|
||
Hillary and Jackie
Ask my ten-year-old Little Leaguer, Charlie, who his all-time favorite baseball player is and you won't hear Jeter or Berkman or Big Papi. Nor even Mickey Mantle, whose autographed picture hangs in Charlie's room -- a gift from The Mick to Charlie's dad.
Without hesitation Charlie will say, "Jackie." As in Jackie Robinson. Not only was Jackie one of the greatest to ever play the game, his very presence in the game changed it forever and for the good.
So it is with Hillary. Her presence in the presidential campaign has not only been impressive on the merits, it's been historic for what she has had to overcome just to do her job. The sexist signs: "HEY, HILLARY: IRON MY SHIRT!" "QUIT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND MAKE ME A SANDWICH!" The Hillary Clinton nutcracker (get it?), and all the rest.
I expected that. What I did not expect was for the so-called mainstream media to behave little better than the bigots on the streets outside her events.
- The radio clown Glenn Beck called Hillary a "stereotypical bitch" and yet is treated as if he had something serious to contribute to CNN Headline News and ABC.
- MSNBC gave a platform to the magician-cum-comic-cum-crank Penn Gillette, who said Hillary did well in March because it was "White Bitch Month."
- Alex Castellanos, on a night when Hillary was winning a primary by 35 percent, told CNN's audience that Hillary is called "a bitch" because, well, some people deserve to be called by that epithet.
- MSNBC's Chris Matthews said Hillary owed her entire career to her husband's marital mistakes (and then, manfully, apologized).
- The Washington Post broke the news flash that Hillary, in fact, has cleavage.
Her figure, her clothes, her hair, her voice - all of it mocked and savaged in a way unimaginable if she were a man. She has not only endured the jeers and the sneers and the smears, she has triumphed over them. She never answered their hate with rage. She just went on winning.
Just like Jackie.
Women have been running for President since 1872, when Victoria Woodhull ran on the Equal Rights Party platform. And yet no woman -- from the estimable Shirley Chisoholm to the remarkable Pat Schroeder to the impressive Elizabeth Dole -- has ever won even a single primary. Until Hillary. She not only won 20 primaries, she earned 17 million votes in the primaries -- more than any woman before her. And more than any man before her as well.
To be sure, she's made her share of mistakes. As a strategist I have long seen her effort as an example of a candidate outperforming her campaign strategy at every critical juncture. Still, Jackie Robinson struck out hundreds of times.
The Democratic Party has decided, wonderfully, bravely, remarkably, to double-down on history this election. And so Hillary's struggle against sexism has played out parallel to Barack Obama's graceful and courageous rise above racism. He, too, has endured taunts and threats and bigotry. He, too, has answered hatred with dignity. He, too, knows how Jackie must have felt.
So when Barack praises Hillary's tenacity, her trailblazing spirit, it is not patronizing, as some Hillary supporters have suggested. It is, I think, an empathetic expression of a powerful truth. Nobody -- not even her husband -- can fully appreciate what Hillary has overcome. Except Barack.
For me this primary season ends where it began: with the firm conviction that there is no need to vote against anyone, but rather to vote for someone. I am so proud of the person I voted for. I do not know if a gal who grew up following the Cubs in the National League and the Yankees in the American League has ever stopped to think of the trailblazing Dodger. But I know this: if you ask Charlie who his favorite politician is, he unhesitatingly replies, "Hillary."
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
It is just Mind boggling to me that her terribly ran campaign just CAN'T be the reason the inevitable candidate lost.
Hillary seemed to be suffering from multiple personality disorder. Her campaign was run terribly - she should have easily been the nominee - as almost everyone assumed she'd be. Obama and his people looked at the rules of the primarys and caucuses and figured out a strategy to win and executed it almost perfectly. Hillary ignored the caucuses and small states and, as a result, went down to defeat. Being a woman wasn't why she lost. I feel for her - but she was beaten fairly by a better organised campaign that made very few mistakes. Of course, there are sexist fools - and the talk radio cess pool is filled with all sorts of them that say all kinds of b.s. that plays the race card and everything else, including throwing the kitchen sink (which Hillary tried herself). Using sexism is an excuse to cover over incredible hubris and entitlement which were the main things that contributed to the defeat of an "inevitable" nominee. I inderstand the discouragement of the Clinton supporters but the truth should be acknowledged even if it hurts. We all can learn something when we are able to accept reality.
The sexist stupidity was out there, no doubt about it. The inside of Chris Matthews' head I always imagined to look like one of those lotto machines full of ping-pong balls; no way to tell what's going to pop out of his mouth next.
You are also right about the trailblazing nature of Hillary's run, but a nod to Shirley Chisholm is due. She didn't run in a world that had experienced Margaret Thatcher and Angela Merkel, who made the idea of a female head of state mainstream before Hillary. Shirley Chisholm would be my Jackie Robinson.
Everybody should look at Chancellor Merkel, whom we mostly know only from her horrified reaction to Dubya's kneading her shoulders. She didn't spend her entire life in politics, she's a physicist who was doing quantum chemistry research.
Maybe it's just me but it really seems that most of the venom slung at Hillary comes from other women. The 1st time I heard the sexist complaint was 2 weeks ago when all hope was lost. Personally I said 4 years ago that Hillary should be president and I thought that we should try a womans Prospective in the White House To see if things would get Better, However Hillary ran for President as The Best MAN for the Job. she never clung to womanhood until it appeared to be her best weapon against Obama, Just as she became the candidate of blue collar WHITES when it suited Her. That is Sexist and racist and that is still not why I stopped supporting her. Obama just had a better message and once he had it in the bag and she kept attacking him, Then and only then i got sick of her. Her Gender only mattered to herself, as she looked for an excuse why she lost.
It's true that Hillary started out trying to be one of the boys, to beat them at their own game. She only put on the mantle of womanhood when she started losing. She decided to exploit that angle. Using her gender to her advantage and as a political wedge. If she had started out running as a woman she would not have voted for an elective war (pun intended). She was trying to prove she had testicular fortitude (sexist remark?). Nurturing women don't want to obliterate people. The women who ended up her diehard followers did so to push their own agenda. It's also sexist to not want to vote for Obama because he is not a woman.
It's also true that Hillary has accomplished much. That she is someone to admire. It's too bad she didn't feel that her own life was itself a message to run on. It's also too bad that she encircled herself with advisers who only saw the finish line and not the journey.
She is not gracious, she still blames everything on anything else except her. She not only went on winning but more whining, sexism, the media etc always the other guy!!
D. Feinstein all over the T.V. say Obama can't win with out Hillary, see she Feinstein is out of touch Hillary can't win without Obama, wheather it for vp or another run at the senate, because if she is pick for the vp spot, a lot of African Americans and young people are just going to stay home, and if Obama lose, guess who is going to be blame, that's right Hillary and all those I will not vote for Obama, and if she run for the senate a lot of African Americans and and young people are not going to vote for her in New York so maybe she can get D. Feinstein and those angry women to come to New York and vote for her.
You can spin all you want, Mr. Begala, but it will NOT bring my dead son back.
Hillary knew what a liar George W Bush is yet she still gave him a blank check.
That blank check killed my son.
Mr Obama made the right decision on the war. Hillary didn't. That's why she didn't get my support.
If those 17,493,836 voters could vote again, how many would vote for Hillary Clinton again? Californians would switch from CLINT0N to 0Bama: http://cbs5.com/politics/poll.clinton.obama.2.720136.html
As a professional woman close to Hlllary's age, I thought her campaign stunk to high heaven from its earliest days. If ever there was a woman who has not experienced sexism, Hlllary is that woman. She would have won this race had she been authentic, honest, and well, NOT been who she is. That was the problem.
The vast majority of Americans would have no problem with women or blacks or any other member of a minority becoming President if those trying to get into leadership positions behaved as American leaders and didn't exploit our differences.
The CLINT0NS ran a shameful campaign. They and everyone associated with them need to spend the rest of their days making up for the damage they've done to the Dem Party and the American people in general and the 0bama family, the black caucus and black Americans who were so cruelly betrayed by the CLlNTONS. Hlllary needs to forget about a spot on the ticket or in an 0bama administration, and work tirelessly explaining to her supporters how she duped and exploited them for her own personal success.
As Coroner I must aver,
I thoroughly examined her.
And she's not only merely dead,
She's really, most sincerely dead.
Then this is a day of Independence,
for all the Democrats and their descendants.
Poor Paul. Didn't like what I said about you, the DLC & the Clinton's failures, huh? Hit a little too close to home?
The DLC is dead. Long live the Democratic Party.
I agree that the things cited that have been said about HRC were just wrong. There is no if, and, or but about it. I believe that same people that said these things about her are the very same element of the campaign who also comparably criticized Senator Obama. There are fringe elements in every campaign, who despite the candidates wishes or beliefs strike out in indefensible ways like playing the sexist or racist card. The internet, and it anonymty allows the writer to hide and I believe there were/are many posing as Obama and Clinton loyalists who are neither. With that said, however, the candidate who did the most to stir up loyalists to believe that race really did matter, guilt by association really was an acceptable campaign tactic, and personal attacks just come with the territory can be laid to rest in only one place in the Democratic Primary.
Yes, Barack has endured taunts, threats and bigotry.....from Hillary and her campaign surrogates.
He withstood taunts about his strength, virility, manhood...whether he could "close the deal" - a veiled reference to sexual virility.
Hillary herself invoked RFK's assassination as a reason for staying in contest - while knowing full well Barack has been receiving severe death threats. She then apologized to Senator Kennedy, but pointedly refused to apologize to, or even acknowledge the Obama's for any distress this might have caused.
Barack has been called a plagiarist by Hillary. He was said to only have speeches, and even those were not really his because they were plagiarized.
Hillary excluded Barack from the "clique" of those considered acceptable by saying that John McCain was her friend and they were qualified to be commander in chief while Barack was not.
Hillary mocked Barack's supporters for having hope.
We, the people know what Hillary and her campaign has done to Barack, his family and to the American people.
We know the psychological trauma she has wrought. We know the racism she has inflamed - rolling into those small towns, stirring up hatred and leaving the tiny minority populations to deal with the fallout. Hillary and her campaign created a hell for these people to live in.
We will not forget, Paul. And, no matter how much you try to conflate her traitorous, irresponsible, disgraceful behavior with Barack's dignity and grace - no matter how much you try to rewrite history WE WILL NEVER
Get a grip...traitorous! That's hilarious!!
I think you mean, "Hillaryious."
Traitor -
1. a person who betrays another, a cause, or any trust.
2. a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country.
Hillary stated that McCain was her friend, and qualified to be Commander in Chief despite McCain saying that Chelsea was ugly because Janet Reno was her father.
McCain laughed at a questioner who referred to Hillary as a bitch. At no time did Hillary directly accuse McCain of sexism or misogyny. Stating that McCain is more qualified to be Commander in Chief than Barack Obama, is traitorous to the Democratic party.
An elected official who uses racially divisive tactics to win an election is a traitor to all citizens, especially minority citizens. Elected officials are expected to set an example of leadership and not incite hatred.
Traitor -
1. a person who betrays another, a cause, or any trust.
2. a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country.
Hillary has betrayed the trust of women by suggesting McCain is more qualified to be Commander in Chief. McCain has consistently opposed progressive policies for women.
Everyone was wondering what they were going to have to give Hillary to get her to go away. What they are letting her get away with is calling "sexism" and running for the hills. Good riddance. I watched this campaign like a hawk. Don't kid yourselves people, this election had NOTHING to do with sexism except what Hillary brought to it. Racism? Nope, except what Hillary brought to it. We're going to ignore this crap, because we need to get Obama into office. But don't push it Hill fans, this is a total falsehood and is only being allowed to fly because your candidate is a lunatic (Ferraro, anyone?) and has to be dealt with like she's not all there. Disgusting...
Everyone was wondering what they were going to have to give Barack to get him to go away. What they are letting him get away with is calling "racism" and running for the hils. Good riddance. I watched this campaign like a hawk. Don't kid yourselves people, this election has NOTHING to do with racism except what Barack brought to it. Sexism? Nope, except what Barack brought to it.
We're going to ignore this crap, because we need to get Hillary into office. Don't push it Bar fans, this is a total falsehood and is only being allowed to fly because you candidate is a lunatic(Reverend Wright, anyone?) and has to be dealt with like he's not all there. Disgusting....
Good luck with that. Outside of a group of sexists and racists, the American people refused to play identity politics and nominated Obama. I realize there will be no reasoning with you folks, so I am done trying, and intend to focus my attention on the real problem, John McBomb'emAllLetGodSort'emOut. Obama has been nothing but gracious and classy in the face of unbelievable bias. Outside of one's own bubble of perception... ahem... it is really quite outrageous.
You are a jerk and not a good one at that, just go away and vote for McCain, maybe he'll call you a cunt like he did his wife and may that would put a smile on your face, but we do not need you so just go away
Becky, "hard working people, white people" came from the mouth of the former candidate herself. Look up what her advisor/pollster Mark Penn did. He and Bill helped lose her the election.
Reverend Wright was one of the preachers Bill turned to following the entire Monica circus, did you know? Guilt by association is not a tactic anyone who loves the Clintons ought to try.
Hillary urged us to look forward, and excellent idea. Bear in mind McCain made nasty jokes about young Chelsea's looks, cheated on the wife who nursed him back to health when she was ill, left her for a beautiful beer heiress whom he called a c**** in public. God knows what happens in private. Letting him win would be a slap in the face of all women. And the country.
If this is how its gonna be for Hillary just imagine how the Bush fans will treat dubya on January 22.
George Bush will go down in History as the greatest decider ever.
George Bush the man you want to drink a beer with.
Geprge Bush the compasionate conservative.
George Bush the most athletic President ever to work out in the White House.
George Bush his dog is named Barney
George Bush even Cheney loved him.
George Bush rah rah sis coom bah.
This is exactly how I see all the Hillary fawning going on. What exactly is wrong with the truth?
She ran a crappy campaign based on fear, intimidation and division and the American people overwhelmingly rejected her.
17 MILLION VOTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't you count?
Agree that she wasn't "overwhelmingly rejected." Some of those millions were Rush chaotics, and Begala nicely parses his claim about Hillary's winning more votes in the primaries---remember caucuses? but Hillary still got a lot of votes.
About 'we'll take our votes elsewhere" chest thumping, beware; it cuts two ways. Hillary, if she is ever to run again, needs Obama's 17 million votes too, and THEY can also go elsewhere. We can keep spite-voting, and guarantee the GOP a permanent presidency! You see where that goes?
You forgot to mention how good Bush is at clearing brush, and also that Jesus told him to invade Iraq.
Paul Begala; I have followed your Clinton family for 16 years. You lied for them, mocked other's for them, verbally assaulted others in their name, you were part of the Clinton Family, that used drama for 16 bloody years to promote yourselves, instead of dealing with terrorism, economy (don't tell me Bill Clinton's economy success- it was the internet age, the cyber age and production by private companies that excelled, not Clinton), he created NAFTA but took kickbacks from foreign countries that has destroyed our economy, around the World. He was shortsighted to say the least, far sighted to think themselves still relevant. Sorry Paul, you and Carville also in that basket.
Sexism began on Fox News network by Geraldine Ferraro, adopted immediately (best bud's) by her and her campaign near the end of the primaries as another shot at inequality. Everything else has already been thrown out to American voter's except this. Good Job Geraldine. She spent 4 X on Fox News in the last week of this campaign. She is the source of sexism....
America doesn't mind drama if it is about the American citizen's, voter's or politician's in a small way, but Paul you have to admit.....................................THE DRAMA, THE DRAMA....IS TOOOOOOOO MUCH with this couple. Honestly. Their ordinary folk, who got a break they didn't appreciate. That is it. End of Story. Goodnight Paul Begala
Begala=Another Tone-deaf Talking Head
Hillary set new frontiers for gracelessness, even outdoing Bill's own worst efforts in some cases.
Yes, and now they're frantically doing damage control to rewrite history and paint her in a heroic light.
I would not point to Hillary as a role model for my daughter. I would not tell my daughter to mock her opponent or to blame others when she has lost.
I would expect my daughter to act as honorably when she loses as when she wins.
"I do not know if a gal who grew up following the Cubs in the National League and the Yankees in the American League..."
WTH???? Does Mr. Begala really believe that? Those words remind me of the reasons that I don't trust Hillary.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
