King of the Mountain, Spin, and the Boys' Club
It is possible that Edwards and Obama comported themselves in a more professional manner at the most recent debate because BiIl Richardson had called them on their personal attacks of Hillary at the previous debate. I believe he used the term "piling on" when he told them to drop their "holier than thou attitudes" and stop the personal attacks. Or maybe they just reviewed the tape and realized how they both looked - accusatory, and whiny and like they were schoolboys playing "king of the mountain" and taking turns trying to knock the girl off the top of the hill. Maybe that is why HiIlary was given the gag gift of huge red boxing gloves by a group endorsing her later in the week.
The Clinton campaign does not "spin" any more than the other campaigns do-- all of the campaigns have people in the "spin room" giving their opinions after the debates - and communications staff in their headquarters.
At the CNN debate, Hilary was not surprised that the gender question was raised -- and she had a great response-- "..they are not attacking me because I am a woman - they are attacking me because I am ahead." She did raise an eyebrow at Campbell's question about explaining what the "boy's club " means. Hilary's look when she said "Campbell" kind of said it all. As if a young woman who had achieved such a position to moderate a presidential debate for CNN did not get it....please. And even Campell's sheepish grin seemd to indicate she had to ask it because it was there in her script. Sort of belies the old adage-- "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it." If you didn't see it at that first debate, maybe it's because you have never been excluded from the "boy's club" yourself.
Regarding Bob's term -- the "BIllary Show" I first saw the term "Impeach Billary" on a bumper sticker right after Bill Clinton took office-- and it became clear that the new First Lady was going to continue her work for people as she had when she was first lady of Arkansas and during her entire professional life begining with the Childrens' Defense Fund. Some people just could not tolerate the idea that she would not stay home and pour tea and redecorate the White House. These same people hated the appointment of Madeleine Albright as the first Secretary of State, and many other "firsts" for women, in cabinet posts and high levels of government during the Clinton administration .
I used to believe that it was because of the influence of the religious right on Republican thinking, you know, a submisive, obedient wife is what the Bible says a woman should be-- love honor and obey-- the man is the head of the family, etc. But I think it is really much more than that. I do believe there is gender discrimination still in this country, but it is more subtle than in the past, in general. Ironically, in the black entertainment industry-- which should know from discrimination, in rap and hip-hop, women are objecitified and treated as chattel and abused. When Hillary Clinton and I were young professional women, the career choices for women were nurse, teacher, secretary, and the purpose of a college education was to get a Mrs. as well as any other letters you might earn.
After many years of struggle, women have moved beyond that, but there are people who don't like HiIlary and will not vote for her just because she is a woman--they may not be open about it--especailly in our supposedly liberal, tolerant, progressive Democratic Party, but it is there. The doubters who just say, "Yes, she has a great intellect, and yes, she is strong, and yes, she has the experience, and yes, she would be able to govern from day one, but I just don't know...." The reservation they do not feel free to express for fear of being labeled prejudiced, is that they "are not ready" for a woman president. Like the South wasn't ready for integration, either. They just can't go there for reasons that are so deep and ingrained, many do not even recognize it as prejudice. I attended a university where the ratio of men to women was 5:1, then I became an Air Force officer- in the sixties, when there were not very many of us and we had one woman general. One of the reasons I did not stay in the Air Force was that women were not allowed to train as pilots then. I spent years in corporate jobs. I know "boy's clubs." They are still out there, but the public ones have been forced to let the girls in-- sometimes. I believe Hillary is the best qualified person to be President, but I have to admit, I really relish the opportunity to vote for the first woman President. It's time -- the United States and the world is waiting.
