They're doing it.
The Republicans.
They're doing it.
And as we know, all so painfully well, they are good at it.
While many of us have been debating whether or not Hillary conceded in time to guarantee financial support to retire her campaign debt or a spot on the ticket, the Republicans are wheeling out their public relations campaign to attract disaffected Clinton supporters.
Today, the New York Times editorial page asked thirteen political "experts" to give their opinions as to why Hillary was defeated. It could not be better scripted to divide us.
From Republican Congresswoman Heather Wilson:
The Democratic nominating system favors the most liberal candidate -- in this case, Barack Obama.But there is a second reason Hillary Clinton lost that some are reluctant to openly acknowledge: a latent and lamentable sexism. She lost because the superdelegates -- the Democratic establishment -- went against her.
She became a caricature: too smart, too strong, too assertive, too rational, too competent. Think how the young Harry Potter and his male friends initially reacted to Hermione Granger and you get the idea.
From former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman:
Fifteen years after I was elected New Jersey's first female governor, women running for office continue to face huge obstacles. Indeed, watching Hillary Clinton these last few months, it's clear that voters and the news media still struggle with images and expectations of women as candidates.When Mrs. Clinton made points forcefully, people called her shrill, not bold and determined. When Mitt Romney teared up, he was described as compassionate, while she was labeled weak.
For its part, the news media paid too much attention to Mrs. Clinton's haircuts and jackets, ignoring the male candidates and their endless parade of blue suits and red ties.
The press presented Barack Obama with his two years in the Senate as an agent of change, not a novice. In contrast, ABC's Charles Gibson asked Mrs. Clinton if she would "be in this position" if it weren't for her husband.
To this day, a businessman with no elected experience is considered qualified for high public office; a woman with the same background is called unprepared.
Mrs. Clinton's sex was not solely responsible for her loss, but the implicit and explicit challenges that women face are such that we as a country must take notice if we want all people represented in public service.
And to top it off, we have former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder
Hillary Clinton's campaign was done in by a sense of entitlement and hubris.There is no greater evidence of that than the fact that, three days after the final two primaries in the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, she had yet to gracefully acknowledge her defeat. By waiting so long, she threatened her future stature within the Democratic Party.
The question now should not be, "What about Hillary?" but rather, how does Mr. Obama plan to win and to lead -- with or without Mrs. Clinton.
Here we have two Republican women discussing the sexism faced by Senator Clinton and a Democratic African-American male citing her hubris. An article meant to divide our party at this crucial time could not be more perfectly scripted.
To my fellow Clintonistas, I say these Republicans are not our friends. These are the people that hate Hillary and seek to capitalize on our anger and frustration. Congresswoman Wilson and Governor Whitman are George Bush Republicans and their sympathy for Senator Clinton is rather convenient, if not disingenuous. Where was Gov. Whitman's outrage when the Washington Post ran a story about Hillary's cleavage?
To my progressive brothers and sisters who supported other candidates, at this time, I ask you to empathize, not criticize. Their plan to divide us depends on us turning on each other. We all believe in universal health care. We all believe in reproductive rights. We all believe that we must end the war in Iraq. We all believe in marriage equality. A bitter primary battle should not change that.
Please remember, these people are on the wrong side of history.
John McCain wants 100 years of war.
John McCain hates poor people.
John McCain wants to create the world's first ever fetus police.
John McCain admires George Bush's foreign policy.
John McCain loves the lobbyists he says he hates.
John McCain wants to give Social Security to Wall Street.
If we haven't learned anything from the relentless coverage of Hillary's cleavage and Obama's lapel pin, we should understand that the media is not our friend. They don't want us to succeed. They want us to fail. They want Democrats to be divided. What an exciting story to cover: The Democrats implode and fight amongst themselves and hand the White House to their darling John McCain.
Don't let them do it.
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