Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

This video has been circulating around "Go Hillary!" themed internet backwaters.

Take a look then I'll break down the "swiftboatyness"tm of this smear below.

Let's Break it down
First the most egregious lie:

Obama came out to Jay z's "99 problems" ( includes lyric "I got 99 problems but a bitch aint one" ) at his Iowa victory party.  
here's the video and audio of that victory party ->

No Jay Z

This crap storm continues...

In between a handful unflattering photos of Obama culled from the tens of thousands of photos taken during this primary, the video manages to blames Obama for the comments of the following people:
 *Some yahoos selling nut crackers, shirts and urinal targets.
 *7 people in the media (Reporters bloggers, Pundits, and a radio host)
 *3 people connected to his campaign
The yahoos and the Media (redundant?) I will not dignify with a comment, (he can't be responsible for everything anyone says) but the 3 campaign staff comments I will address, as well as the two quotes attributed directly to Obama.

Samantha Powers an unpaid foreign policy advisory called Hillary a "monster" Obama the next day called it inappropriate and "not in the spirit of my campaign" she resigned her unpaid position the next day.
Her statement:

With deep regret, I am resigning from my role as an advisor [to] the Obama campaign effective today. Last Monday, I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign. And I extend my deepest apologies to Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and the remarkable team I have worked with over these long 14 months.

"Tony" McPeak, said in a telephone interview that Obama has "real gravitas, not artificially created, focus-grouped, poll-directed, rehearsed gravitas." There is a point here on the sincerity of her speech delivery that I think was too strongly worded.
He also said Obama "doesn't go on television and have crying fits; he isn't discovering his voice at the age of 60" This part was over the top and the same day  McPeak later retracted his remarks, and the Obama camp disassociated itself from them.
In an email, the Obama campaign said McPeak's words "crossed the line" and that Obama "strongly disagrees with these comments and apologizes on behalf of the campaign."

Jesse Jackson Jr.  questioned the sincerity of Hillary's crying in New Hampshire.
I have not found the retraction of this comment yet.  This was at the time when Hillary really started to go negative.  Bill had stated that his anti-war stance was a giant "farse", and that because Obama voted to buy the troops already there body armor he was in fact all for the war just like his wife.

On to Obama's own statements.
From thousands of interviews, conference calls, debates, and speeches they find these three:

Here is the "feeling down" quote.  LINK I don't believe this was calculated sexist coding.

He called a reporter "Sweetie" once, and he used the line "claws come out" , but really..  Come on is this all you got on the guy?

I can give you the strongest argument against Obama being sexist  
Michelle Obama.. A strong woman, who was his superior at the Chicago law firm of Sidley Austin, before they dated.
I don't know man sexists but I was under the impression they shied away from women like Michelle.   Take a look at their body language here and tell me he does not see her as an equal .

To say that Barack is a sexist is ridiculous on the face of it, and insulting to Michelle, who's too strong a woman to stay with a sexist.

So for these offenses by Obama you'll vote instead for a guy who joked "Why is Chelsea so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." & who called his wife "c^nt" at a public event (not that it's acceptable in private, but I think that much more egregious in public).

This smear video closes with the Limbaugh/Hanity classic lie:
Obama sat in church 20 years everyday (we're led to presume) while over the top political hate speech was spewed.  This stupidity does not warrant comment.  

But aside from the outright lying here's my big issue with this video...

I assume this Hillary supporter traced her or his mind to think of the most inspiring Hillary speech on women's rights she/he could remember.   That speech is what they came up with?  Listen to it again; note her robotic deliver, her focus on the page instead of the audience, and her passionless intonation...

She was 48 years old when she gave that speech at the UN and had been in the spotlight in AK and at the national level for close to 20 years.  
(I'll admit she has polished her delivery some since 95)

By contrast Barack was 43 when he gave this speech.

  part 2
 

Ask yourself why the first female candidate for president isn't rallying 78,000 people to her cause?
Really why is it her historic race can't generate 1/10 the enthusiasm that Obama's has.  
It's because her speaking style is completely uninspiring, and as leader you need to connect with and motivate your constituency.  There's really only two ways to do that either you talk to people (TV, radio or live) or you write (books, emails, etc.).  How many of you have been motivated to run out and volunteer by a political mailer or commercial?  Books and great speeches motivate the troops (IMO)Obama is superior in either mode of communication.  He wrote both of his books and writes his own speeches.

I know I'm not allowed to bring up communications skills because obviously we Obama supports are all rubes easily duped by this silver tongued devil.   Unfortunately communication skills are THE essential component of all organizational and interpersonal success.
That said; I still rate it third on my list of importance.
The three main things I want from a president in order of importance:
1.    Honesty / Character
2.    Strategic Vision.
3.    Communication and Motivational skills

HONEST  enough to talk straight about issues as pedestrian as the gas tax

....or as core to our union as race relations.

SYRATEGIC VISION  to know when a war is wrong

The vision to know that people have had enough of politics as usual and that this election would be about changing the whole political game.

The ability to COMMUNICATE AND MOTIVATE
If you were expecting video evidence here you obviously haven't watched the ones above.

I believe I've shown that Barack has rejected sexism in his campaign. Is he responsible for renouncing every sexist comment that crosses the airwaves, anywhere?  Should Hillary have to respond to every racist whack job who says something?

From my perspective hardly a thing was said about Clinton until she lost 11 straight contests and went negative & said She & McCain were the only qualified candidates.

Obama saw a lot of racism entering the campaign and he confronted it head on with a major speech, that helped defuse it. It's Hillary's responsibility to do the same if she feels aggrieved. If Obama stepped up took on sexism you'd all declare "We don't need you 'protecting' us, you sexist!"
Damned if you do, damned if you don't IMO.

This primary in not about  SEXISM OR RACISM
I've said early on that this primary race comes down to beliefs
EITHER
You believe that our political system is static and unchangeable; that our media, lobbyist, and the corporations that own them, control the debate and always will; that the American people will always be duped by the smears of the 527s and FOX news.
OR....
You believe that we, the people, control our politics.   That, in fact, we can change the game entirely.
It is a simple choice of politics as usual, or a whole new game.

In Barack Obama we have a brilliant (did I mention he passed the bar exam on his first try) caring man, who's born to lead.  It's time to begin our fifty state strategy to take back our government.

I'm here to tell you that the game is changing, we do control our politics, and our standard bearer is FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!

Tags: 2008, 2008 elections, Barack Obama, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, president, Primaries, Primary, sexism (all tags)

Comments

22 Comments

Re: Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

I like the words Hillary speaks in that video, but not the visual aids that go along...  "The snub" is now being considered sexist...?

Crimony people... we have REAL issues in this country... we need REAL solutions.  

by JenKinFLA 2008-05-24 08:49AM | 0 recs
Re: Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

The Snub has been considered sexist for quite a while.

Welcome to the world of second-wavers.

by Jess81 2008-05-24 09:22AM | 0 recs
Re: Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

I did not consider it sexist... of course, I didn't consider it a snub either...

by JenKinFLA 2008-05-24 09:25AM | 0 recs
Well spoken

We can do better.

by ihaveseenenough 2008-05-24 08:52AM | 0 recs
Re: Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

I heard a prominent Clinton supporter on NPR the other day rail against some lady who said she'd vote for McCain because of the "sexism". I was enthralled- I wish I could find a transcript or recording, because they were at a forum somewhere and there was a standing ovation afterwards.

Obama's not the genesis of the sexism, and blaming it on him is just a way to play out a fit of pique.

by ragekage 2008-05-24 08:54AM | 0 recs
I support Hillary for President

and quite honestly, Obama has never once given me the impression he's sexist.

The media and various other's blatent sexism as evidenced in this campaign is another thing altogether however.

by phoenixdreamz 2008-05-24 09:00AM | 0 recs
Re: I support Hillary for President

I agree with you.

by JenKinFLA 2008-05-24 09:20AM | 0 recs
Re: I support Hillary for President

Mojo for you from an Obama supporter.. great post

I think this is a case of "shoot the messenger"

:-)

by CaptainMorgan 2008-05-24 09:51AM | 0 recs
it's a weird phenomena

I'll chime in to support your point.

The media has treated Hillary about as fairly as they treated Bill.

I've never been a huge fan of either.  I voted for Bill and I'd vote for Hillary, but I will never understand the media's fascination for tearing them down.

by emptythreatsfarm 2008-05-24 10:02AM | 0 recs
Re: it's a weird phenomena

Face it, the media likes a pie fight and they are all too willing to supply the pies.  

by ConsiderIt 2008-05-24 10:11AM | 0 recs
Re: Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

No one's done more for the feminist cause than Hillary Clinton.

Harm, that is.

by Deadalus 2008-05-24 09:00AM | 0 recs
I disagree

I'm sorry, that is absolute bunk.

Even if she loses, she has proven that a woman can fight it out with the boys for a real shot at the nomination.

Simply because I haven't liked her campaign tactics doesn't mean I can't respect the fact that her campaign has been historic.

by emptythreatsfarm 2008-05-24 10:07AM | 0 recs
(Anatomy of a smear)

This diary is an incoherant smear.

by Freespeechzone 2008-05-24 09:17AM | 0 recs
Re: (Anatomy of a smear)

It's far better than any of your...  let me check.. oh.. ZERO diaries.  

by mjtosner 2008-05-24 09:23AM | 0 recs
Re: (Anatomy of a smear)

Better to not write diaries than write awful ones like this.

by Freespeechzone 2008-05-24 10:42AM | 0 recs
correction

No, this diary is about exposing incoherent smears.

by emptythreatsfarm 2008-05-24 10:08AM | 0 recs
Re: correction

Which it fails to do.

by Freespeechzone 2008-05-24 10:43AM | 0 recs
Re: Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

Rec'ed.

by Jess81 2008-05-24 09:23AM | 0 recs
I played the UN speech for a female friend..
She's got and MBA, A Masters in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon, and PMI certification, because I thought "Maybe I just don't get her because I'm a male"  
This woman takes no BS from any man we work with.  Her response : "You're not off base, she is uninspiring when she speaks. The words themselves have some resonance but her delivery is horrible."
by mjtosner 2008-05-24 09:49AM | 0 recs
He may not hate women

but I know a few women who do not think much of him.

by catfish2 2008-05-24 10:51AM | 0 recs
Re: Barack Hates Women (Anatomy of a smear)

boy, that clinton video got me all riled up.

I'm an obama supporter and have been from day one.  The blatant misogyny in some of that video is hard to stomach though.  God, it's so sad to think that there are people this hateful out there.

However, aside from a few unflattering pictures of obama (and who doesn't have a bunch of those?), there wasn't a single thing in the video directly attributed to him?  Are we supposed to blame obama for all the hillary hate that exists and has existed for years?  

by bluedavid 2008-05-24 11:36AM | 0 recs
here's my take.

i dont think most women think BO is sexist (although i have heard some here at mydd say otherwise) but its about context and history.  much as BO is a historic candidate that has been embraced by his supporters and the media - SO IS HLLARY.

what does that mean?  well - the media and many BO supporters have been incredibly sexist the hateful in their behaviour in this primary.  meanwhile, many of her supporters are watching the literal attempted destruction of a candidate in a misogynistic way whilst the BO camp and Democratic party have sat silently watching.  is this an unfair expectation of BO to defend his opponent?  yes.  would him speaking out on it have changed thins - yes.  but sadly - i think the damage is done.

by canadian gal 2008-05-24 07:15PM | 0 recs

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