The Real Feminist Thing To Do is Acknowledge Hillary's Failures as a Candidate and Move On

When wise pundits in 1987 asked potential candidate Pat Schroeder whether the Democratic Party should let a woman run again for Vice-President or President since the 1984 Mondale-Ferraro ticket had performed so poorly she said, ''The ticket was already down 19 points when she was put on it,'' adding ''perhaps they should not have put a man on the ticket; it was he who lost.''

I interviewed Elizabeth Edwards last week, and we touched on the effect of gender politics on this election, because 28 years later, we're still second guessing Hillary's presumed demise and wondering if it was because she was a woman. I asked Elizabeth, what do you think of the whole "bitch is the new black" approach- is that an effective strategy?

"No...I am concerned with the way in which the percentage of women voting for Hillary, the percentage of African Americans voting for Obama, will change. I'm afraid -- as many Democrats are -- of disaffection in these groups when their candidate is no longer in the race. Because the appeal has been made -- not so much by the candidates-- but certainly by surrogates and others -- this pitch has been made that this is important, for your gender, for your race. In a way it is important for them. But I'm concerned about the disaffection when the candidate is no longer in the race. That's the real argument for the forced marriage between them, is the possibility of disaffection."

I'd love an Obama-Clinton ticket. Gender is a hugely important consideration for me when considering who to vote for. But I completely disagree with Elizabeth on this point. If Hillary doesn't win the nomination women voters won't feel disaffected because the woman is out of the race. Do you really think those who say they won't vote for Obama if Clinton's out will show up on Election Day and pull the lever for McCain?? I feel Clinton's candidacy has opened the door for other women candidates, maybe even for Obama's (hat-tip to Donna Good).

I do feel disaffected by Hillary's campaign management, however, and I have changed my thinking on supporting Clinton. I feel disaffected that she ran a lousy campaign, she let Mark Penn make an ass of himself, she pursued a grassroots strategy stuck in 2000, and while proved she was tough, she failed to read her audience. I've no doubt sexism played a role. Do I want another woman presidential candidate in 2012? Absolutely! I want thousands of women candidates. I don't want Hillary anymore.

If feminists want Clinton to be seen as anything other than a token we need to recognize Clinton's merits, analyze her campaign's faults, and swiftly move on, as if a woman losing were the most normal thing in the world. Men lose all the time. Dwelling doth a token make, and then we'll be back in 1984, all over again.

Comments

[GromytTheDog]

Let's look at a few hypothetical situations just to see how strong or weak Clinton is as a candidate. Set aside both Obama and Bill Clinton from the picture for a minute.

How does Clinton stack up against the many female governors another poster listed below (of which four out of five of the Democratic women governors have endorsed Obama)? Compare her record as a legislator to governors Napolitano, or Sebelius, or senators Mikulski, Snow, Boxer or Feinstein, or Congresswoman Pelosi.

Or, look at how she'd do if she were the nominee and John McCain added Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the ticket. Could Clinton really match her foreign policy record and win against Rice?

http://momocrats.typepad.com/momocrats/2008/04/mccain-rice-and.html

Go back to the original article above, where it referenced Elizabeth Edwards and her concerns about "voter disaffection" helping McCain to win. Do we really want or need a 100 years' occupation of Iraq? Is more war and a tanking economy (the two are linked) worth "girl power," especially one who's been more macho than the guys lately?

Clarify why you're voting. It's ok to let Cinton go--she's too flawed a candidate. A better one will be ready by 2012. There's too much at stake to let shallowly-rooted voting choices based in identity politics be manipulated by sneaky Republican strategists.

[magen]

Note to feminists-

Obama supporters aren't anti-feminists.

We're anti-liar, anti-lobbyist, anti-war supporting vote, etc.

[frustratedinohio]

I am a part of Hillary's base. The older educated female part. And yes, I feel disaffected, but not simply because I wanted a woman President. I am bitter, if I can use that word without invoking what it means this week. I feel bitter because I feel she could have fixed everything Bush ruined. I don't believe Obama can do a damned thing. He's too inexperienced and believe it or not experience matters.

Secondly, I am bitter because of the way his supporters treat Hillary supporters. They pounce on us out here. It's ironic. Obama's going to bring everybody together, but first his supporters are going to rip you limb from limb for having a differing opinion. I never would have thought my fellow democrats could act this way.

I see that behavior not only here though, I see it on tv too. I see it with announcers who now run the "Obama Show" or the "I Hate Hillary Show". Is it Sexism? YES. I am almost 50 and I never really believed there was such a thing, but now I can see how ingrained it is in all of us.

So YES, I will be voting for McCain. He has experience and I really do believe he will win anyway. Like I said before, Obama just doesn't have what it takes. You can all rationalize that one for a little while longer, but once Hillary is gone, the republican machine will not play nicely.

[areaman03]

I'm just curious how you reconcile your logic here. You say on one hand "I feel bitter because I feel she [Hillary] could have fixed everything Bush ruined. "

But then, after criticizing Obama for a paragraph, you turn around and say "So YES, I will be voting for McCain. He has experience and I really do believe he will win anyway. "

Yet, McCain has openly espoused many of the same FAILED policies of the Bush administration--like all those things you accurately state that Bush has "ruined." Obama is running on essentially the SAME basic platform as Sen. Clinton (obviously there are nuances to that characterization) --so, at least in spirit, Obama and Hillary are in agreement and would most likely work toward similar ends, albeit thru different methods.

I don't believe you when you say: "I feel disaffected, but not simply because I wanted a woman President. " What OTHER RATIONAL could you possibly have if you are so willing to let McCain continue to carry the flag of Bush's failures on for another 4 years?

If you care AT ALL about what you think Hillary stands for, then why on EARTH would you vote for McCain over Obama? Even if you don't think Obama can "do a damned thing"--at least you could agree with what he COULDN'T get done, as opposed to disagree with what he could.

There is just not much logic to your statement. Maybe you should just stay home come Nov.

[frustratedinohio]

Yes, in a way it is voting for more of the same, but I absolutely believe that Obama should not be President. His inexperience is scary and he doesn't seem like someone who will take the advice of his advisors. He is arrogant in that way. I guess I am afraid that he could do some real damage. McCain, while I might not like where he steers the ship to, I know he knows how to steer. Plus like I said I'm bitter. The people who feel disaffected will probably come around by November. The people who feel bitter will not.

[CalGoldenBear]

Well said and reasoned, areamano3!

[Morra Aarons-Mele - Huffpost Blogger]

No! Don't do it! I agree the Republican machine will be awful, but on the issues remember, Hillary and Obama are so similar.

I do agree with you that Obama supporters are nasty to Hillary supporters online, and it doesnt usually go the other way.
Morra

[TimRivers]

I have NEVER had a problem with a female President and I look forward to the day when we have someone who is imminently qualified to do that. For me and my family, its been a case of "Of course there will be a woman President - Just this THIS (Clinton) woman!"

[frustratedinohio]

Is the fact that you forgot the "not" a freudian slip? I think that secretly you want to vote for "just this woman".

[SEQUOIABISON]

Wow Morra, very brave, very intellectually honest and very admirable.

Finally we have a woman who is being honest about what she sees and does not stand by her candidate no matter what she says.

Far too many women have been blindly supporting Hillary based on the singular issue of her gender, it is refreshing to read a candid explanation of why Morra is no longer voting for Hillary.

[hwebb54]

How can women be wishing for the demise of Hillary Clinton? Most of you have bought into a perception that the media and Republicans have fed you. If you have watched this election closely, how could you not cringe when hecklers told her to "IRON MY SHIRT" or when Chris Matthews said the only reason she was a Senator was because her husband "fooled around", never thinking of her Wellesley and Yale degrees and her brilliant mind. Why would you buy into something that you have never saw her do? For all that say, "well she voted for the war so I'm not voting for her!" I invite you to go to youtube and watch her speech she gave before casting that vote. Keep in mind that it was her home state of New York that was mostly impacted in 9/11 and it was 2002 when NO ONE knew that George Bush was a lying warmonger. I just can't see how any woman who has been treated like they weren't capable of doing a man's job could pass up this chance to put a smart strong woman into the White House. What is so strange about this is the Republican's have been trying for 30 years to take Hillary Clinton down and now it is her own party that she has fought tooth and nail for all these years turning on her for an unknown candidate. I can honestly say today, I am ashamed to be a Democrat.

[TimRivers]

"Keep in mind that it was her home state of New York that was mostly impacted in 9/11 and it was 2002 when NO ONE knew that George Bush was a lying warmonger."

Give me a BREAK!!!! You should revise that statement to "no one knew GWB was lying - UNLESS THEY READ THE FULL INTELLIGENCE REPORT AS RECOMMENDED instead of just reading the brief prepared by the Bush administration lackeys! She - to quote a military term here - screwed the pooch on her vote and to this day cannot bear to utter the words - I MADE A MISTAKE!

[Aaror]

If Hillary had never married Bill, would you know who she is???
No, you wouldn't.
Hillary is the anti-feminist female candidate. If she was elected, all that folks would say is that she was elected to give Bill another term. Is that the legacy you want from the first female candidate? Well, a woman president is OK, as long as she has a strong man to run the presidency for her?
If you want a female president, you need a Nancy Pelosi or Cindi Sheehan or even Oprah. A woman who has risen on her own merits, not on the coattails of her husband. That goes double for the first one!

[frustratedinohio]

First of all, if Hillary had never married Bill, she would have been President already.

Secondly, Oprah for President? Cindi Sheehan? What qualifies them to be President? Or do qualifications mean nothing to you? Nancy Pelosi, who didn't have the guts to impeach Bush and you want her for President. Well, I can see that Hillary has just been lost on you. She doesn't have her own daytime tv program.

[Syco]

Once again there is a double standard in her favor

[Rockerbabe]

It always amazes me that the pundits, have never run for anything in their pitiful lives are always comment on that which they know so little, if nothing about - being perfect and running a "better" campaign. How dare Hillary Clinton be less than perfect! The nerve! As if we all lived in a perfect world! George Bush, Jr. not withstanding.
So since Hillary isn't perfect, she gets kicked to the curb by the the younger "feminist"? Get real. The younger crowd takes for granted that which their mothers were denied in their youth. This feminist doesn't buy all the garbage the younger crowd is espousing - the fact is THEY are the ones who just don't get it. You stick by your candidate (it is called teamwork), warts and all, because that is how you reach the goal. Obama will do nothing for me or any other woman, except take our vote for granted; he is the black male candidate and that doesn't necessarily translate into a broad range of support or opportunity, even with men. The fact that Hillary has gotten this far in this age of overt chronic sexism (as exhibited by women of stature as well as men) is testimony to her tenacity as well as appeal to a broad range of voters; and a sincere belief that another member of the Boy's Club just isn't good enough anymore. InGeorgia we have write-in votes and Hillary will get my vote. I refuse to hold my nose

[frustratedinohio]

Good points and well said Rockerbabe.

[Mesaywar]

So, basically, even though she has won fewer primaries and caucuses than Obama, won fewer pledged delegates, raised much less money (even though she is the wife of former president Clinton), she is the best candidate because........she is a white woman. Makes sense to me. Thanks for the info.

[frustratedinohio]

He is winning by 1% in the popular vote. You are right about him raising more money though. He has outspent her 4:1 most of the time and she's still running and doing very well on much less money.

[Morra Aarons-Mele - Huffpost Blogger]

Oh, I appreciate what Hillary's done. What all feminists older than I have done. But I don't forgive her bad management, the same way I would not forgive anyone in a position of real power else bad management. That's equal opportunity.

[WorkingClass]

"Men lose all the time" This is profound.

[jsinclair]

I'm a feminist and I definitely DON'T want an Obama/Clinton ticket. Those of us who don't support her, feel her positions as a senator (Iraq, Terry Schiavo, Kyl-Liberman, NAFTA, support for Bush...on and on) were either ill-chosen or purely opportunistic.

Many who don't want an Obama/Clinton ticket think her campaign has been badly managed---both the attacks on Obama (subtle and blatant) and the incompetent money management and infighting among her ("veteran!") staffers.

Obama doesn't need it. There are many better VPs around (Richardson, Webb, Warner, for example). And they don't come with Hillary's baggage (record on Iraq, lies through the years...Bill).

Obama will put together a great team. He should have carte blanche to do so.

[happytrails]

When all is said and done, one must look at the record. For all her "experience" Clinton has accomplished little and voted for too many things which I abhor. Bottom line, I would NOT vote for her if she were a MAN.
As a woman, my vote for Clinton would be merely "sexist."
AND THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

[karela]

"The real feminist thing to do is acknowledge Hillary's failure as a candidate and move on".---AMEN

[angryhumanist]

Absolutely! It is not good enough ... perhaps next time around, an excellent woman candidate will be running.

[Melissa]

I have given up on Hillary and will be voting for McCain in November.

[Syco]

So when the draft is reinstated I know who to thank

[northcan]

Hillary Clinton as a presumed 'feminist', or a 'presumed' worthy candidate for any political position on the scene, was really a non-starter. They despised her in Arkansas, 'fired' from the 'Watergate scandal against Nixon', put on the 100 Best lawyers in America by her own husband. Bought her way into a 'senators' position in 2000.

Already 'labelled', the most dishonest lawyer t....and Ferraro thinks the 'boys' are picking on her. She was never qualified..... If she was 'ever' vetted she would be in a slimy jail in Arkansas. or D.C. when she failed the 'investigation' into Nixon's crimes. She an activist for her own cause, not America's people. The 'chickens have come home to roost Hillary'. I heard she wouldn't even take the Governor's job in NY, or Arkansas. She wouldn't hear of it. She want's to be "Commander In Chief"

Listened to Howard Wolfson this morning, lie, lie, Kike McLean last night ..lie, l It's sad when you sell your integrity for a 'future' with a "unworthy" candidate. Thier own citizen's blogging against the Hillary Camp and all it's branch's.

I read the PA blogs daily......they are angry, bitter, frustrated. People are saying the own PA politicians are not listening to them. They conclude Hillary is "out of touch". Hillary claims their happy, strong. They are angry with her and voicing it on PA blogs, but the media is not picking it up. Thousands daily voicing their concern. Shame on Hillary and Rendell.

[ctom]

Misogynist? Never heard this word before 2008 elections and had to look it up. At first glance, sounded like an ingredient to a Japanese soup. After looking it up, I still think it's some weird Japanese soup.

Having said this, I don't see how feminist's interests are served by supporting Clinton. If anything, there is a greater risk that Clinton, if she prevails and that's a big if, will leave behind a bad taste and set back every other aspiring women politician. Hillary is faulty. If she was a car, we'll call her "Pinto" and look how that did to Ford cars. Just the same, Hillary's negativities will fairly or unfairly rub off on other women. As Ford cut its losses on the Pinto perhaps it's time that women take an objective view of Hillary. Is she really what women aspire to be and does she represent the values of women? I'd doubt it.

[Aussie10]

Hillary's the smartest of the lot and I trust with Bill's input, at least the country will be back on its feet.

The good thing if Hillary wins is that women are not given equal chances in the rest of the world either, and the world follows America much of the time.

As an Australian woman, I'm hoping Hillary wins and not long after, women in my country and others will be smashing through the glass ceiling as well.

Women have had the short end of the stick for thousands of years. What kind of opportunities do you want for your daughters and granddaughters? lower pay and lower status for their lives too?

[estreya]

I'd like our daughters and granddaughters to have a President that represent their interests and inspires their better angels. Hillary Clinton does not have what it takes to be that kind of President.

[AnninCA]

Obama seems to inspire a lot of hate and anger, so I don't think we're on the right track if that's the standard.

[ddc]

Really, she, her husband, and their so-called political machine blew her inevitable nomination to hell and they all are on the verge of imploding the Democratic party. What would she do to our nation? I dont' want to...wait a minute, you're not even American. Why am I wasting my time responding to you. Elect your own damn female president.

[Mesaywar]

I wish for my daughters to have a fair and equal opportunity to make it on their own merits.

Were Hillary's last name not Clinton, as in wife of former president Bill Clinton, no one would be taking her badly managed candidacy seriously.

You explained the Hillary phenomenon yourself when you wrote, "and I trust with Bill's input,"

I don't hear people saying, "and I trust with Michelle's input, Obama can run the country."
Nor do I hear, " and I trust with Cindy's input, McCain can get the job done."

However, I hear your sentiments expressed by at least half the Clinton supporters I speak with.

What is that nonsense? Should she be unable to complete her presidency, Bill isn't going to take over. Is he?

Ask yourself honestly, how many people are really voting for her because they want to have those mythical Bill Clinton glory days back?

[missjabez]

Aussie10, it's obvious you haven't been following the campaign in depth, which would probably be hard to do, since you are thousands of miles away. A female president could be a wonderful thing--the problem is, Hillary does not fit the bill. You can't just vote for someone because she's a woman. She does not have the character and class to be president.

[CalGoldenBear]

Aussie10:

"[W]omen in my country and others will be smashing through the glass ceiling as well" in the now unlikely event that HRC get (steals) the Dem nomination and gets elected POTUS 44.

Maybe you should look around -- Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain (1979), Golda Meir in Israel (1969) , Indira Gandhi in India (1966), Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan (1988), and now current German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2005) have already been breaking the "glass ceiling" for women in politics over the last few DECADES.

There are other female American politicians who are far more capable, experienced, ethical, and attractive than HRC.

Most of the people, male and female, who have posted on this topic are concerned with those and other qualities and qualifications, NOT the candidate's gender or ethnic background, when they vote.

[martina1965]

"There are other female American politicians who are far more capable, experienced, ethical, and attractive than HRC. " Like who?

[frustratedinohio]

Hey CalGoldenBear, I'll bet you'd like Oprah to be President. Or maybe someone like Anjelina Jolie. Would she be attractive enough for you?

[starboymikey]

I'm all in favor of a woman POTUS. When someone like Barbara Boxer runs, she'll have my vote.

I support Obama not because he's African American, but because of his character. I can't support Hillary because of her lack of same. Her gender has nothing to do with it.

[farseer]

I wish obama's mama could have run for pres. I would have voted for her. She seems to have been a truly great person. sad that she died at 52.

[CalGoldenBear]

farseer:

Presumably, you've read the cover article in this week's Time magazine by Amanda Ripley,
"Raising Obama: How his mother made him who he is." It's a nice article on his mother.

Then there's Kenneth T. Walsh's article in this week's U.S. News & World Report, "Chicago's Presidential Classroom." Below that, it says "Two decades in Windy CIty politics shaped Obama's political aspirations." I haven't read that article yet.