Message, not gender, turns voters off Clinton (Reuters)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

I'm not a fan of either Hillary or Obama and kind of tepid about Edwards.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0847707720080108

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Voters are not turning their backs on Hillary Clinton because of doubts about a woman in the White House but rather turning on to the optimistic message of her rival Barack Obama, according to some experts on gender and leadership.

But that possibility could be fading if primary voters opt for the promise of hope and change projected by Obama over Clinton's experience and readiness to lead.

Those issues rather than gender will determine whether the U.S. senator from New York and wife of former President Bill Clinton stands or falls, according to Naomi Wolf, author of the 1991 bestseller "The Beauty Myth" and other books.

"None of the polling or the focus groups indicate that people are ... (snubbing) her because she is a woman but because of a deficit in how she is projecting leadership," Wolf said.

[babylonsister]

1. I totally agree; I wish I liked her more. I would love to have voted for a

woman, just not this one.

[aquart]

3. Name the woman you would vote for as president?

I'm sure there's at least one.

[EFerrari]

5. So many.

Name one?!

Shirley Chisholm.

My mom, the brightest, most capable person I've ever met. :yourock:

Barbara Boxer

Lynne Woolsey

Teresa Kerry

Elizabeth Edwards

This is a looooooooooooooong list.

[PassingFair]

10. Don't forget ...

Jan Schakowsky!

I never saw a vote of hers I didn't like!

She makes me want to move to Illinois!

[EFerrari]

12. Yes! She is terrific!

:hi:

[babylonsister]

6. That would all depend on what woman considered herself

qualified enough to run. I could pick a progressive's name out of the air, but that's not the
point.
I did not like Bush, ever, and never voted for him. I have the same reaction to Clinton; I.Do.Not.Like.Her.Or.Trust.Her. I think her husband made a mockery of our party, and am sick of seeing the name and faces.

I now have a chance to at least hope a candidate of my choosing might get somewhere, so I'm hoping, and cheerleading gleefully.

[Lerkfish]

15. I was completely behind Geraldine Ferraro as V.P. back when

and I would have supported Boxer this time around.

in fact, I'd suggested a Boxer/Conyers ticket a long time ago.

[truedelphi]

16. Boxer is a wonderful and courageous California Senator.

And just as wonderful is Lynn Woolsey, who represents Marin and Petaluma in COngress.

[bdamomma]

just my assumption

but do we really want Bush Clinton Bush Clinton, we need some new blood for a change, and we need someone who will fight for us.

[aquart]

23. Did your teachers let you get away with that?

Eeewww. It's like you copied that talking point right off the printed page. Come back when you actually have a thought YOU thought of.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. according to Naomi Wolf

and some experts on gender and leadership.

[EFerrari]

4. I don't know if I can say this w/o coming off as attacking Hillary.

She doesn't project an image of herself as a leader that is generally attractive or maybe even, accurate. She comes off as controlled (and by extension, insincere) sometimes. She projects leadership just fine, but she doesn't project a receptive or maybe, a democratic leadership style. It comes across more as an entitled one which may be reassuring to some people but irritating to others. And, there is a defensive quality about it that is prickly, too.

Projecting yourself as you want people to "see you" is a skill and, I'm not sure it can be entirely learned.

Every candidate has their deficits in the area of self presentation and in how they project leadership, of course. (Obama seems to overthink everything when he's on the fly and he seems to overgeneralize, Edwards' brain moves faster than his mouth and he seems to be blinking at something no one else can see, and so on. )

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Nice analysis. I agree.

But, they're presentation isn't what I'm interested in, except as a sideline.

I'm a helluva lot more interested in their records, their statements, and, most importantly, their human decency.

Which is why I'm sticking to Kucinich.

[EFerrari]

9. Me, too, my friend. I just happen to have this funny background

in theater and directing and, can't help noticing this stuff.

I confess I've decamped from the DK campaign -- because I NEED Edwards to hang in there. My head and heart will always be with Dennis.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Well, Edwards has moved to the possible nose-holding ritual.

Which is more than I can say for a couple of the others.

[EFerrari]

14. He's done far better at it than Mr. Kerry did, imho.

I can't remember when I heard a "mainstream" candidate mention poverty.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Well, my tepid is moving to lukewarm.

I can say, though it's difficult, that come election day I might well sigh and check the Edwards box.

The one thing that influences me is that he had the courage to apologize for his IWR vote.

[EFerrari]

21. The real problem is that the Democratic party has move so far

to the right and to the bought.

I don't know which is worse, my expectations or the reality.

Imho, Edwards is the most progressive viable choice. And, I know how that sounds. But, this is the time we live in.

[bdamomma]

22. I wouldn't count Edwards out.

and apparently my husband and I have already discussed Edwards viability said Edwards would be our best bet.

[Le Taz Hot]

26. I can relate.

My current motto is: Vote for Edwards, he's less scary than the other two." :shrug:

[TahitiNut]

27. Me three.

:shrug:

[truedelphi]

20. That's well said. Clinton is not natural at being a candidate

not at all comfortable with being a candidate

Though I do think she was learning to become comfortable as time has gone on.

But she is conflicted - when something that takes away from her comes along - like the recent statements about Barack and MLK - she doesn't know when to be genuine and when to dump out whatever message some high paid consultatnt would fashion for her.

Her husband, Bill, does not have those conflicts. He (like Reagan did) has the ability to know when being competitive looks like leadership and when being competitive looks weird.

That being said, I would have voted for Hillary but it is like, Where TF! was she on the election issue and the stolen-ness of 2004. Just where!

Where Boxer was standing up for the Black Caucus and refusing to endorse the 2004 electoral votes, (WE THE PEOPLE DO NOT CONCEDE!) we heard not a peep out of Clinton.

All we know are the Machiavellian style rumors about her and Carville, and their having Kerry being told not to demand a vote examination. And her phone calls to Edwards telling him to not "grandstand" over counting every vote.

F! her for ever for that.

[aquart]

25. So what are the chances of a Boxer candidacy?

[aquart]

24. Name a female leader who does, please.

[EFerrari]

29. Who does what? Who isn't defensive?

Who can project a positive leadership image?

What?

There are a good number of them. Barbara Boxer, for example, isn't defensive in the least. Lynne Woolsey is another one. Sheila Jackson Lee is a model. Do you not have a search engine at your disposal?

[Renew Deal]

8. I agree. And her new strategy is to attack Obama.

That's going to work out well.

[TahitiNut]

30. It's a sign of political bankruptcy that she has no other choice.

She's come to the end of the line on the theme she's used ... and she LOST the "Morning In America" vote. She can't position herself as the champion of the Ordinary America ... shes already abdicated that one. She just doesn't have a backup theme ... so she has to attack. It. Won't. Work.

[mmonk]

13. Naomi has it right and

it's what I've tried to say.

[debbierlus]

17. There policies are nearly identical, just shows how clueless the voters are....

They are buying an image. I don't like either of them, but don't pretend Obama is somehow different.

Kucinich would represent the majority but they won't even consider him. Edwards is the only choice available for any semblance of true change.

[Tom Joad]

19. "it's the war vote, Stupid" Hillary lost it right then and there.

[FreeState]

28. True for DU but not for the general public

The general public does not care for her for truly superficial reasons that have been shoved down their throats for years and years from the GOP. The average voter does not even know what anyones message is sadly.