Media commentary on Clinton

Watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-IrhRSwF9U

Think about it.

I do not want Hillary Clinton to be our next president, for a variety of reasons. I think Obama will do a better job of implementing an effective, sustainable environmental policy, for one. My dislike of her is based on her policies, and several of the comments she and her supporters have made regarding racial issues in America.

But to look at the media coverage of her campaign and the way she's been treated absolutely sickens me. The top two reasons not to elect her, if you listen to the top news anchors and media personalities in this country, appear to be 1) she's a bitch, and 2) she will have PMS, which will interfere with her being macho enough to lead us into another quagmire in the Middle East. Aside from the fact that these commentators are missing a basic biological reality (6o year old women are generally post-menopausal), the level of sexism that is ingrained in our media and national consciousness is disgustingly high.

Why is this behavior acceptable? I know the lowest common denominator sells in media, but level of sexism that we've decided is acceptable is past the point of humor, reasonable disagreement or even shock value. I can understand arguments that calling a woman attractive isn't sexist, and while I disagree, I don't think it's realistic to expect that male anchors will stop commenting on what female politicians are wearing anytime soon. But why are statements so blatantly contrary to fact--statements like "she's only famous because her husband slept around"--acceptable from any respectable journalist?

When commentators do this--generalize, lie, stereotype, and degrade--they aren't just attacking Hillary. They're sending a message to every woman in America: We don't want to hear your voice. We don't think you're capable of leadership. You are not, and do not need to be, represented.

Faced with this, what can we do to change it? Prove them wrong. Never sit silent. Never let oppression go unanswered. Refuse to be treated like a second-class citizen. Maybe one of these days, we'll join Nicaragua, Haiti and the UK on the list of countries that have had female heads of state. And though that won't end sexism, it will go a long way towards it.