Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Prism

(5,815 posts)
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 04:01 AM Dec 2015

Hillary's rise comes at the expense of women

It may seem counter-intuitive at first blush. After all, "It's time," and "It's her turn." When asked about being a political outsider, Clinton declared that being female is the ultimate outsider. It's time for the glass ceiling to be broken!

But outside of the slogans and sound bytes, let's look at the real, pragmatic political situation on the ground.

Over the past seven years, the DNC has been focused laser-sharp on laying a field conducive to a Hillary Clinton nomination and election. What they haven't been doing is minding state elections. We are now living in a country that is overwhelmingly Republican on a state level. They canned Howard Dean's 50 state strategy and went with a more Clinton-friendly DWS. It has been a disaster. Which is to say nothing of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The result of this political climate? Women's reproductive health is under siege:

http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2015/07/01/

Republicans have gone hog wild, from Texas insanity to the insidious efforts of people like Wisconsin's Scott Walker.

Where is the DNC? Worrying about Hillary. They certainly haven't been winning elections.

In a year when down-ticket races are more important than ever to reverse trends, we are being handed a would-be nominee with outrageously terrible favorability ratings. That never bodes well for down ticket.

What would help down-ticket is the Democratic Party articulating its platform at every opportunity. But instead, DWS and the DNC have hidden the party from media exposure in order to aid Clinton. Debates on pointless nights, guaranteeing a smaller audience. When the American people need the Democratic Party's message more than ever, DWS and Clinton have vacated the battlefield in order to ensure her chances.

This is insidious and irresponsible.

Hillary may win the nomination, but she will not be bringing a national Democratic party with her. And by leaving the nation in Republican hands, women's rights and freedoms will continue to be under siege.

The question is, is the symbolism of Hillary more important than the actual condition of millions of women across the country? In the name of advancing women, are they about to be thrown under the Hillary bus?

I can't see how not.

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

safeinOhio

(32,685 posts)
1. leaving the nation in Republican hands
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 04:10 AM
Dec 2015

may be the result of Democratic supporters attacking each other.
Both Sander and Clinton supporters that attack the other are helping Trump. support your favorite, but attack the republicans.

daybranch

(1,309 posts)
3. My opinion - defeatism based on fear drives your conclusion
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 06:42 AM
Dec 2015

and continues the ability of the Third Way working for the oligarchy to continually focus on how bad it could get and avoid taking any stand that might risk that big bad republican wolf while their democratic rats help suck the lifeblood out of you, the democratic party, and our country.
What you do not realize the country is already in the hands of a non- partisan oligarchy, an oligarchy of the richest Americans,the big banks, the insurance industry, Wall Street. They care little about which party does the work for them and spread their political payrolls according to how much treasure can be moved from us to them. They stay above the fray looking down on the ignorant people who labor under the assumption that any democrat is better than any republican. Over time their paid democrat and republican political servants continually re-enforce the belief that today's republican threat is the worst that we face even as they take more and more money from the people. Today more than ever, people are waking up to this charade. Even Jimmy Carter, no progressive himself as President, is speaking out and telling you they are controlling your government and he definitely is telling you that both parties work for the oligarchy. I see you select the name safeinOhio, and you show a picture of the Dalai Lama and these cause me to question. I know Buddhist monks typically avoid politics in their home countries unless it affects the poorest of the people and I believe Buddha and other monks would preach against this oligarchy rather than avoiding risk day by day, because as Bernie says, as we are marched along the path to international serfdom under what is an international oligarchy, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Another famous man said the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. As a resident of a heavily Gerrymandered state, no one is safe in Ohio. Put away your fears and avoid the trap Hillary and the third way have set to continue their vital services to the oligarchy, support Bernie Sanders in any way you can and work to rid Ohio of Gerrymandering to bring back some public servants actually elected by the people. Go Bernie, the democracy candidate!

 

Prism

(5,815 posts)
6. Fear is what allows the powerful to keep the masses submitted
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 07:06 AM
Dec 2015

And that's the Clintonian approach to liberals. "No one can win but Hillary!" Well, damn, did you give anyone else a chance before you came to that conclusion? Really? No one else?

And now we have hard, in-the-hand, national polls showing Sanders can win a general election. And what's the new response?

"Mutter, mutter, uhm, mutter, mutter."

Whatever. But fucking liberals should be on board. Just a bit.

m-lekktor

(3,675 posts)
5. If only reality was as simplistic as DEMS/good vs GOP/bad.
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 06:57 AM
Dec 2015

a more realistic simplistic binary to go by (if one needs binaries) would be Left/good vs Right/bad. DEMS are barely "left" anymore...

 

Prism

(5,815 posts)
7. This whole thing chaps my ass
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 07:09 AM
Dec 2015

My mom had an abortion in the 1950's. She was always open about this with us. It wasn't easy. It was a scandalous thing. But she had an abusive, alcoholic first husband, and she did not want to be trapped in that situation. So she did what was best for her.

And now, nation-wide, Republicans are ascendant, choice is under grievous assault, but we all need to sacrifice in the name of Hillary.

That's just fucking anti-woman in my book. And I won't.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
4. HRC/DWS/DNC are lethal to the down-ticket Dem. candidates.
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 06:49 AM
Dec 2015

I'm supporting 4 progressive candidates in the upcoming Dem. primary. Two are male (1 being Bernie) and 2 are female. None of my support is based on the candidate's gender, but rather on their political philosophies and past performances. I vote for the best-qualified progressive candidate on the ticket. Period.

Response to Prism (Original post)

 

JTFrog

(14,274 posts)
13. "Grow up, ladies"
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 10:38 AM
Dec 2015
Grown up, ladies. Stop jeopardizing our children's future with your stupid narrow understanding of "feminism". It has no place nor relevance when it hurts our poor and the middle class.


I can't speak for 63% of "you women", but I can speak for myself: You can stuff that attitude right back where it belongs. That kind of condescending disgusting sexist shit has no place on DU.

Thanks, I feel better now.



reformist2

(9,841 posts)
9. The Democratic party has been mismanaged for decades. It's time to clean house.
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 07:39 AM
Dec 2015

A lot of our leaders need to go. That includes DWS. That includes HRC.
 

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)
11. Hillary has surrogates and endorsements across the country in every state.
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 09:27 AM
Dec 2015

This means while she's campaigning on the west coast she has an army of surrogates to flood the media on the east coast and midwest. An army of surrogates rallying the troops for down ticket races in every state. Bernie has 8% African American support and only slightly higher women support. That coupled with the fact he has almost no endorsements means it will be a bloodbath to nominate him.

sorechasm

(631 posts)
14. I'm tired of Armies. I prefer enthusiastic support for the Progressive Platform that Americans want.
Sat Dec 5, 2015, 10:53 AM
Dec 2015

You are justifying this OP, making HRC's support appear to be the Blind, Dedicated Allegiance of the military.

What drives these Armies? Is winning the Primary your only goal? How do you expect to win the General election if these 'Armies' are greatly outnumbered by all the militant Independents and the GOP who are the real 'Hillary Haters'?

'She's Better Than Trump' is about the worst campaign slogan in history. I doubt it will drive enough Democrats to the polls in November. Fear drives the right wing. Hope drives the left wing.
Your not providing much hope with military references.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Hillary's rise comes at t...