June 22, 2008
Too Smart To Vote For McCain
The Nation: A Feminist Would Have To Be Insane To Vote For The Presumptive GOP Nominee
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Women voters who originally supported Clinton will not be turning to McCain, says The Nation. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
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Video
Notebook: Campaign Sexism
The treatment of Hillary Clinton's campaign, especially by the media, shows that sexism continues to be an accepted part of American life, opines Katie Couric.
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Life after the Clinton Campaign
Now that Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has ended, the press, who have been following her since the beginning, has to find a new subject. Fernando Suarez has the story.
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Hillary's Run Makes History
Sen. Hillary Clinton's historic bid for the White House has left an indelible mark on presidential politics and paved the way for a female commander-in-chief. Harry Smith reports.
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Photo Essay
Obama Claims Nomination
Barack Obama secures the Democratic presidential nomination in historic race against Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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Photo Essay
Women Of Power
They're monarchs, heads of state, business tycoons and philanthropists and they all wield extraordinary power.
Are there feminist Hillary Clinton supporters who hate Barack Obama so much they'll vote for John McCain just to show the Democratic Party how ticked off they are? Yes, and I get e-mails from all five of them. Seriously, I'm sure there are female Hillary Clinton voters who will go for John McCain in the general election, but I don't think too many of them will be feminists. Because to vote for McCain, a feminist would have to be insane. Let me rephrase that: she would have to believe that the chief indeed the only goal of the women's movement is to elect Clinton, not to promote women's rights. A vote for McCain would be the ultimate face-spiting nose-cutoff. Take that, women's equality!
Not that the media will help women get it. As Eric Alterman and George Zornick exhaustively document elsewhere in this issue, the mainstream press is doing its best to persuade us that McCain is a moderate -- barely distinguishable from Barack Obama even on abortion rights, one of the brighter dividing lines between the parties. In the Providence Journal five days after Clinton suspended her campaign, columnist Froma Harrop was typical: "Would McCain stock the Supreme Court with foes of Roe v. Wade?... The answer is unclear but probably 'no.'" After all, in 1999 he told the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board that he "would not support repeal" of Roe because women would seek unsafe, illegal procedures. Since the Democrats will control Congress, Harrop figures, "McCain would probably choose a cipher" rather than get bogged down in the abortion wars. This fake shrewdness, buttressed by much use of "probably," "seems," "may" and "my guess is," has as much value as a bet by a drunk in a bar. We all have our hunches usually they magically line up with our wishes and preferences, in Harrop's case, her support for Clinton. By the end of the column she's castigating Obama for his "present" votes on abortion bills in the Illinois Assembly, and by the time she's finished, you'd never know that NARAL and Planned Parenthood give Obama 100 percent ratings and McCain a big fat zero.
How antichoice is John McCain? Let's leave the psychological tea leaves out of it and look at his record. In his four years in the House, from 1983 to 1986, he cast eleven votes on reproductive issues. Ten were antichoice. Of 119 such votes in the Senate, 115 were antichoice, including votes for the ban on so-called partial-birth abortions and for the "gag rule," which refuses funds to clinics abroad that so much as mention abortion. In 1999, the year he said he opposed repeal of Roe on health grounds, he voted against a bill that would have permitted servicewomen overseas, where safe, legal abortion is often unavailable, to pay out of their own pockets for abortions in military hospitals.
His record on contraception and sex education is just as bad. He voted against a 2005 budget amendment, sponsored by Senator Hillary Clinton, that would have allotted $100 million to reduce teen pregnancy by means of education and birth control. He voted to require parental consent for birth control for teenage girls and to abolish Title X, which funds birth control and gynecological care for the poor. He voted against requiring insurance companies to pay for prescription contraception, when they pay for other prescription drugs like, um, Viagra. The beat goes on, and on. With a handful of minor exceptions (he voted to confirm prochoice Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher after voting against prochoice Dr. Joycelyn Elders), he has a just about perfect antichoice record, including votes to confirm the Supreme Court nominations of Thomas, Roberts and Alito.
As for his 1999 pro-Roe remark, he has retracted it many, many times. Here he is on Meet the Press, May 13, 2007:
Q: Back in 1999...you said this: "Certainly, in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to undergo illegal and dangerous operations."
A: Well, it was in the context of conversation about having to change the culture of America as regards to this issue. I have stated time after time after time that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision....
Q: But if Roe v. Wade was overturned during a McCain presidency, and individual states chose to ban abortion, would you be concerned that, as you said, X number of women in America would undergo illegal and dangerous operations?
A: No, I would hope that X women in America would bring those children into birth and into life in this world.
If that's not clear enough for you, how about this: "I do not support Roe v. Wade, period. It should be overturned" (Associated Press, February 18, 2007). Or this, from his campaign website: "Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned."
As the Bush years have shown, the President has a tremendous amount of power; Supreme Court nominations don't begin to describe it. He nominates all the federal judges (302 since Bush took office). He appoints the heads of dozens of regulatory agencies, many of which (HHS, FDA, National Institutes of Health) directly affect women's lives. He submits legislation and the budget to Congress. He has a veto. Bush, we all know, has filled the government with right-wing Christian hacks and family-values fanatics, with room left over for incompetent cronies. He has done just about nothing good for women. McCain's record suggests he would not be any different. His opposition to the Ledbetter Act, which would have overturned the Supreme Court's restrictions on women's right to sue for paycheck discrimination, tells you everything you need to know about where he stands on economic justice for women.
The media can call John McCain a moderate all they want. No matter how aggrieved women are by Clinton's loss, I'm betting that the ones who care about women's rights are too smart to fall for it.
By Katha Pollitt
Reprinted with permission from The Nation.
| If you like this article, check out www.thenation.com for more investigative reports, timely editorials and incisive columns |




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See all 227 CommentsLets see...Rowdy, fenner, tracymorgan, I only count three.
Perfume on a pig, his outdated and contradictory thinking is doomed for failure. I''m grateful the Republicans nominated such an unelectable candidate.
1. VOTE in November.
2. Party your tails off because things will get better!
by the fascist republicon party, how could any
thinking person vote for McBushSame?,
Obama is our only choice!
other wise you might as well drink some more of their Kool Aid.
Vote for Experience. Vote for McCain
ANY feminist (of either gender!) who votes for McSame to get back at Obama needs to remember two words:
RALPH
NADER
March 1, 2008, 5:34 PM
Hillary Clinton told reporters that the presumtive Republican nominee John McCain offer the experience to be ready to tackle any crisis facing the country under his watch, but Barack Obama simply offers more rhetoric.
There was a time when we would impeach a president for such grave offenses, let alone an oval office BJ.
Now, deception and mass murder is business as usual.
How times have changed.
So much for the oath of office.
How we answer his actions in office will determine the course of America for a long time to come, regardless of what happens in November.
Facts to a liberal are like kryptonite to Superman.
"Experience"? That can be 30 times what he learned in one year like Groundhog Day, or 30 years of progressively learning and adding to his resume. McCain is Groundhog Day.
did you do on Earth?"
"I can'' remember!"
I have listened to this man speak since the last Democratic Convention when my thought was "THIS is the man who should be running not the other idiots."
On lack of experiance: Suits me fine, this means he doesn''t even know how to Screw us like the rest do.
FYI I am a white, blue collar, male.
OBAMA ''08
Obama''s great speach without script somebody else wrote or teleprompter so he can read.
He must still be smoking or snorting something.
This is a hillarous video shows real Obama Duh!
He must still be smoking or snorting something.
This is a hillarous video shows real Obama Duh!
Posted by xantiphi at 02:54 PM : Jun 22, 2008
LOL It''s a FAKE you pathetic Nazi!! ROFLMAO You poor losers will do or say just about anything to keep the "Party" in power won''t you but this?? ROFLMAO My 7 YEAR OLD Grand Son caught it right off... ROFLMAO SEVEN YEAR OLD!! ROFLMAO Even for a Bootlicker... SEVEN YEAR OLD!! ROFLMAO Now ready?? Let Shooter know you''re out here licking those boots this morning!! SIEG HEIL MEIN FUHRER!! WOW! You are in good voice today!! ROFLMAO Dumb as a box of rocks folks!! ROFLMAO
Posted by Cryos at 01:09 PM : Jun 22, 2008
I don''t know were you get your bearings from but the ENTIRE WORLD and especially the citizens of Germany have stated beyond a doubt that the PRESENT day Republican Party is FASCIST to it''s core. If you will check what is happening to the Republican Party outside the Fascist South you can CLEARLY see it''s falling away to NOTHING!! Recently in a Midwest State a poll showed the Republican Party THERE to be getting close to the 20 PER CENT level with Independents out polling them by 15% and Democrats exceeding them by nearly Double... They could hold a convention in a phone booth in Illinois. No the Republican Party is gone IF they do NOT get the Klan, American Nazi''s and the Religious Reich out of their ranks.... Just reality. SIEG HEIL BUSH!!
Posted by Cryos at 01:14 PM : Jun 22, 2008
+ repo
You appear to me to be nothing but a Fascist in Sheeps Clothing who will say or do whatever is necessary to keep the "Party" in Power. Hillary is going to be out there with the Party''s Canidate Telling people who is best for this nation.... You freaks will just have to LIVE with that fact. Sieg Heil Bush
Posted by arrestbush1 at 03:25 PM : Jun 22, 2008
+ re
Same here!!
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Posted by MCVet at 03:24 PM : Jun 22, 2008
+ report abuse
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Obama supporters can get really ticked and use all kinds of excuses like Obama always mis-speaking, poor fool he sure does a lot of it.
and they get really mean and beyond ignorant.
:) :) :) you''re funny& full of poop goop. If it makes you feel better to claim the video fake go right ahead.
Excuses have followed Obama everytime sticks his foot in his mouth.
Insanity is rampant with Obama Dim o crats.
The one issue of abortion that is being highlighted does not equate to stupidity or intelligence on the count of who the lever is pulled for. If an article ran stating "Drivers too smart to vote Obama" or "American Patriots too smart to vote for Obama" or maybe "Upper middle class too smart to vote Obama" the publication/columnist would be crucified. Though those statements could be easily argued. Obama''s lack of energy solutions, questionable relationships, previous history of supporting high taxation of even those making 31,000 annually etc make for good starting points. These things the media dare not speak. I feel however that those articles would be unfair, as is the article above.
An opinion is an opinion. This one however is as manipulative and insulting as they come. No candidate should be voted on due to this kind of group mentality and narrow thinking. The author should be ashamed, even if the candidate in the title were Obama, ashamed would I be.
Posted by Junglejimy12 at
Yes, the Democrats have done a marvelous job reining in Bush. They stopped funding the war, they blocked telecoms from getting immunity, they blocked bankruptcy reform. They have held Bush''s feet to the fire by first challenging and then winning against his attempts to keep things secret through executive privilege. Yes vote McCain because the Democrats have a proven track record of keeping things in check!
You are talking to people now who do not necessarily share your views. Does that mean you can''t be trusted? I guess we should only speak to people we agree with all the time. That''ll make a better world. Sure.
That is a ridiculous comment. Here is a comment, like yours, but on the flip side.
If the GOP has its way, America will be another Saudi Arabia.
I wish I could believe you, but there are too many idiots out there. If Obama loses, it will be as a result of the same people who elected Bush into office a 2nd time. I don''t think these people have learned from their mistake yet. Unfortunately.
Read it and weep.
Maybe their "secret" plan was to get McCain in the Whitehouse all along...DOH!!
There are many issues to consider before casting a ballot. Obama has seemed like a self-aggrandizing disingenuous phony from the outset. I don''t trust him to stand up for anything, no matter what he flip flops on in the time being.
I have done far too much research to condense it to a mere 1500 characters, so suffice it to say, I haven''t drank the kool-aid.
We should have a stronger majority in House/Senate, so don''t use the scare tactics on me. It takes 2/3 majority to pass legislation or confirm justices. McCain doesn''t scare me as much as Obama does.
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Posted by TruUSA at 05:57 PM : Jun 22, 2008
+ report abuse
Hven''t heard such a good conspiracy story in a long time. I didn''t note one observable fact in your entire posting only whining and an inference that you were robbed but not how. You sound like a sports team like the New england patriots who thought their victory was gauranteed and then they loat and then they started looking for excuses. Try facing up to it and accept that sometimes things don''t go our way because they didn''t go our way not for some nefarious reason
You have to be kidding me. The media other than fox is in the tank for obama. He will probably win with the help of networks not in spite of the networks.
I don''t think he is the better candidate. If anyone has paid his dues and shown the capacity for innovation and bipartisanship its McCain. At least with him in the white house every loony liberal law won''t automatically be passed and we won''t flee from Iraq just as the chance for a stable Iraq appears on the horizon. I have seen both liberal and conservative columnist pointing out the chance for a stable Iraq. I''m afraid that if we leave the country will descend into chaos and the soldiers who died there will have died in vain and the middle east will become even more unstable.
If there''''s any secrets, its that Obama is an elite
closet Republican. TruUSA" any bets on Tru being a republican troll?
Posted by Cryos at 01:09 PM : Jun 22, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cryos;
Exactly what do you believe, other that what you hear or read?
Those you claim to be so sick of are basing their opinions on things they see, read or hear from mainstream news and other sources just as you do
Or do you base your %u201C%u201Dfacts%u201D%u201D only on what you imagine (fabricate) in your own mind.
Paid his dues? McCain should have been out of office after the Keating 5 scandal. At least the other 4 involved had the dignity to step down. Also, McCain''s wife admitted to stealing and using drugs. Why isn''t she in prison like the average person?
Paid his dues? McCain should have been out of office after the Keating 5 scandal. At least the other 4 involved had the dignity to step down. Also, McCain''s wife admitted to stealing and using drugs. Why isn''t she in prison like the average person?
Exactly what do you believe, other that what you hear or read?
Posted by jn122736 "
God is speaking to him, like he is speaking to Bush.
Posted by alanrobisch2
Thanks for clearing that up for TruUSA, she fails to realize that conspiracies and secrecy go hand in hand.
I think you should review the term "elite" along with the terms "special privileges." The GOP has again nominated someone who graduated at the bottom of his class in high school and 5th from the bottom of a class of 800 in the Naval Academy and would be working as an auto mechanic if not for a well-connected father.
McCain was 894th of 899.
Somehow he still got into the elite naval flight school.
Could it have been through his admiral father?
McCain was 894th of 899.
Somehow he still got into the elite naval flight school.
Could it have been through his admiral father?
Posted by whatithink at
Look on the bright side, there are 5 people ranked lower than McCain that aren''t running for president!
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Posted by MyOpinion1 at 04:40 PM : Jun 22, 2008
+ report abuse
"Family Values" = Self-Loathing, Closeted,
Toe-Tapping, Wide-Stancers,...LMMFAO
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