A thought about sexism in this presidential race.

[garote]

I'm still wrestling with the question of how much of the rhetoric in this presidential race is inspired by garden variety sexism.

Eight years ago when Palin ran as a VP pick, it was hugely energizing to the GOP base, but her credentials were so questionable that a backlash started almost immediately. It was clear to Democrats, and eventually clear to almost everyone, that she was chosen because she was a relatively young and pretty woman who was enough of an outsider that the GOP could control her. When she went off-reservation and started spilling her own crazy ideas, we all had fun shouting "I told you so!"

Now we have presidential candidate Hillary who is pushing 70. She's not trending online as a MILF, she's not winking in debates, she's not an outsider that people can project their hopes of revolution onto, and yet ... again ... we have a backlash of people saying "She's just popular because she's a woman."

With Palin it was, "If she wasn't a woman, you'd recognize her as a know-nothing lunatic." With Clinton it's, "If she wasn't a woman, you'd recognize her as corrupt and criminal and evil."

Now, to me, this is apples and oranges, because I think Palin is a know-nothing lunatic, whereas I don't consider Clinton to be criminal or evil, and not particularly corrupt. But what I'm wondering is, how much of the "corrupt and criminal and evil" narrative arose simply because people wanted something to tack on to the end of "If she wasn't a woman..."?

Comments

[sab123.livejournal.com]

None of it. Clinton is criminal, and evil, and a know-nothing lunatic too. While Palin isn't.

[garote]

Oh wow! One of those extra rare Pokemon! Are you rock type? Why is your journal all in cyrillic?

[sab123.livejournal.com]

Those who are able to have a discussion do so. Those who aren't try to attack the opponent's personality.

[garote]

Well that and, I can't read cyrillic. Though I suppose there's always Google Translate.

[pseydtonne.livejournal.com]

I translated the lede graphs on a couple of his latest posts. He seems to be a Russian libertarian. You do the math.

I still wanna know why that default Cyrillic font is raised caps. They have uncials.

[pseydtonne.livejournal.com]

You just attacked Clinton ad hominem. So really... put the binoculars down and watch your nearest step.

[sab123.livejournal.com]

Nope, I attacked Clinton based on the knowledge of her actions and promises in politics. It has nothing to do with her gender. Nor with her other personal preferences. I don't care for example about what kind of sex life she has. On the other hand, would the original poster write such a post if Clinton and Palin weren't women?

[garote]

Obviously I wouldn't have. Nor would I have written a post about racism and the presidency if the current president wasn't black. What's your point?

[sab123.livejournal.com]

My point is you're the one who separates the people by gender and race, thus being sexist and racist, and don't even notice it.

[garote]

Hah! Wow, I haven't heard anyone try that tack since I was in high school.
My pokemon friend, there is a difference between racism, and talking about racism.

Hey! If I train you up, will you evolve into a full-blown holocaust denier? That would look sweet on my shelf.

[sab123.livejournal.com]

There is a difference between talking about racism and practicing it. As soon as you start separating the people by race, you're practicing it. You're very explicitly comparing Clinton to Palin, not to some male politician who is corrupt and criminal and evil (say, Obama).

> If I train you up, will you evolve into a full-blown holocaust denier

What, and you count Hitler as the most horrible thing you know? Perhaps you need to do some reading. Hitler's socialism was a mild one, fit to use the one-time slogan "socialism with a human face", pretty much like Sanders. Horrible, of course, as any socialism, but nothing much compared to the full-blown communism. An interesting question is where do you put yourself on this scale? Are you closer to a moderate socialist like Hitler or to a communist like Lenin? Do you want the plutocrats to pay through the nose or to torture and kill them?

[garote]

I think I'll call you Pedant-O-Tron. That's a good pokemon name.

Sorry, Pedant-O-Tron, but I don't think you're trainable. You'll need to go hang out at some other gym where they like to argue about semantics and go on pointless tangents more often. :)