Comments on: What Hillary Didn’t Say, and Why http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/08/27/what-hillary-didnt-say-and-why/ News and Opinion on Politics and Media Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:12:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: nikolai http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/08/27/what-hillary-didnt-say-and-why/comment-page-1/#comment-578965 nikolai Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:34:27 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/08/27/what-hillary-didnt-say-and-why/#comment-578965 *Yawn* ZZzzzzzzzz....... *Yawn* ZZzzzzzzzz…….

]]> By: Sharky http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/08/27/what-hillary-didnt-say-and-why/comment-page-1/#comment-578906 Sharky Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:37:10 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/08/27/what-hillary-didnt-say-and-why/#comment-578906 She introduced herself as a mother, Democrat, Senator and American because those are roles all directly relevant to her role as a supporter of Obama. Those are all groups that she belongs to that will be directly and positively impacted by electing Obama US president. She is also, yes, a wife, daughter, Methodist, blonde, and more ... but that wasn't the point. If she was married to a woman perhaps the wife label would be relevant in context of the same-sex marriage civil rights issue. Otherwise, as far as we know she's Bill's only wife and not mentioning it in an introduction of Obama is not exactly like being in denial of that rather singular fact. But I do agree that women are held to a much stricter and less forgiving standard and level of scrutiny when they are competing with men for any kind of desirable or aspirational role or position. She introduced herself as a mother, Democrat, Senator and American because those are roles all directly relevant to her role as a supporter of Obama. Those are all groups that she belongs to that will be directly and positively impacted by electing Obama US president.

She is also, yes, a wife, daughter, Methodist, blonde, and more … but that wasn’t the point. If she was married to a woman perhaps the wife label would be relevant in context of the same-sex marriage civil rights issue. Otherwise, as far as we know she’s Bill’s only wife and not mentioning it in an introduction of Obama is not exactly like being in denial of that rather singular fact.

But I do agree that women are held to a much stricter and less forgiving standard and level of scrutiny when they are competing with men for any kind of desirable or aspirational role or position.

]]> By: Jon http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/08/27/what-hillary-didnt-say-and-why/comment-page-1/#comment-578784 Jon Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:15:38 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/08/27/what-hillary-didnt-say-and-why/#comment-578784 Hillary was saving the "Bill" moment for later. If she had mentioned him in the opening, there would have been a pause for the obligatory standing ovation but typically you save the recognition of dignitaries until the end as you build toward the big finish. She referred to Bill a little after the midpoint: <blockquote> "And when Barack Obama is in the White House, he'll revitalize our economy, defend the working people of America, and meet the global challenges of our times. Democrats know how to do this. As I recall, we did it before with President Clinton and the Democrats."</blockquote> I would also say that being in the U.S. Senate for eight years trumps Obama's six years in the Illinois Senate and three years in Washington. Plus Hillary had actual opponents when she ran in New York in 2000, first Rudy Giuliani and then Rick Lazaro. Obama ran against Alan Keyes, who didn't even live in Illinois. Hillary was also an activist First Lady for eight years, as hands-on as anyone since Eleanor Roosevelt. Republicans seethed over her activism and retaliated by investigating her up the wazoo. Obama has done nothing of historical importance in his life so far, except for beating the Clintons in June. Still, I hope he wins and I think he'll be at least as good a president as she would have been. Hillary was saving the “Bill” moment for later. If she had mentioned him in the opening, there would have been a pause for the obligatory standing ovation but typically you save the recognition of dignitaries until the end as you build toward the big finish. She referred to Bill a little after the midpoint:

“And when Barack Obama is in the White House, he’ll revitalize our economy, defend the working people of America, and meet the global challenges of our times. Democrats know how to do this. As I recall, we did it before with President Clinton and the Democrats.”

I would also say that being in the U.S. Senate for eight years trumps Obama’s six years in the Illinois Senate and three years in Washington. Plus Hillary had actual opponents when she ran in New York in 2000, first Rudy Giuliani and then Rick Lazaro. Obama ran against Alan Keyes, who didn’t even live in Illinois. Hillary was also an activist First Lady for eight years, as hands-on as anyone since Eleanor Roosevelt. Republicans seethed over her activism and retaliated by investigating her up the wazoo.

Obama has done nothing of historical importance in his life so far, except for beating the Clintons in June. Still, I hope he wins and I think he’ll be at least as good a president as she would have been.

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