I have a VERY serious question about political discourse for the next four to eight years.

[Armstead]

63. I know it goes both ways, and I am not complaining that Bernie has been mistreated

Sometimes he is. Sometimes Clinton is mistreated. That's part of the give and take of politics and discussion boards.

But my point is not that. It just seems that there is a double standard that often places legitimate criticism of Clinton off limits because anything can be subject to some hidden "code" we're supposed to avoid.

That goes beyond DU, and it also impacts what happens if she becomes president. Of course the GOP will say awful, and sometimes sexist things. But what about the rest of us. Will we not be allowed to criticize her performance or policies because we are being "sexist"?
.
I do recognize times when criticism against Clinton is sexist. But it's tossed around in a vary fast and loose manner sometimes.

If, say, someone complains that they can't stand Sanders voice, for example, their reaction is legitimate if that is how they respond to it.

However, if someone says Clinton's voice is harsh and unpleasant -- immediately they are susceptible to claims that they are making a sexist comment.

It's like my post that got all the flack. I was totally prepared to get criticized for the actual content. I fully expected that people would say that she is the most qualified person in America to be president, that her alliances with Wall St. are no problem, etc. That's fine. I'm a big boy. (I hope that is not a sexist statement.)

But my comments were not oriented to her gender. The only gender related aspect of it was the partnership between she and Bill. And that was directed at both of them equally, and is about political dynasties (i.e. the complaints about the Bushes for dynastic politics.)

But immediately it was swarmed and all of the actual content was swept away by the simple "You're being a sexist jerk."

If we have to go walking on eggs for the next eight years, that's not going to be good for political discussion, and I think ultimately it will breed resentment among many people against the very legitimate goal of overcoming sexism.