MOMocrats

Go Read It: Misogyny I Won't Miss

Race and gender have gotten a lot of play in this presidential contest, but in different ways.

Plenty of outlets have discussed the inappropriateness of taking race into consideration when choosing our next president, as well as how the candidates are covered by the media.  Many haven't quite had the same qualms about playing the gender card.

In today's Washington Post, Marie Cocco in her article Misogyny I Won't Miss, gives a round-up of the more blatant examples of gender bias in the press, some that she feels even border on outright hatred. of women. 

The worst example of all?  Surprisingly, it's not the Hillary nutcracker.

Cocco feels the worst of all has been the virtual silence of the DNC and the Democratic leadership to the running anti-woman commentary against Hillary Clinton.  Next time guys, step up and speak out against all forms of bias, OK?

Thanks, Marie.

MOMocrats WTF of the Day: Where Are the Top Women Pundits?

Why do we MOMocrats do what we do?

Why did I start PunditMom two years ago?

This post from Feminist Law Professors -- really, it's just a photograph -- says it all:

Ladies, start your engines, I mean, blogs!

Joanne will be kicking her punditry into fifth gear here, and at her place, PunditMom. (Pundit being the operative word here).

Reverend Wright Ate My Homework

I'm one of those Asian American Amish people who doesn't have cable tv. I mean, I know what a tv is, and own one. Sometimes I even turn it on, because the dvd player is connected to it. (Ti-Vo? What's that?)

But somehow a papyrus scroll landed on my porch with the news that a controversial former pastor of Senator Obama's hometown church in Chicago had some, well, controversial things to say before he went on his book tour. Which Obama quickly and decisively disowned--those were and are not his beliefs.

Last time I checked, Obama was running for president, and he pretty much categorically rejected Wright's comments and said his former pastor has no connection to Obama's campaign.

Even Obama Supporter Believes Media Coverage of Hillary is Sexist

I've taken a lot of heat for continuing to talk about my belief that many in the media have treated Hillary Clinton unfairly because of her gender.

Comments like, "If you look hard enough for sexism, you'll find it" or that any sense that the media critiques of Clinton are infused with sexist undertones are mere propaganda, abound in the comments section here and at PunditMom.

I didn't start out being a Hillary supporter, but ended up being one after John Edwards dropped out of the race.  I suppose some people think my opinions on the gender discussion are because I support "the woman" candidate and I'm upset about any attacks on her.  It's not the case -- I'm a feminist from way back.  But trying to convince people otherwise has been a futile act.

So for the naysayers, I wanted to link to this piece by Jessica Wakeman at The Huffington Post, On Sexist Media Coverage of Hillary Clinton.  Jessica, a supporter of Barack Obama, attended an event at The Paley Center for Media in New York (I am so bummed I missed it!), where the discussion,  "From Bella to Hillary: Women, Media and Politics" was a lively one.

The upshot from an evening with so many notable women who are experts on this subject?

There is no absence of "sexist male punditry" in the media today.  But a lot of people don't want to see it, because if they do, they'd have to take some responsibility.

 

Stop the Presses! Media Hamstrings Democratic Nomination Process of '08.

It's almost as though someone has decided to recreate a Frank Capra movie lately.

This

+

This

= something eerily similar to

This:

Connie Schultz -- "Men Shouldn't Be Telling Hillary Clinton to Quit the Race"

One of my favorite columnists is Connie Schultz from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  If you haven't heard of her, go read some of her columns now. 

She's full of insight and common sense.  She tells it like it is, even if you don't want to hear it.

Oh, and she's won the Pulitzer Prize.

So when Connie talks, I listen.  On the question of whether Hillary Clinton should get out of the Presidential race she has this to say:

Men Shouldn't be Telling Hillary Clinton to Quit the Race.

You go, Connie.  I know I can always count on you to say just what I'm feeling!

When she's not here or stirring things up at her place, PunditMom, you can find Joanne over at BlogHer, where she's a Contributing Editor for Politics & News.

Any Doubt That Hillary Isn't Getting a Fair Shake in the MSM?

"Women Know Your Limits" is the title of this startling compilation about Hillary Clinton's treatment by the main stream media, as well as the online world.  Thanks to my friend Girl w/ Pen! for pointing this one out.

With this kind of coverage, did Hillary really ever stand a chance?

And for the record, I no longer want to have Keith Olbermann's love child.

Joanne is over at her place, PunditMom, getting ready for her podcast appearance later tonight with fellow MOMocrat Kristen from Motherhood Uncensored.

Phil Donohue railing against corporate media's role in perpetuating war leads me to wonder about casket photos

Phil Donohue spoke to the press at last week's California Democratic Convention. He was there to promote his new documentary Body of War and also to give the keynote speech at the party convention dinner.

While we didn't see his keynote, Glennia commented that we got a taste of what his speech would have been like in the press room. The time that we spent with him listening to him speak and answer questions was nothing short of inspiring, and the two minute trailer he showed were enough to steel my resolve that those of us who opposed the war from the start need to do more to stop it.

Donohue made the movie in part, he explained, because he thinks he is someone who can help end the war. At first that statement seems a little self-inflating, but when you think about it, if high-profile, out-spoken, well-spoken, well-respected people don't speak out, then who?

And how do high-profile people speak out? They use their influence (and their money) to create and promote projects that they hope will have maximum impact.

Clinton, Obama Silent on Winter Soldier, Silence on The Responsible Plan, Progressives Divided

Last Thursday over 30 Democrat challengers publicly presented their support for "The Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq," assembled from existing congressional legislation by national security experts, retired generals, and Congressional candidate Darcy Burner. As of this week, The number of Democrat endorsees of the plan has risen to 45.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have yet to acknowledge the Iraq withdrawal plan crafted by members of their own party, and it appears there is little pressure from the press to question them on it.

The two candidates' also continue their refusal to acknowledge Winter Soldier, the public testimonies of Iraq War veterans that occurred this month in D.C. and one of the most important anti-war events in over 3 decades. If their refusal is any indication, the American public would be waiting a very long time to hear any mention of the Iraq plan.

The Story I Didn't Tell You

On Super Tuesday, February 5th 2008, I drove to Central Los Angeles (with pneumonia) and interviewed Congresswoman Maxine Waters for BlogHer.com.

During the course of the interview we discussed  why she was supporting Senator Hillary Clinton and I shared with her the story of my very stubborn grandfather who, no joke here, thought I would grow up and be a 'fine secretary' one day.

I thought it was an important point to make; a 90-year old man with some very 'traditional' ideas was going to vote for a woman. I'd like to think it meant progress.

What I didn't tell the viewer, or the Congresswoman, was that in the same breathe my grandfather championed Hillary, he called Senator Obama (and I'm paraphrasing) slimy like that Jesse Jackson and a typical black politician. Mind you all of this information came to me through my Dad, who I am guessing censored.