Hillary Clinton gives her take on sexism and the '08 campaign

Hillary Clinton stalwart Geraldine Ferraro got the week off to a rousing start by declaring to the New York Times that Barack Obama is "terribly sexist."

She elaborated this morning on the "Today" show, describing as "dismissive" Obama's crack, during the heat of the Pennsylvania primary campaign, that Clinton was "talking like Annie Oakley" as she sought the support of hunters.

Clinton herself did not mention Obama in a story in today's Washington Post based on an interview during which, the paper says, she "for the first time addressed what women have been talking about for months, what she refers to as the 'sexist' treatment she has endured at the hands of the pundits, media and others."

That would include, reporter Lois Romano writes, "The lewd T-shirts. The man who shouted 'Iron my shirt' at a campaign event. The references to her cleavage and her cackle."

All of this, Clinton says, has been "deeply offensive to millions of women."

(The piece does not note that the brief cleavage controversy of last summer was ignited by the paper's own fashion writer, Robin Givhan. The Clinton camp made its outrage known at the time; in fact, Givhan's article became the basis of a fundraising appeal.)

The Clinton comment gaining the most attention came when, Romero writes, she was asked "if she thinks this campaign has been racist [and] she says she does not."

Instead, Clinton said:

"The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted, and . . . there should be equal rejection of the sexism and the racism when it raises its ugly head. It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments by people who are nothing but misogynists."

The entire Post story can be read here.

Comments

[Mimi]

It's so unfortunate that Sexism has played such a big part, especially after all this woman Hillary Clinton has done for our country and other Americans black, and white. She is an inspiration and role model for all woman and girls in this country and throughout the world. If ever you wanted to teach your children not to give up you can just look to her.
Instead we are facing a nominee who I truly believe has divided this country more than anyone in recent history.
With his arrogant self righteous behavior willing to claim a win even before all the votes have been counted. I find it appalling- Please think about who you are voting for.

[Jennifer]

It's sad to see the headline is "Angry" women. Why can't it be "Outspoken" or "Core group of women"? Again, the LA Times is unfair.

[Sammy]

It seems ironic that a female politician is now being considered stubborn about refusing to pull out.

[jeffs]

Hillary's support isn't JUST from "older women," which denigrates her broad base. Even KABC Talk Radiio hosts are saying that agree with her or not, Hillary's resilience shows the best of the American spirit, something they have to admire -- while, ironically, the Democratic left is the faction that's been trying to shove her out for months to clear the way for Obama, in the spirit of "Party Unity" over the public's right to express an opinion in an alleged Democracy. Same way Howard Dean won't count Fla or MICH, two hugely important states which better reflect the turns in the economy and mass opinion, than do VT or NH.

There IS a lot of sexism, and a generational twist to it, too: as if Hillary being 60 by the time she's earned her way to the current position, makes her "too old," you've outlived your usefulness and missed your time slot in which it was novel enough to be a woman, now you're just an old Hag we can make fun of, just go away. This is even clearer in how Geraldine Ferraro was treated for telling the truth: the Dem "elite" just think it makes them look more "open minded" to choose a bi-racial black man at this time. They'd tiied desperately to whitewash racist REv Wright's comments, and even blame Hillary for being racist to mention it (which she BARELY did).

Obama whines that he's being smeared for his race, but uses it to his advantage very cleverly, playing up how he "looks like America." He attacks Hillary and Bill mercilessly, and sits back while others do the same to Chelsea because she won't address vulgar questions about her father's sex scandal, then cries "no fair" when opponents put his wife Michelle's own comments out there for viewers to see.

Obama has NO character or consistency, is willing to play whatever race and gender card it takes to win, while Hillary has earned the admiration of even her political opponents for representing the American "can do" spirit and perseverence.

[gina]

No...it wasn't racist except for Mrs. Clinton's proclivity to point out that Sen. Obama was weakening among white working males. As to Sen. Obama's rampant sexism in likening Sen. Clinton to Annie Oakley or Calamity Jane or Ma Barker...these are all gun-toting females. If he had said she was acting like Billy the Kid or Attila the Hun, he would've been criticized also.

[David]

The tag line "Angry women" is tremendously biased and not in the spirit of fair reporting. How might folks feel if "African Americans stay overwhelmingly with Obama" was printed?
If someone pointed out that blacks were not voting for Hillary because she was white, would that person be called racist?
Sigh.

[LaurenR1]

NO WAY OBAMA!!! I will write Hillary in!

[jean]

The treatment of Senator Clinton by the Democratic Party has been horrid. From Obama calling women "sweetie" to John Edwards making fun of her clothing during a national debate her treatment has been un-American.

The "Old boy's club", Ted Kennedy, Edwards, etc would rather put an inexperienced racist, elitist fast talking slimy snob in office rather than a woman.

The press has been unmerciful to her. It's embarrassing. What a country. We are so backward when it comes to women's rights. To think the American Press should treat a great, intelligent experienced senator this way is shameful.

Senator Clinton is backed by many in America come November, I as well as many others will be writing her name on the ballot...good luck to our shameful press and the Democratic "Old Boy's Club."

Now we wil have another 4 years of Mccain and the Republican...NO OBAMA...Well at least the Republican Press in America gets what it wants...more Republicans.

[gaypastor]

Women and African-Americans! Are we REALLY surprised we’ve arrived to this level of analysis? I, for one (as a liberal white man), stand by my sisters. If you review the website for the leading organization for women (National Organization of Women) you CLEARLY see their choices to fight not only for women’s rights, but against racism, homophobia, economic injustice, etc. (the sections are easily seen and identified). If you visit the leading African American organization’s website (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) you do NOT find clear choices that support women’s rights, gay rights, etc. Their subsections speak of youth, education, economics, etc. but they don’t seem to care for women or gays (not even black women or gays). The choice, while quite regrettable, is simply clear…women simply appear to more broadly fight for a range of oppressed peoples while the leading African Americans have not. As a pastor who cares about ALL people (and especially all people suffering from oppression) I must stand by the one who represent the hopes and dreams of women…and all oppressed peoples. I stand by Hillary…Hillary for President for ’08! May God be with us all during this difficult time of discernment.

[Denise Duncan]

Obama calls a reporter "sweetie" and no one raises an eyebrow. If someone called him boy the excrement would hit the fan. Sexism is ok still altho anything that can be even remotely construed as racist is a no-no. All of a sudden BHO declares he's a black man-forget about his white mom and being raised by white grandparents-who says he wasn't influenced by J Wright and that church.

Why is your article headed "Angry" women? The piece doesn't explore anger at all-but it is attention grabbing by labeling women. Sad. Why should Hillary withdraw-she trails by less than 200 delegates. A floor fight should take place. The Dems shouldn't anoint BHO just because they like the idea of him. And that is all it is-there is no substance unless you count the seething anger and sarcasm that exudes from every pore of Michelle Obama.

[Sex and Race]

A sexist is a person who would vote against someone based on their sex. A sexist is also someone who votes for a person because they would like to have a political office filled by a person of a paticular sex. Both are sexism and neither are acceptable

A racist is someone who votes against a candidate because of their race. A racist is also someone who votes to elect a person to office specificaly because of their race. Both are equaly wrong.

There are many many sexists and many many racists voting in this election.

ask yourself if you are voting for or against a candidate based on either sax or race.

Just be honest with yourself.

[08vote]

Had the numbers been in reverse,with Clinton leading in every politicall matrix, she'd be denying that she was being premature about being the inevitable nominee, so get a grip.

More importantly, here is how to answer the question about why McCain is polling almost evenly with Clinton and Obama. The main reason being, McCain has not been fully vetted in the lap-dog media circuit. Other than the New York Times article trying to tie McCain to lobbyist Vicki Iseman, he’s basically gotten a free ride from the press. I would ask where is the 24/7 coverage of Cindy McCain’s refusal to release her tax returns, how many undocumented aliens are working in the distribution breweries, McCain's close ties with Bush and the Republicans, what does the ex-wife of John McCain think when Cindy met John while he was still married....

[Jesse]

Hilarious.

It's HILLARY'S fault this race has been so divisive, and some people have the nerve to blame Obama? Give me a break!

This race has been nothing but pure to itself, of course with some racism and sexism here and there because there are parts of this country that still practice both (see comment of a Clinton supporter who stopped herself when she said "I'd rather see a woman become president than a....."). HOWEVER, it was Clinton's constant personal attacks and traditional political campaigning that has turned off so many voters to her, including me.

And yes it is ANGRY women, not outspoken! Outspoken people are rational. So YES, please think about who you are voting for. I, for one, will not vote for the same old wishy washy politics Hillary represents. My vote will go for Obama.

[Ed Long]

Geradine Farraro is the worst kind of person. She is all about spewing racial comments toward BarackObama by calling him a racist and now sexist.. It is understandable that she does not like Barack.. Why ???? And the answer is......She is a closet racist in the worst way.///

[Erica]

Hillary is not a role model. She is an example of how not to behave. I have three young daughters and I tell them not be act like this woman. Women don't need to be victims, blaming others for our failings. The press is not hard on Hillary because she is a woman. They are hard on her because she has the most casual of relationships with the truth. She is a phony. And you can be tough without being shrill. The truth is, she would be a better president than Obama. People are voting for him though, because they are tired of they way she acts.

[Deborah]

Hillary's campaign has not faltered because of sexism -- the campaign has been very poorly run. Mostly by male advisors, I might add. They focused entirely on the "big" states, and anticipated a Super Tuesday blow-out. What they didn't anticipate was the climate of the country and the effectiveness of the Obama fifty-state grassroots strategy. (Just a reminder -- Hillary started out as the media-declared frontrunner and with overwhelming name recognition.) I originally supported Hillary, hoping that a woman candidate would set a higher standard of how to run and win, but this she has not done. II have been deeply disappointed by her willingness to engage in Karl Rovian methods of innuendo, distortion, and dishonesty. And, in claiming to have more votes than Obama, she has eliminated the caucus states in the count and has insisted that the Michigan and Florida votes should count, despite the Party rules to which she agreed. One wonders what she would have said or done if the situation was reversed, if she were leading in the votes and the delegate count while Obama was making such claims. Not a chance -- the wrath of the Clintons would have rendered him "history" by now. And, the claim that Obama has divided the country -- huh? The Clintons pulled out the race card beginning with NH and South Carolina. More recently, it was the "white" hardworking Americans comment, which has further polarized the Democratic Party. Women have also been polarized. I has been painful to hear the utterance of remarks by Geraldine Ferraro, Gloria Steinem, and others, along with accusations and finger-pointing at sisters who have chosen to support Obama . It's crazy and deeply disturbing. What would the great abolitionists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton think of it all? Hillary a role model? Sadly, for me (a feminist and long-time activist), not so much.

[toby]

I have to agree with Jennifer.

"Angry Women"? The media (LA Times is leading them) hits Hillary with a sexist comment EVERY chance you guys get.

It's wearing SO thin...I can't even begin to tell you...

[Arora]

The television and radio networks have had a heyday projecting endlessly on to Senator Clinton their adolescent
fears of a strong and bright woman holding the nation's highest office. One would have to be blind and deaf not to
have noticed. At some future date, our daughters and granddaughters will be watching news clips of today's pundits revealing misogyny at its worst.

[larry]

Why is it than Hillary can complain all she wants about the media treatment of her? but when Obama complained about the media tone during the ABC debate, both Bill and Hillary said that if he can't take the heat then he should stay out of the kitchen. There was no more sexism in these primaries than there was racism. Hillary is losing because she has not run a good campaign. On top of that Barak Obama has much more enthusiasm and is more charismatic. And not to mention their policies are almost identical, so it is no wonder that the more charismatic individual(obama) is winning. Also he offers someone not named Bush or Clinton. So to take a cliche' from both Hillary and Bill, "if she can't take the heat then she should get out of the kitchen."

[roy krausen]

What is more damning is the lack of perspective shown by Ms. Clinton to dwell on the tiny minority of comments by apparent sexists when millions of voters found a woman like her worthy of being the President of the United States. Its a bit like how Reverend Wright ignores the overwhelming goodwill and generosity of the majority population (think of the support available at all levels for competent and hardworking African Americans) to dwell on the misdeeds of a minority of racists.

[dave]

again we see the word 'people' used in what seems to be a sexist way by clinton, as she appears to be using the word 'people' as exclusively referring to men: but is this insulting to men or to women, or to people in general? (in the blog item dealing with the issues of racism and sexism and titled 'nora ephron asks: do pennsylvanians hate blacks or women more?' of april 21, nora ephron is quoted as explicitly saying: 'and when i say people, i don't mean people, i mean white men.' here we saw nora use quite a load of both sexism and racism.) so in any case, this could be seen both ways. are those misanthropic attacks? but if we look at the treatment of other people, e.g. candidate for PRESIDENT RON PAUL (who's not a woman, and not black), by the media people determined to thwart his success by massive censorship, bias, slander, omission, misrepresentation, outright slander and hateful propaganda, ad hominem attacks, blackouts on his message and campaign, constant evocation and prediction of his failure, minimizing his chances ('long shot', 'dark horse', 'kook',
'loon', etc.), it is easy to see that all of this doesn't have anything to do with either racism or sexism. it's artificial, and it is about creating division and diversion. and then, about manipulation; so lastly, about corruption and abuse of power, trying to influence the course and outcome of the elections.

[kat]

If Clinton had played the gender card as well as Obama played the race card, she'd be the nominee. Clinton clearly underestimated Obama's willingness to strong arm people with his race and instead approached the race like it was a square up contest with no handicapping for lack of experience. She also evidently thought that being vastly more qualified than her opponent was enough to win. Shame on her. Now Hillary's road kill on the tracks of the race train and this country is going give Obama the electric kool aid acid test with the presidency of the United States. I hope he passes (no racial pun intended but you can't be too careful when it comes to the delicate sensibilities of Mr. Obama) because he's going to be elected just so a bunch of trendies can congratulate themselves on electing a black president.

Mr. Obama is a very stylish, rock star sort of a candidate. Any criticism of Obama brings calls of racism and don't think the rest of the country wasn't watching what happened to West Virginia when they voted Clinton. The media actively sought out people to make racist statements and jettisoned the vast majority of people who plainly stated race was not an issue. The best lesson a person can learn on how truly slimy the media is, is to watch them operate in West Virginia. It's textbook. And because of such media treatment, Obama has carved out the positition that any one who does not vote for him is racist.

That's a helluva way to be elected president.

[kevin]

Apparently 'fair' means Hillary wins no matter what, or it's all about sexism. THIS is the reason that people don't take discrimination suits seriously. Stop crying wolf and save it for when you're not defending a white-collar criminal and career conniver.

The moral flexibility employed by her supporters is just another one of the reasons Hillary has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Simply put; her supporters defend the indefensible, and make themselves guilty by association.

A short list of things conveniently overlooked by her supporters:

Whitewater, the Nixon impeachment committee, Vince Foster's death, hypocritical stance on Wal-Mart, constant shifting-about on the war on terror, lying about foreign policy experience in no uncertain terms, shady personal investments with 1000% returns, the Rich scandal, Norman Hsu, the stealing of White House furniture, her freshman-senatorial campaign's "I hate f---ing jew bastards," line, her employment of both the race AND the sex card in this campaign, the conveniently timed crying fit, attacking Obama's 3rd grade essays, saying whites won't vote for Obama, her belittling of MLK...

How much more can you people overlook? Obama and McCain may not have the cleanest histories. But compared to Clinton, they're bleached linen.

[Kap]

Obama's "Annie Oakley" reference at least situated Clinton as a powerful and potent American icon. By contrast, Clinton's dismissal of Obama's So. Carolina win as something even Jesse Jackson was able to pull off, was just that -- a snide dismissal to imply that Black voters were the only ones who would vote for Obama. As a equality-minded young woman, I wish that I could be more proud of Clinton's presidential bid, but her campaign has only punctuated the fact that while Hillary may be a candidate opposed to sexism, she is not necessarily a candidate opposed to racism.

[Tex]

As a woman, what I am angry about is how so many women are claiming "sexism" with absolutely no basis, just because the woman candidate failed to win the nomination. It is unfortunate that some women are so disappointed in Clinton's apparent loss that they are willing to vote out of pure spite for McCain, who appears to be much more sexist than anyone in the Obama campaign (McCain reportedly called his own wife a "trollop" and a "c--t" in front of reporters and campaign staff) and who has promised to appoint hard-right Supreme Court justices intent on reversing Roe v Wade.

Sisters, Clinton lost based on her actions during this primary, many of which were deplorable. I am really saddened that the first viable female presidential candidate lowered herself to mudslinging, pandering, negative attacks, racial politics, and outright lies. To name a few of her actions that I found particularly disappointing:

- "change you can Xerox"

- citing SNL skit and saying "perhaps we should ask Barack if he needs another pillow" during a PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (very undignified)

- lying about Bosnia sniper fire

- "hardworking white Americans"

- gas tax holiday pandering

- foreclosure moratorium/ freezing mortgage rates pandering

- constantly trying to change rules for the primary that she previously agreed upon, in order to suit her own purposes.

I hope women who support Clinton will realize that Clinton lost because of her own errors as a candidate, not because of sexism. Do you really want a president (male or female) who doesn't pay their campaign debts and whose campaign is $20 million in the hole running this country? Do you really want as your president someone who has demonstrated they will shamelessly pander, change positions, and even lie to get elected? These are undesirable qualities in a candidate, regardless of sex.

I honestly believe that if Clinton had just stuck to the issues instead of engaging in the above-noted mudslinging, lying and pandering, she would have won this primary. This is not about sexism. I look forward in the future to voting for a woman presidential candidate who I can believe in on principle and based on her character, not just because of her gender.

[Sean K]

Hillary brings all this on herself. If she doesn't want to BE stereotyped, maybe she should stop ACTING like a stereotype. For example, starting the whole campaign on a negative course and then whining like a prom queen when the negativity came back her way. You don't see Obama bashing the hell out of Hillary in his speeches. Hillary is playing into the stereotype of women as shrill, narcissistic and spoiled. You don't see Obama projecting himself as angry, uneducated and lazy. If you don't act according to false stereotypes then you're less likely to be plagued by them.

[Olivia]

It is a man's land!

The double standard againts HRC has been evident from the begining. But the misogynist insults were REALLY depressing:

Iron my shirts!
KFC, Hillary Special: 2 fat thights, 2 small breasts, 1 left wing.
Bros before hos.
B'icht (as in "How do we stop the b'itch?" or "LIfe is a bitch don't elect one!").
"Hillary has to run away from her bitchy immage"
She a moster, She is evil. She is a whitch
Hillary nutcrakers with steal thights
Women know thier limits, Hillary learn yours now & stop
"She reminds me my bugging mother"
"Hillary is pimping her daughter"
"Someone has to go out there and take her behind the barn, as we say in Pennsylvania"
"She was a first wife, she did not win on her own merit
but out of humilliation and symphaty"
C.U.N.T. asking "What's Hillary? "

There are MANY more but these are handy. Ah! Among these the worst was

YOUR CULPRIT SILENCE!

[sick and tired of the double standards]

The main issue addressed should have been the over the top bias, vitriol, hypocrisy, double standards, vicious attacks and overwhelming lack of fairness and objectivity by both the media (especially but not limited to MSNBC, the NYTimes, WaPost and several reporters and pundits found on CNN) and by the elites of the democrat party (Dean, Pelosi, Reid -- what a joke -- they apparently don't have any pro-democracy leaders in the leadership positions -- I won't forget what the overrated pathetic ineffectual spineless Pelosi did to Jane Harman either).

I won't stay home and i won't vote rethuglican. However, the democrat party, its pathetic ineffectual 'leaders' have made it clear they don't value working class voters and especially do not value or want the women who support Clinton -- support her first because of her policies, specific plans, history, leadership and evidence that she actually knows WHAT TO DO to enact change (as opposed to merely talking about it) and second because she's proven she actually WILL FIGHT for us and won't give up and walk away before it's over.

Those very same whiney pathetic hypocritical democrat elites / pundits/ obamanatics/democrat party leaders/smug, arrogant media talking heads calling for Clinton to "give up", "walk away", "give in", "stop fighting" are the very same whiney crybaby wimps and complainers who still bitterly lament the WIMP FACTOR of these LOSERS who "gave up" "QUIT" "gave in": Gore, Dukakis, Kerry. The other liberal democrats wimps who lost elections/nominations: McCarthy, Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter (easily portrayed as a wimp by the repugs).

I'll take Hillary any day over those QUITTERS / LOSERS and the whining crybaby complaints of Obama fanatics who can't bear the fact that their candidate has not actually EARNED or WON the required number of delegates YET. It would be so much easier for them if Clinton threw in the towel like the other democrat Losers above.

They apparently believe their saintly candidate should not be forced to EARN votes from actual VOTERS instead of the coronation by democrat party elitists and media opinionists, NYT writers and the smug pundits who uncritically support him instead of promoting the actual process of voters voting -- i.e. democracy.

Since they clearly believe they don't need and clearly don't want my vote either, I'll be glad to let Obama get elected without those of us who have been Hillary supporters -- especially because they've been so unrelentingly condescending, arrogant, vicious, biased, unfair and hostile to Clinton and her supporters.

I do happen to have multiple degrees including a graduate level education, and simply because some voters are not 'formally highly educated' does not mean they are stupid, despite what the media, democrat party machinery, pundits and elitists like to condescendingly repeat ad infinitum.

I too will be writing in Hillary Clinton for president in November 2008.

[Maria montebello]

Can she give some examples?or is just more BS?She has set the womans movement back by her childish words and actions. I wish Cali would have a redo so I can take my vote back and give it to the person who is most qualified - Obama!

[tired of the hypocrisy & bias]

- Not just Clinton says it "has been "deeply offensive to millions of women" --- what about the few (honest) commentators (Kurtz, Toobin, even Pat Buchanan!!!!) and millions of voters who say that this lack of fairness by the media, the democrat party elites, and Obama supporters has been not only "deeply offensive" but ample pattern of evidence of the hypocrisy, double standards and ongoing socially sanctioned sexism/misogyny directed not only at Clinton but her suporters.

The denigration, dismissive condescending attitudes, arrogance, unequal treatment, unfair bias and injustice won't soon be forgotten.

And while we're at it: simply substituting a generic female on the ticket makes as much sense to Hillary supporters as simply substituting a generic black candidate (without the Wright/Bitter/Sweetie/Hamas) baggage.

I won't vote for McCain either, but I will write in Hillary in November 2008 if she is not on the ticket in one of the slots.

[Nova yos Galan]

The LA Times has been insiduously biased in virtually all its reporting and especially in this blog. It's so sad that so many people are still afraid of a strong, intelligent, driven woman. How sad, too, that we as a country still go for style over substance. If Obama wins the nomination, I'm casting a write-in vote for Clinton in November. I'd rather have war monger McClain than Obama. At least he has some substance and is a straight talker. (I can't even believe I'm saying this... )

[Enough!]

Oh give me a break. As a black woman, I am tired of hearing this female unity crap. It is only pushed when certain privileged women want something. Hillary isn't the only qualified woman to run for president, she just happens to be the WRONG woman. I can’t wait for another woman to take the job!

HRC is to blame for NOT running a 50 state campaign. Your complaints are childish. You're at the end of the race and losing, so now you are asking the judges for a do-over, because your opponent is winning and you can't steal it from him. Grow up.

As someone who spent years defending the Clinton's, only to be repaid with blatant jim crow racism, I think she is reaping what she sowed. The horribly low rent behavior exhibited by Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro has not been appreciated and I am happy Obama will be the nominee. I think the title of the article is appropriate based on the behavior of the women associated with this campaign.

Obama is not sexist, Hillary is not entitled to the presidency, and Geraldine needs to be drug tested.

So as a raging feminist and a happy former HRC supporter GO OBAMA!!!

[tony in sunnyvale]

It is abundantly clear that in these United States in the year 2008, it is acceptable to be sexist BUT unacceptable to be racist. How does American society today justify this unjust distinction between two equally destructive prejudices?

[Traci]

I believe it has been proven that the "iron my shirt" incident was a radio stunt. Sure, some guys think like that, but it was mostly just someone trying to push buttons and get attention.

[Chullina]

If Hillary loses it's considered "sexism" if Obama loses it will be considered "racism"
this election is drawing out way too long and people need to take a chill pill. I bet half of the people don't even know what Hillary and Obama stand on important issues. All that matters is that she is a woman and he's black.
I thought we were in the 21st century clearly people still think like the cavemen. Dissapointed reigns in this poor broke college student.

[tonythetiger]

What strikes as strange is all these women ganging up on Hillary in support of Obama -- I do not know if there is an element of envy over her successes or misdirected self-disdain ... but I for one will vote for McCain if Hillary is not the nominee. And I hope he appoints conservative justices who eventually overturn Roe v Wade. Then perhaps these women will regret having passed up on the opportunity to truly make a change is this country.

[Jim]

I find so many of the comments above to be very, very sad. It is terrible to see Hillary supporters turn away from whomever the Democratic nominee eventually will be. All people sympathetic to women's issues have so much to lose under McCain--beginning with abortion rights (just read what McCain has to say about his intent for the federal bench). I began as a Clinton supporter (despite my qualms about her vote for the Iraq war), but turned away from her when she and Bill failed, over and again, the character test. With so much at stake, it was unconscionable for them to drag this election into the gutter beginning in South Carolina: playing the race card, playing the religion card ("not a Muslim, as far as I know"), playing the fear card (3:00 a.m.). Endorsing McCain's gas tax holiday was the last straw, especially when this long-standing policy wonk dismissed the "intellectual elite" of professional economists who opposed the idea. Frankly, I think we've already suffered enough from seven years of "leadership" from a President who dismisses expert advice. All these issues staked out by Hillary cut against the Democratic nominee (either one) in the fall. I'm now an Obama supporter, not because I'm sexist, but because Hillary proved herself unworthy of the nomination. And yet, even were she to pull off a miracle and win the nomination, I would still vote for her in the fall. I only wish all the Clinton supporters could similarly realize that McCain is too terrible to allow into office. (I hope none of the women above who say they will write in Clinton in the fall have sons and daughters of an age suitable for sending off to the Republican's endless and meaningless war in Iraq.)

[Enough!]

" Hillary Clinton gives her take on sexism and the '08 campaign:"

Oh give me a break. As a black woman, I am tired of hearing this female unity crap. It is only pushed when certain privileged women want something. Hillary isn't the only qualified woman to run for president, she just happens to be the WRONG woman. I can’t wait for another woman to take the job!

HRC is to blame for NOT running a 50 state campaign. Your complaints are childish. You're at the end of the race and losing, so now you are asking the judges for a do-over, because your opponent is winning and you can't steal it from him. Grow up.

As someone who spent years defending the Clinton's, only to be repaid with blatant jim crow racism, I think she is reaping what she sowed. The horribly low rent behavior exhibited by Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro has not been appreciated and I am happy Obama will be the nominee. I think the title of the article is appropriate based on the behavior of the women associated with this campaign.

Obama is not sexist, Hillary is not entitled to the presidency, and Geraldine needs to be drug tested.

So as a raging feminist and a happy former HRC supporter GO OBAMA!!!

[Matt]

I find the most startling thing in all of this to be the very stark contrast in perception. As an Obama supporter, I don't feel he injected race into the campaign at all. The media, Clinton supporters, the Clintons themselves--yes, I believe they all brought Obama's race into it. And I also feel that Clinton's sex was only mentioned by the media, or Clinton/Obama supporters, not the candidates themselves.

But Clinton supporters genuinely believe that Obama has run a dirty campaign, used race to his advantage, used sex to Clinton's disadvantage, etc. I'm astounded at the incredibly wide gulf between our two perceptions. Each side truly believes its own candidate is pure and clean while the other is dirty and evil. Amazing.

[observer]

The problem in trying to spin Hillary's continuation of her campaign as something positive is that it enforces what the majority of the population already know it to be as a pathetic, illogical and desperate act. Unfortunately, the only prize she'll get out of her effort is the Tanya Harding crown.

[this is america]

vote for whichever candidate you wish for whatever reasons you have. it is your opinion and you are entitled to it regardless of how "wrong" other people think you are. that's the beauty of living in america.

[Jade in CA]

Shame on you for trying to make this about being a woman. I am a middle aged woman and was supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as having supported her husband forever; until they ran the nastiest, unethical campaign against one in their own party while trying to change the rules midstream of which she agreed to at the beginning (Michigan/Florida). You'd want your daughters to see her win by changing the rules midstream and playing the female card to get ahead? How utterly sad. The fact that you would still think this is okay just because she is a woman and took bad advice from people who ran her campaign, (which says alot about her judgement and character or lack thereof) has changed my view of both of them forever.

Yes, I would LOVE to see a woman in office, but if she'd shown class, honesty, and statesmanship as Obama has throughout this campaign, I'd have sent HER the donations I have now given to him. Just because she's a woman does not qualify her automatically and mean we expect any less from her. She had all the cards in her favor and she took the wrong advice, running a horrible campaign which shows she can't run a campaign financially so why in the world would I want her to be in charge of our country? She's turning to people like Karl Rove for support as well as Richard Mellon Scafe and Fox news of all places to make her arguments of viability. This should alarm you. To me, you may think it's okay for someone to show incompetence as long as they are female, minority or whatever, but I think it slaps feminism in the face to try to give someone a position simply because of their race, gender or any other reason other than earning that position. But it will not work. You can try to play the gender card to take what she has not earned, but it will weaken our cause forever. But right now, our country has too much at stake and maybe you are willing to overlook these MAJOR snafus simply because she is a woman, but many of us will not.

From what I've seen, as disappointed as I am with Hillary, and there are many like me and I'm changing more peoples minds as I speak to them, she will not win this battle and I'm ashamed that a woman would stoop to these tactics.

[Ann]

I am angry and I am rational, and this has nothing to do with the candidate I choose. I am disappointed in this country for not treating women equally. Perhaps we'll make progress; black men received the right to vote before white women did (by 50 years), so perhaps that's the order we'll see in the presidency. Even in my anger and my disappointment, there is no surprise - this is a country that can't even ratify the equal rights amendment, which simply states: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

[Sylvia]

With all due respect, this is nonsense and one more reason I won't vote for HRC. Yes I'm angry. I'm angry because HRC and her supporters refuse to deal with facts.

Women who feel that they need to pretend to be men to succeed set women's rights back 50 years.

HRC can't manage her campaign.
HRC's campaign is over $20M in debt
HRC either doesn't understand basic math or is ignoring it

HRC had an opportunity to show the world that a real woman could succeed. She blew it by making numerous campaign mistakes. When she realized that she had little chance of winning she's hell bent on changing goal posts and ignorning the rules which she agreed to in writing.

I absolutely want to see a woman in the White House, just not THIS woman. I was a HRC supporter until I researched the details of the Peter Paul vs. Clinton case. This is the biggest political fraud case in U.S. history. The evidence isn't hear say. It is HRC's own words on video, audio, and hand written letters.

It is insulting and appalling that there is an expectation that I should support HRC just because I am a woman.

Any claims of sexism by HRC because she refuses to accept responsibility for her errors may fool some of the people some of the time. Her claims will not fool this woman.

[PCOTT]

HC has not been treated unfairly by the press. She was treated as the presumptive nominee for months. Then she lost Iowa. I guess that was sexist. After all the caucus system was set up to keep women out of the presidency, right?. She came back in NH and a few other states but then handily lost a dozen races in a row. The NH win shows how strong a candidate she is but the dozen or so losses leading to Super Tuesday are evidence of media bias and sexism (huh?).

It is ok for women to overwhelmingly vote for HC because they think a woman deserves to be president. But it isn't ok for blacks to vote for BO because they feel he deserves to be president. Really?

There is no such thing as reverse sexism, only reverse racism I guess. HC supporters are employing the highest discernment in choosing her but BO supporters are misogynist pigs for daring not to like HC all that much.

Have you any idea how absolutely insulting that is?

She agreed to the party ruling on FL and MI early on. Now she decides the rules are unfair because she is losing. All of a sudden, MI and FL are important because she thinks it will give her a lead in the popular vote!! Is that really fair? And BO is supposed to go along with it or be punished for his impudence by HC supporters if he is the nominee. The easiest solution would have been to hold caucuses in both states but HC was against that. Hmmm I wonder why.

BO has more votes; more states; more pledged delegates and more super delegates. HC has won the bigger states; the swing states, and held the lead in superdelegates for months. Where's the evidence of sexism in that?

It aint the media. Your candidate is just losing. The media likes a winner.

[Hamje]

What's so bad about Annie Oakley anyway? She was a woman who broke barriers that only men could shoot guns. She just made the one mistake that she could have shot Kaiser Wilhelm dead in a show she did in Germany before WWI thereby altering the course of history.

[MG]

Seems to me that the media is not only prematurely projecting an Obama win for his party's nomination, and in so doing, have created a convenient excuse for when he loses: that America is racist after all....all the while ignoring Obama's inconsistencies and inexperience (which is obvious to this voter).

[John Quimby]

I will not support anyone for President who divides the country by gender or race.

Hillary Clinton has now done both.

I hope she comes to her senses quickly - before she does more damage to herself.

[Rick Boy]

I still think that it is possible that that terrible sexist man who shouted 'Iron my shirt' at Hillary was on her payroll.
That sexist comment worked out well for her, didn't it?

[Christina]

I think some people overlooked Sammy's hilarious comment: "It seems ironic that a female politician is now being considered stubborn about refusing to pull out."

Well....I laughed.

Vote Obama!

[Hal]

Let's face it. Clinton supporters are just sore losers. That's all this is. If the Obama supporters were losing, they'd be screaming racism, not sexism. It really is just a reprise of the playground.

[Barbara J]

I was a feminist Democrat until I got tired of the whining, and then voted Independent. Until February, I wasn't certain whom I would vote for, and to tell you the truth, the bit with Oprah and Obama turned me off.
But, for certain, I was tired of typical Washington, and the Bush and Clinton Dynasties. For me it was just more rhetoric that I cold no longer stomach. So, that left my choice being focused on Obama. I needed to gather all of the information I could., and open my mind to change.d, I will proudly vote for Obama this election for a variety of reasons.
If Hillary is truly interest in putting her hat in the ring in 2012, then here are 5 thing she should focus on., remembering what she needs to change in order to gather a lot of votes.
1)People like a calm, reasonable, non-hostile candidate -GET RID OF THE HOSTILE ANGER RIDDEN WITH TOO MUCH VICTIMIZATION !
Let go of the "angry dog" approach. People tune you out before you have a chance to share in your ideas. It's just too frightening to voters to see this in a candidate who must present themselves under extremely pressure with leaders of other countries. People are thinking if she can't meet confrontation without appearing that she is being picked on, how is that gong to work worldwide.. So, get control of the anger, truthfully it is only gong to get the votes of a few angry people, and the rest, are going to see the "poor me" approach as a weakness.
2) More importantly than the "victimization", is you have to lose the SARCASM! Look, I'll be honest I have used it myself in a debate with my husband. For about one second, I feel I have the oneupmanship, but then I feel stupid, because you see my husband is like your opponent, he is articulate, calm, thinks before he speaks, he never losses control, and he is able to respond with clarity, because he has left out emotion our of the mix in our debate.He usually wins because he sticks to the facts. What I am saying is not sexist, it is just a fact that men and women argue differently. Some will say we are more passionate. That may be true, but is it worth losing an election over? SARCASM DOESN''T WORK, AND IT WEAKENS WHATEVER POINT YOU HAD.
3) Think before you speak. Women use a lot more words in everyday life than men. That can be a good thing, if we stop before we speak, and remember our audience. Men don't know what to do when a lot of words (particularly ones which could considered "stressed out.",) are being thrown at them.Your best audience IS NOT BILL! He is just as passionate as you are, and then instead of having someone without prejudice giving you advice, you keep on making the wrong choices about how to win votes. Think of the great debates in history, they do not involve hysteria. YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE WITHOUT COMING ACROSS AS "LOSING IT."
4) Please don't take this wrong. But, consider getting voice training. People block out conversation when the are confronted with a "shrill" voice, whether calm or not. it comes off as either confrontational, or someone out of control. It's one of the things, I have had to confront about myself, as a passionate feminist.. Whether writing or speaking, i know I reach my audience using a calm & well thought out delivery. Most professional who need to use their voice could use voice lessons to learn how to be "eloquent." in their speaking.
5) Last, but not least, GET RID OF BILL ! Sorry, perhaps some feminist see you standing by your man as a strength, i can't. I don't see him as an asset in any imagination and my husband questions your judgment in remaining in the relationship. We both think he hurt your candidacy this election.
His advice is one filled with too much hostility bitterness, and much rancor, you can see the venom coming from his mouth when he is ranting on your behalf .Voters,just can't get past that. It didn't work for Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson, and it won't work for any candidate, be they white, black, male or female.
I would love to see a woman as the President of this country, but first I have to vote for the best candidate, then if it happens to be a woman, then it was meant to be. Just remember, you will need to separate yourself from Bill if you are to win, he has too much baggage, and people no longer trust him or his reasoning. Like it or not, people begin to question "are we voting for Bill or Hillary?", and many saw you begin to adopt his angry,entitlement behavior, and they begin to question their decision to vote for you.
i DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY FILLED WITH MIS0GYNY, FOR THERE ARE INDEED, AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF STRONG, PASSIONATE, WOMEN. AND THEY HAVE NOT WHINED, NOR USED SARCASM, NOR HAVE THEY SHRILLED THEIR WAY TO SUCCESS, IT JUST ISN'T POSSIBLE.

[Out of touch...]

Does anyone here realize how soft we've been on both Clinton and Obama? Sure, there are people with sexist or racist thoughts, and those people might share their thoughts or they might not, but let's keep some historical perspective here. A female OR black candidate probably would have faced regular physical violence/threats/intimidation not even 30 years ago.

Sure the rhetoric today is bad, but it's not really being talked about in relation to the rest of our history, instead each side is holding the other up to some Utopian ideal that is impossible to reach. Also, everyone is forgetting about how South Park made an episode about Hillary Clinton having a nuclear devise hidden in her "snizz" - how much harder can you be on a candidate?

[Jake]

It seems a lot of Hillary supporters here are trying desperately to validate their support for a losing candidate and their own baises (especially women who have biases against men) by finding creative ways to transform their frustration into hatred for Obama. Obama hasn't done anything remotely sexist anymore than Hillary has. What about Kennedy? How long has Kennedy put his neck out on the line to support women issues? Longer than Hillary has. All the sudden he's "sexist" because he's supporting Obama? That's closed-minded at best and also narrow-minded to assume that men have to chose a woman to validate themselves as not being sexist.

If Obama were a white woman and Hillary a black man, I along with the dozens of my friends who support Obama would still be voting for her over Hillary. Hillary fails to recognize that organizational culture within Washington, i.e. how problems are solved, is a more important element in finding solutions than the proposed solutions themselves. Her supporters dismiss it as mere idealistic speeches. Just because you throw numbers out there doesn't make your proposals a solution.

Why is it that when people are losing they always end their game by blaming the media for their demise? Of course Hillary did everything right and Obama made a lot of mistakes, so if Obama wins it's not because he's the superior candidate, it's because people are stupid and vote for idealistic views; and it's because of the conservative conspiracies, sexist attitudes and the media bias against Hillary. Or better yet, Obama will win because we let him. Yeah that's the ticket.

Ironically, although Hillary's campaign is basically out of gas, it is still running on the very thing Hillary dismisses Obama's supporters for-that idealistic view that is Obama's central theme-.because sometimes when you don't have "solutions" you can overcome adversity with...."hope".

[MaryB]

Ironic that the candidate who introduced race into the contest is now using surrogates to scream sexism. It seems she and her supporters just need more to complain as they try to create more problems and misery. Hillary is a hypocrite and would have made the worst kind of leader.

[Jim Sparks]

I hope that all of you people who say that you will "write in" Clinton's name on the ballot will never once complain about how President McCain runs the country. Your actions will split the Democrat ticket, and help give the victory to McCain. You will do to Obama exactly what the Green Party did to Gore in Florida - give the election to the Republicans by taking votes away from the Democrats. And when this happens, and President McCain is sitting in the White House, I hope that you feel pleased with yourselves that you helped to put him there.

[George]

She's a politician. He's a politician. They are trained and skilled at telling you what you want to hear. Forget sexism. Forget racism. It's all about power. And the minute either of them (or John McCain, for that matter) walk through the door at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they're no more your sister, your brother, or your role model than the man in the moon. If you think they care about you: they don't (unless you've made a 6 figure contribution to their campaign). If you think having a woman in the White House, or an African American in the White House, is going to make a difference: it won't. If you think any of them won't send your sons and daughters off to the killing fields of Iraq (or Iran), you're wrong; and if you think a woman will think any harder than a man about going to war or "staying the course": she won't. If you think any of them are going to pull out of Iraq in the first year: they can't, even if they want to. The U.S. cannot afford to leave a power vacuum in Iraq. Period. End of story. The sad truth is that all 3 of the candidates are driven by a cold, hard, emotionless and ruthless thirst for power, and they will do anything, say anything, and sacrifice anything to get it and keep it. We would all do well to park our emotions at the door and start looking at this for what it is: a giant sex-less, race-less power grab. At the very least, we won't be disappointed when the truth finally rears its ugly head.

[Romina]

And if Obama loses, this country cannot see a black man be president. Aren't we tired of this same old rhetoric?

I, for one, am tired of the Chicago Tribune owners of the LA Times doing combat for their local boy. Try to be a fair piece of journalism. I'd like to see a piece on Obama and racism.

[Figgins]

"Oh, this campaign is so sexist!" "Oh, this campaign is so racist!" Anyone that believes this has been anything but one of the most tame political campaigns in American history, needs to go back to school. Nothing has been said about either candidate that would make Harry Truman blink, or Lyndon Johnson do a double take. Both are probably laughing at Obama and Clinton for being a couple of political wussies.

By now Obama should have such a thick skin, that nothing anyone can say about him or his family should bother him. If it does, get the hell out of the race. You don't have what it takes to be President.

Clinton has been on the campaign trail so often that by now she must have seen and heard it all. After going through Bill's presidency, she should be able to face blow torches and not break a sweat. Was it so hard for you in New Hampshire, that you had to cry. Get out of my sight! You don't have the guts to be President.

Bring me a candidate that can stand the pressure, and I'll show you a true leader.

[M J]

Will Howard Schultz (Starbucks Chairman/CEO) please deliver two cups of decaffeinated coffee to Hillbilly (my "blended" name for Hillary & Bill, now that Hillary has top billing. The old one, coined elsewhere, was Billary)?

Then will Terry McAuliffe please awaken the Clintons in order for them to smell said beverage?

[KH]

Sexism...? Hillary is not like all of the Men & Woman who are commenting on this article. She is a Senator who has done many things for this country and has millions of dollars in the back. She has I would say in many ways transcended sexism. For her to mention sexism in this is her way of relating to the people who seems to blindly support her campaign. Similarly Obama is transcending racism. Do you think if the majority of people in America were sexist or for that matter racist they both would be in the position they are in. My mother is not running for president neither my sister. I don't even know where they would began to achieve a goal like that, but Hillary Clinton sure does. People on the way to the top always have this way of sending down the ladder these absurd notions of how they relate to average people, and that they deal with the same issues we do but she simply doesn't. This is all apart of campaigning. Just like how she appeared in a bar drinking shots a couple of months ago. She wasn't being put down then. We all know Hillary Clinton or Obama would never show up in your local tavern to have a "Scotch on the Rocks". I commend Obama for ignoring the racism that has been thrown at him in this race for the white house. That alone is why he is in the position he is in. These are the cards he was dealt and he has certainly learned how to play them. Hillary needs to learn the game of political poker, and learn that these cards should have been played long before the Rev Wright issues, the Obama is a Muslim issues, the is he Black enough issues, the Obama hasn't enough experience because he is too young etc... To think with all of that stuff that he has been through now he is just a man (not black anymore) who is winning over a woman and contributing to her loss.

[TOMKAT]

I having been riding the Hillary Train since the beginning of the Primaries, but right now I am getting fed up. When Hillary and Bill started the whole race bating thing I continued to ride on the train with her , thinking that it was a clever way to win an election, but now Hillary is claiming sexism as the reason shes losing...she is too hypcritical to me... I'm getting off this train, NOW!