We Turn the Page Together
November 5, 2008
by Amy Siskind
|To our Dear and Devoted Members:
Congratulations to Barack Obama, our country’s 44th President.
Now that election is over, our real work begins!
Whether Senator McCain or Senator Obama had won tonight, that would matter little for our work together here. This election cycle has served an important role – to bring out into the light of day, the sexism and misogyny that were busy festering just below the surface. Now we can all see it for what it is. Now we can work to rip out the roots one by one.
I realize that many of you are mourning this evening – and that is okay. This election cycle has been long and emotionally painful for many of us.
But there is a light at the end of this tunnel and we will seek it together. We will fight together for the rights of women in this country. We will include all women, and like minded men, of any belief system. We seek unity in what has become a divided majority.
We stand at these crossroads together this evening. We hold hands together and choose to move forward down a path to equality. We realize that some may not share our journey today, but with the benefit of time and perspective, will choose to join us in the days or years to come.
We start with our first action on Thursday. If you would like to be part of this and future actions, please email us at JoinTheNewAgenda@yahoo.com
We fight on!!!
Major plus in moving forward: both major parties have now had the experience of seeing one of its woman candidates trashed by sexist rhetoric. That ought to translate into support for future TNA initiatives.
Agree.
And that is why it is so important that ALL women work together. I imagine there are many Republican (and Dem) women that loved Gov. Palin the same way that many Democratic (and Repub) women loved Sen. Clinton.
I say “no more!”
A couple things:
According to CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, news leaking from the Obama campaign shows a long list of MEN being considered for key cabinet positions. No gender equity there most likely. http://tinyurl.com/64le7f
Also, tonight during election coverage there was some sexism out of the mouths of the Obama base, see:
http://tinyurl.com/6fu2nn
It won’t. Both parties saw how successful it was to trash a woman running for the executive.
If Palin doesn’t run in 2012, there won’t be another woman running for another 20 years or more.
Darn right, Lisa. I’ve just been thrown off a Democrat/feminist board for daring to speak my mind about the misogyny which has invigorated a good deal of Obama’s base. Apparently I have failed to be spiritual enough. And anyway, men just are sexist little so and sos and it doesn’t mean anything. They make a sexist joke, women should laugh with them, apparently. Meanwhile, a black woman has apparently appeared on tv and hailed Obama’s victory as a triumph of black-manhood. Specifically. I am not saying we should not keep up the good fight – we should. But we need to recognise that one reason why this is such a hard fight is that women are divided amongst themselves. An awful lot empower themselves by identifying with the dominant sex, or get through life in a state of denial. At least part of the fight needs to concentrate on countering this collaboration with the patriarchy – analysing it, critiquing it, breaking it down.
As women find common ground to fight sexism in both parties, we will get more effective. The continuing absence of women from national leadership will only grow more apparent as the country evolves. We have to develop a solid front together for the next female candidate to appear on the national stage – we know what she will encounter.
NO MORE!
Sign me up!
The long fight turns another page for sure. We collectively are wasting so much talent by keeping women in 2cd class status. One front I would like to see with the New Agenda is targeting commercial enterprises that portray women as sexual objects and/or what I call the dumb toilet cleaner stereotype – the hapless housewife/ janitor who hawks some vacum cleaner or spray polish or toilet cleaning product on tv when the truth of the matter is most women are working – they are not staying at home cooking and cleaning – woman as cleaner, it is foisted on us constantly and it is what so many kids see on television repeatedly. Perhaps some selected companies could be bombarded with complaints of misogyny and boycotted – just a thought.
Well, I am down. The fact that Obama is our president now shows me that sexism works. Sexism has been a powerful weapon against opposition during this campaign. And it worked! It really worked!
it has been a long and ugly battle. it is quite fine to feel disappointment and upset.
let’s try to channel those feelings into helping women of this country. loss is usually what starts the energy for change.
Amy – this is a wonderful post.
Last night, my husband was so happy to see the symbolic victory of an African-American man winning the Presidency. He is 56, and was alive when Martin Luther King was assassinated. For him, emotionally, it was as if he had been waiting his whole life for this moment. (By the way, he didn’t even vote for Barack Obama!)
He tried to get me to join in his happiness. But I told him that his happiness had come at the expense of Hillary Clinton’s career – she will have no power now, either in the Senate or as a possible President – and that there will be no Democratic woman running for President for decades because of the massive misogyny that was so successfully perpetrated on her by the DNC, Obama’s supporters, the media, and the candidate himself.
My husband said, “This was just Obama’s time.” And I said, “No, it was Hillary Clinton’s time. Obama stole it from her.”
I am ready to fight for as long as it takes to promote the 30% Solution. The more women we have in government, the less this type of horrific hatred and ignorance will be acceptable in our society. Count me in!
I hear you Briar, I’ve been tossed out of several “feminist,” so called “progressive” blogs. It’s frustrating and painful but I think it’s just the price you pay for speaking the truth. Fortunately every time a door slams another one opens up.
I think this election has sparked a movement. There is change in the air and it’s not the obama kind. The 1960′s sparked a giant wave a feminism, all that idealism floating around contrasted with women realizing that they were still expected to be second class citizens, even in these new utopian fantasies.
i happen to think that hillary will come out a winner here and be very powerful in our government.
i also think when things quiet down that the msm will need to do a fair amount of self examination – and we will help them with that task!
Sometimes stating the obvious has its own power and significance—–United we stand, divided we fall. Combating that collaboration with the patriarchy is paramount.
Women must be united in their opposition to — and must combat always—the sexism and misogyny that have shown through this election to be an integral and entrenched part of our culture.
As a woman who came of age in the 70′s, it has been so discouraging to realize how far we have yet to go. But I remind myself how long it took for women to gain the right to vote and how dedicated women just kept on keeping on. So will we. We will achieve—and exceed—that 30% and we will see a female president. Working together we will prevail.
The RBC ruling marred the great joy of breaking down a racial barrier.
Today I began educating myself on gender representation on my local city council. There are 5 white males, 4 black males and 1 black female. No white women or other women of color.
In my own backyard.
Perhaps the real test will be how many donations the New Agenda gets from disgruntled people. I for one will donate and when I get my share-the-wealth check from Exon, I will donate even more. I will continue to be a good citizen and I wish the Obama Aministration well, I truly do but now it is time for substance and action, not rhetoric and promises of change, it is time to deliver. The adoration of a messiah wears thin fast amongst the masses and the media when the milk and honey doesn’t flow. At least the meme of racism is laid to rest and the evil George Bush can no longer damage the country. There won’t be much traction to be had from Bush, only so much blame can be laid on the mess he left before results will be expected with a DNC majority in Congress. I do expect at least 1 token woman in his Cabinet.
CNN has a blurb about how the Supreme Ct was an important factor in voting — something like 52% of Obama voters.
I don’t imagine the Dems/Reps ever letting this trump card go.
I would like clarification on specifically what the course of action/agenda is. For example:
1. Fair Pay legislation is listed as priority 1, but the fact of the matter is that this is a partisan position. The conservative/Republican position is to not legislate on socioeconomic equality. I say this as a Clinton supporter during the Democratic primary.
2. One theme that ran through the primary/general is transitioning from ‘grievance-oriented’ to organizing for change. What is this group’s position? I will be honest — I am more in favor of organizational action than I am in monitoring/watchdogging/etc.
3. In my state, there has been pressure for a long time for increased minority participation in govt. As a result, what is happening is that many appointed positions (for example, we don’t have elections if someone dies/resigns in office) have flipped from women -> men. Since the ‘farm’ team is getting gutted, there’s a self-fulfilling ‘nobody qualified available’ at higher levels.
Is the priority here growing from bottom-up, national level, both?
4, Aside from the very visible Amy Siskind, who else is involved? I ask because I’m wondering if any of the entrenched DC groups are involved, or anyone with their own political consultancy.
Amy,
i would like to see/hear more ideas on how we women can “do” something to move TNA forward. i am an educated, former marketing exec who is now a stay at home mom. there are so many women like me with talents that go unused and unrecognized who would like nothing more than to help this worthy cause. please don’t forget about us!
Can we start with trying to block the potential appointment of Larry Summers? As a female professor of engineering, his comments upset me to this day. Appointing him to a high position simply excuses his comments.
I would like for this to get a lot of press so that people see the true “pro-feminist” nature of the Obama/DNC machine and, more importantly, so people understand that you cannot be rewarded after denigrating women (oh, except that just happened last night… well, hopefully we can be more succesful with smaller battles).
yes, working on a press release right now on larry summers. nancy hopkins, the reknowned professor from MIT who first spoke out about summers when he made his comment at harvard, is one of our founders.
expect more on this matter in the next 24 hours!
see this article from our archives:
http://thenewagenda.net/2008/1.....youre-out/
hlr,
reading your thoughts, i am going to write a piece to post later today re-introducing the new agenda and our plans.
stay tuned.
I write this with the heaviest of hearts. The only other time I felt this much agony was when I was giving birth to myself in my late 20′s and early 30′s.
Last night I slept the sleep of the shell shocked. This morning I awoke to reality. I am now raging in the sanctity of my home with my 2 cats. My very supportive husband wisely made plans to be away for awhile today.
I live in a very beautiful place on a lake in upstate NY. The sun rose and it is amazingly warm and mild.
Now, I am going for a walk and try to ground myself.
With gentle thoughts to all…
An Ally
“Allies” Heart Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYpTSMkT37U
Thanks for the link to the Larry Summers article you wrote.
I think a pre-emptive strike against a Summers appoint is a great idea!
OK, thanks.
I’ll elaborate a bit. You know that the Democrats ran a pro-life woman in PA — Kathy Dahlkemper — and provided her w/ funding/support. I think she won.
Her pitch:
# Kathy Dahlkemper is not a career politician. She is a concerned citizen, determined to lead our nation in a new direction. She brings a lifetime of experience to the race for Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District.
# Kathy is a proud wife and mother of five grown children.
Her stump story is about choosing to have a child while in graduate school on food stamps.
When Carol Fowler of the DNC attacked Palin “her chief qualification is not having an abortion,” I recoiled in horror. Not only was it a grotesquely sexist remark, it was also a hypocritical one.
(1) I think there’s a real danger in taking on any issues that are even remotely associated w/ the Democratic agenda (or Republican, or course).
(2) I recommend that you take a look at Tavis Smiley’s Covenant for Black America. Basically, it is an agenda-driven platform intended to be non-partisan. Mr. Smiley invited both parties to get involved.
He used to have lots of support but is now ‘on the outs’ because he challenged BO to address the agenda. BO basically told him to take a hike. The Covenant is dead, politically.
I believe that in this climate, one needs organizational clout and numbers. Without it, I fully expect a ‘take a hike’ attitude.
The good news is that only a small fraction of the women’s vote is needed to swing independently.
I also think it’s critical to establish real channels of communication w/ women in small towns. I’ve spent a lot of time in small towns, in very conservative areas, and I’m appalled by the stereotyping by liberals — despite being a liberal from a very urban area. A certain amount of grunt work is required to achieve this.
Finally, with respect to groups/consultants – dc establishment. OK, look — I volunteered for HRC’s campaign for the IA caucus. While I would like to shake my fist at all of those who “did us wrong” — well, it’s not productive. As difficult as it is to say, she did go in w/ a number of advantages. At some point you have to start taking a hard look at what went wrong structurally and think about a departure from the old way of doing things.
My comment above about establishing contact w/ women not necessarily like ourselves partially comes from having done so on the campaign trail. There is a lot of room to grow here.
The Larry Summers initiative is great. Can we also plan a pre-emptive strike against Chris Matthews, should he decide to run for the US Senate in Pennsylvania? Possibly letters to the Dem State Chairman in PA and Governor Rendell, letting them know that CM’s sexist attitude toward women candidates in the very recent past makes him an unacceptable candidate for women. Considering Governor Rendell was a Hillary supporter who complained openly about MSNBC bias, he might be receptive.
generally speaking with regard to going forward, I’m so glad to see we’re not waiting–imo waiting was one of the biggest mistakes made by Hillary supporters. I feel this way because I was one of them–I watched the all-out media assault on Hillary, got angrier and angrier, but did nothing until it was already too late.
Now is the time to let people know we’re here, while there’s still concern among both Democrats and Republicans about the way two women candidates were treated during this election. And while President-elect Obama is still considering appointments in his administration.
I also suggest reaching out to members of the media who might be receptive to giving our message some spotlight. Greta Van Susteren and Kirsten Powers immediately come to mind because both exercised fairness and reason during the election. Maybe Hannity and Colmes, too–Alan Colmes was a Clinton supporter and Sean Hannity was solidly for Sarah Palin. Seems like The New Agenda could be something those two could agree on : )Here’s where I go really weird on everyone and make a suggestion that may seem pretty far out there–Bill Kristol. Here’s why–Kristol may be an uber-conservative, but he’s not a misogynist. He sent a letter to Hillary expressing his admiration for her campaign and was advocating for Sarah Palin to be the vice presidential selection long before McCain even chose her.
those are just some suggestions, but all in all, I was so happy to wake up this morning to find that the plan is not to let any grass grow under our feet–our movement is moving : )
p.s. Lisa, I agree with you. Women took a double-hit in this election. Some politicians who think they can get away with exploiting sexism for purposes of winning will certainly give it a try. I look at those types this way: they’re the ones who’ll be giving us the opportunities to make our points and to raise awareness among our daughters. There will also be political concern about a woman’s electability at the national level from pols who aren’t sexist themselves but will think selecting a woman has proven to be too big a risk to take. that’s going to be our mountain to climb.
I particularly like the examples one learns here, such as the points in hlr’s post.
Maybe we could have an organized archive? A database of examples of the hypocrisy, sexism as a kind of talking points resource?
I’m sure the NA (New Agenda) leadership team is putting thought into the organizational model as a part of securing 501c3 status.
I’m trying to hook up with anyone else on here who is from NC to be ready to organize at the state level once all the hoop-jumping-la of the 501c3 circus is accomplished.
It is a really weird day. I cried most of last night and couldn’t sleep realizing that 2008 has been the year of women getting the shaft and NO ONE CARED. My wonderful husband of 35 years can’t believe the way his wife has been taken over by this “thing” through the course of the year. How can you explain it to a man?
But I still arose this morning in Ohio where I live, did my workout, and then proceeded to do a series of meetings. Here’s what I saw—
an African-American woman speaking loudly into a cell phone all about what so-and-so said about Michelle Obama and how “Michelle” needs to react
a native of Russia who told me she was scared because she’s from a country that tried Socialism and it didn’t work—-she’s a Republican
Everyone wants to know “what do you think”. I just said “glad it’s over.”
the past president of Greenpeace chased me down and wanted to know what I thought. Before I could open my mouth he said “It took us having George Bush as a president to finally get a black man elected”
my lunch partner, who I had never met, heard the Greenpeace guy. After that little exchange, we just looked at each other, she and I, and she admitted to me she was a big Hillary Clinton supporter and felt that women got the shaft this year
Bet you’re all hearing the same stuff. I’m in the process of peeling myself off the floor and getting my fight back. We have lost the battles in 2008, but hey, it took 4 years for the Civil War to be settled, the same or more for the two World Wars. So we will rest for a minute (thank God for Amy Siskind who is locked and loaded for action today!!), and then we will get up, and then we will WIN the next round. For sure, we won’t beat this thing by being depressed. It is our battle, and we will fight to the end!!!!!
I’m not sure that I’m ready to turn the page. I was surprised at how hard I’ve taken this election. I watched the results last night and I was heartsick. I listened to the gleeful rejoicing of the historic election and I couldn’t celebrate. This election should have been Hillary’s. I can not celebrate the victory of a campaign that used and abided blatant sexism. The real message that we learned over the last few months is just how easy it is to discount the skills and abilities of a woman. The vast majority of this country truly believes that Sarah Palin is an imbecile. If I hear one more woman say, “John McCain thought we’d vote for her because she was a woman, we’re smarter than that.” I may truly be reduced to violence. Pat yourself on the back women. It’s true. You showed undeniably that women will not support other women. With the latest results in – 43% of women supported McCain/Palin – while 95% of african-American’s supported Obama. Great JOB! I’m sure no candidate will be stupid enough to think that woman might actually welcome an opportunity to vote for a woman. With all those women more than ready to not only disagree with Governor Palin but demonize and belittle her, no one will ever think that we’re stupid enough to support a woman president.
First, we need to find a new word for “misogyny”; I dare say 90% of the voting public doesn’t have a clue what it is.
“Racism” was much easier to talk about.
–
“SHADOW” now . . . and “SHADOW” forever!
“Stop Humiliation And Disparagement Of Women”
well, WE shall team them then!
I’m with Denise on this.”I’m not sure I’m ready to turn the page”.
In 2000 when Bush was (s)elected, I was told to just get over it. In 2004 when Kerry lost, I was told to just get over it. When Hillary was run out of the nomination, I was told to just get over it. Now that Barky’s been elected I am once again being expected to move on, get over it, turn the page.
I understand what the New Agenda means when they say “we turn the page together.” I’m all for turning the page and working on the next step. But I’m not likely to let go of the damage that’s been done and the pain it’s caused. I’m not going to forget and forgive. This time I won’t be “getting over it.”
appreciate that thought and rest assured that no one here will be telling anyone to get over anything!!!
our hope is to harness all the emotion, and use it as we work together to make life better for the women of this country.
The Dixie chicks are still relevant:
Dixie Chicks Not Ready To Make Nice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHH8bfPhusM
just saw a report on fox…mccain staffers are already throwing Sarah Palin under the bus…going public with her inadequacies as justification for their loss…it is a rather brutal assessment coming from them….and it reflects poorly on the entire team…McCain (and team?) made their bed by picking her…they should just suck it up and live with the consequences…what happened to respect and basic decency in this world?
So many fine thoughts in such a positive environment. There is peace in truth and so it is here, where “feminism” eliminates no one and supports everyone. This is a site and an organization in which we can breathe easily, deeply and freely. Now that the shadow of Obama election has passed into mootness, we can now be free to devote ourselves to the Next Steps in our journey toward a better world.
While the last 24 hours have been unpleasantly surreal, I know that, working together, we can continue to monitor the systems in place, illuminate the dark places and support one another in this endeavor.
“There is a special place in hell for women who do not support other women.” –Madeline Albright
A pox on any women who joined in telling Palin “bimbo” stories.
No one handed the Alaska governorship to Sarah Palin, nor did she “inherit” some political sheen from a male relative; she EARNED that office on her own.
And she did it in a state that is commonly considered a “man’s” state — a place for “real he-men.”
Until the media goons went to work on her, she had an 80% approval rating up there, for her reform accomplishments and for her smarts.
She took on the bad guys in her own Republican Party and the bad guys wherever she encountered them — and she beat them at their own game.
Gov. Palin is smart, honest, hard-working, honorable, dedicated and ACCOMPLISHED — which is MORE than can be said for MOST politicians.
Phooey on anyone who thinks it appropriate to make obnoxious remarks about Palin.
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” — Mahatma Gandhi
–
“SHADOW” now . . . and “SHADOW” forever!
“Stop Humiliation And Disparagement Of Women”
I read on a blog today something that struck me so much as a snap shot of what I feel happened here. “White liberal elitists have relieved their guilt on the backs of women’s rights.”
“And that’s what happened.”
And that is my friends what we witnessed. I was thinking today that if the media and someone running senator Obama’s campaign can lie about, drag through the mud of misogyny, and cheat a woman as accomplished and dedicated as Senator Clinton then we’ve certainly got a long way to go. It’s all been given a free pass too. We are to behave as if we did not see what we saw, didn’t witness and experience it. This country is abusive.
I’m glad this organization was born out of this experience. I am not glad I bore witness to what was a pretense of liberalism.
This group is the beginning of our voice. If they think we are defeated and are going away they are sorely mistaken.
I will not forget what happened here, now it’s time to do something about it.
The proposition 8 vote is another example of one oppressed group turning around and oppressing another group. True feminists should take note and learn from this when we prioritize women’s rights in future elections. http://tinyurl.com/6xp83p
I have just been called a self-righteous, stupid crazy bitch for daring to point out the misogyny in Obama’s campaign.
I am not surprised by this. I have not been surprised by any of it. I am not surprised to learn that sexism works, because I have known for years that sexism works. This is a patriarchy. Of course it works.
I saw an interview with Gov Palin taken just after the concession. They were asking ridiculous questions about how she was a diva and going rogue ….
Twice during the 3 minute interview she mentioned that what people may not have realized is that she was working as governor of Alaska full time while campaigning. I was so sad to see that she still felt that she had to prove her worth to America. Women still have to go above and beyond to prove themselves and get the same respect as men who do NOTHING. Did any of the other candidates continue their senatorial work full time while campaigning? The character assassination of this accomplished women (whether or not you agree with her on the issues) was dispicable.
Is the “First action” a protest – fighting against Larry Summer as Secretary of the Treasury – or an affirmative action, such as asking Pres. Elect Obama the role of qualified women in his senior cabinet positions?
The former will produce more media coverage, the latter will earn better results.
Summers’ question about innate ability strikes many if not most people as prima facia sexism but what if he was asking scientists to determine whether there is merit to the theory, in other words, study it with science. I don’t like the line of thinking but as a scientific theory it should not be off the table. Before I get deleted remember, it says “speak your mind” above.
Jessie Jackson Jr wants to be appointed to Barrack Obama’s Senate seat. I think after his actions in the primaries the Governor of Illinois needs to hear from us as well.
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