UPDATE: It’s September, Barack Obama defeated Hillary – and John McCain has just shaken the political establishment up by naming Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate. As I compile my thoughts and prepare a follow up to this column from January 11th, please feel free to share your thoughts on feminism, sexism, misogyny, and the “sex” factor.
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Generation X Ladies, we are not here to carry the baggage of women who came before us. And believe it or not, as the first of two columns on Hillary Clinton and the “Women’s Vote” – this is the nice one. Saying thank you to those who came before is, in reality, enough.
They burned their bras.
We wear La Perla.
Whatever Peter Lawford-esque drama is playing out on Gloria Steinem’s terrace, or Hillary Clinton’s campaign is simply not our problem. New Hampshire primary polls were wrong – just not for the politically convenient reasons Ann Lewis, Gloria Steinem, and Hillary Clinton wants us all to believe. Hillary, and her aging friends, are quick to anger because of the media — and point out their belief that New Hampshire Women had Enough Insults.
People, press, and politicos alike are critical of Hillary Clinton – because like the New Hampshire electorate – she makes it difficult to like her. In fact, about 61% of New Hampshire Democrats voted against her. (In Iowa, 70% voted against her.)
Electing a president is much like seducing a new lover, or choosing a couch. That person will be in our living room – and depending on the policies they advocate – they may make an appearance in our bedrooms and at doctor’s visits as well. A candidate for president is making a very personal, one on one, appeal to all the voters in our Republic of 300 million people.
Playing the victim equals lowest common denominator. To the women (and gentlemen) of Generation X – Hillary is not our Mommy. There is no need to ask permission to exercise our Constitutional rights.
Casting a vote for Obama, McCain, Giuliani, or Edwards is not a betrayal of the female gender. The Republic will survive without another Clinton. Seriously.
There is something about the Hillary Clinton victory in New Hampshire that rings the bell – I hear Dame Judi Dench’s voice… as her character “Barbara” in Notes on a Scandal - “…then I realized, I could gain everything – while doing nothing…” and “I gave you everything…” and “We are bound by the secrets we share…”
Guilt isn’t really my bag. And I’m willing to bet, a lot of people share that opinion. Pardon my wickedness… but a woman can be in her 60s, brilliant, creative, thoughtful, politically astute, active and a supremely sexual creature who embraces her femininity without shame, without asking for a damn thing.
Think… would the lush and mysterious Helen Mirren beg for attention? Absolutely Not. No need. Her strength comes from within. totally understated and blissfully powerful, with a glance or a whisper. Helen Mirren is the epitome of a lady. And
Hillary should take note. All those angry, condescending, entitled women she surrounds herself with are angry at all the promise lost in their youth – promise that inevitably is recapture by those who embrace life and live it, rather than watch it pass by.
Not all women feel compelled to stay in a bad marriage with the hopes of someday getting the man’s job.
A man isn’t necessary. A man is a luxury. And appreciating a man goes a long way towards developing acceptance and humanity. I sympathize with Hillary. Bill cheated with at least one much younger woman. Hillary was humiliated on the global stage. And it wasn’t just once. It was in the Oval Office. The world heard the details… the secret gifts and notes, passionate kisses and heated groping and reportedly, some oral exploration of sacred territory. William Jefferson Clinton proved he was still a man with sexual desires and needs, despite his wife’s public coolness and limitless ambition.
Why does Hillary need to go back to the scene of her husband’s crime against their marriage? Why does the electorate have to be involved? And if she wants credit for staying in the marriage, and playing the role of “co-president” then she needs to be prepared for more than discussions of infidelity. Waco. Ruby Ridge. Elian Gonzales. Mogadishu. Marc Rich. Force Reductions. Khobar Towers and the USS Cole. And… and.. and….
Make up your own mind on the issues. Follow your gut. Get informed. Read the expenditure reports. Contact the campaigns and figure out which candidate is welcome to your checkbook, and in your bedroom.
Because Hillary and her gal pals hate men – does not mean the rest of us should follow suit.
— Media Lizzy
Washington Post: Young Feminists Split – Does Gender Matter?
Quote of Note: New York Attorney General (and Clinton Campaign Super Delegate) Andrew Cuomo told the Times Union: “You can’t shuck and jive your way through a press conference.” – in reference to chief rival, Gen Xer Barack Obama.
Look at the New Hampshire results in depth HERE!
[...] Media Lizzy will not be guilted, either by feminists or the candidates public display of emotion, into voting for Hillary Clinton: Guilt isn’t really my bag. And I’m willing to bet, a lot of people share that opinion. Pardon my wickedness… but a woman can be in her 60s, brilliant, creative, thoughtful, politically astute, active and a supremely sexual creature who embraces her femininity without shame, without asking for a damn thing. [...]
Thank you, well done. While I don’t agree we all wear La Perla (which, btw, is the name of a notorious slum in my parents’ country) as we don’t all want to or can’t all afford to, the rest of your points are well taken. Obama is hardly a typical sexist man from Hillary’s era, rather he’s raised by a single mom and her parents, and surrounded by two daughters, a wife and a mother-in-law in their everyday [very normal until 2004 and his legendary speech] lives and 15 minutes from their Chicago home.
Michelle definitely knows how to hold her own and has given Obama not just a gorgeous, strong independent wife, but a familial anchor he’s always yearned for. She’s as elegant as Jackie O and more capable in the everyday world before she was ever married or famous.
It’s time for strong, classy First Lady Michelle Obama-Robertson. She’s a model for the art of maintaining your own individuality and femininity while keeping the family tightly knit, supported and focused. What a relief to have that family in the most powerful and watched home in the world! Finally, no more drama, for real! And a First Lady who will genuinely care about regular folks more than her own political future – how refreshing!
Oh, and Super-Delegate Cuomo? Disgusting. I’m sure he’d love to be described as “connected” and “a made guy”. Exactly why we need Obama. Bye-bye, Cuomo, you’re next!
[...] The Bono – Obama Generation — Colin Powell on Barack Obama — Obama the Gracious — No Need for Permission — Bill & Hillary’s Race Problems [...]
Hello my friends
I’m interested to see your follow up. I don’t have much to say about New Hampshire, on the general subjects you list up top…
It’s real hard for me to watch things like the “sweetie” clip from Obama and not think he has issues being dismissive towards women. I don’t think it matters how many women accompany you, so much as you treat them and think about them. I mean, by the “Obama is surrounded by women” argument every guy who owns a harem is an unimpeachable feminist.
Now that we’re all watching the democrats go after Sarah Palin, I think it becomes even more obvious that sexism has played a big part in 2008. Everyone gets flak in an election cycle, but the venom directed towards Sarah Palin and Hillary has been extreme. Much of the internet is now a twenty-four hour Sarah Palin hate machine.
The expression lipstick on a pig is always sexist no matter who says it. Does lipstick remind you of men or women? Just like if I said “you can pacify an angry rapper with a watermelon, but he’ll still be an angry rapper…” it would be racist. Maybe I’m talking about mc chris and Eminem, but it’s a play on a stereotype, just like lipstick is stereotypically associated with women.
ok and this has nothing to do with anything, but I adore Helen Mirren. I actually went to see The Cook, the Thief, his Wife, and her Lover every single day until it left the theaters. She’s brilliant and amazing. I still hold out hope that the Star Trek people will come to their senses and put her in charge of an Enterprise.