The Historic Nature of This Campaign...

And not in a good way. I was watching the beginning of this video and began to recognize the words, so I thought I'd share it. While I'll enthusiastically support Senator Obama against Senator McCain this fall should he finally prevail over Senator Clinton, I believe he must speak - and soon - about the preponderance of rank sexism we've seen during this campaign. Undoubtedly, it will be the subject of many histories; indeed, the images from this video would make a sad but necessary exhibit on hate speech for the right curator. When my book is finally done (I'm in the final stages and sweating mightily), I'll try and turn back to this difficult subject in more depth. But I thought the video would start a conversation.

H/T on the video to Blake Fleetwood.

Comments

[pebird]

Well this is certainly going to start the healing process.

[Bluegrass Poet]

Whose job is it to start the healing process?

[liza]

There is a lot of mysogyny thrown Hillary Clinton's way but that is no excuse for pointing to the obvious : Her campaign goes down in history as one of the first trainwreck of a mismanaged moneyhole in the 21st century. You cannot blame mysogyny for a Mark Penn or an unhinged Bill CLinton or for that matter a campaign that had no plan beyond February 5th and thusly pissed away $100 million by said date.

And on that note : WHY DON'T ADDRESS THE RACIST MYSOGYNY FLINGED MICHELLE OBAMA'S WAY?

Why is HRC the only victim here?

And for that matter, are you so blind you can't even register all the racist crap flinged on Barack's way?

THIS IS NOT THE OPPRESSION OLYMPICS.

[Judith]

Liza, there is no reason to shout here. Tom is a mild person. As for it not being the olympics, why then dont you just stick to the topic raised - you know, the one this post is about? Sexism.

[Foxx]

The time is past when Obama could have said anything believable on this subject.

I don't get this making it so important what he says. It is what he has already done that matters.

[Kevin Hayden]

Perhaps I'm naive, but I never fully get why people project messianic expectations on their candidates. They're politicians.

But I've come to expect that it's a feature of every election cycle to some degree. But the expecations thrust on these two are especially extraordinary. Obama's expected to bridge and lessen the racial divide - an impossible task - and you're saying he has to bridge and lessen the gender divide, too?

I only hope he'll get a day off now and then, before he has to solve the Israel/Palestinian divide, cure cancer and invent a time travel machine.

[Bo Gardiner]

The dialogue on the resurgence of sexism in America must take place. Obama supporters cannot brush it under the rug or mock Clinton's supporters into silence. This will not go away and this conversation in America will take place. There is a tremendous outcry, and insulting these voices further is not the answer.

There is no reason why your politics should blind you to injustice and bigotry, Obama supporters. To turn a blind eye when it suits your purpose is wrong. You can do better than that.

[Kathy]

While I'll enthusiastically support Senator Obama against Senator McCain this fall should he finally prevail over Senator Clinton, I believe he must speak - and soon - about the preponderance of rank sexism we've seen during this campaign.

Do you think that Sen. Clinton must speak -- and soon -- about the preponderance of rank racism we've seen during this campaign? And the way Sen. Clinton has used white racism -- appealed to it -- in order to get votes?

[Judith]

Wow Kevin, exaggerate much?

Why hasnt Obama come out and said to his supporters, "Hey guys - shut up. I dont need you to support me by trashing a woman or women."

See, by not attempting to stop them it looks he Does need them to do do it.

[Judith]

Kathy - please try to foucs on the topic at hand - sexism. Thanks.

[Kathy]

Why hasnt Obama come out and said to his supporters, "Hey guys - shut up. I dont need you to support me by trashing a woman or women."

Why did Sen. Clinton say that she is better liked by hard-working white Americans than Sen. Obama is? Why does she need to get the support of white voters by appealing to the racists among them? Why is Obama expected to red-light gender bias against Clinton when Clinton has no qualms about green-lighting racial bias against Obama? And when is she going to stop doing this?

[donna darko]

Race trumps gender in the media, blogs, this race, the Left, feminism, anti-racism. It's trumped gender in the last 200 years. It trumps gender today among progressives. This is because racism affects men and sexism is affects women. Clarence Thomas inspired the feminist third wave. Obama inspired the feminist fourth wave. This is why it's important to talk about intersectionality unless you're waiting for the fifth and sixth waves.

[donna darko]

Steinem and Morgan got nailed for suggesting gender trumped race. Steinem's statement was actually correct. Gender is the most restricting force in the kitchen and in Presidential politics. Yet no one points out race trumps gender in the media, blogs, this race, feminism, anti-racism and the Left.

[Kathy]

Kathy - please try to foucs on the topic at hand - sexism. Thanks.

And that IS the problem -- the attitude you just expressed. Sexism is not the only problem at hand. Racism is just as much a problem in this campaign, and a lot of it is coming from Sen. Clinton's side. If Clinton supporters are going to make Sen. Obama responsible for all of the ugly sexist images and words shown in that video, in addition to being responsible for what Clinton supporters view as racism by other African-Americans, whether Obama shares it or not, then I am going to cry foul.

And you're welcome.

[Bo Gardiner]

Kathy,

Do you dismiss African-Americans every time they try to express concern about racism, if they don't mention sexism in the same breath?

Didn't think so. Try not to be so silly next time you comment.

[AnninCA]

The video only scratches the surface of this topic. These were the snippets of the underlying theme throughout the campaign: Get the Bitch Out. Dean represents the harder story to tell. Pretending to be neutral, he goes on the TV circuit right before PA to demand that super delegates stop the campaign. Brazile is allowed to pretend she's neutral while nightly misinforming the public about the DNC rules and how the process actually works. Pelosi steps forward as a supposed neutral party to misinform the public about what the role of the super delegate is. Obama now insults states so that he can show just how he's "flicking her off his shoulder" and plans to annoint himself the winner, pretending that his promised super delegates can't change their mind (although hers, of course, can). Kennedy insults her by suggesting that she doesn't appeal to the more noble instincts of America.

It was telling to see the women go on Bill O'Reilly's show and hold up their poster board with the e-mail addy to Women Count Too. Their hands shook. And they didn't care. They are just that mad. Their email has been flooded.

So throw Hillary off the bus. But we're going with her.

[Miss Malevolent]

I think it's funny people are talking about the racist misogynistic stuff being thrown Michelle Obama's way. Excuse me...but Michelle Obama is a misogynist in her own right. She's the one that made some illusory talk about Clinton not being fit for the White House cause she couldn't take care of Bill was beyond ridiculous.

More than that, in the spirit of sisterhood, where has Michelle Obama's voice been to condemn the sexist commentary thrown Hillary Clinton's way? Didn't Michelle Obama stroll in with her disrespectful husband to, "99 problems but a bitch ain't one?"

So please excuse me while put away the tissue since I won't be shedding any tears for Michelle Obama. And yes, this is an African-American thirty five year old woman you're hearing this from.

[Judith]

Kathy, before you accept thanks perhaps you might try to do what was aked. You know, focus on the topic. Thanks.

[Judith]

Donna darko - the topic is trumped only if you let it be - dont let people take you off course or pull you down their rathole. The wonderful thing right now is that we are talking about it again - SEXISM - and refusing to back down.

[Judith]

ps - when I say wonderful to talk about it I mean that it has never gone away...and by their stupid crudeness these idjits may actually have done us a favor by making it obvious what we still deal with.

[Kathy]

Do you dismiss African-Americans every time they try to express concern about racism, if they don't mention sexism in the same breath?

Can you tell me when was the last time Sen. Obama put out a video showing racist images of African-Americans, racist quotes from white public figures, and appeals to racism from Hillary Clinton, and then tried to make Clinton responsible for all of it?

I didn't think so. Next time you try to be clever, try harder.

[alee21]

By not speaking out against sexism and the media treatment of Hillary Clinton, Obama is complicit in the whole sorry morass. Just like he say silent for 20+years listening to Wright’s hate filled propaganda, so has he sat silent throughout this uncivil primary season. His goal is to get votes by whatever means. In the end, Obama will be the loser.

[mollycoddle]

I don't know if I can vote for him. He has some of the most obnoxious supporters that I can remember from any election, and I don't want to be affiliated with them.

I have to think about that.

[Pat Johnson]

Kathy sounds like someone who did not get invited to her prom.

[sjl106]

It is a little to late Tom for obama to speak out, since he has been engaged in it since the beginning. Hell hath no fury!