Too Smart To Vote For McCain

The Nation: A Feminist Would Have To Be Insane To Vote For The Presumptive GOP Nominee

(The Nation)  This column was written by Katha Pollitt.

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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.

[omega39-2009]

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.

Lets see...Rowdy, fenner, tracymorgan, I only count three.

[smurfcrusher]

McCain = McSame, McLame, or McBush.

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!

[joyous88]

with america being turned into a third world country

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.

[ramportland]

Please stop using Fear against women. What the personal opinion of the president nobody would overturn Roe vs Wade. FYI, even Bush the champion of conservatives could not get it done. The Judicial candidates need to be approved by Congress and a Democrat controlled Congress will never do that. They might even get support to prevent this from Pro-choice Republicans and there are many of these Barry Goldwater followers and libertarians.

Vote for Experience. Vote for McCain

[jaykay3141]

OK, I was a Hillary supporter but there''s no way in this universe that I''m going to get myself in such high dudgeon that I''ll vote for McBush "to prove a point". Get real. Politics is the art of compromise and possibility. If you want purity ya ain''t gonna find it there.

ANY feminist (of either gender!) who votes for McSame to get back at Obama needs to remember two words:

RALPH

NADER

[hargreen10]

Ah ah Look at how tough he is in women right and then he is going after Hilary clinton women supporters. I hope obama landslide him.

[xantiphi]

Hillary Clinton said McCain would be a better president than Obama.
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.

[theantibush-2009]

The real question is what will be done with the deceiving mass murderer presently in office, not who will eventually take it.

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.

[aszfacse]

Maybe the reason that the media isn''t covering the abortion issue is because Obama supports all forms and types of abortion. This would obviously not play well with voters, who tend to favor limiting abortion. Most of America doesn''t read The Nation and would probably disagree with much of the opinions expressed within.

[babyfacemagee]

The only thing ''insane'' is your thinking people would actually be persuaded to vote your way by your ''name-calling'' and such a condescending and factually vacuous article. Typical liberal idiot.

Facts to a liberal are like kryptonite to Superman.

[Ni_Hao]

I am beginning to think Republicans don''t/can''t read. McCain is a waffle house special of the day. He can''t even remember which side he took through the years, and when he is consistent, it''s usually wrong, like his treatment on Veteran''s issues.

"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.

[Ni_Hao]

Same joke with McCain: "So, who are you, and what
did you do on Earth?"

"I can'' remember!"

[dlpartyka]

At 53 years old This is my FIRST time participating in our Democratic process. Why? Because I have continually REFUSED to choose the lesser of two evils. What makes this year different is the fact we have someone who will not play the Washington Game but look out for my interests. He does not flip-flop, he makes statements and if you listen he makes sense. he said he would use public funds, IF McSame would keep it clean and keep Rep. 527''s under control, which he clearly DID NOT prompting the Dem. decision.

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

[xantiphi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6avos-ChZfY
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!

[element51]

DLPartyka....Thank you for your support. Your post was concise and to the point. I believe you are right and I felt the same when I heard Obama speak at the convention. I have researched him on the net and find him to be the kind of candidate that I have been waiting for. Obama 08!!

[mcvet]

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!


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

[arrestbush1]

I also agree with DLPartyka.

[mcvet]

What ever happened to the democratic party? I am a moderate who used to vote split between the parties but I see the democratic party turning more and more liberals and liberals turning into what they claim conservatives are: intolerant and unquestionable.

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!!

[mcvet]

One more comment to add. Think about the fact that the democratic leadership with the help of major media did everything they could to oust Hillary. To me it shows that they want the support of women but don''''t want an independant, strong willed woman in power. I don''''t like Hillary to be honest but she was 10X the candidate that Obama is.

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

[mcvet]

I also agree with DLPartyka.

Posted by arrestbush1 at 03:25 PM : Jun 22, 2008
+ re

Same here!!

[xantiphi]

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


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Posted by MCVet at 03:24 PM : Jun 22, 2008
+ report abuse
________________________________________________
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.

[omega39-2009]

At least Obama knows the difference between a Sunni and a Shia. It would be helpful if our would be war President knew which side we were bribing and which side Iran was bribing.

[xantiphi]

Obama thinks we have 57 states :) :) :)

[athenarae-2009]

The title of this column was enough to cause me to register and post. This is something I have never done before and I hope never to do again, as it often degrades into the most mind-numbing and ignorant banter available online. However I must express my disgust with the equating of the smart vote to the Obama vote. The stupid vote to the McCain vote. That this came to print is an insult to the intelligence of the American voter.

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.

[athenarae-2009]

A feminist who votes for Obama despite her own self interests is no feminist. They are simply a cow in the herd being prodded by tripe like this article that assumes 1 issue is enough for any voter to make their decisions on. Many women now are at the top of the corporate ladder. Maybe those women feel the heat. The heat of their corporation moving overseas due to America''s corporate taxation. (2nd highest in the world) Possibly they feel the burn as they save for their children''s future only to see their checks devoured by high taxes. It makes it hard to want to succeed. Maybe the feminist who starts a small business takes issue with the rates and penalties imposed for trying to fulfill her American dream. Are these women Stupid for voting for McCain? Are they stupid for making an informed decision based on all of the many factors in their complicated lives. Are they so smart to vote on the basis of one belief (that may or may not effect their lives) to completely ignore all other issues foreign and domestic? Or would that be an irrational incredibly stupid and easy thing to do.

[athenarae-2009]

Whether McCain was voting on party lines, preventing excess spending on government programs that contribute to our debt, supporting states rights and the rights of the people in that state to make decisions regarding it''s law, or simply following his own moral compass (a hard thing to do and an honorable thing to do if those beliefs are your own) is not discussed. Nor is it discussed that there is great truth in the fact that on many issues McCain crosses the aisle while Obama has stood stone solid at far left every time. People have reasons for the decisions they make that are more complex than the majority of voters are willing to sort through.

[athenarae-2009]

I am pro-choice, but I also favor economic growth and energy independence. I am in favor of gay rights, however I believe we the people (those truly in charge) have a right to decide our states own laws. I prefer peace yet understand the necessity of war and know that no time frame can secure victory. I appreciate cultural diversity and applaud those that have done what it takes to become a legal citizen. I feel we must secure our borders and not grant free citizenship to those who have not gone through the process. I feel we should (and have) taken care of those in this country who are in need of assistance. I feel this assistance should not be indefinite and should be reserved to those that are not truly able to to take care of themselves. I believe we must be accountable for our own situation. America was not created to take care of you, it was created so that you might have the chance to freely take care of yourself.

[athenarae-2009]

There are a great great many issues one must take into account when deciding who to vote for, more than I could ever elaborate on. My greatest hope is that every one of you take the time to explore the many issues fully and make an informed decision. I also hope that articles like this never find their way into print. It is degrading to the intelligence of the American voter. It is a dangerous shield for the ignorant to stand behind when stating their position. It is a tactic to paint people with the broadest of brushes in a time when scrutiny is at its most important. It helps the ignorant sleep at night comfortable with the notion that they are bright and correct in their ideas despite being handed those ideas on a plate from the 5 articles they read this year out of opinion columns.

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.

[junglejimy12]

So you think that we HAVE to and WE MUST vote for Obama huh ? Just because the DNC treated Hillary like dirt and then shoved Obama down our throats doesnt obligate us to vote for BAM BAM. He is out of touch with most of us and we don''t want his racist, terrorist, criminal friends in the White House. With a Democratically controlled Congress McCain can be reined in and we can veto his Supreme Court choices. Other vetoes can also control legislation . We can show the DNC that we DONT HAVE TO VOTE FOR THEIR SORRY #$@$@ candidate !!!

[paris1969]

NObama met behind "closed doors" with Franklin Graham and other conservative evangelicals ... what makes the Nation think that he can be trusted any more than McCain with feminist issues???

[omega39-2009]

With a Democratically controlled Congress McCain can be reined in and we can veto his Supreme Court choices. Other vetoes can also control legislation .
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!

[whatithink-2009]

paris1969,

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.

[whatithink-2009]

MyOpinion1,

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.

[whatithink-2009]

copyat5,

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.

[ezr2c]

www.stopthesmears.com
Read it and weep.

[omega39-2009]

Posted by TruUSA a

Maybe their "secret" plan was to get McCain in the Whitehouse all along...DOH!!

[kmb08]

The Nation was in the tank for Obama from the beginning, so to segue'' into a condescending directive about why we Hillary supporters must vote for Obama out of fear RVW will be overturned, is laughable!

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.

[alanrobisch]

The result of Hillary not becoming our next President may very well turn out to be the worst thing that could possibly happen to us and our children. This is why we must still vote for Hillary in November. No matter what anyone tries to tell us.


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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

[alanrobisch]

Sen. Obama will have a landslide victory this fall in spite of the apprehension the media (via the current regime) tries to force-feed the America public, and the reason is simple: we all want a better life and his message offers it.

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.

[clovisbuford]

Ok....Roe vs. Wade is legit, but not "secret".

If there''''s any secrets, its that Obama is an elite

closet Republican. TruUSA" any bets on Tru being a republican troll?

[jn122736]

Sorry about my sarcasm in previous posts. I just get so sick of seeing mainstream media bias regurgitated over and over by people showing that a lot of people believe what they hear.
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.

[whatithink-2009]

alanrobisch2,

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?

[whatithink-2009]

alanrobisch2,

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?

[whatithink-2009]

"Cryos;

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.

[omega39-2009]

Hven''''t heard such a good conspiracy story in a long time.

Posted by alanrobisch2

Thanks for clearing that up for TruUSA, she fails to realize that conspiracies and secrecy go hand in hand.

[whatithink-2009]

TruUSA,

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.

[whatithink-2009]

Sorry. I meant nearly 900.

McCain was 894th of 899.

Somehow he still got into the elite naval flight school.

Could it have been through his admiral father?

[omega39-2009]

Sorry. I meant nearly 900.

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!

[heartlight3]

I don''t get all these people using that Obama is a flip flopper as an excuse to vote for McCain. You won''t vote for Obama because he has modified his position on a few issues, but you will vote for McCain even though he has totally reversed his position on almost everything he ran on in 2000? I liked McCain back then, but I don''t even recognize him as the same candidate now. You don''t see any discrepancy there?

[vnveteran72]

I think being a feminist is insane so you can bet I''''ll vote for McCain just to keep SOME semblance of family values in this country. If the liberal feminists have it their way, no one will be married, everyone will be g.a.y (or bi depending on which made up form of the disease you claim to have), working full time to keep that mansion and having the kids in day care so you don''''t have to bother raising them or just aborting them and living in their own little God-less cocoon of horror. I''''ll take the conservatives ANY day over their lunacy.


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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