Yes - Hillary Clinton has a campaign advantage as a woman....

[MonkeyFunk]

It's true. Not just being a woman, but being a former First Lady. It's harder to attack her without coming across as bullying.

In her first Senate race, Rick Lazio came across as a threatening little punk when he crossed the stage to get her to sign some pledge regarding campaign finance. It was seen as disprespectful to the First Lady, and rude to a woman. His aggression killed him in that race (disclaimer: I know Lazio - he was good friends with my older brother when I was a kid. I didn't like his punk ass then, and I didn't like it any better when he ran for the Senate).

Clinton now doesn't have the mantle of "First Lady" to protect her, but she's still a woman. Fairly or unfairly, that's an obstacle her opponents are going to have to figure out how to overcome. Never before has a woman been the frontrunner, so it's uncharted territory.

How do you attack a "lady" who's in front? It's not going to be easy for her challengers.

And before people attack this as sexist, I just want to say it's realistic.

[pnwmom]

1. Dems who oppose her now hate this. But IF she ends up as our nominee,

I think people are wrong who think we're not "ready" for a woman President. I think there are many people who are ready to have that option.

And there are 20 million single women who haven't been voting. Maybe she'll help to engage them, broadening the Dem base.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. I think the polls show that

America is ready, and there's a large un-tapped "market" for a female candidate.

Even my 74-year old mother, who hates Hillary because she didn't divorce Bill, is excited over the chance of having a woman President.

I think she'd win handily if she's the nominee. America is more than ready for it.

I remember having this debate in elementary school in the 60s. I argued that women COULD be good Presidents. I was right then, and I think a majority of Americans has caught up with me.

[pnwmom]

6. I read yesterday

that when HRC was in 8th grade in the early 60's, she wrote a letter to NASA asking how to prepare for the astronaut program. They wrote back saying women weren't eligible.

So many younger women seem to take for granted how much things have opened up thanks to the trailblazers like HRC. But there's still more to do. I think there are many middle-aged and older women who would feel proud to see a woman sworn into office as President. My elderly mother is very excited about the prospect, just like yours.

[lapfog_1]

16. I'm all for a woman President

just as soon as someone can push Barbara Boxer to run, I'll be there with my blood, sweat, tears, and money to get her elected... hopefully with Russ Feingold as her VP.

Its not the gender or race, it's the character, experience and the ideas that get my vote.

[CoffeeCat]

2. I have to say....

I don't think about Hillary Clinton being a woman!

I know that sounds so odd, but it's true. After
reading the Hillary/gender posts, I thought about it
and realized that I never even ruminated over her gender
or what it meant that a woman was running...yadda...yadda.

I just view her as another candidate.

Her views and votes were always my only consideration.

I guess that's kind of strange, but it's honest!

[MonkeyFunk]

4. That's not strange at all!

And I admire that view. But for many Americans, she's a woman first, then a candidate. And nobody has yet figured out a good way to attack a woman frontrunner.

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. The same way you attack any other front runner.

You go after bad decisions, bad policies, wavering, waffling and equivicating. All of which Hillary has. In spades.

[aquart]

8. We've come a long way, baby.

There IS sexism in this campaign. Hell, there's racism, too. This is America and we've got plenty of both. But the black man and the white woman are our FRONTRUNNERS. YIKES!

Not one person has asked Hillary about home decor. I LOVE that. I love that she's ducked and dodged every trap that the best professionals can set. I even love that she booked Satan's PR firm before her opponents could. If only I could forgive that IWR vote. But she doesn't deserve my primary vote because of that. The general is a whole other thing. If she's in, she has my vote. I want another liberal woman on the Supreme Court. Actually I want a flaming fiend on the Supreme Court, someone who'll put Roberts into a premature old folks home with pure hatred and frustration...but I'm used to disappointment.

If she ends up winning the presidency, I'll grin for a week. Because I never forget she's a woman. But then I'll get right down to bitching and complaining and writing the White House because we have very different opinions on more than a few things.

[pnwmom]

9. I'm curious. Do you mind

sharing your age? I'm guessing you're younger than middle-aged.

:eyes:

[CoffeeCat]

11. Well.....

I'm 43.

[pnwmom]

13. Oh, you're a baby then.

Just kidding. But I am surprised you're able not to notice her gender. But maybe the 9 years between us made the difference. A lot was happening in those years, lots of big and small changes. I bet you can't think back to the day when girls had to wear pants under their skirts on snow days, then take them off when they got to school!

[MonkeyFunk]

22. LOL

I was just discussing that with my mother the other day. My twin sister had to do that. One freezing-cold day, my mother said "fuck it" and sent her to school in pants.

[CoffeeCat]

24. Actually, I do remember that...

...because I went to a private school and I was forced to
wear a skirt EVERY DAY. A plaid, pleated skirt, nonetheless.

I remember freezing my kneecaps off!

[JDPriestly]

20. I'm with you. I don't care for her, but I'm a woman and I would

like to see a woman as president. I just don't like her. I don't think that people would decide whether or not to vote for her based on the fact that she is a woman. That is irrelevant.

[CoffeeCat]

23. I agree...

I guess I've never focused on her "womanhood" because I
completely disagree with her pro-war votes and stances.

I've never gotten past her record--so her gender seems moot to me.

[CK_John]

5. Gov K Sebelius as VP would be the perfect backup, a woman at ease on a tractor or the State house.

[MonkeyFunk]

7. I like Gov. Sibelius very much

but no, we won't have a two-female ticket. I expect Gen. Clark will be the right balance for Clinton, should she gain the nomination.

[pnwmom]

10. I like Gen. Clark for VP. I like Richardson, too.

[MonkeyFunk]

12. despite his resume (sorry, no accents on this laptop)

Richardson has a softness to him that won't balance Clinton's stereotypes. But he'll make a fine Secretary of State in a possible Clinton administration.

[pnwmom]

14. But isn't she considered too hard or cold?

So why wouldn't his softness balance that? Or are you concerned that he would highlight that?

[MonkeyFunk]

15. As a woman, she has a pre-conditioned image of softness

she she'll go for a strong, military, manly type as her running mate. At least she would if I were advising her.

[Froward69]

17. I thought i would let

you two agree for a while, then I would chime in. Hillarys gender should not be a determining factor at all. however SHE brought it up and will use it. sad but true. yet another reason to not support her. her bringing it up was intended to be a distraction... Hitting that panic button (so soon) at least starts to make her gender a non issue.

[MonkeyFunk]

21. I think that's nonsensical

yes, at Wellesley, she referred to her gender. That's appropriate and to be expected.

None of that changes my premise: that her opponents will have to find ways to attack her that are different from what's been done in the past.

[Froward69]

25. Not really

She cannot answer a question yes or no without consulting an opinion poll.
she has her public opinion and what she will do.
Flip flopping is an understatement with her.
She really hasn't done anything in congress that spectacular in regards to standing up to bush. and yet she is just now saying vote for me as I stand up to bush... yeah right.
Just about every idea she has can be traced back to Biden or Edwards or Bill. Does she really form her own opinions?
she is flush with Corporate cash... That in its self negates her in my book as i paid attention in poli-sci. that much money comes with favors to repay.

theres 7 without gender being a factor.
I could go on but I need to get to work.

[Ellen Forradalom]

18. Uncharted territory is exactly the right phrase

She raises a lot of anxiety because she's the first truly viable female candidate and because, as both First Lady and Senator, she doesn't fit neatly into our taxonomy of political animals. This challenges a whole lot of world views out there and drudges up a lot of sexism.

I also think there's something about her specifically, a demand for dignity and courtesy, that you can't violate and get away with. Other women might be easily pushed around or goaded into a fight, but not Hillary.