Hillarism

Ok, I'm really not picking on Hillary. Actually, this isn't about anything Hillary herself has said or done, but her supporters here in South Carolina. Actually, in the almost month that I've been gone from the TWIGI board, I've missed the opportunity to twigify many things, but I don't like talking about anything over a week old because then it's already old news. Like Obama and his comments about the working class, "It's not surprising then they get bitter. They cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." That statement trivializes people's values and suggests that there are some people that can't understand from where there frustrations come. But that was last week...I unfortunately missed the opportunity to twigify Obama, and Hillary, or rather some of her supporters are back in the lime light.

Well, some South Carolina supporters say that Hillary is the victim of sexism. Now, I'm not going to say the insidences mentioned aren't examples of sexism...but I am going to say that I'm not sold. One citation of sexism was a McCain supporter calling Hillary a bitch...well, according to the article, "a derogatory swear word aimed at women"...but we all know what that was. She called Hillary a bitch. Should she have called Hillary a bitch? No. Sexist? I'm not seeing, but I know that's not where this story starts...the article goes on to say that people weren't offended that Hillary was called a bitch...worse yet, they even "chuckled". A female supporter of Republican John McCain called Hillary a bitch and other Republicans chuckled...still not buying it. It's admitted that bitch is a derogatory word targeted at women, but bitch is for women as asshole is for men...and both terms are becoming more and more genderless. Everyone chuckled...they're Republicans...they don't like Hillary...has nothing to do with her gender...it's her politics.

And we all know that bitch isn't in the same category as the racial epithets. I honestly don't know why, but it is. Maybe that's the sexism...but again, I've started hearing men called bitches and women called asshole. May not be frequent still, but I've heard it a few times. And still yet, if that is sexism, I'm still not wholly convinced cause a woman called her that.

Then there's Chris Matthews who said, “The reason she’s a senator, the reason she’s a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around.” Should he have said that? No. Is it insulting to Hillary? Yes. Is it sexist? Possibly, but I'm not convinced. It's the same as people who say Hillary only has a chance because she is a woman and Obama only has a chance because he's black. It's insulting because it completly ignores any accomplishments and strengths they have...but that doesn't make it prejudice...it's just insulting. Remember when Bill was in office? Remember when people said how Hillary was the real brains behind Bill? Remember their nickname? Billary? Some people said Bill would never have made it as far as he did if it wasn't for Hillary's savvy. Insulting to Bill? Yes. Sexist? No.

Then there's the claim that the media as a whole "has tried to paint a picture of Hillary as a clawing, aggressive woman." That's kind of ironic...why would being an aggressive woman be negative? I mean, she is aggressive. I don't like her because she is too aggressive and is thinking about herself and not much else right now. Not the Democratic Party. And with her attempts to sway guns-righters knowing she supports gun-control, I don't trust her. And clawing? Well, many men have been described as clawing their way to the top. She's aggressive. She's a fighter. But I think she doesn't realize when she's shooting herself in the foot. Male politicians who behave the same way also get bashed for attacking opponents. Remember Alan Keyes comments about Dick Cheney's daughter, Mary? It's what you say, not what sex you are that gets you labelled these things. It's not that Hillary's a woman...it's that she's Hillary. Any aggressive person no matter the gender, race, or religion tends to offend people. That's just how it goes.

Now, except for if bitch should be considered on par with the racial epithets we all know and hate, I don't see sexism...And as far as bitch is concerned...well, not all women get called that...it's only if you are a woman and you do certain things, and I admit somethings don't justify the term and it still gets used. The racial epithets, for those who use them, are appropriate for every member of that race. I think that's the difference...but I'm hypothesizing here.

Speaking of, extra bit of irony...one of those complaining about sexism is Nikki Hardin who is the publisher of a women's magazine called...heh...Skirt! Not a very empowering name for a women's magazine. I can't help but think of the old slang use for skirt like, "'She's a nice bit of skirt!" Not very PC there, Nikki.