The femanist sentiment that is rising up in the media here around her campaign, with its constant coverage for her, and occational grrrl power corny lines is the "*** marrige in 2004" issue in this campaign.
In other words, its an issue that will probably serve them well enough for a victory but the backlash will be twice as powerful and will do much more harm than good.
Prediction: If she wins and shows anything less than near perfection in 2012 the republicans will waltz into that white house, and more scary will be if she survives until 2016. Don't get me wrong. I don't hate her, and if she actually carries through on what she stands for, more power to her. But the opposition forces have been writing her coffin since 1998 and if you don't think they are laying in wait, salivating at the chance to go for the jugular, you're foolish.
They'd do it anyway. She's a woman and while I don't think the other side is sexist, I do think their oppertunists, and if you can subtly get across that 1950's sentiment to a voting public that feels screwed, the game is over. But the femist "its time for a woman" hog**** is fanning the flames.
Paula Poundstone once said "So many people are praising this year 'the year of the woman, its the year of the woman!' [when 9 women were elected to U.S. congress]" well what happens next year? "Ok we had our turn, I guess its time to give it back to them men."
And shes dead on. Making claims such as "its time for a woman" or "its time to let a woman handle things, you men have ****ed it up for too long" (my mother loves that one) is all but inviting the time table for american politics that we've been trying to get for 4 years here with Iraqi politics.
Playing any sort of game, like gender with Clinton or, as Michelle Obama continues to foolishly try, Race with Barack, you are going to see one of the most furious uprisings since they tabled the Salvery debate in the senate for 7 years.
When you're playing games with the Republican party, there is zero room to screw around. Don't get in on tears and girl power and think they aren' planning Jeb's run in 2012.
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