But to the second-wavers, everything seems to boil down to the extra goddamn chromosomal leg, the double xx. Surely she can't be losing because she sucks as a candidate, to this way of thinking, it must be because she's a woman—and only because she's a woman.
Look, there's no disputing that sexism exists and is playing a part in this campaign. It's ugly and should be condemned. Better still it should be denounced and rejected. :) But the speed with which Clinton supporters and, frankly Clinton herself, have gone from A to Z without stopping anywhere between is remarkable. I guess when the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
What brings this up is the latest installment of smart people saying stupid things. This one brought to us by Gloria Steinem:
Never mind, the guy spent 5-1/2 years as a prisoner of war, tortured on a regular basis, and refused to leave when given the chance, opting instead to stay with his fellow soldiers until they were all released. Let's use him to make an absurd political point. Tacky.
On the other hand, many women aren't going to vote for Clinton just—and only—just because she's a woman. Plenty of feminists support Obama, as evinced here.
"Suppose John McCain had been Joan McCain and Joan McCain had got captured, shot down and been a POW for eight years," she said. "Reporters would ask, 'What did you do wrong to get captured? What terrible things did you do while you were there as a captive for eight years?' " Steinem said.
"I mean, hello?" Steinem told a Texas crowd Saturday night as she was discussing McCain's captivity by the Viet Cong. "This is supposed to be a qualification to be president? I don't think so," The New York Observer quoted her as saying.
By the way, anyone remember Jessica Lynch? Lori Piestewa? Doesn't exactly fit Ms. Steinem's hypothetical frame, eh?
*****
On the other hand, many women aren't going to vote for Clinton just—and only—just because she's a woman. Plenty of feminists support Obama, as evinced here.
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