One is the Loneliest Number

From The Hill's Pundit Blog:

Hillary Clinton, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, implied today that she has been treated differently in this campaign because she is a woman. While I know sexism exists and is a sad part of our society, I challenge the notion that somehow it's easier for an African-American candidate than a female one.

There are currently 14 female U.S. senators: Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). There is currently a single African-American senator, Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who is only the third elected since Reconstruction.

There are currently eight female governors in America: Linda Lingle (R-Hawaii), Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.), Janet Napolitano (D-Ariz.), Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.), Kathleen Blanco (D-La.), M. Jodi Rell (R-Conn.), Christine Gregoire (D-Wash.), and Sarah Palin (R-Alaska). There is currently a single African-American governor, Deval Patrick (D-Mass.).

Women have been elected statewide all over the country, including in many states that Hillary Clinton lost. She didn't lose those primaries because she's a woman, she lost them because her message doesn't resonate with voters. To say it any other way is a cheap play of the gender card. Shame on YOU, Hillary.

Follow Ryan J. Davis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ryannewyork

Comments

[jsarets]

While we're contemplating the numbers... Women make up 51% of America. African-Americans make up 12%. A female candidate has a substantial natural advantage over a black candidate in playing identity politics. If a female candidate is a little weak with male voters, it's not the end of the word. If a black candidate can't appeal to white voters, it's game over.

[seejake]

I don't see too many female politicians parroting Clinton's lines.

[diamondprynzez]

Mr. Davis,

Make that seven female governors. Kathleen Blanco (D-La.) is no longer the governor, she was replaced by Bobby Jindal (another historical candidate).

[ozamerican]

She wasn't singing this tune in 2007 when she was well ahead in the polls and considered the inevitable nominee.

What's happened to her isn't because of her gender; it's the result of a terribly botched campaign.

Indeed, shame on YOU, Hillary, for blaming anything and anyone but yourself for your demise.

Let's put a fine point on it just so it's clear. Why did you support the war? Where are your personal finance records? Where is the correspondence and documentation of your White House years?

It's not because of your gender that we find your prevarication on these issues disturbing.

And, also, how about your management abilities, so clearly on display via your campaign?

Look at what you've given us. Everyone was behind you until, well, you dropped the ball, Big time. Don't blame it on gender.

And don't ever for a minute try to convince anyone that white women have had a tougher time than blacks in politics, or anywhere else, for that matter.

Please, just continue your campaign of hopelessness until you finally reach the bitter end, at which point you and everyone else will finally be done with it, for better or for worse, and in more ways than one.

[MzTexas]

"While I know sexism exists and is a sad part of our society, I challenge the notion that somehow it's easier for an African-American candidate than a female one."

That would be because you are a man and have not suffered sexism in this country. Racism is universally accepted in this country as being a bad thing (well, by thinking individuals). On the other hand, sexism is culturally ingrained. The sexism which has been exhibited on MSNBC and other "news" outlets is extremely offensive. Obama has had the media running interference for him . . . they are EXTREMELY careful with the things they say and they are quick to cry "racism" when any mention of Obama's outward appearance . . . a reminder, Mr. Obama is just as white as he is black; therefore, the assumption based upon the color of his skin that he is a "black" man is racist, in and of itself. It denies his heritage. When someone uses Mr. Obama's complete name . . . racism is alleged. When Obama's skin color is noted . . . racism is alleged.

Hillary, on the other hand, is subjected to every sort of sexism imaginable and there's a lot of knee-slapping and good ol' boy yukking it up.

Until you've experienced sexism OR racism, I don't think you really have much right to comment on either.

[ndolomar]

ok, i'll bite. i'm a woman AND african-american, and i can tell you that the response i get in person is quite different from what i get over the phone (i "sound" white). as a woman, i've experienced sexism; but, as an african-american, i've experienced a combination of -isms. see? my dual-minority status allows me to reap the many benefits of being in the bottom, back corner. and, it often comes AFTER my blackness is revealed. so, i have to agree with davis, racism still carries a pretty significant load. women certainly don't have it easy. but -- then again -- women didn't originate on an all-woman continent, nor were they brought to america on ships only to lay the groundwork for historical stigma.

[blueraven]

Racism is also culturally ingrained. We pay lip service to its wrongness but practice it anyway. Your comment is a case in point. "You're white, so there is no way you could understand this issue" is a bigoted attitude. See how pernicious it is?

[ozamerican]

"When someone uses Mr. Obama's complete name . . . racism is alleged. When Obama's skin color is noted . . . racism is alleged...­.".

But, of course, no one has attacked Hillary on her gender. The one comment, about how she "periodically" goes on the attack when she's feeling down made the headlines for days, didn't it? I don't recall any other comment that could have possibly been construed as a sexist comment directed towards Hillary. But let's count the ways the Clinton campaign, directly or indirectly, has tried to inject race into the process:

1. Race-baiting language in South Carolina.

2. Photo of Obama in Somali garb.

3. Email accusing him of being muslim.

4. References to his middle name, not that he's ashamed of it, but because they see it as a trigger

5. Comparing him to Jesse Jackson

6. Referring to him as a "talented young African-American man" (has Obama referred to Hillary as a talented, elderly American white woman?)

"Mr. Obama is just as white as he is black; therefore, the assumption based upon the color of his skin that he is a "black" man is racist, in and of itself."

That's right... perhaps Hillary and Bill will finally get the message.

[MamaBird62]

You must be white.

"Racism is universally accepted in this country as being a bad thing (well, by thinking individuals). On the other hand, sexism is culturally ingrained.­"
Is Bill Clinton a "thinking person?" He made ridiculously racist statements in my home state of S.C., and treated Obama with dismissive condescension and blatant disrespect, based on race.
As someone who grew up in South Carolina, and still visits often, I can assure you that racism is also "culturally ingrained;" passed down from generation to generation without much correction from the greater community. One subtle way you can tell it's still a powerful force is that so many people making racist comments don't even realize it, or feel the slightest shame. Like making friends with someone who is black and saying, "I sometimes forget he's black." "Thinking people" still get nervous when the new family next door is black. It's very much still a reality.
That's not to say that things aren't improving, as they most obviously are. But we still have a long road to travel before anyone could claim that racism isn't rampant in these United States.

[m4me08]

You read my mind.