The sexism has been obvious to anyone who can see (MSNBC and C.U.N.T.)

[Karmadillo]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/pressing-issues-by-digby-blogosphere-is.html

Pressing Issues

by digby

The blogosphere is all abuzz about this outrageous Charlotte Allen piece in the WaPo yesterday saying women are dumb. It was over the top, but frankly I'm a little bit surprised that everyone is so shocked. It doesn't seem much more obscene than the fare we've heard from the right for years. Moreover, it's not even as derisive and demeaning as many things I've read on the liberal side of the blogosphere (or in my comment section) in the past few months. It's bad, but it's just par for the course as far as I can tell. The idea that sexism is politically incorrect is laughable.

What's more interesting to me is how the press is dealing with the criticism they've gotten about the Clinton campaign in general. There's substantial evidence of bias now being generated by respected pollsters and media observers. Some of it is obviously due to the inculcation of years of Clinton character assassination and a desire to see Hillary brought low to pay for her husband's refusal to resign when the Village dictated that it be so. Al Gore suffered a similar fate. But that was expected, as was the "Clinton fatigue" that goes along with it. When the Village brands you with a delusional, flip-flopping, cackling Earthtone Letter on your forehead, it's probably foolhardy to think you can beat them. Democrats only get one chance at the presidency (and Al and Hill were both damaged goods from the Clinton administration.) Republicans often run more than once --- but then they aren't so badly damaged by Republicans that they are rendered unelectable. (See this fascinating study for how well that works.)

But the media bias is far from simple Clinton fatigue. The sexism has been obvious to anyone who can see and those who insist to me that it doesn't exist remind me of nothing so much as Bush supporters who repeatedly exhorted critics to believe Junior or believe their lyin' eyes. I wasn't crazy then and I'm not crazy now. I know what I see and what I see are news networks that think it's fine and dandy to repeatedly invite someone who runs an anti-Clinton organization called C.U.N.T. to appear on television and that the paper of record prints something like this as if it's some sort of meaningful analysis:

DOWD: In a webcast, prestidigitator Penn Jillette talks about a joke he has begun telling in his show. He thinks the thunderous reaction it gets from audiences shows that Hillary no longer has a shot.

The joke goes: ''Obama is just creaming Hillary. You know, all these primaries, you know. And Hillary says it's not fair, because they're being held in February, and February is Black History Month. And unfortunately for Hillary, there's no White Bitch Month.''

Reporters were nearly hysterical when Clinton responded aggressively to David Shuster's "unseemly" remarks concerning her daughter and automatically assumed the lowest and basest motivations for her actions. This was in spite of the fact that the record shows that NBC has been relentlessly negative about Clinton for months. The Center for Media Affairs reported:

more...

[anonymous171]

1. Sexism?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-breitweiser/this-ones-for-the-girls_b_89254.html

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

2. My favorite:

"Michelle knows the same simple truth that all women know: when it comes to getting work done and cleaning up messes, women are better than men."

Ya, no sexism from the Hillbats

[Windy]

5. I vote based upon what is between the ears as opposed to what is between the legs!

that is the mark of a true feminist!!!!

Just because someone has a vagina doesn't mean that they are the best candidate.

[seabeyond]

4. yup.... you called it. now... how about acknowledging the sexism rampant

on the news channels which is what the op was all about.

to recognize and acknowledge that piece as sexist and silly isnt hard. but to go out and find a piece to counter this poster, .... just lacks character.

[bunnies]

3. If I allow myself to be offended by words...

then I deserve to be offended by words.

Me, I dont give a flying fuck... but Im sure that somehow that makes me less of a woman.

[seabeyond]

6. no. and good for you that it doesnt. but it feeds, ,,, it feeds a mentality

it feeds a negativity on a whole gender.

we can talk about how pc has gone over board. yet... today you see racist remarks more and also an escalation of racism. words do matter. maybe not to the secure mature female that you are, ... but to many more in a very negative way.

[TheWraith]

9. If you let the fuckwits worry you, you're never going to do anything other than worry.

There's idiots everywhere, of every flavor. Racists, sexists, Nazis... every demographic has somebody out there who irrationally hates them. Hell, I know somebody here on DU who says that as a male I'm responsible for every wrong ever done by a member of the gender, and has been known to say that all men should be done away with.

If you let morons and assholes bother you, then you're never going to be at peace. The very best thing to do is relegate them to the lunatic fringes where they belong. Let them stew in their insanity, and 99 times out of 100 they'll make their own case for people other than their own kind shunning them.

[seabeyond]

10. the hate is growing, it is more than just a few, there are problems.

i dont think the answer is to ignore and hope it goes away. it is not going away. it is growing.

BUT

you don't recognize, it is a huge issue, and i am not going to even try to present position.

[BoneDaddy]

15. You don't seem to understand the mentality that we often see here

People LOVE to be offended. It gives them tremendous power. Righteous Power. It gives them permission to feel superior to someone else, often times doing it through feeling victimized... a strange paradox. Some seek it out and if you point it out to them, they hate ya for it.

[TheWraith]

7. Well, "digby" has spoken. We must all bow down to the Clinton supporters, or we're sexists.

Never mind the fact that the Clintons have thrown a hundred times as much hatred and bias at Obama as was ever tossed at them. But hey, according to the Clinton supporters, racism is great, but an inappropriate phrasing or an off-color joke is grounds for execution.

Ahh, the joy of the victim card.

[seabeyond]

8. how about calling the sexism and vote who you want. i am voting obama

still not hard for me to call out media on their sexism.

[TheWraith]

11. And could somebody itemize that for me?

People talk about some kind of systemic sexism from the media, but frankly, they only seem able to talk in vague generalities and a couple of minor quibbles. David Schuster used an inappropriate phrase that he probably wouldn't have if he'd thought about it another couple of seconds--and one that to be honest, could have been used just as well with a male candidate. The talking heads have been analyzing every move of an eyebrow--the same as they do when men are campaigning. And a handful of the usual right-wing whack jobs have been spewing their usual bile. As to systemic bias, I have yet to see it.

[seabeyond]

12. if you don't hear it, you don't and i do not have time to educate you

it is plain. it is visible. it is an indictment of who we have become and what we will be. it is an issue for our daughters but as importantly, our boys. i am sorry you do not see it. but i have found on du a refusal to even try to appreciate, and i am not going ot waste my time.

just continue on believing it doesnt exist.

[beachmom]

13. Hillary says an outrageous comment today about McCain being better than Obama,

so of COURSE, you have to trot out the sexism card. When it is the RIGHT WOMAN running for president, she will win and be classy and get the press in her corner. Hillary is not that woman. I do not see the sexism as a decisive factor in this race. The problem is HER, not her sex.

[beachmom]

14. Oh, and I wonder if Digby will do a post about Clinton's remarks today.

What Hillary said today is exactly the crap pulled on Dems that Digby has been talking about for YEARS. Will she do it? Will she treat Hillary the way she has treated all the other Dems who have played the GOP fear card on their own ranks?

[ProSense]

16. Women are stupid? Where is the outrage?

Women are stupid? Where is the outrage?

[seabeyond]

17. c.u.n.t, bitch. per male poster on this thread, we just like being victims.

i mean.... too much.

[ProSense]

20. This is a BS RW site so why keep dragging it out and giving them exposure? n/t

[Karmadillo]

21. Because MSNBC keeps giving them exposure?

nt

[Hoof Hearted]

24. Bingo!

[Danger Mouse]

18. The 'C U next tuesday' thing was disgusting sexist garbage.

...and that's the kind of thing we can expect from republican smear merchants if she wins the nomination.
Either open racism, or open sexism, we get to take our rotten pick.

[seabeyond]

19. thank you guy.... for not being oblivious to it. be it

sexist or racist.

[AZBlue]

23. That's disgusting.

It's the first I've heard of it and I'm appalled.

[Danger Mouse]

25. It was created by a sleazy bastard named Roger Stone...

a career rethug slime merchant.

[AZBlue]

26. I just read your sig lines.

I think that might apply to DU lately! ;)

[Danger Mouse]

27. not the first time i've heard that.

my favorite lines from 'alice's adventures in wonderland' :hi:

[Hoof Hearted]

22. It's why MSNBC fell off our remote control. Permenantly.