They're not. They're misguided perhaps, but Clinton will guide them back to doing what's right, voting Democrat. Obama is far, far left--too left--to many Republicans. But they recognize that four more years of Republican rule would be deadly, so they're torn. They want to vote their party ticket, but they know it's an untenable position. What they need to hear in order to vote for him is that, yes, Palin and McCain are worthy people, but no, gentle voter, you're right in thinking that this country needs to take a different direction.
If he has an eye on a Hillary Clinton presidency in 2012, so what? He's not so dumb that he's going to throw Obama under the bus to reach that point.
Right ON!!
First of all, I actually watched the interview Mona is talking about. Clinton basically made a few "civil" remarks before attacking Palin for being far too conservative. And in it, he stated that "She and her husband and their kids come off as gutsy and real. I find her an appealing person."
Here's what I don't understand:
#1) He's talking about Palin's family
#2) It was the part of the platform that the second Bush family used when they ran for the White House in 2000.
#3) Anyone who knows any Republicans, knows that the charector of Palin's family is important to a significant portion of their voters. Clinton is acknowledging that fact and WHY Palin has INITIALLY been an asset.
Here's the Merriam Webster definition:
Main Entry:
sex·ism
Function:
noun
1: prejudice or discrimination based on sex ; especially : discrimination against women
2: behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex
How is what he said sexist? The family was a plus issue for George Bush in 2000 and a negative issue for Bill Clinton in 1996. I didn't hear screams of sexism when people were saying "George Bush is a family man" or when people were screaming "Bill Clinton is a horrible husband." No, the only sexist thing to do would be to completely ignore the fact that she has a family and that it has been an issue in this campaign simply because she's a woman.
If you like Palin so much why not move to Alaska where she'll be returning as Governor after the election?
Did anyone read Bill Clinton's latest attempt to undermine the Obama campaign?
"ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman Reports: Former President Bill Clinton defended Sen. John McCain's request to delay the first presidential debate, saying McCain did it in "good faith" and pushed organizers to reserve time for economy talk during the debate if the Friday plans move forward."
McCain is holding the election process hostage by refusing to debate, yet Clinton defends him. If the debate is canceled, it may not ever get rescheduled.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/bill-clinton-do.html
I'm moaning, Mona. Sarah Palin doesn't need any help from you or from Campbell Brown.
She signed onto McCain's ticket willingly, remember?
In fact, you may be the real sexist here as it seems beyond your consideration that Palin herself might be suggesting or crafting these campaign strategies -- such as nonavailability to the press -- or that she just may be as determined-to-win-at-all-costs, or as unscrupulous, or as devious as McCain and Co.
Sarah Palin can take care of herself -- and my guess is that entire circus surrounding her candidacy is in fact helping her do just that.
God...aren't we women glad we discovered the word sexist. Sexist this ..sexist that.....
Please could we coin a new term that encapsulates what is really taking place?
I second that.
Don't you get it? This is the insulation built in for all attacks. If you disagree with a woman - sexist, disagree with an African/American - racists, disagree with a neo-con - marxist, disagree with a gay - gayist? (just kidding) but you get the point. No one is allowed to simply disagree because there is always an underlying motive that can't simply be a difference of opinion.
It is amazing to watch the selfish ex prez pout and sabotage Obama's campaign. Hillary's camp through the KITCHEN SINK, using their own words, at Obama. Yet they whine as though he used that tactic against them. How can you use a kitchen sink strategy against someone and them act as though they treated you unfair? Plus, Bill talked about how important this election is. Yet he does everything he can to insure that the Democrats lose. Either he does not think its important for the Dems to win or his ego is being put above the good of the country.
I think the GOP got so scared that a tough, brilliant woman like HC came so close, that they decided to put G.I. Barbie on the ticket to scare voters into thinking women cannot lead. That's the real conspiracy.
Interesting take and worth noting.
Are you really insulted? I mean, I hardly think of Palin as a paragon of feminine virtue or whatever she's supposed to represent. She's about as knowledgeable as any Booo$hie. Booo$h should have garnered disdain for sounding like a fool -- many times over. Therefore, I'm not going to be upset if Palin is treated as a goober.
I'm insulted if she's treated better than that. I EARNED my credentials. Has she earned any respect or credentials?
Long time ago I had respect for Bubba.
I was angered when Republican's heckled him for eight years straight.
I was furious during the impeachment proceedings.
Now is a different matter.
He just won't let it rest, this Hillary defeat.
His compliments directed endlessly toward "folks he wouldn't vote for" while offering no recognition of 'the black guy who offed his wife", is curious at least.
So, I'm forced to ask the following question: Who is more concerned about himself than the country? Is it John McCain or Bill Clinton?
Bill Clinton has served his time. let's respect that...and move on!
Don't expect too much in respect to O. Let it be!
We'd all be glad to let it be but Clinton is doing this all over the place. Perhaps Clinton is a closet racist. Take that Bill that's my take. Tell the truth or we'll fill in the blanks. Or was that Joe Lieberman or Bill Clinton on Larry King can't tell the 2 apart?
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