As Hillary addressed the DNC, the unforgiving cameras kept panning back to Michelle Obama who was sitting with Joe Biden. Neither Michelle nor Joe managed to crack more than one smile apiece–well, perhaps two, even as Hillary insisted, over and over again, that the Democratic Party must unite behind Obama–not because he is an astounding leader, or The One, but simply because he is the Democratic candidate. During every ovation, both the future First Lady and her husband’s Vice-Presidential choice remained grim-lipped, expressionless, sometimes even angry-faced. (Joe Biden was caught on camera warmly embracing former President Jimmy Carter. So much for “change.”)
In a sense, just as Hillary stood by her man Bill, she is also, just as strategically, standing by her man Obama. But not exactly. In her speech, Hillary never described herself as a “wife” and she positioned herself more as a descendant of the early suffragists and as a fighter in the movement for women’s rights than as a from-the-gut supporter of Obama. She said that her mother was born before women had the right to vote but that her daughter had exercised that very right to vote for her own mother for the Presidency.
Hillary did not extol Obama as a fully vetted leader with an impressive track record but rather as the one the Democrats have chosen. She emphasized the Democratic party and her loyalty to it more than to its candidate. Nevertheless, it was a polished performance.
Hillary’s speech was professional, disciplined, a lawerly “closing argument,” but I do not believe her heart was in it. She cannot be faulted for anything that she said and yet the speech left everything to be desired. Perhaps that’s why Michelle and Joe looked so grim.
The eighteen million cracks (votes for Hillary) in the Presidential glass ceiling did not shatter that ceiling. I have been battling for women’s rights longer than Hillary has and I am weary and sad not only about the Party’s and the media’s sexism but about a lost national opportunity that may not come our way again for some time.
Aware of the historical moment, I had dressed up to vote for Hillary in New York City. Yes, of course, it is also historic to be able to vote an African-American into office, especially one so eloquent and smooth–so why do I feel that I’ve just re-lived the fight over whether only freed black men–and not white or black women– have the right to vote?
I am feeling historically weary. This is the Longest Revolution. And make no mistake: I have never “loved” Hillary. She lacks all charisma, she comes with “baggage,” and yet, in terms of hard work, discipline, and experience, I came to believe that she would have made an amazing President. And Vice-President.
The moment Hillary’s speech ended, I started receiving emails from feminists who are still planning to vote for McCain.
I don’t know what I will do on Election Day: Sleep late, leave town, write in a candidate who is not even running, (like Hillary, not Ralph Nader), vote for Obama, vote for McCain? Whatever I do, I think I will take Hillary’s advice who said, quoting Harriet Tubman, (who may or may not have said exactly this):
“When you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods keep going. If they’re shouting after you keep going. Don’t ever stop, keep going. If you want a taste of freedom keep going.”
Hillary: I will just “keep on going” towards that taste of freedom. Hope that you, too, take your own advice.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. While LBJ was pushing through voting and civil rights legislation for Black Americans, American women were given the “pill” (with its sexual freedom and for some devastating health consequences) and the right to have an abortion to free themselves from unwanted pregnancies taking responsibility for their bodies and allowing men to avoid responsibilities for their reckless, selfish acts of sexual freedom.
Wasn’t there a thing call the “Equal Rights” Amendment pandered around? Oh yeah, I forgot, women being the “second sex” they were already covered by all the legislation for minorities! Chaos and anarchy would have reigned if women’s rights were to be codified in the constitution of the United States. The country was tired of all this hippy revolutionary stuff and as usually women were just Joanie’s come lately.
Once again, women must settle not just for second best, but a distance third place with Obama making history and Joe Biden, assuring the “old boys” club getting second place. Hillary just had to grin and bear the third to the last seat on the bus. Will Chelsea or Caroline Kennedy change this or just be forgotten like the ERA?
In an election year where the democrats had a slam dunk into the White House, they’re feeble attempts at unity have left us (the underemployed, under insured, struggling masses) all, Dr. Chesler, in a gut wrenching struggle to choose the lesser of two evils to save the soul of our national values.
Where we’re Oprah and Jon Edwards? Guess they’ve done their jobs at corrupting our political process and disappeared into the quagmire they help to create.
This time we can’t even blame Ralph Nader for our problems! A celebrity and the old guard will make for many sleepless nights in Sept. for me, the first Tues. in Nov. I’ll just flip a coin, or scrawl Hillary’s name all over the ballot! And hope to live four more years!
This post relies mainly on Ms. Chesler’s feeling that the speech was “anti-climactic”. Such a lack of specificity suggests that her own preconceptions, rather than Mrs. Clinton’s actions, have dictated her perceptions.
What it all boils down to is which candidate promises the least, because, that candidate will have the shortest list of failures.
George Bush didn’t campaign on a war effort to counter terrorism, but fate handed him his legacy.
Bill Clinton didn’t campaign on a super economy, the dot com revolution created his legacy, well, most of it. Monica gave him the rest, but neither was in his campaign remarks.
Obama’s campaign so far hasn’t promised much, except change, and even that has been compromised so that the only thing left is an increase in taxes. There might be a civil rights movement in there someplace, but aside from legislating what is in people’s hearts, there isn’t much left to there either.
“…presumptive First Lady”?
How presumptuous.
There’s a lot the candidates have to tell us. Have they ever heard of Choudhury? Someone should ask them. Do they know that Nasrallah said about Jews, “If they all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide” (reported in a New York Sun editorial, March 11, 2005)? Someone should ask them. What do the candidates think about the close relationship between Chavez and Ahmadinejad?
Nobody ever talks about increasing public transportation in a country with an ever-growing population and with the threat of fuel shortages. We need more subways and rail lines in and near our cities. That will cost money. Candidates are afraid to talk about taxes, which is understandable. Reporters don’t need to share this fear.
Much to my surprise, I am in agreement in Ms. Chesler’s remarks about Clinton and where we are in this election. As the delegate from Penn. said with tears in her eyes, “I think we are running the wrong candidate”. I was also so very proud to cast my vote for Hillary, almost giddy, and now I am profoundly disappointed in the outcome of this primary; and yet I will not allow my personal feelings as a feminist, stop me from casting my vote for Obama come next November. I hope other feminists will follow my lead and stop the “in fighting” we as Democrats are so very good at.
Dear H McDonagh:
Bravo to you for placing the future of this country ahead of “[your] personal feelings as a feminist.”
May all American feminists follow your example so that we can elect Barack Obama and undue the damage caused by the amoral Bush administration.
Chesler has become indispensable reading. Her gift to all of us: interpreting events on the national and world stage with a profound and original intelligence, wit, sensitivity and far-sightedness. What I most love is that she is so grounded in humanist logic and vision. Of course I always learn from her feminism which has always been so pure. She is one of our very best. Linda Clarke
Dear Ms.Chesler:………racism is being contained and vitiated but will be always with us as will tribalism, sexism , on the other hand will be a very difficult procedure. It requires a culturectomy , actually…I have been chewing the scenery for years as I am the father of three young women- all professionals. But, there are many men in this fight with you, do not despair, that would betray our decency and pursuit thereof…with pleasure to read you- do not yield your pen madam.
I don’t know how I will deal with the next 4 years. I feel like someone just made me drink poison. Hillary was and is the only person to lead this country. The Dems are going to be sorry in November. How could they pit an African American man against a woman and think they would have unity in the end? How stupid.
Like Hugh, I am the father of three daughters. A lone male in a family of four independent women. My wife and daughters find it laughable but I consider myself a radical feminist.
In our household, this election season began 4:1, Hillary:McCain.
I liked McCain before he announced. So did my wife but she was leaning toward Hillary. My kids were all voting Hillary. Obama was not a factor.
The ratio in my family remains 4:1. My oldest daughter (Disclaimer: She once worked as an intern for PC.)is the single member of the family voting Obama. The rest of us are voting McCain.
Yes, Hillary is disciplined. Hillary has learned a great deal and is thus one of those rare politicians who learns anything. Hillary is accomplished. She is brilliant. I despair of the current generation of feminists. They have utterly internalized the sexism and loathing we tried to eliminate: how did this happen? I am hardly surprised that the faces of so many in the audience looked stricken, particularly Michelle Obama’s: nobody with the least bit of intellectual honesty could sit in that stadium without realizing what they have squandered in Hillary Clinton. What a tragedy for the Democrats and for America.