Citizen Prime raised an interesting issue about the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. She had read an editorial by Jonathan Tilove about the vitriol being used to attack Senator Clinton. The terms used in the article were related to misogyny, literally the hatred of women. The article goes further to describe the same tactic applied to other female figures.
Hillary garners special attention for several reasons. She is perhaps the most recognizable public figure on the planet. She is running for the most powerful position on the planet. She has a well known husband and a history for controversy. There is no doubt that she is a consummate politician. I have no doubt that she would be a capable president. I am VERY concerned about her approach to social programs, spending and taxation. I think her foreign policy would be practical and unspectacular – but I could be wrong. I would feel better about her if she had been governor of
So why the hate, players? The verbiage is particularly offensive – but not unusual. Our mixed culture of female empowerment / objectification has created a bizarre world of double, triple and quadruple standards. At present, one can find any number of sites denigrating the current administration (in the most personal fashion). Apparently there are a number of places where similar assaults are heaped upon Senator Clinton (and one would infer other candidates).
The predicament is that Senator Clinton is a woman and also someone’s mother. Does Condoleezza Rice receive similar attacks? A quick google will confirm that indeed she does. In fact, phrases reserved for the most uneducated and ignorant are heaped upon the present Secretary of State. Is there an additional level of horror reserved for the reaction to Hillary’s epithets due to her maternal status? Or is it because she represents the “progressive” side of politics? I have an unpleasant feeling it is the latter.
So let’s be honest. When sites like Democratic Underground, KOS, World Net Daily and other left and progressive site degrade and insult individuals (the ad hominem attack) – let us condemn them as strongly as we should
No one, it seems, wants to talk about facts. Sad, really.
I deeply abhor the personal aspects of politics. I know that it has been around forever, but this behavior serves only to obscure reasoned discussion of issues and divide our nation further. A civil discourse, at least, allows one to see the humanity inherent in each individual. I would challenge those decrying the assaults on Hillary to equally decry the attacks on the other side of the aisle.
No one deserves to be insulted or degraded.
UPDATE - I just listened to Eric Idle's offering on XM Radio Comedy (entitled F*** the FCC) in which the normally humorous and erudite British citizen, refers to Secretary Rice as an "intellectual tart". This in addition to a series of unprintable (by me) expletives directed at any and all members of the present administration.
4 comments:
Funny thing about KOS and their support for Hillary - last year Markos was all set to unleash some fantastic bombshell and destroy Hillary and the DLC due to her reluctance to be an all-out anti-war candidate. I waited, and waited, but the big bang never came. Then, a few months later, after Lieberman soundly trounced the KOS guy in Conn., and it became perfectly clear that Kusinich didn't have a chance in Hell of getting the nomination, the KOSiacs warmed up to Hillary. She was, after all, the Chosen One! Now, with the recent slide in the pols, I wonder if they will get firmly behind Obama, and release that destructo-info that will doom the Hillary Express "once and for all"????
PS. All of a sudden this is getting really really fun - on both sides of the ball.
GOD, I love politics!!!
Huzzah, and well said. But does this mean I can no longer call him Mitt "My Momma Named Me After A Baseball Glove" Romney?
No, I think your term for MItt is at least one of endearment. And, who knows, it may actually be true!
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