"Dream on, if you think gender will stop Clinton"

[SaveElmer]

By MARIANNE MEANS
Copyright 2007 Hearst Newspapers

Republicans in Washington are touting the defeat of French presidential candidate Segolene Royal, the attractive Socialist feminist, as evidence that gender is a stopper in politics and therefore Sen. Hillary Clinton's own presidential aspirations are doomed.

Dream on, boys. It would have been swell to add Royal's name to the growing list of women politicians exercising real international power, such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. But Royal is no Hillary. The two had nothing in common but their gender. Royal wasn't out front on popular issues and didn't come across as a strong leader. In other words, she wasn't "man" enough for the job. Hillary, however, is proving every day of this campaign that she has a command of the issues and a steady policy hand that demonstrates she is tough enough to run the country. Despite pressure to do otherwise, she is resolutely running a centrist campaign, not a leftie primary-pleasing one. Like her or not, she comes across as the most qualified, sensible candidate in an overcrowded field.

(more)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4797441.html

[Colobo]

1. Gender won't stop her, and race won't stop Obama

Only sexists and racists are trying to make it look that way.

[SaveElmer]

2. And Republicans...

Maybe that is redundant!

[illinoisprogressive]

But, repukes would vote for Rice if she ran. I think the gender thing is overblown

[Colobo]

10. Well... Rice is an interesting case

They would vote for her because she is a black woman who has done everything in her power to be pleasing to conservative whites...

Think about the implications of that.

[illinoisprogressive]

3. I so agree with Katz. As a woman I don't support Hillary because of her not her gender

[SaveElmer]

5. Proof you did not read the article...

As it was directed at Republicans!!!

[illinoisprogressive]

6. I am just giving my opinion

I think the media blows this up more than it is

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. ..

:eyes:

[MannyGoldstein]

7. 'Some People Say...'

I don't think anybody of import actually believes that Mrs. Clinton will be held back by her gender.

[SaveElmer]

8. Did you read the article?

It was directed at Republicans who are pushing that meme...

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Yes

But it didn't name any Republicans that are doing that.

[SaveElmer]

19. The very first sentence...

"Republicans in Washington are touting the defeat of French presidential candidate Segolene Royal, the attractive Socialist feminist, as evidence that gender is a stopper in politics and therefore Sen. Hillary Clinton's own presidential aspirations are doomed."

[illinoisprogressive]

9. However, the whole argument is set up by the media as it being an issue

I don't think it is that much of an issue with people but, the media is hyping it.

[illinoisprogressive]

11. blank

[russian33]

12. mmmm...

Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Angela Merkel, Mary McAleese, etc...and all they got to show is Royal for an example? try again :)

[russian33]

13. blank

[natrat]

15. give me a break--like a jew named irv rothbergstien has an eaqual chance to a Bill williams

some screechy white chick that half the country despises stands a chance

[azurnoir]

16. The gendser thing is pure BS

when it comes to the French elections the pukes already know what really wom, that is xenophobia and Islamophobia (if that's even a word) they have been using a variation of that tactic themselves for a couple decades and don't want it pointed out.

[knight_of_the_star]

17. This is such a fake issue

I could care less about Hilary because of who she is and her stances on the issues, not what's between her legs. And yes, I'm fully expecting SaveElmer to shit a brick over me saying that, but its the truth. I would be perfectly willing to vote for a woman for president provided its a woman with REAL progressive values that leads charges, not one that follows them.

[SaveElmer]

18. SaveElmer would shit even a bigger brick if you actually read the article...

Because if you did you would realize that the comment about gender was directed at Republican critics...

[knight_of_the_star]

22. I could care less the size of the brick SaveElmer pops out

Because while the article is directed at Republicans as has already been pointed out by you many times in this thread, Republicans aren't the only people with an opinion about her and there are people who don't like her for reasons that have nothing to do with her sex.

[SaveElmer]

23. WHich has absolutely nothing to do with the thrust of the article...

So you saw that it was directed at Republicans and still responded as you did...

[knight_of_the_star]

24. Because I still have my Freedom of Speech

And the willingness to use it as I see fit.

[SaveElmer]

25. I guess you do...

Even if it is spectacularly off topic...

[sheerjoy]

20. Novelty may help her....

I know I would be interested in knowing how a woman would "lead" the country. I think the novelty of a woman in office may help her immensely.

[Tellurian]

21. The debate cemented her credibility..

"but currently Hillary is beating the socks off all her rivals, maintaining a solid front-runner lead that had been threatened by hotshot newcomer Sen. Barack Obama. And polls, for all their limitations, are the best measure of what's going on. In the May 8 USA Today/Gallup Poll, she has a 15 percentage point lead over Obama for the Democratic nomination, mostly reflecting public reaction to the candidates' comparative performances in the party's first mob debate."

as a bona-fide contender. If anyone had any doubts about her ability and knowledge of the issues, she dispelled them with her decisive response. When she was asked the "key" question referencing another attack on American soil. Hillary blew the doubters away with one word, "retaliate"! defining her as presidential timber in the eyes of the world, then and there.