A Bitch for President

Published on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 by The Guardian/UK

A Bitch for President

The rise of Clinton as the first female frontrunner proves the word remains as incendiary as ever

by Andi Zeisler

When people call Clinton a bitch, it’s an expression of pure sexism - a hope that they can shut up not only one woman but every woman who dares to be assertive. Simply put: if you don’t like Clinton’s stance on healthcare, there are plenty of ways to say so without invoking her gender.

So the word remains as incendiary as ever. In 1996, when the word was barely squeaking past network TV censors, I would never have thought it could get any more loaded. But the rise of the first serious female runner for the presidency has proved me wrong.

I’m all for a lively discussion of how the word is used in daily life: by men, by women, in jest, in earnest. But I don’t foresee that dialogue taking place in a political arena that considers mere femaleness a deficiency. Talking about the use of the word just isn’t helpful if we don’t also address the many unsaid words that follow in its wake.

My own definition of the term being what it is, I can confidently say that I want my next president to be a bitch, and that goes for men and women. Outspoken? Check. Commanding? Indeed. Unworried about pleasing everybody? Sure. And guess what? I’m not even sure that person is Hillary Clinton.

Andi Zeisler is the co-founder and editorial director of the magazine Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture. A longer version of this article appeared in the Washington Post

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/21/5383/

Clinton would have me happier if she were more of one.

"Fearless Leader" and the meaning of the words are real.

:)

:)

Or, maybe something else.

The people who publicly call someone a derogatory name have a whole bag of them for every one who doesn't fit their ideal.

John repeatedly calling the republicans neocons the other night...and while I agree with him to a point, I thought it was a bad move.

I don't think it falls in the same category as bitch or the other words they want to use to identify certain groups of people.

I am defending Hillary and Obama here and it gets turned on John Edwards? What gives?

I don't see either as acceptable.

Neither is acceptable.

And anyone working under me would get sent to HR for either.

There are no glass ceilings in this company. There are women managers all the way to the top and minority managers through out. But in this company it is hard to tell who is a minority.

If Obama is the nominee, they'll be using the worst kind of coded language and dog whistle politics.

In private it starts with an n

like this election to be about name-calling and who's a "bitch" and such. I won't give them the satisfaction. If someone wants to ask me why I don't like H. Clinton, I'll talk about her votes and her ideas. That's the way to stop her ill-conceived candidacy and that's just the best way to handle things in general.

Saffire's song about a bitch as a Being In Total Control of Herself.

I think that applies to HRC: a Being In Total Control of Herself. I don't want her to win because of her positions, but I would like to see a woman president in my lifetime and I wish people wouldn't use "bitch" to mean "intelligent and assertive woman." We don't call men "bastards" for being intelligent and assertive.

You know the saying: "I'm assertive, you're aggressive, she's a bitch." :grr:

If you don't know Saffire, check them out:

http://www.uppityblueswomen.com/

I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way


:headbang:

:kick:

:thumbsup:

other women hate it. I concider it in the same ranks as son of a bitch or idiot. but, some women feel it is alot more offensive.
however, that is me and I think the word Bitch is totally out of bounds in calling hillary that.

..if I can get banned. Nigger, Kike, cunt, bitch...


ALL of these come from FEAR. Fear of the tyrants, what if the masses awake?. IN reality, we as people are more powerful than the Bosses can dream of.

Huguenot We used to strike fear in the hearts of Rome!

LIBERAL LImbaugh wets his Depends at the thought of us!


My people came here for FREEDOM, not more chains. If the nominee loves FREEDOM, I am there with them!

My GF is a strong woman, and I love her.

... but used it in the caustic, hostile, unfunny way that the demented woman McCain supporter used the word "bitch?" All hell would have been raised.

I actually think the harpy (;-)) who called Hillary a bitch set the GOP cause back. I'll bet there are some non-Stepford GOP women who strongly disapprove. They know it will be used on them too if it can be used on Hillary.

It wasn't just the actual use of the word it was the response by McCain and the crowd, which was even more telling than McCain's answer. They were laughing and cheering the question.

I'm serious. Every time I hear that applied to Hillary it sets me off. It pisses me off.

And it makes me want to vote for her.

Newt Gingrich calls her this.

John McCain apparently thinks it is an excellent word.

Barbara Bush calls Hillary this.

It is reprehensible that someone of her caliber and poise has to endure this shit.

And I hate to see it here at the DU more than any place else in reference to her.

She's on our side. She's not perfect. But she is on our side.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

When the shoe fits, many hypocrites can't stand it!

In fact, I've been known to come to the defense of Ann Coulter when posters have called her that. Misogyny should be opposed in the same way that the First Amendment should be defended: unconditionally.

That said, I don't think the accusation that some people have used the B-word to refer to Hillary Clinton will turn me around 180 degrees and suddenly make me sympathetic to a corporate suckup.

That would be incredibly shallow.

Gender is the least relevant lens for viewing Hillary. It's no more an asset than was Thatcher's being a woman. It's no more a hindrance to ruthlessness than it was to, say, Bonnie Parker.

Corporate pawn, war facilitator, unprincipled opportunist, half-closeted Republican: here's where the trouble starts with our dear HRC.

Check out Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair's series of three articles on Hillary up now at Counterpunch.com. Witty and devastating, they'll confirm your worst fears and quite possibly disabuse you of any lingering sentimental attachment to her.

and reprehensible, and about as accurate on anything as Worldnut daily. Simply the flip side of the coin. Anyone who actually thinks they can get thoughtful, accurate information from that piece of shit rag, is operating on a very low level indeed.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the The Humane Society of the United States 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Trust for Historic Preservation 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Education Association 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Children's Defense Fund 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Organization for Women 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group 91 percent in 2006.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group 100 percent in 2005

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 100 percent from 1988-2003 (Senate) or 1991-2003 (House).

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 80 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 93 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 93 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers 84 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Worker 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees 88 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Federation of Government Employees 83 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Committee for an Effective Congress 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 100 percent in 2005.

According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2005, Senator Clinton voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 80 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2005, Senator Clinton voted more liberal on social policy issues than 83 percent of the Senators.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 92 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Bread for the World 100 percent in 2003-2004.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the The Partnership for the Homeless 100 percent in 2003-2004.
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=WNY99268

She was promoting universal coverage before it was cool. Furthermore she helped to create the SCHIP program. And most importantly she was dead on in the debate the other week where she said political will was the most important thing needed to push health care reform through and we know without a doubt she has that.

She has fougt unrelentingly for a woman's right to choose as well as women's rights both domestically and abroad

Create a Strategic Energy Fund - Hillary has proposed a Strategic Energy Fund that would inject $50 billion into research, development and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal technology, ethanol and other homegrown biofuels. Hillary's proposal would give oil companies a choice: invest in renewable energy or pay into the fund. Hillary's proposal would also eliminate oil company tax breaks and make sure that oil companies pay their fair share for drilling on public lands. Instead of sending billions of dollars to the Middle East for their oil, Hillary's proposal will create a new clean energy industry in America and create tens of thousands of jobs here.

Champion a Market-Based "Cap and Trade" Approach - Hillary supports a market-based, cap and trade approach to reducing carbon emissions and fight global warming. This approach was used successfully to limit sulfur dioxide and reduce levels of acid rain in the 1990s. By capping the amount of emissions in the environment and allowing corporations to buy and sell permits, this approach offers corporations a flexible, cost-efficient method to do their share to reduce emissions and combat global warming. The program will reduce emissions, drive the development of clean technologies, and create a market for projects that store carbon dioxide.

20% Renewable Electricity Standard by 2020 - Hillary believes we need to shift our reliance on high carbon electricity sources to low-carbon electricity sources by investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. As President, she'll work to require power companies to obtain 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Make Federal Buildings Carbon Neutral - Hillary believes that the federal government should lead the way in reducing carbon emissions from buildings. Buildings account for 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and the federal government owns or leases more than 500,000. Hillary would require all federal buildings to steadily increase the use of green design principles, energy efficient technologies, and to generate energy on-site from solar and other renewable sources. By 2030, all new federal buildings and major renovations would be carbon neutral, helping to fight global warming and cutting the $5.6 billion that the federal government spends each year on heating, cooling and lighting.

Protecting Against Exposure to Toxic Chemicals - Hillary wants to make the products we use safer, especially for children. There are tens of thousands of chemicals used in the U.S. and hundreds of new chemicals introduced each year, but little health testing is conducted for many of them. Hillary would require chemical companies to prove that new chemicals are safe before they are put on the market, and would set more stringent exposure standards for kids. She would also create a "priority list" of existing chemicals and require testing to make sure they are safe. To improve our understanding of the links between chemicals and diseases like cancer, Hillary would create an "environmental health tracking network" that ties together information about pollution and chronic diseases.

Hillary's Record

Hillary has been a leading member of the Environment and Public Works Committee since she was elected to the Senate. Today, she chairs the Superfund and Environmental Health Subcommittee and in that capacity has promoted legislation to evaluate and protect against the impact of environmental pollutants on people's health and clean up toxic waste.

Global warming and Clean Air
Spoken out forcefully about the need to tackle global warming in hearings, speeches, rallies and on the Senate floor and co-sponsored "cap and trade" legislation.
Worked to reduce air pollution that causes asthma and other respiratory diseases by writing and helping to pass new laws to clean up exhaust from school buses, and other diesel-powered equipment.
Supported legislation to reduce pollution from power plants, including harmful emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and carbon dioxide - emissions that contribute to poor air quality, smog, acid rain, global warming, and mercury contamination of fish.
Aggressively fought the Bush Administration's ill-advised attempts to weaken clean air laws.

Improving Water Quality and Protecting Drinking Water
Helped to overturn the Bush Administration's attempt to allow more arsenic in drinking water.
Cosponsored legislation to protect lakes, rivers and coastal waters by fighting the spread of destructive invasive species, such as the zebra mussel.
Helped ot pass new clean water laws, including measures to protect New York City's water supplies and clean up Long Island Sound.

Protecting Public Lands
Fought oil company efforts to pen the Artic Wildlife Refuge in Alask and Pacific and Atlantic coastal waters to drilling.
Cosponsored the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which prohibits road construction and logging in unspoiled, roadless areas of the National Forest System, and voted for additional funding and manpower to combat forest fires in the west.

Reducing Dangerous Chemicals and Cleaning Up Hazardous Waste
Supported legislation to restore the "polluter pays" principle by reinstating a chemical company fee to fund cleanups of highly contaminated "Superfund" waste sites.
Cosponsored the "kids-Safe Chemical Act," which requires chemical companies to provide health and safety before putting new chemicals in consumer products.
Proposed legislation to create an environmental health tracking network to enable us to better understand the impact of environmental hazards on human health and well-being.

Tackling the Toxic Legacy of 9/11
Pushed for health care benefits for first responders, residents and others whose health has been impacted from breathing the toxic dust and smoke in New York City after 9/11.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/8/20/134810/677

The following are polls from progressive groups, rating Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, on how often they vote for progressive issues. For each group, http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/011142.php

Clinton Vs. Barack Obama (progressivepunch)
Overall Progressive Score: 92% 90%
Aid to Less Advantaged People at Home and Abroad: 98% 97%
Corporate Subsidies 100% N/A
Education, Humanities and the Arts 88% 100%
Environment 92% 100%
Fair Taxation 97% 100%
Family Planning 88% 80%
Government Checks on Corporate Power 95% 97%
Healthcare 98% 94%
Housing 100% 100%
Human Rights & Civil Liberties 82% 77%
Justice for All: Civil and Criminal 94% 91%
Labor Rights 91% 91%
Making Government Work for Everyone, Not Just the Rich or Powerful 94% 90%
War and Peace 80% 86%

Not satisfied with 4,000 dead Americans and nearly a million dead Iraqis, Hillary decided to give Bush the green light to attack Iran.

K&R

:P

"Well, if that bitch is the nominee, THIS bitch will vote for her"

Best response I've seen, today!