And What Does Chelsea Think?

How does someone write an entire article about the feminist implications of the Clinton campaign without mentioning Bill? Isn’t it obvious that her campaign is more about being the first presidential spouse elected president than it is about being the first woman?

Doing all the things possible from behind the scene to campaign for her mom and hiding from media…. speaking only at her convenience and advantageous position.. that says she inherited some strong skill from her mom… “DEVIOUS”.

Isn’t it amazing that, in this campaign where no white man is running, so much of the heat is coming from race and gender issues?
Why is that? Because Team Clinton perceives a strategic advantage. It wants to make the campaign about Obama being black (to move Latino and white voters to Clinton) and about Clinton being a woman (to galvanize the woman voters). At bottom, a cold-hearted calculation – Clinton’s identity group (ladies) is much, much bigger than Obama’s (blacks).
Arguably, this opportunistic and purposeful manipulation of race and gender is even worse than overt, ignorant racism or sexism.

I want to suggest (especially to my feminist “sisters”) that perhaps the reason folks don’t automatically get in an uproar over nasty comments made about Hillary and her family members is because the Clintons have for years been down there in the mud giving as good as they got.
I want to remind everyone that part of Hillary’s reputation for “toughness” has been achieved by mastering Rovian politics and crisis management. For the Clinton family to cry foul strikes many people as complaining about a political atmosphere and public discourse that the Clintons have actively engaged in and fostered.
It’s dismaying that this sort of trashtalk has become commonplace in our public discourse. But don’t forget that the trashtalk is a symptom of our current politics. I want this to change; and that’s why I’m voting for Obama.

To be “outraged” over the Iron My Shirt comment, as Chelsea is purported to be, is simply a cheap political appeal to Clinton’s base. Nobody under 60 has ever heard or would use that expression as as putdown. It might resonate for women who were adults in the 70s. I agree that there is still a lot of sexism, but a woman who rode her husband’s coattails until now should not be a symbol of its demise.

It seems to me that Hillary needs the free news coverage…perhaps she had it set up all along. The Clinton’s are very smart people, politically. I wouldn’t put it past them…do anything to get elected.

Ken: To say we should not support Obama because “no country has done well under a black man” is racist, pure and simple. Western countries thus far have been too racist to accept blacks as leaders, and African countries have been subjugated for centuries and do not have the technological and institutional advantages of the developed world.
I lean toward Clinton and seek to defend her from all the irrational hatred that the right wing has spread against her, and that is now infecting some on the left as well. But Obama shows real promise and if he wins the nomination I will support him wholeheartedly. Let’s keep racism and sexism out of this!

Shuster should be fired, immediately. Hand him a box for his head.
Go get em Hillary Clinton. Clean up this country with a big broom.
A Woman voter for Democracy in this country

Is Chelsea off limits to scrutiny? She’s an educated professional who’s chosen to enter politics. She’s been doing much more than sitting innocently on the sidelines, in the classic ‘smile for camera, child of politician’ role. I don’t see any thing wrong with her campaigning, but it should not come as a surprise for journalists to remark on her presence.
Clinton would love to play up more incidents such as this, to bring gender issues back into the public eye with race issues shortly to follow. The Clinton’s are becoming increasingly desperate and to bring sexism into the media spotlight would draw attention away from the issues and away from hillary’s unpopularity, to her only hope of winning – which is to draw the focus of the election to race and gender. Unfortunately for Hillary, that wont win her the election either.

I saw the news cast, and it was not just a wrong choice of words. It was down right malicious.
If Shuster had said the same remark about Michelle Obama, the black community would have unleashed holy hell.
The real truth is MSNBC has sold its soul. It’s misogynistic coverage of Clinton and ga ga pandering to Obama is despicable.
MSNBC is nothing more than Obamas attack mouthpiece.
The management and program directors at MSNBC have allowed and promoted an anything goes atmosphere for Hillary bashing.
Matthews, Olbermann and now Shuster. Their biased coverage, Obama spinning, and Hillary bashing have disgusted and sickened me. And to think I had been a big fan of their programs.
Not any more. So long MSNBC. You were my home page and source for news, but these ass clowns have ruined your programming.
They have become everything they professed was wrong with Fake News Lackeys at Fox Noise.
Dan Abrams needs to bail before MSNBC’s reputation brings him down.
MSNBC – The New Rush Limbaugh, and WORST NEWS PROGRAM IN THE WOOOORRRRLLLLDDDDDDDDD

I have been completely dismayed by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann throughout the campaign season. Until now, I’ve always counted on Chris Matthews for his passion, energy, and love of this country to at least give people a fair shake in a debate or conversation. Sadly, MSNBC has joined the rest of the media who do nothing to broaden global or national perspectives or challenge us to think for ourselves. That said, I am weary of the media bias and equally weary of attacks on the very gracious bright light of the Clinton Family.
Sincerely,
Nancy Dyal
San Francisco

Why the Clintons are crying about Chelsea she is almost 30 years old.
Monica Lewinski was 20 years old when she was violated by Mr. Clinton. He did not apologized to her for abusing his power and taking advantage.She also have parents
and still they are waiting an Apology from
the Clintons. Give me a break!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to MSNBC – in Keith Olbermann, Chris Mathews & David Schuster you now have a triad of Bill O’Reilly wannabees at your network. They are no more fair and balanced than “Bill-O” himself. I was (and I do mean was) a loyal fan of MSNBC news but no more. “Keith-O” and his side kick Chris have taken every opportunity to promote Barack Obama while at the same time openly disparage Hillary Clinton at every turn.I have grown weary of them and the entire MSNBC network. Shame on all of you! I admire and respect both Hillary and Barack – it is a shame that your network is incapable of simply covering both candidates – equal time – and fairly. So long, MSNBC…Hello CNN…

You’ve got to be kidding? You want to know how Chelsea feels about being called a whore? She’s thrilled I’m sure. Just like she was when ABC came after her on Super Tuesday for serving coffee to poll workers in CT. The media’s gone way too far with its Clinton hate. Whatever people think about Hillary, everyone should stand together to tell the media to back off and let Obama win on his own.

The 2008 Election: The Perfect Storm of the Media and Clinton Hate…..

Robin Morgan’s article is so on point — as a black woman I felt what I call a “black backlash,” which included both surprise and contempt, for supporting HRC. And I don’t understand. It’s not like Obama is rooted in African American civil rights. I know more that the HRC — not just Bill Clinton — has done for Civil Rights than Obama. I can understand liberal whites feeling compelled to vote for Obama, many b/c of their hatred of the Clintons and need to atone for a history of racial oppression and discrimination. But I am both black and a woman so I don’t feel compelled to vote on either race or gender, but on the issues.

“I’m sorry, I don’t talk to the press and that applies to you, unfortunately. Even though I think you’re cute,” Chelsea told the 9-year-old journalist.
What a person.

Monica’s Parent’s are waiting for THEIR APOLOGY from their PRESIDENT who took advantage of their DAUGHTER! Give me a break!

Just the truth…I know the Clintons don’t know how to handle that but…honestly it was just the truth. NEWSFLASH here.
CHELSEA ISN’T A CHILD!!! SHE IS 27 YEARS OLD FOR GODS’ SAKE!!! Remember the 9 year old child that Chelsea couldn’t field a question from. Now that was pathetic.
If she gonna “play politics” with mommy and daddy she better get thicker skin…and so had mommy and daddy. They ARE USING CHELSEA AS POLITICAL FODDER pure and simple.
All this is is just more drama for the Clintons. They thrive on drama. As for me I don’t even like the daytime soaps. All the crap in the campaign they are running is way more than that.
P.S. I am a white female independent voter. You kow the profile…an independent that will make sure she gets defeated in a general election if God forbid she gets the Democratic nomination.

Did I miss something…is Chelsea running for public office?
Who cares…who the heck cares what she thinks. She is 27 years old…unlike that 9 year old child she snubbed in Nevada.
I don’t like this much drama in my life…I want someone who will just get the job done.

I don’t think anything written by Robin Morgan really merits a response. But if Chelsea thinks it’s so cool, I guess that just shows she has her mother’s sense of subtlety and proportion.

Crass? yes. Rude? yes. Stupid? yes.
Appropriate for television? No.
A comment about the child? or A comment about the parents referencing the child?
Beautiful manipulation of language.
The clinton experience demonstrated again.
The comment while referencing the child, is in fact about the parents.
Yes, this was another version of ‘they will say or do anything to get elected’ in the crudest possible language.
They will use their child and clearly, they have taken full advantage of this opportunity to maximize that use to get what they want.
The multiplier effect here is phenomenal.
The experience the clintons have and use best.
It would appear that they even manipulated the idiot who made the comment into believing their version of it rather than it’s actual face value meaning.
That is powerful voodoo.
Why do so many allow the clintons to tell them how to understand language, how to think?
When the clintons are manipulating language to create the illusion of victimhood?
The comment itself implies that the child too is being manipulated and used in a victim like way by the experienced parents. The magic of the clinton machine to create this sort of illusion is fascinating.
Is that the leadership you want?
Are you going to put a mother, who holds her child out in front of her as protection, into the highest public office in this country?
A position where she will be granted the authority to not only use her own child, but will also be given authority, by you, to use you or your child?
In addition to being ‘outraged’, the clintons went further with this particular illusion to re-direct your attention from the actual manipulation.
The clintons used this smoke screen:
‘We see a disturbing pattern emerging here’
conveniently leaving out what the pattern is
to break the mirror which is pointing at the actual manipulation (work to influence super delegates).
The real pattern emerging is the one in which the media notice the actual manipulation and point it
out to the general public.
This is the worst possible thing that can happen for the clintons which is why they took the free media to first distort and then magnify an event that should have worked to benefit the american people into one that works to benefit the clintons.
Are you now thinking about what the child was
claimed to be doing?
Calling superdelegates? or
Are you completely focused on one word and the bad people who used that word as an attack on the poor clintons and their innocent child?
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay is an amazing chronicle of alchemy and other epidemics that have been foisted on societies over the past six hundred years. Very few people recognize these schemes while they are in play.
Are you a participant in the largest confidence game in the history of mankind?
You have a choice, either you wake up now and pay attention to what is happening around you for yourself or you accept the reality that the clintons create for you and wait to read about yourself five years from now. The books will be written.
MSNBC should boycott the Clintons. That would be a public service.
It is not too late to break the spell

Has anyone heard or seen Al Sharpton? We need him to have Schuster head on a silver plate for being a male.

Uh, Maria? Monica was 22 years 4 months when her affair with Bill started, but thanks for repeating false Republican talking points.

I never thought of myself as a feminist, because I feel equal and free towards men and societies. It’s a daily practice of feeling I am worth something because I don’t spare my efforts; I feel the same way Robin Morgan writes in her essay. It makes me laugh and feel hilarious. It just feels great. That’s probably why I kind of understand Hillary Clinton, beyond the little details of her physicality. I guess it has to do with spirit and mind. Don’t miss out on the opportunity of voting not for a woman president but for an exceptional woman president.A woman is everything a man cannot articulate when it comes to his deep needs and frustrations, but an exceptionnal woman is one who makes you articulate your own rejection of your own frustrations, so you feel more your own humanity. She is a lover, a sister, a mother, a buddy, a fighter and all that with dignity.Vote Hillary.

It is amazing to me to see so much denial of the potency of sexist comments and practices. Are there any women on earth who do not know about this???!!! Whether Hillary Clinton has earned the presidency is a legitimate question for debate. But ugly, smug, dismissals, the slimy, gratuitous hatred that is regularly spewed out whenever her name comes up???? Come on. Some nerve is being struck and it is hard to believe it doesn’t have to do with the culture confronting a smart, powerful woman who refuses to give in and give up.

Amazing vitriol in these comments. Give the candidates credit – they’re not sinsiter conspirators, just humans doing their best. You may not agree with their ideas and methods, but that’s no reason to consider them the embodiment of evil.

Mary, when the “rightwing hate machine says anything they want—true or not–about him, his wife, and (Obama’s) daughters”, he will likely have to ignore it, the way he ignored Clinton’s going after his race, his alleged religion, and his inexperience in serving: on the Board of Walmart, for the Rose law firm and in the capacity of the First Lady. But then again, he has something more to run on than sympathy/pity. He has a hope that is based on people respecting his ability to win logical arguments, rather than a needing them to emotionalize EVERYTHING in this campaign.
No one said “shine my shoes” to Obama in S.C. And that wouldn’t have been a reason to vote for him if they had. But a politician DID say that his appeal would be based on and limited to his race, like Jesse Jackson’s was. Even though it wasn’t. The politician in question? Oh, right. The one who’s too busy being a victim to ever do anything wrong. The one who’s too excited with a nepotistic candidacy whose only competitve appeal is largely based on her gender.

The “iron my shirts!” crack was a test, and she blew it.
Women seem to pride themselves on being above the male-centric tendencies toward name-calling and confrontation. When confronted with this, women simply whine that males should be more civilized and act more like women. Not gonna happen until testosterone is outlawed.
What would have earned Hillary the vote of the guy with the wrinkled shirts is if she had immediately come back at him full force – got right in his face with some remark like “Mow my lawn!”. Not only would that have shown that she had a sense of humor but would have shown that she doesn’t lay down and let others fight her battles for her.
And when you enlist your daughter in your campaign and set her up for breakfast dates with potential supporters, you shouldn’t be surprised when the occasional “pimp” comment is heard. Somewhere, somehow, we seem to have come to the conclusion that we have the right never to be offended, but that is absolutely not true. Freedom of speech means I get to say stuff that you find offensive, and you have to eat it so long as I can back it up (like with a perfectly appropriate dictionary definition). If the media had any cojones whatsoever they would never, ever suspend employees for what they are being paid to say. If Hillary had heard that pimp remark and laughed and said that she pimped her husband out a lot more, I’d be standing on street corners handing out her campaign materials.
Don’t give me overly sensitive wimps that lack a sense of humor.
Give me a politician that can live with the way real people talk on the street, laugh off the small stuff, and get right in my face when I imply they can’t do the job.