Sexism and the Presidential Campaign

Sexism has become the topic du jour on the campaign trail. I just spent an hour listening to NPR's Talk of the Nation address this topic and the Senator said the following in an interview with the Washington Post,

"It's been deeply offensive to millions of women.... I believe this campaign has been a groundbreaker in a lot of ways. But it certainly has been challenging given some of the attitudes in the press, and I regret that, because I think it's been really not worthy of the seriousness of the campaign and the historical nature of the two candidacies we have here."

Later, when asked if she thinks this campaign has been racist, she says she does not. And she circles back to the sexism. "The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted, and . . . there should be equal rejection of the sexism and the racism when it raises its ugly head," she said. "It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments by people who are nothing but misogynists."

There is no doubt that Mrs. Clinton has endured sexist comments and treatment from some corners. I am sure that, because of ingrained attitudes in this society, she has probably faced challenges that a man would not have. Since I am not a woman, I probably cannot see many of the things that women--particularly other women her age--see and connect to aspects of their own struggles.

HOWEVER, to try to direct such frustration towards Senator Obama is particularly unreasonable. Furthermore, the nature of a groundbreaking candidacy is that you confront and disprove myths and try to overcome deeply seated prejudices. This is what Senator Obama has been trying to do. Any sexist attack she has faced has not come out of the Obama campaign so I think it is entirely unfair for her supporters to take out their frustration on him. I have seen enough of the Clinton's "strategery" to not be cynical about why this has suddenly become an issue.

Here are some of the more ridiculous complaints about sexism:
1. Obama is sexist because he pulled her chair out at one of the debates. (Remember, he was making an attempt to be courteous because he had been accused of snubbing her on the Senate floor).
2. He is being dismissive by being too nice to her now; yet, he'd better not alienate her supporters by attacking her.
3. Commentators sometimes refer to her as Mrs. Clinton and him as Senator Obama.

Come on; let's not have short memories here. Mrs. Clinton has run her campaign with a very sharp tone and has unleashed ferocious attacks on Obama, not to mention some underhanded insinuations. Much of the negativity that she receives has to do with her personality and not her gender. I truly believe that Mr. Obama has been more courteous to her than he would have been to a male competitor; after all, what black man wants to be accused of attacking an older white lady....oh wait, did I just make a sexist remark?