Clinton's female base torn over loss

cnredd · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

As Hillary Clinton officially acknowledges today that Barack Obama has bested her for the Democratic nomination, many leading feminists argue that even in defeat, Clinton's run will smooth the path for future female contenders for the White House.

Women have been struggling to answer whether her near-miss was a win or a loss for the modern women's movement. Some see Clinton's loss as a sign that the door to the Oval Office is still closed to women, and with few high-ranking female politicians in line to try for the presidency in upcoming elections, older women wonder if they will live to see a woman take the presidential oath of office.

Still, most leaders of women's organizations argue that Clinton's success in making it through the entire primary season - raising record amounts of money and attracting record numbers of voters - marks a historic breakthrough that ultimately will be a boon for women seeking the nation's highest office.

"It makes us feel schizophrenic," said Martha Burk, immediate past chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations. "For the first time in history, we can see that a woman can and will be president," she said. But the campaign, which Burk and many other feminists said was riddled with sexist attacks in the media, "exposed barriers that we thought we had overcome years ago," she said.

Legions of Clinton's female supporters, especially older women who lived through the struggles of the second wave of feminism in the '60s and '70s, are expected to show up today at Clinton's concession speech at noon in Washington. And many are not prepared to concede her loss, presenting Obama with an added challenge of winning over ardent female Clinton backers he will probably need to capture the presidency.

Hundreds of women have logged onto Clinton's campaign website, with many insisting they will not vote for "that man" - Obama - and urging Clinton to run as an independent or challenge Obama's nomination at the August convention in Denver. Many on the website pledged to vote for Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive GOP nominee.

Other websites have sprung up to denounce Democrats for picking Obama. One - called PUMA, an acronym for the sentiment "Party Unity My Ass" - features postings by Clinton supporters saying they will never vote for Obama, even if it means electing McCain.

You see folks?...

This is what happens when you live your life by "identity politics"...

You have people voting for women based on the fact that they're a woman (and of course, men voting for the woman to "even things out")...

This is still happening the other way too, where you have people voting for the black guy based on the fact that they're black (and of course, whites voting for the black guy to "even things out")...

Ain't it great when you have a primary where voting for the BEST person ranks about 5th in the list of priorities?...

saltwn · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 04:13 PM

I met a lot of women out on the road with my husband who said they were disappointed and even angered by Obama's (then) close numbers. I don't know what their personal stories were that they wanted a woman president. But they were from all walks of life. And some said they wouldn't vote and some said they would vote for McCain if Obama became the nominee.
I wonder now if Hillary's speech made a difference to them and the way they will vote now.

There are those who are voting for Barak Obama who believe he will be the best choice for their particular causes. And there are many who will vote for him because they want change and because it might as well be an African American-because we've tried the white guys only-and he couldn't be any worse than some of them.

One thing is for sure, the first is always the hardest. The first to break the sound barrier, climb the tallest mountain, lead a people out of oppression.
Then others follow and it becomes, if not a comon place occurance, one that doesn't cause a big stir.

And don't forget there are still a few people who will vote McCain not because they consider his leadership and experience, but because he is a white male. And because their world's "just not ready for a black or a woman president."

cnredd · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

One thing is for sure, the first is always the hardest. The first to break the sound barrier, climb the tallest mountain, lead a people out of oppression.
Then others follow and it becomes, if not a comon place occurance, one that doesn't cause a big stir.

There's a danger in that though...It can (and will IMO) have the REVERSE effect when the first isn't one of the best...

Example...Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball...

Why did it work?...because he DESERVED it!...he was a damn good player and well worthy of being in the majors...

But what if some bum broke the barrier and sucked?...let's say he batted .230, led the league in strikeouts, and couldn't catch the ball?...

The story would've ended up MUCH different...In fact, many would use that guy as an EXAMPLE of why the barrier should be put back in place, and blacks would've been left out of the majors for the next 20 years...many would consider him representative of ALL blacks, and say "See?...It was stupid to even try it."...

That's what I see in an Obama presidency...Everyone will yell "The barrier is broken!"....yay!!!!!...

And then 2 years into his presidency we'll see him as worse than Jimmy Carter...That right there will have a great many in society saying "See what happens when we put a black guy in there?"...

Now THAT is a wrong conclusion...It's NOT that "a black guy" was in there...It was that THIS INDIVIDUAL was in there...

But that's the way it will be seen by many, and the next time the BEST option for presidency is for a black person to become president, they won't get in because the "last one" created horrible history...

I fear that...

Spencer Collins · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 04:44 PM

I can't help but weigh in here..my wife is a charge nurse in very large nursing home. Hillary has a lot of support among the white old ladies.Some like Hillary because she is a women but most "hate" Obama simply because he is black! I know we are talking about a much older generation but I tell you the truth,when them ol' ladies see a photo of Obama they actually "cringe" at even the sight of him! My wife is convinced that "race" is indeed a factor with her elderly patients.Many of us have "moved beyond the issue" but many of the elderly women have not and will not...move on..

And they vote in HUGE numbers!

-0-

Mikeyy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 10:29 PM

I thought this thread was about Bubba.

saltwn · #6 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

I thought this thread was about Bubba.

cnredd · #7 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

I thought this thread was about Bubba.

Oh snap!...

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