Comments on: Obama On Hillary’s “Claws” — Sexist or Not Sexist?

By: amberglow

amberglow — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:21:52 +0000

It’s inherently sexist to speak of ”claws” about a female opponent. He would never have used it against a man, and knows all about the baggage that kind of ”catty” stuff carries, and he knows that most of the media already paints her that way to begin with.

By: WigWag

WigWag — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:27:27 +0000

This is the most thoughtful, intelligent comment in this long line of posts! Wreck, thank you.

By: Moon

Moon — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:22:42 +0000

They may not declare it an actual racist remark, but considering the current state of our prison systems, I could see them declaring a stereotype foul.

By: chea

chea — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:46:46 +0000

“You challenge the status quo and suddenly the Saturday night specials come out.”

You’re comparing a common phrase with an intentional dig. Not a good comparasion, sorry.

By: chea

chea — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:35:36 +0000

Did you ever hear anyone refer to a man as a “Cat”

Actually, in the old days the AA community, or at least the jazz community used Cat to refer to a man. Granted it’s dated or has fallen out of favor, but never say never.

I don’t think the claws remark was sexist. It’s like saying someone has balls- balls being gender specific, but not sexist. Count me as another one who thinks this micro-parsing is too silly.

By: PetePierce

PetePierce — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:13:47 +0000

Even if claws (and to me they refer simply to a tougher stance or tactics) refer to cat claws, both male and female cats claw with equal prediledtion to doing so.

With all respect to everyone, I don’t think you’re going to see either Obama or Clinton make references that can give them anything close to a “Makaka” moment. I think the recent situation that caused Senator Clinton/others to ask President Clinton to temper his remarks a bit has put enough attention on the gender/race situation to prevent this from happening.

While gender and racial references should never be used, the way I saw that comment that I happened to see replayed last night wasn’t gender based. I think Obama is focused on fighting Clinton and winning, and it never occurs to him or his wife to try to do so in anyway that reflects negatively on a woman as a candidate for President any more than Obama or his wife would want to reflect negatively on a woman attending Harvard law school or any other school for that matter.

I’m far more worried, and interested in the situation that is shaping up with the Super Delegates versus the delegates we’re voting for in this election, and the situation with how Michigan and Florida are going to play out with the potential for a revote in those states now if their delegates are to be allowed to count.

I expect to see and hear a number of very interesting posts and comments on this in the weeks to come at FDL and EW as well and look forward to them.

By: delandjim

delandjim — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:59:16 +0000

Baloney, claws refers to cat claws. Which implys catclaws, stop making excuses. When did you ever hear of claws coming out for any man??

By: Camorrista

Camorrista — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:58:33 +0000

The first line of my post reads, ”Here’s an exercise.”

Believe me if Clinton had said anything like those imaginary lines, Obama’s supporters would turn that into her ’Macaca’ moment.

By: jwoods526

jwoods526 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:55:39 +0000

In never thought the term ‘fairy tale’ was racist. Make no mistake though: the Clintons have actually communicated that Obama believing he could win is par with believing in fairy tales, and that Obama’s message of hope and change is synomous with a fairy tale.

Couple that with the “Jesse Jackson won in ‘84 and ‘88″ comment, and it wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to connect dots…

By: Tom65

Tom65 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:53:11 +0000

All I did was say to my wife, “That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah!”