Obama using "sexist language"

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2008-02-16 10:44pm

Honestly, this was too funny not to post.

[quote=""Political Punch"]Is Obama Using Sexist Language?
February 16, 2008 11:30 AM

Earlier this month, speaking at Tulane University, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said this about the attacks coming his way from Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY:

"You challenge the status quo and suddenly the claws come out," Obama said.

The CLAWS come out? Really?

Then yesterday Obama told reporters who had asked about Clinton's latest attack ad, "I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she's feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal."

That prompted some female TV reporters to question the language he was using.

According to this unofficial transcript, over at MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell and Norah O'Donnell seemed to suggest Obama may have been -- if not playing the gender card, then using language women voters might find offensive.

Language such as "when she's feeling down" "periodically" she "launches attacks."

Nora O'Donnell: "He said, 'I understand when she's down, that she makes these kinds of attacks.' It's getting a little personal."

Andrea Mitchell: "It's getting a little personal and, very frankly, you know how deeply we interpreted every comment to look for some sort of racial motivation before South Carolina. A lot of people said it was there. But, you know, when you start describing a female candidate as being 'down' and 'striking back,' I don't know, that's a little edgy, don't you think?"

Nora O'Donnell: "Yeah. And I think there's gonna be a lot more comments about that."*

Pro-Clinton blogger Taylor Marsh writes that words like this, in her view, indicate "a way of thinking about women. A way of demeaning women in power; even saying we're not up to the job. Seriously, Senator Hillary Clinton is a woman running for president. Not some emotional menopausal diva popping pills because she's depressed she broke a nail."

"Claws"…"feeling down"...I find it hard to envision Obama using the same language if he were facing, say, former Sen. John Edwards, D-NC.

But what do you think?

-- jpt[/quote]

I don't really think it's deliberately sexist language, but if it was, it's fucking deviously clever, and that I have to appreciate. But in all likelihood, it's just a hilariously poor choice of words.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-02-16 10:46pm

I don't see how the hell any of that can be interpreted as sexist unless you're deliberately looking for it to be. . .

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2008-02-16 10:48pm

Honestly if you have to parse off the cuff statements in order to get "sexist" wording then the speaker either didn't intend it OR they are very clever with their words. Honestly the funny thing is that both could aply to Obama. Personally I think the phrases "claws come out" is so imbedded in our language that while it has sexist undertones I view it on the same level as the Washington Redskins being racially offensive. Now some of that I have no doubt comes from my rather non-affected position but that's where I am.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2008-02-16 11:10pm

"Claws"…"feeling down"...I find it hard to envision Obama using the same language if he were facing, say, former Sen. John Edwards, D-NC.

Given all of the names Edwards was called (Silky Pony, Breck Girl, etc), I can see Obama using the exact same words.

Seriously though, this just reeks of someone looking for a reason to be offended.
Besides, if BHO was a closet sexist pig, wouldn't his high powered wife tell him where to go and how to get there?

Zablorg · Post by **Zablorg** » 2008-02-16 11:11pm

Yes, because claws are commonly associated with women.

Where the hell did this accusation come from?

Qwerty 42 · Post by **Qwerty 42** » 2008-02-16 11:16pm

The claws come out is sexist?

Someone should let him know.

AniThyng · Post by **AniThyng** » 2008-02-16 11:17pm

Zablorg wrote:Yes, because claws are commonly associated with women.

Where the hell did this accusation come from?

Hmm..."Catfight"?

It's a stretch, I know.

Morilore · Post by **Morilore** » 2008-02-16 11:17pm

So, on the one hand, Bill Clinton blatantly plays the race card after Obama wins elections, and on the other hand, Hillary's campaign has to go through everything Obama says with a fine-tooth comb to come up with something that's maybe demeaning to women if you look at it right. I think Obama wins that comparison.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2008-02-16 11:39pm

That said I notice that folks use "claws" moreso with women than with men (with men the analogy usually ends up with fisticuffs). However I still think of it more as a deeply ingrained form of possibly sexist language that isn't meant to offend in most cases.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-02-17 12:23am

Even if "claws" is a female-specific term, how is it necessarily "sexist" to use it? Is the use of a female-oriented term automatically sexist now? Perhaps Obama is also sexist because he uses other female-specific terms, like "she" and "her" when describing Billary.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-02-17 12:33am

Hillary is just plain getting more and more desperate and her camp, both official and unofficial, is grasping at straws.

Tanasinn · Post by **Tanasinn** » 2008-02-17 12:42am

When is Hillary going to give up? Why can't that moron and her talking heads realize that they quite simply can't touch Obama?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-02-17 12:43am

Tanasinn wrote:When is Hillary going to give up? Why can't that moron and her talking heads realize that they quite simply can't touch Obama?

I think it's a bit too early to call the victory parade, isn't it? Still, everything I hear lately does stink of desperation. But that Karl Rove "McCain black baby" thing stunk of desperation back in 2000, and it worked.

Bill Clinton is Hillary's Karl Rove.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-02-17 12:50am

Tanasinn wrote:When is Hillary going to give up? Why can't that moron and her talking heads realize that they quite simply can't touch Obama?

It's not nearly that close to decided yet. It may appear that way from the outside but Obama is going to need to bust his ass to keep ahead in the delegate race, and don't think there isn't debate in the upper echelons of the party about fielding a woman or a black as candidate - there are a lot of people in the US who wouldn't vote for either. The question is how large a group that is, and whether they would represent a significant block of democrats that would jump ship in November.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2008-02-17 12:56am

there are a lot of people in the US who wouldn't vote for either. The question is how large a group that is, and whether they would represent a significant block of democrats that would jump ship in November.

Which is why the Clintons oh-so-subtly try to play the race card, and do their best Captain Renault impersonations when they get called on it.

Like I've said before, while I may disagree with Barack Obama, I fucking despise both Clinton and McCain.
That alone makes my choice pretty easy, eh?

KlavoHunter · Post by **KlavoHunter** » 2008-02-17 04:35am

The only, only possible sexist thing he could have said in this is the "claws" bit, because of the potential "Woman = Cats" connection.

If this is the worst they can dig up against Obama....

Flagg · Post by **Flagg** » 2008-02-17 05:24am

Oh my god! This is worse than his scheming to become president since kindergarten! Or the fact that he's a secret Muslim! Truly Barack Obama is an evil menace that must be stopped at all costs!

Shroom Man 777 · Post by **Shroom Man 777** » 2008-02-17 05:37am

Forget it! Obama is a dirty Jap!

Buy War Bonds!

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2008-02-17 05:45am

Lame ass accusations wrote: Language such as "when she's feeling down" "periodically" she "launches attacks."

"feeling down" is sexist? Same with "periodically" ? Quick, burn all books with the words "periodically" and "period" in them!

How the fuck is "launches attacks" sexist?

Flagg · Post by **Flagg** » 2008-02-17 05:49am

[R_H] wrote:
Lame ass accusations wrote: Language such as "when she's feeling down" "periodically" she "launches attacks."
"feeling down" is sexist? Same with "periodically" ? Quick, burn all books with the words "periodically" and "period" in them! How the fuck is "launches attacks" sexist?

Because weak, feeble women "launch attacks" while strong and noble men do the attacking themselves!

You just don't understand sexism. It's perfectly OK for a woman to perpetuate a stereotype, by crying for instance, but not at all OK for a man to speak the English language if he is running against a woman. He has to speak using interpretive dance, sign language, and a series of grunts. Anything else is just sexist.

Flagg · Post by **Flagg** » 2008-02-17 05:50am

Shroom Man 777 wrote:Forget it! Obama is a dirty Jap!

Buy War Bonds!

Slap a Jap! Vote Clinton!

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-02-17 08:48am

Flagg wrote:
[R_H] wrote:
Lame ass accusations wrote: Language such as "when she's feeling down" "periodically" she "launches attacks."
"feeling down" is sexist? Same with "periodically" ? Quick, burn all books with the words "periodically" and "period" in them! How the fuck is "launches attacks" sexist?
Because weak, feeble women "launch attacks" while strong and noble men do the attacking themselves!

Unless they're Republicans - then they launch swiftboats.

You just don't understand sexism. It's perfectly OK for a woman to perpetuate a stereotype, by crying for instance, but not at all OK for a man to speak the English language if he is running against a woman. He has to speak using interpretive dance, sign language, and a series of grunts. Anything else is just sexist.

Actually, the grunting is sexist, too.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2008-02-17 08:50am

Darth Wong wrote:Even if "claws" is a female-specific term, how is it necessarily "sexist" to use it? Is the use of a female-oriented term automatically sexist now? Perhaps Obama is also sexist because he uses other female-specific terms, like "she" and "her" when describing Billary.

Actually, given some feminists I've known, that wouldn't surprise me if it did offend them. Some of them can see offence in just about anything that differentiates men from women.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2008-02-17 10:58am

Article wrote:Then yesterday Obama told reporters who had asked about Clinton's latest attack ad, "I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she's feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal."

I doubt he said this in any way on purpose, but if he did, he should get a medal for using a delicious pun while burning his opponent.

I mean, compare this is Bush would have tried the same thing "I understand that Hillary feels down... uh... cause she bleeds from her cooter. Heh heh heh."

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-02-17 11:18am

Gil Hamilton wrote:
Article wrote:Then yesterday Obama told reporters who had asked about Clinton's latest attack ad, "I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she's feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal."
I doubt he said this in any way on purpose, but if he did, he should get a medal for using a delicious pun while burning his opponent.

I mean, compare this is Bush would have tried the same thing "I understand that Hillary feels down... uh... cause she bleeds from her cooter. Heh heh heh."

Even Bush isn't quite that bad. It would probably sound more like this:

"Hillary Clinton has a tendency to ... act out of emotion. You see ... some people have a tendency to lose control of their emotions, and this ... this is a problem that women, I mean- Hillary and her supporters are, er... vulnerable to. Umm ... we need strength in the war on Terror, and you can't get that kind of strength by reacting ... heh heh ... emotionally ... to everything that happens."