With his new ad, Obama slides into the sexism pool—head first
October 30, 2008
by The New Agenda
|The latest ad out of the Obama campaign quotes John McCain saying how he might have to rely on the Vice President he selects for expertise on economic issues.
“His choice?” asks the ad, and it cuts to an clip of Sarah Palin, winking.
In the clip, Governor Palin is talking, but we can’t hear what she’s saying. There is no sound, no voice. The ad implies that Governor Palin is nothing more than a flirtatious and inconsequential woman.
This is the equivalent of the McCain campaign running an ad that asks how Obama would respond in a Homeland Security crisis, and then cuts to a clip of him dancing and shaking his hips on the Ellen Show.
ABC Newsblog “Political Punch” covered the reaction to this ad yesterday, quoting Amy Siskind:
When Senator Hillary Clinton was demeaned and degraded during the Presidential Primary, many of us of, myself included, vowed ‘never again’. The treatment of Governor Palin by both the main stream media, and now the Obama Campaign, shows that the misogyny fest is alive and well in our country. There has been a complete and utter smear job of our fellow citizen, Sarah Palin, who is only trying to serve her country.
Governor Palin has experience managing a budget in the billions for the State of Alaska.
In June 2007, Palin signed a record $6.6 billion operating budget into law. At the same time, she used her veto power to make the second-largest cuts of the construction budget in state history. The $237 million in cuts represented over 300 local projects, and reduced the construction budget to $1.6 billion. In 2008, Palin vetoed $286 million, cutting or reducing funding for 350 projects from the FY09 capital budget.
Governor Palin winks. On camera, she winks at her dad; she winks at a third-grade class in Alaska; she winks at the audience to let us know she’s kidding with us. Senator Obama dances. On the Ellen show, he danced and shimmied his hips for the audience’s amusement. His dancing ought not be taken as indication of his response to a Homeland Security crisis, just as Governor Palin’s winking ought not be taken as indication of how she would perform in her duties as Vice President. To suggest otherwise is misleading and dishonest.
Great post!
If I were in Obama’s shoes, and I had approved this ad, I don’t think I would have ended it with a shot of me all armed up with Joe Biden, who has already told us he is going to have to be in the room to help him make all major decisions. First Obama convinced me not to vote for him, now he’s convinced me to vote for Sarah Palin (and John McCain).
Just saw a representative on Fox news. I applaud you for sticking to the heart of your message no matter the politics of the people involved. It seems like many women who supposedly support women’s rights are just as eager to attack Palin because she is not on their side of the issue.
Just saw Amy Siskind on FOX News regarding this ad. Thank you so much for bringing attention to this latest smear on Governor Palin. I was not aware of The New Agenda before this but it looks like a great organization and I can’t wait to learn more. I would like to invite everyone here to visit Team Sarah and join to show support for Gov. Palin’s candidacy:
http://www.teamsarah.org/profile/Liz50
Thanks again! I hope to see you all there!
We can’t have it both ways. We can’t run in a race for the 2nd highest position in the United States and expect to not be challenged. Barack Obama and his campaign have let Sarah Palin slander his name with some of the most mean spirited attacks and not once did he attack back and there was plenty to attack. When Michelle Obama was being attacked and slandered where were you then. You did not support Hillary’s platform if you did you would have no choice but to back Obama.
It is sexist and demeaning to cry foul with every comment that is spoken about her. Then allow her to be the pitbull in lipstick. Listen to her speeches. If she were not a woman she would never get away with her comments.
John McCain is more of the same. If you help vote him in prepare to see not only your sons drafted and sent off on a sinceless war but your daughters too.
That was Amy Siskind. I haven’t seen it yet, but we’ll post the clip on the blog as soon as it’s available online.
It is true that women seem disinclined to speak up against sexism directed at Palin if they are not politically aligned with her. It was the same thing with Clinton and Obama.
Hopefully, there will be a shift after the election, when people don’t feel the need to be guarded that way any longer.
Thank you to amy siskind for her words at the sexist bias media towards Hillary and Sarah. I am a republican and I feel that as a women I want to support all women. When Hillary was the in primary I was secretly hoping she would beat the pants of mr. smooth. I think all women no matter there political affiliations should be defended by now. I felt that they are not there for me and Sarah.
I find at 48 that sarah is me! I am pro choice but I feel she much more like me then the women who founded and started this movement. Plainly she speaks my language. I am very proud of her mainly cause she is a women.
I wanted real change. Either Hillary or now Sarah. I mean that would be real change. Not just another man with a different color skin.
respectfully
carolina sterling
I don’t see this AD as sexist. I think the Obama campaign
is being very mild in pointing out the lack of experience Sarah Palin
brings to the ticket. She fosters the “lightweight” impression every time she winks. If she didn’t wink, they wouldn’t have the clip of her.
Sorry, but this long-time supporter of professional women isn’t buying
this “hysteria.”
Boy, this must have hit a sore spot if all these “concern” trolls are showing up. And Kim, I am so sick of this meme:
“When Michelle Obama was being attacked and slandered where were you then. ”
Every single time it’s not accompanied with examples, because Michelle has not been attacked the way Hillary was and Sarah is now.
And the question is, where was Barack when Hillary was getting trashed? In there with the lowest of them, flicking her off his shoulders like bird poop and sneering at both her and Annie Oakley, who was America’s first female superstar and a skilled marksman.
But nice try.
Meanwhile, check this list out. McCain has put up an impressive list of prominent women across the US, including a NOW president of a California chapter, denouncing this sexist attack on Sarah Palin.
GREAT job on FoxNews, Amy! You spoke for me and I’m grateful. Sexism against any woman is unacceptable and cannot be ignored.
I saw this press release of Hillary supporters and Women for McCain leaders on:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Info.....sReleases/
and I am encouraged by all who are speaking out against the treatment of Governor Palin. Wouldn’t you think that N.O.W. should respond, as well? I admire Shelly Mandell (Pres. of LA chapter of N.O.W.) for standing up for all women – regardless of the silence from the N.O.W. hierarchy.
Thank you, all, for fighting this good fight.
Lack of experience? Lightweight? Let’s not forget that this woman has more executive experience than all of the other candidates combined. Let’s also remember that she had the courage and determination to stand up to corrupt politicians of both parties in the state of Alaska. And lastly, she brings a wealth of expertise and experience regarding energy issues. Energy independence is the key to our future prosperity and national security.
Amy Siskind did great on TV. I saw the ad earlier in the day and just felt that powerless slug in the gut. That feeling like all you can do is roll your eyes, here’s more sexism, more dismissal of women, more steriotypes about dumb Palin. Just business as usual. But then Amy Siskind came on and it was wonderful. She named it sexism and said it was unacceptable. What a breath of fresh air!
Somebody told me it would be funny if that ad was about Biden. I asked why and they said because he’s not a woman so it would be like a parody. So there you go, if this ad is not sexist, then why is it silly to think of Biden in that roll? Let’s see Biden portrayed as a bimbo, as emptyheaded, as flirtatious.
Bravo.
I am so thankful for Amy Siskind’s brave remarks on Fox News with Megan Kelly October 30, 2008. I truly admire Sarah Palin. I do not agree with her on all fronts but she is very smart and very capable. I live in St. Louis, MO. Several months ago Washington University gave Phyllis Schafly an award for her lifetime of achievements. Many people including many women demonstrated against giving Mrs. Schafly her award. I was horrified by the sexist remarks made against Mrs. Schafly. Again I do not agree with her on many issues but I really respect her achievements. The same goes for Hillary. I was a dem, but not anymore. The dems exhibited too much tolerance Obama and his supporters subtle sexist attacks. I was very upset when Michelle Obama somehow blamed Hillary for Bill C’s infidelity. I cannot stand Obama. The dems have become a very mean party.
“You did not support Hillary’s platform, if you did you would have no choice but to back Obama.”
Actually, Kim, we all have a choice. We can choose to put our principles– principles denouncing mysogony, sexism, and fraud during the primaries / elections– above the platforms.
Great job Amy!
Amy,
I didn’ t know you were going to be on FOX. I hope you send me the video link.
Concerning Obama and sexism, nothing surprises me anymore. Obama’s upbringing in Indonesia has appartently shaped his character. The fact that he has not yet spoken out about the idiots in West Hollywood who think its just groovey to hang their Sarah Palin doll from their house by a noose is a testiment to what life will be like for women in America if God forbid Obama is elected. California, the state in which it is pratically legal to murder a woman if you are a celebrity, will go strongly to Obama. Obama has not only shown that he is in no way qualified to lead this nation, he has also shown were he would lead this nation if we give him the chance: Right into hell.
I love it when people like Kim accuse McCain of wanting to bring back the draft. He has repeatedly stated his opposition to a draft. These are the people who try to prevent young adults from joining the military or even learning about it by blocking access to ROTC and recruitment centers, by treating anyone who chooses a career in the Forces like a mental defective to be pitied, and who want to deplete our security forces and gut our Defense. These folks will have no one but themselves to blame when Obama is forced to reinstate the draft after another attack.
Amy: you represented well. Keep going on these shows, we must get the word out about this New Agenda!!!!
I too was a Hillary supporting Republican. I didn’t agree with some of her policy, but I was engaged with her, and saw her as the first woman to be POTUS. The media bias is unhinged in this election, they turned Sarah into a babbling, incoherent, idiot porn star. The wink was just another sexist way to make her look stupid. For those of use self-made, strong and intelligent women, we see through it. So much so that we will cast our vote to protect the past 20 years of striving for exactly this kind of history making feminist promoting vote. Sarah is pragmatist, a logical person, she adheres to self evident truths based on history and she’ll try with every breath to eliminate all of the waste, and corruption in Washington – she’s done it in her state already!
Thank you for bringing this issue to light! Amy Siskind did a fabulous job in the FOX interview. Prior to this, I had never heard of The New Agenda. I’ve now book-marked the site and will visit it often. I’ve never gotten involved with women’s groups, because on the surface they speak about women’s rights, but as soon as they discovered the women are conservative, they ridicule them, or at the least drop their support like a hot potato! Conservative women are ajust as capable, intelligent, and just as worthy of support, as liberal women are. Thanks again for supporting ALL women and calling out sexism against all women.
Kim also says, “We can’t have it both ways. We can’t run in a race for the 2nd highest position in the United States and expect to not be challenged”
I agree absolutely. She should be challenged on the issues, the platform, her past (record and associations). These are all valid. How does this ad challenge these things?
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