Both Sides Now

I’m feeling a bit numb, but not comfortably. Just letting everything settle in. Although I had Patron on election night and not Southern Comfort like madamab, I’m moving a bit slowly, but no migraine!

I thought that November 5th would be the day that my life would return to normal, and mark my political devotional journey’s end. One way or the other, I could return to civilian life. Heh. Hasn’t happened yet. Tomorrow. Apparently, it’s hard to get moving, or declare a direction for myself after stopping short.

The morning after, Riverdaughter congratulated Obama and his supporters, whose dreams were fulfilled, saying she understood their joy. She made some waves! I get what she was feeling, because I saw it wash over her at our NYC election night gathering. Congratulations to Obama and The Democrats! And really, would we have wanted them to be sore losers? (Whoops, I forgot: they already were–to Hillary.) From what we’re seeing, Obama’s election to the Presidency is a huge participatory be-in where African Americans can finally be vindicated, feel and see that there’s a way up for them, and that we respect them.

Baby boomers who fought in the civil rights movement are celebrating that they don’t have to leave the country, that their sixties spiritual dreams are fulfilled, and that anything is possible. Even some of my mom’s generation, who were born eighty-something years ago and live in Florida, went for Obama. Hard-core feminists disliked and demonized both Clinton and Palin, and went to Obama. I’m writing, keeping to myself at home, so they don’t see the tread marks up my back.

By any measure of my life up to this year, I’d be as happy as a clam at the big win. Instead, I feel let down. I’m an emotional being. My beef all along has been about the means, the dirty means, the integrity-less, back-stabbing, issue-equivocating, race-baiting, misogynistic, homophobic, money-mongering, combo far right/left MEANS. Period.

Had either Hillary or Sarah gone to the White House, I don’t see that women and men would have universally and spontaneously rejoiced in the streets all over the country like they did for Obama. Do you? Reclusive Leftist wrote that women are just supposed to wish that everyone else does well, regardless if it’s to their own detriment. I’m thinking about that, thinking and wondering.

Some ardent feminists are such fishes in water that they can’t really tell they’re in the tank. Gloria Steinem was on post-election Oprah, and the gist was: Palin had no content, wasn’t fit to be VP or President, and it’s McCain’s fault for choosing her. Gloria said that the more people found out about Palin, the more they went away from her. (These days, I’m feeling that way about Gloria.) She pontificated that women’s issues are about substance not form: it’s what you’re for that matters, not just being a woman. It’s not that she’s wrong, I just don’t like the holier than thou attitude. Hmmm, more tread marks from another feminist who’s absolutely confident within herself, and elated that Obama’s in.

The MSM and FOX News are doing entire segments about Palin’s reported temper and refusal to be coached before the debates. Perhaps they’re right, who knows, but I feel that once again a woman is being scapegoated by Looooo-sers. Her governor rating WAS over 80% BEFORE the MSM, pundits, and Obama got a-hold of her. I guess I should be glad that Obama won, because Hillary’s treatment would have been far worse had he lost.

Although the spiritual and progressive Left are elated, and Obama’s background agendas and means to power have escaped their horizons, I don’t fault anyone’s celebrations. I understand their genuine joy, but am saddened by what they chose to see and what they chose to gloss over, ignore, or spin. Michelle’s Narciso Rodriguez dress got more perusal than Obie’s record. Yet, a majority of Democrats complained that Republicans ran a more negative campaign. They thought that questions about background, associations, decisions, and policies were extraneous, old-style politics, and off-the-mark. They were all for women in high office, just “not those women.”

I don’t see that Hillary Clinton will be supported by the Dems for Majority Leader. David Gergen was also on Oprah I-didn’t-use-my-TV-show-to-promote-Obama. Gergen said that Hillary Clinton came so close but did not make it through the door this year, but that she made 70 different appearances for him, and women will have their time. Obama’s alliances are made, and despite her generosity, it will never be enough. Just like he treated Alice Palmer. It’s rumored that Rahm Emanuel will be Chief of Staff, and that he and the Clintons are enemies. Right now, Hillary’s rise to Majority Leader or President seems as probable as Obama’s choosing her for VP. (But, I’d love to be proven wrong.)

I always “made the holidays” for my kids. When we lived in a collective household, I’d cook and prepare and engage others to help, and we’d celebrate the Jewish holidays (along with all the other holidays of whomever lived there) — Passover, Chanukah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur. After the Farm, when my kids were growing up, and even after they were on their own, I kept up with our traditions, inviting friends and family. It was always lovely and warm.

When I moved to New York three years ago, I expected it would be the same. However, when I called to make plans, they said, “Mom, we have our own thing, with our group of friends. You’re welcome to come, though.” Well, as a parent, that was a whole re-orientation—a “mother, please! I’d rather do it myself” moment. I wasn’t in charge of the family holidays anymore, which was a surprise but good for two reasons: 1) my apartment and kitchen are teeny, making complicated meal prep tricky, and 2) I must have passed on the holiday tradition in such a way that they wanted to carry it on themselves, with no prodding or guilt from me.

In Obama’s acceptance speech, I didn’t hear an attempt to lower expectations, I heard a call to action, an exact echoing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We may not get there in one year or one term . . . It’s your moment, your time, and get ready to work. Everybody who voted for Obama, everybody who was dancing in the streets and cried for that moment: You’re on! Let’s see who steps up. YOU can make the holidays for us now.

I’m an optimist. Maybe it’s good. Obama got people to move on his behalf for whatever they thought he stood for, and Obama says that brothas should pull up their pants. (Maybe my son will do it, too. Sorry, dear.) Now that’s something that just might happen in an Obama administration!

I don’t mean to make light of the serious problems ahead, and I’m not saying people aren’t allowed to make mistakes, and I hope for every success, because we’re all in this together now. Some voters, though, might be a little surprised when and if they discover what they actually bought. To them: you wanted it, you got it. And I’m glad you’re going for it. Enjoy! God bless us all, and God bless America!

PUMAs, we still have work to do! Thank you for reading my stuff, helping me keep my sanity, being here to raise each other up, and remaining a strong, clear voice for truth and fairness.

[cross-posted at The Confluence]

Sexism, Misogyny, Hillary Clinton (Video)

This powerful video from ILEwoman was added to YouTube on March 30, 2008, so perhaps many of you have seen it. It was new to me. I thought it was a poignant reminder of what we’re fighting for, and who was and is at the forefront of that fight.

Feat. Clinton supporter, Ed Rendell, before he turned his support toward Obama, endorsing a dream ticket, along with Chuck Schumer, Lanny Davis and others. That’s a link to those who want an Obama Clinton 08. Senator Clinton has disavowed such efforts since suspending her campaign, but what actually could she do? She was pressured out of making any bids, whether she wanted to or not, by saying she was putting on the pressure after the last primary. Who knows? I always thought it was an Obama == DNC ploy. Hillary had always said, whatever, for the good of the Party.

Many supporters say never on that one. It’s beneath her. She’d never, because of how he treated her, Michelle, Bill, yada yada. She’d be blamed if his administration goes south.

I’ll admit, I’m undecided on it. She would be in power and could move forward her agenda. Although, I can’t imagine it happening due to the DNC Chicago HQ chess move of the week. Who’s surprised after Obama announced last week, “I’m the head of the Party now”?

I know I will not accept another VP choice. But what If it so happened, after all this, that the DNC realized they had to have Hillary on the ticket to win, assuming Obama doesn’t self-destruct before that — which I doubt will happen with all this extreme orchestration —

Would you vote for a dream ticket? (Please keep it civil if you’re opposed, thank you.)

She-Deviler Media Gang Unrepentant–Boycott MSNBC!

Click above to Boycott MSNBC and NBC!

* Author’s note: Subsequent to publishing this article, I learned that MSNBC News Commentator Tim Russert had passed away suddenly. I send my condolences to his family, and wish him well on his next assignment. —LBNYC

Women and men have been decrying the rampant sexism and misogyny lobbed at Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Primary season — made especially clear after she was left standing in a thinning field of candidates over the last four months. It seems that the better she did, the more the MSM tried to knock her down. During this time, millions of citizens took notice and protested using the power of emails, blogs, phone calls, and remote controls to turn off offensive network news, MSNBC, CNN, late night comedians, Oprah, and The View. They protested with their hands and feet, as they walked into voting booths and pulled the lever “yes” for Hillary Clinton; and as they walked away from the DNC, stopped contributing, and mailed back their membership cards.

Now, in their post-analysis, The Media appears to be just fine with what happened. Although millions of citizens have decried their actions as degrading to women, not to mention a former first lady, current US Senator, and Presidential candidate, their protests have fallen on deaf ears. Actually network high ups see the hullabaloo as excessive, but more than that: it’s the candidate’s fault — she used the coverage to try to create momentum. I would say to them, “right, blame the victim,” BUT Hillary Clinton is nobody’s victim.

In today’s NYT article, Media Charged With Sexism in Clinton Coverage, co-authors Katharine Q. Seelye and Julie Bosman write that most outlets assess their coverage was fair:

. . . many in the news media — with a few exceptions, including Katie Couric, the anchor of the “CBS Evening News” — see little need for reconsidering their coverage or changing their approach going forward. Rather, they say, as the Clinton campaign fell behind, it exploited a few glaring examples of sexist coverage to whip up a backlash and to try to create momentum for Mrs. Clinton.

The Media sees no mistakes in their coverage.

Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, said: “I have not had a lot of regretful conversations with high-ranking media types and political reporters about how unfair their coverage of the Hillary Clinton campaign was.”

Among journalists, he added, the coverage “does not register as a mistake that must not be allowed to happen again.”

But, never fear, Howard Dean is here. He really gets it now. He’s finally hip to our cause, and I’m sure he’ll handle it.

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic Party, who says he was slow to pick up on charges of sexism because he is not a regular viewer of cable television, [Good one! I guess he forgot to read all of our emails back in February, March, April, May, and June] is taking up the cause after hearing an outcry from what he described as a cross-section of women, from individual voters to powerful politicians and chief executives.

“The media took a very sexist approach to Senator Clinton’s campaign,” Mr. Dean said in a recent interview.

“It’s pretty appalling,” he said, adding that the issue resonates because Mrs. Clinton “got treated the way a lot of women got treated their whole lives.”

Mr. Dean and others are now calling for a “national discussion” of sexism.

Sure, I’m up for that “national discussion.” Do you think that Sen. Obama will hold those after he does the Town Halls with John McCain?

But really, sexism, schmexism. Give us back our legitimate candidate and our votes! Can you do that? Mmm, I didn’t think so.

Any bets that Florida’s new Obama-selected delegates won’t have full voting privileges restored at the Democratic Convention in Denver? Any one?

USE THE POWER OF YOUR CLICKER AND YOUR WALLET! BOYCOTT SEXIST MEDIA COVERAGE!

ACTION: WomenCount PAC’s New Ad

From: WomenCount PAC
Date: June 12, 2008 12:22:14 AM EDT
Subject: Need your help to fund important new ad!

Dear Friends,
We are putting the finishing touches on our next ad, which we’re hoping to run in the New York Times as soon as Monday. We think you’ll love the content – and this is no time to sit back and wait. More than ever, we must stand up and be counted – all 18 million of us. But we can’t do it without you. We are still short of the necessary funds to place the ad.

The headline is “We’re still here. We’re listening. And we’re not going away.” It says we will not rest until we hear from the Democratic party and its nominee about how they will:

• represent the 18 million Americans who voted for Hillary;
• acknowledge Hillary’s 35 years of experience;
• reform a flawed nominating process, especially caucuses;
• address the flagrant, often hostile, gender bias in the campaign;
• assure parity to the 52 percent of Americans who are women;
• apologize for their public silence in the wake of the outrageous attacks leveled by Father Pfleger against Hillary;
• and support the issues we hold dear, such as health insurance for everyone, a good start for all children, a strong economy, and a smart environmental policy.

It is so important that we speak out and speak up at this critical moment. Hillary’s supporters around the country are launching many different efforts, and WomenCount respects all of those views.

We believe that the points we raise in this ad are shared by everyone, and we hope you will get behind our latest effort.

To contribute, go to www.womencountpac.com. Remember that the quickest way to get the funds to us is to send a check by overnight mail or print out and fax back the credit card form you can download from the web site.

Thank you for your continued support.
WomenCount PAC

WomenCount PAC was created to ensure that the 51 percent of American citizens who are women have their values and votes counted in the political process. So far in the 2008 election cycle, WomenCount has run a series of ads related to the presidential campaign and made contributions to several women candidates for Congress.

Contributions to WomenCount PAC are not tax-deductible. Contributions will be used in federal elections, and are subject to federal law regarding prohibited sources and limits. Contributions to WomenCount PAC are limited to $5,000 per calendar year and contributions from corporations and labor unions are prohibited. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $20 in a calendar year.

Paid for by WomenCount PAC and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
WomenCount PAC ~ 1016 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 303, San Francisco, CA 94129 ~ http://www.womencountpac.com

Media Sexism Binge Officially Over

June 11, 2001 — Have you noticed? The blatant, rampant MSM misogyny that characterized their coverage of Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Primary Campaign has suddenly disappeared? After praise of her exit speech, followed by a few days of hand-wringing, commentary, and respectful interviews with “Hillary Democrats” about what can be done to woo them, all the nastiness that was slung interminably has gone and dried up. It’s as if none of it ever happened.

Don’t worry. We won’t forget.

Hunter Commencement Degraded By Inclusion Of Matthews

HUNTER COMMENCEMENT DEGRADED BY THE INCLUSION OF INVITED SPEAKER CHRIS MATTHEWS

June 1, 2008

Dear Hunter College Community,

As you may know, MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews has been invited to speak at Hunter’s graduation day ceremony on Wednesday, June 4th. Administrative staff at Hunter looked for a speaker who could address political issues in this election year and decided to invite MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. After agreeing to speak, Olbermann then backed out of his commitment and instead of returning to the drawing board, a Hunter staff member called MSNBC to see who they could send in Olbermann’s place. Matthews was offered and accepted. There was no formal vetting or real consideration given to the selection of this particular graduation speaker.

Mr. Matthews has gained notoriety throughout the country for years of insensitive, sexist comments on his show “Hardball” and his insulting treatment of women—not only, most visibly, Senator Clinton but also his television colleagues who happen to be female. Matthews referred to Clinton as a “she devil,” called her a “strip-teaser” and “witchy.” He has referred to men who support her as “castratos in the eunuch chorus.” He has commented on the physical appearance of women including his CNBC colleague Erin Burnett, calling her “beautiful” and “a knockout” during a discussion of economic news. In an interview with John and Elizabeth Edwards, Matthews asked the former Senator, “Does she bite your balls like this when you go home?” He then went on to ask, “What is this with the equal marriages? Why do people marry their equals? It used to be different. What happened to the Stepford wives? The good old days?” These are but a small sample of Matthews’s on-air sexist comments.

It is, in our view, disgraceful for Hunter College, for all of us who love this institution and most of all for our present and future students who look to Hunter as a bastion of women’s empowerment, to confer this honor on someone whose words in public so contradict the most basic feminist and civic values. Inviting him to be our speaker is asking him to represent Hunter College on this important occasion, and this should never have happened. We are outraged.

We urge President Jennifer Raab to adopt a process in the future that would prevent such mistakes. We hope you’ll join us in this call to improve the process by which the college selects commencement speakers. Write to President Raab to encourage her to establish a more careful, transparent, and democratic process. Her email address is: jennifer.raab@hunter.cuny.edu.

Sincerely,

Students, Adjunct Faculty, Policy Committee of the
Women and Gender Studies Program

O’Reilly Rants for Hillary (Video)

Video clip from Bill O’Reilly’s May 29, 2008 broadcast on FOX News. He rants about how NBC and MSNBC anointed Obama and gave Hillary the shaft. These actions, O’Reilly said, “are a stain that will never go away.” He’s so right.

I can’t believe I’m agreeing with O’Reilly on anything or rather that he’s agreeing with me. And I can’t believe how good it feels to have someone rant out loud on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s despicable treatment by the MSM in this campaign. Feels really great!

The Media and Misogyny: Kurtz Does His Job

Sunday, May 25, 2008, when people were away, boozin’ n barbequin’ and generally having a good time over Memorial Day weekend, Howard Kurtz was on the job. On his show, Reliable Sources, Kurtz hosted a panel of three women who discussed The Media and Misogyny. The panelists, who were not all Hillary supporters, came to her defense as a woman candidate, and a First Lady, who deserves and has earned respect. The panelists were CNN Correspondent Carol Costello, radio talk show host and Republican Blanquita Cullum, and Washington Post syndicated columnist Marie Coco. They spoke about the sexism that women and women pundits also buy into, which goes largely uncovered by the MSM.

Women voicing for women in concert. Go ladies!

Sexism Might Sell, But I’m Not Buying It: Petition Campaign

Statement from the Women’s Media Center:

On May 23, The Women’s Media Center, along with our partners at Media Matters, launched, “Sexism Sells, But We’re Not Buying It,” a new video and online petition campaign illustrating the pervasive nature of sexism in the media’s coverage. While Hillary Clinton’s campaign has cast a spotlight on the issue of sexism, this isn’t a partisan issue: it’s about making sure that women’s voices are present and powerful in our national dialogue.

Let’s send a message to the media:

Sexism Might Sell, But We’re Not Buying It!

Click here to join the WMC petition campaign (scroll down page to sign up).

From WMC president Carol Jenkins:

Women are a driving force in the U.S. economy with a purchasing power of more than $7 trillion a year, and purchase fully 82 percent of all products and services in the U.S. Earlier this year, The Women’s Media Center joined NOW, the Feminist Majority, and the National Women’s Political Caucus to speak out against the particularly egregious remarks Chris Matthews made about Hillary Clinton’s campaign, when he said that “the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around” (MSNBC’s Morning Joe, January 9, 2008). Speaking for more than 15 million women across the United States, the coalition secured an on-air apology from Matthews, and assurances from NBC executives that steps were being taken to address the situation. Yet the situation persists, which is why The Women’s Media Center is taking this next step, releasing a video and launching an online petition campaign to allow women to speak out against this continuing sexism.

Read Carol Jenkins’ entire statement about the video campaign.

The Women’s Media Center strives to make women visible and powerful in the media. From our founding in 2004 by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem to our advocacy and media relations work today, we are part of a strong feminist tradition that seeks to hold the media accountable for presenting the world as we know it.

Friendly nod to Cooney for posting the petition campaign at Hillary Clinton Forum.