Knives are Out for Clinton
12 August 2007 5:47 pm by Taylor Marsh
The narrative is a killer. It’s all about Clinton’s perceived “negatives,”
which keep getting promoted not only from the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity, but also from within. This section is a beauty:
In Indiana, where three freshman Democratic congressmen are fighting to retain their seats, Crooks said Clinton would be a burden in districts like his full of “gun-toting, bible-carrying, God-loving, church-attending” voters. – MSNBC, Democrats quietly fear a backlash from Clinton
Clinton is the “burden”? How about three lazy Democratic males from Congress who can’t make the case for their own candidacy. Floating the old line that a Democratic female will take away your guns, your Bible and turn the country into a secular nation? Swell, but do these idiots even know about Clinton’s Methodist roots? Do they bother to check their facts, or do they prefer following Bill O’Reilly’s talking points? Old fashioned sexism is evidently the guide in Indian. Facts have nothing to do with their logic.
“But the fact that so many prominent Democratic males are getting behind her at this early point makes me a little more confident that she could overcome some of the more obvious hurdles,” she said.
Nebraska party chairman Matt Connealy said he believes Democratic candidates will be able to avoid a Clinton backlash.
“I probably would have given you a different answer a month ago,” he said, “and maybe will give you a different answer a month from now.”
Oh goodie, in Nebraska things are different. “Prominent Democratic males” are finally backing Clinton so the Nebraska party chairman is feeling better. I’m so relieved.
Novak continues the thread.
Democratic insiders who are not neutral in the presidential race do not take seriously the USA Today/Gallup poll of Democratic voters showing Sen. Hillary Clinton 23 percentage points ahead of Sen. Barack Obama. They contend national surveys are meaningless because outcomes of the early state contests are still critical. – Dem insiders say national polls putting Hillary ahead meaningless
“Democratic insiders” want everyone to know that Clinton’s huge national lead shouldn’t be taken seriously. I’ve said national polls mean little, but my name’s on the quote. Who are these spineless, nameless Democratic sources talking so happily to the Prince of Darkness?
But it’s the Boston Globe that sticks in the final shiv. After all, can we be sure that a woman can handle the job of commander in chief? You know, why trust a woman, especially one that “insiders” and men in Congress seem to doubt because of her “negatives.” We evidently need a sunny commander in chief when a woman is being considered.
Clinton has taken extraordinary pains, not only on the campaign trail but in her years in the US Senate, to position herself as the candidate who would be the strongest commander in chief, even as she has infuriated some Democrats who believe her desire to appear tough made her slow to criticize the Iraq war.
Because she is a Democrat and the first serious female contender for the presidency in a time of war, convincing voters that she can be trusted with the nation’s security is one of her biggest hurdles. – Tough talk drives Clinton effort, National security stance seen adding to image of strength
Holy cow, my fellow Americans. Not only are “Democratic insiders” questioning her lead, while Democratic congressmen doubt she will help them get elected, but she also needs to convince voters “she can be trusted with the nation’s security.” You know, because those silly girls, they just can’t make decisions worth a damn when it comes to big guns and bad men.
As someone who covers national security and military matters, I get this reality. Being ignored on these serious national security matters happens to woman all of the time. However, my military, diplomatic and national security sources do take me seriously, because I’ve proven myself. It can happen. Hell can freeze.
We all knew this was coming. Clinton’s momentum is growing. The insider slithering will only get worse as many males face the reality of foreign policy gender equality. We’ll hear it from 20th century men who think a woman may be a bridge too far for people serious about really fighting terrorism. That a serious woman who is strong just might have too many negatives to put herself over the top. You know, the man is strong when he talks tough, but a woman is just “bitchy.” That a Democratic woman will automatically lose the Bible, gun owning crowd, never mind that Clinton is devoutly Methodist and that Democrats long ago put aside their anti gun obtuseness.
The reality is that most of the negative narratives being promoted by Democrats today had their birth in the wingnut machine of the 1990s, aided and abetted by right-wing radio. But repeat it often enough and it becomes a self perpetuating prophecy, which is what Republicans are hoping will happen. They didn’t start early for nothing. So Democrats giving this gift to the media, with others repeating it, is just what the GOP spinmeisters ordered. The person who suffers is Clinton, but also the Democratic Party because some are automatically buying in to these assumptions without questioning who started them, if they’re true, and why a woman who is strong, smart and determined is getting treated so differently from her male opponents, because she’s competing for a tough job and coming off, well, tough.
There are just so many questions to ponder when thinking of a woman as president or commander in chief.
After all, George W. Bush and all the men in charge have done such a bang up job all of these years.
