Is Obama Using Sexist Language?

This is laughable. You can’t ever use the word “periodically” when talking about a woman? Yeah, we all know that “periodically” and phrases like “feeling down” and “the claws come out” are all code words. My god. This is getting blown out of proportion..oh, wait, am I aloud to say the word “blown?” I must be using sexist code language, too!
I’ve seen some pretty desperate attempts by the media to drum up controversy out of nothing, but this is the most ridiculous instance of it I have ever seen.
Don’t you have actual news to report?

We all know he is trying to insinuate that when Hillary is having a PMS moment she attacks with his play on words. When anyone else say anything about Obama its always oh that is a racial attack, they are taking swipes at him again, some one is playing the race card. Am sick of it the daily nonsense with this guy and his supporters, but as always anything he says there is not hidden intent at all.

When she is feeling down in the polls!
come on now.

Clinton campaign staffers regularly inundate these MSM blogs — it is hilarious. They’ve given up on the “liberal” blogosphere already since Clinton is almost universally reviled in progressive circles. So now they just focus on older, low-information voters who tend to stick to the mainstream media.

>>When she is feeling down in the polls!
I can’t believe you are saying that Hillary is a pole dancer and that all women should wrap themselves around poles to be gaped at by sexist men. I think it is obvious that you are using sexist code language here.

Obama, please come clean on your drug use. Were you doing crack cocaine as early as 1999. Because if so, then we can excuse you for your sexist remarks, seeing that you may not be in your right state of mind!!!!!!

Cat Scratch: Sounds like you may be a weeeeeeee bit jealous of Hillary Clinton.
Boy, where did all this anger come from.
YOu need to get out of the house and stop palying with you menagerie of cats.

I love how the lower Clinton drops in her polls, the more her Hilbots and paid internet minions come out in full force to try and smear Obama. Pity no one actually takes them and their ludicrous claims seriously. Laughable.
When they pull out the ‘sexist’ card and regular folk have to struggle to even figure out where the sexism in the remark is, you know Clinton’s getting desperate!

I think you should get back in the kitchen and leave the thinking to someone else, you hallucinatory idiot. Jesus

When I googled the word combination “she periodically” I got 18,800 hits. When I googled the word combination “he periodically” I got 45,300 hits. It’s clear that people think men’s periods have a much bigger effect on their behavior than women’s. We must stop this attack on men via angry and irrational posts on websites. Let this noble counter-offensive begin with me.

I think this is kicking up a fuss about nothing really. I think Obama was making a point about the defensiveness of the Clinton campaign when the chips are down. I don’t think he meant any particular thing by it, beyond that.
Its hardly a ‘Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in 1984 and 1988′ level of comment after all.

What’s wrong with what Obama said? He’s no more sexist than any other Muslim guy.

Haha, if the best is a Hilbot can do is ‘jealousy’, she better start paying her minions more. Then again, it’s no wonder she burns through money faster than an Indonesian bush fire.
Geez, if you’re going to hire somebody to defend you and launch smear campaigns about Obama on the internet, at least hire someone decent.
The smell of desperation is getting stronger!

Haha, if the best is a Hilbot can do is ‘jealousy’, she better start paying her minions more. Then again, it’s no wonder she burns through money faster than an Indonesian bush fire.
Geez, if you’re going to hire somebody to defend you and launch smear campaigns about Obama on the internet, at least hire someone decent.
The smell of desperation is getting stronger!

The media is enjoying this fight between obama and hillary and parsing it so small.
When I read the “claws” comment, it DID seem like subtly sexist language. I’m an Obama supporter warning him to watch out for that kinda stuff.
But when he said the “down” statment, it never occurred to me that it was sexist. I assumed he meant down in the polls, down in delegates, not down as in mood. And I’m pretty sure that’s what he meant.

I personally do not want a desperate person as president! The Clinton campaign is arrogant and desperate! I also do not want desperate journalist delivering the news! Can we now get back to the substantive issues? This is not news worthy and is utterly ridiculous!!!

The sad thing is Obama is using code words for white males to get a chuckle. He needs as many white male voters and they tend to be conservative, not quite ready to see a women in the white house. Problem also is the smugness that Obama supports are showing toward Hilliary supporters, if Obama does get the nod, you Obama supports are not enough to get him elected, I am tried of your out rigth disrespect for anyone who does not support your choice. I am from Illinois, I worked on Obama’s sentor race, but I think Obama needs to define his positions, great speaches are one thing, but not giving any defination is a problem. Though one thing is interesting, Obama need Oprah, for Iowa and South Carolina and that worked. But he lost Ma and Ca, even though he brought out Oprah, Maira and Caroline, along with Ted and Patrick, so why did he lose when he brought out the big backers????? Is it he can’t stand by himself??????

Oh he’s said worse. How about saying her foreign affairs experience consisted of “drinking tea”. I guess he doesn’t mean the Senate arms services committeee by that remark. How about calling her the senator from the Punjab. Not sexist but offensive none the same without any media concern.

This is Stupid!!!

Yes well what I really love is how all you Obama supporters always change the topic, or deride the news media, or say how its not relevant or made up by the clinton camp. Yet when items come up about Obama like saying one thing about super-delegates and doing another, promising to take public financing then breaking his promise you all complain about the media being mean and spiteful, or again how its not the same thing. What a bunch of hypocrites you are!!!! Obama has been using sexist remarks: rolling his eyes saying you’re likable enough; saying she isn’t tough enough when she showed some emotion, yet it’s okay when he shows emotion passiong and gets angry; talking about her claws coming out, well come on we’re not stupid as we all know he’s being sexist using code words and now how it’s only when she’s down, emotional when she’s attacking Obama on policies. What totally Sexist crap!!! But of course that’s okay with him and his supporters because if anybody attacks them they just cry foul and if necessary cry racist, and use the race card just like in South Carolina. Total Hypocrites. Do as I say, not As I do, you have to behave, but we don’t. That’s why we have an open letter about something that has nothing to do with blog yet posted here-change the subject!!!! Blame the media, say what Obama says is different and okay-change the subject!!!! Call people on her stupid with code words like Low-information voters-change the subject!!! This has nothing to do with the clinton machine, especially since you conveniently ignore that Obama has his own political machine working quite well, but again that’s okay because it’s Obama. Just no one else can do the same. The fact is that the media wrote this story, no one else the same way that Obama didn’t have anything to do with the Hillary stories that all the Obama supporters love so much. The only reason you’re all upset is that someone actually is finding out and writing stories about Obama that you don’t like so all of sudden its wrong.
So cut the crap, the whining, and the conspiracy crap.
Most of all quit the double standards and the Hypocricy.

Puh-leeese! If he said it about McCain would you be crying that he’s an agist — that perhaps the old man needs to take a nap.
The case for this is just WAY too weak. Yes, it would be EXTREMELY offensive if he made sexist references along this line, that were overt. But he hasn’t.
I expect the Clinton campaign will push this one hard. But really. Regular people don’t care.
Rob in Minneapolis

oh if you are obamma you do a lot of jaw jacking. He has two agendas one himself; two the needs of one race. He can say anything and so does his supporters, but can the rest of us critize? NO we are always censored. People like to repeat old 20 year history in these blogs…… like thats going to change minds. I view being on the board of directors of walmart in 1986 no comparison to doing crack then. Hey obama has his supporters thinking thats okay but look who backs him t. kennedy go figure…………..I am thinking that obama is looking a little pinched in the face lately and seems to shake a lot and forget a lot ………………..yep just look

Cocaine is a hard drug, Obama is an OBAmination , he is a sexist, If he wins I am going Republican. No way will I vote for a scumbag like him. All these people getting on his train will be sorry becouse he will not win.

Did Jim just use the word “blown” in his blog because the name Larry comes to my mind. But that’s too nasty. I think all of us, Clinton and Obama supporters, are merely talking to the choir here. I just hope none of the real voters out there in the real world read both of our crap because neither of us are doing either of our candidates any favors here. More so than not each of us seem to be the exact opposite of Hillary’s and Obama’s hopes for a better and kinder America.

After the recent boon-article against Obama, this one is an even more ridiculous punch, and not worth to say more.

after the boon-article, this “blog” is even more ridiculous.

Too far fetched… Drop it! There are real *issues* at stake.

Carlos, you are just as corrupt as they are! I’m talking facts, you are talking speculation! The truth will always Stand!!

Carlos, you are just as corrupt as they are! I’m talking facts, you are talking speculation! The truth will always Stand!! Let’s see how far you get in life.

First – we should take a step back and understand how wonderful it is that this country is able finally get through the horrible things around prejudice that linger… even today… It is magnificent that Obama is scaling as a politician and as a leader.
But is he right for right now? in this world, with the challenges that face this country today is he the best choice? Our GOP leadership today is not forthright about the war, the economy, or how we have seen the basic rights of our constitution forgotten or distorted. This job is going to be so HUGELY TOUGH ON DAY ONE!
So I guess in this current state of our country, experience is bad. Do we let first year pilots fly the shuttle? Do we allow those who have gone to med school to practice prior to years of internship?
There is an over hyped sensation that began at the last Democratic convention. It is called Obama-mania. It continues. Just think 5 women feinting in the audience in New Hampshire and other places… Obama, there ready with the water… just tooooo choreographed for me thank you. Our friend Obama is a pretty cute guy… but not that cute…
Obama is so eloquent with his content free sermons. I can feel it…. at least Jerry Fallwell had content- even if I didn’t believe a word of it.
I have heard all the baloney about Bill being negative… sheesh… I remember the GOP going after him because he smoked pot… I remember a pathetic excuse for a presidential candidate that could not even defend himself about the swift boat controversy…. and he is an American hero who was competing against a silver spooned AWOL reserve air force pilot… just think he was in the reserves and was AWOL…
So Hillary should be slammed because her husband is one of the most famous people on the planet and the press wants to capture every morsel of a speech and make it red hot journalism… come-on people we live in a world of the paparazzi.
The way the press is going at this- no one will challenge the obvious anti-feminist tone of the grand master Obama. Not now.
Don’t get me wrong, Obama will be a fabulous leader. But not now. Let’s give the ball to someone who can play the full game, get the tough short yards, and also make the historic gains as well.
Yes— Hillary!
OK – So I am a white male of 53 years. You may find it surprising I am NOT a democrat.
Obama could very well get my vote in 8 years… He would have to change on a few of his positions… but then, is there any candidate in any year that matches one’s beliefs on the issues….
sorry I forgot this is not an election about the issues…

Sorry chika , I just do not trust anyone who used cocaine and is supposed to be smart. This is in his book, not speculation.

Obama new we should not go to war with Iraq. Did he also know that cocaine is bad for him. Hello out there this guy is a salesman, and not avery good one at that.

Give me a break. Claws coming out has to do with cats–they have to unsheath claws to attack; unbelievable.
Periodically means not continually. What other word would you use?
The closest that might come to a personal attack was the word ‘feeling’–perhaps ‘thinking’ would have been a preferred.
But none of this seems to rise to the level of true tragedy or misogny. Have we as a society become so PC-oriented that we are reduced to picking over statements like buzzards pick over carcas? This is the biggest bunch of huey I have yet read.
Let’s talk issues, folks, or legitimate campaign strategies that inform the entire tone of the debate, not these manufactured, overly sensitive non-issues.
Get real.

I think this is the most laughable micro-attack yet, from two women who are probably stauch Hillary supporters and are searching high and low for any way to undermine the Obama campaign. This focus on the most innocent and innocuous of statements is pathetic, but if this is what the Clinton campaign is reduced to doing, have at it. I think most of the folks in the country, except those already for Clinton, can read the desperation in this attack in a tea cup.
Oh, wait, is tea cup derogatory toward women? It’s getting I can’t tell anymore. Someone have a play book out there?

Is this for real? I saw someone write about this in a diary yesterday and thought it simply was a joke, but here I come to find out that supposed reputable newspeople are actually making a case for this. I think when people falsely play the sexism card, they do us women in general a disservice, especially when it’s perpetuated by other professional women.

I lived through the battles of the sexes in the seventies and eighties, and carry some scars to prove it; I think my senses are pretty well honed to deliberate sexism and subtle put-downs. Here’s my two cents on this sort of commentary: when women begin to be snarky like this, when they begin to find insult when none appears to be meant, when they raise their voices in dubious battle, these women and their extraordinary sensitivity do more harm to women than anything the original words could have done. They make themselves the subject of ridicule–the last thing they want–and re-enforce the idea that women really can’t take the heat. When–if–any candidate gets to the point where they are truly belittling Hillary Clinton for being a woman, we will all know it and then both men and women will rise up and demand retractions. Until then, let’s just try to control this sort of emotional and ill-conceived outrage.

Did these godless MSNBC females actually attack God today? Surely the Obamabots will not allow God to be attacked like this. There’s only one course the Obamabots have left, destroy these two godless morons and the witch Hillary.

Tempest in a teapot. Anyway, the language Clinton is using in her Wisconsin ads reminds me of the “Mean Girls” movie. No responsible adult says things like, “Maybe he’d prefer…” and “Now he’s hiding…” with that sarcastic, taunting attitude. She’s doing the same thing in her speeches – no wonder voters are being turned off.
If voters want to be entertained, I suggest they see “Wicked” – at least it’s well-written and has a message.
My point is…this is why Clinton’s becoming such an embarrassment to Democrats. We don’t want to parse Obama’s reactions to this drivel word by word, we just want the Clintons to go away. Why didn’t they stick to working on their foundation so we could all remember their best qualities, and forget these other qualities? All the bad memories are flooding back.

Democrats need to focus long and hard on the CLINTONS and the type of campaigns that they run. They are fundamentally dishonest people who could give a rat’s ass about building a strong Democratic Party. Both Hillary and Bill see the party as a vehicle to satisfy their own political ambition. The Clinton Campaign has extensively engaged in RACE & GENDER BAITING POLITICS. Hillary cannot win with a positive message based upon her actual experience and character, so the Clintons have instead run a campaign that would make JESSIE HELMS PROUD. VICTIMIZATION POLITICS have worked for the Clintons in the past. This cycle the CLINTONS have played the FEMALE & LATINO VOTE and in particular to a greater extent the LEFT SIDE of the BELL CURVE. Hillary’s campaign has no appeal whatsoever to reasonably enlightended folks.

Those comments are grotesquely sexist, and moreover Obama knows it. These are dogwhistle messages for his legions of frat-boy supporters who hate and fear women. At least I hope that’s what they are,because if they reflect his true feelings, then I really feel sorry for Michelle.

Hillary is a mellow dramatist, she creats drama to gain attention, ummmmmm, disjointed campaign, how can she boast of being ready from day one? I don’t trust that lady. All of a sudden she knows all that is wrong with America? why did they not solve these issues during Bill’s tenure? nooooooo, he was to busy chasing new sex partners!!!!!!! his scandals make the GOPs win, and the chain reaction. What will the Clintons do that is new? Bill had no experience when he came to power. Their time is up, a new face this time

funny how twisting obama’s words into sexism is bad, but twisting hillary’s words into racism isn’t. but koolaid drinkers only see one side.

Look, so saddened. I am not a Clinton or Obama supporter. But I know sexism when I hear it. If you don’t, that’s your misfortune.

you are absolutely right that obama’s words were sexist. i obviously communicated badly. all i meant to say was that the obama supporters claim it’s twisting when it’s their guy, but claim it’s real when it’s hillary. sorry i wrote badly. i think what has been done to hillary in this campaign, by both obama and the media, is the absolute worst kind of sexism. and i’m a lifelong democrat who will vote republican for the first time in my life if obama gets the democratic nomination.

Sounds like angry women, uless we give them there way they wright garbage. It,s ok for Hillary and Bill to Obama and Jessie are just alike. Give me a break this story is a fairy tell.

Oh get over it! This is so silly. You don’t think this has anything to do with Andrea’s Mitchell’s personal political beliefs..perhaps she is NOT an Obama, supporter???!!! It was clear to me that Obama meant “down in the polls and contest, in general”..you are confusing HIS rhetoric with the tactics of his opponents. And, males have claws TOO, by the way!!! This is a flimsy attempt to discredit an opponent, and a far cry from the condoned comments of his opponents!Hey…is there no INTERESTING news to cover???
Suzanne

doyenne49, apology accepted but unnecessary. it was my fault for not taking the time to express myself properly. and you are absolutely right that obama’s comments were intended for his frat boy supporters. actually, i am not so surprised that men are falling for obama’s games, but what really bothers me is that women are falling into the trap. it never ceases to amaze me how much women can hate women.

You know, boys, you aren’t helping Obama with your crass sexist remarks. In fact, you’re just proving the point Jake T raises in his post. Hearing the dogwhistle, fellas?

His comment is meaningless and being used by the media to bait the Clinton campaign. Andrea Mitchell’s only job at NBC nowadays is to criticize Hillary. She makes baseless accusations without ever citing sources. The network has only grudgingly investigated allegations into Obama’s 12-year stint helping a Chicago slumlord rip off the African American community, and his watering down of legislation requiring nuclear giant Exelon to publicly disclose radiation leaks. In both cases, they managed to cast aspersions on Clinton, who had nothing to do with either.

Jim In 1962 Hillary was 13 years old that was not having sex that was rape.Please get your facts straight. This just goes to show how the obamma people are. Facts about obammas past are always turned around to Hillary. How can you call yourself informed when you are constantly sticking your head in the sand about obamma. Are you afraid lightening will strike you if you listen to the facts? Obamma will show his true colors and it will not be what you think you are seeing.

Please dissect the claws comment.

The Obamas introduced race in to the campaign – ex Michelle “black America will wake up” Obama. Many Obama supporters appear ignorant of facts.
Ignorance equate to irresponsibility. Check out your own candidates history. If you really wanted to represent change you would inform yourselves.
Note: I did not say all Obama supporters
who are incapable of objectivity.

i wasn’t aware that only women can “feel down” and lash out at people in response. talk about reading way too much into something.

Wow! Nora O’Donnell and Andrea Mitchell step up for the girls! Hmmm, Andra Mitchell and Nora O’Donnell are two women commentators who virtually spit the name of Hillary Clinton into the monitors and whose smiles and chides with the boys are barely distinguishable when sputtering about the demise of the Clinton campaign. This was probably a spoof but one worthy of taking “Note” of. Yes the comments are “sexist”. It’s the code language men use about women to put us down without having the blatant stigma of misogynist tattooed on their forehead. In the media and in congress a little sexism is still ok as long as it doesn’t get out of line. So, when you heard the condescension you couldn’t quite see the sexist remark, so it gets a pass. We have sexism and misogyny. The boys get by with sexism thats acceptable. Racism isn’t acceptable; race baiting isn’t acceptable and it shouldn’t be. So there really isn’t anything to exploit with Obama. But, sexism in the media world doesn’t equal misogyny. However, I assure you, multitudes of women are fed up with it in the media and from candidates. For all the young women on the Obama hope and happy train ask yourself “Is sexism of any form acceptable?” “Do sexism and sexist remarks equal misogyny?” Which candidate can more clearly see these lines and in between the lines? Does that particular vision matter to the future of this country and the world? I think it does.

siberia, I’m a registered democrat but that does not mean I’m beholden to the party. I support who I believe to be the best candidate. I support Hillary because of her stance on the what means most to me, not because she’s a woman. Obama scares me, to me he appears to be the salesman with the magic elixir. I definitely will not vote for him if he’s nominated, not all will just switch over due to party loyalties as most upper echelon dems believe to be true. They’re jumping her ship, I’m jumping the Dems ship if he’s the nominee.

Watching CNN election coverage today, Saturday…Obama just called Hillary’s critism of his message SILLY…when is the last time you have heard anybody call a grown man, accomplished, dedicated, hard working SILLY…never…because it’s one of those load choices you only use to belittle and woman. I caught the ‘periodically’ reference too…don’t ell me he doesn’t know what he’s doing…the ‘American Idol’ candidate…Obama…text your vote now….s-e-x-i-s-t.

Senator Obama has showed several examples of sexist language. I can’t imagine that Michelle puts up with that too much, but it is there none the less. Worse, he is becoming increasingly arrogant and smug as if he is starting to believe he is the second coming.
European papers are even calling him the Black Messiah. Combine that with Rev Wright’s black superiority and anti-semitism, and you have a scary picture of demagoguery and arrogance for what is supposed to be the peoples’ choice.
Wake up America. We don’t need a rock star president. We need a president with rock solid solutions and the strength and backbone to fight the coming severe recession and bank failures. HRC is much closer to FDR and that’s who we need in these perilous times.

I am a man. I’m certainly capable of being “edgy” and “down” at times. So, no, I don’t think that’s a sexist statement.
The “claws” thing works for both male and female cats, so again, unless someone believes that cats are inherently female (which I do not, and I WOULD find that sort of attitude to be sexist), then referring to claws would not qualify as sexist to me.
So, in short, I think that we have really diminished masculinity and femininity when we accuse men of being sexist every time that a man expresses concern about the fact that he is getting attacked by a woman.

This is a ridiculous attempt to find some “dirt” on Obama. Clinton does not know how to do anything BUT attack and distort because that is all the politics of the past seemed to do.
Obama has exemplified upstanding moral character and integrity throughout this campaign, even when he was attacked by an ex-president and other candidates.
Obama has the utmost respect for women. It is evidenced by the way he speaks of his mother and grandmother, the relationship with his wife and love for his two daughters.
As if the media pushing the “racial divide” was not bad enough, now ABC reporters are pushing a “gender divide.” Get over it.
FAIR COVERAGE ABC!!!
America, keep turning the page!!
OBAMA 2008!!!

I thinks its obvious that Obama is using sexist language — but its probably not a conscious decision. (periodically?…talk about a Freudian slip!) Should this become a major controversy — of course not, but the whole “race” thing before South Carolina was equally, if not more, baseless…yet the media crucified her on that with the knowing assistance of the Obama campaign.
as to the “claws” thing… definitely sexist. While some argue that that it isn’t a reference to “cattiness” or “catfights” by citing the fact that bears, and dogs, and lots of other animals all have claws, the phrase that was used was “claws come out.” That is a reference to RETRACTABLE claws, and the only mammal that has retractible claws are felines.
(In fact, as far as I know, the only other animals that have retractable claws are a few avian species e.g. eagles.)
So when Obama said “the claws come out” he wasn’t comparing Clinton to an eagle — it was all about cats, being catty, etc.

Obama is very condescending, very. Also, no one notice he has a thing about age? He doesn’t like old people. He once told Ted Kennedy – “you’re too old show some spine”. He called McCain grumpy.
Generation – is about 20 years plus. Obama is only 14 years younger than Hillary – no one seems to notice.
The youth typically don’t vote in general elections and if they do the same thing in November, all the youth votes won’t be there and that could hurt the Democrats.
Obama’s ego is growing rapidly each day and he’s again, condescending.
What’s with Michelle Obama feeling sorry for herself? In interviews she keeps talking about how tough it is to work and run a home and family, how tough it is to allow Barrack to go into this race – cry, cry, whine, whine. I bet she doesn’t do her own housework, or have to cut the lawn – she was an exec and between the two of them they make pretty good money.

So when Clinton said Obama was “frustrated” after New Hampshire and Nevada that was a code word?
Slow day in the news.

Cat fights do not refer to men, they refer to women. The claws comment would not have been made about John McCain or a Karl Rove backed candidate. Obama talks smugly about Hillary being down, whether it is sexist or not, it is him talking down to his opponent. He wrote his memoir about the absent father and his fantasies of him. When his mother dies, he said he should have written about the parent who was always present, his mother. A group of mixed race women spoke on CNN yesterday and agreed it is more acceptable to be sexist than racist. It’s there, whether intentional, conscious or not.
I think it is a legitimate critique. Hillary does go on and ignore it, but I don’t think the voters should.

Sexist! For crying out loud! This is a comment that could have very easily been used against a male opponent! Have we come this far to in politics that we fail to debate and focus on the issues and instead overanalyze perceived “snubs”, cackles, tears. Very sad indeed!

Victim, victim, victim…
Stop it Hillary. I was a supporter of yours but I’m absolutely SICK of your trying to play the gender card ALL THE TIME!!
This kind of complaining makes women look stupid and irrational.
Crying in New Hampshire and playing the gender card won’t get you the presidency.

To say that all cats have claws is a silly argument. No one ever says men claw each other. Punch and jab maybe, but not claw. It is a sexist term.
The Hillary haters can’t find any sexist code words??? These are the same people that pointed to every other word coming out of Bill Clinton’s mouth as being racist code words. Double standard and a “fairy tale” indeed.

I see some comments referring to Barack Obama as “condescending”. Can someone please help me understand this? Because I find Hillary Clinton condescending – I think it’s condescending to claim to speak for all women. I think it’s condescending for Hillary Clinton to claim that she’ll be a “voice for the voiceless” instead of helping to give every American a voice of their own. I think it’s condescending to say that she looks forward to going to Texas because of the “Mexican food”. I definitely think it’s condescending of Clinton supporters to attack Barack Obama as “inexperienced,” when in reality he’s a 47-year-old man who has been in elected office longer than Hillary Clinton has. So, I’m still fuzzy on the “condescending” idea, and especially confused about how this applies to Obama as much or more than it applies to Clinton.

Jake,
Please stop with stories like this. It can backfire on Hillary. This line of attack is not helpful.

OBAMA has played the politics of gender from the very beginning, often treating Hillary like “the little woman” ( remember the comments about “I like Hillary”, or “She and I will be friends”? NO such comments were offered about Edwards, Biden, Richardson, et al, who are expected to take the race seriously, win or lose and just “buck up”. OBAMA is essentially a man at the heart of a messianic movement–and suffers from all of the narcissism and sexism associated with such movements. NO one should be surprised when sexism fuels his viewpoint and patterns of speech. Of course it is sexist to talk about Hillary being ” a little blue” periodically–it cuts her down to size in a snide and patriarchal way. OBAMA’s use of gender as a slightly “less than” indicator of Hillary’s character is no surprise given that OBAMA was the first to play the race card. Directly out of Hillary’s win after NH it was he who sent proxies out onto the airwaves spinning the “Bradley effect” and stories about “Hillary losing with women”. Note as well that it was OBAMA who left the State of Nevada after losing and NEVER made a concession speech. Can you imagine the furor if Hillary had done the same? I am disgusted with the media and disgusted with OBAMA.

This is what happens when you have virtually identical candidates in a 24 hour news era who just happen to be a black and a woman. Inevitably we look for non-issues, perceived slights(i.e. racist or sexist comments) and end up dividing the party and by extension the country! Irresponsible journalism at its best!

I’ll admit it. I’ll say anything to get Hillary Clinton elected.

Taylor, now were your claws out while you typing that :)

Taylor Marsh is not even taken seriously anymore by anyone except the Hillary supporters.
Everyone else, including several blogs, have written her off as nuts.
As a woman, I find tiresome and whiney this crying about sexism over every imagined thing. It’s like that political correctness fad in the 90s. You cannot say anything without it being sexist.
Lighten up.

you said it Kris!
I can’t believe anyone actually took this article seriously.

What complete #####%*#! She’s “feeling down” not because she’s a woman, but because she lost 8 straight, has upheaval in her staff and is short on money. Who wouldn’t be down? Remember after NH she said Obama was “frustrated”? Because he’s black or because he just lost NH? I’ve just lost all respect for Mitchell and O’Donnel. Such BS needs to be called what it is- a play for higher ratings.

This is a non-story. The only females that would read anything into this are the ones that have had to fight the feminist battles (for which all of us females who today benefit thank you for), and see conspiracies around every corner. However, the rest of us do not see the world the same way, and accept that there are certain words that are associated with each gender, and that is not positive or negative, just life.
Obama merely reacted to the new line of attack from the Clinton campaign; had Edwards or any of the other previous candidates attacked him he likely would have responded similarly.
As a female, I thank all of the women who fought for feminism. Further, as HRC lead in the poles since announcing her candidacy last year, and is still a viable candidate, I feel the feminist project is complete. I do NOT feel compelled to vote for her based on the fact that she is a woman. And as much as I would love to see a woman as president, and I think I will in my lifetime, I do not think it will be this one. Not this year, with all of the talk of dynastic rule, memories of WJC, and all of the partisan feelings surrounding the two that cannot be forgotten.

Obama may not be sexist but he sure is arrogant.

Are you suggesting that the phrase, “launches attacks,” is sexist?
I think that assertion reveals more about your own biases. But, as a Disney shareholder, I must say that I’m grateful ABC News employs people like you to do the Clintons’ dirty work.

The comments made by Obama are not offensive to this feminist. After all the smear attempts, lies, and downright voter fraud Hillary Clinton is guilty of, Obama has to be careful what he says? Who the hell cares? Hillary Clinton has dishonored her former title of First Lady, and has divided the Democratic Party and has lost my respect. She attempts to damage Obama at every campaign stop and he’s supposed to be careful? Give me a break.

In other breaking news, Obama is on the hot seat for saying Hillary’s voting record was “soft” on the Iraq war.

Obama is a sexist pig. It may bother you Obamabots to hear the truth, but someone has to say it.

All you people accusing Hillary of everything,give us some proofThe Repb issued 2000 subpeonas spent 40 million trying to get something on the Clintons. Tell what Prison was she in,was she cencured. What other than you hatred with no facts.

I don’t think this is about how people react to this as much as it is about how Senator Obama feels about it. I don’t think that it is our time to treat women with disrespect solely because they are women. Maybe everyone wants to see Hillary mud wrestling Michelle Obama.

Taylor Marsh is a despicable hack, who cares what that smear merchant thinks?

There you go, all of you people who believe that “there is no such thing as sexism”—–males AND females. Come out from under your rock and seriously consider the fact that this is a real prejudice. Women out there who buy into the bull that there is no sexism, at some point in your life, I am sure you have been the butt of sexism by a male—–don’t deny it. And don’t lie, either, and say it doesn’t matter and has no effect. It keeps women down, and keeps us from achieving our fullest potential……it is, after all, unfortunately, still an ALL-MALE run world, until Hillary is elected President. Women, we have come a LONG way since we got the right to vote, but we have a LONG WAY TO GO yet.

“”"”"”
“Claws”…”feeling down”…I find it hard to envision Obama using the same language if he were facing, say, former Sen. ***John Edwards***, D-NC.
But what do you think?
“”"”"”
Is this a joke or a rhetorical question?

Accountability: EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT POST !!!!!! I challange you to blog MORE……you know your stuff !!!!

I find the behavior of Hillary’s husband towards women much more offensive than anything Obama has said.

Interesting article. It sure would help the analysis if we could see the Clinton’s tax returns. Then we could see how much ABC, I mean Disney, has invested in a Clinton presidency.

ok, now I’ve had enough. I don’t care what my wife says. I am NOT voting for Hillary Clinton in the Ohio primary.
I can’t stand EIGHT YEARS of her playing damsel in distress and throwing down the gender card.
aaarg!

Sandra the overt sexism resulting in the victimization of women will not end until women and men challenge the most subtle of attitudes underlying the behavior.
Refusing to be silenced is not the same as playing the victim, in fact it is the opposite.

Sorry, but she behaves very often like a bimbo. Of course she’s not one but she also is no feminist. I am sure she gets her nails done periodically, to have nicer claws.

So, see, Mike—-Hillary accomplished more things than obama did……and she showed up in the Senate for more votes, also……. : ) To me as an Illinois resident, he is an embarrassment as a Senator…….

to roncaw: She just didn’t hold her word on Florida and Michigan.
I would also think that the Florida and Michigan vote should count, but if so, there has to be a new election of course.

Doesn’t anybody realize after all these comment knocking Clinton,she is not the one who brought up Obama’s comments

See, like…Hilary is female, and like, Obama is black…and we all know female comes before black (especially white female)so it’s like Hilary’s turn. So Barack should like, wait his turn.

Nancy Abraham:
Obama will be the one sitting in the corner, crying, because he lost the nomination and the Presidency to Hillary…..
Hillary KNOWS how to fight the repubs, because they have been so threatened by her they have been attacking her mercilessly for years……and she is STILL around and will make a GREAT PRESIDENT.
Imagine if barack Hussein obama got in office—–do you think all of those other countries would TRUST us, having a name like that?? (Especially Israel).
By the way, Nancy, “surrogate” is spelled as I spelled it.

I assume all those here complaining about sexist language toward Hillary Clinton are going to rise in the defense of Ann Coulter when the blogosphere begins calling her names that are truly sexist and vile?

When will ultra-militant feminists GET OFF IT and stop trying to make something of nothing? By viewing anything and everything through a defensive, overly sensitive “male vs. female” filter, they continue to perpetuate the very stereotypes they claim to be fighting against? Sheesh. I personally am for equality, not sameness – and for common courtesy, not ridiculousness.

All you women out there feeling down
should stop posting, PERIOD!!!!!

Maybe it has to do with the muslim upbringing he received in his formative years. You know, because muslims “respect” women and all. And didn’t I read somewhere that his mother was abused by his father. That leaves a permanent impression on a young lad.

Shawna:
Take a class in feminism, and all you males out there, I dare you to be open-minded enough to do the same.
Sexism isn’t just “spoken words”—-it is also actions like opening a door for a female (present-day it is viewed as “nice), but the “opening the door for a female” used to imply that the female was not strong enough to open the door for herself…..there are SO many subtle SEXISM practices in our country that people don’t stop to even question them. You MAY even learn that when women get married, THEY give up THEIR last name, but the males don’t—–know WHY? It comes from the custom that women were “owned” by men when they got married—-they were considered “male property”. NOW you understand why Hillary calls herself HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON…..she still has her before-marriage identity, and didn’t give it up because she married a male and “took his name”.

In a recent speech at UCLA Obama’s wife said that government should be used as a means to save our souls as the souls of the people of the USA are broken. While Obama believes his ingenious words of appeasement have the power to stop war. Wars fought by Islamic fanatics against Christians and infidels in Africa, Indonesia, in the Middle East and in almost every corner of the world. History shows what happened when Obama’s tactics of appeasement were used to stop another movement intent on conquering the world. Instead of stopping the war 40 million people were killed. That was WWII. If we follow Obama’s tactics of appeasement history could repeat itself . Only things could be worse much worse as the goal of the Jihadists are very clear. The world must all bow to a new Caliph and Western civilization must be conquered in order to bring this about. Conquered by force (not words) as anyone who values Western civilization would not willingly want to live under Islamic law. Islamic law that uses the force of law in order to save our souls. So when Obama’s wife makes speeches about government being used as a means to save our broken souls it makes me a little afraid about what power she thinks the government should have to compel this.

Skeptik, why wait? Please move to Canada now. I’m willing to start a fund to help get you out of here.

Nice try!

Does anyone know why obama’s hands are smaller than the rest of his body? Is this some form of genetic abnormality, or what? Also, what makes his lips appear blue?

That no good black bastard! How dare he be so sexist towards Hillary!

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but I’m not that worried about it. Like the rest of America, I will be voting the ABC ticket (Anyone But Clinton). They will NEVER make it to Pennsylvania Ave. She’ll just have to go home and cry to her constiuents in NY. Better yet, New Hampshire. They seem especially sensitive there. Feminist??? HA!

Now where’s all the drama such as when the Obama camp tried to call Bill and Hillary “racists”? I guess it’s only worth mentioning in the media when it’s convenient. If Hillary wins, that will be REAL change – finally a woman. If Obama wins – it’ll just be a black MAN instead – hardly a change other than skin color.\

TheGrimReaper: You know, I am NOT an obama fan, but YOU are evil…..that is un-called for, with regard to ANYONE….

I think y’all are over-playing your hand. You might make a little temporary traction with these silly deconstructions of casual language, but in the long run it’ll backfire. Most Americans — men and women alike — are pretty eager to move beyond the culture wars. They get fed up when they see accusations of “coded language” smearing perfectly decent public servants.

Why is everyone suprised by this type language. Afterall, just watch MSNBC’s “Hardball” “Tucker” and “Morning Joe.” Sexist comments are the norm on these shows and rarely, if at all, will any female panel member offer any disagreement, correction, or complaint.
So, Senator Obama and his wife feel no need to be “gender sensitive” when commenting about Senator Clinton. Putting Ms. Clinton in “her place” is common pratice in the media and Obama is indeed a card-carrying member of the media’s “I-Love-You, Obama” society.
Any person with an iota of insight knows Mr Obama was referring to that time of month when women have their menstrual cycle and according to wise men, like Mr. Obama, act irrationally. Smart and intelligent men, like Mr Obama, tell their “dirty little jokes;” make their “obscene gestures; and, defy anyone to chastise them. These men have no real respect for women.
Maybe it’s psychological: father leaves mother and child; mother struggles as a single parent until another man comes along; the mother and child follows the new man (husband/step-father) to a foreign country. The mother and child are forced to become emersed in a different lifestype and culture. The mother, who is an athiest, must watch her son engage in different religions (Islam and Catholicism that we know of).
Then to see all the male and female figures in his life: father, step-father, and grandfather pass away; leaving him with no physical proof of his being.
All of this can have a permanent impression on anyone; but, especially a young male who is already struggling with racial and ethnic identities.
One does not have to be a fortune teller to know what would have happened at MSNBC if someone on the MSNBC staff had used the word “pimp” in the same breath while referring to a member of Senator Obama’s family. Picket lines, demonstrations, fist-fights, etc would have occured, with the president of NBC having to make a live, primetime apology on television.

Joel, please see my post of 4:45:44.
And, why has no one answered me about why obama’s hands are so small in relation to the rest of his body? And why do his lips appear blue? Is it the mixture of his culture that makes his lips blue? Seriously, I want to know. Does anyone have an answer?

Are you kidding me. As a woman, I am offended that people would think that “periodically” referred to one’s menstrual cycle. I’ve heard the term “claws come out” used in reference to men before–quite often–in reference to a nasty fight. And after actually hearing how Sen. Obama said “when she’s feeling…down” it didn’t seem to me that he was referring to her mental state so much as he campaign being behind. But I guess the media has to find any way to attack Sen. Obama because he doesn’t give them enough juicy news…

This article has no merit whatsoever. To say that his choice of words are sexist is a huge stretch. Obama would actually be the least likely person to be sexist given how he grew up with a single Mom and has such a strong capable wife. This is pure nonsense. It sounds more like MSNBC trying trying to get back in her good graces. Sad

I can see in my daughter and her friends the feminist movement as we knew it (I am over 50) no longer exists – they don’t want what we wanted and maybe that’s because many barriers wer broken by the women of my generation
That being said I find this language issue “absurd” — if anything Hillary does the feminist movement a disservice relying on her husbands record and rhetoric to make her case –
Sen CLinton made her choice after law school and moved to Arkansas to become the First Lady etc — many other women made other choices at that juncture of their lives –
I don’t get the argument to vote for Hillary because she is a woman – anymore than the argument to vote for Barack because he is black
Some say Hillary voted for the war to prove her “chops” as a potential commander in chief — (Barbara Boxer must be more secure in her feminity as she voted against the Iraq war resolution)
This constant morphing of Sen Clinton is reason ebough for this woman voter to be leary of what else Hillary Clinton thinks she has to prove

Let’s get over this BS… Lots of animals have claws: Bears, Lions, Tigers, Birds… “Down” is a layperson’s description of feeling depressed or “blue” … neither is a strictly feminine trait. Ask Mike Wallace if he’s ever felt “down”. Hillary could also be down in the number os states won, pledged delegate count, raw vote total, down in the polls, down in the mouth, down in the dumps, down and out, down and dirty, ready for a knock down drag out fight, willing to fight tooth and nail (claw),
You all are pretty sorry when it comes to ginning up a story line that doesn’t exist. Shame on you all.

Well, Blake, you are not as astute as you think uou are……I am sorry to inform you, but Barak Obama is not “Black”……he has a white mother and a Kenyan father—–that makes him “mulatto”, or 1/2 black, 1/2 white.
You allso mis-read my question: I asked: “why are obama’s hands small IN RELATION TO THE REST OF HIS LONG, LANKY BODY?” (in PROPORTION to the rest of his body, the question asks).
I am not a bigot. I actually love black people. I am a bus driver that busses all black children to a white school from the south end of our city. I have even put up a picture of obama on the bus because obama is all of these Black children’s idol and hero. I never tell them that I am for Hillary—-they are too young to debate or understand politics, too young to understand that there are other things to consider when voting for President than being just the same color as the candidate……yet, who am I to deny them their hero? Until they are old enough to debate with me about all of the other things that are important in choosing a Presidential candidate……

You can’t be serious? Give me a break!

This is just story about NOTHING. When I read this kind of junk coming from ABC, I am reminded that this is the network that ran the “Path to 9/11.” They have lost all credibility.

Maryann: You are right, “refusing to be silenced” is not the same as “playing the victim”.
Too bad the Hillary camp is being blatant about the latter.
Every single criticism or even a request for clarification is met with “y’all are just picking on me because I’m a woman” or “that mean Obama *refused to shake my hand* he must be a rude pig!” Everything Obama says about his opponent is somehow spun as “sexist.”
It’s as if the Clinton campaign has decided, “hey, that racist crap that Bill spewed in SC seemed to help Obama’s campaign, let’s pretend that Hillary is suffering defeats only because Obama and all the voters are sexists, and we’ll see if we do better in the polls because of it!”

The comments to seem to have a subliminally sexist current, whether calculated, unconscious, or just plain random on Mr. Obama’s part. Not anything egregious, but still there. I don’t see anything wrong with any columnist or blogger parsing any candidate’s language and putting out his or her perceptions, for whatever the reader wants to take away as long as the quote is accurate and in context.

“Witch” is not a sexist word, it defines something. Do you think Barack is as sexist as Bill Clinton?

It’s “code” all right and not at all subtle.
I haven’t chosen a candidate yet but this did NOT move me in Obama’s direction.
I’d have slapped my husbands head about half off if he had used that kind of terminology in relationship to me.

I’m feeling really down right now because the corporate owned media devotes so much attention to useless crap like this.

Of course Obama would never have said those things about a male candidate. Because he takes male candidates seriously. He would never say that McCain was “feeling down” and so had gotten “his claws out.” That’s just obvious–though not to the Obamabots, who are in an epic spasm of world-class denial here.

His comments are being waaaay blown put of proportion on this blog. I’m a white woman and I don’t find anything offensive about what he said. He stated his opinion, which I agree with, and he’s being attacked for his accurate portrayal of her politicking ways.

Don’t let yourself be deceived by Bush-Clinton politics.
The politics of division are not going to work this time, regardless of whatever slimeball tactics Jake Trapper, ABC News, and Disney decide to use.
Senator Obama is right. Challenging the status quo causes its defenders to launch personal attacks.

Obama clearly has an issue with women. It’s sad.

GRASPING AT STRAWS

After this comment, I’ll go ahead and add Andrea Mitchell into the now ever-growing list of MSNBC political correspondents who have absolutely no credibility in my mind. It’s one thing to be pro-Clinton, but I think it is ethically reprehensible to perpetuate those views through these sort of malicious defamatory stories. Are you kidding me? Not only is the interpretation of the quote a stretch, but am I the only person who thinks it’s misogynistic of Mitchell/O’Donnell to suggest that the word “down” is associated with a (depressed) woman anyway? It seems to me that the most obvious interpretation of that statement refers to Senator Clinton being “down in the polls/race” rather than being depressed/menopausal. I’d rather watch Fox News than MSNBC, at least I know where Hannity and Colmes are coming from!

Obama has gotten such overwhelmingly good press because of his electoral successes, some in the press are now trying to find something — ANYTHING — negative to report about Obama. First it was that Obama was creating a cult. Now it’s this garbage. Note to the MSM: being truly fair and balanced doesn’t require you to find a negative story where none exists.

Why am I never surprise when something this is written by this reporter….
Bottom-Line
• You are giving women like me a bad name….If your feelings get hurt now, what’s going to become of them when the republicans get a hold of Hillary Clinton in the general election …..
You can’t have it both ways….You can’t say in one breath that Hillary will be the strongest person to lead America in a better direction…..And in the next breath cry because someone hurts her feelings…..Playing the victim is not a good asset when you are trying to be the leader of this great country…….
The reason she is struggling is because she thought she could manipulate all women into voting for her…And many of us were too intelligent to fall for it……
Another reason she is struggling is because the same reason I just listed above….By trying to gather up all the support of the women, she began to alienate men by playing the woman card…..
Your candidate has ran her campaign poorly from the very beginning…..She ran it with pure arrogance…..She got caught-up in the Selective Clinton Nostalgic Memories of the past and therefore was not ready for her opponent…..And you want this women to be Americas next leader….
As she was incompetent in running her own campaign…..She would be just as incompetent as President of the United State of America…because the bottom line is….she is just not prepared….not on day one or the day after……

I’d rather be confused by the Bush-Clinton politics then the Obama-Guevara state of mind that Obama supports are encouraging in Texas.

Real journalism at ABC died with Peter Jennings.

Clinton surrogates and supporters spend all their time trying to find flaws in Obama. They spend their hours dissecting his words and try to find malice even when there is none. What has Hillary done to her own people?

Good grief, are we really discussing who said what about whom and who’s using “coded language” or not? With all of the truly scary challenges facing this nation, not to mention the prospect of John McCain in the White House, I would think we Democrats would have better things to focus on. If this keeps up, we deserve to lose the election to another lunatic.

I do think “claws” is at least vaguely sexist. I have heard other things like this from Obama that have given me pause.
Worst case scenario: It’s dog-whistle politics that appeals to misogyny. This will get more obvious (because it is not at all now) and then it will definitely make me mad. Result: I will have to hold my nose if I am lucky enough to have a chance to vote for him and not Hillary in the general.
Best case scenario: Although he has the right POLICY stand on basic equality and reproductive rights, Obama is still unintentionally, vaguely sexist–just like a lot of otherwise nice, smart (in the sense of having good judgment) and capable men.
How either scenario could possibly be an argument to vote for Hillary, who has, since we first “met” her in 1992, continually shown herself to have none these three attributes , I do not know.

Lanky,
Back at ya—–when your candidate loses, take it with grace and support Hillary.
HEY, all you TEXANS that are going to vote soon!!!! I just heard Bill Clinton speaking on CNN, and he said that when you vote there in Texas, Texans, vote EARLY in the day, and keep a RECEIPT of your VOTE, and then you LEGALLY have a right to VOTE AGAIN—vote in the evening, too!! This is because of the way that Texas votes…. GO, HILLARY—–the Democratic Presidential Candidate who will beat McCain with one hand!!!!!

SEXIST
Following the last debate, there was some mention of the fact that Obama helped Hillary out of her chair. (I also saw him help her INTO her seat.) Even that was turned into a positive by the media.
I didn’t hear anyone say the act was sexist or inappropriate. IT WAS!
It was calculated and intended to convey that Hillary is of the weaker sex and, therefore, needs to have a big, strong man help her get in and out of a chair.
No one called him on it, yet the Clintons were accused of playing the race cards for weeks.
Some will argue that he was just being a gentleman – chivalrous – but it was inappropriate in this scenario – and in all scenarios, as far as I am concerned. An able-bodied woman does not need help from a man when sitting down or standing up! In the Senate, does Senator Obama rush around and help his female colleagues whenever they sit down or stand up?

actually, Obama was being gallant. Instead of saying, “when she IS down,” which she is, he said, “when she’s FEELING down,” so as not to appear boastful about his own 8-state winning run. I’m an old feminist & I don’t think Obama was referring to Hillary’s PMS or apparent hysteria (another anti-feminist term). however, his adding “periodically,” even though factually accurate, does seem like a Freudian slip.

You Obamaramalamadingdongs don’t get it. It’s over. You don’t get to say anything you want anymore and count on a complicit news media.
But I fear it’s only because they’re bracing for the upcoming scandal, which by the way I give no credence, and are only rats deserting the sinking ship.
Hollow victory.

OBVIOUSLY, YES Obama is and has been using sexist language. It’s only idiots in the mainstream media who are somehow unable or unwilling to investigate it or call him on it!!! Yet everyone was eager to pounce on Bill Clinton for using language that was deemed racially insensitive. You in the media hate Hillary Clinton and are bending over backwards to make Obama the nominee. We’ll see if anything changes going forward. Obama is as much of a sexist as any American male. Period.

His speechwriters very intentionally used this language. It’s no accident and so very subliminal.
Obama’s speeches are always like this. They get the crowd in a Oprah frenzy but no substance.

Marie Burns — Nice analysis. I’ve noticed several times when Obama has, to my eyes, clearly attempted to be sensitive, gallant, etc, he gets reamed. Like his “You’re likable enough Hillary” — a very nice balance that avoided patronization, using a light sense of humor, treating her like an equal sparring partner who didn’t need some guy protecting her…. And then when he was accused of being sexist and asked if he regretted the remark, was he defensive and self-pitying? He simply said, yes, he regretted it because it obviously did not come across the way he intended. Very classy.
It’s pretty clear to me a lot of people just don’t want to admit what a jewel of a fellow he is.

It’s funny, now that the media is finally doing it’s job on Barack Obama, his followers can’t take the heat. I am a sports fan, and have noticed how often, Obama panders to the male race in his “this must be March Madness”, and “just like the NY Giants, we are the underdogs.” Sexism is far more subtle than racism. What about his wife’s comments “how can she take care of the White House, when she can’t take care of her own house.” What a ridiculous statment. It takes women back 50 years. It’s the kind of show that Oprah might have hosted… oh, that was before… The race issue was not fostered by the Clintons, it was fostered by Obama’s campaign. Stop hiding behind your sexism, racism, your wife, and Oprah. You have provided very few solutions for our many problems. Hillary is a far stronger candidate. Sounds to me like a lot of men still don’t get it. If you can’t stand the heat-get out of the kitchen, or the race. This little comment by the media, is nothing compared to what the Republicans would do with Obama. Wake-up Obama supporters.

Apparently, it’s ok to be sexist…especially when a bunch of white men are controlling the media. The fact that Obama is Black helps them disguise their sexism all the more. They get to look honorable, as they moon over this Black candidate, while they beat the hell out of her!

Honestly how can people view these figures of speech as conciously thought out attempts to undermine Hillary? Her supporters will grasp on to anything. I can’t figure out why people are qualifying her as an epitome of feminism. Didn’t her 50 year old husband get caught with a 20-something year old and not divorce him? There’s been plenty of other female candidates who are alot more independent and better spoken then her. Its funny how no one really tries to grasp on to actual issues in this race, only verbatim. If you did Kucinich would still be in the race or would’ve won the nomination. Clinton and obama are just good at playing the margins and the masses who gleefully consume the media witout objectively scrutinizng it.

I think she should get back in the kitchen.

This is so beyond pathetic. Show me one women’s issue that Clinton is better on the Obama. The fact that Clinton is a woman doesn’t make her better for women. Is Rice the best thing to happen to women and African-Americans since she holds the highest office a black woman has held in this country? Clinton doesn’t use feminist language and never has. She held a posistion on Walmart’s board and didn’t do anything to help the workers who wanted to organize unions. Mysterioulsy this time on Walmart’s board isn’t discussed on her campaign bio. Bill Clinton tries to dismiss Obama’s win in South Carolina by saying Jesse Jackson had won the same state, but Obama’s the one crossing the line? I am constantly amazed by the soft hands used by the media when it comes to Clintons ********.

Oh give me a break… move along, nothing to see here…

When he said, “…when she is down”, I heard it as a reference to down in the polls, not down in the dumps. Either way, being down is not exclusive to women, however you look at it.
There are far more important issues to be addressed here. Let’s elevate the discussion.

Nothing to see here. I was watching MSNBC when Andrea Mitchell & Norah O’donnell talked about that. I don’t see their points. If they think there is something there why they did not give us the details of what they saw in Obama language.
Let’s move on and talk about policies. That is what matters to a american people.

Waaaaaagh ! c’mon sistahs ..quit buying into the VICTIM mentality that keeps womyn down…it doesn’t work anymore ..and that goes for blaming everything on race as well …let’s all grow up and stop blaming …and being so damned sensitive…Norah..great smile…Andrea great mind…now hand me the barf bag !!!

Duh!
Hillary has been subjected to sexist remarks throughout this campaign. Let’s be frank, no one is attacking her on her medical insurance plan, but on her “emotions.” All the air time about her tears is pure sexism: afterall, no one said that George Bush should be impeached because he cried at some phot op. And by-the-way, this is an election campaign, not some ******** sports GAME. It is time to stop the sports analogies that most people in the USA don’t understand – just another way to be sexist I suspect

Sounds like code words to me, too, Jim, especially when it’s a pattern. “periodically feeling down”? Why not just say she’s “hormonal”
straight out instead of being coy? “I like to help little old ladies across the street” as his revised biggest fault. Implying the “weaker sex” with the pulling out of her chair, and the “claws” remark, which he could have just followed with “meow” and made the gesture Alan Arkin did in Little Miss Sunshine. Michele on one side insinuating she’s not woman enough to make a home or keep a man, while Barry lays on the little coded zingers to imply she’s not tough enough to do a “man’s job”. I like Obama’s ability to stir a new hopefulness, but he’s losing this “little old lady” of 55 very quickly.

More on Obama:
That’s what lack of judgements people have when they have become a “cocaine junkie”—–he probably doesn’t even remember doing that, that’s why he has not come out and said that he didn’t do it……

Please. This is pathetic. It must be a slow news day for the media to reach this low. But then if it bleeds it leads. Or is that a sexist remark too?
I wish these so-called feminists like Taylor Marsh would come to their senses and realize that there are many women, like me, who won’t vote for Senator Clinton and it has NOTHING to do with her gender. It does have everything to do, however, with her Iraq vote and the way she, her husband, her surrogates and her advisers have run her campaign.

GIVE ME A BREAK! If she cant handle this “insensitive” language that Obama is throwing around then she can’t handle much. They don’t have any other dirt on Obama so they are trying to bring up anything to get women all riled up. And by the way, her claws did come out when she is losing, I would have said that too and I am a female (and Hillary won’t have my vote unless she wins the nomination). The Clinton’s have proven to be more than sore losers!

Reddirtgirl, you don’t know ANYTHING about gay male bars, do you? ha ha ha—it could be that obama had the limo and–gay male bars have a “mixture” of wealthy and lower-socio-economic clientele…..obama probably provided the cocaine…..
This Larry Sinclaire doesn’t sound like a “nutcase” to ME—–and this kind of accusation has EVERYTHING to do with obama’s judgement, if it turns out to be true……

As per usual, Taylor Marsh adds a word to his actual quote and changes the meaning completely. What Senator Obama said is “when she is down”… not FEELING DOWN. He is talking about when she is losing. Perhaps Andrea and Nora should listen a little more carefully.

Don’t you think Clinton supporters ought to be careful about spreading unconfirmed and unconfirmable reports about gay sex when their own candidate has been the subject of similar smears?

Dan Said:
“Why dont you do a story about how Hillary continues to try to steal Obama’s camapign slogans and use them for her own”
So Barry’s has an exclusive patent on change or can do slogans. Glad to know it. Maybe you’d like to point out to Barry that using the poetry of a feminist like June Jordan without any credit, or none even to Alice Walker who borrowed it for a book title is called plagiarism. I’m referencing his use of the “we are the hope we are looking for” line from his speech that all the Obama fans and pundits just creamed their jeans over.red

Ernie, get ready, the Republican Swiftboaters will be worse than that……if obama can’t stand the heat, he should go back to working in the kitchen…….

Dave, I don’t know a LOT about gay male bars, but the guy said “MY Limo”, okay?
Afraid I didn’t watch the whole thing. It was amusing, I just didn’t see how it figured into the discussion of how Obama’s coyly dissing Hillary in a sexist way. Sorry.

Please. This is pathetic. It must be a slow news day for the media to reach this low. But then if it bleeds it leads. Or is that a sexist remark too?
I wish these so-called feminists like Taylor Marsh would come to their senses and realize that there are many women, like me, who won’t vote for Senator Clinton and it has NOTHING to do with her gender. It does have everything to do, however, with her Iraq vote and the way she, her husband, her surrogates and her advisers have run her campaign.

What? Okay, so Hillary has been resorting to negative attack ads, and Barack Obama is criticized for mentioning it? And how can this be construed as sexist language? It is sexist for anyone to construe this as being sexist. Come on people, lets all grow up, at least a little.

conflate much?

Well, Hillary for..’08, it seems many here jsut want Huffpo to continue becoming little more than the Obama Fan Club site. I guess we should rejoice they still have ANY one to treat Hillary fairly to supply a pretense of balance.

I am an Obama supporter. I have both voted for and donated to his campaign. I think he’s been very careful, for the most part. However, I can see how women would be upset by his use of language here. Given all the sexist joking there has been regarding Senator Clinton, her supporters are understandably sensitive.
Democrats need to be united to win in November. Both candidates need to show some respect if we are to come together in the fall.

Does Hillary own a dress?

ABC’s reading gender-baiting into Obama’s ordinary, innocuous language is quite a stretch. Ooops! Stretch marks! Sorry, that’s a sexist reference. My bad.

My apoligies, Reddirtgirl……

Sen. Clinton and her minions seem to be willing to say and do anything to get her elected. But, I’m even more concerned about Disney and ABC’s participation in these smear campaigns.

Obama meant She (Hillary) is down only when she is Loosing. Thsi is simply common sense.
I cannot believe he meant PMS thing – besides, Hillary is post menopause. She hardly have any PMS moment.

So Obama can’t say the word “periodically.”? This is the most ridiculous think I’ve ever heard. The Clinton camp must be getting desperate.

MJJ; You are absolutely right…..we Hillary supporters start stooping down to the obama-supporters level, and bfore you know it, geez, we’re ACTING like obama-supporters.
We DO, however, need to defend our candidate Hillary, and correct these smear-stories, else people will blindly follow obama without questioning him…..

“…..tarnish obama’s highly favorable public opinion” ????? That’s SO funny!!!! Are you SERIOUS ??? It is an illusion that the media has successfully gotten you obama-supporters to buy into—-that he has “a highly favorable public opinion”……that is the funniest thing I have heard yet today……..thank you for that lift!!!!

this is absurd, just get over the nit picking on the language. last week it was the pimp thing, now this. i am leaning toward obama but this fussing from the hilary camp just makes me want to cement myself with obama. doesnt look good, folks. is this the way she will fight back to mccain? crying foul?
go obama

Maybe next time you should search for more evidence because “claws” and “periodically” (over the course of a whole campaign) don’t strike me as sexist language.

Don’t forget, you Texans who are going to the polls to vote to let American know that you will elect Hillary as the candidate…..I just saw Bill Clinton on CNN tonight telling Texan’s for Hillary that they need to vote EARLY in the morning that day, and be sure you get proof that you voted—–then, you can vote AGAIN in the evening, because you are legally ALLOWED TO, because of the way the Texas voting law is set up…..Texans, show American in A BIG WAY that you stand behind Hillary Clinton for the Democratic NOMINATION!!!! GO, Hillary !!!

Suprise Suprise Suprise, Tapper writes another pro-Hillary blog.

Someone should tell the Clintons that deceiving and manipulating the public with Bush-Clinton politics is one of the reasons so many people prefer to see Barack and Michelle Obama in the White House.
It’s time to make Bush-Clinton politics a thing of the past. The United States of America needs to become united again if it is ever going to solve the enormous problems that confront us.

This is ridiculous! Obama was raised by a single mother, has a strong, career minded and highly educated wife, He is also the father of two girls. He is the all inclusive candidate. What he said has nothing to do with Hillary being a woman. She is his opponent and is coming out swinging with attacks about how his speeches do not put food on the table. She says this while giving a speech. Too bad if his are better! This is grabbing at the straw of all straws. Obama’s stance on issues concerning women is strong. Please see an excerpt from his website.
Combat Employment Discrimination
Obama will work to overturn the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that curtails racial minorities’ and women’s ability to challenge pay discrimination. Obama will also pass the Fair Pay Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.
Women for Obama 08!

Another example of Hillary being a witch…or something like that

Yes, please, please, all you guys out there, pray, tell us poor females what constitutes a sexist remark.
Because we were under the mistaken impression we could decide for ourselves.

But don’t call Obama’s meteoric rise to front runner in a matter of weeks a fairy tail. For some reason, that’s racism.

The reality is if the statement can be construed as sexist (and it can, IMHO) then it will be.
The notion that “she’s being cranky because she’s on the rag” is a woman’s huge hot-button. This will tick off voters. Voters will stay home.
Add these stay-home voters to the list that already are staying home due to Obama’s Reagan-love.
If he wins the primary, I suspect he’s going to go after McCain for his age. Again, this will piss off seniors, a group that ACTUALLY VOTES — CONSISTENTLY — and doesn’t give a rat’s hiney if Roe versus Wade is overturned.
I think these mistakes are HUGE for Obama. You can’t court independents, sexists and Dems-for-a-day at the expense of the base (greatly populated by women) and expect to actually win a general election.

How pathetic is this? Are Mitchell and O’Donnell trying to distract the voters from the hideous remarks Chris Mathews has made about Hillary and Chelsea? (To say nothing of his really creepy leg thing for Obama.) Check out the number of prominent feminists who have chosen Obama over Hillary, like Katha Pollitt and Kate Michelman, for example. What kinds of contortion did Mitchell and O’Donnell have to go through to come up with this nonsense? I bet they’re really embarrassed at what they let some man at MSNBC tell them to do here.

xist: sorry, got the context of your post wrong…..my reply goes to anyone asking why obama’s campaign is a “fairy tale”—–it has nothing to do with racism…..

I think agism more than sexism has helped boost Obama’s campaign. The theme has pretty much been “if you’re over 50, you’re irrelevant”. “Mom, Dad, if you want to be cool, you’ll back Obama. Listen to me, I’m the 18 year old, I’m the one with the sound judgement”.

If Women HRC supporters need such foolishness to get excited about her campaign, then things must be REALLY bad. “Periodically”?!? Give me a break.

This is a BUM RAP!
Sounds like the TV journalists had too much stream-of-conciousness dialogue as they were reporting the events that day.
Being alert for hidden subtext is one thing but Obama’s comments as ‘sexist’? Now’s THAT’s overreaching.
I guess it’s more politically correct to speak of Hillary as a gender-neutral individual!?!
This blog is a waste of bytes and not news.

“As a former Edwards supporter whose last choice was always Hillary, I’m now in her corner because of the behavior of Obama’s supporters.”
The childishness and crybaby aspect of the Clinton camp is so tired. As a woman, you make me ashamed. Can a woman win without crying and playing the victim all the time??
Hillary is no feminist. Hillary is Nixon II.

nOw let’s get real: Good points. What I want to know is, if Michelle Obama says that “Americans have lost their souls”—–what are she and obama going to push religion-wise if he is elected President? That Michele Obama comment about “lost their souls” sounds like Michele Obama wants to inject “religion of some kind” into America to help the soul-less American public…..what church does obama and his wife go to in Chicago, and what is it all about?

“I see the closer we get to voting, the media tries to influence our vote with these pathetic stunts. Disgusting.”
Exactly. Always happens right before a vote. Remember the New Hampshire “teary” moment. The Media whipped that one up so the Clintons could win.
“weapons of mass distraction”

These two women on MSNBC or NBC have never given Hillary Clinton’s campaign a positive word. Do you honestly think that these comments were given to help her. It was MSNBC’s way of sending subliminal messages to sway the white male vote. Hillary is too busy with substantive message to be bothered w/ overt or covert sexism.
As a professional female who has faced sexism in the workplace and in life for more than three decades, I support Hillary’s way of fighting it — hard work, study, and more hard work. She has a long record of productivity with all the issues she supports now. However
I have not been able to find any evidence of years of productivity from Senator Obama; in 44 years, there should just be a lot more. Where is all the public service beyond the work he was paid to do? Where is the record of Michele Obama’s work beyond the paycheck. When Bill Clinton came to Washington, Hillary had a long record of public service accomplishments in addition to her work w/ the legal aid society, Children’s Defense Fund, public and private legal practice.
Both Bill and Hillary Clinton had years of experience fighting for civil rights, equal rights, and human rights.
I’m sorry but I want the next president of the United States to have more experience than being a state legislator and a community activist. In my state of NC, most legislators hold other jobs in addition to serving in the legislature.
I am not voting for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman, but because she is the most qualified of all the candidates in the presidential race.
If the media {especially GE, with all of its military and energy interests,through its NBC, MSNBC, and MCcatny Newspapers}, Time Warner (through its “Obama” pundits on CNN), News Corp (owned by Rupert Murdock) w/ its FOX network, Wallstreet Journal,New York Post, and other cable and newspaper outlets, CONTINUE to promote Obama w/ free daily positive coverage and an almost equal amount of anti-Clinton coverage, do manage to give Senator Obama the nomination,I will have to take a serious look at the Republican nominee. Under no circumstances will my husband or I vote for a candidate who is as weak on credentials as George Bush.
If the National Democratic Party thinks they can win the primary states w/ a candidate who only excels at caucases or low population states, they are dillusional.
Judith Wish, Fayetteville, NC

What a non story story. Soon, there will be only a few words we can use…let me see before I answer I have to check the book for approval. What a bunch of crap. I’m moving to the mountains.

I feel that HC is shameless in her ways. I feel she plays the gender card a lot. I feel she is hipocritical because she claims she is a feminist but she is only in the posiyion she is in because of her husband. There are more women in the democratic party that have done way more then Mrs. Clinton, but they are not married to a former president. She is giving the american people false hope with universal health care because her bill will not go past the house and the senate and she will eventually blame it on the politics of Washington.

I voted for Obama. In being fair, I think Clinton is a very qualified, likeable, experienced equal candidate as well. However, since voting, I am starting to have buyer’s remorse! I have noticed in the media (all networks – including Fox), Obama receives better coverage than Clinton. The media covers him with more positive spin, there are no discussions or challenging him on the issues. On the other hand, Clinton receives less coverage, more negative spin, she is constantly challenged on her every move and word. Clinton has even challenged on her hair and wardrobe selections! Are the candidate really competing with each other? Or – are the networks competing with themselves in the selling of each candidates for higher ratings?! By the power of suggestion, are the media networks marketing and selecting our presidential candidates? Over the months, it’s becoming increasing visible the media favors Obama to Clinton! Which should be of no surprise, as Obama’s campaign organization is managed by a media guru. However, from my perception, there is a disturbing trend happening with in the media’s coverage of the two candidates. No networks or person, wants to be perceived as a raciest, therefore its appears more and more, Obama is getting special treatment with the networks because of this fact. Clinton is not being afforded the same consideration, yet she too, is a morality….. must we not forget. It’s seems to be now acceptable with the networks to be a sexist! Equal rights means equal for all!

Give me a break. He was talking about when she had just lost some states/delegates. This story is really reaching and ridiculous.

James – you’ve got no idea. It was actually Obama and his disgracefully shameless campaign team who introduced the “race card” in South Carolina. Everything irrupted after O’s team sent a 4 page letter of RUBBISH trying to drum up media attention to help them turn black voters against Hillary Clinton. DISGRACEFUL PROPAGANDA!
Obama has shamelessly seduced the following groups of people to win votes:
1. young people
2. african-american people
3. guitly white educated “no war” liberals
4. oprah-watching housewives
PREACHES, SERMONS – it’s all a CON JOB!!!!
DONT’ BE A VICTIM!!!

Barack Obama really is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
He’s been speaking this way about Hillary Clinton from the very start, using euphemisms that do not sound too offensive as you hear them, but are loaded with meaning when you think a bit more about them.
He is charming: he can disarm, beguile, and fool a lot of people who listen to him speak.
These people become fools themselves, singing Hosannahs while lying prostrate at Obama’s feet.
But they will realize the folly of their ways, the folly of seeing a halo over his head, and will turn away from him disappointed and feeling empty.

Mike – WRONG! Clinton is often slandered and critiqued and her supporters don’t scream “sexism”. Only when this kind of TRASHY language is used. Conversely, Mr Obama has been getting a massively FREE RIDE because anyone who dares criticize him is accused of being a racist. It’s ridiculous. This pseudo-preacher needs to be brought to the table and shown up for the charlatan that he is!

Noel , whatever the reason blacks voted for Obama is not important, the people that should be ashamed of themself are the whites that don’t vote for HRC. Do onto others as they have done onto you.

Charles those white people weren’t being racist. They were just dumb. Obama is not ready.

This is garbage. Jake, why are you giving these smears a platform?

God!! This is such a great news story.

O’Please stop saying that Senator McCain can’t wait to go after Clinton, or Obama..
The next President will be A Democrat.. It only remains to be seen which one of the two Democrats will be the one Nominated by Our Party.. To All of you Republican Turkey’s shooting of your mouths, trying to stir the pot.. You better find another horse to ride.. Your BS just isn’t working anymore..

Is there anyway to criticize Obama without being accused of racism? Is there any way of expressing support for a female candidate without being accused by someone of preferring that candidate over Obama because of a secret (or not so secret) hatred of Blacks?
I don’t think so, and we might as well get used to it. Anything but genuflection to all things Obama will be ascribed to sexism is long as his candidacy or presidency lasts.
Have fun “decoding” my comments Obama worshippers. I’m not falling for this anymore.

“But don’t call Obama’s meteoric rise to front runner in a matter of weeks a fairy tail. For some reason, that’s racism.”
Well said Mike, and we knew the other wasn’t you.

Wow, this is ugly. Thought very deeply about this and have chosen to back Barack, but I’d let the slams of Hillary go, no use striking back. She’s losing, of course she’s going to get desperate. Not sure anyone of any race creed, gender or sexual orientation would react to such a dramatic turnaround in their fortunes. Chill people.

Thought very deeply about this and have decided to back Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Leadership + Resume + Passion + Dignity + Smart + Grace = Sen. Hillary Clinton for President.

Oh please, Obama know what he was doing. If he didn’t, then he shouldn’t be Prez and talk to other leaders of other nations. Not enough experience. We have other leaders who are women and other leaders who are old. He has said way to much about being old in the White House. That is sending a bad message to our young people. We need to respect older people. Everyone got their souls in check? I’ve got mine.

“Claws come out”, definitely. Next he’ll be calling her “feisty” (or has that already happened).
He’s also started calling her by her first name more.
The “feeling low” comment gave me pause when I first saw it, but I decided to give him a pass on it. Don’t say “how would he talk about Edwards?” Say “how would he talk about Bill?” Fact is, the comment is too apt a description of exactly how the Clintons (Bill even more so than Hillary) have been approaching the race to count as a cheap shot. Belittling, yes. Sexist, not so much.

I just figured out why Mrs. Obama said AMERICANS have LOST their SOULS. It’s because she sees so many zombies.
Oh that was not nice. But I love my soul and I don’t like young people being told they have lost their souls. This is scary.
Oh I hope Obama does come back in 8+ years, he may make a good president then, but first there needs to be some more lerning and growing. He will see more clearly then, and wont see so much negative about America.

Its not the Clinton campain that complained, they have NOT said anything.
It was …. oh my gosh… the. Media. We have all seen it and heard it. One person left off the Obmedia ride brought it up in public. WE.. People who support Hillary… Have been talking about it for ages.
Clinton has not complained at all about it. She is busy addressing the issues and clearing up misleading ads.

It is apparent that, working-men, women, and Latinos are receptive to her. Latinos for Hillary Clinton.

Oh, please. It was obvious from the way he said it (and I watched it) that he meant “down in the polls”. I am a woman and any other sexist interpretation never crossed my mind. As far as “claws”, I think that’s a general thing people say about being under attack. It’s like saying the “long knives” come out. Again, I see nothing sexist. Sheesh, some people are too sensitive. (oh sorry, will that be seen as “sexist” too?)

Please folks stop spinning the spin!
We all have better things to do then this.
Get real folks and stop playing games!!
Debbie

I am really fed up with the glory going to Obama for bringing the youth vote. Get a grip–we are in war–what a novel thought that may be a reason for youth interest. Senator Clinton is the first woman ever in our history running for President and being this successful, not to mention the former first lady aspect. Technology such as the internet has spiked social awareness. The people that give no claim to the both of them receiving interest from that age group might want to look up the numbers.

Looks like he can do whatever he wants and the public and most of the news approve. I remember this happening when our boy ole’ “W” was running for office and when he started “Shock ‘n Awe”…any of us talked about it..we were traitors…so now we have another KING…..baa baa baa little American sheep…..ain’t nobody this good, but here you go again with your HERO WORSHIP!! Start licking his shoes…and whatever he says is A-OK..for now.

You’ve got to be kidding me. When women get this “sensitive and touchy” over any little thing, the feminist movement takes another step backwards. Let’s not make up insults! It just demeans us all.

Sure. Obama knows that, as the Black man and the media darling, he’s protected. His guys can slam Bill Clinton for subtly noting that Jesse Jackson won South Carolina; yes, that was a way of saying that half the Democrats there are Black, and they automatically vote for the Black guy. But it IS TRUE. How do you win when 40% of the people in the primary will vote their race, and you need to get 84% of the remaining (White) people? You can’t win.
Plus the press has been worshipping Obama and shutting down all criticism of him, the way they worshipped Bush and shut down any negative facts about Bush in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, and to a slightly lesser degree in 2004. But the old vicious hatred of Hillary from the right wing in 1992 continues on as always.
There is a big double standard at work here. Obama can use these code words to his heart’s content, but Hillary has to walk on eggs, and she is still condemned.
If Obama and crazy McCain face each other, the filthy press will have a heart attack trying to figure out which of the 2 unqualified media creations it loves the most. I wish the mainstream press, Bush, McCain and Obama would all visit the Eastern Congo on a fact finding trip – and STAY THERE.

Wow! The majority of the posts here are remarkable for their lack of a rational approach to the problem of choosing a president (if not outright racism and sexism). All of our choices are, when you get down to it, career politicians – they all spin, they all tailor their pitch to the given audience, they all have outsize egos, and they all say things on the spur of the moment that don’t come out quite right. Look at the big picture folks! If you’re a Democrat and don’t want to see the party blow their third election in a row, there’s only one choice. 47% of the country will NEVER vote for Hillary – she and her husband are reviled by many – not because she is a woman, but because she is fundamentally corrupt. The Clinton’s threw away the black vote on a political miscalculation, thinking that they could marginalize Obama – but it didn’t work – and now they’ve lost terribly in states where they should have won. Obama has his flaws (ego being one of them), but he does inspire huge numbers of young voters to join the process, he is a skilled politician, he appeals to independents to a much greater extent than Hillary (this is not assertion – you can read it in any of the exit polls from the primaries), and he is more likely to beat McCain. He has run a brilliant campaign, coming from way behind to take the lead. The Clinton campaign now fusses and whines about his red state victories and caucus state victories, when they have no one to blame but themselves for running a lousy campaign. It is all negativity flowing from the Clinton campaign these days. Do you really want to return the Clinton’s to the white house for four years of divisive battles with the Republicans, not to mention the likelihood of watching one scandal after another unfold for the next four years? Obama’s not perfect, but he’s the best choice we’ve got!

I considered Obama, but I really did some research. Thats why I switched.
Anyway, I’m going to leave this blog now, because I feel bad that I said things that were not nice. I just got so frustrated over the media slant and had to voice my thoughts. Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend anyone. Honest.
I am sure Obama may make a good president one day. I am sure he is sincere on some things. In some way, I think the media helped him.

Obama has a lot of learning to. Right now he is like the new black poodle who just won bow on his head for wagging his tail the best, in the “best in show”

Every word Obama says, every gesture Obama uses, is carefully orchestrated and rehearsed. He’s a product. He really scares me.

It’s not about being female and having someone say something stupid to you. It’s about a potential leader of our Nation saying something stupid. PERIOD. We have many leaders of many nations, some old and some women. He could easily #### them off with his NEW GENERATION, YOUNG, talk, and their claws may come out. Well actually, women leaders don’t really do that. And clearly Hillary won’t. She was just pointing out misleading ads.

Clearly he is talking about her being down in the polls. Can you do an article on the bills that she passed vs. the bill the Obama passed in the Senate. Something with substance, that demonstrates your intellectual horsepower. No comparision between HRC and Obama. Look at their bills and you tell me who is more experienced and capable of being commander and chief:
Obama
During the first eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:
233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.
His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included:
- the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
- The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
- The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
- The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
- The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee)
ClintonSenator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation.
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Hon
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O’Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.
Only five of Clinton’s bills are more substantive:
16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.
There you have it. The facts straight from the Senate Record.
Her Whitehouse schedule is under lock and key, so that is all that we have to judge her so called experience on.

It’s pretty clear that Obama was talking about Clinton being down in the polls, not that she was having PMS. I suspect he knows enough biology to realize that 60 year old women aren’t cycling anymore. Too bad others are not so well-informed.

Dear Mr. Tapper,
Thank you for your letter. It was real. There will be some people who insult you for it, but your stor is right on. You will go down in history as the as the lone media person, to take the big step. Hopefully there will be more who step uo. You have my respect for your story. It was brave of you.
Best regards
A new fan.

Notice how upset many guys get when a piece of sexism is noted.
Why the upset? Why not just say ‘well I don’t think it is sexist? So it might be a misinterpretation or maybe you just don’t get it. Why does it pain you so?
One of the big problems in clearing up sexism is that somw men are so whacked out by mere discussion of it.
So I suggest they take a bit of their own advice: don’t get so worked up and emotional. Be calm, it won’t bite you.
Joel Mael

Ryan, TX
So everyone who funds the Iraq war should be voted out to?

About Obama’s comments that women might find offensive, LET’S ASK OBAMA’S WIFE, WHO HAPPENS TO BE A WOMAN. Regarding Bill’s racebaiting, LET’S ASK BILL’S WIFE, uh, well, SHE’S NOT BLACK, IS SHE?
It’s a completely different thing, and Clinton supporters trying to equate the two is yet another cynical, desperate tactic to revive her coronation, er, campaign.
You see, a funny thing happened on the way to the White House. The Clintons thought the 2008 primary campaign would be a coronation. Instead, it has turned into, well, a campaign. The American people, and certainly the Democrats, have started to ask her questions that SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE’D HAVE TO ANSWER. But rather than to provide answers to those questions in ways that WOULD UNITE people, she has CHOSEN to provide answers to those questions in ways that HAVE DIVIDED people.
And one other thing. Obama did drugs in his youth. Bill Clinton smoked marijuana but didn’t inhale (yeah, right!). Dubya did cocaine. NONE OF THAT MATTERS TO ME, so long as they’re not still doing drugs TODAY. Indeed, I would argue that doing drugs in your youth gives you more perspective into the things that lead our children to do drugs today, and perhaps more perspective on what to do about that.
I’ll tell ya this, John McCain and Mike Huckabee can’t tell me anything about drugs without me asking, “What the heck do you personally know about it?”

if bill clinton said the same thing as obama did it would be the end of the political world

I just did a poll of Google to see how related the word claws is to gender, and here are the results:
“HIS CLAWS” — 623,000 hits
“HER CLAWS” — 237,000 hits
In fact, the first result for “his claws” comes up with Guiliani. Draw your own conclusions, conspiracy theorists…

Obama gets a free pass for a vicious campaign that flys just under the sight of broadcast and internet commentary.

I’d like to know what the Democratic candidates and the democratic party are going to do when a substantial number of the women who have been keeping the part afloat for the past 25 years decide to skip voting. Or worse yet, decide to support republican candidates instead.
Women who want to see a woman president have only one point of leverage and that is to vote against the candidate who submarines their hopes.

This is beyond silly. Why don’t you news people ever talk about her supposed experience? She is vetted, she is tested, she is ready! How? What did she ever accomplish? As a woman I am offended by her stance that so matter what her husband does she looks the other way. If she is such a big feminist why did she not use the bully pulpit of her co-presidentship to stand up for all those women who are abused and cheated on by their husbands who have affairs with young women at the office and say – “No! We do not have to stand for this. We do not have to sing ‘Stand By Your Man’ no matter what. We do not have to give our young sons and daughters the example that it is OK to lie and act in a morally bankrupt manner as long as you show up for work on time.” She has a chance to give an example to all women that they can say “Enough is enough” and she did not. We need someone who will provide an example of strong morals and family values for our young people. Barack is that person – along with being a brilliant man with better policies (see Robert Reich’s blog where he explains that his health care and social security policies are both better than HRCs), good judgment, amazing leadership abilities, capable money manager, creative log-jam breaking legislator. What more can we ask for? Do your own homework and you will see that he is clearly the best choice.

Save the Country
Everyday from the moment little girls are born we are treated differently from the boys. Girls have to over come so much more than boys do. Little girls grow into women and challenges exists through out all our lives to be treated equally.
Think about this way: In our own families race seldom matters, but male and females most always are treated differently. Dolls or trucks, swing sets or climbing trees, girly girls or tom boys, girls are always different. Why do boys not have that difference? I would love a day when girls and boys were treated equally. But from to many posts I see here that day is…..
Senator Clinton will make a great President. Do not deny her that chance because she is woman. Do not deny all of us a great president. What would you tell the women in your life if you do? And how would you feel when someone treats the women in life that way?

“In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” (Harry Truman)
“Change things for the better”
Women, men, young,old, black,white,Latino, Asian…this isn’t about gender, age, ethnic background, its about hope, effort, leadership,judgement, and
integrity. So get over the “ist” bating
and focus on the big picture…Do we want drivers or mechanics. A race team
can only win with good people and technology, but the driver crosses the finish line. It’s one thing to be a problem solver, another to be a direction setter, navigator, and captain.

When I heard Obama make his statement yesterday, referring to Clinton “…when she’s feeling down” to me it was code for saying she is emotional and therefore not capable to hold the job a man can do. He is playing a passive aggressive gender game. I remember back to the 1960′s when women were just beginning to make breakthroughs in business. I often heard woman being referred to as emotional or depressed. Obama’s comment is also projection because he doesn’t know how Hillary feels, only she knows how she feels. His comment is arrogant. Michele has also made sexist comments about Clinton. She as a woman should know better. One of her comments was that Hillary needed to get her own house in order. Well, media are you going to continune to give Obama a on pass on his sexism?

The sad thing is Obama is using code words for white males to get a chuckle. He needs as many white male voters and they tend to be conservative, not quite ready to see a women in the white house. Problem also is the smugness that Obama supports are showing toward Hilliary supporters, if Obama does get the nod, you Obama supports are not enough to get him elected, I am tried of your out rigth disrespect for anyone who does not support your choice. I am from Illinois, I worked on Obama’s sentor race, but I think Obama needs to define his positions, great speaches are one thing, but not giving any defination is a problem. Though one thing is interesting, Obama need Oprah, for Iowa and South Carolina and that worked. But he lost Ma and Ca, even though he brought out Oprah, Maira and Caroline, along with Ted and Patrick, so why did he lose when he brought out the big backers????? Is it he can’t stand by himself??????

The PC police are alive and well-get a grip

Too little, too late is what they will say of the media’s eventual scrutiny of Senator Obama and his campaign. He has definitely made sexist comments, but as we move deeper and deeper into a society where winning is more important than anything else, stuff like being a sexist doesn’t really matter to many.
Think of how many football fans were rooting for the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl and have an unbeaten season even though they were deemed cheaters by the NFL during their first game of the season.
Society will always be divided along certain lines and it’s funny how far people will go to rationalize what side of the line they are on.

Carl, if you think using Clinton’s former campaign manager David Axelrod, who has all the media and corporate connections in the world “standing alone”, it’s time to put down the Kool-Aid and walk away.

Jim it doesn’t surprise me that you do not understand sexism. You are not a woman. You haven’t walked in the shoes of a woman or experienced what it is like to be a female in America in the last 50 years. I remember back in the 1960′s, 70′s and 80′s when I heard men routinely referr to women in the workplace (at law firms and financial institutions) as emotional and depressed. So here Obama is referring to Clinton stating “periodically when she’s feeling down.” This is an old put down in code. I remember back to the 60′s men saying that a woman can’t be POUS because she can’t be trusted to control the Red Button…too emotional! Most of you younger women have no clue about what it was like to graduate from college, especially in the 60′s and 70′s and want to have a successful professional life and be thwarted by institutionalized patriarchy. Male comments about women being emotional and depressed were very common. The point was that women were not capable of holding “male” jobs or positions of power because we were unfit due to our emotional “temperament”, i.e. our hormones. Obama is not stupid. His remarks are passive aggressive and sexist. Perhaps he is blind to his own sexism, as others are blind about their own racism. But whether he consciously understands or not, he is talking as a sexist. One more point: Obama’s statement is projection. Besides only Hillary knows what she feels. It is arrogant for Obama to postulate how she feels. Not even a therapist can or should do that!

Articles like this will possibly mark the beginning of the end for Obama. The much-delayed media scrutiny is going to diminish his base of support in coming states and open people’s eyes to the level of scrutiny Clinton has endured.
Clinton deserves much of the scrutiny she’s gotten, and Obama deserves the scrutiny he will begin to receive (remember we’re voting for the President of the United States). The problem is that the levels of scrutiny have been at opposite ends of the spectrum. The big injustice so far was that the media was biased in favor of Obama and now the tide is turning.
I don’t want to see Obama destroyed, but I do want to see him questioned so we can at least see how he responds to the questioning.
It’s scary that we are on the verge of electing someone President simply because he says he can “unite people”. Honestly, what has he done other than simply say that?
Think of how unbalanced the playing field has been thus far in the primary season: Clinton’s accomplishments have been discarded and her plans have been dismissed while Obama’s accomplishments have been trumped up and his dreams have been praised. As the variables in this equation begin to change, the excitement and support for each candidate will as well.

Those comments were sexist, as was the act of ‘helping’ her with her chair. This is a very calculating campaign. Here is a man, who on his African-American side, is only first generation, who enjoyed a Harvard education, as did his father, because of the hard work of the civil rights and feminism movements while he was still a toddler and before most of us were born. It makes me uncomfortable that his speeches are deliberately, in cadence and tone, like MLK’s. Obama’s not MLK. Yet, he uses his accent, stress and tone. When he won the sweep he used the word ‘struggle’. That’s only one example. He is very subtly working folks emotions over. And, it seems as if people have temporarily lost their ability to think. This is why I am very mistrustful of what is going on. Are we so tired of the bad daddy, we’re going to trade our autonomy and reason, for someone who at least is acting like a good daddy. I don’t know, but that combined with the repubs love of him and how this run has degenerated in race and gender give me the shakes. I don’t like his Reagan comment either. What worries me is I can’t get a handle on who he is because rational discussion seems to be impossible. I also believe he is far more vulnerable to being ‘swift-boated’.

Big Sid – you said it very well! Obama has had a FREE RIDE to now and oh how he will cower and faulter under the pending SCRUTINY! Hillary Clinton has been slandered, lied about and scrutizned for 15 years. There really isn’t anything left to tell us about her. And she is stil standing. Mr Obama on the otherhand has successfully managed to evade major media scrutiny for the past month – how that has been possible remains a myster. Online, however, where mainstream media doesn’t rule – people do – the negative scrutiny has well and truly begun and not surprisingly there is MUCH negativity around which will surely burst the bubble that his been surrounding this candidate once the mainstream media stops is sexist support of Obama!

Thank you. I told my mother the same thing last night–how Obama’s words were sexist. And you are exactly right–as if he would use those words if he were running against Edwards!
And your previous poster is correct also–him pulling out her chair did not escape me either.
The press treats him with kid gloves, yet they pounce on anything she says. They won’t even allow her to run a race. They have annointed him and he is where he is because of people like Chris Matthews–as he gets thrills up his leg!
Thank you for this piece. Articles pointing out any negative behavior by anyone other than Clinton are so few. I hope the press is proud of themselves. I am so mad that if Clinton does not get the nomination, I don’t even want to vote. ANd if they had allowed her to run a proper race, and Obama had gotten the nomination, I would not feel this way, but they have essentially muzzled her by treating him “special.”
Even on CNN last night, David Gergin — whom I typically love — was discussing whether the Republicans could “go after” Obama if he were the nominee, and Gergin said no, that they really couln’t. What is wrong with people? I sure in the hell don’t want to see any swift-boat ads, but since when is anyone so “special” that they get treated so?!

muzza, proof, not talk.

Let’s see, when she starts losing, what do we get:
*Tears (twice)
*Incomplete facts (won’t debate, nuclear plant legislation which she voted for)
*Trying to change the rules (MI, FL – Ickes certainly has no shame…)
*Exageration (no substance, just words)
And now, accusations of sexism????
C’mon.
Politics is blood sport, and they’ll both do what it takes to win. And when you attack, don’t be surprised when you get a riposte…

author of Down and Dirt and a New Yorker ? that is deadly combo. My question is why are so Many New Yorkers and People from Florida hate Obama so much?

I’m so glad we now have an entire professional class dedicated to interpreting, or perhaps re-interpreting, the language for us commoners. I for one never thought the comments made by the Clinton’s during the South Carolina primary were racist, just petulant. Obama’s “when she’s down” comment seems to be a defensive jab at her advertisements. Anyone can read just about anything into words, hence thousands of years of violence and schism over things like the Bible. But if this is what “racism” and “sexism” have been reduced to, we truly have come a long way, and for the better.

Why is the media so concerned about what Obama said? HILLARY SAYS—WORDS DON’T MATTER.

Unbelievable. Have feminists taken over this country or what? When Obama says “When she’s down” he clearly means down in the polls and behind in the delegate count. Why are so many feminists dying to read beyond that? He’s said many times that Hillary had no problem with him when he was down. Is that to be interpreted as Obama was down when he was on his “periodical”? Don’t be ridiculous people. If you don’t like Obama, don’t vote for him, but don’t go around calling him sexist. If anything, Hillary plays the gender card all the time. She’s said on many occasions that it would be a change just to have a Woman as president. You don’t hear Obama saying it would be a change just to have an African American in the White House, do you? You don’t hear anybody crying about that comment. Give us a break people.

“You challenge the status quo and suddenly the claws come out.”
Only ones pedicure,
knows for sure.

If Ann Coulter called herself a progressive, she’d be Taylor Marsh.
And why would Obama intentionally use language that offends women when he’s trying to get more support from women?

The only folks who would consider these words offensive to women are those extreme feminists who can’t stand ANY perceived threat to their “I am woman; hear me roar” every-man-is-out-to-get me stance. Why in the world would Obama use words in an attempt to dissuade women from voting for him? Knock the chip off your shoulder and cut the Hillary-spin. People (men and women) use words all day long–I’d hate to think we have to resort to never using words like polls, claws, and even the word ‘people’ because someone might put a spin on it in order to cream ‘foul’. Let’s use a LITTLE common sense.

If the claws fit . . .

This is embarassingly funny! What a BUNCH OF CRAP!
Sexist language —??? She gets on TV and CRIES!…. com’on. No other candidates have gotten on NATIONAL TV and cried.
You can’t have it both ways. She wants to be treated like a “girl”, in a rough and tumble mans world.
Also if you look at any videos of the two of them walking on or off stage, He always is a gentleman. He helps her up the stairs, and he pulls out her chair when she sits down.
I thought that was odd. I hadn’t seen any other candidates do that for her.
I told myself – “WHAT A REAL GENTLEMAN”.
Sexist language – he has been nothing but gracious. HIS MAMA – did a GREAT job with him. When is the last time you pulled out a chair for a lady or helped her up the stairs?????

CT (Post 10:05): LOVED your post!! Especially the McCain/Huckabee part.

Obama is inspiring and has developed a cult following much like Hitler did. Are we going to fall for that again?

I’d be more worried about the anonymous, Terri :P

Premier – you must have read my post wrong!
“Traci, you’re sexist against men”.
My observations have been – Obama has shown that he is a Gentleman. Very well mannered. That’s not sexist. That’s just old school – home training.
When I grew up, boys had manners. and so did most girls. Regardless of stature or position, men were taught to open doors and pull out chairs for a lady. THAT’S NOT SEXIST.

My advice to my fellow feminists is to grow up. Creating a media storm over something this ridiculous just demeans us all.
If you want to get upset about something [even though it's true], accept that Obama’s reference was to HRC’s reputation for going on the attack when things aren’t going well for her. That’s a human response, and there is nothing sexist about commenting on it.
I hate that *every* media outlet has become a tabloid, constantly looking for a personal fight to exploit… rather than address the major problems this country is facing.

Alas, people like Lezident will always remain ignorant. No matter how much reason and proof you throw in their face. Like googling “his claws” and getting more results than “her claws” for such a “female” concept. Or John McCain’s claws being mentioned.

To Lezident – I guess you missed this previous post:
I just did a poll of Google to see how related the word claws is to gender, and here are the results:
“HIS CLAWS” — 623,000 hits
“HER CLAWS” — 237,000 hits
In fact, the first result for “his claws” comes up with Guiliani. Draw your own conclusions, conspiracy theorists…
Carl Sloan on Feb. 17th

The one thing that I’m a little bit suspect of is O’donnell has always been obviously repub in her comments and Mitchell has been one of the worst HRC bashers in the media ……so whats in it for them???
after weeks of anointing the chosen one…they suddenly see something negative??????????

Well if this isn’t newsworthy I don’t want to hear the Obama camp or any of his supporters crying about race anymore.

Thank you, Janice (Posted Feb 17, 2008 10:10:34 AM).
Unfortunately, they deleted that post and a subsequent one. My sin, it appears, is citing other sources (I was always taught not to plagiarize)
And here I was simply trying to inject some humor.
So I’ll leave this debate and enjoy myself somewhere else.

Here’s exactly, word for word, what Senator Obama said: “I understand Senator Clinton periodically when she is feeling down launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal.”
That’s a subtle but very deliberate revival of the old “raging hormonal imbalance” BS–the claim that a woman shouldn’t be trusted with the red button on the oval office desk. If he had simply said “when she’s feeling down” it might be interpreted as having to do with polls–but his use of the word “periodically” is the tipoff to what he was really saying.
Way to go, Barack–if the aim is to make inroads among male voters who are supporting Hillary. Some of them may not be aware that at age 60 she’s probably post-menopausal (like me) and therefore doesn’t suffer from PMS.
BTW, my husband picked up on it immediately too–so it’s not just us “old feminists” who object to this kind of sexist campaign rhetoric.

If I used those code words at home there would be no food for a week.
No words though top the magical “calm down honey”

OBAMA has given her plenty to “feel down about”. She thought that this entire election process was just going to be a “formality” to her crowning.
She thought Obama was a light weight.
SURPRISE! HONEY! It’s not!
OBAMA 08 – WE NEED FRESH AIR!

I can’t believe this is an issue.
No one called him out when he helped her up the stairs to the platform on the CNN debates.
No one called him out when he pulled out her chair for her – before the debates in Los Angeles.
He is a perfect Gentleman!
AND – SHE DOES HAVE CLAWS.
She wants to fight it out in a traditionally MANS WORLD. But now she wants to complain – caused they said “claws”.
To solve the mess that the Bush Administration has left….SHE BETTER HAVE CLAWS and SOME BIG BALLS to GO WITH THEM. WHOM EVER WINS HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO!

I am a 53 year old woman and practicing attorney with three children. I am conscoius of sexism and confront it when I see it. But ladies, this one goes too far. Are you saying that use of the word “periodically” references Hillary’s menstrual cycle? Come on now. You are stretching this a bit far. It make us look ridiculous. By the way, the press reported that Hillary was feeling down after her last defeats and she did come back with a negative ad campaign.

Let’s try this one again:
If any of you are such a feminists that you put your candidate’s fate above the success of the Democratic party, then I say you need to look at yourself closely to determine if you are a democrat because you believe in what the party stands for or if you are a democrat because you idealize one particular member of the party. If the fact is that you will not support the party because your candidate loses, I suspect you really don’t care as much about the nation as you may claim. If you can so easily transfer loyalties to the Republican machine and support the war-mongerers, the torturers, the folks who destroyed the economy, took away our civil liberties, and continue to grow rich while the rest of us grow poor, then what does that say about the depths of you democratic party support?
The fact is that this nomination is going to be determined by the people who vote; Hillary still has a good chance of pulling it out if she can convince the electorate to trust her and support her. But if she can’t, then those of you who can’t swallow hard and do what is right for America will help the Republicans remain in power for the next four years–and help America stay in a war zone for the next 100 years and help the economy continue its downward slide.
No matter who our candidate is, it seems to me that a Democrat in the WH is still a better way to go that another Republican, and those among us who cling to a single candidate–whichever one that may be–to the extent they help the ‘other team’ win are putting personality above politics.

OBAMA sounds like the US is the worst nation on earth. To him every thing must change.
I wish to remind him that this is the greatest country on earth and a beacon of hope for all mankind. That is why his Muslim father migrated from his failed country called Kenya and came to the US.
There is nothing wrong with our nation that needs an immigrate son from a third world to fix
Please fellow americans sit up and do not let sweet talk lead you into making a mistake you will never have the chance to correct.

We’re all pretty much descendants of immigrants, including the Native Americans, who came across the land bridge from Asia…

Wow, so Obama is switching from inspiring rhetoric to attacking another candidate instead of highlighting his own plans and “dreams” for the country.
Sounds like the same old politics of Washington. Attack. Attack. Something Obama has clearly said he is not about.
With front-runner status comes more scrutiny. With Obama leading by a mere 25 delegates and losing in polls in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania; large states that are essential for Democrats to win in order to take back the White House, his rhetoric and plans have fallen apart. He has sent mailers that are lies about Clinton’s NAFTA position to thousands of households in Ohio. Attempts to mislead in order to distort a position to gain votes. That is more similar to George W Bush’s tactic to enter war. Mislead with facts in order to gain support.
I have yet to hear any question addressed to Obama about an earmark to his wife’s employer for $5 million dollars. An unncessary tax payer expense since the same hospital that employee Michelle Obama made an annual profit of $100 million dollars. Since when does the new politics of “change” involve financial favors for a candidates wife? Since that same favor resulted in a raise to Michelle Obama’s annual salary?
Just seeing and hearing “the same old politics of Washington”. The more Obama speaks out against others his own failings are further exposed.
Shame. Shame.
Sexist attacks by Obama. More of the same. No new direction. What a fraud !

Since when is gender discrimination not a ‘real issue’??

There’s no doubt Obama’s being patronizing, whether it’s intentional or not. It’s unfortunate that in this campaign the sensitivities are turned up high on issues of race and not on issues of gender. It appears to be a tactic, unfortunately. Former President Clinton’s comments preceding South Carolina were interpreted as racist, even if that was not his intention, and much of the campaign turned on that. But Obama says things like, “You’re nice enough, Hillary,” and the other examples above in the article, often enough that it’s troublesome. I have to believe he’s being completely dismissive of her and trying to appeal to a segment of the electorate that would respond to that tactic. I find it patently offensive. It will be a glorious day in this country when we are truly colorblind and genderblind in campaigns; unfortunately, that day has not yet come, and after this election, we may be even more divided than before. If Obama is a uniter and not a divider, he’ll have to address that.

There is a huge difference between saying someone is “clawing their way to the top” and “the claws come out.” The first could be applied to any gender but the second is a reference to strictly women. Anyone who would say otherwise is not being honest. I do think it is just an attempt to stir the pot by the media the same way they tried to stir things up by saying Bill made racial comments.

Obama is using sexist language. No doubt. He wants to win, and he thinks that crapping on dames is the way to do it!

Chemistry must be sexist too, then… “Periodic” Table of Elements?!? –CHAUVINISM!!

Yes, Obama is a skilled orator and he knows exactly what he is saying and what idea he is planting. I honestly don’t think he likes Hillary and it shows in his belittling comments – “you’re nice enough”. Now if she says anything he shoots it down making her seem emotional, silly or not as qualified as he is. Seriously, how many times does this happen to women at work with men? I was thinking the other day when I read about a brutal rape crime that is would be a real shame if Hillary were not elected and women’s rights issues continued to be on the back burner. There are serious issues for women around the world – horrible injustices – and having a female leader of the strongest nation on Earth would send a loud and clear message. If she is not elected, any world traveler knows, you just know in the pit of your stomach, that someone on some train or subway is going to say to you, “America was not for a woman president.” It makes me sick. For all these reasons, I support Hillary.

I think some people need to put the tinfoil hats away.

OBAMA: SCARY MESSIAH FIGURE?

Barack Obama has been successful in the Democratic primaries and caucuses largely because he doesnt seem as threatening as Hillary Clinton. Even for Democrats, Hillary is a little scary. I mean, were talking about someone who sees polit…

Americans are tired of being deceived and manipulated by these Bush-Clinton politics. It’s time to restore honesty and integrity to the White House.

Mr. Addison: What if she replied … “Well, it’s unfortunate that instead of trying to overcome these losses, Senator Obama is just sort of shuffling along, lobbing negative attacks from the porch instead of working hard and offering solutions.”
She said almost exactly that last night:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/us/politics/17obama.html?_r=1&ei=5088&en=1e8e436b9a3effb5&ex=1360904400&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1203297092-nhxzHQwNbwq+ScwxptTBFw
“Mrs. Clinton … spent days criticizing her rival while campaigning in Ohio, where the primary is March 4. In city after city, she warned voters about politicians who offered oratory steeped with big promises but ultimately did not deliver.
‘Speeches don’t put food on the table,’ said Mrs. Clinton, of New York. ‘Speeches don’t fill up your tank, or fill your prescription, or do anything about that stack of bills that keeps you up at night.’
The long-distance message — ‘My opponent gives speeches; I offer solutions’ — clearly was heard here in Wisconsin.”
No need to depend on an imagination for that.

Matt, those very same words are stated in every single election.

I’m not sure if it’s sexist, but it’s certainly condescending. It’s not an anomaly, either; I’ve noticed many such comments by him that are arrogant and dismissive and quite harsh. When I heard him talk about Hillary being “down,” I thought, what a jerk. It was one more reminder why I don’t like him, and why I’m baffled that his sometimes prickly personality hasn’t turned people off, especially the press. (But then G W Bush was similarly snotty, and you guys lapped it up.)
Though I’m hardly a Mitt Romney fan, I heard a similar tone in comments Obama made about him not long before Rommney dropped out of the Republican race. (Something like “statements like those are why he’s been such an ineffective candidate.”) He also got in a very unsubtle shot at McCain, praising — backhandedly — his “50 years of service to this county.” So, I guess you can add “ageism” to his list of verbal sins.
I can’t understand why his cockiness and frequent disdain for other candidates has never been discussed. (“Yeah, she’s likeable enough.”) But then, there are a lot of things about Obama that haven’t been discussed.
Here’s one: how Obama and his campaign quietly fueled the whole Clinton-race-baiting firestorm, which, true or not (and I think not) has been the single greatest reason Hillary’s losing right now.
But if her campaign should try to highlight his remarks, it will be “just the same old Washington politics.”
I tell you, the guy is good.

Wait a second. Code words work both ways. It’s true that Obama’s words play into HRC’s moody swings. But her words play into racial stereotypes too although VERY well coded. She (and Bill) always refer to his words as “cheap” and she says she will WORK for change and really emphasizes work. Does this mean O will NOT work for change but just talk about it? Obviously not, but the Clinton code is about race, that is, it says “Lazy (Black) Man Who Talks a Good Game Ain’t Gonna Get Nothin’ Done” and quite frankly it’s offensive.

Is this for real? Tell ya what…go to your local zoo,find the lions,find a male lion, and start pissing him off. Fairly soon you will find that you have MALE CLAWS stuck in your torso.
I’m not sure where the idea that claws=female came from, but it needs to go back.
Always ask:who benefits? Now, who would benefit more from this whole tempest in a teapot-Obama or Clinton? Can Obama afford to drive away female voters with this alleged sexist language,or would Clinton gain from female voters leaving the Goodship Obama because of the alleged “code words”?

Utterly ridiculous – sorry, I’m a woman (liberal, independent, even consider myself something of a feminist) and I just don’t see it.
People who try to read this level of insinuation into ordinary words are either (a) trying to create controversy for their own ends (ratings desperation, anyone?) or (b) weighed down by very low self esteem and looking for some way to blame it on others.

It’s a storm in a teacup. I don’t regard such statements as sexist. It has to be placed against the backdrop of the very cutting and unreasonable tone that Clinton has been taking of late, but in no way shape or form did it come across as an insult to her womanhood or anything like that. Those who might have reacted that way are being way too oversensitive, or else they’re playing the gender card against him only because he’s a man.

Wow, all kinds of bells and sirens went off in my head when I read that quote in the paper. “Barry” Obama (yes, that is what he was called most of his life) is trying to tap into sexual prejudice without owning it, yes, code talk; I wonder how Oprah feels about that – a little down, maybe? She probably gets irrational when she’s depressed over her period. This guy is calculating, and I really don’t see that he has accomplished anything in his short stay in the Senate. Further, his getting there was pure luck: two of his major opponents self-destructed in personal scandals, so it was a skate. Actually, between growing up in Hawaii as the only child of two well-heeled professionals, going to private schools, then Harvard, I mean, has this guy ever SUFFERED?

Condescending? Yes. Sexist? No. It’s not at all sex-specific, and could equally be applied to any political opponent. Getting on him about “periodically” is just silly. What’s next, anagrams? This is belittling identity politics at its worst. And the Clintons know how to play this game, if nothing else. To those complaining of a double standard with regard to the lead-up to the South Carolina primary, I humbly suggest you take a second look at the record. Bill compared Obama to Jesse Jackson. Not John Edwards, who won the primary 4 years earlier and went on to lose the nomination. Not anyone else over the past 20 years. He reached back for the last black candidate. The implication was clear and required minimal interpretation: he won because he’s black, so it doesn’t matter. That’s how you play the race card. Obama’s remarks? They require mental somersaults to get to a place where anything about gender is even implied. The two are, obviously, not in any way equivalent.

Obama is condescending and he has been sexist. It is obvious but the press has helped him. We cant tlak about race but the heck with progress for women.
It is very frustrating.

Andrea Mitchell on Hardball: Clinton “hanging on by her fingernails.” Sexist remark or just a colloquialism? Good thing it wasn’t someone from the Obama campaign…

If she had made a racist comment, it wouldn’t even be up for discussion, the media would be slamming him. I expect equal treatment.
He is manipulating people and not for the greater good of our country.

Absolutely, Obama is using sexist language to identify his misogyny.
He’s a real chip off the old Clarence Thomas block.

What of Obama’s white hating church? Or the fact in his own history his black daddy fled his responsibility’s but yet he tried to cast off his white heritage or does such a thing exist without it being called racist? I am certainly proud of being white yet I have no views of superiority because of it

I wonder WHY no one is talking about Senator McCain, who told Hillary in a published interview that maybe “Hillary is feeling sorry for herself, and she needs to STOP feeling sorry for herself, and to get over it.”
I guess it’s okay for Mr. McCain can say these things and the Hillary Clinton supporters don’t seem to care very much. In fact, He’s not even concerned with Hillary anymore, because he’s talking to Sen. Obama. Where is the outrage? McCain is TOTALLY ignoring Hillary Clinton all together. Oh that’s right, many of the Hillary supporters will be voting for Mr. McCain who is dissing Hillary.

I wonder WHY no one is talking about Senator McCain, who told Hillary in a published interview that maybe “Hillary is feeling sorry for herself, and she needs to STOP feeling sorry for herself, and to get over it.”
I guess it’s okay for Mr. McCain can say these things and the Hillary Clinton supporters don’t seem to care very much. In fact, He’s not even concerned with Hillary anymore, because he’s talking to Sen. Obama. Where is the outrage? McCain is TOTALLY ignoring Hillary Clinton all together. Oh that’s right, many of the Hillary supporters will be voting for Mr. McCain who is dissing Hillary.

This is hilarious:
“Black Men and White men have always sold women down the river for their own personal gains of power. Obama is no different. And sadly woman sell themselves down the river to gain their power indirectly through men still to this day. Oprah is a great example of that. She could of endorsed neither candidate and given both Hillary and Obama sizable donations. People would of understood this. Instead she chose her Father’s race over her Mothers gender. Sad, sad, sad indeed.
Posted by: Debbie | Mar 25, 2008 1:14:49 AM”
Debbie, do you know what “sold down the river” means? It refers to slave families being separated and sold to distant plantations. See how hard it can be to be careful with words?

What’s the most depressing about all of this is that we’re still not talking about issues. I know quite a bit about some issues, but what I know best is this: At the end of the day, who is most honest, least greedy, and who would I want babysitting my kid? The answers are: Obama, Obama, and Obama. And by the way, Hillary is not more connected with “working folks.” She’s more connected with poor white folk (who are also more likely to be racist). I don’t think anyone can claim that Hillary feels more empathy for the poor. For God’s sake…she couldn’t even use a gas pump! Barack and his wife just paid off student loans three years ago. They come from where I come from – Hillary does not. I don’t knock her personally for that, it’s just the way it is. If we had to send one of these candidates into a room to write permanent legislation that would affect what the rich and poor get to live on and they had only 1 hour to make the right decisions, who would you prefer to be in that room? Obviously, McCain is not an option. And I tend to think that Obama’s experience as a community organizer – grass roots work with the poor – automatically wins him this prize. He was in the trenches, actually did the “work.” He knows what’s “fair.” And he knows how to use a gas pump.
S.

Did you know that any woman working for Obama gets paid 83 cents on the dollar compared to the men who works for him??? C’mon guys, he’ll say ANYTHING to win you vote…sadly, on the other hand…he does so very little if anything at all. I encourage you to take a look at his record- no military service, no bi-partisan work in Congress, no fighting for wasteful spending. We can’t just believe everything that comes out of this guys mouth!!!!!!!!

‘Periodically, when Obmama feels ‘down, he starts launching attacks against women’s reproductive health to boost his poll-appeal”….
The President should be congratulated for inspiring women to vote Independent!

No one can deny from the quality of this video posted at this website, nice job, keep it all the time.