Which is more repugnant: the misogyny or the silence about the misogny?

Back during the Democratic Primaries, before Senator Obama made another u-turn and embraced the heritage of Bill Clinton's presidency and instead claimed that the Clinton administration did not improve the economic condition of the country, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton had a line that always made me smile. When asked to address complaints about Bill Clinton's presidency, she would ask: What part of the 1990s did you not like  - the peace or the prosperity? (Listen to Senator Clinton deliver the remark herself.)

As we near Election Day, I find myself troubled by a very different question. Which disturbs me more: the continuing onslaught of misogyny in what passes for political discourse and reporting or the silence of Senator Obama about this onslaught?

If you have not yet realized that the misogyny - hatred and fear of women and concomitant acts that degrade, demean and threaten them - is going strong look here and here, here and here, here, or here. For examples from the Democratic primary season, look here and here, here and here, and especially here. Or compare these November magazine covers prominently displayed in my local Barnes & Noble:

Some people have asked me why most mainstream media does not report on the misogyny that I claim has been and continues to be fully evidenced this political season. Answer: misogyny sells. That is, of course part of the the problem, and part of why we need our top political leaders to object, over and over, to misogynistic portrayals of women.

I trust that Senator Obama does not rely exclusively on the mainstream media as his sources of information for what is occurring in American culture or, for that matter, anywhere else. So even if many mainstream Democrats are not aware of the rampant misogyny, I doubt that Senator Obama is not.

I know that the Obama website mentions equal pay and preventing violence against women. But frankly these bows in the direction of the incremental policy change do not adequately address the issue that has made so many Clinton supporters into conscientious abstainers or, much to their own surprise, advocates for McCain-Pailin. (Here is an interesting read on that topic.)

Senator Obama's campaign has been peppering my email inbox with pleas for donations. Frankly, I don't think Senator Obama needs more money to win this election. I think he needs to step up and give a speech addressing the problem of misogyny in American politics head on. It would take one heckuva speech to convince people of its sincerity; it might even require something more than a speech, perhaps a one-on-one discussion with a Democrat who is not supporting Senator Obama because he has not shown leadership on this issue.

To expect this sort of leadership from  Senator Obama is not naive, unrealistic, or unreasonable. Senator Obama spent years positioning himself as a Presidential contender who was audacious, willing to take steps "ordinary" politicians would not. If that is who he truly is, then now would be a good time to prove it.

I will never have the political platform Senator Obama enjoys. But in my own life, I have, at risk to my career and to some friendships and some family ties, not only refused to tolerate racism but have spoken out against it. This is because racial bigotry leads to unacceptable demeaning and degradation of non-whites. If Senator Obama cannot make it clear that he either truly understands misogyny and its pervasiveness in American culture or that he sincerely wants to learn about it and use his political platform to oppose it with all his might, he does not deserve the votes of true humanists, people who work to rid our culture of all forms of illegitimate assaults on human dignity, including not only racism, but misogyny. His silence on the topic will cost him my vote, and I believe it should cost him the vote of anybody who expected more and better from the candidate who kept promising us a new kind of politics and a better brand of leadership.

Comments

[Stray Yellar Dawg]

Thanks for compiling all of these affronts, Heidi Li.

You are the best!

and, indeed... why *doesn't* Obama denounce this woman hate?

Cuz he is too busy palling around with JayZ:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/after-dedicatin.html

[Bud White]

Thank you for the beautiful essay, Heidi Li. I agree fully with your sentiments. Not only has Obama not spoken against sexism, I believe the attacks on Gov. Palin by Obama and his team have been openly sexist and he has benefitted politically from them. The questioning of her experience and intelligence -- when Obama's judgment and experience are off-limits -- is so obvious to me that I can't believe "progressives" don't object. Indeed, they push the narrative against the Governor of Alaska.

[Karel]

Heidi Li...this is one of the most disturbing aspects of this election! To fight this sort of portrayal of women is going to mean a fundamental change in the American psyche. It means "all hands on deck" to fight this fight!

I supported Senator Clinton in the primaries and was disgusted by what occurred. I am currently disgusted by her silence on this matter. How is it possible that she isn't speaking out against what's currently going on? By condemning it when it was used against her and not condemning it when it's used against another female candidate she's giving it her tacit "stamp of approval". I know she's not personally using it against Gov. Palin, but she's complicit in it through her active support of Senator Obama and her relative silence. So how can we hold Senator Obama to a higher standard when Senator Clinton doesn't even currently condemn it, except when it was politically expeditious to do so?

I have a great deal of respect for Senator Clinton, but on an issue of significance like this I am very disappointed in her silence. Our politicians must learn to "walk the walk and talk the talk" for the good of all the American people, even if it's politically hazardous to do so!!

Heidi Li, I read your columns regularly and want to thank you for your thought provoking articles and dedication to the "truth" of what has been happening during this election cycle!!

[M. A. Liginter]

nice piece and nice work. It's an uphill battle but please know that there are women in the media starkly opposed to the how journalism was practiced this election cycle. Femisex.com was established by such women to fight the sexism in media battle.
kind rgds,
the Editors of Femisex

[DYB]

Someone posted this quote at The Confluence. It is from the NY Times, 1984, about Geraldine Ferraro. It is a stunning illustration of what has happened to that once-hallowed paper, and the rest of our nation:

"On occasion, Americans find it necessary to rationalize this rough-and-ready process. What a splendid system, we say to ourselves, that takes little-known men, tests them in high office and permits them to grow into statesmen. This rationale may even be right, but then let it also be fair. Why shouldn’t a little-known woman have the same opportunity to grow? We may even be gradually elevating our standards for choosing Vice Presidential candidates. But that should be done fairly, also. Meanwhile, the indispensable credential for a Woman Who is the same as for a Man Who - one who helps the ticket."

[CatBalu]

The silence is worse. I have waited since early in the primaries for him to "be a man" and speak out against the misogyny and to forcefully tell his supporters to cool it. But instead after he destroyed one woman in his quest to be the illegitimate Democratic nominee, he now has a new woman to destroy and it seems just all in a day's work to him.

[cjt]

Heidi, you're one of the few bloggers that have stayed sane and centered throughout this entire fiasco, and for that I thank you.

Because of the economic crisis, it seems that Senator Obama is going to be rewarded with a landslide victory despite the dirty, sexist campaign he waged. That is a bitter pill, but there will be consequences. I will never feel the same way about my party again. I will also be abstaining this year, and I will continue to abstain until the Democratic party acknowledges and repudiates the misogyny they unleashed this year.

[soupcity]

This is spot on. My sister,a Hill supporter, who I couldn't have survived the primaries without, told me she early voted for BO and was afraid to tell me, more than anyone. Needless to say, I was floored and upset with her. "Because he is a dem", she says. After a long talk(and some yelling) and me having to explain again how he is NOT a dem, we are still sisters and I refuse to let this come between us.

However, I vowed, I will never let you forget this as long as you live.

I am sending her this link right now as a little reminder. Thank you, Heidi.

[Alone in the Bay Area]

Thank you Heidi.
I am so thankful to see this article. I feel so alone. I am in my 30s and am made to feel like a dead, bitter old woman for even mentioning the issue of respect (when did MILF become a subject for the Sunday talkshows). I am saying now that I will never vote for another Democrat. The "hope" I carry is that the party will see the need for "change." Change from the self-righteous intolerence of those who do not support the golden-tongued handsome young man. More than 50% of the party, at least those that have stopped to think about it, can do a lot to bring about that change.
Again, thank you.

[dcattorney]

Thank you, Heidi. This is exactly right. Unfortunatley, I'm afraid hoping Senator Obama will step up to the plate and disavow misogyny at this late date is not realistic. Which is not to say we should not still encourage him to do so. At your suggestion, I'm making a call to his campaign - not a pleasant expericence for me - about it right now.

He won't renounce these tactics because they have benefited him at every stage of his campaign.